A/N: Special thanks this time (yeah like I ever do anything else) Mikell and Cindy, you girls are truly sensational. You both helped me get unstuck in this chapter, so thankyou, chocolate is on it's way ;-) As always Mikell, you beta'd, you rock :-D Brainfear my loyal reviewer, you're an absolute star. :-) For all the ones who are still sticking with the story and hopefully enjoying it, a huge thankyou, it's appreciated. :-) Usual disclaimer, I don't own anything TMNT related, I only wish I were that talented ;-) Right all together now during this chapter: AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!

A shadowed face loomed out of the darkness. He tried to call out, move away but found an unseen force held him down. Blinding pain cut through him; he opened his mouth to scream but no sound came out.

In the distance, he heard sobbing, quiet and fearful, becoming more persistent with each hot stab cutting through him. An eerie laugh reaching his ears even as he tried to battle the unseen force causing his pain. His limbs heavy, unwilling to cooperate.

His head jerked from side to side, silently pleading; begging for release. The waves of helplessness crashed over him, taunting him. His pride rebelled, making him grit his teeth. He wouldn't give his captor the satisfaction of seeing his fear. He was many things but not a coward. It was all he had, his bravery and stubbornness. They made him who he was. Yet even as he struggled to regain his state of mind, he was aware of the helpless feeling that engulfed him. The fear and panic that this was it. This was where his life would end and he'd never have a chance to tell his family how he really felt.

As bitter tears forced themselves past his closed eyes, he saw the sweet release, the golden eyes that came before his pain was soothed. Easing a different pain at the same time, a long hidden deep resentment that soured his life, controlling his every mood. An angel?

Hot jabs pierced his plastron forcing a yelp to escape his mouth. His eyes scrunched tightly shut. His mind reprimanded him for his show of weakness. He tried to lift an arm to swat his attacker and again that numb aching sensation paralyzed him, forcing him into a state of utter dependence. Dependence on his captor to show him mercy, an act he knew from experience didn't exist in these people.

Sweat dampened his brow, sliding down his face; tasting salty where it met his mouth. His feverish mind trying desperately to latch on to anything that would help keep him sane.

Gentle hands pressed against his brow. Gratefully he leaned into them, welcoming the cool sensation. Rhythmic circles eased the tension in his brow, slowing his shallow breaths.

His eyes opened and locked with golden eyes. He started, closing his eyes again, deciding it might be better to count to ten first. Carefully he prized open one eye; the golden eyes were still there. Cat eyes.

A cat? How the hell did that get in here?

Raph opened both eyes as a face came into focus.

Oh fuck no! He thought furiously as he recognized the face. He made a grab for her, causing Ruby to yelp in startled surprise.

"What the hell are you doing here?" maneuvering himself with difficulty to get a better grip on her arms.

"Raph take it easy," she muttered fearfully.

The angry turtle's eyes narrowed on her face. "Come to drug me again?" His voice dripped with disdain.

A hurt look flashed in her eyes. "You were tossing and turning in your sleep, I wanted to make sure you were ok."

"Sure you did," he snarled. "You wanted to make sure I was still willing to play along with your little game!"

Ruby blinked. "What game?"

"Get the weak little turtle to help you escape! Well I got news for you lady," he hauled the young woman against him, wincing slightly as she collided with his wound. "I ain't no one's puppet!"

Ruby's startled expression vanished, instantly replaced by anger. She pushed against him hard, her eyes flashing dangerously in the gloom. "You idiot," she snapped. "First of all, you've already escaped, with my help if you remember and second of all, I never once saw you as some weak little creature I could use!"

"You're using me as a means to an end!" Raph growled, making another grab for her.

Ruby's chin lifted proudly. She let the snarling turtle grab her and haul her back up against him. "What do you care? You're free and back home with your family."

The red-banded turtle looked surprised. He turned his head round. Home? Am I really home?

He saw the faint outline of furniture. Felt the warm comfort of his bed beneath him. Gradually his mind cleared, revealing memories of the previous night. He was home. His shallow breaths slowed, the panic engulfing him slowly seeping away; making way for the very conscious feeling of a warm body pressed against his.

Raph's head jerked round, his gaze locking with a furious Ruby. For a brief moment, he felt trapped again as her face glared into his, alarmingly close, forcing reason to disappear from his mind. The angry stare sparkling in her cat like eyes, sent an even more alarming and very new sensation swooping into the pit of his stomach. It felt strangely like a swarm of bees desperately fighting for dominance.

The normally deadened and haunted look he'd grown used to seeing on her face had vanished; making her seem alive and vibrant, the scars on her face barely visible. His eyed drifted down, resting on her lips. They seemed soft and full. He wondered how they would feel against his skin.

Flushing deeply, Raph released her, shaking his head from side to side to clear himself of the strange sensation lurking within him. He pressed a hand against his forehead, leaning back against the bed.

"Sorry," he muttered vaguely.

"If I'd known coming here would upset you this much I'd have stayed where I was!" the young woman snapped crossly.

"No I…" Raph mentally kicked himself. "…I said I was sorry."

Damn her! What the hell is wrong with me? She's just a girl, some chick that used me to escape. I said I'd help and that's what I'm gonna do. It's no different to every other rescue we've had to do.

Even as Raph thought these words, he felt something tug at him, the warmth of her body burning against him fresh in his mind even as she stood glaring at him. He sighed, pushing himself back up to face her.

"I'm sorry Ruby; it was just a bad dream. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

She looked suspicious, but relented. She lowered herself cautiously down on the bed. "You want to talk about it?"

Raph shook his head. "You wouldn't wanna know."

She placed her hand over his, startling him. "Try me."

Raph glanced down at their hands; shaking his head again. What the hell is wrong with me?!

He gulped. "Just…you know. Thought I was back at that place with him."

He felt a hand under his chin, lifting his face to hers. "I am sorry Raphael."

The red-banded turtle shrugged. "Weren't your fault. I shouldn't have taken it out on you."

"You have every right to blame me."

Raph looked stunned. "I don't."

"Could have fooled me."

She smiled at him. The first real smile he'd seen from her since they met, warm and gentle. His eyes rested on her lips again. She was close, very close. All he had to do was lean in and…

He jerked away from her, his heart pounding against his plastron, the bees buzzing angrily in his stomach. God he was delirious. That damned dream had clearly shaken him. Who wouldn't feel weird things after a dreaming something like that.

Ruby sighed deeply, releasing his hand. "I've got some sleeping pills. It might not be a bad idea to take one, just to help you through the night."

Sleeping tablets? Raph looked at her, a questioning frown on his face. She shrugged simply.

"I use them myself, when I need a good night's sleep."

Before he knew what he was doing, he'd placed his hand against her cheek, tracing the faint outlines of her scars. Surprised when she didn't pull away.

"What did he do to you?" He muttered softly, feeling her shrug.

"It's not important. What's important now is you and getting you past this."

Raph couldn't help but smile. He'd been trapped in that house for three days. She'd been trapped for years and yet her only concern was him. Maybe, just maybe, he hadn't been that wrong about her after all.

Ruby's hand closed over his, gently removing it from her face.

"I'll get one for you. You'll need your strength to recover and sleep is an important part of healing."

As the young woman made to leave the bed, Raph's hand closed over hers, pulling her back toward him, panic once again engulfing him.

"Don't!" His voice sounded strained, even to his own ears.

She looked at him, the startled expression back on her face. Raph looked down grimacing.

"Don't leave me," he muttered, embarrassed beyond belief by what he was saying. He wasn't sure what was happening to him, but he knew he didn't want to be left alone.

Mercifully, Ruby said nothing. She simply nodded, moving closer toward him. Raph didn't know what to say. He stared down at his bed sheets. It wasn't until he felt arms come round him that he found the courage to lift his head and look at her. He'd expected to see scorn or disappointment on her face. He hadn't expected to see the gentle understanding and admiration.

Carefully so as not to hurt him, Ruby moved positions. Resting her back against the wall, her arms gently guiding him till he lay in their comforting circle, his head resting against her breast.

Raph's whole body tensed as he listened to the steady thump of her heartbeat. He lay against her, a disturbing feeling rushing through him as he realized his distinct unwillingness to move away. He felt the rise and fall of her chest beneath his head slowly relax him.

Ruby rested her hand on his head, stroking his face. Easing the tension in his body further. His eyes drifting closed, he was only vaguely aware of bringing his arm round her waist and settling himself more comfortably against her.


Raph opened his eyes and stretched; surprised to feel resistance. Glancing down, he saw Ruby nestled comfortably in the crook of his arm. The red-banded turtle blinked, confused.

He looked round the room. Everything was familiar. So it hadn't been a dream. He really was home. A smile touched his mouth, vanishing instantly as he remembered the previous night. That nightmare, followed by those bizarre feelings.

Raph stared down at the sleeping young woman.

"Ruby." He whispered her name softly, almost wonderingly. Unwilling to wake her. She'd been there again. Seen him in a vulnerable state and hadn't laughed at his weakness. Instead she'd held him until he fell asleep, gently soothing him. Acknowledging his pain and fear. Not once had he seen disappointment or mockery on her face.

He sighed. He was always the tough guy. The angry turtle who usually started all the fights he got into. He often wondered if his family knew there was more to him than just some hot-headed, conflicted mutant turtle. He even wondered himself at times if there was more to him than that. Then there was Ruby. Ruby who had seen him at his worst. Weakened and afraid. Feelings he would readily scorn. Yet she hadn't.

Moving carefully, still unwilling to wake her, he sat up, staring down at her. She looked peaceful, a faint smile resting on her lips as she slept. He wondered if she knew her scars were barely noticeable when she relaxed her features and stopped being so damned conscious of them.

Raph studied her face. The hidden features of a once beautiful girl sparkled from behind the faint outline of those scars. He felt anger rise within him, fury at the man responsible. Fury at Ruby for being so naïve and stupid enough to marry him.

Raph started. He was angry at Ruby for marrying him? How could she have known? The red-banded turtle shook his head. She couldn't have known, so why should he be angry with her? It seemed a rather bizarre feeling.

A stray wisp of hair fell across her face. Without thinking, Raph reached out and brushed it away, his hand lingering on her cheek. Her skin was soft and warm. He flushed, remembering how her body had felt against his.

"Damn dream!" He muttered again, feeling it safer to blame his nightmare rather than explore what else it could have been.

His fingers stroked her cheek absentmindedly as he looked round his room. Everything was just the way he'd left it. The clock on his bed side table showed it was nearly seven in the morning. The lair was amazingly silent for this time.

Raph grinned. Lazy bastards' probably still sleeping. Boy am I gonna make Leo pay for this one. Mister perfect's usually been up for an hour and practiced all his moves.

The conscious feeling of eyes on him stopped his train of thought. He looked round again to see Ruby's eyes open and confused. His breath caught in his throat as her golden cat eyes stared up into his own amber ones. He'd heard the saying time stood still but had always laughed, putting it down to ridiculous human emotion. Sappy stuff, he liked to call it.

Yet in that instant he realized what it meant. He felt trapped in time, unable to tear his gaze away from hers. Say something you idiot! He thought, panicking suddenly.

"Mornin." Raph said finally, attempting a smile.

Ruby looked round from her position on his bed. The usual tension settling on her face, making her scars increasingly visible.

"What…?" She looked embarrassed and distinctly uncomfortable.

The angry turtle grimaced. She's probably afraid. Who wouldn't be waking up next to a freak.

He felt hurt and anger rise within him.

"You fell asleep in here. Maybe next time you should remember where your temporary room his!" His words held a bite to them.

Ruby sat up instantly, her hands on her hips, glaring at him. The moment between them well and truly passed.

"Maybe next time you should tell me to leave!" She retorted.

Damn! She's pretty hot when she's mad. The thought flashed through his mind before he could stop it. What the hell was wrong with him? He was a turtle for fuck's sake. She was a human and an extremely irritating one at that. Always glaring at him, coming up with some response to everything he said.

Yeah like I'm one to talk. Raph sighed, rubbing his bald head. He didn't have the energy to argue right now as tempting as the thought was. He couldn't help wondering what might happen if he pushed her buttons too far. It was an extremely pleasant thought and one he definitely should stay as far away from as he could.

Raph glanced at her, a wry grin tugging at his mouth.

"What's so funny?" He heard her demand.

"Not a bad sight." Raph muttered, glancing at her face again, grinning openly as he saw her blush.

The angry turtle sighed, relaxing slightly. He was home with his family and he'd managed to help Ruby in the process. All in all, he was a hero.

He grinned again turning his head toward the still disgruntled Ruby.

"How's about something to eat for your patient?"

"You don't deserve anything!"

"Aw come on.." he smirked "..don't sulk."

Relaxing back into their usual routine, neither of them heard the door to Raph's room open.

"Well isn't this touching!" A voice drawled from the doorway.

Raph jerked his head round. Leo leaned against the doorframe, arms folded in front of him, scowling at Ruby.

"You want something Leo?" Raph demanded, disliking the look on his face.

Leo glanced at his younger brother. "Just came to see if you needed anything, but I see you're in capable hands."

The red-banded turtle growled. "Yeah I am. Thanks anyway!"

With a curt nod in their direction, Leo turned on his heel, slamming the door shut behind him.