There was deep shadow everywhere and for a moment, Jessie considered hiding. She rejected that almost right away...they were ninja, they would see. Her only hope was to outrun and out think them. They knew the sewers better than she, but they also didn't know how fast or how quiet she could be.

She came around a corner and found the tunnel branched off in two directions. She chose the left passage and flew down it.

She didn't know how long she ran, and she couldn't hear anything behind her...but of course she wouldn't. Ninja didn't make noise when they pursued.

Once she thought she caught a whispered swear echoing from behind, and she put on an extra burst of speed.

She paused, looking around at another choice, and then a streak of movement up ahead of her made her duck around the other corner. From the shadows, two...three....four....eight figures came silently. Young men in dark clothes. They had weapons at their sides and strapped on their back.

*Foot* she thought *Foot clan. Oh man, I must be under the west side.*

From where she had just come, she saw the first flash of motion, and the foot all drew their weapons.

*Oh Crap* Jessie thought. She turned and ran up the corridor.

It only took a moment, and someone yelled in surprise behind her. She didn't know who. The sounds of the battle came to her, and she stopped.

"Damnit. Just go, Walker, go." She whispered to herself. "They're Ninja, they'll kick the foots but and...you know...who cares if they don't."

Right. She was home free; they would be too busy to follow.

******

Leo slammed one of his foes against the wall. His sword parried a sword strike by another one of the foot.

"This is just great!" Raph growled. His first opponent dropped as he knocked him out.

Mike struck another, and glanced over at them.

Don brought two down, and then looked up "There are more coming." He said.

Mike spun, kicked out, and dropped another "We could run" He said.

"I aint runnin'." Said Raph "And I aint lettin' her go."

"We can handle this." said Leo. "Steady."

Several more foot appeared. They stepped forward, and then from the left corridor someone slammed into one of the foot, and knocked him into his fellow clan members.

He threw the person off, and they rolled and came to their feet beside mike.

Jessica Ann Walker got to her feet, her knife in her right hand. She crouched slightly, holding her knife out and she smiled at the Foot.

"Hello boys" She said in a low tiger's voice "I think you've been looking for me for while, hum?"

The foot glanced at each other and attacked.

The battle went on for a long time. Jessie was not a ninja, but she fought like a storm. When the foot finally retreated , she slumped against the wall. She had a cut above her left eye, and was very battered and bruised. But she was smiling a little "Suckers" She laughed.

Raph put his sais on his belt. In the next moment, he had Jessie against the wall. "Alright you punk....."

Mike pulled at his shoulder "Raph......"

Jessie looked at him. She had gone pale, but her gaze was steady. "Alright. Fine. You have me. You going to kill me now Raph?"

Raph narrowed his eyes "No...but I might beat the shit out of you."

"Raph" Leo pulled him back.

The girl shook herself down. She looked at all of them, and stepped back.

"She came back" Said Mike "She didn't have to."

"We didn't need her. We would have won" said Raph

"But she still came back to help us. She didn't have to..She could've gotten away and she still came back." said Mike.

"He's right" Said Don "She did."

Jessie looked uncomfortable "Hey hey...its not like...I mean....look......"

Leo didn't look at her "Go."

She looked at him, clearly startled by his words. Raph did too "Leo, whatta ya..?"

"Go." Said Leo "We won't stop you. You do what you have to do. Its on you Jessie."

Raph growled and glared at him. Leo looked back calmly. After a moment he stepped back.

Jessie looked around at each of the brothers. Raph glared at her, Leo was looking at her with an even gaze. Don was looking at his feet. Mike smiled a little, softly, at her.

She stepped back. Looking at each of them, she seemed to be thinking. Then she looked at all of them she said "I won't tell." She said "I promise by the honor of shadow, I will tell no one about you. I'll keep you safe."

Mike's smile came a little easier, and Raph snorted "Yeah we'll see. What honor does a thief have?"

Jessie gave a small sad smile and turned Vanishing into the dark.

The four brothers turned and went home.