The smell of the soup almost drove her mad when he opened the door and came in. She wanted to sit up and reach for it, and knew her body was still too hurt.

Mikey put the tray down on the table and turned to look at her. Mild green eyes from the turtle's face looked back at calm hazel ones from the girls.

"Soup, bread, or tea first." Mike said.

The girl smiled slightly "All of the above. Soup first I guess."

He nodded, and took the bowl and the spoon. Sitting Indian style beside her he began to feed her the soup slowly. Her belly roared at the taste demanding more, but she knew she had to go slow. Hunger could easily turn to sickness when head trauma was involved.

Mike hummed a little as he fed her, hummed several police songs. and she smiled a little more. "You like those guys hum?"

"Great band." Mike said "Really tight and unusual."

"You're Mike right? The Angel."

"I'm no angel." Mike grinned "Just Mikey the dude."

Jessie grinned and sang a few bars, tapping one hand against the blanket as if to keep time. Her voice was soft and sweet, and her eyes glittered with mischief.

"So I might steal your diamonds

I'll bring you back some gold

I'm no angel."[1]

Mike grinned back "Well I guess. I dunno, I'm not much of a thief."

"I could teach you." Said Jessie and now her smile was a little sad "Oh I could teach you all about that, Mikey the Dude, if you wanted me to. I'm Jessie the cat, and that's what I do. You should know that up front. I've got sneak thief written all over me."

Mike grimaced a little "Oh, you heard that hum?"

Jessie's smile never faded "He's right. You shouldn't trust me. And you shouldn't think of me as your friend. But....I don't mind if you pretend. I mean, forget what I am, and pretend that we're really friends."

"Ok" Mike said "Lets start with that."

"ok" Jessie said and continued to eat the soup as he fed it to her. "So, are you going to explain to me what you guys all are? How are you real? Splinter told me he'd tell me, but I haven't seen him since yesterday. So will you?"

Mike grinned "He tells the story a lot better than I do."

Jessie settled back. She found she could sip the tea herself, holding the small cup in her hand "Tell me the best you can. I bet you tell it fine."

"We were once just Animals. All of us. Even Master Splinter. Just like pets. It's hard to think of. I remember it, but sort of like trying to remember things from when you were a little kid, you know?"

Jessie nodded "I understand."

Mike leaned back a little and began to tell their story, starting with Yoshie and his pet rat and moving on from there. When he told about Saki killing Yoshie and Shin her brow wrinkled a little and her face darkened. But she found herself caught in the tale, and despite his protests he was an excellent storyteller.

When he had finished, she looked at him "I know the foot. We run on some of their turf. Well.....I run on it. Good hits there, I don't have to steal much to eat really well for a long time. They don't like me much."

"They're dangerous." Said Mike

"I'm fast" Said Jessie. and when she smiled it was her old "Go to hell" grin. A Cat grin.

He put the soup bowl aside "So now you know. Where do you come from Jessie?"

"Back ally's and Star filled nights" Jessie laughed "My favorite spot is the statue of Alice in Central Park. I sleep there sometimes."

Mike looked a little sad "But you had to have lived somewhere before that. Your family, where are they?"

Jessie's eyes narrowed a little "I dropped out of school at 10 because I w as a punk. I fought everyone, and I never learned anything. My parents are a Red Cross nurse and an environmental activist. I blew off those wussies about the same time. I'm much too tough and mean to live with them. So I took to the streets and I leered to survive and rule with an iron hand. My gang fears me, and we aint afraid of no one."

Mike looked at her mildly "Didn't sound like they feared you. Sounded like you guys were a family."

Jessie shrugged "Doesn't matter who I am Mikey. Its probably better if you think of me as some punk-ass bad guy. Seriously. My story means nothing. Only now is important."

"I wanna hear it anyway, Jess."

Jessie smiled, and he was surprised at how sweet it was. For a second, she just looked like anyone's sister there. Her eyes were both lightened and saddened by that smile.

"Just think of me as a lost girl." She said gently "But your really sweet for wanting to know, Mike. Really."

Mike smiled a little and then it faded "Why were you spying on us?"

"I saw you when you left stuff last winter. And I thought...." She paused "You know how much money you guys would be worth to a zoo? Or to scientists......I could get myself emancipated, get a house, start a studio. I could give Rabbit a place to grow up...I....." She suddenly realized what she was saying and then her words grew gruff "I could be rich, ride around in cars, make all the boys want me. I could have everything, and all I have to do is sell you out...."

Mike wasn't fooled. "You really want to take care of that little girl." He said,

Jessie sighed "I don't want her to be like me." She dropped the act. "You'd like her Mike. I think you're the kinda person who would love kids, and she's the best. Little Rabbit. Her names Lee. we call her rabbit cause she was born in the year of the rabbit."

He smiled a little "And why are you cat?"

"Cuz Steve says I have nine lives. And Cats the animal that got left out of the zodiac, she got left out of heaven."

"Maybe you don't have to be left out."

"I already am. If I wasn't I'd be thinking 'Hey these guys aren't animals, they're people. Like me. I can't sell them. That's wrong. And Mikes my friend.' Then I'd be worthy of heaven."

"What are you thinking then?"

" This is so wrong, and I still want the money. I want to give Rabbit what I don't have. I want to give shadow what we don't have. And I know its wrong,. because........" She stopped and closed her eyes.

"Because what, Jess?"

She didn't say anything and then she said "Go away Mikey. I'm your enemy. Tell them. Tell them they better kill me or you'll all end up in a lab." Her eyes still closed.

He was still a long moment, and then he rose and took the bowl and the mug. He paused at the door, and looked back. She watched him, cracking her eyes open, and so no anger or hate on his face. No fear. Only sadness and a terrible deep pity.

"Your not my enemy Jess. No matter what you choose." he said and then he was gone.

He didn't see the glittering on her cheeks in the candlelight, or hear the soft long breath she took like a sigh.

"Momma...." She whispered "Momma.....what am I supposed to do? Help me."

There was only silence and candlelight.

----------------------- [1] I'M NO ANGEL The Allman Brothers Band