I own my OC's ( Artemis Jaelyn Roberts and Thomas Roberts. As well as Max Brown ) but I DO NOT own any of the TMNT characters. (Leo, Raph, Donnie, Mikey, Splinter, April, Casey, Shredder and any other TMNT world characters that may be mentioned.)

Artemis POV

It has been a week since I met the turtles. It's been a week since I saw the turtles. At night, I kept my window and curtain closed. I wasn't scared of them much anymore, I was just still trying to wrap my head around everything. I had no one to talk to about them, besides my brother and boyfriend, but I promised I wouldn't tell anyone. I don't break promises.

I start my way back to my apartment from the corner store, which I couldn't find my chips in, when I'm yanked by my arm into an alley way. I try to scream but a hand is slammed over my mouth.

"Hello pretty lady," a man's voice slurs, the man holding me.

My purse is being pulled from my grasp but I hold onto it tight. There are three men in front of me from what I can process as I wrestle for my purse. Suddenly I'm struck on my cheek with something sharp, causing me to let go of my bag. I can feel blood pour down the side of my face and onto my clothes.

The men dump out the contents of my purse onto the road. They pick up my wallet and take out all the money in it, though none of the cards. They also proceed to taking my purse itself, saying it's expensive and will make a good buck. Then, they proceed to look through the contents. All the while, I'm struggling in this man's hold. Soon the biggest man stands up.

"Stop struggling pretty lady." He grunts. Then he looks at my sweater. "Huh, an expensive brand. Get her out of the sweater boys."

I'm forced out of my sweater so I'm left in my black tank top. I shiver at the cold night air.

"She's a rich one," I hear a man say.

"Then let's make a deal." The big man walks up to me and grabs my face. "Meet me back here, tomorrow, at ten pm sharp. Bring five thousand dollars. You fail to bring it, we'll find you," the man proceeds by pulling out a gun. "And it won't be pretty."

I nod as best I can with the grip he has on my face.

"Just for a warning," the man pulls out a knife and drags it along my forearm, making me scream into the hand covering my mouth. "Let's go boys."

I'm thrown to the ground and left there as the men leave. Bruised and bloodied, after I'm sure they're gone, I pick up the leftover contents of my purse and carry them in my shirt which I held like a pouch. I quickly make my way home, managing to avoid people. I get home and dump my stuff onto a table. I had two options. Call my boyfriend or my brother... Or a third. The turtles.

I was in a state of shock. That's what turned my mind to the turtles. Nothing else. But... what Splinter said...

Thomas would help me, but he'd then proceed to making mom and dad pay for a body guard for me. I did not need that. So... Maybe my parents were rich. They'd most certainly get a body guard for me. And I'm sure Max would tell Thomas and it would be the same outcome. I did not want a body guard.

The turtles it is.

I couldn't believe the amount of blood I was losing, I hold my arm tight to my shirt as I walk to my alley. I lift the manhole cover with many struggles and then, taking a deep breath, I head down to the blackness. Confident I could get around in the dark. I remembered the way.

I start my way there, starting to feel light headed. I see the light from their 'lair,' as they call it, and I walk in. Two humans are sitting on the couch, watching TV. The turtles are scattered around the couch watching too, obviously not hearing my entry.

I was a little scared to say anything so I work up my courage and before I can bring it back down again. I'm able to say it. "Could I have a little help?"

*v*

Michelangelo's POV

Hey, that's Artemis's voice! I turn and my siblings seem to see her at the same time, as we all let out a little gasp. A cut it on her left cheek across the bone and there is bruising in the form of a hand on either side of her jaw. Blood stained her black shirt and was all over her arm. It looked like she had been in a battle.

Raphael is the first one to go over, quickly followed by the rest of us.

"Get her to my lab." Don instructs, Raph wastes no time in picking up little Artemis. She lets out a gasp at the sudden movement and closes her eyes.

"April, Casey, stay with her the whole time so she won't freak out too much." Don instructs.

Raph sets her down on a steel table and she jumps, my guess is cause the metal is cold. Artemis looks at her arm and keeps muttering about Thomas, body guard, Max and parents. No idea what's going through her mind.

"Leo, can you go get a bucket full of water?" Don instructs. Leo rushes off to do so. "Uh, Raph, there's a sewing needle in the drawer over there." Don points. Raph goes and grabs it. "Now string... It's up there."

Artemis's face shows no sign of pain, just her constant muttering is getting on my nerves. April and Casey are sitting on either side of her, they keep exchanging worried glances. We all exchange one as she says much louder.

"Argh, damn guns." She practically hisses.

"She's in shock Mikey, think you can distract her? Ask her about something." Don says as Raph hands him the thread.

"Hey, Arty?" I ask, waving a hand in front of her face. She snaps out of it.

"Arty?" She asks.

"Your knew nickname." I reply. "Any way, who's this Thomas and Max you keep muttering about?"

"Thomas is my older brother." Arty says in a duh tone. "Max is my boyfriend."

"Keep going Mikey," Don says as Leo comes back.

They get to work on Arty's arm, cleaning it up.

"Uh huh, so you're already taken?" I ask, feigning sadness.

She giggles in a child like way.

"Tell me about him." April says softly.

"He's too tall," Arty scrunches up her nose. "Everyone is too tall." She adds.

April, Casey and I laugh at that.

"What else?" April asks.

"Max has brown eyes and blonde hair and he cooks for me because I can't cook an- OW!" She yelps, looking down at her arm which Don was stitching up. "Donatello that hurts." She whispers.

"How old is she now?" Casey asks.

"I'm eighteen!" Arty states proudly. Like it was a great achievement. "Max and Thomas say I have the mind of an eight year old. Besides when I'm thrust into difficult situations."

"Like what happened with your arm...?" Raph asks.

She shivers. "I was walking home and some men pulled me into an alley. Stole some money and some things from my purse. The one pulled out a gun and said if I wanted to live I had to go back there tomorrow and 10 pm sharp with five thousand dollars."

"Arty, how aren't you crying?" April asks, looking astounded. "I mean, for the 'mind of an eight year old' you're taking this well."

Arty shrugs. "People have threatened me before. It happens when your parents are rich."

She had sobered up from her child like state, that's for sure.

Her blue eyes went back to her arm. "Donatello?"

"Yes Artemis?" Donatello replies.

"Can you please be faster?" Arty huffs, being all dramatic like. "I need to go get the five thousand dollars."

"Whoa there, you aren't giving them five thousand dollars Artemis." Leo says. "They'll keep coming back for more money. Call the police."

"I can't do that, my parents will send me a body guard. I am not having a body guard." Arty says, a little fire in her eyes like she was ready for an argument.

"Then we'll take care o' them." Raph smirks, pulling out his sais and twirling them in his hands.

"What are those?" Arty asks, pointing to Raph's sais, she looked quite curious.

"They're sais," Raph hands one to her which she takes in her free hand. I look at Raph curiously, since when did he hand his weapon to people? She looks over it.

"It's not a special dagger?" Arty frowns.

I laugh. "Do you know any weapons?"

"No." She frowns. "Should I?"

"She clearly can't defend herself." Raph snorts, taking back his sai. "I can't imagine her holding a weapon."

Don finishes stitching up her arm and starts cleaning the blood off her face and neck. Casey inspecting the bruise on her jaw, she kept flinching away from the two of them.

"Stop moving." Donnie says. "You're making this harder." I notice Don gently grab her face and she jumps back, her eyes flashing with pain.

Casey proceeds to touching the bruise. "Does that hurt?" Arty nods to his question. "This looks like Purple Dragon work." Casey says.

"Beat down tomorrow night?" Raph asks Leo, and Leo nods.

Don finishes up with the cut on her cheek, no stitches, just a band aid. Arty slides down off the table and wobbles a bit, so April steadies her. Arty looks at her arm and frowns, the stitches were done in a black thread and she didn't seem to like them very much.

"When will they come off?" She asks.

"When I take them out." Don replies.

"I don't like them." Arty states.

"Well you need them." Don retorts.

"Are you going to stay here for a little while?" I ask hopefully. "We're watching movies tonight."

"What movie?" Arty tilts her head.

"We were going to start Transformers." Casey says.

"I'm up for that." Arty smiles a bit.

*v*

April's POV

Artemis was cute. Instantly I saw her as a friend. She was like a kid and an adult mashed into one person. I liked the nickname Arty, and I was definitely going to end up using it. She sat in between Mikey and I on the couch.

She ended up falling asleep on Mikey.

"What do I do!?" Mikey whisper yells, her head on his shoulder.

"Don't wake her up." I reply.

"Let's put her in bed." Don suggests.

"Who's bed?" I ask. "You are not putting her in a messy room."

"So anyone's room besides Mikey's?" Leo smiles.

"Uh, yeah. Definitely." I laugh lightly.

Mikey moves his arm, in a fast jerking motion, managing to hit her and wake her up. She looks around before realization dawns on her face. We all glare at Mikey.

"Sorry!" Mikey exclaims.

"Here." Leo pushes Mikey out of the way and takes his place.

"How's your arm?" Don asks her.

"It hurts." She murmurs tiredly.

"Go back to sleep." I say softly. "You need it."

"Hey, April, I've got to go. Are you going to come with me or stay the night at the turtles?" Casey asks.

"I'm going to stay the night here, with Arty." I reply, yup, there's the nickname.

"Alright." Casey kisses my cheek and collects the movies before leaving. Arty had already fallen back asleep, leaning on Leo this time. I was surprised how okay she was with them, it took me a while to get used to them. Her body is covered in goose bumps so I drape a blanket over her.

"I'd say to put her in my room," Don says. "But I've got some things in there I don't want anyone touching really. It could break."

"We can put her in mine." Leo says.

"Or mine." Raph adds. "I'm not tired, I'm not gonna sleep much any way."

"Raph's it is." I smile, standing up.

"Mine isn't that messy..." Mikey mutters, getting up and walking off.

Don says a quick goodnight before leaving too. I stand up and Raph walks over, picking up little Arty with ease. Leo, Raph and I walk to Raph's room. It is surprisingly clean. I pull back the blanket and Raph sets her down. I put the blanket back and over her.

"You can have my bed April." Leo says when we leave the room.

"Thanks Leo." I smile. "See you in the morning?"

"Yeah. Have a goodnight." Leo nods.

"You too." I reply, walking into his room and climbing into bed.

Not sure how I feel about this chapter. Tell me what you guys think!