A/N: Sorry this is a day late. Gees I hope it lives up to expectations!

Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT, or any related characters (much to their relief, I'm sure!) If there is anything else in this story you recognise from somewhere else, then I don't own that either.

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They both jumped at his name echoing about the room, stepping back slightly to look at each other in astonishment. Raphs' face quickly evolved into a snarl as he turned towards the sounds source.
"I'm gonna kill 'im!" He muttered evilly.
"RAPHAEL! Damn it, I know you're in here! There's no point hiding." Leo continued to call out irately.
"He's off to the right somewhere, Leo." Don guided.

Raphs' glare softened as he noticed Tausha backing deeper into the shadows behind the tank.
"Just go, please. I don't wanna cause any trouble…" she begged softly.
"To late for that! Come on…" Raph grabbed her wrist, pulling her after him with just enough insistence to overcome her feeble opposition. He led her down the passageway between the generators, turning to confront his brothers as he spotted them coming from the other direction through a gap flanked by two of the machines. Raph planted his feet squarely in defiance of the tirade he didn't have to wait long to face, Leo stalking towards him as he started his rebuke.
"You've gone way over the line this time, Raph. And you!" he pointed an accusing finger at the girl "I thought you were getting out of town. What the shell are you doing here?" Tausha cringed against Raph. He dropped his hold on her wrist to protectively wrap it half way round her waist instead.
"I tried… but I can't get out… there's just no way out…" she broke down into hoarse sobs, burying the less damaged side of her face in Raphs' shoulder, clinging fiercely to his neck. He gently gripped her shoulder, still glaring in defiance at his brother over it. To Leo's surprise he spoke calmly, though his tone had a dangerous edge to it.
"She needs help, Leo."

Leo roughly massaged his forehead, trying to focus his mind past his anger to figure out how to get his thick-headed brother to understand how wrong this was. His efforts were soon interrupted.
"I think Raph's right, Leo." Don stated quietly. Leo turned with an incredulous look just as Mike added his opinion.
"Yep, me too." crossing his arms with a determined look.

Speechless, Leo slowly turned back, dreading the smirk that was bound to be on Raphs' face. He was wrong. Raph was still glaring levelly at him, only looking away as Tausha's weeping subsided. He turned his attention to the girl as she lifted her face, starting to mop up the soggy mess she'd made with her shirt sleeve.
"Sorry 'bout this, I'm just so…tired." she murmured shakily. Her whole body seeming to slump in exhaustion.
"It's OK." Raph assured simply, gently brushing a few stray hairs away from where they had stuck to her cheek.

Leo observed them for a few moments. She did look pitiful. She obviously hadn't been here too long as her clothes still clung damply in places. Her pants and boots were filthy now, and sported a fresh rip just below her right knee, the material stuck to her skin with dried blood from the wound beneath. She was trembling badly, though wether it was from cold, fatigue or her emotions he wasn't sure. He figured it was probably a combination of all three. The damage to her face was emphasised by the colour her crying had wrought, her hair a messy tangle spilling down her back. Despite his reservations, it was obvious to Leo that Tausha wouldn't get too far in her present state. Especially if the Purple Dragons had staked out the main transport routes in wait for her.

"Augh, alright." he muttered resignedly "I suppose we can take her in for a few days, just until she recovers her strength. OK?" To his surprise Raph gave him a half-smile.
"Thanks, bro." he murmured quietly.
"Yes!" Leo heard Mike exclaim behind him, not having to see to know his brother would be pumping a fist in celebration. Tausha blinked at him a couple of times in confusion.
"Huh? No. I can't do that! I've caused you enough trouble as it is…" she pulled out of Raphs' arms, taking a couple of unsteady steps away. "I've just got to get out of the city and then everything will be alright…" Raph caught her by her shoulders, saving her from a stumble. Roughly spinning her to face him again he felt a pang of guilt as she winced at his rough treatment, his tone sounding harsher than he intended.
"Are you nuts? You're not gonna get anywhere like this!"
"I've just got to do this now…" Tausha tried desperately to explain "If I don't I may never get another chance. I've just got to get out. I can't take it anymore…" Raph interrupted her with a small shake.
"Tau, you look like crud…!"

Leo stopped his brothers' exasperated argument with a hand on his shoulder. Thinking she might respond better to reason, he steadily explained.
"We respect this is something you have to do, Tausha. But, it will only be for a few of days. Enough for you to get some rest and start to heal. Then we'll help you get out of the city, without the Dragons noticing you. Alright?" She gazed at him for a moment as if he were offering some amazing miracle, and then turned her incredulous look to Raph. He shrugged.
"Yeah, what he said." he muttered begrudgingly, tilting his head at Leo. A small smile of relief lit her face.
"Come on." Gently Raph wrapped his arm around her shoulders, slowly starting to guide her towards the chamber door. Walking past, up to Leo, Don whispered.
"Gees, I think she was pretty close to cracking there."
"No dah! Poor babe." Mikey added, joining them. Leo silenced them both with a stern look.
"Go fetch her gear, will you?" He jerked his thumb in the direction Raph had approached them from. Leaving them to their task, Leo followed after Raph and Tausha.

As they reached the end of the service tunnel Raph got Tausha to wait on the ledge as he dropped down into the swift, chill water. Turning back he motioned for her to rest her hands on his shoulders. Instead of lifting her down as she expected, he swiftly buckled her knees and swept her up into his arms.
"What the heck do you think you're doing?" she demanded, pushing away from him a little.
"That's what I'd like to know…" muttered Leo darkly as jumped down beside them.
"Just makin' sure ya don't get wet, that's the 'honourable' thing to do isn't it?" the barb aimed directly at his scowling brother. In silence Leo stalked past, leading the way out of the tunnels.

"Well, I can walk you know." Tausha muttered testily. He tightened his grip against her squirming.
"I know." He grinned irritatingly back. She rolled her good eye at him, winced, then relaxed against him in defeat. For a few moments she listened to the roar of the water echoing in the tunnel, broken by the splashing of their passage.

"Thank you, I think." she whispered by his ear as she rested her head back on his shoulder. She saw him smile, but his response was cut off by two large splashes behind them as his brothers followed, the noise continuing as they quickly caught up. Don carried her duffel bag. Mike held her sheathed sword, the bike helmet hung over the hilt, in one hand and Raphs' sai in the other.
"Hey bro, I'd give ya this back" Mike taunted, twirling the sai where Raph could see it "but ya seem to have your hands full there!"
"Shut up Mike." Raph ordered gruffly, feeling Tausha ball up tighter in his grip as Don joined in Mikeys' easy laughter.
"Quiet! All of you!" Leo snapped sternly. They completed their short journey through the tunnels in silence.

Reaching a manhole, Leo scaled the ladder to lift the metal cover. The storm instantly invaded with a heavy deluge, though at least the hail had stopped.
"So much for her not getting wet…" He quipped sarcastically at Raph before he disappeared through the opening. Mike scooted past to climb the ladder next.
"So's I can help the li'l lady out the top!" he explained half way up, ignoring Raph's deepening scowl.
"You can help this out first!" interjected Don, heaving the large bag up to his waiting brother. Mike disappeared for a moment, then returned to shield the access from the rain as best he could, reaching down a helping hand as Raph tipped Tausha onto the steps. She ignored his help to climb out, but did give him a smile in thanks regardless as he quickly ushered her over to the open rear doors of a large van parked close by.

Leo was moving around the interior, retrieving towels and a first aid kit from various compartments. Mike sat her down on a swivel seat set in front of a lit screen showing four different coloured blinking dots converging on its' centre. Gratefully she and Mike accepted the towels Leo offered them as the other two leapt in the back, slamming the doors to shut out the tempest.
"Gees, what an evil night!" exclaimed Don, using his hand to wipe the water off the top of his head as he accepted his towel.
"Yeah, glad to be out of it!" Raph agreed, holding out his hand expectantly.
"Ugh-ugh, you're not yet." Leo chastised, solemn faced. "You've still got to go fetch the Shell-cycle." He completed matter-of-factly.
"What? Oh, no way am I goin' back out in that…" Raphs' argument quickly fizzled as Don nodded seriously at him in agreement with Leo. Mike was failing as badly at looking nonchalant as he was at suppressing his giggle.

"Grrr! Friggin' damn bike…" The rest of Raphs' mutterings were cut off as he slammed the door behind himself. Mike immediately letting his laughter loose enticed a smile from Don, and a relieved look from Leo. Suddenly feeling very self-conscious Tausha gave a brief, wavering smile of her own before dropping her gaze to inspect the floor, letting her hair fall forward to hide her face a little.

"We're not going to be able to do a lot for her injuries here, Leo. It may better to wait till we get home to clean and treat them properly." Don offered.
"I know." quipped Leo "I'm actually thinking more about security." Tausha glanced up, curious. Leo pulled out a large triangular bandage from the first-aid kit. Smoothing it on the back of the seat he then folded it over a couple of times to form a long rectangle, around three inches thick. The point of the triangle still protruded another few inches from the centre. He held it up to inspect his handiwork.
"Yep. That should do it." Keeping the material folded over his arm he started issuing orders to his brothers.
"Don. Do you have anything you can check for bugs or wires with?"
"Um…, yeah. Think I have a bolt detector in here somewhere. That should work." Don busied himself rummaging through storage compartments set near the floor along the side wall.

"Alright. Mike, get the winch ready to go and keep a watch out for Raph." Tausha watched briefly as Mike knelt on the floor to open a small hatch that produced a reel of high tension wire. Grabbing the flat hook set on the end of it he drew it out to wait by the back windows, kicking a small catch to produce a sound like something metal running down the outside of the vehicle.

"Ok. Tausha," Leo came to stand over her "if you're going to stay with us there are a few ground rules you're going to have to follow…"
"I'm not bugged, or anything…" she offered uncertainly. Leo gave her a reassuring smile.
"If I thought you wanted to endanger us, you wouldn't be here. But we have a lot of enemies out there, and unfortunately you are affiliated with some of them. Maintaining the secrecy around where we live is of paramount importance to us, I can't just trust it to your word. Do you understand?" She nodded lightly.

"Good. Now, the rules. One; you will not try to leave the lair without one of us escorting you. Two; when you do go topside, you will wear a blindfold as you are guided in and out of the lair, and you will not attempt to remove it until you are told to do so. Three; you will not attempt to contact anyone outside the lair, for any reason, without clearing it with me first. That means no phone calls, emails or anything else like that. Four; you will follow every order you are given whilst staying with us, and obey all of our house rules…"
"Gees Leo! You make it sound like she's heading to boot camp!" Mike complained, turning to Tausha with a grin.
"You'll be able to have a bit of fun, I promise OK!" he offered with a wink.

Leo's disparaging look was lost on Mike, Don interrupting it with a triumphant "A-ha!" as he held aloft a small black square gadget.
"Found it! Was starting to worry I'd left it at home…"
"What is it? Not another remote? Can I see?" Don held the appliance protectively away from Mikes' grasping hand.
"No. Like I said, it's a bolt detector. It produces a magnetic field that is monitored by a receiver. When you run it over a surface, anything metal underneath causes the field to fluctuate, which in turn activates the sensor and it gives off an alarm."
"Uh-huh." Mike uttered, eyes glazed momentarily.

Don sighed resignedly as he carried the device over to the girl.
"Um…, can I ask you to stand up? This won't hurt at all, I'm sure." She gave him a nod with a half-smile, standing a little shakily with her arms held out to her sides. Holding the device around a quarter inch away from touching her and starting at the nape of her neck, Don ran the detector over her back and limbs with no results. He'd just stepped round to start on her front when Mike threw open the door.

A single headlight bore down on the truck at sickening speed, the bike sliding through a 180 degree turn to stop with its back wheel wedged on the bottom of a thin metal ramp that ran down from the back of the truck. The wake from the manoeuvre slopped a small wave into the truck, soaking Mikes' feet.
"Augh! Thanks heaps bro!" Mike scolded sarcastically, lobbing the hook roughly at Raphs' head. Catching it with a smirk, he clipped it on the handle at the back of the saddle. Straddling the front tyre Raph guided the bike up the ramp as the winch did its work. He shoved the ramp back into place before he jumped into the van, slamming the door.

Raph finished roughly drying his face with the towel he'd snatched from Leo before he noticed Don seemingly running his hand down Tausha's tummy.
"What the hell d'ya think you're doin?" He demanded, unconsciously twisting the towel into a garrotte. Don glanced up nervously from his job.
"Just checking she's not been wired for surveillance. I think she's clean, Leo." His task completed with his brothers' nod, Don retreated to the drivers' seat. Mike quickly followed to claim the front passenger spot.

Ignoring Raphs' accusing glare Leo approached the girl again as she sank back into her chair.
"OK. Get yourself strapped in. The sooner we get this on" he held up the strip of material "the sooner we can all go home." With a slight nod she started pulling on the seatbelt.
"You're gonna blindfold her?" Raph demanded in astonishment.
"Yes. Unlike you I think about the possible consequences our actions may have…" Leo kept his voice steady.
"Fuck you! You're just doin' this to piss me off, aren't ya?" Raph advanced on his brother.
"Believe it or not Raph, this isn't just about you…" Leo retorted, his voice rising despite himself.

"Please." Her quiet request and earnest look stalled their argument. "Don't fight. It's OK Raph, I understand Leo's point. I don't mind wearing it…" Raph turned his scowl to her.
"Like hell it's OK! He's just tryin' to score a friggin' point…"
"Raph." Her voice suddenly held an authoritative edge that effectively cut off his tirade. "It is OK." She stated the fact simply, the steel in her voice and eye negating further argument. Leo watched in awe as this small, battered girl calmly faced off his brother's evil glower with a steady look of her own. Moments later Raph was the first to look away.
"Augh fine, whatever!" He threw his arms in the air as he stalked to the front of the van, trailing muttered curses. There, he threw himself down in the seat behind Don, turning his glare to the window over his crossed arms as he slouched down in a huff.

Leo couldn't help quirking an eye ridge as he looked back at her. The hardness quickly dissolved from her face as she gave him an almost apologetic half smile with a small shrug. A slight unease congealed in Leo's gut as he gently secured the bandage over her eyes, the point of the material covering most of the rest of her face. He was sure that something in her stern look had seemed almost familiar, but couldn't think where he had recognised it from.

It had been almost 48 hours since Tausha had last slept. The warmth from the vans heaters, the soothing thrum of the engine, the comfortable chair and the darkness all conspired to thwart her attempts at staying alert.