It was a normal night on patrol, when Raph split off from them. "Dang it…" Amber muttered, skidding to a stop. "I'll be right back…I just need to get the hothead…" Leo nodded, and she turned around to go after him. "Raph…Raph. Raph! SHELL FOR BRAINS!!" She heard fighting, and cursed her violent brother before going to check it out. She saw Raph beating on some thugs, so she knew there was no problem, when she noticed a girl, probably a year younger than her, knocked out on the floor, a gash on her forehead showing how it had come about. Amber jumped down, lifting the girl up as Raph finished the thugs off. "We need to take her back to the lair…this gash looks pretty bad…" they headed back to the lair, Raph calling the others on his Shell Cell, telling them where they were.
Once back at the lair, Amber cleaned the gash, and noted the bruises on the girl's wrists. Once Amber was done, she looked at the girl more closely. The shoulder blade length black hair was straight, held in a low ponytail, and she had an attractive, petite figure. She tensed when the girl opened her dark violet eyes, and was prepared to calm her when she saw that the girl was already calm, though her eyes didn't seem to focus on anything. "Thank you…for helping me…" Amber cocked her head, confused, when she looked closer at the girl's eyes. Her eyes widened in surprise, and she turned to Raph. "She's blind…" that surprised Raph too, when the door to the lair opened. Mikey bounced in, saying, "I heard about the girl! How's she doing?" Amber sighed, saying, "She's regained consciousness…" the three newcomers froze, and she continued. "But she can't see…"
It clicked in Leo and Donnie's brains, though Mikey was still confused. "What do you mean by that?" Leo hit Mikey over the head, saying, "The girl's blind, Mikey…" "OOOOHHHHHH…" Amber shook her head at Mikey's antics, and turned to the girl. "I'm Amber…who are you?" "My name's Sapphire…my mom liked stones…" she sighed, her eyes closing slightly. Amber nodded, saying, "These are my four brothers. The one that helped you was Raphael, and the one that isn't very bright is Michelangelo. The smart one is Donatello, and the protective one is Leonardo."
She smiled softly, her normal calming aura allowing the girl to sleep. "I'll take her to the biggest room…" "Whoa! NO! That's MY room!" she looked at Raph like he was being a child…which he was… "My rooms not big enough, and neither are the other rooms. It won't be long anyway. Just don't scare her." Amber walked off to his room, turning a deaf ear to his complaints, and put the girl in the bottom bunk, tucking her in.
She spent the next hour with Mikey and Donnie, playing the Wii, while she left Raph to watch Sapphire. He sat on the top bunk, trying to look anywhere but at the girl, but it's like his eyes were drawn to her peaceful face.
'She's different…but that's only because she can't see us…'
He saw her stir, and perked involuntarily. "Raphael…is that you?" he was surprised she knew he was there already, and said, "Yeah, it's me."
The girl smiled softly, saying, "I'm really grateful that you helped me out…I don't know many people who have big hearts…" he wasn't used to people already seeing through his tough guy exterior, and he tried to defend it. "What do you mean by that?" she smiled wider, saying, "My brother was like you…he'd always act tough, but he was actually nice when you got to know him…" "What do you mean by 'was'?" there was silence, and he immediately knew he shouldn't have said anything.
"There was a fire…he went in to get me…I got out…but he didn't make it out…that's why I can't see…" there were tears in her eyes, and he felt the instinct to comfort her. "I was only a little kid…and I lost my brother and father…" He couldn't help himself, and he jumped down, sitting on the bed. "It's okay…don't cry…" he wiped the few tears that fell, when she said, "I know you might not be human…but you still deserve to see the light…we all do…" he was surprised that she already knew, but she still wasn't freaking out.
"I can tell what kind of person someone is by their voice…when you talked with Amber…her voice was warm and soft, motherly almost, understanding…and your voice…it sounded rough at first, but there was that note of care, of fierce .loyalty…I've never heard it before…" she smiled softly, wiping her tears away. "I don't judge people by how they look…" he couldn't help that he was lowering his guard, that the protective look in his eyes was fading.
But it all came back when he heard the door open, and he shot up to his feet. "What's wrong, Raph?" Amber questioned, stepping in with some water. "Nothing…" he muttered, leaving. Amber shook her head, going to the bedside. "Here's some water, Sapphire…" She helped the girl sit up, and carefully gave her the cool cup. "Don't mind Raph…he's just a big cuddly toy when you get to know him…" she smiled softly at the small smile on Sapphire's lips, and said, "You can stay here until you feel better. Raph won't mind." Sapphire nodded, feeling secure for the first time in so long. 'He won't find me here…right?'