Chapter 10:

The turtles were out patrolling. Rebecca had insisted on coming along which hadn't really pleased Raphael but she wouldn't budge on it so he had to give in.

They were racing across the rooftops and she was easily keeping pace with them.

"Let's go check on April guys" called Michaelangelo "as we're in the area!"

They jumped over another gap landing on the roof opposite April's apartment. All was quiet.

Leonardo glanced over at Rebecca. She was looking down to the streets below, searching.

He'd stayed out of her way for the afternoon, feeling a little strange with what Mikey had told him. After all, he told himself, it couldn't be true could it? Why would a beautiful girl like that want to be with him?

So he'd decided it was Michaelangelo being a wind up merchant as usual and that he was setting him up to look like a fool.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Raphael "looks like your buddies are up to no good! April's in trouble, lets go!" he leapt off the roof top and down to the street below.

"Raph wait! I didn't give the order!" called Leonardo, quickly following his brother alongside Donatello and a troubled Mikey "If those goons hurt my girl I swear to God I will destroy them!" he shouted.

With all four of them now at street level Leonardo saw the full extent of the scene. April was in the clutches of one of the new mutants.

"Hey you!" said Michaelangelo "Get your filthy mitts off my woman!"

Rebecca stood on the rooftop watching the guys in fight mode below. She'd better leave them to it. After all, if she went down there she would only rile Raphael and after the day she'd had she couldn't be bothered with that.

"Buddies..my buddies?" she whispered to herself "He's a dork!" She kicked a can across the roof.

"Now just what are you doing up here? Up to no good eh?" came a voice from the darkness. Rebecca spun round to see a man step forward. His face was covered with a hockey mask and he was brandishing a hockey stick. Shit, she'd forgotten she was in her disguise so yes she probably looked a little dodgy.

She pulled off her hood "No. I am not up to no good." She began

"Then watcha doin up here all dressed in black, looks a little suspicious to me kid"

"I err.." her train of thought was interrupted by commotion below – she raced to the edge of the roof. The two other mutants had gone and April was in the care of Michaelangelo. The commotion concerned Raphael. He was lying on the floor and not moving.

The other two were next to him – Donatello was performing checks.

"We gotta move him out of view" instructed Leo.

Rebecca turned round to face the masked man only to find he was standing right next to her and was also observing the scene below.

"What the.." he began, pulling the mask from his face "What the heck are those?"

He glanced round but she was gone. This was turning into one weird night! He thought before heading down to street level. The girl was there. He stayed back in the shadows.

"What happened?" she looked enquiringly at Donatello

"They had advanced weapons" he began "Raph got injured". He was putting pressure on a large wound on Raphael's side.

Rebecca put a hand over her mouth "Oh my God" she breathed "I thought you guys were bullet proof"

"So did we" replied Donatello "Raph, can you hear me bro?"

Rebecca took a step back. Why oh why? Of all four it had to be him didn't it? She knew that if she took this action there would be no going back, no excuses, no more stories.

She bent down besides Donatello "Move back" she whispered. He frowned at her. "You too" she said to Leonardo.

"Move your hands" she instructed "Please, you have to trust me"

Donatello took his hands away from Raphael and Rebecca placed her hands on him.

Michaelangelo and April stepped forward "What's she doing?" he muttered

Rebecca closed her eyes. An orange light appeared under her hands – the light moved onto Raphael and appeared to be moving through his entire body.

"Oh…. My….. God" began Michaelangelo "Raph's glowing – do you guys see this?"

"Yes" replied Leonardo "I see it"

As quickly as it had appeared the glowing light faded and Raphael sat up. He looked at Rebecca who was still kneeling beside him.

"What do you want?" he snapped getting to his feet

"Oh yeh, oh yeh, Raph's back – that's our bra!" Michaelangelo hugged his brother.

Rebecca also got up and looked at Leonardo's shocked expression.

"What did you do?" asked Donatello

She shrugged "I healed him"

Suddenly the masked man stepped from the shadows "Will somebody tell me just what the Hell is going on here?"

Leonardo had drawn his Katanas but Rebecca held up a hand "Stop, it's okay, he's a good guy"

"How'd you know?" asked Leo

She looked at him "Trust me…again" she replied.

Splinter was a bit taken aback when another guest arrived at the den but he was not as shocked as Casey at meeting a giant talking rat. Casey had insisted on tagging along in case they were ambushed – he wanted to be there for April. This did not particularly please Michaelangelo but he reluctantly accepted it.

Leonardo recounted the night's events to his Master. Splinter listened intensely and stroked his beard. Raphael also looked shocked, he couldn't believe it, she had saved him??

Splinter turned to Rebecca and touched her hand "Thank you for what you did for my son" he began "You have an amazing gift"

"Yeh but isn't anybody else a little freaked out here – she made Raph glow!" exclaimed Michaelangelo "I mean, you just don't see that every day"

"I'm freaked out by the whole thing!" exclaimed Casey, glancing over at April to see if she was freaked out too; she wasn't.

Rebecca was looking at her hands "It's just something I can do" she muttered. Raphael still hadn't said anything but he was studying her intently. Leonardo gave him a poke.

He took a deep breath "Thanks" he said, still not quite believing what she had done for him.

"How?" questioned Donatello "I mean, is it something you were born with or did something happen or.." he ran out of possibilities and looked at her expectantly. She sat back on the chair and took a deep breath.

"We all have different gifts, just things we can do, that's one of mine"

"One of yours? You mean you can do other things? Wow!" said Michaelangelo excitedly

"When you say 'we' you don't mean everyone do you?" continued Donatello, studying her closely.

She sighed "No. I don't". She paused and then took another deep breath.

"My father is an investigative scientist. He works for the Government – top secret of course – he investigates other dimensions, planets" She stopped again looking round the room, and there was no surprise that all eyes were firmly fixed on her waiting for her to continue.

"I..I.." Shit this was SOOO difficult "I'm not human"

Silence. They were all looking at her aghast. Splinter nodded – he looked actually like she was just confirming what he already thought!

"Wow!" exclaimed Michaelangelo again "What are you? I mean, to me you look like a girl!" Leonardo smacked him on the arm.

"Our species takes the form of whatever planet we are on, I am a girl and I've lived a human life for 17 years. My father took care of me, raised me as his own and protected me – he's all I have ever known"

They were all still staring at her. Michaelangelo broke the silence "So how'd you end up here? On earth..?"

"I was left behind" She looked down at her hands.

"Cool!" replied Mickey "You're like ET!" Leonardo hit him again.

"I am NOT like ET. And no, I don't want to phone home so don't even ask!"

Michaelangelo sniggered.

Donatello leaned forward "So where are you from?"

"Duh!" began Michaelangelo "I think we've established where she's from bra – err, SPACE – and he calls himself the smart one"

"I'm from a planet called Xon. There are different species that live there, we are not overly high in the ranking. My earth father held some sort of communication with them. I don't know much more, he was very private about his work"

"Is that how he ended up in hospital?" asked Donatello

Rebecca nodded "Again I know very little, the people he works for are very good at keeping things a secret"

"So, basically, you're mutated and you're an alien?" Casey shook his head in disbelief.

"Alien is not a term I like" She looked him square in the face "so don't use it". He nodded and rose to his feet "Look guys it's been great but err I have to head off, happy to see you home safely" he pointed at April who rolled her eyes. She got up and touched Rebecca on the arm. "You did an amazingly brave thing" she said "And don't worry I won't say anything"

They said their goodbyes and went to the door. Rebecca got up and headed for the bathroom – stepping inside she drew the bolt over and sat down. Surely I am supposed to feel better now they know everything she thought then why is it I feel like I'm in pain inside. She placed her head in her hands and for a moment shut out the world, pretended she was at home with her father and all was as it should be.

Then it struck her – light a bolt of lightning. She could see him. She could see the lab, see him lying there. Then she saw something else – the figure of a man.

"YOU FAILED ME!" he shouted "YOU RIDICULOUS OVERGROWN FOOLS"

"But master we didn't know the turtles would appear" said a panicked voice

"Pathetic" he shouted "You are hopeless! I needed the turtles out of the way and was counting on you two"

"We took down one of them master, give us another chance, we'll wipe them all out"

"Yeh, we'll crush their shells and turn them into turtle soup"

There was a pause "Very well" began the man "But this is your last chance. Fail me again and you will pay."

"Yes Master Shredder"

Then the vision disappeared. Shredder? Who the hell was that?

She got to her feet and looked at her reflection in the mirror. Her hair had gone wavier as a result of the rain. She turned away and leaned against the sink. She had a clue – at least now she had a clue.

Opening the bathroom door she crept out. The turtles were all in the lounge – master Splinter had disappeared – he was probably meditating in the dojo.

She crept closer to the lounge, surprise surprise they were all talking about her.

"What I don't get" began Michaelangelo "Is how we didn't realise?"

"Mikey, you don't realise the most obvious of things, I doubt you would see that someone was alien when they look so human" explained Leonardo.

He called me alien. Rebecca thought sadly. It hurt like someone sticking a knife in her chest.

"She does doesn't she?" continued Michaelangelo "It's weird..do you think she's like a monster underneath – you know Leo like those bad guys from your Space Heroes show"

Donatello sat back and looked at Raphael. Leonardo hit Mikey for the third time.

"You're very quiet bro"

Raphael looked at him "I just can't get over the fact that she blew her cover to help me after I've been so unkind to her"

It was nice to hear that. Becky smiled to herself.

Deciding she'd heard enough she walked through the lounge to the kitchen, feeling four sets of eyes following her. The silence was deafening.

"You don't think she heard do you..?" whispered Michaelangelo.

Leonardo got up and headed to the kitchen. She was sat at the table, her head laid on her hands facing away from the door. He pulled out a chair and sat next to her; she didn't move.

"You okay?" he asked

"I guess" she replied, still not moving

"April was right. You did such a brave thing, helping Raph and everything"

"I'm glad you're impressed" she muttered.

He moved the chair a bit closer "Look Becky..I.." he stopped "Would you look at me? I don't like talking to the back of your head."

"Why? I mean surely it doesn't matter anymore"

He detected a bitter tone in her voice, getting up he made his way round to the other side of the table to look at her. As quickly as he moved, she turned her head the other way.

"Awww, c'mon – what did I do?" he bent down beside her "Please look at me.."

He slid the chair out and turned it round – she kept her head down.

"This is crazy. What's wrong?"

She lifted up her head, tears were in her eyes "What's wrong?" she exclaimed "What's wrong? Oh I don't know – what do you think?" Her tears spilled down her cheeks.

"Hey, hey" Leonardo gathered her up in a hug "It's okay. I've got you". He stroked her hair and held her close. She pulled away her big blue eyes all blood shot from crying. It really hurt to see her so sad.

"I'm okay, honest, it's just everything" she wiped her eyes.

"You ever need to talk or anything, you only have to ask"

He had hold of her shoulders. She nodded weakly "Thanks."

"Any time" He reached up and touched her cheek holding her gaze. The butterflies came back in her stomach and she could feel herself blushing. Here we go again..she thought.

Leonardo noticed the pinkness of her cheeks. He pulled his hand away and got up.

"Come in the lounge, I gotta feelin you won't get any trouble from Raph anymore" He held out a hand to her which she accepted. They walked hand in hand out to the lounge to be met by a loud whistle from Michaelangelo.

"Oh Donnie look, they've gone and done it! I can feel the love from here!" he declared, his face full of a beaming smile "See I told you Leo, I told you!"

Rebecca was glaring at him. Oh my God! He told him! She tried to let go of Leonardo's hand but he only gripped it harder.

"Mikey, you're an idiot" he began, leading Rebecca over the sofa and sitting her down, keeping hold of her hand the entire time. "And for the record, it is none of your business what Becky and I talk about so button it".

Shit, bugger, holy crap. Oh yes she was going to KILL Mikey – slowly and painfully.

"You guys hooked up then?" asked Raphael with a smirk on his face "Good for you"

Rebecca by now was so embarrassed it was her who wanted to be dead. Leonardo turned and whispered in her ear "Don't worry" Oh God his voice gave her chills and made other parts of her body feel, well, different…

The television was turned on and still he kept hold of her hand giving it a little squeeze every now and then. This was so awkward. By now her whole body felt like it as alive with electricity. Oh how much she just didn't want to be in this situation.

One by one the turtles went off to bed, apart from Leonardo. He stayed up later but in the end got up and turned off the television. Instead of going to bed he sat down again.

He turned to her "Is it true?" he asked simply.

She decided to play dumb "Is what true?" her mouth had suddenly gone really dry and her palms were sweating.

"That you like me". Then there was silence as she digested the question. Her face – and other parts – were on fire. She couldn't answer and more importantly she wanted to get up and run away. Stupid Michaelangelo!

Leonardo got up and knelt by the side of her. A hand came up to her face moving it round so she had to look at him. Well, she was going to avoid this one. And with that she closed her eyes. Perhaps she would be transported somewhere else, somewhere far away where she wouldn't have to deal with all this mess caused by her pathetic life and others interfering.

Then it happened, she felt his mouth on hers, gently kissing her. Her head felt like it was going to explode, her stomach buzzed with the butterflies it was like her body came to life. She was stiff at first then gradually opened up to him and allowed her arms to go around his neck. This was Heaven.

He pulled away and studied her face, she opened her eyes and dared to look. She was flushed and breathing heavily. Other parts of her body just begging to be touched – infact, they were screaming. He got to his feet.

"I'm gonna hit the hay" he began "You sleep well beautiful" he breathed, running a hand along the side of her face.

Once she was alone she couldn't believe what had just happened. But was a little disappointed that nothing more had happened for she felt sure she was ready and had given all the right signals? Flopping back on the sofa she let out a huge sigh. Why oh why did life have to be so hard?