A/N: Work went pretty well today, so I thought I would give you the next chapter. Only about seven or eight more chapters to go. So hold on tight. I might even get the next chapter up tomorrow morning. See you next time.

Chapter Twenty: Feelings Revealed

Flashback

"I'm sorry, but I will never feel the same way. Especially now. You have killed my parents, threatened by friends and ruined my life. I saw you as a friend…. Now you're a monster."

"I did it for you!" he grabbed her arms, "I never gave my allegiance to the department. Who would risk their life for a badge? A piece of metal?"

"I would risk my life for the people who believe that that badge- that piece of metal- was protecting them!" she pulled away, barely being able to break his grip, "You and your friends went back on them, on my dad, on me!"

"My allegiance wasn't to them either or to your dad," he tilted her chin up to look at her, "But I would have given myself to you."

She slapped him across the face, "Don't even think about it, bastard. Everything I said was a game! Flirting at the most! It never meant anything! Your whole plan… just went down the tube. You really think that I would love you after you killed my family?"

"I would have given you the chance."

End Flashback

Delaney threw another small rock into the sewage water rushing by and wished it could be the scum that killed her father. It had now been a full two weeks since the incident. Her wound was starting to actually close and she had recently begun to meditate with Splinter and the guys again. It helped her to get her mind off of the other things. Although, even meditating could not keep her from feeling the guilt.

After she woke up and the others came to see her she learned that she was right about something else happening while she was out. Apparently Yukio wasn't going to give up. Amity's parents had gone missing, and no one knew where they were. Some, including the police, presumed that they were dead. Which meant that Yukio knew that she was still alive. He was trying to draw her out. It would have worked too if it weren't for Michelangelo and Amity telling her not to go. She couldn't help but feel guilty about it. They were trying to lure her out, not Amity. Why miss with Amity's life? Wasn't it bad enough they already missed up hers enough?

She wiped a tear from her eye and felt the orange sweater underneath her. She put her chin on top of her knees as she pulled them to her chest and looked as the water passed her by. She felt the cool cement through the sweater, but the hate radiated with too much heat. No matter how much she tried to hide it from everyone, everyone could still see the feelings she really had. Even Callista with her slightly swollen eye and bruised up arm could see right through her.

"I thought I'd find you here," Michelangelo stepped out from a dark passage way with his skateboard under one arm and threw his own small pebble into the water.

"My own little thinking spot," she said with a little too much acid, "Reflections are not that friendly."

"What d'ya mean?" he leaned back on the wall next to her.

"Do you ever have those days where you look at your reflection and you hate what you see?" she leaned forward and saw her rippled reflection, " I mean really hate it? You see nothing but your shortcomings. Your failures. Nothing but your faults…"

"That's only because you are looking into sewer water," he chuckled but stopped short when she took a deep sigh, "It's not your fault you know. He's a- pardon my word use- but he's a mondo dick. Don't let him get to you."

"He didn't get to me… he got to my friends, which is much worse…" she leaned back from her reflection, "I hate seeing my faults."

Michelangelo pushed off from the wall and sat down next to her, pushing his skateboard to the side and looking her straight in the face, "I see no faults."

She turned to him and gave a small smile, "That's sweet, Mikey."

"It's true," he shrugged and looked at his own reflection, "Unlike me."

Delaney frowned and put a hand lightly on each side of his face, letting her legs fall to the side and turned his face to her, "Look at me, Mikey. Listen… I don't see any in you. You are the best person I know. I don't see any."

He gave his own smile and she dropped her hand with the realization of how intimate the touch may be seen as. Although, she wouldn't mind it so much if it was.

"How is Splinter treating you?" he took a breath.

"Really well," she threw another pebble into the water, "At least he's going easy on me considering I'm not as mobile as I would like."

"You know we almost lost you," Michelangelo tried to keep his voice low, but Delaney caught it.

"I think, for a minute you did," she watched him turn toward her with her peripheral vision and focused on a spot in the water, "It was as if I was in another dimension. I saw so many things I didn't understand. And then I felt the pain and that's what made it real. That's what made me realize I didn't have to give up."

"And you had to pay him back," he nodded.

"You can't seriously think that that was my soul purpose in waking up," she turned to face him with an incredulous look on her face.

"It wasn't?" he tried to fake surprise, "The way you have been trying to train with Splinter, I got the impression that is your top mission."

"I want that guy to pay for what he's done to me and others… he deserves to rot in a cell for the rest of his life."

"I feel a 'but' coming on."

"I want him to pay, but I'm not going to sacrifice myself for the cause. I have too many people here that needed me, and I needed them. There were too many things that were unsaid. That are still unsaid."

"And what if you have to go up against this guy again? Do you think you could beat him?"

"I would have to at that point, now wouldn't I?" Delaney gave him a serious look, "Can't leave you and your brothers to look after my friends. They'll be too much for you."

He gave a light chuckle and turned away, letting his smile fade. She tried to lean forward a bit to catch his expression, but he had his head turned completely opposite from her. She gave a sigh and leaned back on her arms and watched him try to settle into a comfortable position.

"Now," she took a deep, over dramatized breath, "Tell good 'ol Delaney… What's troubling you my turtle friend?"

"What if you don't make it this time?" he completely jumped the joke and looked into her eyes, "Splinter, Donnie and Callista can only do so much. What if they can't do anything next time?"

"Mikey…" she crawled next to him and put her head on his shoulder, "I am going to make it. We all are. As long as you are here, I promise I'll come back."

He looked down at the top of her head pressed against him. After a moment or two he lifted his arm and wrapped it around her waist and rested his hand on the top of her hip. He took his other hand and caressed her cheek. She sat shocked for a moment or two, but then slowly wrapped her arms around the parts she could. Slowly, she molded herself into his embrace and forgot all about the betrayal… and the hate. Everything melted away and the world grew silent. All that seemed audible was the beating of his heart through his plastron and the even breathing from his mouth above her head. She felt him give her a squeeze and bury his beak in her hair.

"I… I don't want to lose you for real this time," he whispered, "It was bad enough for the four days you weren't talking to me. And then the three days worrying if you were going to wake up… How bad would the pain be if you couldn't come back?"

"I've made you a promise, Mikey," she took a deep breath and continued, "I will come back no matter what it takes. You mean too much to me to leave behind."

"So… does that mean that when you bite the big one you're taking me with you?"

She smiled and looked up at him, "Now, there's the Mikey we all know and love."

His smile turned serious again, "You mean it?"

Delaney was taken back a bit, but didn't disconnect eye contact, "I care for you Mikey. A lot. There aren't many people who are above you on my list."

"But you don't love me," he sounded a bit disappointed, but tried to make it look like a joke.

She bowed her head a bit in thought and then came back to his eyes, "I… Mikey, I'm not very good in the whole 'love' department. I mean, the last guy who said he loved me sliced a katana across my right side nearly killing me."

"But…"

"If what I feel for you isn't love… I don't know if I can handle the real thing," she whispered and kissed him swiftly on the lips. She pulled away quickly and found him with his eyes still closed and lips still puckered, even though the kiss was only a few seconds long.

"So I still have a chance at love yet?" he finally opened his eyes. He gave her a shy smile and she returned it.

"You have a very good chance. I meant every word I said to Yukio. I think I have loved you from the first day I dubbed you friend and not foe. I just never understood it until I lost you."

"You never lost me."

He leaned toward her and gave her his first kiss. He put a hand behind her head and pulled her toward him. She felt his hesitation as well as hers. She has never done this, and to actually be giving in and having the experience with him was exhilarating. Soon enough they both relaxed into the kiss and forgot about everything else around them.

After a few moments Michelangelo pulled back and combed his fingers through a section of her hair, "So… you're not going to take me along for the ride when you do kick the bucket, right?" he asked with laughter in his voice. She put a smile on her face and jumped on him, trying to tackle him on the ground and pin him on his back. They both rolled to the cement in a fit of laughter. Delaney eventually got trapped on the bottom, beneath Michelangelo, partly because her side was starting to act up and she didn't want to reopen the wound.

"You're saying you wouldn't miss me?" she asked looking up at him.

He had his arms on both sides of her head and his knees on both sides of her hips looking straight down at her, "I would miss you all right, but I'm too cute and young to die."

"Right," she smiled, "I never expected some one like you."

"Really? Well, who did you expect?" he slid to his side and leaned on his elbow looking at her from the side.

She thought for a moment, "I always expected a tall guy with black hair, blue eyes and an average build."

He made a small sound like he was trying to suppress laughter, "I can so beat him up."

"Hey!" she pushed at him, "Okay, so it wasn't too realistic and maybe I didn't get too close…"

He looked at her and cocked an eye ridge.

"But I'm happy with my average height, green skinned turtle, ninja hero," she smiled and rubbed one of his arms.

"I'm yours now?"

"You bet. Any girl that looks at my turtle will get more than she bargained for."

"Good to hear," he lightly kissed the tip of her nose and got up offering his hand down to her, "Come on, it's getting late. They've probably already started dinner without us."

"All right," she picked up the sweater and took Michelangelo's hand, "You know, it's good to get things out in the open."

"Yeah, it does."

"It's good to start on a new beginning," she took a hold of his arm and leaned on his shoulder, "I love you."

He looked down at her before he picked up his skateboard, "I love you too, dudette."

Amity walked slowly down the halls, tunnels and different rooms of the lair to find something of comfort. Delaney was always a comic relief and the other girls were always there, but lately they all have been a little too touchy and giving her too many 'I'm sorry' looks. She just couldn't put up with all the pity and sympathy. She knew that at least Delaney knew exactly what she was going through. But the harsh truth of that matter was that Amity didn't want to know what it felt like to have your parents torn from your life without warning. She wanted to be oblivious. She wanted to be the girl looking in at the situation, not living it. As bad as that sounded, she realized that's what she really wanted. She still wanted to be the friend trying to help the one that got hurt, not to be the one hurt. And to think… Delaney has had to live with this feeling for- how long now- about two and a half months.

The clan must know that Delaney must have survived the slice to her right midsection. Otherwise, why would they target her parents and the group's family members? There had been a break in at Eros's home, where thankfully her family was absent. They had all taken a much need vacation to Florida to take their mind off of the disappearance of the youngest family member. Callista didn't have to worry so much since her family was all the way cross-country in California and near completely clueless to the events here. They wouldn't be in that much, if any, danger since they hadn't sent anything to Callista yet and no one knew where they had moved to since Callista hadn't bothered to write the address down.

Gosh, what Amity would do if she only could have something to do to distract herself from all this. She definitely needs some serious distraction. The walks around the lair were becoming less and less interesting, but it was now the only activity to hold her attention. She is still trying to learn the secrets of the guys, Splinter and of the ooze and sometimes just by walking, she discovers something new about them.

She soon stumbled upon the dojo where Splinter and the boys studied Ninjitsu everyday. She hears them from her room every so often in the mornings when she is barely able to sleep to begin with. They call out their attacks and the hits on the equipment could be heard through the walls of her room. Today, the turtles had all ready finished with their lessons and Michelangelo was walking with Delaney talking about other abstract things. She had noticed that ever since they came back together from earlier in the evening they have been… closer. Like something happened and Delaney and Michelangelo could not be any more oblivious to the world around them. Amity only wished she could do and be the same. She needed to be that clueless.

Although the dojo was a bit quieter, Amity could see a large figure standing in the back of the dojo with what looked like katanas.

Leonardo.

Amity slowly walked toward him, taking great care not to disturb him. Ever since she first found out about the turtles ninja skills her interest was peeked. She knew that Delaney used to sneak glances at their morning practices and now is starting the study of Ninjitsu with them. Amity was a bit disappointed that she never asked to join Delaney in her morning peeks at the guys practicing. It might be more interesting then she originally thought. And maybe… it could have been an escape from the reality that now consumes her.

"How are you doing?" Leonardo kept his focus on the far wall, as if the question was directed at the bricks and took great care in the movement of his katanas.

"I didn't mean to disturb you, Leonardo," she said softly still watching him, "I'm sorry."

"It's okay," he stopped his movements, lowered his katanas to his sides and turned to her. She noticed he was covered with sweat and probably has been in the dojo for the last few hours after dinner, "So you going to answer me? How are you?"

She let out a breath, "As well as could be expected, I guess. My best friend is just now getting over a serious injury that she could have died from. My parents are assumed dead and I have nothing to distract myself with in the meantime."

"That good, huh?" he smiled and tried to get her to do the same, but only managed to get her to look at a necklace that was around her neck. He took a towel at the side of the room and wiped some of the sweat off his face and arms, "I'm sorry. I've never been good with jokes. It's Mikey's forte, not mine."

"It's okay. I'm not up to laughing lately anyway," she hugged herself and watched him throw the towel to the side and walk back to the center of the room.

"Come in, you don't have to stand outside the doorway," he motioned her to come in and then toward a small step that she could use as a seat.

"No, go ahead with your practice. I-I don't want to intrude."

"No!" he took a step toward her, "It's good to talk to someone when practicing. Keeps my head in check, you know?"

"Okay," Amity hesitantly started to walk toward the step, but stopped and looked at Leonardo as he took another starting position, "Can I ask you something?"

"Shoot," he said taking on a different position with only one of his katanas in his hand and staring blankly at the wall once again.

"How much do you practice outside the time with your brothers?"

"A few hours everyday that I can spare."

"Does it help you get your focus off of other things?"

"What kinds of things?"

"Well… you know, like reality?"

Leonardo turned to look at her and saw her standing halfway between the doorway and step with her head down, "Sometimes."

"It's nice to do that sometimes," she kept her eyes on the floor as she continued, "I would do that with my class work. I would get so busy that way I wouldn't have to focus on other things. You know, my school year is staring in about a few weeks… and well, I have no work I can bury myself in. It's kind of hard. By around this time I would have all my advanced reading done and a good grip on the material."

He tilted his head to the side and slowly walked toward her, "Tell you what. You give me some company during my practicing outside the mornings and I'll give you something to do to keep you busy."

"What?" she looked up.

"Come on," he smiled and gently took her hand to lead her to the center of the room, "Now, relax your arms and let me show you how lost you can get."

He took her arms and began to bend her elbows and position her arms in different ways of defense. At one time he put his katana in her hand and she was surprised by the weight. She always pictured it lighter that what it was. He kept his hands on her wrists as he led her through the movements. She let herself get lost in the lesson and by the smoothness of his voice, echoing in her mind. He was right, it was keeping her busy. It was keeping her sane.

She never noticed it before now, but Leonardo was a lot more complicated and layered than she originally thought these past months. He seemed so intense on his practicing and Ninjitsu that she didn't really understand that he had a life outside of it. He just didn't seem like he did other than his reading from his Ninjitsu and katana books. Now, he seemed so deep. True, she talked to him many times about his life down in the sewers and his brothers, but for the first time…. she noticed that she really didn't know anything about him. Everything was superficial and general information, but nothing personal, nothing that included trust. Until now. Now, she trusted him totally with the katanas and her life. And in a strange way she knew that he trusted her. It seemed like he always has in some small way.

"Now, keep your forearm straight and look down the blade," he whispered as he reached around her to balance the blade and kept his face next to hers to see what she was seeing, "That's it, you got it."

"Thank you, Leo," she looked away from the blade and toward his voice, not counting on the close proximity of his face next to hers.

"No problem," he said softly looking into her eyes, "I enjoyed it."

"Me too," Amity gave a nervous smile and felt her cheeks start to burn a little from what had to be blushing. She has never blushed over a guy before. And she never thought or imagined that it would be over Leonardo. She looked at the katana in her hand and handed it back to him, "Um, this is yours, I believe."

"Thank you," he cleared his throat and took them to put back in the sheaths on his shell.

"Well, I guess I should continue my walk," Amity nodded to the doorway, "See you around, Leonardo."

"Would you mind some company?" he tried not to seem forward, but he didn't want to see her go just yet, "Or is it the kind of walk where you just want to reflect and be by yourself?"

"Don't you need to practice?"

"I'll be fine. I did enough today. I was about to leave when you came anyway. I was just finishing up."

"Would you mind a sixteen year old bugging you with a dozen questions along the way? Because you know me, always full of inquires."

"Do I ever mind?"

"Donatello sometimes does."

"He doesn't know the company he's missing," he took her hand in his and brought it up to his beak to kiss it lightly like a gentleman. She let a soft giggle escape her lips and then saw him motion towards the door, "Ladies first."

She tilted her head and then grabbed his arm instead, "Why don't you escort me, fine sir."

He smiled back at her and they began to talk about Ninjitsu and abstract concepts as they made their way through the lair and the surrounding tunnels. It might be getting late, but who needs sleep when you have a strong arm to lean on and a millions miles of personal ground to cover?