A/N: I would like to apologize in advance to those of you who don't understand the beginning conversation between Donatello and Elara. I'm actually basing this off my two friends Mark and Jerry who had a similar conversation and yes, the idea does exist. Don't ask, I don't get it either but it sounded great for the fic.

Chapter 6

"Denying the past"

Elara had been recovering for a week. She was proving to be quite the book worm, going through books like water. She continually read every one of the novels that she could get her hands on before going straight for Don's stash of Scientific America Magazines. She was often found with Donatello having another intellectual conversation over the last article that she had read.

"So what did you think of the latest issue?" asked Donatello as he sat on the couch next to Elara.

"It was interesting. I must say that I found the idea that light can create matter was very interesting," she responded as she placed down the magazine and looked towards Donatello.

"The first article that I know of was actually written in 1997. It's interesting how team of physicists collided large crowds of photons together so violently that the interactions spawned particles of matter and antimatter," said Donatello.

Don, shut up, she may not even know what the shell you're talking about, panicked Donatello without letting on his true feelings. He looked at her, hoping that she actually understood his last sentence.

"Yes, and how the twenty physicist collaboration focused an extremely intense laser beam at a beam of high-energy electrons and how when the laser photons collided head-on with the electrons, they got a huge energy boost, changing them from visible light to very high-energy gamma rays," said Elara, with an excited smile.

"Do either of them come with subtitles?" asked a voice from behind them.

"If they do, we don't know how to turn them on," replied another.

Elara and Donatello turned only to see Michelangelo looking at them with a confused expression while Raphael and Leonardo sparred. They burst out laughing at Michelangelo's expression.

Michelangelo blinked a few times before walking towards the remote to the TV. His eyes still traveled to his laughing brother and female. His feelings were almost neutral towards the female, much like Raph's feelings were towards Callista. Admittedly, he missed having a girlfriend but his feelings for Elara weren't anything like what he had originally felt for Callista. He turned on the TV and flipped through the channels quickly, looking for something decent to watch. Lazily, he flopped onto the lawn chair that he always laid on.

Splinter had been watching the scene unfold for just over two weeks; he could already see what was going on. He stood near Callista as she sat near his study, watching Leonardo and Raphael spar. He knew Donatello enjoyed having a young woman around his age in the lair that he could have "intelligent conversations" with. However, there were so many questions that he had.

"Callista, may I speak with you in my study?" asked Splinter, not even looking down to her.

Calista nodded and got to her feet. She followed Master Splinter into his study. It always amazed her when she walked into his room. It was very unlike the guy's rooms which seemed either bare or juvenile. Splinter's room had a very sophisticate feel. She gracefully sat on one of the cushions while Splinter sat across from her.

"You rarely have spoken to Elara," said Splinter simply.

"We bring back painful memories for each other," said Callista, looking away from Splinter, not wishing to go on.

"What kind of memories?" pressed Splinter.

This is going to be like pulling teeth, thought Splinter. He sighed.

"I do not wish to speak of it," said Callista, still unwilling to talk about her past.

"Callista, how are we to help you and Elara if neither of you speak of the past?" asked Splinter.

"But before one must speak, one must be comfortable to speak of what they have come to terms with and I have not yet come to terms with what had happened," said Callista, uncharacteristically bitter.

Splinter, being his usual receptive self, picked up on the bitter tone. He knew Callista's nightmares were thanks to her past but since she had started to share Leonardo's room, she rarely had the nightmares. She never let on to anyone where she was from, nor did she ever wish to speak of it. When she was pried, she only receded further into her own thoughts, barely even letting Leonardo near her. Perhaps I will have better luck speaking with Elara, thought Splinter.

"I am sorry, Callista. I just wanted to make sure everything is alright," said Splinter.

Callista looked uncharacteristically uneasy. Her fidgeting gave away her emotions as she told Splinter there was nothing wrong. She knew that it could be like pulling teeth to get a few answers from her with the right questions. She was just not ready to speak about what had happened to her at that time.

Splinter nodded, dismissing Callista who stood and bowed respectfully, taking the dismissal. He watched her leave as he shook his head. Both females had developed their own unique personalities which he knew wasn't completely a bad thing but it may or may not turn into a good thing. A sigh escaped his lips.

Callista walked out of Splinter's study, not wishing to speak with anyone. She silently made her way to the room she and Leonardo shared.

Splinter watched her walk out of the room before going to the door and watching Donatello and Elara laughing. His gears started turning. Perhaps if Callista will not speak of her past, Elara may, thought Splinter as he set his sights on Elara.