I never thought I would ever get this far! I'm so lucky to have such awesome readers! So I started working on this one, admittedly later than I said I would, but I had to really think about this one, and the first time few times I wrote it turned out to be crap. And I'm sorry for the time gaps, I'm trying to fill that in by having Leslie explain what happens. Oh, and I'd like to add that this story had absolutely nothing to do with the main storyline of the series, just letting you guys know that, meaning new villains and whatnot.

I'd like to thank, cariomario123, Guess (I'm still curious as to who you are), FanO'theNinja121, Cheetara7 and Cheshakyatto (who has reviewed several chapter before to me personally, but has been unable to review via ).

I do NOT own TMNT.

I do however own Leslie, Po, and Georgia.

Chapter Six: Not Letting Go

"So, wait," the orange masked turtle before me questions with the sense of disbelief. "You don't know how to fight?!"

I roll my eyes attempting to find my place in the book Donatello lent me. "Michelangelo is it? Yes, I don't know how to fight. Guns and knives usually get the point across. Unless they're thugs, they don't exactly put up a fight."

I hear a disgusted sound and another turtle mutant stomps pasts us. The one in red. They one Georgia takes to following around. Speaking of the blind girl, she scampers past rattling nonsense off in her accented voice. It's only been a few hours since we left my old home, and I've already damaged the amount of time I can stay here. The only two that has talked to me have been Donatello, though he seems reluctant to do so, and this fool, Michelangelo.

"Dude, we totally got to teach you how to really fight!" the boyish turtle laughs. It hurts my ears.

"One, I'm not a dude, and two, I won't be staying for much longer," I snap, giving up on trying to find my place.

"Don't be so hasty, young one," an elderly voice scolds, making my eye twitch. The stupid rat is back. "It seems the path you have chosen is leading you into the darker shadows, perhaps it would be best for you to stay here for a little longer."

"Booyakasha! Now the only thing to make this victory better would be pizza!"

I pinch the bridge of my nose and stand. These freaks think they're doing me a favor. It's all wrong. I don't deserve any favors. I don't want any favors. A small room has been given to me, near Georgia's facing the turtles' rooms, far away from the entrance. It's a wonderful stagey. Keep the enemy under watch at all times.

I crash on the bed, reaching out for a fluffy mass known as my panda-cat, Po. The creature yawns and stretches, waddling just out of my reach. A huff escapes me, and to my amusement, it huffs back. As much as I hate to admit it, I've missed Po deeply. Not that I'll admit that to anyone but the creature itself. The smug look in its cat eyes is enough to tell me that it knew it all along.

I roll onto my back and stare at the ceiling. The sounds of those things interacting outside my four walls is background noise. I catch a few phrases and assume that someone magically appeared with a pizza. My mouth waters at the thought of the forbidden food, but I ignore my hunger, instead analyzing the events that led to this.

First, I ran away. Upon telling the four turtle mutants and their 'father' that, I was scolded harshly and they almost threatened to drag me back home. That is until their father stopped to think and said, 'My sons...we are wrong to judge, whatever has led this girl to this path, we cannot change what has been done.' The way he said it makes my blood boil just thinking about it. Disappointment. It was clear in his voice.

Second, I stole from a suspicious van and discovered what the turtles call Mutagen. Along with that, I discovered Po the panda-cat by mixing the blue goo with what was labeled as panda DNA and cat DNA.

Third, the Black Market was uncovered and like rats we were pulled from our nest. With that occurrence I happened upon someone I hate. My brother. The first one of my wretched past that left so long ago.

Fourth, I had a melt down and thought I was bashing a blind girl's head against the cold bricks, when it was actually my own head. I tenderly reach up, feeling the still healing stitches along my skin. I'm still bald, much to my displeasure. Though, along with that melt down, I found after waking that I had been covered in the Mutagen I despised and appear to be immune to it.

Fifth, I had returned to my old home with Georgia to scavenge some of my belongings. I had another break down upon seeing the Wall...

*flashback*

"Brother."

Four pairs of eyes looked down at me utterly confused. I could see the gears turning as they tried to deduce what that cryptic word meant. With a near dead heart, I retold my story, explaining the word one the Wall.

"It's FAMILY, if you couldn't tell," I whisper, leaning against the very nightmare I spoke of. "My older brother was the very first to leave me. I was very attached to him you see, as he was the only one who got that I was different...I hate him, but I don't hate him the most. No that honor is reserved for a person I will not name."

It was silent, as no one knew how to the turtle in the orange mask lunged forward, wrapping me in a tight hug. My body stiffened. I couldn't remember the last time I had gotten a hug. It was a tad bit sad that the first hug I had received was from a mutant turtle. Still, it felt nice. Timidly, I slid my own arms around the turtle's neck. His embrace tightened and something in me broke again. I sniffled and buried my face against his shoulder and bawled like a toddler.

*end flashback*

Po merres drawing me out of my day dream. I grab the panda-cat and pull the creature close to me. A strange fluttering feeling hits me as I replay the memory again. My eyes narrow at the all to familiar feeling. It's a dangerous feeling.

"Hey, you can come eat with us if you want," a voice spoke up.

I looked up to the see the turtle with the blue mask standing in the door. His name escapes my mind at the current moment, but my eyes zone in on the plate of pizza he's offering me. My stomach growls and I heave myself up, still holding Po. An amused smile lights the turtle's face as he drew the pizza away from my reaching hand. Po merres loudly, also reaching for the pizza.

My mouth waters. I haven't had pizza in a long, long time. The desperate need to consume the delicacy overwhelms me. Po hits the floor and I pounce at the cruel captor of the pizza. He stumbles backward in surprise and I catch the pizza before it hits the floor, shoving the small slice in my mouth just as quick. I close my eyes in satisfaction, not caring if I look like a pig in front of these strangers.

Loud laughter reaches my ears and I scoot away from the sound, irritated that someone dares mock the enjoyment of pizza. I lick my lips, reopening my eyes and glance over my shoulder to see everyone holding their stomachs in uncontrolled laughter. My face burns, but I'm not finished yet. I need more pizza. I spot the box in the middle of them and nearly let out a whine.

"Dude! That's was the coolest thing I've ever seen!" Michelangelo gasps, crying from his laughter.

I narrow my eyes, suddenly realizing how stupid I probably just looked. It must've looked even more stupid since I'm bald. I huff and stomp to my room, making sure to slam the door to add a point I don't have time to deal with idiots. I sit cross legged on my bed and reach under my pillow for a small hand mirror.

Dark bags are under my chocolate brown eyes. I'm not surprised. When I slept, which isn't very often anymore, it was always filled with empty blackness and that terrifies me. Prickly stubble covers my head, darker than what my hair originally was, and I hate it. The stitches that run along the right side of my scalp makes me toss the mirror across the room. It shatters when it hits the wall. The noise the others are making prevents them from hearing it.

I pull off the sweat pants and baggy t-shirt I have one and ruffle through a duffel bag of clothes Georgia gave me. I redress in a tight purple tank top and gray skinny jeans. My small curves are put on show with this outfit and I smile in satisfaction once more. I dig through the clothes, but don't find anything to fix my baldness. I sigh, my satisfaction dropping down a notch. Then my mind goes to Georgia, each time I've seen her, she's has been wearing a beanie with tassels.

I reach for the door and quietly open it, sliding to the floor and along the wall. No one notices me, and I'm just fine with that. I don't want to interact with them, I merely want to observe...

"Mikey!" Georgia yells, angrily punching him in the shoulder. "Ya stupid boy!"

The turtle in the red mask appears to be blushing, not looking at the blonde girl next to him. I can't see Michelangelo's face, but I know he's grinning from ear-to-ear and- Wait, where were these creatures' ears? I shake my head and decide I'll discover that later.

"Georgia and Raph sitting in a tree! K-I-S-S-I-N-G!" Michelangelo jokes in a sing-song voice.

The corner of my lips quirk, but I don't laugh. The two under attack are blushing furiously, and end up punching the jokester at the same time, nearly butting heads. They quickly pull away without looking at each other.

"Ow! Abuse!" the orange-clad turtle wails and turns away. I freeze as our eyes meet, his light blue ones lighting up. He winks at me, but turns back to his family. "First comes love, then come marriage, then comes a baby in a baby carriage!"

There's another painful yelp from the trouble maker and some threats from the one Michelangelo keeps calling 'Raph'. My heart is beating faster than it should, and I can feel the heat in my face. Anger slowly creeps upon me when I realize what I'm doing.

There's no way I'm attracted to that freak!

Longest chapter yet! Woohoo!