Since I was tied to the post, there was nothing I could do but stand and watch what was happening. While Don was fiddling with what I assumed was a bomb, the other three turtles were collectively trying to distance themselves from us.

It was understood just moments before that the Foot's goal was to get all of us as close to that post as possible. Now as the Elite pushed the three fighting turtles ever closer to Don and me, the change in plans was to increase the distance and take out as many of the Foot as possible.

With it being so dark and with these warriors clad in black, it was quite difficult for me to see everything that was going on. Still, between the moon, stars, and the single lamp over the post, there was just enough natural and artificial light to illuminate my general area.

Leo was trying desperately to cut a path through the crowd of Foot soldiers so he could move further away from me. But for every one that he managed to dispatch, two more would take their fallen comrade's place. Leo seemed to lose ground each time, as well.

I admired his fluidity with the katanas. He was certainly experienced with that discipline. I knew that Jack could handle one of them, but to take on two required a skill that took years if not decades to acquire. Even in the midst of battle and with the grim reward that they paid out, the swords danced poetically under the tutelage of their master's hand.

Raph and Mike managed to successfully ward off any advancement where they fought and were at least able to holding their ground. I observed the two of them as they battled furiously.

Mike was graceful and effective as he wielded his nunchuks. I was overwhelmed that this impish turtle could be so deadly. The look on Mike's face seemed completely out of character from how I was used to seeing him. Until that moment, I had come to know him as a cut-up, one gag after another kind of guy. But here in the middle of this fight Mike was without a doubt very lethal. However, given the circumstances I doubted very much a well delivered joke would have been appropriate.

As for his red-masked brother, I had to admire Raphael's determination and focus. The expression on his face said that this was his realm. He loved mixing it up. Over the past six weeks I had heard more than enough exasperated comments from him about the need to 'just do it' as far as getting rid of the Foot. He was a one-man, or turtle, assault team. Raph's aggressive personality and fighting ability was enough to cause any seasoned warrior to pale in sheer terror. I was thankful that he was part of the rescue team!

Though Mike's nunchuks could effectively knock any assailant out of action, or worse, Raph's sais were deadly no matter how he connected! It didn't take much for me to see the effect it had on whoever was unlucky enough to get up close and personal with them.

But over the course of the past few minutes of the fight I had seen more blood and gore than any movie I had ever viewed. Even Jaws couldn't have prepared me for this. If it weren't for my predicament and the adrenaline that was coursing through me, I think I would have passed out from the trauma.

"Why isn't Don working any faster on that 'bomb." I lamented to myself?

"Found a new problem, bros!" Don yelled out in frustration.

I didn't know what kind of problem Don discovered, but the tone of his voice indicated it was bad news. Given the fact that his three brothers were gradually being pushed closer to where we were, trigger-time was close at hand.

I immediately went through a quick litany of my Hail Marys and prayed that Don would get lucky.

Then in the midst of the battle I heard Raph yell over the sounds of clashing metal and wood, "If we'd taken care of those others first, Leo, we wouldn't be doing this!"

Leo responded with a grunt of irritation after dispatching yet another unlucky Foot soldier, "Yes, you're probably right, Raph. Then we wouldn't have had to worry about Min. She'd already be dead!"

Huh? "What do you mean I'd already be dead?!" I yelled at him.

What did Raph mean about taking care of 'the others' first and why did Leo think I'd be dead if they had? Did they know where Jack was? Did he have the detonator? Again, my imagination and ability to figure things out was in overdrive.

"What's taking so long Don? What's the problem?" Leo yelled, forcibly thrusting his foot out and kicking one assailant down.

"Wires are woven through the rope. I'm afraid if I tried to cut them it'll trigger the bomb." Don explained, exasperated.

"How much of a delay do you think it has?" Raph asked next as he swiped at a Foot with one sai and managed to cut through the fabric of the man's doji, catching some flesh. Blood oozed freely from the newly inflicted wound, forcing the soldier to fall back. I grimaced in response.

Raph, however, never stopped his defense. In fact, as if the sight of blood intensified him, he fought all the harder in an attempt to rack up more 'points'.

"Hard to tell, " Don replied loudly, "Maybe a second or two."

Leo asked, "Do you think there'd be enough time to cut her free and then leap into the bay?" He swung around and neatly severed the arm off of one soldier. That warrior had been momentarily distracted when he was bumped from behind by a too zealous compatriot. Now the man groaned painfully, as did I in empathy. He grabbed the stump that was now gushing blood. I had to look away; it was just too much for me.

I just couldn't watch anymore and I felt like getting sick. It all seemed like a surreal nightmare; the bomb, the fighting, all that blood. I felt dizzy momentarily and I truly believed I was going to pass out. I vaguely heard someone say something about getting ready to jump. Don replied back with a comment that I couldn't make out and then the next thing I knew he was grabbing me from the front in a hug.

"Ah, Don, not now not here! I know you like me but – sheesh!" I thought weakly. I didn't have a clue why he was getting all gushy on me.

I then opened my eyes to see what was going on. While Don had me by my shoulders I peered over his and saw that Raph and Mike were fighting even more furiously. Leo had quickly moved around to face me, standing behind Don. In a moment so fast I barely caught it, I saw him raise his katanas. However they were headed straight for me!

"What are you doing?" I screamed in fatigue at him.

Leo ignored me. In one fleeting moment those swords came down like two bolts of sliver lightening, landing on each side of the post where my hands were tied. I cringed, not knowing their target. In the next moment I felt Don pull me into him and for the first time in hours I felt myself free of the post.

In a split second, though, I noticed that I was falling away towards the bay with Don embracing me. The instant I felt the numbing cold of New York Harbor's waters, I heard an nearly deafening explosion above me.

However, in one brief moment I realized I didn't have to worry about finding a restroom anymore. Thankfully that problem was taken care of the minute I hit the frigged waters of the bay. I figured I was pretty lucky, all things considered. I was drenched to the bone and, therefore, not needing to explain to my friends what certainly could have been an embarrassing situation for me.

Ain't fate wonderful?

Holding me firmly in his arms, Don and his brothers swam under the water and up a ways from the blast point. I had managed to take a quick ragged breath before going under, but it wasn't nearly enough. The cold was shocking and I nearly sputtered that precious air right back out. However I tenaciously held on to it. But, as the seconds ticked by, I was quickly becoming a little panicky.

Just about the time I thought for sure my lungs would burst, Don finally came up for air.

I gasped desperately and then shot out, "I'm not a fish, for cry'n out loud!"

Don quickly clasped one of his hands over my mouth and gently told me to hush. I looked around and found that we were now under the wharf where it was quite dark. If it weren't for our close proximity to each other I wouldn't have been able to see Don. As for his brothers, they were silhouetted against the well lit New York City skyline. I notice them move off away from us, treading water quietly. I didn't know what they were going to do, but I knew one thing for sure.

I was cold!

Don held on to me as we waited beneath the wharf. Not far away I saw the gaping hole where the blast had taken out the post to which I had been tied. My head was buzzing with the after effects from the intense blast and I could barely hear Don when he asked if I was okay. I began to feel dizzy and just a bit nauseous. I nodded weakly towards him as if he could see me in the dark. But then I felt like my strength was starting to drain away. I was suddenly very sleepy and the next thing I knew I had blacked out.

I don't know how long I was unconscious, but when I came to I noticed that I was still in the water with Don. His arms were wrapped tightly around me. The shock from the cold caused me to scream, but before I could get much out Don gently placed a hand over my mouth.

"You need to be quiet, Min." he said in a hushed whisper and then took his hand away.

I asked quietly, "What happened?"

He whispered softly that I was safe and that's all that mattered.

I looked around for his brothers but they weren't anywhere to be seen. Looking back to Don I asked where they were.

His silhouetted head looked up as if in answer to my question.

"They went back up there?!" I asked in shock but too loudly I guess because Don placed his hand back over my mouth again.

He nodded and whispered more intently for me to be quiet.

I understood, deciding to keep all questions to a minimum. I shivered and my teeth began to chatter. I could feel Don tighten his hold on me. But he wouldn't have been able to warm me up much since he was cold blooded anyway.

I worried more for him than anything. Hypothermia in reptiles usually made them sleepy and triggered them into hibernation. I wasn't sure if Don's and his brother's mutation had changed any of that though. Yet, maybe his training had something to do with warding off the effects?

Chancing another question I asked him, "What are they doing up there?"

"They're taking care of some loose ends, Min. Don't worry about it." He replied softly.

"Where's Jack?" I asked.

"Min, don't worry about it." The sound in Don's voice told me that maybe I should worry about it.

"Look, I know that Jack is not the same man I was married to and he has done some pretty incorrigible things, but..."

In that next instant Don did what he felt he had to do. To get my mind off of the insistent questions that I felt compelled to keep asking him, he kissed me.

Again!

Only this time, I didn't resist so much. He had a hold of me and there wasn't anywhere for me to go. I was sort of stuck but to be honest, I didn't mind. Maybe my acceptance was due in part to relief and gratitude for being rescued. Then again, maybe not. Either way it was quite refreshing to be experiencing something other than fear and trepidation.

What was I feeling anyway? His kiss was – well – different from what I was used to. The last time I had been kissed was by Jack, but that was so very long ago. I can't say that he was the greatest smoocher in the world, but at least his lips were near to being the same size as mine.

Contrary to Jack, though, Don didn't have any lips. His mouth was also rather on the large size, compared to mine, and a little more 'beaky' than I was used to. But despite all of that he was still able to pucker well.

He pulled away slowly. Though it was too dark to tell, I could almost sense a look of surprise on his face.

"What?" I asked teasingly.

"You – didn't mind?" He asked in surprise.

"Well, considering what I just went through – it was – ah, well – kind of nice!" I blushed and felt a bit of welcomed heat to my face; grateful for the lack of lighting.

"Better than getting blown up, I suppose?" He asked with a hint of mirth in his voice.

"Hmm - almost." I said coyly.

"Almost?" he shot back almost indignantly.

"Well, let me see – I need – a little refresher." So I kissed him this time and applied just a bit more pressure. I felt him stiffen up in surprise and shock. But then he relaxed and allowed me to take control. I slipped my arms around his neck and held on. While holding me with his one arm, his other hand caressed the back of my head, running his fingers through my wet hair.

Pulling away I admitted, "Well, maybe I was wrong. I think a kiss is definitely better than getting blown up!"

And then we both had a very quiet but hearty laugh.

We treaded water for a while longer with Don kissing me once more during that time. Finally, tired and fed up with being wet, I asked, "So, when are we going to be able to get out of this water; I'm freezing!"

I felt Don shrug his shoulders and then said, "Until Leo gives the 'all clear' sign we wait."

"And what exactly is the 'all clear' sign? "I asked, but then we both saw Mike stick his head through the opening where the post had been.

"All's clear!" he said cheerfully.

"That is!" Don answered. "Come on." He said, "Let's get out of this water. It's freezing!"