I awoke to foggy voices. My eyes weren't open and I couldn't move or talk so I just listened. "Think anyone of these dudette's will ever wake up? I'm really worried." "Hey Mike, you remember we found Yaniz awake, I'm sure they're all fine." "Yeah. I sure hope so." I realized they were talking about me. I wanted to tell them that I was up but my lips couldn't form the words. There was silence for a minute, then "Wait, Yaniz's breathing pattern has changed! Yaniz can you hear me? Are you awake, can you give me some sort of signal if you are?" I tried to nod, to cry, to twitch, but I couldn't. I decided I wasn't trying hard enough. I had to try and give it my all.

A sigh was heard. "Maybe not Donnie. You should go eat, I'll watch the girls for a while." "Ok. You yell if you need anything." I heard some rustling and I could tell Don had left. Now it was just Mike in here with me, and possibly my friends. Goddess, I hoped they were okay. If I could've I would've jumped as a hand stroked my cheek. Mike started talking to me or us saying he hoped we would wake up soon and stuff like that. I wanted to cry (well go aww at least). It was so sweet.

I just had to try and open my eyes again. I guess I tried to hard because I felt really sleepy. If it wasn't already so dark for me I it would've come to caress me. I felt my tiredness take over. I finally gave in and everything was peaceful and quiet.

I blinked at the bright light. Wait a minute…I could see! My eyes were open! I felt a tickle in my throat. I coughed. I sat up and hacked. I sat back down rubbing my temples. The coughing hurt my head. I suddenly felt self-conscious, like someone was watching. I looked over, realizing that my eyes were wide open. Hmmm. "Strange. No one here." Hey, I could talk again! My stomach growled, reminding me that I was starving. How long had it been since I had last eaten anyway?

I tried to roll off of whatever I was on. It didn't quite work. I fell to the ground with a thud. It really hurt. I scrunched up my eyes and moaned. Now I was hurt stuck on the ground. I heard footsteps coming! Yay, I was saved! Or was I? What if it was someone like that Karai lady? Uh, no! I had to move and quick. Only problem was I was stuck on the ground. I tried, and desperately mind you, to move or something. My body would not obey the command though. What was I to do? Oh, boy was I in trouble now!

I closed my eyes like that would somehow help me. I heard the footsteps halt, close to me. "Hey guys, come here she's awake!" I felt the footsteps come closer. I recognized the voice. It was the turtle in orange. Mike, I think. I opened my eyes…and gasped. The turtle's face was right next to me. "Don't be scared. I won't hurt you. Now Raph might bite but I won't." I stared into his eyes. "I'm not scared. You were just right there, that's all. Wait, you saved me." There was a moment of silence that neither of us wanted to break. I couldn't help it; I had to break it, "Thanks." It was his turn to be surprised. He did a double blink and looked confused. "You're not scared?" He asked while picking me up and setting me back down on the bed I had been on. I was about to answer him when I heard more footprints coming.

I looked over and saw the three other turtles and a, a, a…a giant rat! I was a little taken back, but it was cool. "I hope you are all right child. You were very hurt when we found you." I blinked in surprise. He sounded so wise. "Yeah, I think I'm fine." He nodded. "Is there anything you need?" I was about to answer him when my stomach growled. I smiled. "I think that just about sums it up." Mike smiled too. "I'll go get you something." He ran off to go get me something to eat. The rat smiled an amused smile. "Leo, take her to the couch so she can have T.V. to watch, while we continue our practice." Leo bowed to the rat and came to pick me up while the other's groaned.

Leo set me up on the couch, all comfy like. I was trying to remember something, it was pulling the back of my mind, but I couldn't remember what it was. Mike came out of what I guessed was the kitchen carrying something on a plate. Then it hit me. "Where are my friends? I've heard you mention them." I said the last little bit because I saw the confusion on Leo's face. Leo and Mike looked to each other. I didn't like what it implied.

"Yaniz. They still haven't woken up." I sat back in shock. I didn't notice that the other guys had come up behind the couch or that Mike had set down some pizza. I jumped when the rat spoke behind me. "I believe she has a right to know what happened. Everything that happened." Leo nodded in understanding. Splinter smiled, like he knew something the others didn't. "We will have practice after this." I saw the turtle's faces drop. This wasn't getting them out of practice. Practice of karate or something, I guess.

I listened in fascination of how they were created. I learned the rat was called Splinter, and I knew for sure what the turtle's names were. I learned how they started learning ninjitsu and all about the foot and the shredder. I thought their origin was fascinating. I gasped when I heard the name Karai, the Shredder's daughter, still alive even though her father had died by Leo's katana. Now came the part I had been waiting for. The story of how they found my friends.

Leo told this story, (Splinter told of their origin). "We were coming back from visiting April and Casey when we heard screams and the sounds of fighting. We ran to check it out. The foot were busy attacking your tall friend." "Cleo. She's Cleo. Disa is the one with brown hair and highlights of red. And the last one is Shara." I interrupted Leo. Leo continued, "The foot were busy attacking Cleo. She was screaming and backed into a wall. The foot were teasing her when Shara ran in. She had some foot following her. They were really having fun with her. We had to jump in. Cleo freaked out at the sight at us and started screaming. She got knocked in the head pretty hard. She has a concussion. Shara's eyes popped out of her head and she got distracted. She also got smacked in the head and has a concussion. While we were trying to get to Shara and Cleo they got beat up on. Then all of a sudden Disa runs in with the foot on her tail. She goggles at the sight of us and gets knocked out. Disa also has a concussion.

There were many foot ninja's there and it was a very tough battle. Your friends got pretty beat up. We beat the foot and brought your friends here. They haven't awakened once. There was some sleep mumbling from Disa that included you. We decided to check it out. Don did some research and Raph went ah…" Leo stopped for a moment as if searching for the right word. "…Looking for information. We found out there was a foot headquarters. We went looking and found you. You've been asleep for three days, since you last passed out. You shouldn't have fought, you know. But the time for scolding is for later, or never, since you're not Raph." Raph rolled his eyes at that and Mike snorted.

They were all silent. I was thinking about my poor friends. "Can I see them?" It was Splinter that answered, "Later, you need rest right now. Maybe after practice one of my sons will help you over to see them. Now eat, you need your strength. You can tell your story later, when you're ready, when your friends are awake. Feel free to watch the television. I'm sure my sons will spend time with you after our practice." He smiled at me and I felt welcome and safe here, with them. Then Splinter got up and walked to their practice room and his sons followed him. Mike smiled at me before he left. I smiled back.

I didn't really watch the T.V. I was just zoning and thinking about their story and mine. I was thinking about my friends and if they would be okay. Splinter seemed sure they would, but I wasn't so sure. Of course I hadn't seen them yet. I also wondered how badly I was injured. At some point I stopped daydreaming and started listening to the turtle's practice. They were speaking Japanese, I think, so I couldn't understand it. I understood hai, but that was about it. I had always wanted to learn Japanese but had never had the time. I must have stopped listening and daydreaming at one point because the sound of the turtle's panting behind me startled me.

"What the heck are you watching?" I recognized the voice as Raph's. I looked at the screen. Something strange was on, I had no clue. I looked up at Raph. "I have no clue. I wasn't paying attention. I was daydreaming." I decided to add something else. "Can I see my friends now?" They all glanced at each other. Leo nodded. Mike smiled. "Yeah, you can. But, uh, we gotta warn ya, they look pretty bad right now." I smiled, "Thanks for the warning, but I still really want to see them. I mean they are my friends, my close friends." They all nodded in understanding. Mike lifted me up and started to bring me to their 'infirmary'.

I gasped at the sight of my friends. My eyes practically bugged out of my head I was so surprised. They looked absolutely horrible! I looked up and realized everyone was watching me, concern in their eyes. "Can I…" my voice cracked. I tried again. "Can I sit with them for a while? Alone?" Leo was frowning but Mike answered before him, thank goddess. I don't think Leo would've let me. "Yeah, I understand, of course you can." I sighed in relief and whispered thanks to Mike, so no one else would here. He set me on a chair near the bed and made sure I was comfortable. I think Leo wanted to fight Mike's choice but he didn't say anything. Don spoke up, "If you need anything, even if it's just for company, just holler. One of us will come." I just smiled gratefully as they left.

I talked to my friends for a while until my voice became hoarse. I must have fallen asleep because I woke up. "Huh?" It took me a second to remember where I was and what had happened. The lair was quiet. I wondered what was happening. I tried to get up, praying it would work. It did! My legs were all weak and like jell-o, but I could walk. I wandered out of the 'infirmary' and into the living room. No one seemed to be home, not in the kitchen or the dojo. I knocked on doors but nobody answered me. I figured I was home alone, which felt weird because it wasn't my house.

"Are you okay child. You should sit on the couch; you are not strong enough to walk with energy." I probably jumped up about ten feet Splinter scared me so much. "Yeah, I'm pretty tired." He led me over to the couch and made me sit. There was a pot of tea on the table and he poured one for me and one for him. I sipped it gratefully. "Hey, where are the guys?" Splinter smiled. "I was wondering when you would ask that. Karai gave April a message and the guys had to go to fight or there would be some serious consequences that I won't mention partly because I was not listening to them but thinking about the battle ahead of my sons." I blinked in surprise. That was a very detailed description he gave me. I was expecting him to be vague and stuff. I didn't think he'd trust me that much. "Is April alright?" (I had no clue who April was but I didn't want her to get hurt). Splinter nodded. I sighed. "When did the guys leave?" A worried expression crossed Splinter's face. "They left yesterday. April came in while you were sleeping and gave the message. They have not come back or even called, which they should've done by now."

"Hello?" Splinter and I stood up and looked at each other before racing to the infirmary. All three of my friends were up and looking confused. At the sight of Splinter they screamed. Cleo fainted, of course. I stepped in behind Splinter. Disa pointed at Splinter and screamed: "Yaniz, look out for the rat!" "Guys, guys calm down! He won't hurt you! He, well his sons saved you guys and me! It's okay." I went over and gently shook Cleo. Cleo trembled. "Giant rat." She pointed at Splinter. I went through the same spiel. I turned to Splinter "I think they should hear the story." Splinter nodded in agreement and started to tell the story. My friends listened intently and I too for I found their story fascinating.

My friends sat in awe. I turned triumphantly "See, they're fine." Shara nodded. "Yeah, it was just a surprise. I bet you screamed too." She seemed cocky in saying the last part. "Actually she thanked Michelangelo." Splinter spoke up. He winked at me. I smiled back. I was about to say some smarty pants remark when the lair door burst open. Splinter ran out to see what happened. I told my friends to stay there, I knew they weren't strong enough to walk, (I was ignoring the fact that I wasn't), and then I ran after Splinter.

Mikey, Donnie and Raph were laying in the doorway, all heavily bleeding. I gasped, they looked horrible! I ran to their sides. Raph looked weakly up. "They, they took Leo. We tried to stop them, but they were too strong." I looked at Splinter; he looked as worried as me. "Shh, you need your rest. It's gonna be all right." I said it too calm down the guys but also to calm my nerves. "We have to get them to the infirmary. And quick!" I nodded and started to pull Raph to the room. He was really heavy! Splinter came up beside me and helped me pull him up to a bed. The others followed him (us pulling them).

End chapter three