A/N: Alright so I went over this chapter at least a billion times trying to see which approach was the right one. I think I've written it out about four times now and I still wasn't one hundred percent sure this was the way to go. Hopefully it was and you all don't think I'm an utter failure. I've tried hard to comb through it for mistakes but I'm sure I still missed a few so I apologise in advance!

Thank you very much to Diana Fay, kaaayyytteee, mela989898, TheDCStar, BubblyShell22, Drusilla52, and England101 for their absolutely wonderful reviews! I adore you all :)

010 – Out There in that Shiny Night with Blood Hounds on Your Mind.

Lana couldn't feel her hands. The rain pounded down like nails, striking at her bare arms and legs as she ran. Connie was clinging to her hand, fingers entwined, and sobs hidden by the downpour as they rushed through alley after alley. Megan was up ahead, the white flicker of her trench coat like a tiny beacon in the night.

"It's okay, Connie," Lana yelled over the rain. "We're almost there."

She wasn't really sure where there was but they would run and run and run until they were safe. Her phone was long gone, smashed to bits in the middle of a puddle after a tussle. She had only hoped Donatello had heard her.

"Over here!"

Megan dove into a house, the side door slamming against the brick wall. Lana looked horrified. They couldn't stop no matter how sore her legs were. A break would leave them dead but Connie began to pull her when she slowed and before Lana realized it the door slammed behind her. No lights were on in the house but Megan already had her cell out, using the backlight as a torch.

"Where the hell are we?" Lana roared, hurriedly searching for a lock. It would be seconds before the Dragons were on them again and by the feel of this door, it would do little to protect them.

"It's an abandoned townhouse," said Megan. She had already started down the hall, heels clicking on the hardwood below her feet. "It's been deserted for years. Some old woman owns it."

"How'd you know it was here?" asked Lana, quickly bolting the door the best she could. Her hands quivered. The joints were numb. She could barely get the latch flipped, her fingers cramping with every movement. It wasn't warm by any means in the dilapidated home but the brief shelter from the rain was nice even though Lana couldn't really feel her arms.

"Well, if you must know I came here with Ryan once when we were wasted and I'm pretty sure we had sex in that room over there."

"That's gross."

Ryan was a douche bag and Lana would make it quite clear she wasn't particularly fond of his presence whenever they were in a room together. Megan wasn't as put off by him but that had something to do with his flawless abs.

"I recognized the door. We snuck in this way after hitting up Hogan's."

"Well we can't stay here," said Lana. She was just waiting for the two Dragons to bust down the door. Connie was snivelling, covering her mouth with cold hands while she tried so hard to keep quiet. Tears streamed down her face in a silent torrent and she tried to wipe them away with the large, fur collar of her coat.

"There's a back door," replied Megan, raising her cell above her head. Old portraits of nameless people littered the walls, cobwebs and dust clinging to their frames. A set of worn looking stairs ran up the left of the hallway but Megan wandered past them, lighting the way as she went.

Connie followed in between, hands still over her mouth like at any second she was bound to let off a scream. Lana was just proud the girl hadn't lost it already. Doing her best not to shake, Lana took up the rear, eyes locked over her shoulder at the quiet door behind her. She could still hear the downpour outside, the torrent that left permanent chills in her bones. She felt like she had been buried in snow. The tiny uniform was doing little to keep her warm and with her hair plastered down her back, she just couldn't shake the chill.

Up ahead Megan walked like she was on a mission, determined as they quietly moved through the home. Her heels clicked along the floor but the farther they got into the house, the less worried Lana was someone would hear them. Megan moved fluidly, taking corners without a second thought which told Lana she had been here on more than one occasion. Probably to fuck Ryan in some dark, dingy corner.

"We need to get to the police," said Megan as she pushed open a door leading to the living room. It was a grand room with large oak furniture and bookcases that line the far wall. A door sat in the back corner. "I mean they should be looking for us, right?"

"Hogan was shot." Lana's voice quivered. "Of course they're looking for us."

"Well then we need to find them before those psychos in suits find us," hissed the tall girl. Her short hair was sticking to her cheeks but she was too busy fiddling with the large knife in one hand to notice or care. Megan shut the door behind them but just as she started for the one lying against the back wall there was a large bang.

Before Lana could stop her Connie released a scream. Megan looked back at them with horror filled eyes. They were done for now.

"I'm sorry!" wailed Connie. Lana just grabbed her arm, yanking her towards the door. Megan had thrown it open, the roar of the rain rushing in.

"Run to that apartment building!" Megan yelled. "We can take the fire escape to the roof."

"To the roof?" Lana cried. "We'll be stuck up there!"

"Do you have a better idea?"

"Go!" Lana yelled, forcing Connie forward and towards the metal ladder. It was high but the girl would be able to reach it if she jumped, her fingers just brushing the bottom rung. Lana stepped outside, ignoring the chill of the rain but didn't get far when she heard a loud screech. At first she had thought it was Connie but the girl was looking behind her, horrified as she clung to the ladder's steps.

Slowly, Lana turned. Megan was very still, eyes clouded as a man stood behind her. A gun was pointed at the back of her head.

"Don't!" Lana cried, hurrying forward.

The Purple Dragon chuckled. "Quite a little chase you lead us on. Didn't think you'd be so hard to kill."

"Let her go."

"Let her go?" Another laugh fled his mouth and a hand came up, grabbing Megan by her hair and yanking her head backwards. She hissed, yelping as the cool metal of his pistol was pressed to her temple. "I can't do that. You three got a hit on your heads and we can't have any more fuck ups."

"W-Why?" Lana was busy watching Megan. The girl was still whimpering, hissing between her teeth as the man yanked at her hair. The knife was still dangling in her hand.

"Why?" He looked smug. "I think you all know why. We can't have you squealing about the Boss. He's got enemies, you know? If they knew he was back, well, our little plan would go down the drain real quick."

"That's too bad," snarled Megan, eyes dark and angry. "Because we're going to make damn sure they all know about your Boss!"

"Oh you think so -" but he never had the time to finish. Lana watched as Megan rammed the blade in her hand backward, stabbing the sharp knife straight into the man's stomach. A wheeze fled his lips but before he had the chance to pull the trigger she had ripped her hair free. There was a gunshot but it missed as he clattered to his knees.

With a surge of adrenaline, Lana leapt forward, kicking the gun from his quivering hands and gathering it into her own. Megan had yanked the knife free, a screech echoing around the alley as he fell to his side.

"You bitch!"

"Run!"

Lana collapsed upon the roof, her eyes staring up at the night sky. The rain suddenly felt nice, a numbing agent that made her legs feel like lead. The gun in her hand sure did but she held it with ease, finger twitching above the trigger.

"At least our sharpshooter's got a weapon now," teased Megan. She had fallen to her knees, hands in her hair as she tried hard to get rid of the feeling of a pistol against her face. The bloody knife was in her lap, the rain slowly washing it clean but the red seemed to stain her coat, seeping into the white trench like ink. Had she just killed a man? "Think you can use that thing?"

"Probably," muttered Lana, eyes closed. "If my fingers unfreeze."

There was a tiny whimper and Lana shot up, peering to see Connie yanking at the roof's doorway. For a moment she had forgotten Connie, the rush of nearly watching her friend's head being blown off a little too much to taken in.

"The door's locked," said the girl. She was clinging to her coat, hands buried in her sleeves. She kind of looked like a drowned rat, thought Lana. All manner of curl from her hair was gone now, a wet mess plastered to her cheeks in its place. "The door's locked."

"I heard you, Con," whispered Megan. She had just killed a man. There was a man lying in the rain down there, bleeding to death and she had done it. Megan leapt to her feet, the knife in her lap clattering to the ground as she clung to the edge of the roof, vomiting right over the side.

"Lana," said Connie. "The door's locked."

Please, thought Lana. Please just keep it together.

Megan was dry heaving now and Connie was murmuring that the door was locked as she frantically pulled at the knob. The gun in her hand felt heavy but she managed to get to her feet, teeth clattering. After making sure the safety was on, Lana slipped the pistol down the back of her shorts.

"It's alright, Connie," she whispered sweetly. "We'll be okay."

"But the door's locked."

"I know, I know."

Breathe.

Breathe.

Lana moved to Megan's side, cold hands on her shoulders and she pulled the girl to her feet. Her friend wasn't crying but her eyes were wide, scared. Connie was still rattling the door handle.

"We're stuck up here," said Lana. "We need a plan."

"Lana," whispered Megan and for a split second Lana was certain she saw a tear slip down her friend's cheek. She quickly told herself it was the rain. "Lana, I think I killed a man."

"It's okay, it's okay," She quickly said, rubbing her numb hands up and down her friend's arms. "It's okay, Meg. He would've killed you, would've killed all of us if you hadn't done something."

Almost peacefully, she nodded and nodded until that distracted, horrified look was replaced with determination. Utter relief flooded Lana's build and she stepped back, allowing Megan to gather the knife from the ground and survey the situation.

"C'mon Con," said Lana, moving to gather her friend's hands from the door knob. "Meg's got a plan."

"She does? Oh good." Lana was pleased to see some form of colour jump back into the girl's cheeks, a look that told her Connie was holding on to her sanity as long as she could.

Megan pointed to the building across from them. "We have to jump. That gap doesn't look to bad."

The colour drained in an instant. "I – I can't do that."

"You have to," said Megan. She was swinging the butcher knife and they watched as it soared through the air, landing with a clatter upon the roof across from them. It wasn't a horrendous jump at all but the fall would kill and stomaching something like that was hard enough. All Connie could think about was just one little slip and she'd plummet to the pavement below, probably cracking her skull open. "There's no other way. There's still another fucker after us and we can't stay up here."

We could call the police, thought Lana. Megan still had her phone on her. All she needed to do was tell them where they were. Lana was pretty certain if some crazed Purple Dragon tried climbing the fire escape she'd have enough time to aim for his shoulder. She could keep him occupied long enough for the police to come for them but Lana kept her mouth shut.

What was she supposed to tell them? That the Purple Dragons we're going after some ridiculous trinket that would supposedly raise the dead? What about her? Was she just supposed to say she had a run of bad luck? That she had been at the wrong place at the wrong time? Yeah, like that would work. If anything the police would just think she got stuck with the wrong crowd. Nothing would be solved and all three of them would still be in danger.

"See you on the other side!"

"What? Wait!" Lana cried but Megan had already taken off at a run. The tall girl leapt through the air and neither Connie nor Lana could breathe until she landed roughly on the other side. Her heels seemed to give out and Megan stumbled to her butt, releasing a loud laugh of relief.

"You okay?" yelled Lana over the wind. She couldn't even feel her thighs anymore. All manner of warmth was gone.

"I'm great! The jumps really short," replied Megan as she wandered towards the roof's doorway. She jiggled the handle and they were pleased to see the door swing open. "C'mon!"

Connie was shaking despite the warmth of her coat. "I can't do this, Lana. That's too far."

"Just don't look down, okay? You'll be fine I promise."

"Lana -"

"I promise," Lana urged. "I'm right behind you. You can do it, Connie."

A loud sob wretched from Connie's throat but she backed up and Lana watched as she ran. A loud, petrified scream fled her mouth the moment her feet lifted off the ground but just as Megan said, the short gap was nothing for her to cross. She landed roughly, her ankle twisting underneath her weight but Megan was there to steady her, allowing her to lean against her side with a cry. Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she sobbed. Megan just pulled her into her chest.

With as little ease as Megan, Lana crossed the gap with a quick sprint. She managed to somewhat gracefully land on her feet, stumbling forward for a moment before she caught herself.

Megan was already pulling Connie through the open door when Lana gathered her footing. She followed close behind, slamming the door shut and looking for something to bolt it closed. Realizing why the door was open in the first place, she saw that the bolt was broken.

"Where now?" Lana asked, turning her back on the door. There was nothing they could do to barricade it but at least for a moment they felt safe. The rain pounded above them but the steady roof kept it out as they hurried down to the next floor. Warmth soared across Lana's arms and legs but it wasn't enough to bring the feeling back to her skin. She was so numb she was pretty sure even if they did meet up with the last Dragon she'd feel absolutely nothing when he shot her.

Megan began to pound on doors, twisting knobs and wondering why no one was answering. She was screaming for someone to open up, anyone to let her in but all that answered them was silence. When she finally did find a door that opened they realized why no one was answering. This wasn't an apartment complex; it was an office building that probably housed a multitude of businesses. The room they entered had a large desk that seemed to take up an entire wall. Upon a warm looking carpet sat two royal blue chairs that looked like they could fit a giant. Lana hurried to the rug, dropping down in an attempt to warm her drenched skin.

"Do we have good luck or what?" laughed Megan as she helped Connie to one of the chairs. "I mean besides being chased for our lives. You didn't even have to shoot that gun."

"Nope," said Lana, dryly. Her teeth were chattering and she was praying to god someone would find them before pneumonia set in. "Con? You alright?"

"My ankle is sprained." Connie had already placed the appendage upon the desk, her soaked flats kicked from her feet. Megan flipped on the table lamp and they could see a blue bruise already forming. "It will swell."

"You are the doctor," Lana tried to joke but Connie didn't seem to find it funny. Tears were still pouring down her face but no choking sobs came with them. She just sat silently watching her ankle for any signs of swelling.

"You shouldn't lie there," whispered Connie when Lana dropped back down. "You should try and warm up or you'll get sick."

"I will," promised Lana. "Just after we get out of here."

"I'm going to call the cops," said Megan. She was pacing, cell phone in one hand and butcher knife in the other. Lana watched as she wandered back and forth, heels clicking in front of the doorway. The phone was never dialed though and Megan turned back to stare at the shivering girl with a glare. "What the hell is going on?"

"They think we know something," whispered Lana. She was too tired for this. All she wanted was to see four green faces peer into the door, grins telling her that she'd be okay. Lana didn't feel safe and she was pretty sure she wouldn't feel safe anywhere until this was all over. Biting back tears she continued. "The Purple Dragons think Vince told us something about their new Boss. I don't know what they're actually doing, Megan, they -"

Megan released a loud, angry roar. "Are you fucking kidding me?"

"Meg -"

"No! The reason all of this is happening to us is because of your cousin, Lana! If that son of a bitch hadn't joined those fucking punks we wouldn't be here fighting for our lives! I'm calling the cops, Lana. I'm sick of this. I'm telling them everything, EVERYTHING! About how I was raped, how you were attacked in your own home and how that little punk left you to die on the streets!"

Connie's silent tears turned into a muffled wail.

"Megan!"

"Shut up, Lana! This is fucking ridiculous!" Megan's pacing turned into a fuming march. The knife was swung carelessly around until they watched as she stabbed at the wall, literally slicing an expensive looking painting in half. The knife clattered to the ground, Megan dropping to her knees. "I – I can't believe this is happening."

"I'm sorry," begged Lana. "I'm sorry this is happening, Meg. If I could fix it I would but I don't know how. I don't know what to do."

Where were the boys? God, she had never expected them to save her any of the times she had been attacked but this... this she prayed to god they would. Listening to Connie's cries brought tears to her own eyes but she did her best to fight them. The rain pattered against the roof like a taunting song. It didn't bring her any comfort anymore. It just reminded her of how cold she was. God, she was freezing.

"C-Call the cops." Megan didn't look up. "Meg, call them and tell them where we are. We can't wait here forever."

"What was that?" whispered Megan.

Lana forced herself to her feet. "What was what?"

"I heard a thump." Her hand reached for the knife. "Like feet landing on a roof. Lana, do you think he saw us?"

Without a thought, Lana had the gun drawn, safety off and aimed at the door. She had done this a million times. Her grandfather used to take her hunting. She could move through the brush like a pro, rifle loaded and pin a deer without a blink of an eye. It would be just like that, thought Lana. He was just a deer, just a deer who probably had someone who loved him somewhere, someone who would miss him. The gun quivered in her hands.

"Are those footsteps?" whispered Connie. Her hands had drawn over her mouth and she bit at her fingers, drawing blood in an attempt not to scream.

He's just a deer.

God, Connie's coat smelt like wet dog.

Megan had made it to her feet. The knife hung loosely, her arms relaxed as she stood against the wall, waiting. If she didn't make her mark, Lana would. She'd have too.

The light of the table lamp cast shadows across the small room but it gave enough light for all three of them to watch the door handle turn.

Just a deer.

"Lana?" The door swung open. Megan was the first to react because no matter how hard Lana told herself, the man wasn't just a deer. He was a man, a human who even though wanted to take her life Lana couldn't find it in herself to take his. Megan had swung her knife forward, aiming for the gut when a blade jetted out, metal against metal singing in the air. The knife clattered to the ground and Lana released a sob.

"Stop!" She cried as Megan swore, swinging a wild fist towards the intruder.

"Shoot!" Megan screamed but Lana raced forward throwing herself into the nearest body. Raphael stumbled back, surprised by the wet body clinging to his but his arms soon gently wrapped around her as Lana sobbed loudly in his neck. Fuck, she was freezing. Every inch of her felt like ice.

Megan had stumbled backward, heels clicking as her back hit the wall. What the fuck were they? Lana was clinging to a human sized turtle and wasn't the least bit worried. Her gun had been long forgotten, lying silently on the floor.

"What the hell is this?" Megan roared, eyeing the four strange creatures. Connie's whimpers had silenced and when Megan looked over she found the girl wide eyed, hyperventilating. "Connie, stop that. Con! Con!"

Lana wretched herself from the turtle's hold, the one with the red mask Megan noted and hurried to the blonde doll's side.

"Connie, sweetheart, breathe. It's alright. Connie – Connie!" The blonde slumped forward, eyes rolling into the back of her head as she collapsed into Lana's arms. "Don!"

"It's alright, Lana," said the olive green turtle. He was lean and moved towards Lana swiftly. There was a giant stick on his back and a purple cloth wrapped about his eyes. Megan felt her head spin. "She's just fainted. It's a... typical response when humans see us for the first time."

"Oh." Lana laughed a little, maybe embarrassed, Megan didn't care. She just wanted to know what the fuck was going on and why the hell she was seeing four giant turtles. Lana shouldn't have been handling this as well as she was. In fact Lana should have fired that damn gun straight into the blue one's head. "Can you – Do you have her?"

"I've got her," muttered Don, shifting Connie's limp build into his arms. He was surprised by the weight but figured the wet, mink coat was weighing her down.

"Lana!"

The room silenced and Lana peered over at Megan, a sheepish smile slipping over her lips. Oh fuck. Why couldn't Megan have just passed out too? This would have probably been a lot easier.

"What the fuck is going on?"

Lana gulped. "Meg, these are my friends, the ones I told you I was staying with. I -"

"No." Megan put a hand up and Lana fell silent. These were the boys she was staying with? Giant mutant turtles? God, her head was spinning. "Just tell me one thing."

"Anything," Lana breathed because she was pretty sure if she lied now Megan would run her threw.

"These friends of yours," and she pointed sharply at each of them. "Are they part of the reason we're in this fucking mess?"

"No," Lana quickly said. "They're the only reason I'm still alive right now. Leo, Raph, Mikey and Don saved my life the night you and Tyler picked me up from that alley. This would have all happened whether I met them or not. This is Elijah's fault."

"Right," muttered Megan. "Alright, fine, whatever. I'm going to go along with this and pretend this is actually happening because I almost had my brains blown out tonight but I want you to tell me everything, got it?"

"Yeah." Megan watched as Lana looked towards the blue one, the one that had disarmed her without breaking a sweat. He looked grim but nodded lightly. Megan forced herself to her feet while Lana hurried to gather the pistol lying on the floor. She shoved it back down her shorts, throwing the now see throw white top over it. Like that was going to stop anyone from seeing the gun but Megan kept her mouth shut.

She peered at the blue one with a frown, her arms crossing over her chest. "Sorry about attempting to skewer you. I thought you were that douche in the suit."

"It's alright," replied the turtle. Megan visibly flinched. God, that was so weird actually hearing them talk. They sounded so normal and it freaked her out even more. "Lana has been staying at our home due to yours being targeted. She trusts you and if you wish, you are welcome to come with us for the time being. If not we will bring you to the nearest police station but we ask that you keep our identity a secret."

Megan was impressed by the little speech and she gave him a nod. "It's not like they'd believe me anyway, would they? If Lana's going with you, I'm coming too. I think I have a right to know what's going on, don't you? Seeing as I was raped and nearly cut to pieces. I'm Megan, by the way, Megan Rios."

"Leonardo," replied the turtle. "These are my brothers Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo."

Donatello was the purple one, the one with olive skin and Connie cradled easily in his arms. Lana was busy fretting over her foot even though the damn girl knew little about actual medicine and should have probably been worried about warming up. Her lips were already blue and Megan could hear her teeth chattering from here.

It was the orange one, Michelangelo, that managed to get Lana to stay still. She shivered next to him, rubbing her hands furiously up and down her arms in an attempt to warm up. Megan quickly shoved off her coat.

"Hon, here," She whispered. Michelangelo took the wet coat from her hand, draping it over Lana's shoulders and gently pulling her into his side. "So now what? Is that guy still out there or -"

"We took care of him," said Raphael. The red suited him, she thought. "He won't be botherin' you no more."

"No?" What? Did they kill him? Megan supposed she wasn't allowed to judge and when bile began to creep into her throat she quickly shook her head. Fuck. "Well thank you."

This was too weird.

"We should move," spoke Leonardo. "We'll be able to regroup back at the lair. The police will still be combing the streets so we'll have to go quietly."

He was looking at Megan, waiting for a response. What? Did he actually think she was going to give them away?

"Well you're lucky then. Our little banshee is out cold so you shouldn't have a problem."

Megan wasn't really sure if she liked them yet. Leonardo seemed to rub her the wrong way but that probably had something to do with him getting one up on her so easily. Peering at Lana she found the girl clinging to Michelangelo, murmuring soundless words as she rubbed her hands together. She supposed if Lana trusted them then they couldn't be all bad but she'd see for herself.

Thank you for reading :) Hopefully this chapter wasn't to befuddled! haha