(BETA) This Story has not been read through thoroughly so there will be some lingering mistakes, apologies! This will be rectified once read though...when I have time... (BETA)

OTHERWISE ENJOY!

This is my second story posted so be gentle, I've not written in a long time...

xxx

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Her body felt heavy, like someone was holding her down, her muscles contort like lead. Taking in a heavy breath she started to open her eyes, blinking frantically from the new light that smothered her eyes. Her brow furrowed and the tense feeling in her head, feeling like this is the first time she's ever woken up. She tried moving her arms, moving them up so she could brace herself up on her elbows moving slowly, she tried to move her legs, they were the most painful.

She pushed with every once of energy she had left in her to sit herself up, bringing a hand to the side of her head she groaned in pain.

"Goddammit…" She grumbled. She hissed when she tried to move her right leg, her ankle screaming in pain. Looking down at it, her lips parted and her brow furrowed. It was bandaged, her shows had been taken off and her foot had been wrapped in a cotton bandage.

"But, how the-" She cut herself off when her eyes started to adjust to what she was seeing. Her legs were bare too, all the way up to her thighs; she looked down at herself to see she had been disrobed down to her underwear and her tank top.

Unsure how to react, she decided to take in her surrounding to distract her half naked state; the first thing she noticed, was that she had no idea where she was.

Brick walls, tunnels that lead to different areas around the circular room, it was like a junction of the sewer tunnels. But…then she saw furniture, sofas around a TV, a-is that a kitchen? Someone lives here... It wasn't a question. It was obvious she was not alone whoever she was. Her eyes widened, sudden flashes of what had happened to her before she woke up here. The figure that clamped something to her mouth, the soft material, her own breath, her limp body being carried. She remembered opening her eyes at small intervals, seeing glimpses of the tunnels, smelling the musky air. Then she realised she couldn't smell it anymore, the sewer stench that burnt her nostrils and throat. Her throat. She lifted a hand to her throat and massaged her neck.

She swallowed hard, it only hurt it more, and it was so dry. She needed water.

Looking over to what was supposedly a kitchen she tried to swivel her body, she cringed and hissed in pain until her legs dangled off the edge of, what seemed to be a medic bed. The gravity pulling on her sore ankle, she braced her hands on the edge of the bed and sat there for a moment to regain balance of herself. Preparing herself to get down, she slowly slid off the end putting her good foot down first. She applied some pressure on it first to make sure she could indeed stand on it. When her leg didn't buckle she took it as a good sign and finally put all her weight on it standing on the one foot the other limply hung above the ground, her knee bent to keep it up. She looked around for something to hold onto to help her there. Seeing just the circular wall that surrounded the area she moved her hands from the bed straight to the wall to lean on it. She placed her bad foot down to quickly place some pressure on taking a first step, but it buckled and she fell to her knees, causing herself to knock against something metal. It crashed to the ground with her causing an echoed clatter.

"Damn it!" She hissed in pain. Slamming her hand to the ground in anger at her pitiful state.

She hung her head and for some reason had no idea how to react she felt something rumble from her chest and tremble out of her mouth. She chuckled.

Lifting a hand to her mouth to muffle it she chuckled throatily to herself.

She lifted her head and took a deep breath. When she opened her eyes she was greeted by a glass of water being held in front of her.

She looked up. Her eyes adjusting to take in the figure before her; it looked almost like the figure she saw briefly in the sewer, the armour that surrounded his mid-body protruding over his shoulders, he looked bare along his arms and legs however and a cloth around his eyes. He was kneeling in front of her, how did she not hear him approach. The glass moved towards her again, gesturing her to drink.

"I assumed you'd be thirsty." A soft male voice spoke awakening her sense of sound for the first time since she woke up.

She lifted a shaky hand and wrapped her finger around the glass trying to grip them enough not to drop it. Pulling the glass gently to her lips she realised that the other person had not let go of the glass and instead helped steady it towards her lips. She took a long gulp and closed her eyes enjoying the cool liquid running down her sore throat relieving it. She let the glass slip back from her lips letting go of the glass the figure taking it and setting it on the side.

"Let's get you up shall we?" It said softly before tucking it's arms under hers and braced herself against him he lifted her easily onto the bed, her legs left to dangle off the edge. She let her hands fall off of his shoulders where she bracing herself and gripped the edge of the bed either side of her thighs. The sudden change in altitude made her feel slightly dizzy. She lifted a hand to her head to steady herself, her eyes closed.

"W-where am I?" She asked, her voice a mere whisper, but her voice was no longer dry and distorted.

"You're safe, that's all you need to know." The voice in front of her said softly.

She opened her eyes looking down to see a three-fingered hand leave the edge of the bed. Her head snapped up and looked directly in front of her. There were more of them, surrounding her.

Her face was obviously displaying shock, because the one in front of her lifted his hands as if approaching a scared animal.

"It's alright miss, we're not going to hurt you. We found you in the sewers, you needed help so we brought you here." The voice explained.

She didn't take in his words; she was too focused on looking around her. There were four of them, three of them standing back. They all looked similar but had a different colour piece of material across their eyes. But wore the same armour. Wait, was it armour? They had, three fingers, and three toes, no hair, no ears, no noses, they were bare apart form the strange armour that covered their mid-section. It looked plated, like a shell.

She shook her head closing her eyes almost trying to shake the image form her head. She looked up again.

"Who, who are you?" She asked slowly as if they wouldn't understand her.

She watched at they looked to each other, questionably.

"We are Turtle, mutant turtles…" the one in front of me with the blue material explained, talking as if now she wouldn't understand him.

Her brow furrowed as if he spoke to her in a different language. "Mutant Turtles…" he said to herself. Trying the words out on her lips.

One of the turtles from behind the blue one came bounding towards her. Her wore an orange band.

"Yo dudette! I'm Michelangelo, but you can call me Mikey!" His eyes were as wide as his grin as he waved before taking one of my hands and shaking it furiously. She felt the corner of her mouth tug up slightly at his attitude. Strange…She thought to herself.

He leaned closer to her face, his smile disappearing but his eyes widening, if that was even possible. She leaned back slightly at his advance.

"Wow! You're really pretty…. can we keep her Leo? Can we, can we?" He said excitedly, looking over to the turtle with the blue band around his eyes.

Keep me!? She thought. Her brow furrowing.

The blue-banded turtle closed his eyes and put his forefinger and thumb between his eyes, a seamless human gesture of 'pinching the bridge of your nose'. Though he didn't have one, the gesture was still understood.

"She's not a pet Mikey…" He sighed exasperated.

Mikey, the orange-banded turtle seemed to sulk her shoulders and head hanging as his posture shrivelled. She looked at him questionably. Tilting her head to the side and raising an eyebrow.

"Yo!" She was brought out of her thoughts by the outburst form the red-banded turtle. She didn't answer; she just snapped her head up right and looked toward him.

"What's your name? Why were you in the sewers?" He asked gruffly, his arms folded across his chest his eyes sharp as they zoned in on her. The purple-banded turtle next to him nudged him.

"Raph, there's no need to interrogate her, you can see she's in no condition for your foul mood!" He argued at him, his voice was however softer then the red one, gentle in a way.

"I'm just askin' it's a bit suspicious…" He grumbled again, his voice low and rough.

"You're the one who brought her here, if you were so suspicious, why not just leave her?" The blue-banded turtle asked sternly. Perching his knuckles on his hips as he turned to the red one.

"Ah! Whatever!" The red-banded turtle threw his hands in the air and turned around, but didn't move from his spot.

She watched curiously. Not entirely sure whether to say something or take the opportunity to run. Though in her current state, it wouldn't be so easy.

The purple-banded turtle walked towards her pushing the orange one to the side.

"You suffered from severe fatigue and your ankle is badly sprained. You just need to rest to let your body recover." He said softly. Looking directly at her, almost as if to calm her. She noticed his brown eyes as he smiled politely and leaned back standing straight to examine the monitor next to the bed.

"Your vital signs however have improved, which is a relief." He continued.

She looked up at him, then back down at her knees. She closed her eyes and sighed heavily. "Thank you…" Her voice again more of a whisper.

She felt all their eyes lock onto her at that moment, even the red-banded one who turned to look at her, his features soften slightly but keeping his aggressive posture.

"Well…' the blue banded one started. "We should probably get the introductions out of the way properly. I'm Leo, that one there beside you is Donnie…" He pointed to the purple-banded turtle beside me checking the monitors. He turned and smiled.

"You've already been sorely introduced to Mikey here…" Gesturing towards the orange-banded turtle. He waved at her childishly.

"And that's…Raph…" He sighed crossing his arms again and tilting his head quickly in the red-banded turtles direction.

He just grumbled and turned back around.

"So, what's your name?" Leo asked uncrossing his arms, his poster friendlier towards her.

She looked up at Leo and sat up straight closing her eyes again. "Alice, Alice Gunn." She pronounced her name confidently. Relaxing her posture as she said it.

"Alice huh? Raph said he heard you running throughout the alleyways near by. What possessed you to climb down the man hole?" He shrugged at her.

Alice opened her eyes looking at her feet dangling off the edge of the bed.

"It's nothing you should concern yourselves with, I have been a burden enough for you already." Alice said slowly but kindly looking up to see them all looking at her questionably again.

"I think it is something we should be concerned about, Miss Alice." Another voice made itself aware. The turtles parted revealing a giant towering over most fully-grown human men. She looked up at him as he approached using his jade cane.

She couldn't tear her eyes away from what she saw, his voice was so natural, but he body…

"We have a means of keeping you safe here Miss Alice, you would do well to allow others to assist you, where they offer it." His voice was low…wise. He towered over her looking down.

"I am Master Splinter, I see you have already met my sons." He looked around at them.

Sons!? How is that even biologically possible!? She thought to herself. Feeling dizzy once again taking all of this in.

"I am grateful to you and your sons for your help Sir, my reasons for intruding in your…sewer." She started. "I was hiding from a group of thugs…" She didn't want to relay her life story to them, so she stopped.

Master Splinter kept his gaze. Not moving on the subject.

"Why were you hiding from them?" Mikey asked peeking his head around from behind Master Splinter.

"It, is a long story…" She thought it would be left at that. But oh no…

"We have time…" Master Splinter said flatly, his voice more of a command.

Alice sighed and shifted uncomfortably. "They were hired by my sister, she's wanted me dead since our parents died and left everything to me, the eldest sibling." She paused feeling her lips pull into a smile at the thought.

"They were the owners of an large networking company. Unfortunately it was only a cover for their true employment. They were the leaders of a mercenary band called The Blades. They made money from, pretty much everything, including the illegal stuff. I wanted nothing to do with it when they left me everything, so I proposed we shut the group down and invest the money to those who really needed it, those who were making a difference. My sister on the other hand, did not agree, she offered to take over the group take it off my hands. But I denied her that option. It should not be allowed to further their actions as mercenaries. Ever since she's had people out to…take care of me…" She finished her explanation with a large sigh as she quote marked the last statement.

She looked up at the others with a raised eyebrow awaiting their reaction. They stood around her, looks of pity, confusion and admirable staring back at her.

"Woow, man that's so uncool!" Mikey stated first. "I mean my brothers want to kill me all the time, but I know its outta luv! You sure she doesn't just need a hug or somethin?" Mikeys voice seemed serious and sad at the same time.

Alive looked at him quizzically. Then lifted a hand to her mouth and laughed loudly. "N-no Mikey, I do-I don't think so!" She got out between bursts of laughter.

She put her hand to her stomach as it clenched in pain at her sudden movement. She sighed heavily trying to calm down. She looked up to see the others smiling slightly at her new composure, letting her guard down slightly and letting her come through a little more.

"Trust me, she's a malevolent, gold drinking woman. If she wanted a hug she would have ordered me to do it by now." She chuckled a little more at the statement. "No, she's after my blood…" She said a little more seriously but still smiling.

There was a dull silence for a moment before Maser Splinter spoke up. "You will need to rest here for the time being, you are in no condition to run or even protect yourself. You will stay here until you recover, what you do after that however…" He paused looking down at her. "Is entirely your decision? We will not force ourselves upon your affairs, however, our offer of help, still stands."

Alice thought she saw him smile warmly at him, but it faded quickly.

"Raph!" He called over his shoulder to the red-banded turtle.

"Yes Sensei?" He grumbled unfolding his arms as he made his presence known next to splinter.

"She will take your room, take her up there and make sure she is comfortable." He commanded before moving away towards what looked like a Japanese sliding door.

"WHA!? But where will I sleep!?" He argued back at him.

Splinter stopped in his tracks to look over his shoulder at Raph. "On the couch…where else?" She smirked before going through the door and sliding the door shut.

Raph whirled around to look at Alice. She leaned back slightly at his aggressive posture. She could see something boiling inside of him, but he gave in and visibly relaxed his body closing his eyes. He sighed heavily before moving over to her and hooking his arms under her knees and around her back.

"What do you think you're do-?!" She was cut off when she was lifted form the medic bed and carried off to a set of spiral metal stairs.

She didn't like this, she could walk, she could have stayed on the medic bed, and she didn't need a room. She could feel his hands on her bare skin this was not good.

"I can walk by myself you don't have to-AH!" She yelled as she was dropped on the couch in the centre of the room.

"Listen princess, I don't like it anymore then you do, you wanna walk…walk.." He pointed to the stairs leaning over her.

She looked at the distance; unfortunately it was too far she knew she couldn't walk it.

"Are you done now?" He leaned down to pick her up again. She slapped at his hands.

"I'd rather crawl then her you carry me!" She scolded coldly.

Raph ignored her and sighed before picking her up and throwing her over his shoulder this time.

"Put. Me. Down." She said sternly.

"No." He said flatly walking up the stairs.

She sighed and grumbled under her breath.

"You think I want to haul your ass around, just suck it up and shut up!" He commanded as he walked along the second floor as it were to a hole in the wall, which was apparently his room.

Once inside he bent down slightly and let Alice's body slip off of his shoulder onto the bed. She hissed in pain slightly as her ankle hit the edge of the mattress.

She glared up at him rubbing her lower leg, unable to touch the tender muscle on her ankle.

"There! Wasn't so hard was it." Her crossed his arms across his chest before looking around. "So, yeah, this-s my room, just don't go touchin' anythin' you hear?" He pointed at her threateningly glaring at her.

She smirked. "I'm already touching the bed…would you prefer I HOVER!?" She yelled the last word at its ridiculousness.

Raph huffed and put his knuckles on his hips. "Just don't go touchin' anythin', else…" He grumbled before starting for the door.

Something stopped him and he turned around when he heard a noise, a grumbling noise. He looked down to see Alice clutching her stomach hissing at it to shut up. Raph sighed heavily again. "I'll get you some food…" He sighed defeated.

Alice snapped her head up at him and scowled. "I'm not hungry…" She said flatly. Glaring up at him.

Raph growled. "Oh yeah! Either that or you're sitting on a puppy! Your stomach is eating at itself Princess, but hey you don't want food, it's not my job to feed ya-" He turned to leave but something hit the back of his head,

He looked at the floor by his feet he saw a metal tin box that he had found a while ago in the sewers and used it to keep his pencils in. His shoulders hunched and his face boiled he turned around to see Alice leaning back looking nonchalant, her arms folded under her chest and looking around the room. He growled and stormed out of the room slamming the door behind him. Women! He thought to himself.

He leaped over the railing down to the lower level seeing his brothers eyeing him with a disappointed look on their face.

"What?" He shrugged.

Leo shook his head. "We should all get some sleep, it's been a long day." He leaped for the railing and headed for his room, Mikey following behind. Donnie put a hand on Raphs shoulder.

"Can you at least try to be nice, we don't get any guests, it's nice to have someone else around, try not to scare her off alright?" He leapt for his room and disappeared behind his door.

Raph just sighed heavily again and headed for the kitchen, he found leftover pizza on the table. He rolled his eyes and sighed taking the box and heading to the stairs again. He turned to find Master Splinter watching him.

"Master Splinter?" Raph said questionably.

The giant rat sighed and made his way over to Raph putting a hand on his shoulder.

"So much rage Raphael, you have a problem with our guest?" He asked flatly.

Raph sighed and shrugged. "No Master, it's just…when I found her she asked for my help, now she doesn't want our help! It's frustrating, she is frustrating…" He finished as he glared up to his room. Knowing who lay in it.

Splinter smiled. "My son, price is a hard sin to beat, but sometimes, loathing and frustration can be mistaken for kindness and likeness."

Raph just looked up at him as if he spoke an entirely different language. "Wha-?"

Splinter just chuckled throatily and patted his shoulder before turning back to the room he emerged from.

Raph stood there for a moment before shaking his head of the nonsense and making his way back up the stairs to his room. He opened the door slowly to peep inside. He looked to the bed through the crack but didn't see her. He burst into the room at that moment and saw no sign of her. How, how could she of moved, I was gone for a just a few- His train of thought smashed when he saw the cover on the bed move.

He slowly walked over to it and stretched out his hand to the cover. "Uh, Alice?" He pulled back the cover to reveal her peaceful sleeping form. He sighed for a moment, it would not have gone down well with the others if they found out he had lost her…

He placed the pizza box on the floor next to the bed he stood and turned to leave, but paused and looked back at her. Her shoulder length brown hair was splayed out on the pillow behind her, one of her arm was above her head and the other was across her stomach, her hand lying limply on her abdomen. He watched with fascination at her slightly parted cherry tinted lips, her jet black lashes that curled on the tops of her cheeks. His eyes continued their analysis, she had soft olive skin but her cheeks had a slight rose blush to them. Her fingers were long and slim and her form was healthy, not thin, but not fat, healthy. His eyes drifted to her chest watching as it rose and fell with her soft breathing. He stood up straight realizing he had been leaning closer to her, he shook his head, not feeling right about watching a woman sleep…Sicko! He thought to himself. He left the room closing the door but leaving it open just a crack in case she needed anything and flung himself over the railing landing on the sofa.

Stretching his arms behind his head, he got himself comfortable enough to sleep. It wasn't his bed but it would do. He closed his eyes and tried to forget what he had just seen. But the images of her asleep lingered in his head. He scowled, and shook his head physically trying to remove the image. It wasn't until he started drifting off that he realized the thought of her asleep made him feel peaceful, enough so, to let sleep claim him.

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I hope you enjoyed more to come!

xxx