They only stayed for maybe another fifteen minutes before heading back out the window to the alley below. Leo lectured me a couple more times about my work hours. I reiterated the importance of paying my bills and that the bill company only took greenbacks. I kind of laughed at that little bit of humor. As before, though, it went straight over Leo's head. Either that or he chose to ignore it. But, it did score with Mike! He grinned pretty big over my comment.

I finally managed to convince my blue masked friend that I was between a rock and a hard place on this matter. I had to admit I didn't like working those hours but there wasn't much I could do about it. He then assured me that, to keep me safe, I would be escorted home each evening; though unaware.

As a way of reciprocating the kind offer, I told them before they left that I'd leave my window unlocked for them. If there was ever a need where they wanted to just hang out while I was at work or to get warm, they could use my place. I cautioned them that they'd have to be quiet lest my neighbors become suspicious. But, Leo assured me that they would be doing no such thing.

"We don't intrude on someone else's space unless they're at home." He had said quite seriously, much to Mikey's obvious disappointment.

For such a gregarious creature as Mike, he must feel completely frustrated having to keep such a low profile all the time. He seemed to like people in general. I felt bad for him. I think he felt bad for himself as well, based on his crestfallen expression.

But, I had to admire Leo for his integrity – personality notwithstanding. Leo seemed to have a more 'leadership' aura about him. Unlike Mikey who just wanted to hang out and kick back. I put Leo on par with Raph. Both of their personalities were quite similar; except Leo just had more reservation in expressing himself. Not a bad guy overall; especially when he opted to not draw swords against me.

Dang it, I never did find out how they managed to get my purse back, either. Oh well; maybe next time I can ask them.

I watched as they descended the wall, marveling at the way they found purchase between the almost non-existent spaces in the brickwork. Considering how thick their fingers were and that they only had three of them on each hand made it even more impressive. But what amazed me the most was they didn't leave a trail from the edge of the building to the manhole. I was floored, completely floored. I kept looking at that snow, thinking maybe the light wasn't quite right. Then I would compare the shadows created by the frosted debris on the alley floor. Despite the available comparisons, not a toe print could be seen.

Again, one more question to ask them next time – if they returned. I hoped they did!

After Leo's visit I was actually looking forward to seeing them each night after work. But, when they didn't show, I was starting to think that maybe Leo decided that he and his buddies should just stick to themselves and leave the 'scary humans' alone.

However, I did feel like someone was watching me each evening when I'd walk the four blocks from the diner to my brownstone. I was never molested once. So I figured Leo made good on his offer. It's an amazing feeling to walk that route so late at night and not have a worry in the world. It had been a long time since I had felt that way, too. I said a prayer each evening for them that they would be kept safe as well.

Almost a week went by before I heard that familiar tapping on my window again.

"Hi!" Mike gushed as he came in through the window. He was alone this time.

"There's no one else?" I asked, looking behind him and expecting either red or blue to follow.

"They don't know I'm here." He said in a whisper.

"Ah, will that get you in trouble, Mikey? I mean, I don't want you to be here if you're going to catch heat from Leo." I pleaded.

"Hey, he's not my boss" he said indignantly, then added as a precaution, "But, as long as he doesn't find out, I'm cool!" and then in the next breath, "Got any pizza?"

His smile was very contagious.

"Well, it's almost eleven, but sure, why not!" I offered. I had almost started to get ready for bed when Mikey 'knocked' at my window, but – hey – I hadn't seen him in a week and I missed his sense of humor!

Thirty minutes later Mike was woofing down the pepperoni pizza I cooked up for him. I was very happy that my stove decided to work this time. It had quit on me twice since my last 'turtle' visit. I must have another talk with the sup about my dilapidated appliance.

Watching Mikey eat made it abundantly clear that food was in short supply wherever home was for him and his buddies. I opted not to pester him with questions while he ate. It seemed disrespectful considering his obvious hunger.

Finally, once he started to slow down, I asked him, "So, tell me Mikey, how do you manage to survive in the sewers"

"AA." He replied between bites. His eyes danced in amusement as I considered what he said.

I looked at him and shook my head slowly and quite confused. "AA? What does that mean?" I asked.

He grinned as he explained, "You know, AA – Alcoholics Anonymous? One day at a time?" He laughed, "Get it? One Day at a Time!" He really thought that was the best joke in the whole wide world. He slapped his thigh in utter amusement with himself, barking out a laugh so loud I thought for sure my sup would be marching up the hall to tell me to keep it down.

"You know, everyone here in this rat infested place thinks I live alone. And, I do live alone. They also know I never get visitors. So, if you start making too much noise that gets too much attention from them, I'm going to get too many noisy questions from my neighbors." I warned him. But, I had to appreciate his attempt to joke about his dismal life.

Thinking about that I wondered if maybe Crazy Bill would mind my taking the leftovers each night that were routinely thrown out. I'm going to have to ask him tomorrow first thing.

"So, Mikey, this is the first visit in nearly a week. Guess you and your friends have been pretty busy, eh?" I asked. I was kind of curious as to why they hadn't come by. I was also afraid that maybe Leo didn't like me for one reason or the other. He seemed the leader type so maybe he had a bigger say in what they could or could not do.

"We're brothers. But, yeah, we've been a little on the busy side." He answered. Then, he brightened, "Why? You miss me or somethin'?"

"Actually, yes." I replied evenly.

Mike's right brow rose in amusement and then he leaned in coyly, asking, "How much?" and winked.

I wanted to slap him, but realized he was – again – joking. So, I brought him down to earth like a rock.

"My life had been pretty mundane until you and your brothers showed up." I smiled since it was definitely the truth.

"Ah, you break my heart, fair lady!" he replied melodramatically, his right hand over his heart as if I'd broken it. Again, he laughed – mostly at himself, I think.

I had to join him because just the thought of what he had teased me with did seem very funny indeed.

Then I remembered one of the questions I wanted to ask him. "Mikey, last time you were here with Leo I noticed that when you left you didn't leave any kind of foot print in the snow. How'd you do that?"

Mikey cleared his throat as if he was going to reply. Then, he coughed a little and then a lot. Between gasps he asked frantically, "Do you have some water. I think I have a piece of pizza----CHOKE!" He started to gag.

Quickly I rushed to the sink and grabbed a glass from the cabinet. I filled it with water, returning it to the table and handed it to him. He grabbed it swiftly and downed it in one gulp.

I was near to panicking; Mikey had such an expression of desperation on his face. Once he had the water down he seemed just as relieved as I was.

"Thanks!" he said gratefully, "That was scary!" and then laughed about it just to ease the tension.

I smiled but was determined to get an answer to my question. However, I took his glass and refilled it with water. Setting it down in front of him, I restated," Okay, about those footprints."

I wasn't sure if he had really choked or was just trying to distract me. I had almost a whole week to think about that question. Remembering what Jack used to tell me that there were factions in the martial arts community that were very adept at getting from A to B without leaving any hint of their travels. They were a closed-mouth group, too, who kept a very low profile to the general population. Just looking at the 'hardware' my friends carried suggested they knew something more than just how to climb walls.

Mikey looked at the glass and then at me. If I were to describe his expression, I'd say he looked uncertain as if he was sorting through a variety of answers.

Finally he told me, "There were footprints. The lighting probably wasn't very good out there; you probably didn't see them."

The moon was still in full 'bloom' and straight overhead that second night. With the snow to aid the illumination, the alley was as lit up as that first visit. "Hmm…well, I could see everything else out there – but the footprints. It's not that big of deal, I was just curious, that's all. If you're uncomfortable with my asking, we can just let it go, okay?" I offered.

I could see that he was genuinely uneasy about it all. Last thing I wanted to do was to scare him away.

Mikey seemed to relax a little more after I gave him that reprieve.

So, I let him.

Okay, so I decided to ask my next question, "Well, maybe you could tell me this. It's perfectly obvious that you and your brothers are not turtles of the garden variety type. How'd you get this way?"

"Oh, I can answer that one!" He grinned happily.

So, for the next thirty minutes Mikey told me how he and his brothers were found by Splinter. He had found them crawling around in a glob of green ooze in the sewers some nearly eighteen years earlier. They were originally pet shop turtles being carried home from the store by a little boy. But an accident with a truck transporting canisters of this ooze caused one of the canisters to fall into a storm drain. The ensuing accident forced the boy to lose his grip on the turtle's container, which resulted in them falling in to the same drain as the canister. It was shortly after that when they were found by Splinter. They started to change almost overnight, as did Splinter since he had also touched the green goo. He ended up caring for them and taught them how to survive in the big city.

I was fascinated. I truly felt that these turtles were a product of an experiment gone awry. With cloning so prevalent these days I just thought messing with animal DNA was another thing scientists experimented with. Guess I was wrong. Sometimes there are bad accidents, but I'd have to admit this one was a happy one. But then, maybe not for them since their uniqueness made it impossible to live anywhere other then where they did. Going back to that first night and my personal observations, the scientific community would stop at nothing to capture them.

However, something Mikey mentioned while telling me his story created another question in my mind. I asked it.

"You said that this same green ooze changed Splinter, too. What was he before?"

I was thinking that maybe Splinter was a man, maybe a homeless man living in the sewers like many of them did. New York was famous for its maze of waterways below the street; often consisting of many levels. I'm sure there were people that took refuge there as a means to get out of the weather and such.

With careful consideration and with obvious respect, Mikey replied, "Splinter's a rat."

Thinking about my friend sitting there at that kitchen table, I realized how small he must have been originally compared to how big he was now. Taking that into consideration what Mikey just told me about Splinter startled me big time.

I nearly fell out of my chair!

I was terrified of rats.