Love me, Betray me!

by RAHELA

Leonardo's dreams were haunted...Not from monsters or ghosts but from a pair of green emerald eyes that played with his mind and life freely. It was such dream that brought her to him causing the Turtle's peace to turn upside down, making them experience feelings they didn't think they possessed. Love,hate,range,passion you can feel them all once you have given your heart away.

4. Chapter 4

Hello my dear Readers! :) :D :) :D :)

It has been awhile since my last update, but as you may judge from the length of this chapter...it took awhile to write. In all honesty I am in love with this chapter, because it introducers you all to many important interactions, which will lead to latter events on the story. The most important Encounter, you will witness at the end of this story...it is reserved as the cherry on top of the cake :)

I tried to make this chapter somewhat short but it was rather hard, considering that I didn't want to rush it, so I decided to better have it be a tiny bit long but detailed than short and rushed. So I know I said the last chapter was the longest I had ever written but boy was I wrong….here is the longest chapter I have written so far. I hope you enjoy!

I hope you enjoy this chapter and leave me a tiny Review at the end, it would really motivate me to write more and would generally simply make me really happy. But I won't keep you any longer...

Here it is for you...Chapter 4!

Unexpected Encounters

(Military Base New York)

Hours passed seemingly slowly and for the rest of that time the two women sitting in the quiet emergency room stood quiet. Tanya had her eyes closed, trying her best not to flinch at the sting of the fluid Lorrie was applying on her skin. On the other hand the young doctor was scrutinizing the girl's face, trying to read a story behind her every wound while tending them carefully. That's how it always worked with them, they were not exactly what one would call friends, they didn't trust each-other with secrets and stories, this room was most likely the place they had hug out the most, yet it was a common respect that rested between the two young women that awoke a concern for one another. So as many other times before, instead of being able to get an answer from the soldier herself, Lorrie Morgan had to work her way through every cut in order to figure out everything that they hid, everything Tanya's duty would prevent her form revealing. To the untrained, inexperienced eye it would seem impossible to make out a story just by examining somebody's wound, but Lorrie saw every cut and every bruise as pieces of a puzzle she had to put together. Once that puzzle was completed she would be able to tell what had happened to the brown haired girl.

The doctor's eyes fell upon the bruise on her jaw, indicating a strong blow, most likely a kick having originated from a person standing on her left, allowing them full access on the girl's face. It meant that it had been a straight body to body combat, considering the lack of bullet wounds and the heavily colored bruises on the girl's face. Lorrie saw the bruised knuckles on her patient's hands and for a moment found herself wondering if she had punched back, lending back the same favor she had been served with, to her enemy. By the force of the blow Lorrie could also tell Tanya's opponent had been a woman, the radius of her bruise was not that wide, indicating the presence of smaller hands typical by women.

At least one of them was female… Lorrie thought observing the severity of her cuts and other more colorful bruises. The marks led down to her ribs and stomach where the purplish-blue color seemed to darken. Lorrie could only be thankful for the lack of internal bleeding on her abdomen area. The bruises leading to that part were much bigger in size, their diameter almost covering the whole perimeter of the girl's stomach, these were definitely a result of male fist…pretty big male fist.

Despite her injuries Tanya didn't as much as flinch when Lorrie passed her hand upon the young soldier's bruises. She simply stood still, letting the doctor work her curiosity away, even though she herself knew there wasn't much could do to help her, despite maybe offer some painkillers and send her on her way. However Lorrie was taking her time, scrutinizing every line of her wounds and the young soldier knew why. She could almost smirk at the confused face of the young doctor, as she tried to put all the puzzle pieces together. Sometime Tanya wished she could just make her job easier and come out honestly as to how she received all the bruises, but considering the secrecy of her current operation such ideas were completely out of question. So unable to open up to the blonde haired doctor, Tanya stood still, letting her examine everything thoroughly.

"The abdomen bruises are going to take awhile to heal, the contact seems to have been stronger in this area" the doctor explained officially gesturing to certain part of the girl's stomach "If you could shift a bit, I would get a clearer look on the…"

"Ah…" Tanya left out a soft cry as Lorrie touched her shoulder trying to make the brown haired girl turn to the right. She immediately withdrew her hand, narrowing her eyes. There was no visible bruise on the girl's shoulder however there was apparently something Tanya was holding back.

"Does something hurt here Tanya?" Lorrie asked not touching her shoulder again but only looking towards the young soldier's face, who shut her eyes simply shaking her head. The doctor sighed before tightly gripping Tanya's shoulder and looking at the woman with angry eyes.

Tanya hissed in pain immediately moving away from her grip while refusing to look into the face of the doctor. Lorrie closed her eyes and move away gathering some more supplies, already having put a diagnose on that shoulder wound.

"After all this time, you still refuse to let me treat you!" the doctor said almost in disappointment. Tanya didn't respond, she herself couldn't exactly say why she had wished to hide that wound away, it wasn't like Lorrie could enter her mind and sneak through her memories to find out how she had gotten it, to see her hanging midair while a muscular green arm gripped her shoulder tightly not allowing her to fall away from his grip…while he looked down at her face, those dark blue eyes examining her expression so carefully.

Tanya looked away, not wanting to show any emotion her eyes might be bearing to the doctor now bandaging her shoulder slowly. Lorrie was saying something about her shoulder not having to be sat back, and how she should treat it carefully from now on but the brown haired girl wasn't listening, her mind was far away. Once again she was standing again on top of that roof, fighting with him side by side. Tanya wanted for no one to touch that memory, she didn't wish for anyone to be part of the excitement she had felt as his ally, as so little things in her life, that night was hers to keep. That was mainly the reason why she had kept this information away from the higher ups during the report, she no one could meddle with her findings, she had to investigate alone…no intruders allowed.

Lorrie seemed to get her message when she watched the soldier avoid eye contact, so she decided to not push the topic further and simply tied her bandage patting the woman's thigh lightly signalizing that she was done. With a soft sigh she stood up looking down at the emerald eyes the soldier bore with concern, she could only hope that that night someone had been watching after her frequent patient, who so often would rush in the face of danger alone, she could only hope the soldier was not the lone wolf she made of herself. Colonel Tanya Grey could be skilled but in the end, like everyone else, she was just human…

"Just human…" Lorrie almost whispered out loud as her eyes drifted from the girl's face to the edge of her forehead. An ugly scar hid itself between the young soldier's hair, the scar still seemed deep and lethal, making so many wonder of its origin…everyone but Doctor Morgan, who had actually been the one to tend that horrible wound.

As if feeling her eyes upon that wound Tanya's eyes flung open and she backed away slightly. She felt uncomfortable under the scrutinizing look of the blonde woman, Tanya knew that look all too well, or at least she thought she knew…pity. There was a moment of silent, before Tanya stood up and came to stand in front of the doctor with a serious expression on her face.

"It doesn't hurt anymore you know…" Tanya said hoping to tell Lorrie indirectly to not worry and just stop glaring that way upon her many scars. Surprisingly Lorrie smiled warmly and looked straight in the girl's eyes one more time.

"I know…" Lorrie said with that innocent smile, that characterized her, like so many times before soothing the soldier with her soft, caring voice and for a moment Tanya felt it again…For a moment the two women weren't in that quiet and peaceful room anymore, instead they were in the middle of the battlefield that took place so many years ago…and they were together. She a soldier, a mere lieutenant fighting a war bigger than any of them and Lorrie, the unexperienced doctor of an whole army, having volunteered to serve on battlefield as a medic. They had unfortunately met like that, in the worst circumstances…in those rash and dangerous times.

Flashback:

Explosions echoed in the air, screams filled the sky, the fire…the ashes, they were making it almost impossible to breath, it was hot…almost too hot…

A young woman, somewhere in her twenties, gasped for air as she pushed piles of rubbles of her feet with a muffled scream, which drowned in between so many others. She hanged on her weapon for dear life trying to push herself on her feet. Everything hurt…god everything was a blur, where was she? How had she gotten here…?

Lieutenant Grey could remember the order that had been given: Attack the base of the enemy, neutralize every weapon, leave them defenseless and retreat. It should have been simple, but something had gone wrong, extremely wrong…

Their enemy had hostages, civilians, children, innocent people having nothing to do with this berserk war. The monsters would kill them one by one so against the orders the mere soldiers had done what any other human being would and begun to retreat…As if to make up for their mistake they had waited for the enemy to be on the move again, before following them inside the closest city where hell had broken loose. Making their presence known they had charged at their opponent with all they had, many had fallen and…

Tanya couldn't remember the rest, all she remembered were faces hidden behind masks and shawls, making it almost impossible to detect the enemy, battle cries mixed with horrified screams echoing on the city, guns shooting, explosions and then…nothing. All of a sudden a silence of death had befallen upon the young soldier and she had thought that was it, that finally the peace of death had enveloped her, unfortunately once the pain shot up on her body Tanya knew death wouldn't be the luxury for her that day. She must had blacked out, for how long she wasn't sure.

Tanya looked down on her body only to see a piece of metal sticking out of her thighs, most likely being the source of the pain she felt, blood had wet her camouflage pants and her top was being shred to pieces but at least her earpiece was still in place.

"Grey for 5! I repeat Grey for channel 5, can anyone hear me?" she said in a hurry as another explosion echoed behind her, she was only hoping one of her squadron members would hear her.

"Connor, Rheem, Walz can anyone hear me?" she asked starting to move from her position. No voice came and in that moment she knew…she was alone. She pulled her legs towards the battlefield supporting herself on her gun. She was trying to find a place to recover while she worked on a plan to get the hell out of there alive but some fading screams from a pile of rubbles nearby caught her attention.

Cautiously she made her way towards them only to confirm her suspicions, making every sense of the young soldier lighten up and an unknown strength burn from somewhere deep in her body. Tanya threw her gun away and jumped in the middle of the rubbles grabbing with her bare hands a support beam that threatened to fall and make the whole ceiling collapse on top of three children trapped inside the crushing building, one of them holding an infant in his arms and crying for dear life, another one apparently hurt and in shock.

"Get out of there!" Tanya screamed supporting the metallic beam with her own weight, knowing she wouldn't be able to hold for long as her leg begun to throb. Unfortunately the children couldn't understand her foreign language, one of them murmured something unknown to Tanya and simply pointed to maybe one of his sibling whose hand was stuck under another fallen beam and couldn't move.

Tanya froze seeing the bruised arm of the crying boy, she couldn't help him from where she was standing, but at the same time if she let go of that beam they would all be dead.

"Help!" Tanya called out loud in desperation, not caring if it would be an enemy or ally that heard her "Please anybody he…" she was about to call again when all of a sudden something hard hit her head. Tanya couldn't even scream as pain made its way through her whole body. A piece of concrete had fallen from the ceiling right on the young soldier's head causing an deep gash to open up on her head. Warm blood started to fall on the girl's pale face, almost blocking her sight, the children started to scream louder at the sight but Tanya refused to let out a voice and scare them further. Instead she gathered whatever strength she was left and looked at their direction with a warm but forced smile upon her lips.

"It's okay!" she whispered hoping they would understand "Okay!" she then emphasized and for a moment it seemed like the trapped children calmed down and looked at her almost in hope, that she would save them. Tanya felt her heart sting as she kept smiling and trying to support the heavy beam, her vision was getting blurry and she was feeling dizzy, she knew she wouldn't hold for long.

"Help!" Tanya whispered as her legs started to give out. All of a sudden the stones from the entrance started to shift and a figure was making its way towards them. Tanya tensed not knowing if an ally or an enemy was coming their way.

"Hello, is anyone there?" a soft but concerned voice came form the entrance before a blonde haired woman showed up at the entrance. She was wearing the same clothes as Tanya, only that a cross merged in the sleeve on her shoulder signaled that she was a medic, a doctor on the army who had most likely come with a rescue team to take them out of this mess.

"Over…here…" Tanya said breathing heavy as her legs started to bend and the heavy metal beam begun to shift on top of her. The female doctor quickly hurried towards the voice only to freeze dead on her tracks as she came to sight with her fellow ally.

"Oh my god Lieutenant!" The doctor exclaimed rushing towards her sight. She was terrified by what state the young soldier was, she recalled the brown haired woman, having tended her wounds more than once back at the base.

"Lieutenant Grey!" the doctor exclaimed putting a supporting hand on her shoulders which the young soldier shoved away shaking her head.

"Doctor Morgan!" Tanya said nodding to the direction of the trapped children " Call…for help…p-please, children…trapped!" Tanya managed to speak enough for the doctor to understand and notice the children laying much deeper in the collapsing building.

"Lieutenant you are hurt! Come with me and I will have someone take the children!" Doctor Lorrie Morgan explained trying to touch the young soldier again but Tanya shook her head violently, causing it only to throb harder.

"The building…it will collapse if I…move!" she breathed out and that's when Lorrie noticed the grave situation they were on. She tried to calculate in her mind a solution…a way out, but only one came to her head, and she wouldn't have time to go and ask for help, not in time to save everyone in there at least.

"Lieutenant hold on for a little longer!" Lorrie said taking of her jacket and throwing it on the ground

"What?! No Doctor, you can't, the ground is not stable, this place could collapse in any second, I can't allow you, you need to go and get help, the rescue squad! It is too dangerous!" Tanya practically yelled hoping to knock some sense into the young blonde woman. This wasn't the job for a doctor, she wouldn't be able to handle it. However the blonde doctor only smiled, standing now only in a tank top in front of the soldier and looking at her in determined eyes that shone like fire.

"I know…" she had said at that time in the same voice, in the same calm and collected tone, while looking at Tanya almost sadly. Lorrie then smiled, even in that state managing to shock the young soldier from within, that smile looked so untainted…so innocent. Tanya could tell…the sole wish of this beautiful human being was to help those souls trapped in that battlefield, her desire so pure and honorable.

"I will get us out of here!" Lorrie then said as she made her way towards the screaming children "And if I don't…it was a pleasure fighting by your side Lieutenant Grey!"

Without any type of military training aside from some basic self-defense the young doctor took upon her a rescue mission, disregarding her wellbeing and her own life, disregarding her duty, she let her instinct direct her as she carefully but swiftly made her way towards the end of the building.

"Doctor…" Tanya spoke up in concern as she looked at the jacked the young doctor had dropped on the floor unable to turn around and face Lorrie. In that moment Doctor Lorrie Morgan wasn't anymore a medic, she was a fellow soldier, braver than anyone Tanya had come across in a long time.

End Flashback.

Tanya and Lorrie looked one another both knowing they had been thinking the same thing, both knowing they had secretly escaped to that moment when they first met. Tanya looked someplace away out of the window, almost now feeling happy that both of them got to enjoy the light of the morning together.

"It has been quiet some time…since then…" Lorrie was the one to break the silence as she finally moved away from Tanya, who closed her eyes and smiled slightly touching the wound on her head that marked their meeting that day.

"3 years" Colonel Grey said remembering that day as it were yesterday "3 long years…" Tanya said making Lorrie smirk at her with a taunting smile.

"Oh don't go all nostalgic on me Lieutenant Grey!" Lorrie joked mentioning the Grade Tanya had had at the time of their meeting, when she had been a simple soldier among many others and not this Colonel involving herself in governmental classified cases.

"We make a great team!" Lorrie said smiling as she put the equipment away, Tanya chuckled ironically and rolled her eyes as she started heading for the door

"Indeed we do doctor!" she said with a smirk stopping in front of the blonde woman who simply smirked and waved Tanya off, towards the direction she was previously headed to.

"Out now! The hospital has paged me, I need to be there in 10!" she explained and Tanya nodded, looking at the time.

"Want me to give you a ride?" she asked looking forward to giving the doctor a ride to the hospital, as a simple payback for her great help. Lorrie didn't only help around in militaries' emergency rooms, she did such thing voluntarily out of her own visions, but as for a career the petite, young blonde was a skilled trauma surgeon, working for the University Hospital of Brooklyn. The young doctor had been offered various leading positions all around New York's hospital, once her performance in the US military had been reported, however once again Lorrie Grey had chosen to be in direct contact with the patient, by working as a normal doctor on one of hospitals with the most trauma patients in New York. Simply seeing the doctor's reaction as her pager went off, Tanya could tell she cared deeply about the person at the other end of the line, that is why she offered to do her part and escort Lorrie securely to her destination.

However the young doctor shook her head, giving Tanya a polite smile, she moved around the room starting to close all the windows and arranging various medications in respective shelves.

"My car is parked just outside, I'll be fine! So don't worry lieutenant, go ahead and save the world!" she taunted making Tanya roll her eyes and finally open the door.

"As you wish. See you around doctor!" Colonel Grey said going out and closing the door behind herself leaving the young doctor alone in the cold white room. Lorrie Morgan smiled to herself pushing some hair away from her face and putting the medical equipment away for the day, before signing off some papers and leaving everything ready for the next doctor who would come to take up on her shift. She stopped for a moment at the door looking back at the now empty beds. For a second the blonde haired doctor went back to the Deployment times, when the same beds would be full of bleeding soldiers…dying people.

"It won't ever be again…" Lorrie told herself out loud while she turned off the lights and finally closed the door of the emergency room. World was finally in peace, the wars hadn't ceased but they had become more isolated, affecting less and less people every year. Maybe if everything continued in the same pace the remaining conflicts would someday disappear from the face of the earth and this world would finally have peace.

If only it were that easy…

(At the lair)

It was impossible for the first morning's rays to penetrate the thick walls of the sewer home, deep underground, however the loud sound of an alarm clock going off was enough to signal the arrival of the morning, a new day had yet to start.

Leo groaned as kicked the alarm clock away with his leg, not moving from his previous position. With his shell against the cold wall and his legs stretched outside of the bed, Leo had waited for the morning since hours, emotionless…sleepless. He was exhausted, he wanted more than ever to crawl inside his warm and welcoming covers and just rest his eyes, even if only for just a couple of minutes, he wanted to fall into a deep, dreamless sleep and wake up relaxed, ready to conquer whatever the new day was to throw his way. However Leo's bed stood made, the covers barely switching under his weight and his pillow untouched through the night. Lost in between fear and delusions Leonardo had been unable to sleep, and now the annoying sound of that alarm clock just reminded him that he had to get through another day, exhausted and anxious. For the first time in his life the blue clad leader wished to hide away in his room, and avoid the disappointment of his brothers, avoid explaining everything to their father who ha still to know of their engagements last night. He could almost feel his stare on his shell, questioning and confused, the same looks his brothers had thrown his way yesterday.

Yesterday…Leo looked down at the knife still resting in his lap, same as it had during the whole painful hours of that night. He saw the object mock him, stand there completely harmless, yet making Leo feel as if its blade was already penetrating his heart. He almost felt the beatings of his heart grow stronger and his heart start to hurt when he recalled all the events of the night before, all the voices, the pictures, they were making him go crazy.

"I thought you had honor Leonardo!" Karai's voice rang on his ears, for some reasons those words stinging somewhere in the pit of his stomach. Such statement coming from his enemy…no coming from Karai, seemed to almost be true. He almost had honor…

"There is no honor in death!" her voice now rang in his ears, as he once again saw her figure disappear on the night, leaving nothing but that sharp, deadly knife behind.

"Are you crazy?! You almost killed us!" Donnie's words stung his heart deeply. He had let them down…

"What is wrong with you?!" his brothers…he had let them all down.

From where he was standing, Leo slowly felt himself loose grip of his sanity, he felt his mind slip inside the dark, as he snatched the knife from where it was standing and threw it hard across the room, knocking various objects on its route. The knife fell soundly in the ground, and stayed there. For once more Leo felt mocked by that objects…she felt as if she was mocking him, his weakness.

The sound noise must have however aroused some suspicions, as just a couple of seconds later a knock came from his bedroom door before a green head with an orange mask emerged in.

"Dude is everything alright? It sounded like an earthquake just hit your room!" Michelangelo exclaimed standing by the door, while Leonardo didn't move one muscle to face his younger brother. It was as if he wasn't even noticing Mikey's presence around. He kept looking at the knife on the ground with a sour expression on his face, he felt embarrassed, defeated…

"Um…Leo? You okay bro?" Mikey asked finally entering fully on the room, this time attracting Leo's attention. His older brother looked up at him for a moment, his eyes filled with feelings all to familiar to Mikey. His older brother was lost, same as him, and unfortunately there was nothing Mikey could do to help him.

Leo finally sighed putting a hand in between his eyes, as if trying to shake the headache away, before he spoke any word.

"I am fine Mikey!" Leo finally said in a drained voice, as he stood up starting to put his swords back in place ready for some training to shove his thoughts away.

"Okay…you might wanna put those away for a second though!" Michelangelo said making a sign for his swords "Master Splinter wants to have a word with us first."

Those words made Leo want to hang his head down in defeat, what was he going to tell their father? He had spend his whole life trying to make Master Splinter proud, trying to be the perfect son. How would his father feel knowing that Leo was letting this internal fight defeat him, how would he react if he ever found out Leonardo…the leader of their clan, had put himself before his family.

"Okay…" Leo sighed as he put his swords away, and heading towards Michelangelo's direction. He walked right past his brother, without a word while Michelangelo looked at his figure starting to head down the hall.

"It will be okay bro!" Mikey suddenly said not far behind him, making Leonardo pause and look back at the smiling Michelangelo they all knew. He saw the concern and care written all over his brother's face and for a moment he felt his shoulders a bit lighter. Leo nodded towards his brother and made his way down to the first level of their home heading towards the kitchen. He sighed looking at the figures sitting around the dinning table, the quiet sound of a constant chatter echoing his way. Leo recognized the voice without even having to move closer to make out the faces of the ones present in the small kitchen…Donatello…

"…I just don't know what to say father. Everything happened so fast, we just rushed in the battle and without knowing within seconds we all found ourselves surrounded and fighting with all we had to get out alive. Our opponent…" Don was saying but the deep voice of his father made him stop the sentence midway.

"The Foot Caln?" Master Splinter asked as if to confirm what he already know, receiving a confirmative nod from his younger son.

"And the Purple Dragons, we had thought their activities had died down for quiet some time now, however it seems that they are plotting something together with the Foot Clan, something that had to do with what the strange Mercenary we saw last night had stolen. They seemed dead set on retrieving whatever it was that she had taken from them." Donatello was explaining and at that statement Master Splinter rose an eyebrow, sending his hand towards his fury chin, rubbing its edges thoughtful.

"She…?"Master Splinter asked thinking back to all the enemies he and his sons had faced during the years. From what his memory could offer the old master, there were only a handful of personas representing female traits. There was of course the kunoichi his sons continuously found themselves facing, however considering the involvement of Oroku Karai as the lead of the Foot army last night, it was apparent she was not the woman in question. As his son had just laid out, this female Mercenary was apparently their next threat, another enemy…

The wise rat knew however there was always more to a story that primary met the eye, he intended on hearing all sides of this story and drawing a conclusion from all the information he had gathered only at the very end. So he patiently heard the purple clad turtle without making a lot of comments or replies, he simply listened…

"Yes, it was a woman!" Donatello finally confirmed for him with another nod "However someone we had never encountered before, she seemed rather uninterested on clashing with the Foot army, she apparently only fought to get away with her price, whatever hid in that suitcase…" Donatello said the last part almost in a whisper, still bothered by the content of that bag. He hadn't been able to make out anything by just looking at its façade, but there had been something written on the surface of the silver suitcase…something written in a language, different from any he was familiar with. A warning…no maybe an instruction…he didn't know! All he knew was that it couldn't be good, and that considering how desperately the Foot and the Dragons wanted to retrieve it back, it was definitely powerful…powerful and dangerous.

"Don't shoot ya idiots!" Don recalled Hun's definite order to not shoot at their target but why. Their weapons were apparently stronger than any of them had ever imagined, craved and built with a technology foreign for the most, they couldn't have easily blown the girl to pieces but…

Hun seemed to want to protect the little cargo from any strong impact indicating one particular thing in the mind of the genius turtle.

"Explosives…" Donatello thought absent minded, for a moment forgetting where he was and what he was doing. It could be the only explanation, but yet, explosives were something way to common for the street gang as well and the Japanese clan. Why would they so intently want to protect this particular one? Things just failed to make sense…

"Donatello!" Master Splinter called immediately gaining the attention of the purple clad turtle, who seemed to have traveled somewhere far away from that room.

"Huh…" Donatello said blinking quickly finally looking back at Master Splinter before shaking his head and taking a deep breath. Now it was not the time for such thoughts, he could concentrate on finding answers later.

"Yeah…" Donatello continued with a soft sigh, lowering his sight this time and refusing to look at his father "…that…that was everything father. Like I said it all happened too quickly, it finished just as soon as it started and we were pretty lucky to escape without any serious injury however…" Donatello said biting his lip knowing he had to talk to their father about what had been bothering his mind, but at the same time not really wanting to speak up his mind.

"Leo…" Donatello started trying to make a decision as to what he was going to tell their father regarding the weird behavior of their leader last night. A growl came from somewhere on the other side of the kitchen.

"Donnie!" Raph said in a threatening tone, not sharing his younger brother's ideas regarding Leonardo's behavior last night. If anything it had been because of their Fearless Leader's change of heart that he had gotten to kick some skull last night. Unfortunately his malicious tone didn't go unnoticed.

"Something you would like to share Raphael?" Master Splinter asked his son in a scowling voice. Raph was leaning against the kitchen counter with a cup of coffee at hand, but he immediately shifted at the sound of the elderly rat's voice. Pressing his lips closed together he turned around, tightening his grip around the coffee mug.

"Nada'…" he said in a heavy Spanish tone, in visible irony, watching Donatello from the corner of his eyes. Donnie tried to avoid his brother's eyes and continue to look down at the table letting out a shaky breath.

"Leo was…different. He was distracted and…careless!" Donatello finally said not believing the words that were leaving his mouth himself "Leo he…he is…"

Whatever else Donatello might have wanted to say, it was interrupted as two other figures joined the previous ones in the kitchen, and a deep commanding voice followed not long after.

"He is right here Donatello!" Leonardo said in sarcasm entering the kitchen, with Mikey following not far behind. Donatello's eyes widened and immediately he raised his head to look towards Leonardo. Their leader's expression emotionless and unreadable, he seemed calm and collected but Donatello knew his brother far too well, to tell that something was boiling below that cool exterior.

"I didn't mean to say something you hadn't already heard Leo!" Donatello added than in an apologetic manner looking away from Leonardo "You know my opinion about what happened the other night!"

Something seemed to snap within Leonardo, who approached his brother putting his hand firm on top of the dinning table and making Donatello look up to his direction. Leonardo's dark blue eyes burning into his deep brown ones.

"Nothing happened the other night!" Leonardo told his brother in a stern voice "We did our duty! Master Splinter…" Leonardo said taking a deep breath before turning to the fatherly rat who stood silent looking at the scene unfolding itself in front of him, his expression just as unreadable as Leonardo's.

"Master Splinter she was alone!" Leonardo said softening his eyes once his sight fell into the small form of their father. If there was one thing that all the turtles had in common was the respect and loyalty they held towards their father, knowing they would never bring themselves to go against his word or raise their voices above his. That was why Leonardo's tone immediately fell when he faced Splinter, and his sight almost embarrassed longed to look away even as he kept speaking.

"She…it is true that we had no idea whom we were helping, or if it was an enemy or an ally but…" Leonardo took a deep breath again, searching for the will somewhere inside him to continue to speak "…we couldn't just leave her die, they would have killed her Master!" Leonardo said in pleading eyes towards his father. He searched for his support…he searched for forgiveness.

"I couldn't just leave her for dead. My honor…the Bushido teaches us to help when we can, to save the lives of enemy and friends, if we can, for it is not our choice who lives and who perishes away!" Leonardo stated tightening his grip in the table, hic knuckles almost turning white under his skin. He was trying his best to maintain a steady voice but seeing where this conversation was going, it proved an extremely hard task to complete.

"You have always taught us that, and I…" Leonardo couldn't finish his words, for he knew it would all be a lie. There was no code or Bushido justifying his actions that night, he had done nothing for honor nor for the lessons of their father. Instead everything he had done, he owed it to his desire…to his curiosity…to his fears and delusions. His soul and mind had longed to know who she was, and why he had gotten to meet her before ever seeing her…it still did! That girl bearing bright emerald eyes and long brown silky hair…that soldier…that thief!

"It is true my son!" Master Splinter finally said moving from his place on the table to come and stand in front of Leonardo. He looked up at his son in compassion but at the same time there was another feeling mixed in his eyes, too hard to detect. For a moment Leonardo feared is disappointment was reflected in his elderly eyes., unfortunately he didn't have the will to ask and he could only guess…he was about to find out.

"I have indeed taught you to help the ones in need, the be heroes for this world, even if it will never appreciate you as one. I have taught you the code of Honor, the Bushido, what it means to help and forgive but at the same time…" Master Splinter said looking up at Leonardo and frowning slightly as he stared deep into his son's irises "…I have taught you to be a leader Leonardo, my son. I have taught you that family comes above all, secretly believing that you would know when it was time to follow your honor and when it was the time to put your family above all. I have trusted in your hands the lives of what I hold most dear! You and your brothers, and believe me my son I know you well enough to understand you think no differently from me!" Master splinter said making Leonardo look down in widened eyes, feeling his heart beat fast, in fear, almost opening a way out of his chest.

What did Master Splinter mean…

"I doubt Honor was the only reason that made you stray from your leadership last night, my son!" Master Splinter said closing his eyes, whispering that last part in such a low voice only the blue clad turtle could hear. In that tone Leonardo heard what he feared the most…disappointment!

He could feel the sides of his mask become wet as tears threatened to escape his forever collected eyes and for a moment he hated her. He hated those emerald green eyes more than ever before, for they had made him stray away from his family. They had induced this tone on his father's voice.

"I…" Leonardo said trying to find the words, only to understand he had no right to be angry at anyone but himself. It was him…it had been all him…

"I apologize Master!" Leonardo finally said bowing his head lightly towards his master.

Splinter looked at his son with a fatherly concern, instead of the stern stare of a master, as much as Leonardo was the leader of their Clan, he was still his son and from what the elderly rat could understand…he was lost.

Slowly Master Splinter turned away refusing to look at his apologetic son.

"Were you seen?" Master Splinter finally asked, already knowing the answer of such question but still wanting to hear it come from his son. Slowly he saw how the colors on his son's face changed themselves as Leonardo paled. He felt his forehead going cold, not knowing what to tell his father. The answer was visible in his face, but he couldn't bring himself to speak it out loud.

"Masta Splinter…" Raphael started quietly wanting to speak in his brother's behalf. He wanted to explain for their father that it would have been close to impossible for them to encounter the foot and not be seen, the had to physically fight their opponent upon every meeting and to achieve that they would of course have to come into light.

However Master Splinter seemed less than interested in his explanation, as he rose his paw to stop Raphael from speaking further and refusing to take his eyes off from Leonardo.

"My son…were you seen?" Master splinter asked again and this time the leader of their small clan closed his eyes shut and let out a shaky breath.

"Yes, Master " Leonardo finally said quietly knowing the disappointed look that came to rest on his father's face, without even having to raise his head to look at him.

Master Splinter sighed, closing his eyes and letting his head rest between his long fury finger. At first he didn't say anything but after some short minutes his self-made walking stick started to click softly in the ground and he walked away.

"I will have to meditate on the situation some more!" Master Splinter said moving away from them, before making a gesture for his sons to follow him, while he tried to sound as calm and collected as he could muster.

"For now however…you all have training to attend to!" he said making his way towards the Dojo first while his sons remained back on the kitchen.

Donatello stood up looking at Leonardo who was still bowing slightly, his eyes hopelessly looking on the ground. Mikey stared at their older brother with a concerned and worried face, while sadness was more than visible in his always happy eyes.

"Leo…" Mikey started but a hand on his shoulder stopped him from saying anything further.

"Let's go bonehead! Masta' Spliter is waitin' for us!" Raph said patting his brother on the shoulder and making his way first towards the Dojo. Michelangelo took one last look at his brother, before heading after Raphael.

For a moment there was silence, before Donatello broke it approaching Leo who slowly started to move away.

"Leo I didn't…" Donatello started but Leonardo was looking at another direction, staring at something far away from that room.

"Save it Don!" Donatello said in a quiet tone, not sounding angry but at the same time not showing any sign of closeness "It was not your fault!" he finally said making his way towards the Dojo where Master Splinter was standing in front of Mikey and Raph. His two brothers stood in front of each-other on a sparring position, waiting for Master Splinter's command.

Leo started to make his way towards his brothers only to be stopped midway as Master Splinter laid his hand in front of him and pointed at the far away direction of the room.

"Not today Leonardo!" Master Splinter said in a commanding tone. As much as he loved his son, he wanted to make sure the events of last night stayed engraved on Leonardo's mind, and he stayed true to his family and heart, instead of letting violent thoughts lead him in the battle.

"I want you over there, you have 10 Minutes and 30 Seconds to finish 120 push up!" Master Splinter said looking straight at Leo.

Leonardo had never dreaded training before, however hearing his father's tone and command he felt something twinge deep in his body. All of a sudden he became way to aware of his lack of sleep and the wounds of last night's battle, but none of them hurt more than the wound his father's stare had left on him, it had almost dug a hole on Leonardo's body. The blue clad turtle didn't say anything as he walked to the other side of the Dojo positioning himself on his knees and arms and clenching his jaw as he started to push himself up off the ground and then back towards it.

"Hajime!" Master Splinter commanded signaling for him to start and without further question or remark Leonardo did.

"1,2,3…" Leonardo started counting out loud not even paying attention to the time anymore. His head was so overloaded filled with concerns, that his physical pain seemed almost trivial in comparison. However it appeared that such distraction didn't go unnoticed.

Master Splinter observed his son content, and knew him well enough to understand Leonardo's mind and soul were far away from that room, his body instinctively following his commands but his thoughts…traveling in far away lands. At such sight the fatherly rat frowned, having Leonardo work his body to exhaustion without marking his actions was not his intention and he was about to have the situation change.

"Donatello, why don't you help your brother?" Mater Splinter asked making Donnie blink from his place and look towards their master confused.

"Ho…how Master?" Donatello asked as Master Splinter gestured for him to approach his brother. Donatello was now looking down at Leonardo doing his push ups with no words, sweat dripping of his forehead into the ground, staining it like blood drops.

"On his shell Donatello! Your brother needs to be aware of the extra weight he carries on his shoulders!" Master Splinter said making Donatello snap around and look at him in shock. Leonardo stopped midway through his push up and tried to look up at his master, exhaustion and weariness visible on every line on his face. Master Splinter showed no sign of emotion in his face and refused to look back at Leonardo, focusing his sight instead at Donatello.

"Bu…but Master Splinter!" Michelangelo said also stopping his sparring with Raph. Master Splinter didn't pay him any attention, and Raph didn't loose a second to swipe his legs below Michelangelo's making his younger brother fall heavily on the ground. That was Mikey's cue to shut up and carry on with his training, while both brothers stole hidden glimpses towards their leader.

Donatello was looking down at Leonardo undecided. True he had been angry at his brother, but never had Donatello wished to punish Leonardo in this way. Now he was feeling dread in his heart for having ever expressed his personal concerns to Master Splinter, who seemed to believe Leo deserved some kind of lesson. He knew their father's words were hurting Leonardo far more than the simple exercise no matter how harsh it could be. He saw Leonardo look up at him for a moment, determination and sadness visible in his eyes as he nodded weakly towards his direction before stopping himself midair, supporting his body frame up on his trembling arms.

"Do it!" he told his brother quietly waiting. If this was what he had to do to prove Master Splinter of his reasons and determination, then he would pull through until the end, no matter how much it hurt.

Donatello gulped heavily before sighing and pressing down on Leonardo's shell with his whole weight, watching how his brother's limbs trembled under his weight. He bit his lips not sure if he even needed to ask Leonardo in case it was to much. Fortunately not to long after Leonardo started to push himself up and down towards the ground again, counting out loud. Each number coming out of his mouth paining his brother more than he would ever know.

"1…2…3…" Leo started again, suffering his punishment slowly while the minutes passed painfully.

I am sorry…I am sorry if I hurt any of you, my father…my brothers…you stranger…I am sorry for I have been weak! Those were the only thoughts persisting on Leonardo's mind as he kept on pushing until he redeemed the sins of last night, until he proved himself he was not weak.

(Military Base New York)

"98…99…100…and in position!" a commanding male voice echoed through the empty grounds of an apparently deserted area, where many other men dressed in military attires were striving to finish their daily training, and finally retreat of the day. Sweat dripping off their hair, muscles ripping from their shirts, exhaustion visible on their faces but their will and soul still strongly holding on until the end.

That was what Colonel Grey observed as she stood back, sitting in the passenger's side of a military jeep, enjoying the sight of young men and women thriving to serve their country rightfully. When she looked even upon the youngest of her cadets she could proudly say she saw no spoiled teenagers afraid to break a sweat, she saw no selfish girl looking after their hairs and nail, no young boys following around the next girl on the street but matured men and women taking the safety of their loved ones in their own hands and working to become better and fulfill the duties the people of this country…no of this world…deemed necessary. In a way she saw what was soon to become a family, she knew from experience it wouldn't be long before bonds started to form between these young soldiers and they found love and care on each-other's company. Tanya could only hope they would be ready to protect one another when the time came…

With those thoughts playing on her head Colonel Grey saw her Officer and his assistant put an end to today's training and that was her cue to approach. Slowly she made her way out of the car and approached the group of people now positioning themselves to retreat to their base, and be able to finally take some rest before they did everything all over again.

"Nice work Officer Lavrov, wouldn't have done it better myself!" Tanya said standing just a few feet away from the man commanding the troops. Immediately the trained ears, recognized her voice and the man turned to her direction with a swift move, saluting the colonel officially.

"Colonel Grey…" Officer Lavrov said in surprise not expecting his old friend to join their training that morning. The man was somewhere in his late thirties, visibly a tad older than the young Colonel, with dirty blonde hair and deep brown eyes. The scars and roughness of his face noting it was not his first day on the job. The man seemed apparently stern and distanced, but upon glancing on to the young colonel his stiff expression softened, and a playful smile played on his lips. Officer Lavrov had once been part of Colonel Grey's family…the family you can only find in between the rangs of the military.

Officer Lavrov seemed to stop a moment and stare at the figure of the young colonel, but soon after he gathered his composure and turned towards his troops with a stern look on his face.

"Cadets salute the Colonel!" he ordered while all the soldiers hurried to formally salute the young Colonel who simply nodded saluting back.

"Dismissed! You did good today, you should be proud of yourselves!" Colonel Grey told the cadets finally, noticing the happiness in their expression as they received such compliment from someone of a high rank.

"Sir, yes sir!" the cadets all screamed in one voice, before following her orders and forming a line, leading themselves away from the area and into the jeeps which were to take them back at the base, for the rest of the evening. Colonel Grey smirked lightly watching them leave and didn't say anything, she could feel the officer's eyes on her and that was only confirmed when his commanding voice followed.

"You could leave now Thomas, we are done for today!" he told the young assistant who stood by his side. The young man simply saluted him and headed with the rest of the troops leaving the two old friends alone to look at the now completely deserted area in silence. The sun was setting behind the horizon and the sky seemed like it was on fire. Red, orange and yellow dancing together into flames, making everything seem so bright. Even her eyes seemed to shine a tad brighter under such light. Tanya was looking somewhere far away, feeling the cold of the November air engulf her body despite the setting sun…slowly night was approaching.

"Makes you remember the old times…" Tanya finally told the other man standing there with her while her eyes stood on the same point, focused on that burning horizon. A soft chuckle came from behind her, followed by stops digging the sign, signaling that the other body was approaching hers.

"Yeah…" the stern voice came from behind her "…minus the bombs and explosions…and screams…" he counted ironically making Tanya roll her eyes and shrug.

"Well, you know what they say! You can't have everything!" Tanya stated finally turning to see the man straight in his eyes. The older man nodded and looked down at her folding his arms.

"You can't indeed…" he said playing along with her for awhile.

Silence took over them again, now with Tanya looking at him and the officer looking far away apparently lost on his own thoughts. His brown eyes searching for something as well, replaying scenes of another time in his head. However it didn't take long before he gave up and closed his eyes with a soft sigh.

"Why are you here Tanya?" the man asked making the young Colonel look away at the mentioning of her name. The acknowledgement throwing her somewhat off guard.

"Just monthly reports…" she said as she slowly turned her back to the sun and started to walk away towards the direction of the jeep. The men turned towards her as well raising an eyebrow, immediately able to look through her words.

"Monthly reports?" he asked almost suspicious before nodding "Well in that case I can have my assistant bring you over the documentation for every single cadet, on your desk by tomorrow morning…but…" he said moving towards her as she started to get on the passenger's seat on the car and looked back at him.

"I believe after so many years in duty you already knew you didn't need to come here to request me that so why are you really here Tanya?" Officer Lavrov asked and the woman stood silent now comfortably settling herself on the jeep and gesturing at the driver's seat beside her.

"Care for a drive…" she told him all of a sudden playing a small smile on her face "…Garrett?" she then added using his name to add some familiarity to his conversation.

Garrett sighed and shrugged jumping beside her on the driver's seat, almost mocking her gestures.

"I will play along Tanya!" he said starting the car, but not driving before looking at her pointedly "But you will also have to explain yourself. I haven't seen you in months, we were all waiting for deployment, but the order never came, I had no idea what to think, when all of a sudden I was put on training duty, your duty!" Garrett exclaimed looking at Tanya who just listened carefully.

"You only show up one beautiful day to tell all of us you will not be overseeing the troops progress for awhile and continue to handle formalities without even consulting with me!" Garrett said not starting the car yet "The fuck Tanya! We've had each-other's back since years! Don't just show up like a ghost, if there's trouble just let me know and…"

"Drive Garrett!" Tanya suddenly ordered making the officer look at her quietly, knowing it would be no use to continue his previous statement and that now it was her turn to talk. In awhile he obliged and without another word started to drive to the direction of the base, wondering what the young Colonel had to offer him.

Tanya didn't speak right away, making sure they were far away from the training ground, for any cameras or anyone to catch sight of their small conversation. She simply looked out, letting the wind caress her long hair gently, and closed her eyes thinking about what she wanted to say.

Finally when trees and leaves started to block the views of both the training grounds and the base Tanya finally opened her eyes.

"Stop!" she told Garrett, who startled pressed on the braked while Tanya looked at him with a determined expression on her face. He seemed like he wanted to say something, but before he could even open his mouth Tanya spoke.

"I have been transferred on governmental duty, as part of a classified military organization. That is why I haven't been around, they have required my full attention and my full devotion. They have tasks…which only trained soldiers can pull through, the tasks have to be fulfilled alone, no groups allowed to associate and no back ups. The duration of my contract with them is undetermined, as long as it takes to finish the mission I guess…" Tanya said leaning back and putting a hand on her temples, trying not to look at the confused expression of her face "…at first I was excited to be a part of all this, to be able to help people in ways others couldn't but last night…I believe there is more to these people that we have been told, that this mission is not only for the protection of humanity..." Tanya said only to bring more shock on Garett's way.

"Wow,wow Tanya hold the horses. What organization, what missions…wha…what people? You lost me!" Garrett said and Tanya sighed knowing however that there wasn't much she could give her friend.

"It is classified information! However I am allowed to tell you that during the time that these arrangements take place, we will not be deployed!" Tanya said giving Garrett a soft smile "You won't have to leave you family, your wife, your son…No one will have to!" Tanya finished with a somewhat relieved sigh.

Garrett looked at her in pure shock, trying his best to understand what his friend had gotten herself into, but knowing that whatever it was, would be bigger than whatever his mind could imagine right now.

"Tanya…" Garrett said closing his eyes and sighing deeply. He thought about what to say next,, he wanted to shout at her, to scold her but at the same time he could understand why she had done it. If there was anything he as a leader could do to keep his troops near his families, safe and sound he would do it. He could see clearly every thought that had gone through the Colonel's head as she had accepted to become a governmental tool and he couldn't have been thankful. However at the same time he couldn't allow his friend to throw herself in the midst of danger alone, not without trying to help her at least.

"Tell me! How can I help you?" Garrett asked while Tanya sighed narrowing her eyes and looking up at him with an unreadable expression on her face.

"I can not tell you much about the organization or its people!" Tanya stated clearly, not willing to put her friend on danger because of the EPF knowledge, yet requiring his help on a certain matter. "However I can give you one name…" she almost looked around to make sure no one was there before she spoke the ominous name in a low, barely hearable tone.

"Agent Bishop…John Bishop!" she said frowning "Your connections could be enough to give me anything on the man. I need to know who he is and how he came to be…" Tanya said biting her lower lip as she remembered the cold face and the eyes hidden behind those shades.

"Find me anything you can, but don't put yourself in danger!" she said sighing finally turning front to face the road "The man is dangerous, and that is why I need to know who exactly he is!" Tanya explained while her friend listened intently. Garrett finally turned forward as well, putting both of his hand on the wheel, gripping it tightly.

"I'll see what I can do!" he said only to have his shoulder fall on defeat while he lowered his head on the wheel, feeling the coldness cool down his thoughts.

"Just promise me you will be careful Colonel!" he pleaded his friend. Colonel Grey didn't look at him as she nodded, placing a hand below her chin while she contemplated on whether she could even keep such promise.

"I promise…" her words were soft, filled with care. Nothing more was left to be said and as the car started to drive away, their hidden conversation plunged down the horizon together with the disappearing sun.

(At the Lair)

Mikey threw himself on the couch as they emerged from the Dojo, not even caring about the sweat and smell originating from his skin. He would take care of the shower later, when some of the muscles in his body had ceased to hurt like hell. Raphael followed right after, heading for the kitchen to grab a beer off the fridge and toss it open in no time.

"Ah…nothin' like a cold beer afta trainin'!" he said pouring the liquid in his mouth, downing it all at once. The red clad turtle tried to avoid the dark aura emitting from Donatello and Leonardo as they stepped out of the Dojo. Donnie having a guilty expression on his face, and Leonardo walking out almost dead, trying to keep himself up on his feet.

The blue clad turtle didn't say anything as he walked past Mikey, heading directly for the stairs leading up to his room.

Those push ups Master Splinter had him do had been just the beginning, for the past 3 hours Leonardo had run, dodged and been hit more than ever in his life, and it was needless to say the energy was drained from his body, leaving him seem like nothing more but a walking corpse. He could notice the concerned look of his brothers as he walked by, the guilty expression on Donatello's face…but for the moment all of those things seemed so far away to him. He only wished to lay down, and prayed silently to whatever god there was, that he were way too tired to dream tonight.

"Leo…" he heard Donatello finally call behind him but Leonardo didn't even flinch at the mentioning of his name. Instead he ghostly walked forward, entering his room and closing the door behind himself letting his little brother stare at the door in pure guilt and fear.

A slow clap came from the kitchen area, and Donatello turned to see Raph mocking him with a clap of the hands.

"Nicely done genius!"Raph said popping another beer can opened while looking at the purple clad turtle "Did ya figure out talkin oughta help da Fearless, all by yerself or did ya have some help! And we thought he was da bright one Mike!" Raph said in irony sitting in one of the kitchen chairs apparently very willing to express his opinion right there and then.

"Care to elaborate Raph?" Donatello asked with an annoyed expression in his face, crossing his arms and starting to walk to Raphael's direction. Raph didn't even move from his place on his chair to talk to his brother, he simply laid back almost relaxed and shrugged.

"If you have something to say it, just spit it out Raph!" Donatello said coming to stay right in front of his older brother who smirked at the reaction, finally looking up at the smart turtle.

"Guys, c'mon, haven't we had enough of these fight for one day. It hasn't even been 24 hours dudes!" Mikey complained from the couch shoving a pillow up his head. He didn't know and couldn't point out what was wrong with his brothers lately, but since quiet some time they had all been walking on a thin rope, threatening to fall and loose their patience on one another at any given second. The past two days were simply an example to the hell this sewer home had become.

Raph however didn't seem to mind, he was maybe the only one enjoying the sparks flying between his brothers and the occasional fights that would burst between them. Lacking all the action topside, this seemed to be the only place he could get his muscles moving and his blood pumping, but of course even that wasn't enough. During his whole life up to that point, Raphael never remembered having been this bored before, at the same time he had never seen his brothers so divided and confused, still that thought didn't stop him from his next remark.

"Why should I?" Raph asked Donnie smirking "We hav ya to talk for all of us!" Raph said pushing Donnie over the edge. The purple clad turtle slammed his fist on the table, looking at Raphael in pure anger.

"So it is my fault?" Donnatello asked his brother straight on, his voice growing louder "It is my fault I care for our wellbeing, that I actually give a shit if anything happens to any of you? Do you think I haven't been itching for a fight?! Well I have Raphael! Sitting around and doing nothing is making my head explode as well, but that doesn't mean I want us to jump at the first fight we see getting ourselves kill!"

Raph actually stopped in his place for a moment looking at his younger brother almost in curiosity. It was not like Donnie to get angry and it was less like Donnie to scream…

For a moment Raphael took the time to look into his brother's eyes noticing his troubled soul through them, and maybe that was what made Raphael retreat first, for what ought to have been the first time he walked away form a fight.

"I ain't saying it was yer fault!" Raphael said with his back turned to his brother "But it was not yer place to speak for Leo! So ya better get the stick outta yer ass and start actin normal! Cus I ain't takin more of yer shit!" Raph finished now heading towards the exit of the layer blocking out whatever Donnie told him.

"Where the shell are you going?" he hear the last part of his brother's question and simply waved back nonchalant, closing the door behind himself.

"Feel free to rat me out ta Splinter!" he said in irony before the door closed. Left in the loneliness of the sewers Raphael left out a relieved breath and turned towards the darkness with a smirk on his face.

"Let da show begin!" he said before breaking on a run and climbing up the nearest manhole.

He stood like a dark spirit hidden away in the shadows of the building, looking down to the never sleeping city with observing eyes. His muscles tense, like those of an animal waiting to attack its prey, his eyes filled with a burning desire to leap forward and down on the streets, walk in between these humans and show them really what they failed to see from so down below. How he wanted to be free, even if for one night to be able to interact with humans without having to be worried about turning into a science experiment, without taking care to stay in the shadows…to stay hidden. He was tired of this, he was tired of being a freak. No one would ever know how much Raphael wanted to be released from these chains binding him to a life of secrets just because of how he looked. He had no desire to be accepted as a hero, he wasn't looking for acceptance, friendship or love…he just needed tolerance, from them, the humans. Unfortunately, that could never come to be.

To all the people walking down the streets below himself, he was nothing more than that…a shadow, watching over them from the darkness, their secret protector. To whatever smug that roamed the same streets and threatened to cause any hard to the people he so closely observed…he was bad news. He was one of those "people", fools who sacrificed themselves for the sake of civils, someone who would lend a helping hand from the dark, but disappear before he could receive any form of gratitude, he would get hurt, his body sometime beaten up so close to death while the people he protected ran free, but he didn't mind, as long as it gave him something to do and look forward to. He liked to convince himself that he wasn't so pathetic, that he wasn't doing this for the people but rather from the action that he got out of all his little rendezvous, but the truth laid forth loud and clear…this hero in green flesh would throw his life in a dumpster if it meant saving someone innocent.

Raphael was a vigilante, waiting for the next criminal to run his way, the next victim whose life he could save. That was mainly why he now stood at the edge of that roof looking down at the city with what appeared to be a small radio by his side, the device being manually connected to the police intercoms, notifying the red-clad turtle for any disturbance taking place in the city.

He chose a way different than his brother when it came to patrolling the streets and looking after the civils, instead of scanning around the area and trying to find trouble on his own, Raphael waited for trouble to come his way and it almost always did even when his brothers thoughts the nights were slow and boring, something would always happen. He did this always, escape once everyone was asleep just to stand by himself at the edge of the roof and if lucky get to beat some thugs, to him this was the only escape route reality offered. He didn't have to wait long though, as many nights before,distress came his way.

"…reported arson in Grand St, Brooklyn, 11211. B. Firefighters and patrols blocked on the way, attention all patrols…" a voice spoke clear from the intercom and that was Raphael's cue. A smirk broke through his face and he moved from his hiding spot cracking the bones on his neck soundly, before breaking on a sprint and jumping from one roof to another. Considering he usually hung out around Brooklyn he wasn't all that far from the reported address, and with a little bit luck he would be in and out before the police or anybody else came his way.

He was less than one block away when the smoke mixed in the cold October air hit his nostrils hard, he was drawing closer…

It didn't take him long to recognize the light from the fire dancing in between the shadows of the night while it engulfed the first floor of an apparently abandoned building. Raphael sighed with himself shaking his head as he noticed a couple of figures starting to run away from the scene of the crime. At least there wouldn't be ay victims inside the place and he could just follow these scums.

With a swift jump Raph landed in the nearest fire escape and made his way down towards the ground, landing right in front of the burning building and blocking the way of the arsoners.

"Nobody taught ya scums not ta play with fire?!" Raphael asked standing in the shadow, while the light from the fire danced slightly upon his green skin, giving his figure an even more intimidating look. Upon coming across his outline the three culprits stopped in their tracks, standing unmoving in front of the Vigilante.

"Get outta here pal, or we gonna break that skull of yers!" one of the three boys spoke. None of them seemed to be older than teenagers and that was what made Raph sigh in the first place, he knew these young criminals were in over their head. It didn't take him long to notice the dragon tattoos in their faces, wrists and arms causing a sickening knot to tie itself inside his stomach while the fire of fury took life from deep within him. His hands gathered in two large fists as he looked at the thugs and smirked from his place. Raphael disappeared deeper in the shadows but not before making a sign to his opponent to come and get him.

"Let's see what ya have to offer little bastards!" Raphael said and at that remark all three of them lunged forward to him, chains and bats raised above their heads ready to meet their opponent. Such childish stance made Raphael almost dread fighting them, knowing they would be no match for him.

I bet 50 seconds… Raphael thought with himself wondering how long his new friends would stand against himself in a fight. He was however soon to find out as the first one attempted a hit aiming for his jaw only to have a punch land right in his stomach, sending the young boy grunting down in the ground. The two others attempted to attack together but Raphael easily disarmed them kicking one right across the face before grabbing the other one and flipping him over towards the burning building. The boy landed with a loud thud, while his two other friends went unconscious. Raphael started to head his direction to finish what he started, the light from the fire dancing upon his skin once more, showing faint images of himself. The man pushed himself back on the ground looking terrified up at the dark figure who had just knocked his two friends out dead on the alley beside the burning building. His figure was large…much to large to be a normal person, and with what the dim light allowed him to see, the guy was wearing some kind of green leather costume or…

"Wha…what are you?" the man asked terrified while Raphael approached, smirking from somewhere in the darkness.

"Yer nightmare pal!" he answered ready to lead forward and knock this one out as well, only to stop dead on his tracks when a piercing scream echoed through the night from inside the burning building. Raphael narrowed his eyes and looked down at the man in front of him with a disgusted look settled on his face.

"Are there people inside?" Raphael asked in a commanding tone but the guy didn't answer. Without loosing a second Raphael grabbed the man from his neck raising him up and always near the flames of the burning building.

"Answer me ya little brat, or I will make sure someone does burn dere inside t'night!" he yelled gripping tighter, threatening to throw him inside the flames.

Choking and terrified the man held Raphael's arm, in a pleading manner, his lips shaking in fear as he tried to make out some words.

"B…boy…" he spoke finally trying mumbling, feeling his last breath slip away "…f…first floor!"

At the revelation Raphael's eyes grew wide and he shoved the thug away mentally cursing himself when he saw the flames form the burning building threatening to draw to close to him. The screams had stopped and the fellow Raph had just held on his grip could very well be lying, but the temperamental turtle wasn't about to take any chances. If there were somebody inside he was about to make damn sure they got out.

"Fuck this!" Raph exclaimed before he leapt into the fire escape of the third floor and breaking a window he made his way inside the burning building.

The first thing that greeted him inside the building was heat, tremendous heat that felt like could boil his skin from the distance. Then came the smoke, it burned his eyes and attacked his lungs vigorously. Raphael coughed heavily, attempting to cover his face with his hand, so that the heat and smoke wouldn't knock him unconscious. However, when you had three thick fingers covering your eyes, scanning his surroundings for a possibly burning body provided a harder task than imagined.

"Is anybody here?" Raph yelled still coughing vigorously, he couldn't stay there for much longer without being knocked unconscious from the smoke "Answer me dammit, unless ya want to get fried pal!" Rapha tried again this time louder, pushing past the rubbles on the floor and moving his head from side to side in a desperate attempt to see.

Suddenly, from the sound of the flames and crumbling ceiling, a voice rose making Rapha stop dead in his tracks. The voice was weak, muffled, barely hearable but his Ninja Training made it possible for the quietest sound to catch his ear. That is how Raph spun around and ran towards an opening on the room, where a body had crumbled on a corner, trying to keep the flames away from himself.

"H…help…ple…" soft pleas escaped the lips of the young boy crunching in front of the giant turtle, barely conscious. His face was covered in dirt and his clothes seemed to have been torned or burnt from the flames, but even behind all the damage it was easy for Raphael to say he was a mere victim of this crime, and no culprit. This boy was no older than eleven, maybe twelve, and even with the ragged clothes and dirt Raph could easily tell, the kid had been well taken care of up until that point. This child was no Dragon…

"Hang on!" Raph exclaimed while he leapt forward and scooped the child in his arms, looking around for a way out. The flames had now enveloped the whole main room and had advanced up to that window he had used as an entrance, the falling ceiling was blocking the main entrance leaving Raphael and the young boy trapped in a corner with the burning flames drawing near with each second.

"Fuck…we're trapped!" Raphael cursed out loud coughing vigorously. His dark green eyes were moving fast, checking every inch of that room for any escape route but between the rumbles and the heat, the options were rather limited. His eyes stopped to examine a window on the opposite direction of his position, unfortunately this one didn't lead to any fire escape. Instead it led towards a freefall of 2 floors directly to the hard pavement, a possible death sentence Raphael didn't wish to succumb to. He finally closed his eyes and tried his best to slow his breathing by remembering every lesson Master Splinter had taught them in regard of lowering the oxygen intake of their bodies in times of need, he just wished he had paid more attention to his master's instructions now.

Soon however Raphael was forcefully dragged away from his thoughts as a pair of slim, fragile arms surrounded his neck and a dirt covered face snuggled closer his plastron. Feeling the soft breaths of the child on his neck made Raphael loose any drop of concentration he had left in his body, his breath was soft and shaky, his lips slightly parted as he tried to filtrate that little oxygen left in the smoke filled air. Raphael could instantly tell as he looked down to the small form resting in his arms, that child was dying and if there were any chance left for the young boy to survive it depended on whatever action he took next.

Raph looked back towards the window and tightened his grip on the boy.

"Damn kid…" Raph said smirking in defeat as he felt the small fingers hold onto his neck for dear life. It was a gesture as simple as that, which made Raph understand he would be willing to do anything, to get that child out of danger.

Without a second thought of comprehension Raphael sprinted through the room, running through the burning flames and jumping right into the window he had considered a death sentence just seconds before. Before he knew…they were falling…

(University Hospital of Brooklyn)

Her pager beeped loudly as she ran in between the almost empty corridors of the hospital, her name still echoed in the loudspeakers hidden on the white walls even though they had already sent the message through to her.

"…Doctor Morgan is requested to the ER immediately, Doctor Morgan…" as if two nurses running behind her and the pager beeping her ears off weren't enough to make Lorrie Morgan understand she was needed ASAP in the Emergency Room, the new Hospital Policy ,to notify these kind of Emergencies through loudspeakers, was doing a good job alarming not only her but also the rest of the patients, who were now wondering what was the big emergency that had gotten all the doctors worked up like that.

"Everyone back into their beds please!" Lorrie notified the panicked patients as she entered the ER finally slowing down her step and fixing her white coat while she hurried towards the entrance where a group of nurses were gathered. She lost no time, pushing through the doors and examining the scene in front of her.

"Somebody fill me in!" Doctor Morgan instructed as she tied her long blonde hair up in a messy ponytail and rushed to the stretcher beside one of their ambulances, where a young boy lay unconscious. One of the nurses stepped out from the crowd and approached the young doctor who lost no time to start checking the vitals of the child.

"Jane Doe, male, seeming around eleven to twelve years old. Appeared before exactly 6 minutes. Our ambulances didn't bring him here and nobody here seems to know the boy, so we still have no idea where he came form!" the nurse seemed to be nervous as she spoke even though she had to full attention of the doctor.

"We can not tell the full extend of his wounds, but there seems to be slight burn wounds on the left side of his body associated with possible smoke inhalation and concussion! I could not tell you more Doctor!" the nurse said and the blonde haired doctor gave a reassuring wound.

Lorrie examined the child closely. He was visibly victim on a burning accident but through the ragged clothes and dirtied skin, that was just about all the young doctor could tell.

"Get him on a new stretcher and inside, notify the Burn-Unit, tell them we are coming with severe Trauma. I need the MRI and CAT-Scan ready and free by the time we have him cleaned up!" the doctor instructed in a commanding voice, and with that the crowd was scattered. Two of the nurses maneuvered the boy into a new stretcher and pushed him inside the building, leaving the young doctor alone in the now quiet night.

However, Lorrie's spirit was all but quiet. This was no first for their hospital, almost every other night patients would show up out of nowhere, standing in front of the ER entrance with various wounds. Unfortunately no body seemed to be there to claim the bodies, they were just dumped there and would eventually be identified once the patients woke up but this time was different…This time there was a child at hand, someone who wouldn't be able to provide the young doctor with the same information an adult would, even if a the best case scenario he woke up right in that moment.

Lorrie let out a frustrated sigh, she had thought she didn't care who saved and brought these patients to her door as long as these people were helped and brought to them for further attention, but this time…only this once something snapped inside the doctor's chest.

Lorrie Morgan found herself looking around in longing, searching for any sign…anything which could point her to the direction of the mysterious savior of these people. Unfortunately it didn't take her long to realize that whoever this person was, he or she had no intention on making their presence known.

It was only for a moment…only for a short second Lorrie Morgan thought she saw something red flash from the rooftop above giving her heart a slight shot of hope, but before she could examine further the figure had disappeared, letting her no other choice but to look away in confusion. Her shoulders sank in disappointment and fear, but with a soft breath of the cold night hair she decided to replace those feelings by determination.

Someone was out there, and they were saving and protecting these people long enough to bring them to her. She wasn't about to let any of them down…

"Thank you…I will take it form here!" Lorrie whispered to no one but the darkness of that night before rushing inside to tend her patient.

Even though they might never come to know…that was the first time Doctor Lorrie Morgan addressed Raphael Hamato, it was the first time their worlds somehow crushed in one.

So did you like the first unofficial "Encounter" between the young Doctor and one of the turtles? I was so excited while writing that one and I am so happy to finally be able to put it out there.

Anyway I really hope that you have enjoyed this chapter, and I look forward to your kind words or criticisms so please whatever your thoughts are let me know in the review section below. Thank you for reading this chapter!

Until next time...See you guys soon!