Okay, next chapter...i almost feel like i'm on a roll!

Leo: (chanting) Pride Before fall...Pride Before fall...Pride Before fall

me:(turns around quickly) Give me a break!!!!

Leo:Make me!

Me:(throws water balloon, which soaks the ninja turtle)

Raphael: (comes in) Um, did i miss something?

Mikey:(popping up from behind raph) *to readers* Don't mind them! Read on!!! You won't be sorry!!!

Donatello: (puts hands in face) let's hope not

Chapter 8

Windmills of Your Mind

Leonardo watched as Chloe slowly woke up.

She was in the monster cage that Donatello had designed, and as she came to, Leonardo spoke," Chloe, we mean you no harm. Please, don't freak out."

She stood up, looking around, she moaned," My head…hurts…"

Mikey came in at that moment, smiling," Dude! She's awake! Hey, Chloe, how have you been?"

She glared at him coldly," I've been better."

Mikey paused and winced," Boy, are you sure this is Chloe? Not some Karai jr.?"

Chloe leapt up," Mistress Karai was the one who trained me! I will not hear you speak of her in that disrespectful manner!!!"

Mikey jumped slightly as he came closer," Um, right…look, I brought you brekky. And some Tylenol for that headache."

She took the tray cautiously.

"If we had wanted to hurt you, we would have done it already, believe me." Leo told her quietly.

She ate the food. And the pill.

As she put the tray down, she added," You're…not what I expected."

Leonardo winced as he came to the cage," I hate seeing you in there. But when I told the others…" he choked," Master Splinter didn't want you to go back, not until we've fixed whatever it is that's been done to you."

She cocked her head.

"You want to help me?"

"Yes!" Leonardo nodded.

She looked away.

"I was told that you were the ones who did this to me."

"They lied…they're trying to turn you into their minion." Leo growled through gritted teeth.

She suddenly revolted," NO! it can't be! They treated me well! I was trained as a warrior, taught by the best, schooled and cared for! This cannot be true!!!"

She glared at him," leave me alone, freak."

Leonardo winced at the name and paused as he looked at the picture she had given him, the night before she was taken.

He softly went to her and slipped the picture into the cage.

"You gave this to me, the night before you were taken…ten weeks ago. A lot has changed since then I guess… so it would be wrong for me to keep this."

She looked at the paper, but didn't pick it up until he was gone.

Then, she picked it up and looked at it.

She marveled and suddenly, the piece of poetry called out to her,

Wild night! Wild nights!

Were I with thee

Wild nights would be

Our luxury

Futile the Winds

To a heart in port

Done with the Compass!

Done with the Chart!

Rowing in Eden

Ah! The Sea!

Might I but moor

Tonight in thee

Tears fell from her eyes as she examined the piece of her past. Because she realized that she had not forgotten Emily Dickinson…so how would the turtle know that this was her favorite piece?

***

"OWCH!"

"ENOUGH!"

Leonardo broke off, swearing angrily under his breath as Mikey rubbed his arm," Shell, Leo, I'm NOT your enemy, just your sparring partner!"

"Sorry, Mike… I got carried away." Leo growled sheepishly.

Splinter sighed heavily," Leonardo, I know your heart bleeds for Chloe. All we can do is hope that she will regain her memory."

Leo whirled, "What if she doesn't?! We can't keep here here forever! And eventually, she'll turn back to the foot, and she'll become their pawn to use against us! I can't-" he choked,-" I CAN'T lose her! Damn it, I just found her!!!"

Splinter was silent as Leo added heatedly," I need some air. Excuse me."

He stormed out of the room and Raphael asked, "Should I follow him?"

"No…let him alone. He needs time to heal." Splinter sighed, bowing his head in sorrow.

***

Leatherhead was in the room with Chloe, researching the computer schematics on her physical report.

She cocked her head at him," Hey, this may sound crazy, but I don't know you…like, at all."

He chuckled," you never met me. I am called Leatherhead."

She paused as she looked at him and asked," Were you human once?"

"No. I was a crocodile once, but I came into contact with mutagen that transformed me into a more sentient being."

Leatherhead responded as he examined her brainwave functions.

His eyebrows shot up in surprise and he smiled," Miss Mab-"

"Bane."

"Miss," he compromised," Do you like music?"

She smiled back and nodded," Yeah…I do."

Eek! what's on Leatherhead's mind? Do you want to know? Then Review!!!