The next couple days passed by rather normally, with everyone getting used to the strangely intuitive girl. She somehow knew who was in the room, even if they didn't say anything or move, and she learned her way around the lair after being led around only once. One day, as Amber played 'Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess', Mikey and Donnie giving her tips, the three didn't notice Raph leave to go topside, or Sapphire follow him.

He went to a familiar rooftop, wanting some time to think, when he saw Sapphire sit behind him, her eyes looking at space as she listened to the noisy sounds of nighttime New York. "What's up?" he questioned uninterestingly, and she seemed lost in thought, listening to voices that he couldn't hear, and said, "I know there's danger coming…and I'm sorry that I pulled your family into this…" he tensed, turning to look at her. "What do you mean, Sapphire?" she seemed to be listening to everything around her, yet…not…like she was hearing things that never reached his own ears.

"I don't want you to get hurt…I know that I'd regret it if you did…" he put a hand on her shoulder, making her jump slightly, and said, "You're hiding something…what is it?" his gaze was hard, questioning, and she almost seemed to squirm under it. "I can't…" "Why?" he involuntarily softened, and her eyes seemed to dart around for a moment before she said, "I'm not…normal…and not just because I can't see…" he gave her a curious look, and she seemed to prepare herself for a long explanation.

"When I lost my sight…it's like I got another, inner sight…I see a different plane of thought…" she smiled awkwardly. "Like thoughts and spirits, I guess…I can see what makes up a person just by being close to them…I try not to, though…people deserve their privacy with certain things…but…" she seemed to be trying to ignore a voice that was plaguing her, making her concentration wander.

"I can't help it with you…I like a challenge, I guess…" he sat there for a moment, absorbing all this information, and looked back at the city. "So you can hear our thoughts?" he questioned, feeling a bit exposed. "I can hear everyone's thoughts…like a room of people are screaming at the top of their lungs…"

She looked up, where some birds were flying in the darkening sky. "But it's like your thoughts stand out against all of them…and I can't help but listen…" he couldn't help the heat that rose to his cheeks, and he tried not to look at her, knowing he'd probably think something that would embarrass him further. She giggled softly, saying, "I guess it makes you uncomfortable, but don't worry. Whatever I know won't come out of Mikey's mouth."

He actually had a sense of security now, like he knew he could trust her, though he knew he'd never admit it. She seemed to hear another voice, one that raised goose bumps on her arms and made her involuntarily shiver. "Sapphire?" she seemed to snap back to earth, and said, "Sorry, someone was thinking about a wrestling match I missed…" she pouted. "And my favorite guy lost…" he smirked, saying, "Oh, you mean the match last night? Yeah, he lost BAD…"

"You were rooting for the other guy…that's not very fair. He's already a muscle-bound giant. Give the little guy his props for actually agreeing to fight him!" this little 'argument' went on for a while before they decided to head back. Once back, they noticed Amber and Leo on the couch…technically, Amber was on Leo's lap and Leo was on the couch.

They stayed back, staying silent as Raph saw Sapphire's eyes dart between them, smiling softly as a blush crept up her cheeks. 'What are they thinking?' he questioned in his thoughts, knowing she'd hear him. She pulled him away, mouthing, 'They need some privacy.'

Amber was playing with the tails of the familiar blue headband, her look distant and distracted by her own thoughts. "Leo…" he snapped out of his own thoughts and looked at her with questioning brown eyes. "…Do you think…well…" her cheeks were redder than her hair, and she couldn't make eye contact. When she felt the muscles of his arm move against her back as he shifted, she couldn't help the tingle it sent along her skin.

"What's wrong? Is something bothering you?" she looked into his eyes, saying, "You could say that…" as if he was reading her mind, he said, "I know it's been a couple years, but are you sure we're ready for that?" "More ready than I remember…" he seemed to be thinking about it, something she was grateful for.

He usually didn't, responding with an immediate 'not yet' before leaving. "Are you sure?" she pouted, saying, "I'm sure." She saw the uncertainty in his eyes, and sat up, giving him a gentle kiss. "What are you worried about?" she whispered, rubbing soothing circles into his arms.

"…I'm not so sure anymore…" he whispered back, kissing her gently as she felt his arms adjust to have one under her knees and another against her back before he stood up, her in his arms, neither breaking the kiss. He brought her into her own room, knowing that even Mikey knocks before daring to enter, and he put her on the bed. "Something wrong?" she whispered, though she saw him lock the door.

"We don't want anyone walking in, right?" she smiled, shifting slightly as he moved over her on the bed. That night, thanks to Sapphire, no one came close enough to the room to hear the unfamiliar noises, and Sapphire distracted them by telling Don and Mikey about her mind reading and other strange powers. Donnie wanted to run some tests, but Raph immediately dismissed it, his temper keeping Donnie from pressing on.

Sapphire did, though, agree to donate a blood sample, which he took little of, since Raph was glaring at him the whole while. Afterwards, the girl seemed tired, but it was obvious the voices only she could hear were keeping her from relaxing. Raph followed after her into his room, and he couldn't help that his guard almost completely fell when he saw her curl up into a ball on the bed, covering her ears as if to block out the noise.

He sighed, sitting on the bed beside her before rubbing soothing circles into her back, feeling her relax. He was about to get up when her hand shot out, grabbing his wrist. "Don't leave…please…" he felt heat rise to his cheeks before he sat down again, and eventually laid down. She still had a hand on his wrist, though her grip weakened, and he started falling asleep while unconsciously wrapping his arms around her waist.

She blushed, but she felt…secure…safe, for the first time in so many years. She snuggled into his chest, thinking, 'I don't want this to end…I just hope he doesn't come to try and take me again…'