A/N: The first part in italics is in first person thoughts. You can only guess who. Just so you guys wouldn't be confused. Enjoy.

Chapter Nineteen: Friends?

Faint lights…

Voices… my friends…some crying.

The pain is back, and I don't like it one bit…

My eyes won't open completely… and I'm not at the factory anymore. I see… Mikey. Was that a flash of Master Splinter? Am I home?

All I can see anymore is darkness. Flashes of light come and go when I try to open my eyes. I catch some recognizable faces, but I can't keep my eyes or mind focused long enough to know who they are. If I do know, it is probably the touch I feel on my hand or face. At least I know I'm alive.

OUCH!

Yup, the pain is definitely back. Someone is lying beside me…they're hurt too. Human. The strong hand on mine…must be Callista. I hope she didn't try to fight three at a time or something like it, she would. If she got out of hand, she probably made some of the ninjas break their oath and try to attack her back. It makes me want to smile.

OW!

I wish whoever was working on me would do it a little more mildly. I'm not going anywhere. At least I hope not.

Then a gentle touch graced my face and a soft whisper of a tender caress touched my cheek. I knew who it was. No one could ever mimic that touch. It was Michelangelo. The pain was receding and I can only guess that whoever was working on me was done. He will sit with me. Just like I did with him.

The hand was gone from mine. Callista must not have been hurt that badly and walked off to find comfort in Raphael or the other girls. I'm kind of happy she wasn't there for once. Mikey and I needed some time alone. Even if I was unconscious at the time.

God, I miss you Mikey. I wish I could wake up totally. I can hear you somewhat. I can feel you. I know whose there… Oh God, I'm in a comma! No, I can still move some of my limbs and open my eyes slightly. I'm not in a comma, but I can't help but wonder if this is what it feels like.

I decided to calm myself and try and relax, let everything slide away and know everything was going to be okay because Mikey was there with me. He won't let anything happen. He won't because he can't. And he knows that if I'm gone there is no way in Hell that he can eat all the pizzas by himself.

Suddenly my mind starts to become clearer and my thought process is getting better. My Gosh, I can actually remember Calculus! Something I probably could have done without…Now, if only I can concentrate on waking up.

Flashes of my life are passing…I better not be dying…Nope, pain is still there. I'm alive.

I see my dad… smiling. He says he's proud of me. I hope so. I still could imagine his kisses on top of my head when he would go to bed before I did. I miss that. I miss him.

Then he moves to the side and I see someone else. My mom… putting on another beautiful dress to go to another party. She always begged me to go with her, but I always declined. I never was one for dresses. Her perfume always made me gag, but now I smell it and it is the most beautiful smell imaginable. I miss her terribly.

Again she moves and all at once a blade of a katana came down and sliced across her back, cutting it open. My father was also cut down with multiple slices from the blade. Then a single shot ran through the air and I saw my father fly back, head first next to his desk.

And Yukio was there holding the smoking gun…

"NO!" Delaney sat straight up in bed and then immediately laid right back down as the pain from her side ripped through her body and forced her to become immobile.

"Calm yourself, Delaney," and older voice came from beside her, "You are safe. Whatever you saw was not real. You are home."

"Splinter," Delaney hoarsely chocked out of her throat. She slowly turned her head to the side where the voice came from and the old rat sat on one of the stools, looking over her.

"You scared many of us."

"I'm sorry," she wet her dry lips and tried to focus her eyes, "How long have I been out?"

"A few days, well at the evening of the third day now," he smiled at the surprised look that she gave him, "It is normal to think that you have been out shorter. I have seen it before. I am glad my sons brought you back in time."

"It was so unreal…" Delaney stared off and then a thought came to mind, "I hope you know that I didn't go looking for him. It was an accident. I never wanted-"

Splinter held up and hand to stop her, "Leonardo and the others told me what had happened. I know you kept to your word. And you returned home alive, just as you had promised. I had just hoped that you would be healthy too."

"Never hope for too much, Master," she gave him a hint of a smile and squinted a little as she moved to test the pain ratio.

He chuckled lightly and put the palm of his hand on her forehead, "I am glad to see that you have not lost your sense of humor."

"Never," she shook her head.

"Did you find what you wanted to know?"

"Yes, but unfortunately not the way I wanted," she tried to look at her wound.

He bowed his head and began to walk to the door, "I will let you rest."

"Sensei," she called to him before he got too far and he came back to the side of the bed, "I wanted to ask you something. A favor."

"What is it?"

"Is that offer to teach me all you know about Ninjitsu still open?"

A moment of silence filled the room and he scrutinized her face, "Why would you ask now?"

"I want to know everything about it. How to defend, how to attack-"

"Are you wishing to enact revenge, Delaney?"

"No!" she shook her head violently, ignoring the slight pain, "I do believe that Yukio does deserve many things, even a good beating… but to enact revenge through Ninjitsu would be an insult to you and to the art. I just want to learn and know what you do. I want to know how to defend myself as well. Only fight when it is the last resort. He and the clan will come after me… I don't want to put anyone else in the middle of it, and I want to defend my family's honor and myself. That man killed my father, I will not let him be the death of me."

"You are angry, I know. I have lost family to another as well," Splinter lowered his head, "I know the will is strong, but when I look into you, you do not have the spark of hate or anger. I see a longing for an end to this. I also see much love… for others that are already hurt by this tragedy. You have a strong heart, and a strong spirit. I can only guess that is what pushed you through. My offer has always been open to you to use at your will. I would still be very glad to take you as a student."

"Thank you," Delaney nodded her head, "I will try my best to uphold the honor which follows the art. And even though I do like to space out, I will try my best to dedicate a huge portion of dedication to it."

"You all ready have, child," he smiled, "Now, get some sleep. If Michelangelo finds you awake, you might not get the rest you really need if you are to train soon. You must heal before you can begin once again."

"I've been asleep for three days," she yawned, "I don't need anymore…"

"Try," he said and left the room.

Delaney looked at the door for a few moments. She was going to become a ninja. Now that the mystery of her parent's deaths was solved, she could focus on the study. But there was something else bothering her that she did not ask. Something was off in the aura of the lair. Whenever she was in the lair, there was an overwhelming sense of calm and relaxed setting, but now… there was a bit of sadness. Something must have happened besides her injuries that added to the emotional stress.

She turned her head to the side and tried to close her eyes to sleep, but no matter what she did, she could not fall back into sleep. There were now too many thoughts racing through her mind. Not to mention the nagging sensation that something was off. Something was not right. Something bad happened while she was asleep.

She heard the door open again and saw Michelangelo's head peek in to check on her. He looked over her form in the bed, but apparently did not see that she was awake. She smiled at him as he closed the door gently behind him as if not to disturb her. Apparently both he and Splinter were taking turns watching over her and it was now his turn. He sat by her bedside and finally looked at her face. He took a deep breath and looked blankly at her face.

"Are you doing okay, Mikey?" his eyes seemed frozen in his head and she laughed a little bit and waved a hand in front of his face, lightly so she wouldn't hurt herself, "Hello? You in there?"

"You're awake," he let his breath out slowly, "I was worried you were never going to wake up."

"I heard," she smiled and he took her hand that was waving in front of her face, "I want you to know that I really am sorry. I was a butt-head. I should have seen what you meant to me."

"And you to me," he murmured, "I was a butt-head too, you know?"

"Yeah, but you a least tried, I moped around and didn't do anything to help it."

"You really scared me," he looked down at their hands in one another, "When you went out… I tried to wake you up, but… you…"

"It's okay, Mikey," she looked at their hands too, "I made it. I'm not planning to leave any time soon."

"That's good to hear," he smiled and looked up at her, "So, we're okay? I mean, you aren't going to go back to the 'not-going-to-talk-to-Michelangelo' you once you're better, are you?"

"No, I'm going to do my best to get back to normal Delaney," she took a breath and looked at the ceiling, "I'm tired of being mad."

"Really?"

"Well, I can make an exception for you-know-who."

"I think all of us can," he growled and Delaney turned to him to see a scowl on his face and his eyes focused on one of her bruises.

"Thank you," she whispered, grabbing his attention.

"No problemo, babe. There was no way he was going to hurt you any more when I was there. I didn't care if we were in a fight or not," he smiled warmly, "You still are Delaney and I still am your friend."

She smiled back, 'Yeah… friends. Did he even hear what I said to Yukio's face?'

"What's the matter?"

"Nothing," she shook her head lightly, "Why?"

"Your face looked disappointed."

"I guess I am still getting the functions of my body back together, you know?" she gave a nervous smile.

"Well, then you should get your sleep, huh?" he patted her hand and started to walk off.

"Mikey, wait!" Delaney grabbed his arm, straining her side again, but not really caring.

He turned back with a questioning look, "What's the matter?"

"I…" she trailed off. What did she want from him? She looked at where her hand was on his arm, "Stay with me."

"You need to rest."

"I know, but…" she looked up into his eyes, "Just for tonight? Please?"

He took a deep breath and smiled, "All right."

"Thank you… again…" she laughed a little and then made sure there was enough room for him. He laid beside her and let her get comfortable. He put out his arm and she put her head on it as if it were her pillow. She settled into the crook of his neck and shoulder, getting into her safe zone. She let out a full breath and let his arms encircle her. She settled down and slowly felt herself slip into sleep.

"What are friends for?" he said to himself in a somewhat disappointed voice once he felt her breathing become rhythmic. Unfortunately, that didn't mean that she was asleep.

"Disgrace!" A rough voice echoed through the room.

Yukio Watanabe cringed under the forcefulness of his father's voice. He was still bruised from the fight a few nights ago, both on his person and on his pride. The freak beat him when he was so close to victory. The answer as to how still eluded him, but one thing was for certain. The costumed freak cared for Delaney as much as he did. That was a problem. From the way she was talking about him, she felt the same way. He needed to get rid of him. And fast. Which brought up another problem. If he really was good enough to beat him once, he could probably do it again. Especially if he decides to train more in the meantime. And since Delaney probably survived the encounter, he will be more protective of her as well.

"You let outsiders come into the factory, with the target in hand and then let them escape! How idiotic do you have to be? She was in your grasp and you let her get away!" the man dressed in a nice business suit stood up from behind the large desk in his office and walked toward his son.

"The men with her are exceptionally good at martial arts. They-"

"You beat one of them once before didn't you?"

"Yes," Yukio hisses between his teeth.

"Which one?"

Yukio took a deep breath and stayed silent. If his father figured it out, he was as good as beaten or worse. Failure like that was not taken lightly in this line of work, nor in this family.

"Which one!?" he yelled.

"The one with the orange bandana, father. I beat him before I could do it again."

"And yet he was the one that defeated you this last time, am I correct?"

"Yes, father."

"How?" he growled, "You are the best man I have and a man in a costume beat you to unconsciousness. He was more than likely slowed down by the costume and other things and he still knocked you out. Explain that to me."

"He is not undefeatable. I have done it before, I will do it agai-"

"You have already told me that!" he father yelled and slapped him across the face. Yukio's face fell to the right and stayed stiff in retaliation toward the pain. His father looked at his son's face and only began to fume at his son's shortcomings, "The deal is off."

"What?" Yukio turned toward his father with a face of surprise.

"The next time you come across that girl, you will kill her," he said calmly walking behind his desk once again and sat down in his oversized chair. He put the tips of his fingers together in thought and looked over them at the young man, "The deal is over. You killed her father, yes, but you failed worse by letting her and her friends slip through your grasp. They were handed to you on a gold platter!"

"But she is my responsibility, no one else's! She-"

"Knows everything!" he pounded his fists into the desk and leaned toward his son, "She is a liability not only to the clan, but to me as well. I will not let this go on any longer. The next time you will kill her, or you will be the one underneath the katana's blade! Understood?"

"Yes, sir," he growled at his father and stood tall with hand on his katana. As much as he wanted to cut his father down right now, he couldn't with the guards standing by the door and more than five cameras on his back.

"Now," he settled back down behind his desk and fingered some paper work neatly organized in front of him, "Are they disposed of as I asked?"

"They have been captured, but have not be disposed off. There are too many questions being asked about honor. Some of the men believe that they are innocent and should not be sacrificed for this."

"They are casualties in this war against our enemies. Explain that to them. You know of it well. The whole concept is not new. There are no innocents in this war."

"She was an innocent, father. She does not deserve you…"

"Although, you thought she deserved a katana slice?" he looked smart at his son, "Go do as you are told. We will talk no more on the matter. Kill her, or die. Simple enough concept, I would think the choice was simple enough."

"I meant mother," he grumbled and turned on his heel out the door, "I will see to the prisoners."

"I told you not to mention her," Yukio stopped in his tracks as he caught his father's voice.

"Yes, but it doesn't mean that I have forgotten," he looked over his shoulder and continued to walk down the hallway.

"Troublesome child," he grumbled and hit a button on the intercom, "Takari?"

"Yes sir?" a voice came back.

"Make sure my son has some extra training after he disposes of the guests, will you? He needs to learn more about discipline."

"Yes sir, it will be done," the voice went to silence as the intercom went dead.

"He needs more self discipline… he needs to learn. Never disobey my orders. Even if it means to forget."

A/N: Thought I was going to give ya another cliffe, huh? Well, I didn't, at least I didn't mean to. Next chapter up really soon. I heaven't decided if I am going to update it later today or not. I guess it matters if I have a good day at work or not. shrugs Please review as always.