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Black Cat Angel: Thanks so much! Heh, yeah, Chloe IS a fighter. She's kinda based off my mom. dude, do you know anyone else, who has a mom who can TOTALLY take on a mugger in a dark alley? Now you do!

LadyBlue001: Oh yes, i AM just getting started! glad you like it!

Ikutolover23456: Soorrrrreeee! It will stop! I promise! Keep reviewing and I'll keep updating! pinky-swear!

Chapter 4

Heart to Heart

When the last of the thugs had been taken away, Chloe asked," So, how did you meet those guys? And where did they come from?"

"Let us answer that." the four turtles came back, and Chloe smiled, a little shyly as she asked," Are you guys ninjas?"

Mikey grinned," Are we that obvious?"

She chuckled softly," I suppose you might say that. So, where'd you guys come from?"

And they told her the familiar story of the ooze.

She listened with a rapt expression.

"Whoa." She finally said, as they finished with introductions," That's so sci-fi!"

Donatello chuckled, responding in kind," You might say that."

Chloe sobered as she asked," So, then, how did you guys get here when you did?"

"We've been watching the building every night for the past week." Mikey answered for her.

Chloe stared and then asked," Um, from the rooftops?"

"Yeah." Donatello answered.

She swallowed hard," Uh, ah, how exactly did that work?"

"We took turns. Mikey watched from six to eight, I watched from eight to ten and Leo watched from ten to twelve. Raph watched from twelve to 2. And so on til six." Donatello responded.

Leo was looking at the floor.

Chloe took a breath and said," Well, I always have believed in guardian angels…I guess I didn't think they'd be green." she added wryly, her eyes twinkling.

Mikey then asked," So, now that Chloe isn't freaked out by us, can we come whenever we want again?"

April sighed.

"Yes. But you have to be careful!"

"Hey, it's us!" Mikey chuckled.

Chloe then asked," So, besides being ninjas and saving damsels in distress and kicking Purple Dragon butts, what else do you guys do?"

"I like skateboarding, and video games, and scary movies, and comic books, and cooking!" Mikey grinned.

"I invent, fix things, play video games and explore, and do computer work, as well as reading and studying, and do BMX tricks." Donatello said with a grin.

Raphael grunted," I train, play video games, roller-blade and kick butt."

Chloe giggled a little," You kick butt for fun?"

He nodded, frowning," What's so funny about that?"

Chloe shook her head," Sorry…I laugh at weird things. Um and you?" she looked at Leo.

Leo finally spoke," I train, meditate, read, ride the scooter and play video games and keep an eye on these three."

Chloe nodded," Cool…so you guys sound like normal teenager boys, except that you're mutant ninja turtles too. That's really awesome!" she grinned.

"Not really. There's the whole 'don't let anyone see you cause they'll scream their heads off and try to kill you or take you to a lab to dissect you' thing." Raphael growled.

Her eyes widened," Has that happened? I mean, like, have you guys been caught before?"

Leonardo chuckled," Yeah, it's happened."

Chloe's eyes became even wider, if possible, as her lips parted in awe," Woah…Dude, like, you're not takin' me for a fool, are ya? Seriously?"

Mikey sighed," we always wind up in these whacked out adventures."

She chuckled softly," Cool. I mean, it seems like you guys have lives peppered with excitement then."

"Yeah...that's one way of putting it," Donatello nodded, rolling his eyes.

April yawned," I'm going to bed."

Leonardo added," we'll watch over the apartment tonight too, April."

"Okay. Don't stay up too late, Chloe!"

"I won't." Chloe called back.

Donatello turned to Mikey," Ok, you're up first. I'll come at midnight and you can go home."

Mikey whined," What? But we just met the dudette."

Chloe raised an eyebrow," Um, have I been a subject for conversation?"

Donatello gave her a pained look," Don't ask. You're all Mikey has been talking about since you got here."

Mikey sheepishly replied," well, it's not like I know a lot of girls…there's just April and Angel."

"Oh, I met Angel…she's one tough kid, ain't she?" Chloe chuckled softly," She reminds me somewhat of Nancy from Oliver Twist. But just a little, mind you. Streetwise and clever."

Donatello thought about that, as did Leo and Mikey, who had read Oliver Twist," Yeah…she is like Nancy." Leo nodded.

Raphael growled," Who the hell is Nancy?"

Chloe grinned," Read Oliver Twist by Charles Dickens. One of the few books worth the read."

Donnie nodded," It's a classic."

Chloe gave a soft giggle," Don't call it that! After all, as Mark Twain says," The definition of Classic is a book that everyone praises and no one reads!"

Donatello cocked his head," Really?"

She nodded wryly," I have a book with quotes from Mark Twain. He's funny, but very sardonic. I think he thinks the human race is hopeless…and I would too, if not for Firefighters and policemen, and the army, and the navy. And all men and woman who put their lives on the line for someone else."

"Like you did tonight?" Mikey grinned softly.

She blushed, "Well…I couldn't leave her. I just didn't know what do to."

"You were foolish not to call the police…but you were brave, and you bought us time." Leo said softly.

She blushed and chuckled," Well, thank you. That's the nicest thing anyone has ever told me. After meeting me for only a few minutes." She added wryly.

At 9, Donatello announced it was time to go home. Leo offered to take the first watch. No one argued.

As the three others said good bye and left, Leo told Chloe," I'll be on the rooftop."

Chloe nodded," Can…can I come with you? I have a question."

Leo nodded, gulping a little.

"Sure."

As soon as they were on the rooftop, Chloe asked," So, have you been watching me, on the rooftops at night?"

Leo shuffled his feet.

And finally nodded.

"I didn't mean to eavesdrop…and I'm sorry, but it's not like I could've just left you…"

She sighed softly," Well, now you've seen me at my worst…"

Leo softly chided," We can't help our circumstances, we can only face them."

She smiled her crooked smile," Ah, but the whole reason why I'm here is because I ran from my circumstance,

Leonardo."

He cocked his head, "How?"

"My mom asked me what I wanted to do, and I told her, that I wanted to get away. So, she talked with Aunt Paloma, and Aunt Paloma volunteered to bring me here. I'm making money, writing my stories, I've done with my education, so I'm prepared to finish my first book and publish it. But I'm avoiding my family. I'm trying to escape the pain I'm in. But I can't escape this pain. It's with me, always."

She paused as she looked up at the sky at the half moon.

"The moon…ya know, that song I sang? It's written and sung by Sting…but it's my song all the same. It contains my deepest feelings, at night when I'm alone. When there's no one but me and the moon…except you were there, too, weren't you?" she said a little dryly.

Leo felt terrible," I'm so sorry-"

"Don't be…it's almost…a relief to know that…you've seen me without my mask."

She looked at her feet and sighed, "My last name means Joy. Mab means joy. And I like being happy. I love making others smile. But how can I smile when I am so sad? Don't answer that." she added softly.

Leo took a breath,"Chloe, for whatever reason you're here…I'm glad I met you."

She looked at him in surprise.

"There's nothing special about me, Leonardo."

He smiled slightly," You didn't scream or faint when you saw me and my brothers. Even April screamed and fainted when she met us…after we had saved her life."

Chloe had to chuckle just a little," Aw, poor April."

Leo laughed softly," You're different from other girls, Chloe. You accepted me and my brothers."

Chloe nodded softly," How could I not? You rescued me. I'll never forget that, Leonardo." She said softly.

Leonardo caught his breath as her sweet, blue eyes looked into him and she smiled shyly.

"Well, I guess I'd better go to bed…thank you, Leonardo. You've been the best friend I've had in a long, long time."

She paused as she looked at him and took his hand, squeezing it," Thank you."

She let him go and left, her heart fluttering.

Leonardo looked down at his hand and smiled foolishly.

Chloe's hands were rough, but small, muscled and skilled.

Her knuckles were hard, perfect for punching…hmm….

Leonardo had the rest of the night to contemplate it.


Just what are you planning, Leo?

If anyone wants to find out, REVIEW!!!!!

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