Author's Notes: Thanksgiving is coming up, so it's a busy time. But we're also near the end. I would love to thank my Big Six; you make writing worth while. *hugs* Luke, I get that reference. It's the old Batman series, right? With Adam West? :)
Disclaimer: TMNT belongs to Nick/Eastman/Laird. Nia Anders, Hugh Reese, Melody Gray, and any other Original Characters you notice belong to me. I'm in no way making any money. Thanks.

Chapter 37 - Hearts

Their existence was known. How could it be helped? The destruction of Black Lotus' true headquarters had led everyone to a difficult situation. When trapped underground, only so many options were feasible. It's a wonder they survived at all. It didn't seem like they would, really. When the pain hit—even within the walls a shelter—it felt like they would die on Sublevel Nine.

Yet they didn't. At a price…

Hugh sighed, rolling the thin rims of his wheelchair through a tall 'quarantined' barrier at the end of a hospital corridor. The hung, rubber mat parted down the middle with little resistance, so the man continued through a thick doorjamb a yard beyond it. Inside, the bare walls were windowless for security purposes and he didn't stop until he spotted beds on the west wall.

'They should be up,' he thought. 'Like me, I know they haven't been able to sleep…'

"Mister Reese."

Hugh grinned at the Nubian cyborg, who sat her electric hospital bed up acutely. "Evening, Miss Fall. How are you today?"

Tabitha's wide, soft features settled into a look. "Doesn't Olson keep throwing you back in your room because you exert your broken pelvis?"

"Yes, he does," Hugh answered, simple. "But I have people to check on. So. How's the chest?"

"Hurts like hell," the dark-skinned teen answered. She brought an organic hand to the gown covering the trauma, prodding it with a grimace. "The bleeding's stopped, but Olson's still scared he's done something wrong."

"Why?"

"Because I'm a cyborg." Her answer was tart, like her smirk.

Hugh met it with a somber expression. "But you're also a kid. Both of you. Thankfully, the emergency responders recognized that and had friends who could keep your identities from the press. Not to mention a few doctors willing to sew you up."

"Yeah, they saved our lives."

"What's so wrong about that?"

"What do we do now?" Tabitha's gaze grew heavy like an anchor in the detective's gut. "Melody has a place with other social rejects. Us? We weren't good for anything before. Now? We really can't do anything. P—people will be scared of us, think us freaks. Throw us at Bishop. We have nowhere to go…"

"Not true; I made calls today."

Tabitha's dark eye turned stony, meeting the quiet Sven in the propped bed beside her.

"What calls?" the redhead questioned. He sported a thick bandage around his temples, which pushed his short hair upwards like a Chia Pet. Lightly, his robotic hand brushed it as if reminded of his condition.

"Never forget you matter," Hugh replied, even. He wheeled his chair closer so it sat between the cyborgs' feet and glanced at their worn, bruised faces. "Even when it feels otherwise. Even when you're sure you're the only one who notices you, there will always be someone. Now, that someone won't always realize how needed they are. They'll be jerks. Everyone's a jerk once in a while. But you have to push through the pain. And if it doesn't get better—stop, think. Maybe you're the one that's needed."

"Th—that's the whole reason we were with"—Tabitha choked as her glossy eye rolled—"We're criminals now, accessories to murder. Cyborgs. Who would want us?"

"Oh my god…Tabi?"

The Nubian froze at a female's voice. Rigid, her gaze shifted when a chorus of footsteps clicked against the linoleum floor. Hugh shifted his chair to meet their faces. A tall, slender doctor of middle-age herded a dark-skinned couple in thick coats and a shabby-looking man behind a bright-haired boy no older than Kaiya. They crowded near the beds, stunned by the sight before them. The woman, Lynsey Fall, stepped forward first, her aged features strained and reminiscent of Tabitha.

"M—Mom?" the Nubian teen croaked.

The mother had no words. Tears welled in her round eyes and they fell when a sob wracked her thin frame. Her husband, Paris, guided her towards the bed, but she disregarded him once they sat on it. In seconds her long arms wrapped Tabitha in a hold the teen was too shocked to return. The sobbing grew into occasional wailing while Paris tenderly leaned his forehead against the daughter he hadn't seen in over two years.

"I'm sorry," Lynsey cried into her child's metal shoulder. "I was petty, and self-absorbed, and demanding, and—I—I'm so sorry."

Hugh met Tabitha's wide eye from his seat. Once he smiled, that's when her dam broke and she joined her parents in tears.

"You look like Robo Cop now, BB!" a child cheered.

Hugh's chair rolled from the beds, to the doctor who sent the detective a disproving look. He flashed a cheeky smile in return, but was left alone to watch the shabby man—Albert Nass—round Sven's bed, silent. The two redheaded males glanced at one another, their emotions unreadable. On the cyborg's lap, the little boy eyed them nervously, leaning into his brother like he could be ripped away at any given moment.

"You're sober," Sven remarked.

"I am," Albert replied, stuffing his hands into his dingy jacket. "And…I got a job."

"Daddy's a grocery man now," the boy said, careful.

"And he hasn't touched you, Jakob?" Curt, sharp, Sven's words visibly dug into the man.

Jakob shook his head then situated so he cuddled beside the much larger male. "A—after you left…I thought you would come back from Mister Baker's. And when you didn't, Daddy got sad. He started talking to someone and got nicer."

"I started attending anger management classes," the father noted in obvious shame of needing them. "I…I know it drove away your mother and…you. I didn't want it to be the same with Jakob. I didn't…want to be alone."

"So he won't have to be, right?" Jakob added enthusiastically. "We found you, so we can be a family again. Right?"

Sven's robotic gaze landed on his father, though he didn't speak.

The older redhead nodded, saying softly, "I have a lot to make up for. I know."

"We all do," interjected Tabitha's father.

Albert sighed. "Right. We all want a second chance. Will you give it?"

Sven gave one simple nod that brought his father to his knees at the cyborg's bedside and Lynsey's sobs mixed with a laugh of a relief from Tabitha's soft 'sure'. The group fell silent then. Hugh nodded at the teens he made eye contact with then wheeled to the doorway. The doctor followed him closely, his blue gaze boring from behind. When the duo exited the barrier, a force caught his wheelchair, stopping him.

"Mister Reese."

"Yes, Doctor Olson?"

The brunette doctor glared mildly at the detective's grin. "You shouldn't be—"

"I can't help it; it's in me."

"My friends and I go through the trouble of keeping the secrets from that lab on your and Miss Brown's insistence and you repay me with disobedience?"

"Please"—Hugh's tone dropped—"It's Christmas Eve. The ward is finally allowing visitors and I just…I want to see how they're all doing before we're transferred to different hospitals in New York. Besides, when my wife arrives and kicks my ass I won't have time."

Doctor Olson released a long sigh then pointed a finger like the wheelchair-bound man was a child. "Just look. I'm going to check on the Williams girl, so you meet me there."

"Meet you?"

"Yes, I'm doing a check-up on your fractures. When I roll you back to your room."

The detective groaned at the notion of confinement, but nodded definitively enough to be left alone. Olson headed down the shady corridor and Hugh followed his white coat until distracted by a large family area that connected two hospital corridors. In it, people sat in various groups.

Hugh noted Senator Brook's daughter Paige held hands with a long-haired Native American male. Quill Greeves, if he recalled correctly. They paused their talk with a middle-aged woman, who resembled a wild-haired Neanderthal. Her voice was pleasant, though. Hugh knew because he'd met her yesterday: Star.

"Still scouting the victims, Mister Reese?" Paige asked from her seat. With a free hand, she tucked a short lock of strawberry blonde hair behind her ear while Hugh wheeled into their small circle.

"Caught me," the detective responded. "How's everyone doing?"

"Bruised but unbroken—unlike you."

"Well, we all kind of hurried in that bunker. You were the lucky monkeys in the middle."

"I—I still can't believe we actually…made it."

She didn't mean the explosion, so Hugh breathed deeply. "I—I can't begin to fathom what it was like for the people in those halls."

"A nightmare," Quill added, deep voice sour.

"It was better when Leonardo spoke up," Paige added, soft. "He was so reassuring and positive towards us, utter strangers. He fought until they broke him. He"—her face scrunched with unshed tears—"I was taken because I dressed down and ran from home. It was supposed to be for one night. I do that. I know people who think I have it all because Daddy has money and status. But it just means I'm surrounded by the shallowest, most conniving people on the planet. They don't have to be—they choose to be. And I can only handle it for so long."

"I ran because I couldn't stand my grandfather," Quill added, glancing away. "Hardass Justice of the Peace. I could never please him. Did everything wrong in his eyes. He always said if I disobeyed him, I'd be punished. For a while, I thought my capture was just that."

"Star did not run," Star interjected with a short shrug of her thick shoulders. "Star was snatched while on a walk to Phil. On the other side of the fence, he was. Saw me go. Poor Phil."

Paige sent the chunky woman a light smile then faced Hugh. "We were taken because it looked like no one cared for us. They had us believe that. I almost fell for it too. Before Leonardo's arrival."

"It seems you really respect Leonardo," Hugh remarked coolly.

"How can I not? In Hall F—at the beginning—he showcased everything I wish I saw not just in my father, but other men in power. The concern, the moving words? All of it genuine. When he spoke, it drowned out Donald's cynicism. And I felt lighter. It…it was horrible to watch him break."

"Will we get to see him again?" Quill questioned. He gripped Paige's hand tighter, steadying her ragged breath. "He may not know it or feel it, but he gave us hope. I—we—would like to thank him for that."

"I honestly can't say if you'll see him again," answered Hugh with a short sigh. "Sneaking him and his brothers out of the disaster area was all up to Nia and Angel. I know a few responders saw the guys, so once they hide…I don't know if they'll come back."

"They should," Paige said, definite. "I'd like to know them."

"Me too," Quill added with a nod.

Hugh sent the couple a genuine grin. "They're great characters. Knowing them lands you in some tumultuous territory, though. Damn…I hope anyone who saw them doesn't snitch to Bishop or—" The detective shook his head, wringing his hands.

"Only time will tell. But the news wouldn't be from Quill or me."

"And I can tell you they're thankful, Miss Fall." After a greatful look, Hugh caught the gaze of Olson from across the hall. Yes, the doctor stood inside Kaiya's hospital room, but it carried. "Ah, guess I should go. You kids take it easy; an explosion isn't anything to sneeze at."

"Star was in no explosion. Saw it far off, she did."

"And Hugh is thankful for that."

"Why does Hugh talk in third person?"

The dark-skinned man shared a long awkward stare with the disheveled Star until she shook her head like he was crazy.

"She's interesting, isn't she?" Paige asked as Hugh wheeled backwards.

He didn't answer, but smiled. The three resumed their talk when he left the visiting area, rounding another group of Black Lotus survivors. A name caught the man's eye before he reached Kaiya's room. Addisons. He had checked on the room yesterday, except Rupert wasn't awake. Now, though, happy voices clamored from the cracked door, and the man couldn't help peering inside.

"Where'd you learn that song, Rupert?" Samantha asked. The wavy-haired woman sat in a chair beside her brother, holding a young boy no older than five in her lap.

"Friend Leo taught Rupert," the man replied. It seemed difficult for him to speak since the lab explosion had damaged his neck, yet he smiled through what must've been terrible pain.

"Who's Leo, Rupert?" asked a narrow-shouldered man. He leaned against the bed, an arm around a shy-looking girl about six or seven.

"Is he here?" the girl asked in awe.

Rupert partly faced her. "Leo special."

"Special like you, Uncle Rupert?" Another girl, a dark-haired child, sat on the bed's edge while she spoke.

"Laura," Samantha said warningly.

"Jude gets to use the word 'special,'" Laura retorted.

"Because I'm older," a boy near ten years added beside her.

"Unfair!"

"Enough, kids," the man interjected.

Rupert smiled lopsidedly at them all, but focused more so on a bony boy who sat by his lap. "Rupert missed Tony."

"I missed you too, Uncle Rupert," Tony replied, close to tears. He hugged his uncle and swallowed visibly. "The police told Mommy you just didn't want to be with us this Christmas. That's why you left. It isn't true, right?"

"Rupert loves family," the curly-haired man said while giving Tony's head an uncoordinated pat. "Rupert love Leo, too. Want to see Leo…"

'Wow,' Hugh thought, grinning. 'Who knew you'd be so popular, Leonardo?'

"Reese." Olson's unmistakable reprimand was now reminiscent of Inspector Erb, so Hugh flashed him the same smile he would his boss. "Don't do that. Come here."

He didn't ask for Hugh to follow and outright overtook the chair, wheeling the detective one room down. When the chair stopped at Kaiya's bed, Olson returned to a chart, scribbling notes. It was quiet since Kaiya slept beneath a mountain of blankets, her little arms littered with intravenous lines. On her two sides were Jennifer and Blaine and Megan curled up by her feet. The blonde family slept soundly, so Hugh faced Olson with an inquisitive look.

"Why am I here?"

"It's easier to talk about it when the father's unconscious," Olson answered without glancing up from his clipboard.

"Talk about what?"

"I need to explain it to someone close to her."

"Explain what?"

Pausing, Olson met Hugh's mild glare with leery blue eyes, saying, "There are some things you need to know about Kaiya's…enhancements."

Two days have passed and Splinter's joy still couldn't be contained. Any pain, any ache in his bones that he felt clearly in Leonardo's absence was now numbed by relief and thankfulness. And he refused to leave the makeshift bed Nia and Angel had set up for the Jonin in the quaint cabin.

It was a charming two-story place with an open-plan ground level. Leonardo slept by the rock wall fireplace in the living room, waking only twice for a bit of food. The kitchen in its background was hardly used because no one else would eat either, so the boys kept to one rug.

Tonight, in the comforting light of the fire, Michelangelo's bundled form lined close with Leonardo's futon. His hand lightly touched his brother's discolored forearm like he needed the subconscious reminder of his sibling's safety. Raphael kept to the long couch by Leonardo's head. He claimed it was to keep his injured eye off hard ground, but the father was quite sure his second eldest used the position as a watchful perch over the three below.

Donatello. From a welcoming armchair, Splinter's eyes landed on the genius set on another futon by Leonardo. His breathing sounded ragged, like Leonardo's, and though he claimed to be fine, Splinter still worried…

"Ah, S—Splinter-san, you're awake."

Smiling, the wizened rat twisted his head to Nia beside the couch. "Good evening, Nia-san. Glad you have finally emerged from hiding."

"H—hiding?" The long-haired human shook her head of unkept locks and waved her arms before they fell at the long sides of her pink sweater. "No, I…I just wanted to give you guys time as a family…is all."

"Now, Nia-san"—Splinter spoke sternly with a pointed paw from his cane—"you know you are a part of this family as well."

"But I only cause it trouble," grumbled Nia with side-glace towards Raphael's snoring figure. She gave a little sigh, but the master chuckled at it.

"Family is trouble, Nia-san. It is the strength we gain through the trouble and the happiness that follows which makes it all worthwhile."

"Even if it's brought on by its own members?"

"Especially then. Because it means no matter what, even our short-comings or mistakes cannot separate our bond."

The human fidgeted where she stood, picking at the polka-dot tights she had changed into after a shower. "S—so," she started, soft, while catching the mutant's gaze with glossy eyes, "you aren't mad I did the wrong thing after our talk?"

"Is that why you have not spoken with me?" Splinter asked in mild shock. Her teal eyes left him, yet he beckoned her closer. Hesitantly, she complied, breathing deep before sitting at his covered feet. "I heard about your hospital trip, Nia-san. It never angered me. It saddened me."

"R—really?" she whispered.

"Yes. Because you did not believe me."

"About our talk when I made Donny tea?"

"Hai. Nia-san"—the rat leaned forward when Nia clenched her knees—"you helped a lot in Leonardo's absence just be being yourself. I told you not to believe anyone who told you differently. That included my son."

"It wasn't the right thing to do," Nia muttered over her crossed arms. "I knew the whole time what you said was right. But I still hoped I could do something more, something Raph… " She sighed. "It blew up in my face though. My ribs still burn and the power cell was hardly used. Most it did was shoot Tabitha out of the sky."

Splinter frowned at the human's head shake. "That is not entirely true." When their eyes connected, sudden, he added in a serious tone, "You drained the cell to heal yourself. That is a vital revelation."

"Yeah, go me." Nia's words trembled with her quickened breath. She knew how to calm her panic, however, and did so without her teacher's prompting. "Mikey keeps calling these things super powers. It's nothing of the sort. It's just my…alien bloodline. That's why they're all subconscious. And barely controllable."

"If we knew more about the race you descended from then perhaps your control would increase," suggested Splinter sincerely. His paw left his cane to land on the human's arm. It prickled against her flesh and stirring Chi, but the sensation was mild.

"Languu," she whispered. "When we got the Battle Shell, there were two EPF soldieries on guard. They had a, uh, a device th—that could track me. Well, a race called the Languu. They called me a half-breed."

"What a disgusting word," the mutant rat spat, gripping her arm. "That is akin to calling my sons monsters."

"They're not monsters," Nia immediately retorted. Her Chi read a similar offence to the one inside Splinter, and he eased his brows until a kind smile graced his face and his paw returned to the cane.

"And neither are you, Nia-san."

"Sometimes I feel like it. Especially when my blood is used for things like"—she grimaced—"Recro12."

"Despicable things have been done with the drug," Splinter noted in reserved disgust. "However, it has also done good. It saved the life of Kaiya Williams and…and Donatello."

"It was a last resort," grumbled Nia, her teal gaze glossy as it turned to Donatello then one of the second-story bedrooms visible from the balcony between the living room and kitchen. "He was poisoned."

"Yes. And Gray-san has been in that room; hard at work on a compliment drug to ensure Recro12 does not eat his muscles."

"What a win."

"It is. Stephens would not reveal the antidote; Donatello would have died had Gray-san not acted. While bittersweet, Lombardo's work helped. It is quite curious, though, how your blood work landed in her hands."

Drawing her attention back to the mutant, Nia solemnly said, "I—I asked Melody about it this morning. She said Black Lotus had a high-standard of acceptance. Scientists who wanted to join needed to present unique, valuable data that could contribute to their goals. Lombardo was denied twice and one night, while at a bar, she was hit on by a drunk. The drunk turned out to be an EPF member and when she blew him off with science talk, he started telling her things that B—Bishop has done."

"So," Splinter frowned and gripped his cane's blunted head, "she sought him out?"

"Used the man to get into the organization and worked her way up from there. Really, my blood was just an unexpected opportunity…"

"Thus she connects two devastating forces—both ambitious and filled with misplaced intents."

"I hate them, too."

Her cold tone was admittedly heartbreaking, except the master knew better than to address it. "At least the CEO has been arrested, the company shutdown, and Lombardo…"

"Died for her ambition. She wouldn't leave without her research."

"There is a bit of tragedy in her story," admitted Splinter, his chest tight when Nia's hard eyes softened. "How sad it must be to lack real love, your only value defined by parchments of paper and ink."

"Even I had more than paper before I met you guys," the young woman added with a short-lived grin. "All the Black Lotus doctors were like that. There were four main ones in the building—they lived there. One was Lombardo. The Purple Dragons killed another. But the other bodies haven't been found. Not even…Ste—Stephens'."

The bitter name jabbed Splinter's stomach. Still, he managed a comforting look, saying, "Give it time. There is much rubble and little chance of survival at this point."

"Y—yeah…okay." With a sigh, Nia looked up at Splinter to return his smile. Until a sudden ringing startled her onto her back.

"That is your regular cell phone, is it not, Nia-San?" asked the rat with a low chuckle.

The wild-haired human quickly fished the small device from her sweater pocket then glanced in panic at the sleeping brothers before accepting it. She remained on the ground, staring at the high ceiling above the fireplace.

"D—Daddy?" Her answer was timid, careful. Splinter knew the father and daughter hadn't spoken since she left New York, so he understood her flinch and nervous whispers. "I—I know, but…Daddy, they needed me; I had to be here. No. I can't…It's a safety thing, okay? I'll be back so—" Like the spring of a Jack-in-the-Box, Nia's upper body vaulted forward, her black hair fanning around her wide-eyed face. "Wh…what? She…she…"

The human fell silent as the phone dropped from her quivering hand into her lap. Mouth agape, she struggled for breath, the pricking of the air notable. Her glistening eyes slowly raised to the mutant, their emotion clouded when tears welled then fell in slow, steady streams down her flushed cheeks.

"My child, what is wrong?" Splinter asked in uncontrollable panic. He slid from the armchair, his cane clanking against the wood floor, and grasped Nia's hand once at her side. But she smiled at him with a joy that glimmered in her teal gaze.

"Mama woke up," she croaked before her tears of solace increased.

The weight on the master's chest instantly lifted as the human sought a hug. He wrapped his scrawny arms around her shoulders, softly whispering, "It seems all the hearts are finding their way home."

Author's Notes: So there you have it. Of course they were seen. But thankfully by a TRUE rescue team...or were they? Guess time will tell. High point is, they were helped. Mia's awake. Kaiya's alive with...changes. And next chapter is "Merry Christmas", where April returns and the couples take much needed time alone.