A/N: So, we are nearing the end of this story, just a few more chapters to go.

Katherine gripped the child tightly, her body trembling with anger. "That's it! I have had enough!"

Don was surprised when she picked up the boy and marched out of the room. "What's happening? What are you doing?"

Katherine scowled. "I'm calling the police! Nobody hurts my babies!"

Ryan's head came up. "No! No! Miss Kathy, he'll be mad!"

"Let him!" She growled as she dialed the phone with her free hand. "He won't be around to do anything about it!"

Donnie frowned as he watched her speak to an officer. Hanging up, she hugged the boy close as if he were a small child, when he wasn't much smaller than her. She finally settled into her chair and sat him in her lap to take a better look at his face. She looked up. "Sams, would you mind going next door and getting him some ice."

"Sure." Sams hurried out.

Don frowned. "If the police are coming, I shouldn't be here. We don't exactly associate with them."

She met his gaze and he was taken aback by the fear that danced behind her eyes. "I'd rather you stay."

Frowning, he stepped around the desk to put a hand on her shoulder. "Then I'll stay, but I'll keep out of sight while they're here."

She gave him a weak smile. "Thank you."

"It's no problem." He assured her.

Ryan lifted his head to stare up at Donnie, whom he hadn't noticed before. He blinked, trying to clear the tears away, swiping at the uninjured side of his face. "You're… You're one of the ninja turtles I've seen on TV."

Don nodded. "Yes."

Ryan looked up at Katherine, his mouth hanging open. "You know the turtles, Miss Kathy?"

She smiled slightly at his excitement. "Yes, well two of them. This is my friend Donatello."

Don smiled kneeling down beside the chair. "It's nice to meet you, Ryan." Then his expression turned serious as he took a good look at the boy's face. "Who hurt you?"

The boy's bottom lip jutted out as tears again filled his eyes. "My uncle."

"Your uncle?" Don looked questioningly at Katherine.

"He lives with him." Anger filled her gaze once more. "And this isn't the first time he's done this."

Ryan blinked at her in surprise. "You knew?"

Her own gaze softened as she looked down at him. "Yes, honey. You don't get marks like that from falling down steps." That had been the story Ryan had told her when she'd seen bruising on his arms.

The boy frowned. "Oh… Will the policeman make me go home? I don't want to go back."

Katherine gently wiped away his tears. "No, honey, they won't."

"Promise?"

She pulled him close, knowing the awful fear in his heart. "I promise."

Don stood as Sams entered the room. He stepped back as the blonde hurried around the desk to hand over a small bag of ice. She frowned, letting out a shuddering breath. "I'm sorry. I didn't see it when he came in."

Don suddenly realized that Samantha was shaking. The scene had obviously dredged up some terrible memories. He put a hand on her shoulder and she looked up at him. She took a small step towards him and he hugged her. "It's okay." She gave a slow nod against his plastron. He frowned again. "I'll call Leonardo to come get you. I'm going to be staying."

It took her a long moment to answer. She wanted to stay. Something like this shouldn't send her running home and yet she couldn't stop her trembling. "I think that may be best."

Katherine met Don's eyes, then glanced between Sams and Ryan. He gave her a small nod. The brunette's eyes widened in surprise. She quickly smothered the expression when Sams stepped back from Donnie. He squeezed his sister's shoulders. "I'll be right back." He stepped back into the front of the store to watch the entrance for the NYPD and any unwanted guests. He pulled his com and waited for someone to pick up.

Leo looked worried when he appeared on the screen. "Donatello? What's wrong?"

"Sams is okay. But I don't think she needs to be here right now. Could you come get her?"

Leo frowned at him. "What happened?"

"It's a long story. I'll tell you when you get here."

Leo nodded. "I'm on my way."

The line closed and Don put the com away. Leo would probably make it before the police. They had certain channels and procedures they had to follow. And because they knew the child was safe for the moment, it was going to be of lower priority.

Leo sprinted through the sewer tunnel and up the ladder that was close to the bookstore, pausing only to throw on his trench coat and hat. He tried to calm his heartbeat as he hurried up the sidewalk to the front door. Don was standing inside near the office door. He opened his mouth, but never got a chance to say whatever it was because Sams stepped through the door. Leo's chest tightened the moment he saw her distraught expression. He started for her and she met him half way. She threw her arms around him and buried her face against his chest. His arms immediately wrapped around her, pulling her as close as possible. "Sams? Sweetheart, are you alright?"

She shook her head, her body shaking. Leo frowned, looking up at his brother as he approached. "One of Katherine's students showed up with a black eye. He's pretty young, nine or ten I'd guess."

Leo's eyes widened, then his gaze fell to Sams. So, that's why she's so upset. He started to turn them towards the door, but paused when Donnie made no move to follow. "Are you coming?"

Don shook his head. "No. Katherine asked me to stay. Don't worry I'll stay out of sight while the police are here."

Leo didn't much like the idea. They'd never mixed well with the cops. They tended to assume that a giant turtle was the bad guy, even when they'd helped catch the real criminals. "You're sure?"

"Yeah." He glanced over his shoulder and lowered his voice. "She's scared."

"Alright, we'll see you at home then."

Don watched his brother and Sams leave before turning back to the office. He found Katherine still sitting at her desk. She held Ryan in her lap with one hand, while holding the ice pack on his cheek with the other. As he stepped closer, he noticed the child wasn't moving.

"He's fallen asleep." She told him, assuaging his fears.

"The adrenaline is probably wearing off. Which means his face will likely hurt worse when he wakes."

She frowned, her gaze drifting from Ryan back to Don. "Sams…?"

Don sighed. "She had an abusive childhood. I think this brought back some bad memories."

Her frown deepened as she looked away. "I wish I could have done something sooner, but I knew they wouldn't believe me."

"You're doing something right now. And that's more than a lot of people would do. I think you're being very brave protecting him."

"Brave?" She shook her head a little. "I don't know about that. I just know I was not going to let that man hurt him anymore."

The police came shortly after that. Don hid in the back of the store while Katherine gave her statement. Ryan cried when the CPS worker took him from her. He could hear the heartache in her voice when she asked if she could keep him for the time being. They told her no, that he needed to be at an authorized caregiver's home. It took a little over a half hour to finish up. When they left with the boy, Don stepped up behind Katherine. She stood with her back to him and her hands clasped in front of her. She seemed to be staring out the glass door after her student.

But Don suspected something else when she didn't turn back for a long moment. He set a hand on her shoulder. "Katherine?" She shook beneath his hand and he stepped around her to see her face. Tears streaked her cheeks. He started to reach for her, but paused. They hadn't known each other a full two days yet. He didn't want to overstep his bounds.

Her wet eyes met his and she took a step forward. This time he couldn't prevent himself from reaching for her and encompassing her in a warm embrace. Her voice cracked as she returned it. "I lost another one."

"What do you mean another one?" He asked softly.

She let out a shuddering breath. "Less than a year ago, another one of my students was removed from their home and sent into the system." She closed her eyes, pushing past the pain of the loss. "I don't know where they sent him, but it must have been out of the city. I haven't heard from him." She sighed, brushing away her tears and stepping back to look up at him. "They all have such great potential, but I know once they're in the system they won't get the encouragement or the support needed. Ryan would have been a great engineer. And Alex…. He would have made a wonderful doctor." She lowered her gaze in despair.

Don brushed her hair from her face and she looked back up at him. "Even if you never see them again, you've made them realize that they can do anything - be anything - they want. That is a precious gift." He smiled a bit. "And they know you care about them. Otherwise, Ryan would not have come to you for help."

Her eyes sparkled with the remains of tears, but there was something else there as well. She took his hand and pressed it between hers. "Thank you, Donatello. I've never been able to talk to anyone about this." She sighed. "I've never had anyone to talk to about it."

He squeezed her hand. "You do now."

She gave him a small smile. "I'm sorry I put you through all this craziness. I suppose you want to go home now."

He gazed into her beautiful bicolored eyes. "Actually, I'd like to stay, if that's alright."

Her smile grew. "It's more than alright."

Rocksteady stared at the pay phone. It had been eight days since he'd stormed out of the lair, eight days since he'd spoken to his sister. Just thinking about it made his blood boil and his heart clench all at the same time. The desire to know she was okay managed to defeat the lingering anger and resentment. Picking up the receiver, he slid a quarter into the box.

It rang twice before it was answered by Michelangelo on the third. "What's up?"

Joey rolled his eyes. Why couldn't he just answer the phone like a normal person. "Let me talk to Sams."

There was a soft gasp on the other end. "Hey, dude! How've you been?"

Joey made a frustrated noise in his throat. "Michelangelo…" He warned.

"Okay, okay. Just a sec."

A few moments later Sams picked up. "Joey?"

He frowned. She didn't sound right. "What's wrong?"

"It's alright. I just had a rough day at work." She paused. "It's good to hear your voice. Are you okay?"

"Yeah, I'm still stayin' with the old gang."

"Leo said you were staying with Lugnut. I hope they haven't talked you into doing anything bad."

He sighed. "No. But I lost my job 'cause I didn't go in for so long, so I may have to make some runs with them. I owe Lugnut that much."

"Please don't do that. You know you can come back. I wish you would."

He frowned. "I ain't welcome there."

"Yes, you are! Leo asked you to come back." She paused. "You didn't have to hit him, by the way."

"He deserved it and a lot more if you ask me! He's lucky I didn't pound his shell in!" There was silence on the other end and Rocksteady stared at the graffiti on the side of the phone caddy. He let out a long breath. "Why'd ya do it, Sams? Why'd ya lie to me?"

Her voice shook a little as she spoke. "Because I knew you would act like this. I knew you'd try to keep us apart. That's what you wanted all along, isn't it? But I can't…" She let out a soft sob. "I won't do it."

Rocksteady's frown returned with a vengeance. "Aww, don't cry Cupcake."

He could hear Leo talking to her on the other end, but he couldn't make out the words. "No, I'm okay." She said apparently shooing him away. She took a deep breath before speaking again. "I want you as a part of my life, Joey. You're my brother and nothing will ever change that. And I know I owe you a lot for taking care of me all those years. But if you want me as a part of your life, you're going to have to accept Leonardo as well. Because he is part of mine. And I am not letting him go – for anyone."

Joey felt the rise of anger, sadness and betrayal all over again. "We could've talked it out, you know. You didn't have to go and do that with him, without tellin' me nothin'. And why him? Ya coulda had anybody ya wanted. I just don't see why it has to be one of them turtles."

"There is a very simple answer for that. I love him. That's all the reason I need." She waited for him to respond for a long moment, but he didn't have anything to say to that. "Come home, Joey. Please."

For a brief moment her plea almost made him give in, then he shook his head. "That ain't my home, Sams. I'll try not to do nothin' that'll get me in trouble, like ya asked. But I'm not comin' back there. You don't need to worry 'bout me no more, I'll figure somethin' out."

"Joey, please…."

"No." He sighed. "I gotta go."

She sounded broken-hearted when she responded. "Fine, but call me every once in a while. I just want to know you're okay."

"Yeah, sure. Bye, Sams." He hung up quickly. He didn't want her to plead with him anymore. He wasn't sure he could take it. Walking away from the payphone with his own bit of sorrow, he considered his options. He could go back to the gang. They'd take him in without question. But he'd end up doing what he used to do when he was a teen – theft, breaking into places, and demanding protection money. A part of him didn't mind that at all, maybe even wanted to go back down that road. Because it was the easy one. Another part of him – which unsurprisingly sounded like Sams – didn't want to.

He looked down at the boots he still wore. Working even for those few weeks had strangely felt good. It had given him pride in himself and new confidence. Maybe I could go talk to Frank, see if he could pull some strings and get me back on. But even if he did that, he still had another problem. If he wasn't staying with the gang, then he was effectively homeless. He sighed. I guess I've come full circle. Started out with nothin'. Endin' up with nothin'. There was only one other place he could go. He just didn't know if he was still there. Even if he was, Joey wasn't sure he'd want him there. Sighing, he turned away from his old hood and headed up the sidewalk. The only way to find out was to ask.

A/N: I haven't gotten much in the way of reviews or faves on this one. But it does look like it's getting read. So, I hope you're all enjoying it.