So sorry for taking so long to update. My last year in high school is coming up. I'm neck deep in things to do, regarding scholarships and college classes, and I've had terrible writers' block lately. I'm afraid that the updates will be very slow, but if you ever want to share any suggestions, just put it in a review or message me. I will gladly consider and incorporate them. Hope you guys enjoy!

'Something doesn't sit right with that girl,' Leo thought as he headed through the familiar sewer tunnels of his home. Not watching where he was going, he almost stepped over the edge of his footing and fell into the murky water that rushed by him in strong currents. Because of the heavy rain from earlier, the water levels had risen much higher than usual and all sorts of debris were being pulled away from the sides of the walkway. Avoiding the edge as much as possible and turning down the next corridor, he started thinking back about all that had happened before. She didn't even want to go through any other entrance into her apartment, except through the ventilation. And what would a young girl like her be doing just wandering through the alleys of the most dangerous part of Chinatown? Without a phone or even means to defend herself? Is she not aware of how many gangs come through that one area? One thing is definitely for sure. There's much more to that girl than meets the eye. For some reason, I think it wise to find out more about her.'

He was quickly shaken out of his thoughts by a snicker just inside the lair entrance. "So how was your date Fearless?"

Ignoring the insult, the blue masked turtle walked through the turnstiles and answered, "She's home, but I can't help but have a strange feeling about her."

"Oh yeah? Like, oh I don't know, the possibility that she could be a spy of the Purple Dragons?"

Leo rolled his eyes and groaned. During these moody episodes of his, Raph was never one so easily persuaded. "Raph, what is your problem? I helped one girl from being mugged and all you can think about her is that she's in some way trying to steal our secrets in service to the Purple Dragons.

Raph shrugged his shoulders and poked a finger at his older brother. "Possibly. What I don't get is why ya don't think it's strange."

"I do think it's strange."

"Yet ya still had the dumb resolution to bring her down here."

"Not the 'strange' your thinking. Think Raphael. If she was a spy, don't you think she would've asked about information, data, or even sneak around to get her hands on whatever she found before you saw her? Also, wouldn't they also send someone who was at least able to fight and defend themselves? Someone who wasn't weak and starving?"

Raph shrugged again. "Maybe. What do you make of her trying to leave as quickly as possible?"

Leo tapped his chin and started to pace."I don't know. She told me that she had siblings...and she also told me that he parents didn't really care if she wandered out at this time of night. What kind of parents allow them to do that? Defenseless? And without any sort of communication?"

Raph looked away from him, but Leo swore that for a moment he caught a glimpse of sadness in his fiery emerald eyes. "The kind who don't care about their children."

"And let me ask you something. When you saw her in the dojo, was she carrying anything?"

"Nope. Except for that little tattered sack that she had when you brought her in. But I didn't see what was in it. Did you?"

Leo nodded. "No phone. No weapons. Only a couple of moldy pizza crusts and apples about a week old."

Raph stopped glaring at him and looked down at his feet. "Well, that isn't much help."

"No, it tells us why she was so thin."

Raph scowled and looked up at him. "Care to share?"

"You should've seen the way she was eating. She ate every last drop of ramen that I made her. She even ate that disgusting stuff that Mikey made for Leatherhead when we rescued him."

"What do you make of it?"

"I think...maybe...Let me ask you something else. What was she doing in the dojo when you caught her….sneaking around?"

Raph looked at the floor again as if he was trying to recall what happened. "She was… looking at the photo of Splinter and Teng Shen. But what does that have to do with anything?"

Leo mirrored his brother and looked down at the ground.

"Leo, how does that explain anything?"

"We both saw her, Raph. She looked way too civil and innocent to be a Purple Dragon. She didn't even know who the Purple Dragons were, let alone work for them. If she had parents that don't care for her to be out in the part of town with the most gang activity, then that must mean that they don't feed them properly."

"Which...might explain the starvation, but what about the rest?"

"The rotten food means that she must have been trying to scavenge for something for her brother and sister to eat. Very brave, but….very dangerous."

"You do know you're basing this all on hunches, right?"

Leo, determined to convince him, he his voice firm and clear. "Her wrists Raphael! And her ankles. You failed to notice that there were chain marks on her hands and legs. You may have watched her, but apparently you didn't look at her close enough. No ordinary parents treat their children that way."

Raph yawned and shook his head, trying his best to fight back against the heavy weight of sleep. Leo hadn't noticed the large dark circles that gathered around his eyes. The hothead stretched out his arms like a cat and turned towards the hall. "Stick it in your shell, Fearless." That nickname! "Believe whatever the shell you're gonna believe. We saved her and now she's home. There's nothing more to it. I still don't trust her. Either way I still don't trust her."

"Raph, when I looked at her, there was no guilt in her eyes. She was terrified. Something else is going on that she's not telling us and we have to help her. She may be involved in some way or another, but she is not a Purple Dragon."

"Whatever," his brother grunted and left him staring at the floor deep in thought, his head drooping in defeat. Leo groaned and followed his brother's example. He climbed into bed and slipped comfortable under the covers. Sleep seemed to instantly strike him like a mallet and he drifted off into silent slumber, the picture of the tiny pale figure he had found lying still in the alley constantly flashing through his mind. 'I don't care what you say Raph. Something about this feels too wrong. And I intend to make it right.'

Tess POV

I wake to the sound of someone nudging me. Too soft to be Allen or Kat. Baby blue eyes meet mine as I sit up and rub the sleep out of my eyes.

"Tess," his voice is quiet and groggy. "You alright Tess?"

"Oh, Joven you won't believe the dream I had." 'What a dream it was. Giant mutant turtles secretly living in New York City. But….no….it wasn't a dream, was it? No….just another figure of my imagination. Instantly, a shot of pain spreads through my torso like electricity. If it was a dream, I wouldn't feel any pain...I got stabbed. The blue masked turtle….he saved me. Only one way to find out.'

I lift my shirt to reveal my midriff. "No….it really…."

"Tess, what happened to you?" Kat yelled, running to me. Her voice shook a little, as if someone she loved just died.

"Hush, I'm alright Kat," I whisper to her as she throws her arms around me. I feel a sting of pain rush through me at the rough contact, but I suppress a wince so as not to make her pull away.

I feel her shoulders start to tremble. I've never seen her so scared, since we were brought here; nor have I seen "We waited up for you, but you didn't come back. We thought….we thought that you were….dead…."

"Yeah Tess." Joven whispers, huddling close to me and running his small hand over my bandaged midriff. "Did they hurt you?"

"Yes Joven, but I'm alright. Someone saved me."

"Rescued you? Like a superhero?"

"Can't wait to hear about this," Kat grumbles and crosses her arms.

"Wait before I start, I've got something special for all of us." The two of them stare unbelieving as I empty the contents out onto the bed sheet. Surprisingly, they are still warm; hinting that I didn't sleep very long.

"Tess! Where the heck did you get all of this?!"

"You won't believe me, but I'll explain everything."

"Tell us about the superhero Tess." Joven shouts eagerly, plopping down in my lap

"Actually Jo, he was ninja."

Kat frowns as she sits in front of us."You can't be serious. Stop joking around with us Tess and just tell us what happened."

"I was looking for food in an alley not too far away, but I was suddenly attacked by the Purple Dragons."

Jo gives a small gasp of excitement, but then raises an eyebrow in confusion. "What are Purple Dragons Tess? Giant purple lizards?"

"No, they are very bad men that run through the streets at night, Jo."

"Ha. Classy name for a gang of thugs."

"They caught me and tried to hurt me," I say gesturing to my midriff, "But right at the last second, this guy showed up and saved me."

"Wait a minute. So this "guy" just jumps out of nowhere and helps you escape some goons?"

"Yes, and the weird thing is that he wasn't even a guy. He was turtle."

Joven stares at me with a confused look. "A turtle saved you Tess?"

"Here I'll show you." I uncover my treasured journal from under my bed sheets and open to a clean sheet. Without even needing guidance, my pencil quickly moves across the paper. I try to capture every crack and crevice of his broad plastron and the broadness of his strong, built shoulders. His large armored shell, the bandana he wears over his eyes. His kind smile, and his deep sharp, unchanging eyes.

"You forgot the rest of his fingers Tess. He only has three." Jo mutters with mouth full of pizza.

"Turtles only have three…" He stands with them clenched around his sword, ready to defend, with the tails of his bandana flying behind. However, my daydream is brief as Katherine shatters it with a laugh.

"You think I'm going to believe all of this? You sure you didn't knock your head against something?"

"Sure I did Kat. Then explain the reason I have stitches in my stomach or what about all this food? You think I stole it?"

"No, but all this talk about giant turtles saving your life from a bunch of goons. Instead of making up tales to tell Joven, you should spend your time working on that little escape plan you said you had. Get some food. They're going to come fetch us in a few hours."

I'm not in any hurry to have a full blown argument, so I turn my attention to the half finished drawing in my journal. Fumbling through my sack, I pull out one of the warm egg rolls. Something rough brushes my finger tips. Inside is a piece of white paper, tied with a blue cord.

Hi Tess,

If you're reading this, then it must mean that you've found out Mikey's special treat. He still hasn't stopped talking about how much he wishes that you can come back.

Orders from Doctor Don. He told me to tell you that you'll need to come back to the lair in about a few days so that he can check up on your injury. He says if you don't put a lot of stress on it, he can most likely take the stitches out in about a week.

I'm sorry about what happened to you. And I apologize for Raph's behavior. You shouldn't have woken up to that. Next time you come, I'd like you to meet someone.

A little word of advice. If it's incredibly urgent for you to leave home late at night, I recommend that you take Hobart Street that leads away from the more gang active areas. It's less shady and dangerous there.

I know you don't know me very well, and I don't either with you. Anyhow, I just want you to know that you can trust me. Take comfort in knowing that I am your friend, and if you need help, I'll do my best to lend a hand.

Yours Truly,

Leonardo Hamato.

'A friend. I have... a friend!'

What will become of Tess and her family?

Will she work up the courage to leave?

Will Raphael ever drop his guard around her?

Will Leo piece together the riddles and realize the truth?

Please review! Tell me what you think!