By the next day my sight started to improve considerably. I was quite relieved. Don was just as happy for me.

I was now able to get a clearer understanding of where I was – which confirmed that I was in an old abandoned subway station. The car that I was resting in had blinds on the various windows. I had to appreciate them. It afforded me privacy when I needed it and light when I was awake and wanting to be social.

The station was complete with about four subway cars and a beautiful, if somewhat broken, skylight. The design work in the decorative glass dome showed various historic scenes of New York. I knew that it couldn't be opened to the outside above it since I had never seen anything like it at all. I could only imagine that it had been well below the surface of what my friends called 'top side', and was subsequently covered over through the years. I stared at it for the longest time. It was quite an extraordinary piece of art. Too bad the reconstruction of whatever part of the city I was in failed to salvage it. But, then it would have meant one less place for my friends to live. I was thankful for them that this station was lost to humanity.

Despite my objections, Don insisted on replacing my bandages. I finally allowed him that since he did cooperate in letting me take my shower the day before. We had made a deal and I wanted to stick with my end of the bargain.

My bandages were still a little damp so it wasn't too difficult for him to take them off. That was my biggest concern. Considering how tender my ribs were and what I went through in the bathroom, I was tired of feeling pain. However, much to my relief, Don was quite careful as he removed the strips of material.

It was a different experience all the way around, though, having him re-tape me. He needed to pull a little more to keep my torso rigid. Consequently I involuntarily cried. I felt stupid but it just kind of happened. He understood completely.

"We turtles don't have ribs since our carapace and plastron keeps us together. But, we've helped other humans who have had the misfortune of being beaten up. From that experience we learned how painful it could be to have ones ribs broken." He told me. "If our shells were cracked or broken, though, it would be rather difficult to fix. It's the one only defense our organs have against internal injuries."

Despite my incredible education, I hadn't known that. I thought all animals had ribs. I was amazed. Don and his brothers moved about as well as any human. Yet, in that moment, I realized how turtle-like they really actually were. Won't wonders never cease?

Feeling more refreshed with dry bandages on, I wanted to walk around a little. However, not until Dr. Don gave me a once over. He checked my pupils with an old but effective hand-held optical viewer. At least that's what I called it. I hadn't a clue what the official name was. But once Don was convinced that my concussion would not be affected, he allowed me to go vertical on my own.

It was a slow go, but despite the obvious limitations for movement I enjoyed my walk around their lair. It was quite large, somewhat messy. But considering they were a bunch of males all trying to eek out an existence, their abode was comfortable. There was a mish-mash of antiquities that were obvious hold-outs from the days when this particular station was in use. However I had to marvel at the turtles' ingenious exploit of certain items.

The subway cars were B-64's. If I remembered my visit to the New York Transit Museum in Brooklyn Heights a few years ago, they were prominently used on the 86th St line. That gave me a bit of insight to the lair's location in the Big Apple. I had a sharp mind for details like that. Credit my years as a history instructor.

However the four cars had been transformed into rooms. Their windows were covered up for privacy with either cardboard or material.

I had to chuckle to myself when I noticed a Mickey Mouse type print on one set of curtains. I kind of wondered if maybe that was Mikey's personal space. It would suit him, considering his tendency to be just a little goofy – no pun intended.

Of course, the car I slept in had the Venetian blinds. I wondered who I had displaced. I guessed that it was probably Donny. He seemed to be one who preferred a little more versatility, considering his intellect.

The one with the cardboard must be Leo's. It shouted 'simple and to the point'. That was the impression I had of him, anyway.

The fourth car had a heavier material for curtains like velvet. It was a faded red with gold tassels running along the bottom. I thought maybe it was Raph's but he didn't seem the type to lean towards 'tassels'.

Hmm…maybe Splinter? That seemed to fit him.

So, if the Tassel Room was Splinter's berth, where did Raph sleep? I figured he must bunk with someone other than Donny. The Blind room had only one bed.

I kind of laughed, thinking that maybe Raph and Mikey shared the Mickey Mouse room. Raph did not seem the type for cute cartoon mice. But given the fact there were only four cars, it was probably necessary to bunk with someone. I decided to table that question for a later time.

Then, there were the baby strollers that stored a collection of aluminum cans and various glass bottles. The strollers were lined up neatly against one wall, right before a wide set of steps that led to nowhere.

From above the steps was a central round corridor or rotunda that opened on two sides. There were some indentions along the walls that were bricked over. To me they looked like there had once been hallways that led to parts unknown. Possibly to rest areas or locker rooms. Either way, the brickwork looked old.

Beyond the circular corridor was an opening and beyond that another brick wall. However, a ladder leading up to what looked like an open man-hole seemed to be the way in - or out for that matter. I wondered how Raph was able to carry me down to the lair from that position. Unless there was another way in? Hmm… one more question to my ever growing list of things to talk about.

Finally accepting my fate for the time being, I forgot about my life topside. My only one regret, aside from losing my job, was the bed I had left behind in my apartment. I knew that by now it was probably gone, being used by someone or maybe trashed. I couldn't imagine anyone wanting to throw it way so I was hoping that maybe the couple across the hallway from me acquired it. They were a sweet, but quiet family. With five kids to feed on the meager income both parents earned, they would probably appreciate a little bit of beauty in their bedroom. I smiled at the thought of seeing their happy faces as they set up the bed in their apartment. It was as good a consolation as I could give myself.

A couple of evenings later my friends returned from another night of foraging. They were quite loud as they climbed down the ladder in the corridor. I heard a lot of banging as they came into the lair. I wondered what they were doing so I walked carefully over to see.

At first I had no idea what they had found. Each of them had a piece of brass metal. The metal looked vaguely familiar to me, though. They sat the pieces down on the floor of the rotunda and then returned back up the ladder and through the ceiling. They completely ignored me.

A moment latter they returned with more large brass pieces, some of which had a rosette decoration on the ends. There were four of these rosettes and when I finally gave in to believe it, I realized that my friends had dismantled my bed! They had taken an enormous chance of being found out by going back to my apartment, just to rescue my beloved brass bed.

I could have cried.

So I did!