A/N: I know the story has been slow, but I promise that it will pick up soon. Some relationship development in this chap, so I hope you enjoy! Please read and review :) Action soon to come!

Through April's connections, she did find a new apartment. She closed her month to month lease with the other apartment and arranged for her belongings to be moved to the new place. Raph and Don had done a quick inspection at her new place while Leo and Mikey did an inspection of her old place to make sure no one was monitoring her move. It would do no good to have a name with an alias if the gunman simply watched where she went.

The move went smoothly and all of her things were boxed ready to be unpacked at her new place. As planned, she went back to the lair. Don met her at the ladder and escorted her back. She gathered up her things quietly and then stacked them against the wall. She walked up to Leo first and he arched an eye ridge at her, but kept silent.

"Thank you." She held out her hand. He looked at it a moment as if considering rejecting it, but did take her hand and shook it once and let go abruptly.

"You're welcome." He said and stepped back, letting Mikey butt in.

"Bye, Tim!" He bear hugged her again. "Maybe you can watch another tournament sometime." He offered. Her eyes flicked over to Leo and could tell immediately he disapproved. She smiled at Mikey and patted his shoulder. She stepped over to Raph. He, too, had ignored her, but not out of spite. He simply had other things to do and wasn't too interested in T'mana. He waved and nodded at her whenever she came into a room and occasionally addressed her in idle conversation, but for the most part, they did not interact.

"Goodbye, Raphael." She said.

"Bye. Take care." He grumbled. She went to grab her things and Don began walking her to the ladder. Leo followed them.

"Don." He said. Don turned. "She left some items in the bathroom. Can you go grab them?" Don frowned, wondering why Leo didn't just bring them himself, but did as his brother asked. Leo waited until Don appeared to be out of earshot.

"Your new place…it has good security?" He asked her. She blinked.

"Yes. There's a doorman and I also installed an alarm system." Leo nodded and looked behind him again briefly.

"It was nice to meet you, T'mana." He said. "Take care of yourself." He stepped back and turned before she could acknowledge what he said. As if on cue, Don appeared carrying a tube of toothpaste. He watched Leo stalk away as he awkwardly handed her the tube.

"I guess this is what he was talking about." Don said. T'mana looked at it and saw that it wasn't hers. But she took it with a thank you and looked at Leo with new eyes. He had wanted to part well and she appreciated that more than he could know. Her admiration for him grew even more. She turned and allowed Don to walk her to the ladder again. When they reached it, Don spoke.

"Listen," Don said. "If you need help, call. Okay? You still have my number?" She nodded that she did. "Good. If you need anything, let me know."

"Thank you, Don." She said. "I appreciate that."

"I'll do a few patrols every now and again to keep an eye out." He said warmly. "But I'm available most times." She did something she did not often do on her own free will. She was not, by nature, a friendly outgoing person. She wasn't rude, but definitely reserved physically. But Don warranted more than a stoic goodbye and she wanted to show him her appreciation in a way he could understand. She stepped closer and pulled him into a gentle embrace. He returned it tentatively and patted her back once.

"Thanks for everything. You went out of your way to make me feel welcome and safe and I won't forget that. I wish there was something I could do for you." She said.

"Just keep yourself safe. That would make me feel better." T'mana smiled.

"Goodbye." She stepped away towards the ladder.

"Goodbye, T'mana." She climbed and went to her new apartment.

Several weeks passed and she fell into her original routine again. She dove into work. Anything to keep her mind off the gunman and the turtles. She found herself missing the turtles. They had added some adventure and unpredictability that she found acceptable and pleasant. They didn't frighten her, but they kept her guessing. She wondered if they thought of her at all. She decided they probably didn't. She remembered that they often helped people and she was just one of many. She couldn't hope to be as unique to them as they were to her.

She was walking home from work. It was much closer now and her hours were earlier so she didn't have to walk home in the dark most of the time. Except in the winter months, when the sun would set earlier. Today had been a good day. She had been promoted. It wasn't a large jump up, but it was progress and she did get a raise. She stepped inside, carrying her bags of groceries. She had planned a feast and was going to invite Guy over to celebrate.

She set down the bags and paused. She sniffed the air and thought she smelled gas. Her heart rate jumped immediately. She called Guy.

"Hey, Tim. I'm kind of in the middle of something just now."

"I think I smell gas, Guy. In my apartment…can you come over?" T'mana tried to keep the panic out of her voice and tell herself that she could handle this.

"Call a repairman. They'll actually know what they're doing. And I'm really swamped right now."

"You can't come over later? I had some news…"

"What news?"

"I got promoted." She mumbled, her joy quickly being replaced by disappointment and fear.

"That's great, Tim. Look, call a repairman. We'll do something tomorrow. Okay? Call to let me know how it goes. I really have to get back to it, Tim."

"Okay." He hung up. She sniffed again and was sure she could smell it. The thought of a strange repairman in her home did not sit well with her. She knew the longer she waited the worse it could be. She could be breathing deadly fumes or they could explode if something sparked, like static electricity. She stepped onto the kitchen tile at this thought and bit her lip. She was going to look through the white pages when her phone rang. She answered out of reflex, but didn't speak. She was trying to think who would be calling her.

"T'mana?" Came the greeting.

"Donatello?" She asked.

"Yeah, I was just checking to see how you are."

"Really?" T'mana was shocked at the timing.

"Well, Leo and I were curious about everything and he suggested I call."

"Leo did?"

"Yeah, but I was talking about you and he suggested it." Don seemed to want her to know that it was partially his idea, too.

"Well, it's sort of extraordinary that you're calling now. I think I smell gas in my apartment…um…do you know any reputable repairmen? I'm afraid to pick a random one…" She felt this was the best approach. She didn't directly ask him to come over and he could choose how to handle it.

"You still at the same place?" He asked. She could hear clanking in the background.

"Yes. Same place."

"I'll be there in a bit. I'm just getting my tools. Okay? Sit tight." He hung up the phone and relief rushed in along with the dial tone. She was afraid to move and cause a spark, so she stayed where she was until she heard a tapping on her balcony window. She carefully stepped over and let Don in.

"Hello." He said with a smile.

"Hello." She replied. "Thanks for coming." He noted her fear.

"Hey, it's okay. Don't worry." He sniffed. "I smell it too, but it's small. Do you have gas heat?"

"Um…" Don shook his head with a calm smile.

"Mind if I look around?"

"No, go ahead. Whatever you need." He walked around and sniffed and located the stove as the source of the leak.

"Why don't you keep the glass door open and close the screen door. Open your bedroom window, too. Do you have any fans? I'd let to get some circulation in here." T'mana set to work as he first located and then patched the pipe that was leaking. It took him an hour to fix the pipe and when he was done, he was sweaty and his hands were full of some dark residue. T'mana showed him to the bathroom and gave him fresh linens to refresh with. He returned and leaned on the kitchen table.

"Is it fixed already?" She asked.

"Yes, you're all set. What's all this for?" He asked, pointing to all the groceries.

"Oh…It was for…well…a celebration." She shrugged, clearly no longer in a celebratory mood.

"Oh? What are you celebrating?"

"I got promoted." Don beamed.

"That's great! Hey, congratulations, T'mana!" He clapped a hand on her shoulder. "Feels good, huh? Getting recognized for your hard work?" She smiled, his enthusiasm catching her.

"Yes." She agreed. "And since you mention it…would you care to stay for dinner? It's the least I can do since you saved my life yet again." Don chuckled.

"You don't have to do that." Don shuffled.

"I'd like to though. I'm going to cook it anyway. I'll just have to eat it for two weeks if you don't help me." Don bit his lip and looked out the window.

"Maybe I can stay for a bite." He agreed. She set to cooking. "Can I help? You're the one who was promoted after all."

"Ah, but you fixed my stove, so it's my turn. I'm not exactly a great cook, but I do have one specialty. So you like homemade chicken chowder?"

"Chicken chowder? I have no idea, but it sounds great."

"Take a seat." He sat down at the table while she prepared the food. "So how have you been? And your brothers?"

"We're good. Same old same old."

"Nothing exciting happening?"

"No. I like this time of year though. When the leaves change."

"I agree. Central Park is beautiful this time of year. It's just cold enough to cocoon yourself in a blanket and settle in with a good book, but not freeze your fingers off."

"Don't like the cold? I love the snow. Sometimes we go shell sledding."

"What?" T'mana laughed, imaging the turtles tobogganing on their shells down a snowy hill.

"Yeah. See we lay on our backs and slide ourselves down. Raph is really good at pushing. You'll get air if he pushes hard enough and the snow isn't smooth."

"Don't you freeze?"

"Yeah. But it's worth it. We're cold blooded so we lose heat really fast, but winter is my favorite time of the year. When you come upon an untouched place it looks like a dream. Icicles dripping down and snow coating everything smoothly in a bright white blanket. It's so peaceful."

"I can't get past the cold. I wonder every year why I stay where we can get up to two feet of snow in a single storm. Why don't I live in Arizona or California?"

"Because you're definitely not a west coaster."

"No?"

"No. Do you rollerblade? Because that's how everyone gets around over there." T'mana chuckled.

"Have you ever been to the west coast?"

"No…"

"Well then I think you watch too many movies. Plenty of car driving out that way, I assure you." They talked for a while as she cooked and finally served it in a large bowl garnished with colorful parsley.

"Well this looks great." Don complimented.

"Presentation is only a small part. Hopefully it tastes good, too." She brought a spoonful to her mouth and blew on it to cool it down. Don did the same and took a bite. His eyes closed slowly.

"This is amazing." He said. He quickly took another bite. "Oh, wow. Chicken chowder? How do you get it creamy like this?" T'mana smiled.

"My secret. I'm glad you like it. It's one of Guy's favorites." She blurted. Don set his spoon down and dabbed his mouth with a napkin.

"Is Guy coming later? To celebrate?" T'mana's eyes slid from him to her bowl.

"He's very busy with work and can't leave. But we're doing something tomorrow."

"That's good! But he doesn't get your famous chowder, huh?"

"I could have waited, but I wanted it today." She smiled.

"Glad I got to benefit." He took another healthy bite. When they were finished he helped her with the dishes.

"Thanks again for coming, Don. I hope I didn't get you in trouble or anything."

"Trouble?"

"Well…I think Leo would prefer-"

"Leo would be fine with this." He interrupted.

"Would be? So he doesn't know." T'mana said archly.

"Well…I didn't exactly tell him where I was going. He doesn't know I talked to you yet."

"Hmmm." T'mana said knowingly. "Like I said, I hope I didn't get you into trouble."

"It's fine." Don insisted. "He wouldn't want you hurt or anything."

"I didn't say that he did." T'mana said abruptly. She ruffled at the hidden accusation that she insulted Leo.

"I just meant that Leo may be rough on the outside, but he really does want to help people."

"I picked up on that, too." T'mana allowed, much calmer. "So he's doing well?"

"Yeah. He is so pumped about this concert. It's still like a month away, but he keeps playing the music all through the lair. He and Raph are very excited."

"Aren't you going? You and Mikey?"

"Oh yeah. We're all going. It'll be fun. But I don't think I'm as into the band as they are." He rolled his eyes. "He and Raph actually argued for an hour over which was their best song. Honestly, it's like he's a teenager again. Raph argues anyway, but Leo?" Don shook his head. "It's actually quite amusing." He moved to the door to leave. It was cold in her place now.

"You can close the windows now. It circulated out. The fan, too." He pointed to it. T'mana nodded.

"Thanks again, Don. I appreciate you coming out here to help me."

"You're welcome. Anytime. Don't hesitate to call." He turned to go, but hesitated. "Congratulations again. Have fun tomorrow with Guy."

"Thanks! It should be nice." He took the fire escape and waved one more time. She closed all the windows, turned off the fan, packed up the leftovers and decided to keep them for herself. Guy didn't need to know she made it.

T'mana felt that she had finally unpacked everything . It took her a while to unpack because finding the right place for each item was an important decision that T'mana put great thought into. The process had taken about two months, but looking around, she still felt ill at ease. This was not her home yet. It always took time breaking a new place in. Since she moved out from her mother's five years ago, it always took T'mana a while to settle in. But then, she had also been in five different places, so she supposed she never really had a true home after she left her mother. And now, after everything she had been through in the past few months, she did not want to feel uneasy any more. She had moved to feel safe and it didn't seem to be working quickly enough for her. The fact that she had used a 'pseudo' name when renting the apartment should have quieted her nerves…it being harder to track her down now. But still…she was jumpy. Something about tonight made her very anxious. More so than other nights.

She sighed. She went to her bedroom and dug under her bed. Now T'mana was as orderly and clean as a human could be without having a mental disorder and still she placed this one item under her bed. She pulled it out now and held it to her. The soft skin of the bag pliable and comforting in her hands. She didn't really believe in the old ways. She believed in the Spirit World and nature and harmony, but not so much the practices or ceremonies of her people. And yet, she kept this bag with her. Her mother had given it to her when she first moved out. 'To keep you safe on your journey.' Her mother had said. It was a medicine bag. At the time, T'mana had dismissed it and flung it in her suitcase and forgotten about it. When she found it again, she didn't throw it away. She told herself that she wanted to be able to present it to her mother if her mother should ever bring it up. Really, she wanted to keep something of her mother's nearby. Crazy as she was, her mother was a good woman with a kind heart and T'mana now fondly remembered the stories and rituals her mother had drilled into her as a child.

The bag was no larger than a pocket watch. It contained a feather, that she may be able to take flight when she needed to, a small stone from the Black Hills that her ancestor's spirits would guide her, sand from the Hudson waters that her father would always be with her and a small piece of blue cloth with three wavy lines indicating her element: water. Each item was meant for protection, but also for strength. Her mother always told her that water flowed with the changes of the land, but also could carve its own way when needed. Water was persistent and could wear down an object in its way. Her mother used to tell her to call upon these traits in time of need. That the Earth always had the answer if you knew where to look.

Well, she was looking now. She gripped the bag tightly trying to figure out how to call upon water, when it hit her. Call. Of course! T'mana blushed and began to stuff the medicine bag back under the bed, but then hesitated. She took it out and put it in her pocket. Maybe the spirits couldn't hurt right now. She went to her cell phone and dialed Guy's number. He picked up after five rings and it was very loud.

"Hello?" Guy answered. Clearly he didn't look at his caller ID.

"Guy, it's me." She tried to hide the tremor in her voice. She really didn't want to be alone tonight and it was becoming more urgent as time passed. Almost like a countdown.

"Oh, hey, Tim. What's up?" His voice went fuzzy, but she could still hear. "Right back atcha."

"Guy?"

"Still here. What's up?"

"Can you come over?" She hoped she didn't sound too desperate.

"Well, I'm kinda in the middle of somethin' just now. Can it wait?"

"Um…yeah. Sure. But would you be able to come over later?"

"Tonight? Probably not, babe." Babe? "I've got this thing I can't get out of. You remember Jeanie? It's her birthday. Office politics and all. If I leave now, I'll look like a real jack, you know?"

"Oh. Okay." In the back of her mind, she wondered if there was something going on with Guy and Jeanie. Then she pushed it down deeper and ignored it in favor of her current escalating panic attack.

"Hey, Tim?"

"Yeah?"

"I kinda have to go now. It's sorta rude to be on the phone at a party."

"Right. Sorry."

"No problem. I'll see you, okay? Bye now." And then he hung up. Okay. She hadn't really been afraid before, but now she was. The apartment seemed suddenly hostile and threatening and each noise hinted at a predator. She double checked all the locks and closed the blinds and dimmed the lights. Then she turned the lights back up because she didn't like the dark just now.

"Grow up, T." She told herself firmly. "You're old enough to live on your own and not be afraid of the dark." She tried watching TV, but kept putting it on mute because she thought she heard something. Now she was completely unpacked, she needed to live here now. Alone. Being alone was less appealing than it had been to her. She felt the lump in her pocket, and then had an idea. She picked her phone again and dialed. This phone also took five rings to answer.

"Hello?" The voice was low and suspicious.

"Donnie?" She asked.

"Who is this?" Still suspicion and a bit of demand. Clearly not Donatello.

"Um…this is T'mana. May I please speak with Donatello?" She heard a sigh on the other end.

"This is Leo." T'mana blushed. Uh-oh. Had she just gotten Don in trouble?

"Hello!" She tried to sound cheerful, but probably failed miserably. "How are you?"

"Fine." He answered. His tone was actually amiable even though only one word. But she could also hear question in his voice.

"I was just wondering if Don could come over tonight."

"He can't. He's not at home right now."

"Oh." Her voice clearly sounding her disappointment. "Thanks. It wasn't anything important. You don't need to tell him I called or anything."

"I'll be right there." She wasn't sure she heard correctly.

"Sorry?"

"Just give me ten minutes." Dial tone. She flipped her phone closed and then stared at it. Relief flooded in. She wouldn't be alone. She knew Leo didn't like her very much. More tolerated her than anything else, but she liked him. Very much. She always got so flustered around him. Donnie was easy to be with. Mikey, too. Even Raph wasn't too bad. A little rough around the edges, but he liked a good time like the next person. But Leo was a different type all together. She couldn't figure him out. He was just like a warrior out of her mother's stories. So brave and fearless. Unreal. She didn't think people like that were actually possible, but Leo was living proof.

And, true to his word, no more than ten minutes later was a tap on her window. She was there in a flash to let him in. She knew it was raining and had a towel ready for him. He stepped in and stared at the towel a moment before he took it and began to wipe himself down.

"Thanks." He said.

"Thank you. For coming." She couldn't hide the relief in her voice, so she went to the kitchen to prattle about a little. "Can I get you something to drink? Or eat?"

"I'm fine." He wiped his feet down and then held onto the soiled towel. Not wanting to step onto the immaculate carpet or drop the towel anywhere it would cause a mess. The towel was sopping and full of mud. It was raining very heavily outside. T'mana walked right up to him and grabbed the towel out of his hand without a care and waved him in.

"Please come in." She gestured to the couch and put the towel in the sink and washed her hands. He stepped in slowly and looked around. He hadn't been inside this apartment.

"Nice place." He offered.

"Thanks." She said again. She stepped out of the kitchen and now they both looked at each other. "Thank you for coming out, really. I know it was far and raining."

"I'm a turtle." He said and gave her a rare smile that sent her heart fluttering. She laughed a little.

"So what's Donnie up to tonight? I hope I didn't interrupt anything you had going."

"Donnie's out. I wasn't doing anything important." He looked around again and turned a little. T'mana frowned as she saw something sticking to his shell. She walked up to him and Leo turned into her, surprised at her sudden proximity. Then she plucked the thing off his shell and looked at it.

"Aw, man." Leo grumbled. "Are there any more? I'm going to kill Mikey. And then Raph, for egging him on." He was turning to look into a decorative mirror she had hanging to see if there were anymore. But T'mana was looking at the thing in her hand. It was a sticker with the name of a band and a date. Today's date.

"Oh my gosh." She whispered. He turned to her to see what was the matter.

"What?"

"The concert." She said. "It's tonight." She looked up at him accusingly. The concert that they had been talking about. It was the one thing since T'mana had met him that seemed to make him happy. That made him seem alive. And he was missing it. He looked back at her with that stoic face and said nothing.

"Can you get back in?" She asked.

"No. They lock down once the band starts playing. You can leave but you can't get back in." He spoke dispassionately and continued to peruse her apartment. And in that moment, it hit her like a ton of bricks. Every time she had needed someone lately, he had been there. The pillow in the car, Donnie calling to check on her by his suggestion, and tonight. Her own boyfriend couldn't be bothered to leave a party, but Leo had left something he had been waiting for years for because…

"Why?" She asked. "You didn't even know what I wanted…you didn't even ask! You just…came. I mean, it could have been something stupid that could have waited! I'm so sorry!" He turned to look at her and saw she was very upset.

"It's just a concert." He said softly. But she heard the rest in her head, what he didn't say out loud: you're more important. It moved something in her and broke her heart at the same time. Maybe she had misread his distance? Looking back, she recalled every time he had engaged her and it was always to give her comfort if only in his stoic, unmoving way.

"Well…maybe it's playing live on TV?" She walked over to the coffee table and picked up the remote, then handed it to him. "Try to find it, okay? I'll be right back." She grabbed her phone and left the room for a moment.

Leo was baffled. He didn't really want to watch the concert on TV. The point of a concert was to be there. To feel the music in your bones and blow your ears out so they ring for a day or two after. It's about being in a crowded room with people who love the music the same way you do and for that moment that's all that exists. You didn't get that by watching TV. But he obliged and did find that it was playing. She came back out and sat on the couch, indicating that he should do so as well.

"So…" She began. "Why didn't you ask what I wanted? I mean…what if I just needed Don to fix something for me?" He kept his eyes on the TV.

"No. I could tell you were upset."

"You could?"

"Yeah. Your voice gave it away." He looked at her. "Nervous about the new place?" She blushed.

"Something about tonight." She admitted. "Sorry." He looked away, back to the TV.

"Don't be." He didn't even comment that she had been moved in for almost two months. They watched the concert in silence for a while and then the doorbell rang. Leo was on his feet in a flash.

"It's okay." She said. "Expected." She went to the door and then turned to tell him to get out of sight, but he was already gone. She hoped he hadn't left for real.

"$22.95." The pizza deliveryman said. She handed him $27 and told him to keep the change. She closed the door and set the pizza on the coffee table. Leo came out and saw the pizza. She was already at the fridge and pulling out bottles.

"What…?" He began.

"Well…it's the least I can do. Feed you, right?" She tossed him a bottle. He looked at it. Beer. And good beer. Not the cheap stuff. He raised an eye ridge at her. She was already on the couch, her beer popped and smoking. She took a long swig and then grabbed the remote and turned the volume way up. "My neighbors are gone." She talk-shouted. He stared, not knowing what to make of this new situation. She raised her bottle and gestured to his. "Come on." She coaxed. "Live a little." She took another healthy swallow and then grabbed a slice of pizza.

He popped the beer top, but didn't drink. Instead, he grabbed a piece of pizza as he set his beer down. She watched him, a small smile on her face. She came over to sit by him and he scooted to make more room between them.

"Still on duty, officer?" She asked.

"Always." He answered. She grabbed his beer, no longer smiling and held it to him.

"Everyone deserves a night off. You were planning on enjoying the concert tonight, right? So enjoy it!" He looked at the beer as if it were a challenge. He could almost hear Raph behind him shouting 'chug it, chug it, chug it.' One night. One night in two years. He was allowed that, wasn't he? Almost in defiance, he grabbed the beer and took a swig. T'mana smiled and patted him on the shell.

They settled into eat-drink mode. But when they were finished with the pizza, they just sat watching the concert. She could see Leo's foot tapping. So T'mana did something she would not have done without assistance from the four beers she had guzzled down in a very short period of time. She wasn't slur-drunk, but very confident and free. The next song was one she knew, so she stood up and began to sing along with it. Leo stared at her, as he had been doing all night it seems because she was acting very unusual. Not in a bad way, just unexpected. But he couldn't help but smile because she couldn't carry a tune to save her soul. Yet here she was, singing along and laughing and dancing. By herself. But soon, she realized this, too and came over to drag Leo up. He resisted, of course. But the next song that they played was his favorite and it seemed to be one T'mana knew, too. So he started to sing along quietly, and then T'mana smiled so brightly, excited that he was joining her, that he started to belt out the words, too. Soon, they were singing along to the chorus and laughing when the other missed the words. At the height of his drunken euphoria, he got up on the couch's edge and sang along pretending that his beer bottle was a microphone. T'mana clapped and hooted as a devoted fan would.

It did her heart so much good to see Leo in such an energized mood. And to know that she had brought him to it. She couldn't remember the last time she had been so happy. The concert was ending now and Leo collapsed into the couch and so did she. She turned down the volume, then noticed all the bottles and napkins on her coffee table. She began to clear them. Leo sat up and started to help her.

"You can just set them on the counter, the bottles. I haven't gotten a recycling bin just yet." She saw, with pleasure, that he lined them up in even rows. Then they both sat on the couch and an awkward silence fell. After five minutes of nothingness and T'mana glancing at the clock to see that it was almost one in the morning, Leo stood, taking her glance as a subtle hint for him to remove himself from her home.

"Want to watch some TV?" T'mana asked abruptly. She didn't want him to leave. She didn't want the night to end. It was so nice having him there and she hadn't been afraid in hours.

"Sure." He said, surprised. "Can I use your uh…"

"Oh, yeah. It's the second door on the left." She pointed down the hall. She found a channel that was playing Wings. A 90s TV show that she grew up watching.

"Oh, I used to love this show." Leo said, when he returned. "It was the one thing Donnie and I would watch together. He usually preferred science fiction stuff, but he liked the flying stuff, too."

"Yeah. Lot of good characters, too."

She woke quietly and found herself leaning on Leo with her head on his plastron. She didn't move. His arm was around her and his feet were stretched out onto the coffee table. His head was back and his mouth hung open slightly. But no snoring. She glanced at the clock without moving her head and saw that it was only 4:30 am, so she closed her eyes and went back to sleep.

She awoke again with a slight jerk and gasp, this time waking Leo.

"You okay?" He asked in a sleep voice that meant he wasn't completely coherent yet. But still she was the first thing he asked about. That was nice. She sat up.

"Fine." She said. He stretched and looked at her.

"You don't seem fine." He waited a moment. "Still dreaming?" She nodded her head.

"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you." He smiled a little.

"I don't sleep. I rest my eyes." She stood up and went to the kitchen to make coffee. He followed her, feeling that she was distraught and trying to get her mind off of it. "Is it the same dream?" She stopped and set a mug down.

"Yes and no. Would you like tea or coffee?"

"What do you mean, yes and no?"

"I mean…it's the same, but different. I…watch him die every night. Sometimes two or three times. Coffee, then?"

"T'mana…"

"It starts off the same. In the alleyway." She gave up trying to distract herself. "The gunman fires and the man collapses. I see every detail. But then, sometimes, the gunman turns his gun on me. That's the best one. Because it's quick. But usually, he just chases me. I end up in the sewer. But sometimes Raph doesn't come. And the gunman …takes his time. But then, sometimes he does come and I fall on you, like I did. And when Raph drags him in, he's still alive. And he kills all of you first, leaving me for last…and he…takes his time…" Her hand was shaking as she tried to put the coffee grounds in the maker. "But look!" She said, pointing at the clock. "It's nine o'clock. That means I slept for seven hours. Seven! I only sleep two hours at a time on a good night and usually only get about four a night. But seven! And only one dream…just one."

He wanted to wrap his arms around her and tell her that nothing and no one would ever hurt her again. But he didn't. He wouldn't. Instead, he pulled away.

"They'll fade." He lied. "Everything gets better with time." He touched her hand. "I'm sure Guy and your mother will help you through it. But I should go. My brothers will be wondering where I am. I did have a great time. I think it's the best concert I've been to." She smiled. Coming from Leo, that was quite a compliment and she couldn't help but take it to heart.

"I'm glad. It was nice to see you smile so much. You're always the fierce warrior. It's okay to let your guard down."

"I can't do that. I-"

"It's okay. I know. I remember who you remind me of." She said. He raised an eye ridge.

"I remind you of someone?"

"Not a real someone. But a legend."

"I remind you of a legend?"

"Yes. My mother told it to me when I was very young, I had forgotten it until now." She saw that his curiosity was peaked and decided to delve into the tale. "See, I'm Lakota Sioux. Oglala to be exact. And we have a legend that my people have told for hundreds of years. My mother told it to me. She wanted me to remember where I came from." She fingered her medicine bag and pulled it out of her pocket. She continued. "There was once a turtle chief who became angry with the human tribes. The humans were killing too many of his people and he had to put a stop to it. So one day, he gathered his warriors and decided to go on the warpath. He convinced his warriors because they knew they had to protect themselves and keep their families safe. So the turtle chief led his war party to the humans. Upon seeing the turtles, the humans ran to grab them. Thinking to use their shells and bones for jewelry and their bodies for soup.

Both sides fought bravely, but the human chief ended up triumphing and capturing the war party. Out of respect for the turtle chief, the human chief allowed a trial to be set. One human warrior cried that the turtles ought to be burned. The turtle chief said he would proudly do so. The human chief decided that the turtles would want this in order to scatter the ash to burn the humans. Another human suggested boiling. The turtle chief said he would be proud to do so. But the human chief knew the turtles would spatter the scalding water on them, so he declined this. Another human cried out that they should all be drowned. At this, the warrior turtle begged and pleaded for his life and his tribe. The human chief, thinking himself mighty, knew he had found the punishment that the turtle finally feared.

So they were all tossed into the river to drown, and in this way the turtle chief saved his tribe as they all swam away to safety on the other side of the river bank." She fell silent. "See…you're the turtle chief from the story. You will do anything to protect your family. Go to war, outsmart your enemy or even appear a coward. But you will always be the chief. Never letting your guard down even when it may seem hopeless. And seeing anyone outside your tribe as a threat." She paused letting her words sink in. "I think you're very brave and very smart. I admire and respect you, but I understand if you can't feel the same way." She held out her hand.

He stared at her hand. Not knowing what to think. He was very flattered that she had compared him to such a story, but she was giving him far more credit than was due. And she kept getting too close. He kept letting her in. He enjoyed her company more than was good for him. The best thing to do, as he had been saying to himself this whole time, was to not see her anymore. Unfortunately, with her connection to Don, she kept cropping up. And he kept putting himself in her path. He wanted her. The way a child wants a toy. To have something for himself for once. But it couldn't work. She couldn't know him. At least this way…she admired him. He had to stop it now. So he took her hand.

"It isn't personal." He said.

"I know." They released hands. "I'll stop coming around. I promise. I…don't want to bother you." He wanted to tell her she wasn't a bother, but he didn't.

"I would appreciate the distance. But if you are ever truly in danger, you can call us for help." He turned and opened the window door and stepped out.

"Thank you, Brother Turtle." She said softly, not knowing that Leo heard it as he dropped down. Giving him something else to ponder.