Just as Raphael was about to jump, a hand reached out, grabbed his hand and tugged him back hard, startling the turtle, who'd been so engrossed in his thoughts he hadn't noticed the figure, who'd been watching him. "What the fuck?" Raphael said in surprise, studying the brunette and dark eyed girl that stood before him. She was a looker with a heart shaped face, a perfect hour glass figure, ivory skin and rosy cheeks. If he wasn't into Alex or Leo he didn't know who he really loved-Raphael would have definitely tried to pursue her. She couldn't be more than five foot, like he was, but her grip was like steel, however her expression was sad, tears filling her eyes, as she studied him.

Raphael pulled away, crossed his arms and growled, "What the fuck did ya do that for?"

The girl took out a bong from her pocket, lit it, breathed it in deeply and coughed, unafraid and unintimidated "Want a puff?" she asked. "It's wonderful. Helps you relax and feel like you don't have any worries."

"Is that weed? I don't do drugs and ya shouldn't either."

She shrugged, coughed again and said, "It helps me with my pain."

"Ya sick or somethin'?"

"Leukaemia. Doctors say I have maybe six months."

"Gonna be less if ya keep puffin' like that."

She shrugged again and said, "Go ahead. Try it. I promise it'll make you feel better. You're clearly in pain too. You sick too?"

"I ain't sick. Not that know 'bout and I don't do drugs."

"Suit yourself. You got a name?"

"It's Raphael. My brothers call me Raph if they ain't mad."

"I'm Ruby. How old are you, Raph? And what are you? Is it a costume?"

Raphael hesitated before saying, "Ain't no costume. I'm a mutant turtle and I'm fifteen."

"Mutant turtle? Gosh. So, why is a mutant turtle up here at night and wanting to jump off a building?"

"Could say the same for ya. Why are ya here?"

"I'm eighteen and I'm dying. I wanted to see the beauty of the city before my parents place me into a hospice. To look out at the vast city and the bright lights and to think of what it could have been. I feel free up here, you know what I mean? There's no one around. I can just be me. I don't have to pretend I'm okay. I can cry. I spend my days being brave for my parents, especially Mom. She's taking it really hard. I don't know what they're going to do once I'm gone. I don't really want to be in a hospice either, but it's kinder on my parents. They've already endured so much with all the treatments and I'm tired of being a burden on them."

"So ya never thought 'bout jumpin'?"

"No," Ruby said in horror and extinguished her bong, crushing it under her foot. "Of course not. I'm a devout Catholic. I say my prayers every night and I'm grateful for every day I get."

"Ya really think prayers work? If they did, my dad would still be alive," Raphael said bitterly, his arms still crossed. "He was fuckin' murdered. I saw it happen."

"I'm sorry, Raphael."

"And my bro's arms had ta be amputated when some bastards tried ta blow up our lair and my eldest bro has a broken leg, 'cause of it. I don't fuckin' believe in God or the fuckin' humans that have done nothin' but cause us heartache. Torturin' and experimentin', because we're freaks."

"I'm so sorry, Raphael. That must be so difficult," Ruby said sadly. "But you still have a family…"

"Our family?" Raphael snorted derisively. "My eldest bro's fuckin' my best friend and none of us knew 'bout it and then….This girl I met online. She said she liked me and wanted ta meet up and now she ain't pickin' up the phone and I think she's dumped me! Makes me feel like I can't breathe and I'm so fuckin' confused. Why am I so mad that my bro's fuckin' my best friend? I should be happy Leo's with someone, but his boyfriend's a dick and fucks everyone he meets. I'd be a better mate for Leo." Realizing what he'd said, Raphael clamped his beak shut, mortified he'd talked so freely to a stranger, but it had felt strangely therapeutic talking about his feelings.

"Raphael, none of that was God's fault," Ruby said gently, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Shitty things happen to good people sometimes and perhaps you aren't as confused as you think."

"Huh?"

"Maybe you're furious, because you like Leo and resent the fact that his boyfriend's with him."

"NO! I like Alex, my girl and she just blew me off. There's no way in hell I could like stuck up Fearless and he don't like me neither. He basically said so and that I wasn't right for him."

"And there's also the possibility that something unexpected came up for Alex and she'll call you when she can, but truthfully, I think you're in denial about Leo. It doesn't gross me out if you like him. Turtles date their siblings in the wild, so it's cool, but you need to be honest with yourself, Raphael, and you need to realize that you have a good life even if you think you don't. You have brothers, who love you, you're still a kid and healthy. You have so much to live for. You shouldn't be up here. You should be at home telling Leo how you feel for starters and enjoying your life. "

"Yer weed's gone ta yer head! I don't like…"

"I think you're ungrateful, Raphael. You're healthy and you're up here focussing on all the shitty, negative things. Man, if I were healthy, I'd do all of the things that I used to before. I used to horse ride, abseil, go hiking. I was an adrenaline junkie too. Bungee jumping, shark cage diving. You name it, I did it, but then I was diagnosed and my life changed. I can't even walk without coughing or gasping. My boyfriend dumped me when he learned about my diagnosis. My friends walked away. I don't blame them. No one wants to see someone suffer, but you…You have so much to be grateful for, Raphael. Go home."

Raphael listened, his eyes misted over. She'd lost so much, but had never thought of ending her life and her faith in God had never wavered. She was an amazing person. Tough, strong, courageous, determined. She was a miracle in herself, because if she hadn't appeared, he'd have taken his life, coward that he was. And his brothers would never have found him.

Raphael nodded and said, "Yer right."

"Of course I am. Things will work out, Raphael. Your brothers will heal and you'll find what you're looking for. You just have to have faith."

"How do ya have it when yer…ya know? Don't ya ever wanna give up?"

"I have days when I struggle, but giving up? No. Never been in my vocabulary and shouldn't be in yours. There is no quit. You do that, you're down and you won't get up. Always fight. One other thing that helps me is laughter. It's the best medicine and can help you get through almost everything. So does family. My parents… I'm so grateful for them and their love. They're my everything."

"My family are mine too, even if they drive me nuts."

"Family does that, but through thick and thin they'll be there and do you think your dad would want you to give up either? No. He wants you to have the best possible life. Honor him by not just surviving, Raphael, but living. Live for me too. Everything you do, do it twice. Once for you and once for me."

"Yer an angel, ya know that?"

"No. I'm just a regular girl, who wants to see others living their lives as fully as they can, so do that, okay?"

Raphael nodded and said, "I'll try. Hey, what do ya want? Really want?" Ruby looked at him in confusion and he added, "I mean where do ya wanna spend yer last days?"

"In the countryside. I love nature. Massachusetts was my favorite place. We had a holiday home in Northampton and spent many happy vacations there. I miss it. My parents sold it to pay for my treatment."

"Ya know Casey Jones?" Raphael asked, even though he knew Northampton wasn't that small a place.

"I know a Casey Jones, yes. We dated for a while if it's the same Casey. Broke up when we were sixteen. Why?"

"And he's tall, dark haired and wears a hockey mask, right?"

"I don't know about the mask, but rest, yes. Why? You know him?"

"Man, Casey sure gets 'bout! Ya still love him?" Raphael asked, formulating a plan in his head. "He's a friend of mine."

"I haven't seen Casey since we gave the baby up. I'm done. Go home, Raphael. I know what you're thinking. You want me to get back together with Casey, right? I don't want to see that jerk! You hear me?" Ruby yelled. "I thought he was out of my life for good and now you want…"

"Now who's protestin'?" Raphael said and smirked. "I can tell ya still got feelings for him. Unresolved and ya two need ta talk. Ya have a baby together for fuck's sake. Ya can get yer baby back now. Yer eighteen and be a family, which is what ya wanted and yer parents probably didn't want that, did they?"

Ruby's face flamed and she hissed, "My parents…."

"Fuck it! If yer dyin', Ruby, ya at least owe it ta yer daughter that she lives with her real dad. Don't ya think so? Even if ya hate Casey's guts," Raphael said, not revealing that Casey was with Leo.

"I never hated Casey. I loved him and he loved me, but my parents didn't support our union. We ran away to get married and were caught and our baby was forcibly put up for adoption. I've never stopped thinking about Casey or the baby, but it's too late, Raphael. I wouldn't know how to get my kid back and I'm not sure I want to spend my last months fighting a legal battle. Casey probably doesn't want to see me either."

"I bet he still misses ya madly and would be thrilled if he saw ya."

"I'm not sure I want to open old wounds. I have to go. My…"

"Ya know what? Casey's at my place and I think ya should come and talk ta him. Sort out yer issues and talk 'bout yer daughter. What harm can it do? Maybe ya two could be together for yer final months. Ya'd like that, right? Back with the love of yer life. Happy. No hospice. Just peace and love. I can take ya ta him now."

"Why would you do that for me, Raphael? Casey might not even want…"

"It's what ya want. Ya wanna see him and I'm a sucker for true love and a happy family reunion, okay? So ya gonna come with me or not?"

Ruby thought a minute and said, "Okay. I'll come. Where? If anything, I would like to see him. I have missed him, but I didn't know where he went when he left town."

"Ta the sewers of course. Ya didn't think I lived in a fancy apartment, did ya?"

"I guess not. I'll go. Thanks, Raphael."

"Don't mention it. Let's go."

"I still think you're in denial about Leo, though."

Raphael ignored her and helped her climb down from the roof. Then, as they made their way to the sewers, Raphael thought, still deep in denial, I'm not doin' this, because I want Fearless. I love Alex and I'll get her back. I'm doin' this, so that the little girl can have her real family and two parents together and so that Leo will be rid of the bastard, who'll never make him happy. Not like I...I mean, not like someone else would. I'm so glad Ruby appeared. I'm gonna live my life and it's gonna be a magical one with me and Alex married and with babies. Not gonna give up on her! I ain't a quitter. Ruby's right. Quittin' shouldn't be in my vocabulary!

A/N Thanks for all the reviews. :)

Will Casey be thrilled to see Ruby and will Raphael's plan to get Casey and Ruby back together work?