Chapter 3:

Back in the den they all watched as Donatello gently stitched her head.

"Good job she's unconscious – this would hurt"

"Pity she ain't awake then" quipped Raphael before getting up and walking to his room.

"All done" said Donatello as he tied up the last one.

Michaelangelo leaned in for a closer look "She's a babe" he breathed.

"Mikey, you're doing it again, give the girl some space" began Leonardo. He looked at the girl lying there and once again found it hard to believe that his stupid nutcase brother hadn't realised she was a female. Her long blonde hair hung in waves about her face and shoulders, her features were delicate and doll like. But there were 2 other reasons why you wouldn't say this vigilante was a boy so whether you could see her face didn't even come into it!

"What are we going to tell Master Splinter?" asked Donatello. Leonardo thought for a moment.

"He deserves the truth" he replied simply "Raph needs to learn to control himself and perhaps a punishment from Sensei will go some way towards that".

It was like being underwater. There were sounds but they appeared muffled and distant. Rebecca felt herself being lifted up and placed down on something soft like a sofa. She couldn't move, couldn't open her eyes but the voices were getting clearer.

"What do you think her name is? Do you think she'll like pizza?"

"Mikey I have no idea I just want to know what she's been doing out there – and why"

They sounded male. Inside her head she was screaming but still she couldn't move. Had they drugged her? Where was she? Why the Hell couldn't she move? This was so frustrating. Then she remembered. She knew exactly what had happened. One of those freaks had knocked her out and perhaps the others had brought her to their hideout. Oh shit. How exactly was she going to play this? Why oh why did I look round?! She was really annoyed at herself for falling for that one.

The voices were moving – they were no longer close by her. This could be her chance to survey the situation. Hopefully they wouldn't be looking in her direction.

Without moving any other part of her body she slowly took a peek. It looked like she was in some sort of underground place – not that it was particularly surprising as they would hardly live in a penthouse apartment downtown. Two of them were standing a dozen or so feet away and the other two she could not see. Shit shit shit, they could be anywhere. This was not going to be easy. She would have to wait until they went to sleep – do giant reptiles sleep? What if they never sleep? Her head was banging and her mind was spinning, she closed her eyes again to think.

"Hey guys" sparked an over-excited voice right by her – it was so loud she almost jumped out of her skin "I think I saw her eyelids move, she could be waking up"

Suddenly she felt pressure on her neck – one of them was touching her – checking her pulse. She really wished she was anywhere but here and she really wished he would stop touching her.

"According to her measurements and pulse she should be w.."

"Her measurements!" giggled the over excited one "you been getting the old tape measure out Donnie – and you call me the perve"

"Very funny" came another voice – the one she assumed was called "Donnie".

"Miss, can you hear me?"

Yes I can hear you – she answered in her head – now take your goddamn hand off my neck!

"Can you open your eyes for me?"

I could. But I'm not going to so leave me alone!

Something cold was suddenly thrown at her. The shock made her forget herself and her eyes shot open and she shot up, gasping. Water. It was cold water.

"What on earth was that for?" she shrieked.

The three turtles stood back aghast. Obviously they weren't expecting a reaction like that.

"It was to help you come round" chirped the one in an orange mask.

"Yes Mikey, it was to dab, not to throw!" exclaimed the purple masked one

"Oops – um, sorry" he shuffled his feet and looked awkward.

Rebecca stood up and then suddenly felt dizzy, she swayed and fell back down.

"Hey there, take it easy" the purple one "you need to rest – you lost a lot of blood"

"Yes and who do I thank for that privilege?

"Our brother has a lot of anger issues but he will be punished" he continued

"How do you feel? Do you want a drink, something to eat?" the orange one was in her face again.

She shifted backwards, not liking the way he got so close "No, nothing. I just wanna get out of here"

"And you will, but for now you gotta take it easy"

Rebecca lifted her eyes to meet those of the blue masked one, he was looking down at her holding her gaze for a few seconds and then turning away. In that moment he asked her a question:

"What were you doing? Why were you fighting out there?"

She folded her arms and kept quiet. Yes they could make her stay – for a while – but they couldn't make her speak.

"Do you have a name?" came the next question. She turned her head away – still refusing to answer him. After all, why should she?

He soon got the message and came back to face her, crouching down so they were on the same eye level.

"So, you want to play it like that do you?"

He rose to his feet. Standing at well over six foot his size was more than a little intimidating. She didn't show fear though and remained tight lipped.

"Aww, come on" whined the orange masked one holding out a hand "I'm Mikey"

Like she was really interested. Keeping her arms folded across her chest she said nothing.

"Leave it Mikey, she ain't gona play ball. She don't wanna talk then that's her choice"

Damn right it was!

"What is going on here?" the sound of Splinter cut through the tension. Rebecca remained still expecting to see another freaky reptile but instead she found herself confronted by giant rat. Oh God this was getting worse by the minute.

The blue masked one approached the rat.

"Father, we had to bring her here" Father? Jees, what was it with these wierdos?

"Raph hurt her - she lost a lot of blood"

The rat considered his words and frowned "Ah that would explain why he's hiding in his room – leave him to me"

Was this really happening? This was like a bad dream. Talking rats now on top of the freaky giant reptiles – this was a nightmare!

"What is your name child?" Rebecca turned her head. Shit. The rat was asking her a question and unlike the reptiles she felt she couldn't ignore him.

"She's not tal.." began the blue masked one

"Rebecca" she interrupted. The three turtles stared at her.

"And how did this happen Miss Rebecca?"

She looked him square in the face and re-counted the events that led up to tonight and all her run-ins with Raphael. The rat nodded, stroking his rather long beard as he listened.

"I apologise for my son, I will now speak with him. Please rest – take all the time you need".

"Thank you sensei". The blue one bowed as the rat left the room. I mean, really!?

"How come you spoke with him? Is it just turtles you have an issue with?" He was bending down next to her again. She looked him directly in the eyes.

"No" she replied "I don't have an issue with you – well not much of one anyway"

"Hey, she can talk!" exclaimed Mikey. The other two glared at him.

Her eyes were a deep blue, much like his own. Intense. The look she gave him was intense. Leonardo felt as if she was looking for something.

"Look. If I have to stay here for a while I want to set some ground rules" she began "No stupid questions, no touching me and no creeping up out of no-where"

"Anything else?" mocked the blue masked one

"No. I think that's it" she stared up at him as he rose to his full height.

"Well, miss. I am Leonardo, these are my brothers – Michealangelo and Donatello. Raphael is the idiot you met and Splinter is our master, teacher and father. He taught us all we know"

Fascinating. Thought Rebecca.

"How can a rat be your father? I mean, genetics, logic? it just doesn't fit"

The one called Leonardo smiled "He is our adoptive father, he raised us from infants"

"Oh, now I get it". Again she gave him that look. Intense. Leonardo studied her face for a moment – again she was looking right through him. He turned away walking to the other end of the room feeling uncomfortable.

The one called Mikey sat next to her "You sure you aren't hungry? We got food, and no we don't eat pondweed".

Rebecca felt herself soften a little.

"I could do with a glass of water. To drink though not to have thrown over me"

"Yeah, sorry about that – I'll go get you one"

Donatello looked at her as Michealangelo exited quickly "How did you learn to fight so well?" This question was a difficult one. She would have to be a careful here.

"Same as you" She replied simply "A good teacher and plenty of practice"

Mikey returned with a glass of water which he handed to her carefully.

She eyed it suspiciously. Looked safe enough and didn't smell dodgy. She took a sip. It was water. She drank the lot, not realising how thirsty she had become.

"Thank you"

She put the glass down on the table next to her eager to change the subject from fighting to something else.

"So, where exactly am I?" she asked

"We could tell you, but then we'd have to kill you" replied Donatello, smiling.