Unrealistic Reality

'Its cold'

the air whipping everywhere, almost never ending.

'Its' dark . . .why is it so dark?'

Involuntary movements from the force of the wind, like she was falling, or flying . . .she couldn't tell anymore.

'So . . .cold'

The rain was constant, cold, merciless against her skin, drenching her.

'Am I dead?'

The sudden rush of air around her was pushed through her mid section, something grasping around her, she screamed. The impact was heavy, her head spinning. She smelled rain, and heard it but didn't feel it. Something was above her . . .something warm, some sort of protection from the wind and the stinging rain against her face and skin. . . .

(Before the end of reality)

(San Francisco: by Train)

The sun was out, not a cloud in the sky, the temperature in San Francisco was nice and cool today. One of the pluses of living next to the ocean, you get cool ocean air to come in and cool the land down. She appreciated it when she could smell the sea from the breeze.

I used to love the tenderloin

until I made some tender coin

then I met some ladies

from Marin

Her backpack was hanging on one shoulder as she was reading a book, walking. She was out walking to her new job. Her auburn shoulder length hair shined in the constant playful sun and blew within the forever-dancing wind.

We took the highway to the one

up the coast to catch some sun

they left me with these blisters

on my skin

As her eyes glided to the right, then back to the left again, she looked up at the street before looking back down again, losing herself back into the world of pure fiction.

Dont know what I was on

but I think it grows in

Oregon

So I kept going

going

going

right through

The downward sad frown and the dried tear trails on her face was evidence that she didn't feel as happy as the weather made everything seem. Her arguments with her step dad had escalated recenty. So getting a job, and reading, were escapes and reminders that there was more out there. San francisco certainly wasn't of notice of this one girl not feeling like the sun was so bright.

I drove into seattle rain

fell in love

then missed the train

that could have took me home

right back to you

Bethany readjusted her backpack so she was wearing it with both straps on her shoulders. While her bright rich dark brown eyes were swimming in hot tears as they slowly slipped down her face. As the heaviness from the stress and pressure from her family took the feeling from wanting to read further. They wanted her to achieve her best but , sometimes it just wasn't good enough.

I've been High

I've been low

I've been yes

and I've been 'Oh hell no'

I've been rock n roll

and disco

'Wont you Save me SAN FRANCISCO'

The blurriness of her vision made her stop and had to wipe away her tears again; it felt like the heart of her soul was literally ripped, or torn in two. it was almost numbing how the world went on while she felt like this, walking as if everything was normal.

Everyday so caffenated

I wish they were golden gated

Fillmore couldn't feel more miles

away

grief stricken brown eyes looked up towards the sky as her thoughts swirled around her favorite escape. Her favorite show as a kid, was on most saturday mornings. She'd have to figure how to work the DVR so she could watch it after work.

so wrap me up return to sender

lets forget this five year bender

take me to my city by the bay

She knew that it was silly to like a fictional character, especially that of a cartoon character, however he was there whenever she needed him. he was always there to make her smile, laugh, and somewhat ease the pain of what she was feeling or going through. She could imagine it was real, just like her other friends did. After all . . .no one in this 'city by the bay' knew what was going on in her head.

I never knew all I had

now alcatraz dont sound so bad

at least they have a hella' fine

Merlot

'School doesnt end for another two months . . .'

She thought to herself as she walked slowly down the sidewalk. Her eyes coming down to the local playground and park as she was running her hand light against the chain link fence. A nostalgic remembrance of time gone past.

If I could wish upon a star

I would hitch a cable car

to the place that I can always

call my own

'actually two months and 14 days until graduation' she thought again looking down. She looked up at the sky and reminded herself of the time on her watch, she didn't want to be late on the first day. 'Figures I'd feel like this on a nice day, and have to work when there will undoubtedly be a nice sunset later'.

I've been high

I've been low

I've been yes

and I've been 'Oh hell no'

I've been Rock N Roll

and Disco

'Wont you save me San francisco'

Work, school, graduating, family, it was all surrounding her. The feeling of being trapped pressured around her entire being, making her wish the sky was cloudy so she wouldn't feel so out of place.

I've been up

I've been down

I've been so damn lost since

your not around

I've been Raggae

and Calypso

Wont you save me San Francisco?

There were things she knew she'd never grow out of. Her love for her city by the bay, and how she knew to some it would be dorky, but her favorite cartoon show, and her favorite character in it . . .

To tell you the truth

I miss everything

Everything

Everything seemed so peacefull today . . . A hot dog vendor nearby making up a francisco special for a mom and her kids. Walking by the park, how the swans would swimm in the pond, as if everything around them was immune to their peace. Even her crushed feeling walking down the sidewalk.

It's a wild wild beautifull world

but theres a wide eyed girl back there

and she means everything

everything

Even the music playing over the radio station seemed to be happier than she was. Playing a happy song, while she walked on to work, only three blocks down left to go. Someone on a bicycle whizzing by her, its been like this since she woke up this morning.

I've been stop

I've been Go

I've been yes

and I've been Oh Hell No

I've been Rock N Roll

and Disco

Wont you save me San Francisco?

For that brief second she felt as if her problems weren't important enough compared to everyone elses, she kept quiet about everything at home, the fights, the problems, the tension. She talked to some friends online, and they'd be a good support system from time to time, but online can only do so much. Therapy just made her feel crazy.

I've been up

I've been down

I've been so damn lost

since your not around

I've been Reggae and Calypso

wont you Save me San Francisco!?

She reached her new workplace. She'd be a cashier girl and clean tables at a small convenience store/diner, something to keep funds up for college.

Wont You Save me San Francisco

'She looked up at the new workplace open window with a groaning frown, silent but visible.

Wont you save me San Francisco?

(Reality)

'Shes not waking up' He thought laying her on the couch. Heart pounding in his chest behind his shell. He was out of breath from the run to the man hole from the battleshell, then through the tunnels home. Aprils apartment was left alone the storm wasn't over yet, even in the dying down stages.

"Whats her name?" Donatello asked while everyone was in a talking frenzy.

"HUSH!" Brandace said making it quiet. His brothers and Kelly were all talking at the same time.

"Her name is Bethany!" Kelly said half in tears. The girl looked like she'd been through hell, soaked to the bone, cold skin, a few bruises forming from Leonardo catching her and landing on the roof roughly. It made her half wonder why she and Brandace didn't die from the fall, or if they even fell far from the sky to a Cold alley concrete ground.

"You know her?" Donatello said eyes wide and alarmed. Leonardo had laid the girl on the couch. Kelly nodded and Brandace gave a confirmed nod afterwards looking at his brother seriously before putting a hand behind her own neck, almost thinking or half nervous, her face not showing it.

"Someone get me a blankett, her clothes are soaked" Leonardo said looking over half aggravated. Michelangelo left the group to get one, passing master splinter walking in.

"What has happened?" The elderly rat walked in with a stern soft tone.

Everyone was quiet while Leonardo stood up.

"Master Splinter . . .She fell from the sky, just like Brandace and Kelly did"

"She has the same Ionic traces on her, I'll have to scan the samples from Brandace and Kelly's, to see if theres a match or any differences. I can't differentiate what makes up the particles of the matter but I can see if they match up or not. But its . . .strange that it would be someone they both know".

Then all eyes were on Kelly and Brandace. Brandace kneeled down beside Leo looking over Bethany unconscious on the couch with a serious facial expression, getting a pillow for Leo to put under her friends head.

"Well . . .We know her from online" Kelly said nervously. "We became friends because . . .we were fans of the show . . . or uhm . . .your guys' show"

"We all had the franchise in common" Brandace said to clarify what Kelly was trying to say. Realizing what they might think when they said that.

Donatello looked over at leonardo, his suspicions rising. It was definitely more than a coincedince', he thought taking mental notes. They all were friends, and they all were sent here. This storm was worse than the one that brought brandace and Kelly here. Worse than the Noreaster, undoubtedly there would be clean up tomorrow for the city.

"Leo caught 'er just b'fore she hit tha street" Raphael said recalling the pounding in his heart feeling watching his brother jump that distance to catch the girl in mid air with split second timing, then scraping himself up from the landing to jus' shake it off like it was nothin' only carin' 'bout gettin' that girl to safety, and keepin' 'er warm.

Michelangelo brought back a grey and green checkered old sleeping bag, clean but thinned out. Brandace helped tucking it around the girl, her attention focused on Beth.

'Were in deep shit' she thought, trying to figure out what to say to Beth when she woke up . . . IF she woke up. Donatello was making his own observations the concept of black and white cold hard facts slightly blurred in this situation.

"How injured is she?" Master Splinter asked moving over to kneel by the couch putting a hand over Bethany's forehead.

"I took most of the blow from the landing when I caught her, but theres a few bruises , I dont know if anything's broken" Leonardo said blinking hardly remembering the split second catch and grab, he was running on pure adrenaline instinct.

"Is she gonna be okay?" Kelly asked her eyes widened slightly, worried. Mikey put a hand around her shoulders in a half hug, concerned.

"We'll stay up and observe her, but we shouldn't crowd her, I'd imagine she wont be as comfortable about the situation when she wakes up" Donatello said shaking his head. "After all you thought you were dead" Donatello said pointing to Brandace who just looked back at Bethany with the same serious facial expression. "And she thought it was cool" Michelangelo smiled side hugging Kelly who gave a small laugh.

"She has a small messenger bag that came down with her, its got a book, and a portable laptop, also a uniform shirt for a . . .'Liddy's convenience store and Diner'" Leonardo read off while Brandace set the book on the table.

"She's not gonna be happy her stuff's wet" Kelly said picking up the laptop, while Donatello held a hand out silently offering to look it over.

"It'll be okay, I'll boot it up to check it over". Donatello said using it as an opportunity to cross refference everything from Brandaces lap top and Kelly's Xbox that she said was taking with her to a slumber party.

"So she might've been going to work . . .and then . . ." Kelly left off looking over at Brandace who gave a serious look back.

"Warm water, cold washcloth" Master Splinter said while Raph and Michelangelo went to go get one of the other.

'Dude . . .what if I did this . . .' Michelangelo thought looking back at the couch.

"Man . . ." He gulped the back of his dry throat getting a cold washcloth from the subway converted large mens restroom, with an installed old tub and shower courtesy of Donatello with Help from Raph.

'If this is my fault . . .then . . .He thought it would be cool for all of his brothers . . .even though he totally only thought of his own self at the time . . .'MAN what happened to when you wished on a star and then nothing happens huh!? I thought thats how it always worked, you'd wish for that puppy knowing you wont magically get one, you wish for super powers . . .nope just mutated DNA when you were born! . . .THEN you wish for a super cool girlfriend and best friend, and then maybe one for your bro's would be kinda cool, and all of a sudden whatevers up there decides, 'hey lets make this one happen!' . . .Bummer, Bummer, Bummer'

"What the heck are ya doin'" Raphaels voice said balantently and low toned.

Michelangelo stopped pounding his forehead against the wall . . .

"OH you know just checkin' to make sure the wall still works" He knocked on it "Yep thats quality wall right there" Michelangelo walked away nervous. Raphael stopped a moment before shaking his head and following holding a tea kettle of hot water and a bowl.

"We must give her space and time to rest" Master Splinter said directively, meaning in nicer terms, beat it.

Raphael gave a half hearted shrug with a 'no big deal' hand wave off walking towards his own room.

"Are you okay?" Kelly asked, michelangelo had a sunken expression on his face, like he was sad or something? . . .

"Huh yeah" He replied with a smirk "I'm gonna go . . .eat" He said walking away slowly.

Donatello had gone before all of them to his work desk, he had so much to do now it was unbelievable. He had theories to create and cross off, not to mention study the samples from 'Bethany's' clothes and a skin scrape that Leo watched him do lightly, not harming her at all. What all this meant, like a jigsaw puzzle, and he had the time and equipment to put it together.

"Kelly" Brandace whispered, nodding her way in a 'over here' urgent facial expression. Kelly got the hint following Brandace to her own room.

"If she wakes up you'll call us right?" Kelly turned to ask.

"Yes" Master splinter gave a nod while Brandace tugged on Kelly's shirt to urge her friend to follow. Both girls retreated to Brandaces room just diagnal across the vast substation hallway to Raphaels and farther down from Leonardo's.

Leonardo stared down at the couch as if shocked, or afraid the body laying on it would rise up any moment like a zombie from a horror film.

"My son maybe you should 'take a break'" Master Splinter said putting a hand on Leonardos arm kneeling infront of the couch.

"Yeah . . .Maybe I should" He rose up like a corpse himself walking as if in a daze.

"So much we dont know, and so much we must know" Master Splinter shook his head placing a cold compress on Miss Bethany's forehead while she remained unmotionless.

(Feels like a nightmare that already happened?)

'Busy for a first day' She thought feeling her ankles shoot pressure up from the bottoms of her soles. Her feet ached from standing behind the register all night. It was an old fashioned gas station, they didn't have feet friendly matts to stand on, and the register person could only catch a break in between customers. If a customer was up front or walked in, the cashier had to be behind the counter no exceptions. Considering her boss only had two people work at a time, herself and a kitchen lady to make the fast food and pizza for the warmers and cold food, it was a busy load for just two.

The night hadn't hit yet, it had barely just been twilight. She was replaced by another new girl who would be working the graveyard shift from 8 o clock until 3 am, then the morning person would come in at 5 am with the boss and do bookwork.

"(Sigh)"

She looked up at the sky, then down on the ground. "Maybe Somebody will be on facebook tonight" She thought. She didn't have any regular friends at school, none that she talked to outside of school anyway. Associates would be the more appropriate word she thought pushing a piece of her hair behind her ear, her curls rejecting the movement and coming back out from behind the ear . . .she gave up.

She talked to two girls mostly, one from Iowa, the other from Oklahoma. They all met over a story site on the web. They each had one thing in common besides a tough school life, they all loved TMNT. It was something that anchored them, gave her something to think about and talk about. It was nice finding people with her same interests, the others at school werent into it too much. Of course they each had their own interests outside of being a turtle fan.

Beth couldn't remember a time she wasn't reading something, or writing something, or drawing something out just for the fun of it. But her main thing was reading, whatever she read she remembered.

'Kelly's got the artist for sure'. She thought, the flashback memory of Her seventeenth birthday how Kelly made her a sketch of leonardo, it was on the wall by her bed right now. Kelly was a sweet girl, artistic, the nicest girl you'd ever meet with a southern accent. Not that she'd met any of them yet, but Beth knew if she did they'd be good friends with or without a monitor screen attached.

Brandace on the other hand'. Beth thought with a laugh, She wrote alot too when she wasn't doing school stuff, her kickboxing class, or watching hockey or football. They all had similarities, but in yet they were completely different people. When someone had a problem one would suggest

'brute force'. Usually Brandace. Beth thought rolling her eyes.

'Talking it out', mainly Kelly.

Beth had her own ways of dealing with problems, just like everybody else.

The air was cooler against her skin, she wasn't a fan of the polo shirt they made her wear as the uniform, so she changed back to her other clothes before leaving.

"Agh! Dammit" She turned around after dropping her book trying to get it out of the bag. The book made a loud drop on the ground amidst the strangely silent street. Reaching down with a sigh, the wind blew her book open causing the pages to whisp the other way.

"Agh!" She put a hand to her forehead, the partial sweat was drying from work against the cold wind. 'Headache' she thought shaking her head. Reaching down to put the book in her bag which the wind seemed powerfull enough to almost take away. Keeping her eyes closed closing it she stopped on the sidewalk for a moment to gain composure.

It hit again

"Ouch" She put a hand to the side where her temple gave a heartbeat like pound against the inside of her head. Her vision was spotted and frazzled trying to get up too fast.

"Whats wrong with me?" She said out loud feeling herself get nauseated, like a sudden case of the flu.

Bending down in a crouch putting her hand to the pavement sidewalk, cold and rough against her hand. . . Her head pounded again, and she felt a sharp pain make her eyes water.

"Dammit" She reached around for her phone. 'I dont care if he doesnt like it someone has to come get me' She thought fumbling around for her phone. Grasping it in her hand only to drop it from the weak feeling making her heave over with both hands. "I gotta . . .get home" She thought hearing thunder roll in from farther away, slowly sounding closer, the wind picking up.

'It was supposed to be sunny and clear today, there was no thunderstorm warning' she thought suddenly blaming the weather man for her problems. Her curls tickled her face while the blood felt like it was rushing to her head.

Bethany Fishers forced herself upward onto her weak knees. 'Its only a few blocks, you can walk that much' she told herself. Not realizing she forgot her phone on the sidewalk, the sky dark, the lights glowing as a few cars passed by. She stopped against a brick wall to close her eyes, breathing heavily, her head pounding, body feeling weak, stomach feeling . . .worse.

Her bag slipped off her shoulder dangling from her arm.

She reached over gripping the chainlink fence next to her, her warm fingers gripping the cold metal. The wind was so harsh she looked up from her blurred vision and aching head for an instant and watch a tree branch fall off onto the street. "Oh . . . god" She put her hand to her head before kneeling down from the pain.

(Guilty reguards)

Leonardo couldn't keep track of time. It felt like an hour had gone by and it had only been ten minutes.

Master Splinter had made sure that 'Bethany' was comfortable as someone unconscious could possibly be on a second hand couch found straight from a yard sale that April picked up for them a few years back.

'He released a strained tense whisper of a growl from his throat. He couldn't think, his mind was racing. He'd been on his bed, then pacing his room, then getting off his bed. Apparently doing all motions in ten minutes time, twice each, and not noticing.

'Its not possible' . . . 'Michelangelo might be Naive and still a kid at heart in most ways but this isn't . . .its not real'.

'I wish I hadn't read Don's notes' . . .He thought feeling torn in two. Half of him said it was his fault the other said it wasn't rational.

'Breathe in . . .Breathe out' he said doing a few excersizes. He was forgetting to breathe . . .

'The theory can't be true, all I did was hold it . . .More than a few times'.

It's not a plausible explanation. If he told Donatello what he thinks might have happened, that he's not even sure of himself, not only will he probably think his elder brother is crazy, but that it would be harder for his brothers to follow him if he did something that caused this. He's supposed to be the responsible one. If he really did accidentally cause the young woman on his couch to be here . . .

'Thats it' He got up and walked out the door. The only way to solve any of this was to get answers . . .

(Whose hand is in the cookie jar?)

"Whats going on! I mean now Beth's here!?" Kelly said half hushed and half yelling.

"I dont know why were all here but I think . . .Its our fault" Brandace said hushing even quieter.

"How do you mean? Why would it be our fault we didn't ask for it?" Kelly said confused and worried eyes.

"Yes . . .WE did . . .Remember all those times we talked about it? How we role played on facebook and even wrote a story on it so it would seem real" Brandace said with her eyes wide trying to get the message across.

"So you think its our fault?" Kelly asked suddenly feeling guilty.

"Its possible"

"But then . . . Would they be mad at us?" Kelly asked thinking . . .She didn't want anyone to be mad at her, or her friends, especially if they didn't mean too. Especially Michelangelo, he was her favorite . . .

"I dont know how we might've done it though, I mean I know I wished I could get out plenty of times but I didn't think it would actually . . ." Brandace left off.

"Neither did I" Kelly said suddenly solemn.

"I've thought about it since we got here, and I've felt guilty about it but I can't tell them . . .That I wished for something like this to happen" Brandace said leaning back. Kelly looked up at her friend, the hard as stone normally blunt girl look so guilty made her feel even worse.

"what do you wanna do" Brandace said after a few moments of silence.

"Do you think we should tell them?" Kelly asked. Brandace felt bad for telling Kelly this now, especially since she was just finally getting comfortable here and not worrying about things back home as much. Kelly's long hair fell infront of her shoulders, almost to hide her face a moment.

Kelly watched the black band t-shirted , red arm casted , blue jeaned girl sit up seriously contemplating. "We dont know for sure if it was us . . .I mean something put us here . . .We didn't get to be asked for the option it just kinda . . .threw us here".

"So . . .Dont say anything" Kelly said slightly agreeing. She didn't wanna upset anyone. Brandace leaned back again against the wall, while Kelly sat on the other side of her floor mattress, holding her arms looking at Brandace who looked just as distressed if not trying to hide it.

"Its not for sure and Donatello might find out the real reason and were just imagining it, because its a huge coincedince" Brandace said hands out in emphasization.

"This is so confusing" Kelly leaned her head back in surrender.

(Theory here, theory there, theories, theories, EVERYWHERE)

The smoothness of the sceptors handle or anything with the sceptor was out of the ordinary. It was like they way they left it, just less dusty.

'Master Splinter claimed it was spinning backwards'. he looked it over carefully.

'He might have been facing the opposite direction of where the inside turner should have been spinning to make it seem as though it were spinning backwards. If your going back in time, it spins forward'. He sighed setting the sceptor down. 'Unfortunetally unless he was there he wouldn't be able to tell if it was spinning backwards. The writing and inscription of the sceptor on the tops and sides say 'Open wide the Gates of time'. Upon inspection there was nothing on it stating open wide the gates of the universe.

'The theory that anyone was sent over was out of the question. Only AFTER his brother touched the sceptor, not to mention they all did except for Raph. Michelangelo and Leonardo handled it more than a few times, along with inspection by Donatello who made sure only to handle it with the cloth on it. Master Splinter only held it once but the cloth was also on it, as Donatello could recall. So how did it bring someone from another dimension? A whole other alternate universe? Not to mention why Brandace, Kelly, and now this girl named Bethany. Would it bring others?

His worm hole theory was still in affect but . . .The girls were on land when this happened. A sort of vortex, or universal whirlwind picked them up and dropped them here. Almost like a universal mail package, obviously not first class. He looked over his notes adding to them at a furious rate, thinking over everything and any tiny detail that might be microscopically important to their case.

What would cause them to be chosen to be picked up and dropped off here like that?

That was the question.

Looking through his notes there was that one piece of paper he kept in the back of them. That one that consists of one piece of paper with One theory written on it. Michelangelo's wish on a star theory. This would make no sense since Michelangelo stated that he wished for one being that a girlfriend or even just a friend, why now there were three of them. Kelly and Brandace arrived at the same time, and Bethany arrived just recently, shaken up to the point that shes under watchfull condition.

How did Brandace and Kelly survive the fall? unless they were dropped slowly by a magnetic force or something gravitational caused them to not hit so hard. The bruises on Brandace and Kelly were from their first run in with the east sides most dangerous street gang, the purple dragons. If Leo hadn't of caught Bethany she might have died from the drop.

The storm was swirled in a tornado almost vortex like way. The sky was green and black, lightning everywhere, striking buildings and branching farther. The storm itself was ravenous, New York would be under public and federal clean up crews for the next few months.

The next thing to do was wait until Bethany woke up, assess the damage, and then when she was ready, ask her questions. If hers doesnt link up in some way the same as Kelly and Brandaces then there might be some extra clue, or something to lead him to believe something a little more standard, such as Extra terrestrial action, a vortex in their world sending them to a different dimension, or something a little more cosmic and universal. Spirtuality was something that could be brought into play here but Donatello generally tried to stay with the black and white science cold hard facts. Not a story of angels carrying girls from a universe, or magic stars that grant wishes. Or . . .Something to do with the sceptor. He was more inclined to study that than anything else.

Although the sceptor was too dangerous to hold without a cloth anymore, he couldn't just do another test of it with one of his brothers or himself, if it would mean the possibility of another incident like this. . .

'Sigh' back to the drawing board.

(Re-awakening)

'Am I dying?'

'Am I sick?'

'Whats going on!?' She screamed in her head feeling nothing but air and wind pelt against her.

'Am I falling!'

She screamed, the pain, the air, the cold, the dark . . .Everything.

'Am I dreaming! I have to be!' . . .Her mind was racing feeling the dark take over, she couldn't fight the pain anymore, the ache in her head too great. . .

She screamed until the rain choked her of it. . .

Leonardo sat on the chair watching her. Her shirt now a slightly dirty and damp version of what it used to be. He was sure those jeans, as nice as they probably were before were now uncomfortable damp and tight against her skin, not letting the body breathe. It wasn't appropriate to undress her so they let her be and just made sure she was warm. The rain and the wind had made her skin cold when he first caught her, as much as he tried to block it. Now pale with her hair pushed up against the pillow her head turned to the side. Her face had strong but delicate features, the way her eyes were shaped. Her hair was dark with curls and waves, just about shoulder length from what he could tell, maybe higher. . .

He felt guilt sting him, he didn't want to be the reason she was on the couch right now, but he had no way to prove or disprove that thought. Maybe this was how Michelangelo felt . . .

He breathed in the stale air, the smell of food from the kitchen after Michelangelo had made something in the oven. The sound of Donatello's door opening and closing to his own room/lab area. Everywhere else echoed any slight noise, everything was absolutely still and the lights were dim. It was shadowed over the couch except for the lamp that was lit near her, giving everything an amberish glow.

everything was still . . .

His head was stirring with thoughts of what was going to happen and what had happened already. He got up slowly, he had to check on her just to be sure. 'was she warm enough'. the blanket was tucked up to her shoulders.

'Her neck doesnt look strained' he said looking, kneeling near the couch on one knee looking her over. 'It' almost looks like shes not breathing' he thought a second. He moved over her slightly more checking to see if her stomach was moving, or if her chest was moving with breaths.

She was so still it was almost hard to tell . . .Leaning down he put his ear by her partially parted mouth to see if he could feel breaths. He gave a small lick to the side of his first finger and put it by her mouth to feel a slight air, to see if she was breathing. It was faint but there as he looked her over closer, adjusting covers, looking down to make sure all of her was covered.

'The landing damage couldn't be that bad to cause internal damage' he thought knowing he took the brunt of the blow

he listened for a moment hearing a hitched sound in her throat . . .Half of him was relieved she was stirring and not in a sort of unconscious coma . . .and then . . .her head moved upwards.

(One on One, Bethany)

Her head felt heavy, her stomach slowly churning but Bethany felt as if something had run completely over her. Moving her head forward a bit while she groaned a little.

She barely opened her eyes a second before seeing a figure beyond the opening of where her eyes glimpsed. She shot her hand out on instinct, striking something, solid.

Leonardo felt the slight impact on his jaw, moving backwards in slight shock, he heard a light female groan and a slight gasp hinted with pain. Her chest moved upward a little as if to stretch. Her head turned to the side, while he stood there completely frozen eyes unblinking.

Her eyes flew open after she hit something and looked up at the person that she accidently hit. Her eyes were staring silently at the person and softly swallowed. She had to be dreaming, she just had to. Staring back down at her was none other than Leonardo from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Bethany's heart jumped from calm to frantic. Her stomach tightened as she leaned backwards into whatever she was resting on. Brown hazel eyes were wide, her chest moving up and down normally, she made sure to keep it that way. Fear had its awful hands trickling through her stomach, up to her chest before it showed in her eyes.

'He is not real, this is not happening. Please god, please don't let this happen.' She thought to herself while 'Leonardo' stared back at her.

He felt his dry thoat breathe out, but no words .

She was awake, she had hit him . . but she was awake.

He felt his own heart pound in his chest settling down from the surprise sideways hit. She looked frantic, her chest moving up and down with quick breaths slowly turning into half breaths not breathing fully. She pushed herself back against the couch, the blanket halfway on her, her hands gripping one pillow and the couch arm. Both staring at eachother, not a sound was made. She looked like she'd scream any second. 'Does she know me?' he thought. Kelly knew Michelangelo, Brandace knew them all too . . .would she know us too? He thought feeling his own leaderlike position take hold of his actions. "It's okay . . ." He said not being able to say much else.

"It's Okay . . ." The thing infront of her just spoke. Green smooth skin dimmed against a lamp light next to her, his form, bigger in person, the roundess but distinct features of his face, muscle, shoulders, neck, and of course . . .a shell to compliment the possible hallucination she was having.

An image of her memory flashed before her waking eyes and suddenly Bethany felt ice cold as she slowly shook her head 'no'. Her stomach didn't hurt anymore or she didn't notice if it was churning still, the fear then had taken root and she bent her legs and pulled them close to her chest. She felt her blood slowly drain from her face; her throat was constricted as her eyes stayed on him. She kept absolutely still . . .

He kept his distance just at the edge of the inntable, not too far but not close to the couch where she could flip a time bomb switch at any moment.

It was as if someone had flipped a switch. Bethany felt the realization of her situation in an instant. Leonardo was not real, he should not be real.

"Are you . . .hurt?"

He asked knowing the answer already but needed to know anyway. He wasn't sure if he could bring in Donatello from the look on her expression. If Master splinter walked into the room he was sure this girl would have cardiac arrest. The lights were dim but he knew she could see him. She shook her head . . .He wasn't sure if it was an answer to his question or if she just couldn't believe what was going on. 'Im not sure anyone would know how to explain to someone they've just been universally thrown to New York where there is such a thing as Mutated Turtles and Rats.

This had to be handled as delicately as possible.

Her eyes moved in flash instances, checking to see where his hands were, one resting on his knee, the other by his side unmoving. Bethany swallowed a bit before she closed her eyes and whispered lowly "No. Where am I?"

With her eyes closed, she felt her face heat up though she could not understand what her body was trying to do. Drain the blood from her face or flush for no reason at kept calm on the outside, however on the inside she was frightened as hell. 'He knows it' she thought feeling as though he could see right through her. His eyes didn't look warm brown in this light, they looked cold and observing, like he knew everything.

"Your safe" He said instinctually hiding the fact they were underground, thinking of the family's safety first. This girl might already know where they were, if she knew them. Or she might think she's dead, or hallucinating, or be like April and think she's dreaming.

"Your name is 'Bethany' , is that right?" He asked with his calmest tone, not wanting to make her think she was under some sort of investigation, tip toeing around the battlefield they'd created. She was frightened, obviously, and wondered if maybe he should go get Kelly and Brandace to handle the situation . . .but he knew from the guilt he felt just by looking at this terrified young woman, that he had an obligation to make her feel safe, after all she was safe here.

He didn't sit down just kneeled across near the coffee table one one knee to be eye level with her, but he kept the distance not wanting to frighten her more. Compared to her he was as big as a monster, including the shell.

Her eyes locked onto him like that of great white shark onto a lone seal in open water. Her fear slowly pushed to the side as she quirked her right eyebrow up a bit at him. In the dim lighting, she saw that he was a real mutated turtle though he looked bigger in person then on her TV or computer screen.

"H….How do you know my name?" she asked him curiously but also to determine if she could trust him. Sure, she trusted him, but only as a cartoon with a voice actor reading the lines in either the cartoon or movie. She trusted the voice actors, but him, this is a completely different animal.

'Okay' he thought with a sight looking from the coffee table up to her. She was suspicious of him. As any normal human would have started crying, fainted, or screamed, at least she was responding thats all that mattered to him was the slight tip toe progress, this kind of interaction was never easy, for either side.

Her eyes moved up and down slightly from what he could tell. She was studying him. "Your friends told me . . .Us . . ."he re-stated quickly. "Do you need anything? water . . .Do you feel anything broken?" He realized he was answering and asking things all at once, he didn't want to overwhelm her more than she already was.

"Hey Leo is she-" Don walked in . . .'Bad timing' Leonardo thought feeling he was making progress to keeping her calm. "I"ll go get Kelly and Brandace" Don said seeing Leo look up with a half glare, half knowing the mental answer.

Donatello walked up the stairs quickly. 'Leonardo didn't want her panicking or being crowded, that was the last thing this frightened girl needed.

Bethany turned towards the noise and then the voice of someone else. Her eyes locked onto another stranger as she moved her legs closer to her chest, making it look as if she was tiny.

This one looked at her from the side standing up, Leonardo looked over at this one with slight irritation, and a half frown on his face, underturned that you could see from his face. She kept absolutely still. This one . . .had a purple mask, the colors of their skin shone better in the lamp light now that her eyes had adjusted. 'Thats Donatello' she thought, suddenly feeling overwhelmed from the knowledge that there 'were' others.

'Brandace and Kelly? Wait their here?'. The names registered in her mind Looking over at Leonardo again, Bethany looked at him and said "Brandace . . .Harvey?" She asked. Leonardo nodded, his attention focused on her again. 'Not that there are too many Brandace's in the world but . . .' she prattled off mentally.

"And Kelly . . .Smith" He said adding the last name cooly, no detection of shakiness.

'What am I doing here' . . .Bethany felt panic grip her.

"She's awake"

"BETH!" A smaller long haired brunette with delicate features and large doe eyes came calling from somewhere. 'That face' . . .

Beth kept completely still until the voice reached around the corner.

"Oh my god Your okay!" Kelly rushed up to hug the girl sitting in complete frozen confusion and half fear on the couch.

"Give her some air Kell" Another voice followed with a pair of echoing boot steps. The pictures . . .It was them.

"B-Brandace?, Kelly" Bethany tried to breathe in through her nose only to find it barely worked, she could hardly breathe at all even as delicate as Kelly was hugging her.

"Yeah, are you okay?" Brandace asked sitting on the couch besides Beth. So many ideas struck her head she was afraid anything in her intuition might be right at this point. Her breaths short and not flowing, The animal Leonardo's eyes across the table watching the whole thing unfold. Brandace side hugged Beth keeping a hand on her shoulder.

"Whats going on . . ." Beth said lightly barely heard above a whisper.

"I know its alot to take in but just be calm and breathe" Brandace said lowering her head.

"Yeah dont over do it" Kelly said with a half smile half worried facial expression.

"What the hell am I doing here . . .Where the HELL is HERE'" Beth said louder. Kelly looked fine, just like the photo from their facebook and fan girl pages. Brandace on the other hand looked tired, she had a red casted hand.

"New York" Kelly said with a half smile.

"New YORK!?" Bethany shouted.

"Well at least your reaction was better than ours . . .Kelly nearly fainted" Brandace said with a shrug trying to lighten the mood. Leonardo was silent, obverving everything she was doing, thinking , feeling, it made her feel insecure and like she wanted to yell at everyone at the same time.

"Why the heck am I here . . .AND why are YOU here" Beth first shouted at Everyone but not looking at them.

"We . . .dont know . . .for sure" Kelly said frowning and giving Beth a sympathetic heartbroken look.

"No ones for sure right now" The voice of Donatello made Beth scoot back.

"Stay. . .Away"

She felt crowded, invaded, she wanted space.

"This . . . isn't . . ."

"Beth, babe . . .breathe. The thing is . . .this isn't our . . ." Brandace looked to Kelly for help this time.

"Universe . . . its like an alternate one" Kelly said slowly, very unsure of how the recently unstable girl would think of it.

"Uni- . . ." Beth didn't even finish.

"we understand this is overwhelming-" Leonardo started

"Overwhelming? . . .None of this is real! Your Not real!" Bethany got off the couch standing pointing at Leonardo and then held her head with her hands on the verge of tears and frustration.

"Guess she aint takin' it too well" Raphaels voice said coming over from somewhere. Bethany stayed still Brandace standing beside her mentally throwing curses at the larger one of his brothers for showing up just when her friend was having a breakdown.

"Their real" Kelly said reaching from her backback and holding up her michelangelo hat to Beth. Beth took it, and saw the one with orange staying back behind leo to give the dudette her space, waving awkwardly at her. Beth felt her legs buckle and she sat back down on the couch trying to make herself smaller.

"Beth, remember the third movie . . .the one where they travel back in time to feudal japan" Brandace asked knowing Beth would remember.

"Yeah so!?" Beth said damming up her eyes to keep back frustrated tears.

"We believe it has something to do with it, but were not sure how to send you back, we've been working on finding a way" Donatello explained trying to get the tired,frustrated girl to understand with the softest tone he could muster.

"You . . .can't send me home . . ." THe thought hit her like a brick wall.

"We've been here . . .a few weeks now, just about a month" Brandace said, they got here at the beggining of March and April was fast approaching.

"Why- . . .did they do this?!" Beth pointed at Leonardo in specific but not looking at him, looking directly at Kelly and Brandaces eyes who looked torn if not frustrated themselves.

"If anybody did anything . . .It wasn't on purpose" Leonardo said finally looking up , her eyes flashed over to his and for a second she saw coldness . . .and something on the side of directiveness. Michelangelo breathed out slightly, a little shaky. 'Dude this is wayyyyy past the cool part now' he thought guiltily looking over at the new dudette. Her eyes were wide and terrified at the thought of this all being real, not being able to go home, no one to blame for it, and that something that she'd been told all her life isn't real, all of a sudden has her on their couch.

"This isn't real . . .None of it." Beth stood up looking around.

"Wheres my bag!" She shouted.

"Scary aint she" Raph gave a chuckle nudging Donatello in the arm. Brandace shot him a look while Donatello shook his head.

Kelly picked up Beths bag and held it out. Beth snatched it and looked around she saw out of the corner of her eye a room with a toilet in view. She rushed to it holding back tears and screams in her head she had yet to unleash. Her friends watched with torn faces while two out of four looked guilty the other two looked stone faced.

Beth shut the door behind her forefully, slipping down the side to the floor. Hugging her knees up to her chest, resting her back against the door near the handle so no one would come inside as she silently cried into her crossed arms.

'I want to go home. That's all I want, I don't want to be here.' She thought sadly to herself as she cried trying to stifle the slight sobs that broke through. She was petrified, angry, upset, scared . . .'Theyre wrong . . .they have to be'.

"Beth" Kelly knocked on the door softly, twice, then twice again.

"Kell . . ." Brandace shook her head with a soft expression. "She needs some space".

"Hey . . .Beth . . .If you need us we'll be in my room okay? Its the first subway car, dont even knock okay". Kelly said feeling defeated. There was no reply. Beth held her breath until the footsteps walked away.

'How is this even possible!' She screamed in her head getting up suddenly pacing .About five minutes later, she was up on her feet, washed her face with ice cold water, hoping that would wake her up but it didn't. Sitting on the closed toilet lid, she glanced at her backpack.

Thankfully, she had her backpack with her and quickly dug around in it. Her laptop was in the first big pocket, but she didn't want to be on that right now, it barely had any life in it as it was. She got her book out with her book light and slowly began to read it, ignoring everything around her. As much as she could, anyway. Those eyes . . .still burned in the back of her mind.

(Like a charm)

"Well that went well" Donatello sighed. Brandace glared over at Raphael who looked down at her with a raised eyeridge. "What?".

"You werent exactly helpfull"

"Ey, aint my fault she can't cope with reality" He said making the crazy circle gesture by his temple. Brandace huffed pushing her hair back before looking over to Kelly who was looking down at the floor chewing on one of her nails.

"Hey dudette, you okay?" Michelangelo asked Kelly who just nodded and walked away following Brandace out of the the living room area.

"I'll be working" Donatello said grabbing a coffee mug and leaving.

"Yeah (Stretches) Imma go watch a movie or somethin'" Raphael dismissed himself.

Michelangelo looked over towards the bathroom. Then realized Leo was still here. Both didn't say anything and it was five long seconds of pure silence. He could see the pain in his younger brothers eyes, the worry.

"Its not your fault Mikey" Leonardo said leaning off the counter.

Michelangelo didn't say anything.

"Don even said its illogical that a wish on a star would make this happen . . ." Leonardo said feeling a need to lift the weight off Michelangelo's shoulders.

"I know but . . .Ah" Michelangelo sighed with an 'I dont know' shrug and left, his eyes fixated on the ground thinking. Leonardo watched him leave to go to his room. His focus on the bathroom door , where Beth . . .Bethany was hiding. He crept up on it quietly, listening. No sobs, no crying, just slow breathing . . .

'It's not Michelangelo's fault . . .' Leonardo thought, looking at the door one last time as if it would open before walking away and leaving her be.

Time seemed to go by and she could easily hear the rest of them go to sleep. Donny's tap, tap, tap on his computer keyboard was like a soft water drop, dripping slowly in the background. Raph and Mikey softly talking to one another up on the second level but then there was Master Splinter softly talking to one of his sons. She went back to reading again.

When she had finally had enough of sitting in the bathroom alone, she gathered her backpack and pressed her ear to the wooden door, hearing nothing. Knowing that those all went to bed, she slowly opened the door just a bit looking around the dark place that the turtle brothers called home, as well as her friends slowly were too.

"I mean, the looks in their eyes, it was like . . .it was normal for them" Four real mutant turtles. She hadn't even met the real Master Splinter yet, if there was one. She thought shaking her head.

She quickly and quietly opened the door and stepped out into the hallway before she looked around and got used to the darkness. It was like a mix of the lair, and the subway lair from the 1990's movies and the cartoons. The first subway car was where Kelly said she was staying. There was furniture, a kitchen area not far, and some cement steps that led up to god only knew where. She tried to hold her anxiety in her. Half of her thought she could leave with no problem, the other half was paranoid of getting caught. 'They had to be lying, or at least wrong'. She was shaking her head.

'Where was the-'. She looked around until she saw it, there was a gap in the brick and stone wall of the home over past the t.v area with the chairs, and couches. Looking around she didn't see anyone.

'Theyre all asleep' she thought. The sudden dread of walking out of the bathroom, which had become her safe haven for the last few hours washed over her.

She was near the entrance and exit of the lair, her hopes were high and she saw no one. Lightly stepping out she looked around cautiously, but kept a curious face on just incase she were caught. She could make it seem as though she just didn't know her way around, and was looking around for Kelly or Brandace's room.

'This either isn't real, or their fakes'. She thought shaking her head. Her real friends wouldn't be calm about something like this. Giant mutated turtles, they arent the same as in a book or on t.v. She put her hand against the inside of the entrance. There had to be a button, or a lever, or a pull thing of some sort. Feeling the entrance wall she moved over to the sides of the walls to feel for anything that might trigger the open way to OPEN.

"Feeling better" A voice said slightly cynnical and bland, not as inquisitive. She jumped-

"AH!" she exclaimed to him but calmed down as she hoped she didn't wake anyone up at this late hour, especially trying to make a get away. "What are you trying to do? Give me a damn heart attack after this fucking fiasco". She waved an arm in emphasis.

"There are people looking for Kelly and Brandace, and the bet is that once they catch wind of who you are . . .you'll be next on the list" Leonardo said putting an arm out beside her making her flinch, he pulled up a lever and the main lights turned on. He lowered his arm to its side looking her over. She was frozen to her spot but her face and expression demanded respect, hidden with the fear of being caught trying to run.

"Where exactly did you plan to go once you made it to the streets?" Leonardo asked crossing his arms, his voice serious and gaze even more. She held her ground but what she couldn't understand were the sudden butterflies filling her stomach. She knew in her own world, that she loved him. However, to see him, a live, walking, talking, and hell even Breathing was too much for her. Though with his stance, slightly leaning on his forward, his eyebrow ridges forward in concentration, and ready to grab her if she ran for it, she coward to him. His posture almost lazy, as if it would be easy if she ran . . .she knew it would be.

"I dont belong here, I have a family back home, where they need me" She said feeling her throat burn slightly. "Why am I here?" she barely asked him, her voice was soft and frightened. It was only for an instant she saw his eyes soften, before he lowered his gaze and then looked back up as if with a promise.

"Donatello is researching it, the best we can do is offer you a safe place to stay. Brandace and Kelly are in the same boat you are, the less topside you are the safer you are. Brandace and Kelly, they have bounty's on their heads, wanted alive by The most dangerous gang on the lower east side, whose leader wants us all killed. If he gets his hands on you, Brandace, or Kelly, there no telling what he'll do to you" Leonardo enforced his tone. "Hun worked for the footclan, under the direct orders and tyrannical rule of the shredder-"

"I am not stupid about this world about you or the others, Leonardo," she snarled at him, using his full name for the first time being here. She didn't like being talked down to.

"I know you all know, were all still getting used to that. Until then, you need to know that WE know what were talking about. Our guess is that whatever brought you here would be of interest to the purple dragons. Whether is time travel, space travel, whatever . . .If they find out the information before Donatello, you'll never get home". Leonardo said piercing her gaze with his. He wasn't trying to be cruel, but she needed to know the severity of the situation. Her back was still against the entrance way. They both were silent a moment.

"How do you even know were from a different dimension? That were not just on the same planet just thrown into New York?" She asked.

"For all I know you all could be lying"

Leonardo's eyes widened a moment.

"What would we gain from that? for lying to you" Leonardo and Bethany stared eachother down until a low noise made Bethany's cheeks redden slightly. Her stomach growled, making her turn her eyes away from him.

"Are you hungry?" He asked with his calmer more light concerned tone. His eyes even matched with sincereness.

Bethany nodded looking away. "A little" Her voice was small.

His head nodded the direction of the kitchen area, with a wry smirk.

'Shes stubborn' He smirked to himself walking infront before looking back at her to see if she was coming.

Bethany nibbled her lower lip before her feet decided for her. She walked slowly after Leo but, she gripped onto her backpack right strap as if that would disappear from her. When she saw him turn back around, her eyes lingered on his weapons. Within so many pictures of him back home, she wondered if they were really real and just how sharp

You're different," she barely whispered to him.

He turned his head back making her wish she could recant her statement. His face calm like he was waiting for a reply.

"You're taller and have more muscle but …." She began but stopped and fell silent.

She didn't know if she had offended him or not.

Leonardo nodded, she didn't know if it was acceptance or just writing her off.

Sighing a little and trying not to let the panic get to her, she looked around the kitchen and slowly sat down in the offered chair as she put her backpack on the floor.

"Do you like Chinese takeout?" Leonardo said looking into the fridge his eyes looked up at hers to the table. She broke out of her concentration of how green his skin really was, how his mask contrasted that, that particular shade of blue, and how much bigger he was in person still surprised her.

"Sure…do you have chow main or sweet and sour chicken?" she replied back, her eyes slowly resting back on him. She stopped herself from the soft suggestions.

"Coming right up" He said in his normal tone reaching in for some boxes.

Even though her eyes were on the floor, she was watching Leo. Her heart started to hammer in her chest, breathing deeply to calm herself but she was ready to bolt. Her body knew it and she was ready to do so, not caring if Leo chased after her.

Bethany was torn. She was torn in between of leaving this place far behind her but also wanting to be with her friends since they seemed comfortable around the turtles, anyway. Even if this all was so much like science fiction.

He set the boxes infront of her and grabbed her a fork. Almost a little too shyly she opened one box on her lap and grabbed the smallest piece of chicken in the box.

"Do you mind if I sit with you?" His voice asked. She gulped down the small piece she chewed. Giving a shrug "Its your home" she gave her answer. He smirked seeming amused pulling a chair out.

"Do have any thoughts or clues as to why 'you' think youre here". He asked, he knew Donny would cover the basis tomorrow but it wouldn't hurt in asking.

Huh? Oh uh… I …I don't know," she replied to Leo slowly eating her dinner but looking over at him wondering if he was going to eat too.

'That's stupid; he probably has already eaten this. Idiot.' She scolded herself blushing a little. The table was wooden, rectangular, like something out of a highschool woodshop class, the polish was faded. The kitchen was just like the recent movie, furnished as much as they could find. A kitchen area installed with a handmade sink, An installed Oven and Fridge, plus extra freezer. The lights made everything seem to have an amberish glow, and not flourescent like she was used to.

"I'm sure Brandace would let you borrow something of hers until your clothes ar washed, or our friend April O Neil could take you shopping with her next time".

"I remember her" Bethany said lightly still not smiling.

"We'll find you a room of your own tomorrow, until then You can use mine" Leonardo said hearing the slight cough she gave afterward.

"That would be nice," she mumbled looking down before putting the half-empty boxes of the sweet and sour pork and chicken chow main in the middle of the table.

Her eyes slowly looked over at Leo. Even though that there was a soft light on, she saw that he was studious of her. Always watching her move but, was wondering what she would do next.

'I wonder…' she only thought of those two words before she blushed more but didn't look away. "I dont want to kick you out though" . . . She said after awhile.

"It wont be a problem, theres plenty of room here. I just want you to sleep somewhere besides the couch, its not good for your back" He said with an acception in his eyes. It was hard, she was trying not to look at his . . .'Turtleness' in general, the shell, the skin, the hands, the feet, the 'swords'. But his eyes.

In all of her daydreams and dreams, she had nothing but wondered what he truly was like. Sure, there were voice actors and actors and cartoons' portraying him but, this was different. He was truly real and that made her wonder about other things.

"If theres anything you need, or have a question about I'll try to help as best as I can". He promised trying to make this as easy on her as possible. It wasn't just a change for her, it was a change for his family too. Now there were three more to add to their already five. Five males, three females. One more and they'd have a Fullhouse.

I'm so confused. I want to ask you a lot of questions but I also want to go home even though I am figuring out that I can't if my friends haven't been able to," she replied, looking at his hands since that was a bit safer for now.

Bethany slowly got up; her mind was a bit numb but didn't know how much more she could take. Leonardo left the chinese food on the table. "I'll show you where you can sleep" He said noticing how drained she looked, he imagined he'd be no different.

She followed him up a set of cement stairs covered with a rug.

"Theres Brandaces room, and in here is my brother Raphaels room" Leonardo pointed out two different rooms closely diagnal to eachother. She almost smirked at the significance of that. Brandace rooming across from Raphael, 'So he's still her favorite, even after all this' Beth smiled almost feeling like she at least knew something Leonardo didn't.

Leonardo's arm reached towards a handle to a rusted gold colored hinged side. The door opened, and there were candles and a lamp already glowing, giving the room its own unique warmth.

She looked around and stepped further into his bedroom but the smell of sandalwood, certain incense that she always loved but also his own unique smell, which was something entirely much stronger then incense.

"This is nothing like what the directors think of," she said it out loud and then blushing really hard.

'Great, good going Fishers.' She bitterly thought to herself.

Looking directly up into his eyes, Bethany swallowed her blush down and looked into his eyes. They were a brown, but not the kind from the TMNT 07 movie. They were steady, pondering on thoughts that she would never know about but, guarded. She knew that he didn't trust her. Hell she wouldn't trust herself if this situation was reversed. After all she did just try to leave.

She suddenly put caution to the wind and slowly walked up to him. His height wasn't that intimidating and she was nearly his height. Just that every now and then his eye patches would turn completely white and that always gave her the uncertainty if she could trust him. For her, she had to see the eyes to know that she's looking at someone, human or animal. She crossed her arms looking down for a moment.

"Theres extra blanketts at the end, if you need anything just come find me and ask. Brandace is farther down the hall, just remember shes the door to the left. I wouldn't bother Raphael if he's asleep. I'll call April tomorrow and see when she's coming back from her vacation, maybe she can take you shopping when she gets back". He said thinking things over out loud.

"I don't like shopping all that much, I hate crowds. But, I will go if I have too. And I am sorry for kicking you out of your own for the night…" She sounded sincere, and her eyes betrayed slight guilt.

"I'll be fine" He answered.

"Could you sleep in here?" She asked, suddenly half embarrased but tried to hide it.

His face gave away his half confusion. He wasn't sure what to make of that question. Her frame stood beside him but infront of him like she could lean her head on him if she tilted forward. He cleared his throat and looked over. "I have a bed made up elsewhere, I'm not too far" He said as if they gave the answer for everything.

He dropped his hand to his side before he felt a smaller one find it.

Her left hand captured his right but loosely. She gently lifted it so his palm was upward, and stroked his skin, in wonder and awe of it. She would never say anything about this adventure of hers to anyone, besides that of Brandi and Kelly.

'What is she doing' He though his eyes half widened and extremely confused as to what she was . . .'she was studying it'. He was new to her, so it would be a little hard, he guessed, to imagine something that was only imaginary to something thats real now.

He took his hand back, the parts where her fingertips traced still slightly light and traced on his skin.

"You're cold," she noticed but it was only a light cool in temperature then hers.

"The room isn't too warm, but there is extra blanketts there incase you get cold" He said with a half sigh.

Her senses kicked in and she quickly looked up into his eyes. Even though she was much closer to him, she could see the small flakes of gold within them. Quickly seeing that he was ready to leave, sadness slowly swirled within her own brown eyes and her lips pouted a bit.

"I don't mean the room is cold, I meant…never mind," she said and then stepped away from him, looking back at the ground, hiding her sadness from him.

He noticed her expression, and he felt like he couldn't help the situation anymore than what he'd already done. He dissapointed her, he could see it.

"You should get some rest, you've had a rough night" He said turning towards the door, hand on the handle.

She looked up at the closed door and wondered if she should go and talk to him. He looked almost upset with her, but she somehow knew, gut instinct perhaps, that it wasn't with her. She gently put her backpack on the floor; her shoulder was killing her and carrying around an 8-pound laptop and her other stuff, hurts after awhile.

She slowly looked around, wondering what to wear to bed, since she had nothing but her nice blouse on and her pants. Her eyes spotted his closet but then she looked back at the closed door.

'Should I ask? It would be the polite thing to do.' She thought and walked over to it before quietly twisting the handle and pulling it open before slipping out and walked to where he said he would be.

She saw that he was right behind the door.

"I uh- Was going to ask Brandace for a t-shirt or something" She looked down half embarrassed. He turned as if mentally they both synched she followed him.

Brandace heard a few knocks on her door, she got up off the bed the laptop light glowing the room a light blue. When she opened the door Beth was standing there with Leonardo behind her leaning against the wall near Raphaels door.

"Hey, the creature of the night finally emerges" Brandace winked at Beth to give her some famous light humor.

"I need to borrow some p.j clothes, smart alec" Beth said almost smirking. Brandace smirked going to the side of her room past the door so beth couldnt see. "T-shirt and p.j pants work?"

"Sure, thanks" Beth smiled softly at her friend who handed them over.

"I'm serious I thought you were growing wings and fangs you were in there so long" Brandace leaned against the door frame with a smart ass raise of the eyebrows and smile.

"Ha ha, at least I don't leave Teeth marks. I'm still healing over those!" Beth sarcastically replied back to her and faked looking at her left forearm before the door closed. "Besides if I'm creature of the night then what are you?" Beth asked just as smart alecky.

"Spawn of satan, have a goodnight" Brandace nodded.

"Night" Beth said holding the clothes to her chest, she turned around mentally remembering he was still there.

Looking over at Leo she tried her hardest not to blush but this was her crush, her role model that she looked to for whenever she was in trouble within either herself or having problems with her parents. He was the comforting place that she sought when times were too hard for her to handle but, seeing him in the flesh and blood. This was totally different.

"Thank you," she barely uttered to him, softly.

"Your welcome, lets get you back to bed" He said leading her again.

'Is he making sure I dont try to leave again?' She said admiring the back of his shell as he strode ahead.

She walked behind him but her eyes silently and gentle, roamed over his shoulders, down his chest plastron plates, slowly down his strong well-defined forearms before she walked into the bedroom but she turned to look at him.

"I can't change your mind about sleeping at least in here?" she asked him softly, her eyes locking with his as her guilt swirled clearly within them.

"You've had a long night and your still adjusting and need your space. I'm willing to give it until we set up a room for you". He said indifferently.

She continued to look into his eyes for a bit longer before she nodded in defeat. Who the hell was she fooling? This was Leonardo, once his mind was made up, no one can change it unless it was too late or he out thought himself of it. Her shoulders slacked as she looked over at the bed.

"Oh and uhm . . .I know it might seem . . .well . . .Mikey- uhm-Michelangelo said if you wanted to borrow him, you can". Leonardo held out 'Ted'. He let Kelly sleep with him the nights when they didn't instantaneously crash together on the floor or in Michelangelo's room watching movies.

He held the bear out while Beth reached out her arm to take it with a slight smirk and amused eye gaze.

"Have a goodnight 'Bethany'" Leonardo said shutting the door behind him gently.

It was the way he said her full name that she always wondered how it would sound and now she knew. After she snapped out of "it", she quickly got out of her current clothes and got into her shirt, she would leave the pj's until she had to get up in the morning. Quickly taking the teddy bear into her arms, she hugged that bear so tightly that the stuffing was flat against her chest. She crawled into Leo's bed after she pulled his covers back and pulled them over her before she heavily sighed.

She knew that she would start to cry when no one was around, but for once, she wished that someone were holding her. Comforting her that it was going to be alright but her broken faith within herself wasn't going to hold for that much longer and it didn't. She slowly drifted off to sleep, inhaling Leo's unique scent with his teddy bear tucked right beside her.

This chapter was put together by myself and ALONIA who's character is Beth. Makesure to give her props too.