"…a few tracking devices might help narrow our search. I mean think about it…if we can figure out how the Foot are transporting the chemicals, then maybe – "

"You guys have any luck?" Raphael's voice echoed rather loudly beside me as he interrupted the speaker we could hear, but not yet see. The voices stopped, but the sound of footsteps coming toward us didn't, and I felt myself wishing I was on the opposite side of the counter so I could slip down behind it. I realized just a second before we saw them where the footsteps were echoing from – a tunnel-like corridor one floor up and to our right. Then suddenly out from it stepped two more humanoid turtles, but I quickly realized that that was where the brothers' similarities began to fade.

The first turtle to come into view was slightly shorter than Raphael, but built somewhat similar; his chest was broad, as were his shoulders, and his body was proportioned with a similar musculature. But piercing blue eyes shone from behind an equally vibrant blue mask, and the "armor" he wore instantly brought to my mind a mixture of Native American and the ancient Japanese Samurai. His shoulders, hands, and legs were protected by mismatched wraps and protective padding just as his brothers, but again I noticed his own unique style in the details – bits of blue here and there…including a small, blue "NYC" button on the leather strap over his right shoulder…which led my eyes to the pair of kitana hilts I saw looming perilously over his broad shoulders.

Seeing these made me waver nervously for a moment, but it was his sharp, blue eyes that drew my attention back and held me like a deer in headlights. I felt myself flinch involuntarily as he suddenly made a motion for one of the two swords sheathed across his back, but he stopped himself just as quickly as I'd flinched, and I instantly felt Raphael step up beside me, partially shielding me from his brother's piercing gaze.

"Hold up, Leo…she's ok! She's not one of them!"

I felt like Leo's eyes were going to burn holes through me, his intense gaze sweeping over what he could see of me as his arm slowly lowered to his side. As I nervously raised my eyes to again meet his, I noticed something in them I couldn't quite put my finger on…something that peaked my curiosity just as Raphael's had. Unfortunately I had little time to ponder it, for as his gaze shifted sharply toward Raphael (and the atmosphere between the two of them seemed to shift from cold to sub-arctic) the last of the turtle brothers slipped slowly out from the edge of the tunnel.

He was easily the tallest of the group, with somewhat lanky features that made him appear not quite as muscular as his brothers. He also wore glasses (I found immediately intriguing - I wear them myself) which magnified the curious green eyes that peered out from behind his vibrant purple mask. My brain suddenly registered that this must be Donnie, given to the fact that this turtle was almost literally covered in electronic gadgets – atop his head rested what looked like a fancy pair of night-vision goggles, along with cameras over his shoulder, a pair of headphones (complete with a mic) around his neck, some sort of comm-looking device on his left wrist, and various wires, radio components, and what looked like small solar panels that doubled as armor hanging from his belt. He also had various bits of mismatched wrap and armor around his knees, arms, and hands (several of these being purple in color), and in looking for his weapon of choice, I finally noticed what looked like the top of a bow staff rising over his left shoulder.

He hesitated slightly, glancing from me, to his brother Leo, then back to me before pushing his glasses back up his nose with an apprehensive sigh. "Uh…I'm just gonna go check on Splinter…." He interjected nervously, before slipping off to one side and making a surprisingly swift bee-line for the corridor that led to Splinter's bedroom.

So much for introductions.

"Raphael…have you literally lost your mind? Who is this? And why is she here?" Leo's sharp tone made me flinch involuntarily as he leaped deftly off the landing above us and landed almost without a sound a few feet away. He glared at Raphael, his eyes flashing like icy gems behind his blue mask.

"Ok, for starters, you can stop with the big-brother tone, Leonardo..." Raphael's emphasis on the last word echoed slightly in the room, and for some reason my brain finally realized the correlations between their names.

Raphael…Leonardo…Michelangelo…and Donnie…or rather, Donatello. Holy shit…they're named after Italian Renaissance painters!

The rest of my thoughts were cut short as Raphael continued. "…And second, her name is Tess, and if you'd let me explain –"

"What's there to explain? You've once again done what you always do…whatever you think is right!" Leonardo's tone was like glass, sharp and cutting as he pointed an accusatory finger at his brother. "Sensei gave us specific instructions on how he wants us to handle things, and you still have to do things your own way!"

"Look Leo…I get that Sensei put you in charge, but that doesn't mean your way is the only way!" Raphael's voice now clearly echoed across the room, and I felt his body stiffen as he seemed to square his shoulders and raise himself up to his full height. "I found a lead on the Foot robberies - which you wouldn't listen to me about – so I checked things out on my own. And when I did…I found Tess. The Foot clan is after her too, and I think she can – "

"What, Raph? What can she possibly do to help us?" Leo's voice was cold, and his eyes shifted angrily in my direction. "She's a complete stranger…she doesn't know us, or our situation. She – "

Raphael exploded, his voice echoing in a yell that shook the walls around us. "She's here to help Splinter, so back off and give her a break!"

He paused, the two of them staring each other down like wolves preparing to attack. Absentmindedly, I lifted a hand to touch the edge of the shell covering Raphael's back. The touch brought a quick, reassuring glance from him, while it brought a scowl from his blue-eyed brother.

"Ok…so just how, Miss Tess, do you plan on helping? How do you even know what to do to help?" He paused briefly, but not long enough for me to realistically answer. "Is it because you know why he's sick? Or who made him sick?" His tone was sharp, and he took an intimidating step forward, but Raphael reflexively slid his arm in a defensive position in front of me.

"I said back off, Leo," he snapped, wrapping his hand gently around my arm. "We're all mad…and we all want answers…." He paused, his voice surprisingly lowering in volume as he continued. "…but this isn't like you." He paused again, shaking his head slightly as his voice finally returned to its normal, growling tone. "It's more like me, actually…."

This brought a pause from Leo, and for a moment you could almost see the internal struggle he was waging in his own mind. Finally, his icy gaze cracked, and his head dropped slowly as an exhausted sigh escaped from his chest. He stood there for a moment, quietly measuring his breathing as if trying to calm himself. Then, when he finally lifted his head, the look in those vibrant blue eyes was completely different – they were much softer than they'd been before, and he regarded me with an apologetic nod.

"I'm sorry…." He paused, choosing his words carefully. "…I shouldn't have spoken to you in such a manner. I'm just…we're all just – "

"It's ok," I smiled, politely interrupting. "Believe it or not, I understand." I paused, taking a breath as memories I had long buried came flooding back. "I know what's it's like to have a Dad who's sick and you feel like there's nothing you can do to help."

Looking into his eyes, I watched as the last bits of anger gave way to something akin to desperation…and a look of sadness I knew all too well.

"I know it's completely frustrating and unfair and shouldn't happen to anyone…and I know this whole situation is crazy because you have no idea who I am…and I have no idea what the Foot clan wants from me…." The words seemed to catch in my throat as my eyes searched Leonardo's for even a shred of trust. "…but we're all in this mess together. And if I can help Splinter in any way…I really want to try."

For a moment, Leonardo didn't move. He didn't respond at all, the only look in his eyes being that of an individual mentally measuring another's worth. I shifted nervously on my feet but refused to look away, my own eyes meeting his in hopes that I could somehow, some way, let him see past the stranger before him and through to my mind to see the sincerity with which I spoke.

Long, quiet moments passed, then finally I saw a shift in those sky-blue eyes. A look of understanding and acceptance had replaced those traces of distrust, and a soft smile began to tug at the edges of Leonardo's mouth. I suddenly felt Raphael's hand gently squeezed my arm, and I smiled despite the nervousness in my stomach.

"Well Tess…what did you have in mind?"


As we quietly entered Splinter's room, I could still hear Mikey snoring softly in the recliner. I gave him a half smile as I slipped past him, noticing a bit of drool beginning to pool at the corner of his mouth.

He's definitely the little brother of the group, I thought to myself as I heard Raphael loose an exasperated sigh beside me. I glanced toward him, my smile widening as I watched him cover his eyes with his hand and shake his head.

Leonardo barely seemed to notice the still sleeping Mikey as he slid purposefully over to where Donatello was standing near Splinter's bedside. Splinter was resting comfortably, despite the slight rattling sound that echoed with each slow, rhythmic breath.

"How is he?"

Donatello sighed, his shoulders drooping slightly as he looked up from the device on his wrist. "Vitals are about the same, as far as I can tell…but his breathing seems a bit more labored than before." Donnie paused, glancing nervously between Splinter and his brother. "Listen Leo…I'm no doctor…but he really needs medicine…and he needs it soon."

I stepped up to the end of Splinter's bed, glancing bashfully at both Leonardo and Donatello. "Um…I might be able to help with that."

Both of them turned toward me, their eyes studying me curiously. I suddenly felt quite awkward, and nervously grabbed the handles of my backpack. Taking a shallow breath to steady myself, I continued hesitantly, "I have a background in Veterinary medicine…and I work in a research lab. I'm not a doctor, and I don't have all the answers, but I think if Donatello and I put our heads together, we might be able to narrow some things down and start treating him…at least on a symptomatic basis."

I felt Raphael step up behind me and put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. This helped boost my confidence a bit as I watched Leo and Donnie exchange glances. After a moment, Donatello turned his curious green eyes back to me and with a smile and a nod replied, "That sounds like a plan with a higher probability rate for success than what we've had so far…I'm in!"

I returned his smile, my heart beginning to lighten even more as the brothers seemed to be accepting of both my presence and my help. With a confirming nod from Leonardo, he crossed his arms across his broad chest and turned to me. "Alright Tess…you said you needed supplies, right?"

I nodded my affirmation.

"Ok then…Donnie, you and Raph go with her. Since you and Tess are the brains of this operation I want you working together as much as possible."

Donatello and I exchanged nods and smiles, though I swear I saw Donnie's green cheeks blush slightly as he slid his glasses bashfully up his nose. I felt Raphael squeeze my shoulder in acknowledgment, so I turned my head and gave him wink. To my surprise he actually smiled in return, his amber eyes shining with something that told me he was anxious to get our impromptu plan moving.

Leonardo glanced to each of us in turn. "I'll stay here with Mikey and keep watch over Splinter. We'll also keep an ear to the ground for any Foot clan activity – Donnie I'll let you know if we pick up anything on traffic cams or from your cyber-links to NYPD, that way, if they're close to your location, you can avoid them. Just remember…get back here as fast as you can." He glanced specifically toward Raphael. "Don't engage unless you have to – we have to keep Tess safe and get her back here in one piece to help Splinter"

Raphael snorted. "Duh Leo…whadaya think I've been doing?"

Leo's eyes narrowed in annoyance, but he said nothing more before turning to me. "Are you sure you're up for this?"

I nodded, feeling my heart beginning to race with the building excitement. "Hell yeah."

Leonardo uncrossed his arms, and a soft smile spread over his face. Then, placing his arms at his sides, he politely bowed in much the same fashion as Pop's had taught me. I smiled bashfully as he raised himself back up, then clearly felt my cheeks flush as his blue eyes held mine in a gaze that spoke the same message as his words to me.

"Thank you Tess…for everything."

I bowed in return, trying to will the redness out of my cheeks. "No need for thanks, Leo…I'm always happy to help my friends."

Leonardo returned my smile, his own eyes shining with something more than just an amused light. Then he turned and nodded to his brothers. "Ok guys…let's move."

As I started to turn toward the door, I saw Raphael reach over toward the still snoring Michelangelo. With one fluid motion, he snatched the nunchaku out of Mikey's hand and proceeded to pop his sleeping brother (somewhat gently) in the forehead with the handles.

I heard a soft thunk as the handles connected with his head, which was almost immediately followed by a sharp snoring yelp as Mikey was startled painfully awake. I heard Raphael chuckle as he tossed the weapon back in Mikey's lap, grumbling as he slipped out the door, "Get up, Sleeping Beauty. It's time to go to work."

"Hey! I wasn't sleeping! I was just…resting my eyes…for a sec…." Michelangelo carefully rubbed the spot on his head where Raphael had smacked him, and I caught just a glimpse of his playful blue eyes as I followed his brother out the door.

Donatello followed closely behind me, and we both shared a laugh as we heard Mikey's voice as the door to Splinter's room closed with a click, "Hey wait! Who's the pretty girl? Leo…why can't I go with the pretty girl?!"