Chapter 3

Heey everyone! It's XxBlackDawnxX (finally!) and its my turn to write the chapters now! Note, the OC in the chapter (name pronounced EL-AY-NA) is also based on me, and she will at times break into random Spanish, something I'm accustomed to doing. Ok, this is gonna be epic, SO BEAR WITH ME! And now, ON WITH THE SHOW!

The Lair (4am)

Raph woke up abruptly in a cold sweat. His heart pounded so hard that it hurt. He couldn't see straight. What was going on?

He forced himself to his feet and stumbled out of his room. The lair was still dark; no lights were on except the faint glow from the hallway. Don had to be in his lab still, despite the fact that Leo had ordered him to get some rest after the previous night's no sleep. Raph made his way across the kitchen, heading to the lab. Don was asleep at his desk, snoring away.

Raph kicked the waste paper basket over and it clattered to the floor, waking Don.

"What the—Raph! What's wrong?"

"I don't know! I feel all weird…I can't see straight." Raph muttered, leaning against the wall. A sudden flash of anger came over him and with a groan he punched the filing cabinet next to him, leaving a dent in the weak metal.

"Raph!" Don yelled and held his brother against the wall, pulling up Raph's eyelid and examining the eye. "Your pupils are dilated and your cheeks are flushed… Raph are you in your season?"

Through heavy pants, Raph racked his brain. He'd forgotten to mark his calendar. "What day is it?"

"Tuesday the fourth," Don answered, keeping Raph pinned in place so he wouldn't cause anymore damage to the lab. Raph's breathing sped up. "Raph, you're in heat. You need a sedative."

Don raced to another cabinet and fumbled through the drawers, searching for a syringe as Raph stumbled toward him. "Sit," Don ordered and Raph obediently plopped into a chair. Quickly, Don found what he needed and grasped Raph's arm, sticking the syringe into a vein.

Another fury flash came over him and Raph smacked the syringe out of Don's hand, giving his brother a shove. "Dammit I don't need ya help!" He stormed out of the lab and ran out into the sewers.

"Raph!" Don yelled and chased after him. "You haven't had the right dosage of sedative!" Don raced through the tunnels after his brother, knowing the side effects of an under dose could be fatal, but he knew Raph was faster than he was, and after a few minutes, Raph was gone.

It was too late. Raph had gone topside.

New York, topside

A few minutes earlier

"Eleana! Eleana, please wait! Let me explain!" Dirk yelled jogging after the dark haired girl before him. She only walked faster, ignoring him. Dirk broke into a run, grabbing her arm and pulling her to a stop. Her duffel bag fell to the ground and she turned to face him, scowling.

"Te lo dije! I told you, I'm done with you! I don't wanna hear your excuses!" Eleana yelled, breaking into Spanish like she did whenever she was furious, ripping her arm from his grasp. She bent to pick up her bag when Dirk grabbed it from her. Eleana clenched her teeth. "Give it back…"

"No, I'm not giving it back unless you promise to come home. Baby, I'm sorry. You know it's been hard for me since my brother died. I didn't mean what I did to you."

"Oh yeah? Tell that to all the bruises you gave me! I'm NEVER coming home with you. I gave you back the damn ring. I never want to hear from you again!" Eleana ripped the bag back from Dirk and stormed off down the street. He watched her for a moment, thinking she was actually gone, but then something snapped inside of him and he took off after her, grabbing her and throwing her into an alley.

"Let GO of me!" Eleana screamed. "Some help PLEASE!" She broke from his grasp and punched him in the jaw, followed by a jab to the stomach when he recoiled. Dirk grabbed her around the waist again, and Eleana shoved her thumb into his eye as she struggled to break free.

Dirk screamed and threw her to the ground, delivering a hard kick to her side. Eleana shrieked in pain.

"I'm taking you home, right now." Dirk hissed and grabbed her by the hair, forcing her to her feet. Eleana grabbed his wrist, digging her nails into his flesh as she screamed, trying to kick him below the belt in hopes to break free.

Suddenly, a whoosh of air blew inches by Eleana's face, and Dirk had let go of her, collapsed on the ground as he grasped his hand and screamed in agony. Eleana fell back onto the pavement and stared in shock to see a three pronged weapon sticking out of Dirk's hand. She wheeled around to see who had thrown it, only to find a shadowed figure standing on the roof of an apartment building. The figure, in one swift leap, jumped from the roof and landed in the alley, stalking toward Dirk.

"El Diablo?" Eleana breathed and scooted back against the alley wall.

"I don't take kindly to punks that think they can beat their girlfriends," the figure scolded, standing above Dirk. "Especially the ones that act like pimps." The figure bend down, examining Dirk's hand. "I was wonderin where dat went. Lemme take it off ya hands." Dirk screamed in pain as the figure slid the weapon's blade out of the palm of Dirk's hand. He grabbed Dirk by the collar and pulled him to his feet. "Get outta here," And with a shove, Dirk raced out of the alley, screaming like a little girl.

The figure rinsed his weapon through a puddle, getting Dirk's blood off of it before noticing Eleana. He stepped toward her, walking out of the shadows.

Only now could Eleana see what he was. She gasped.

Her savior was a giant turtle. A giant turtle with a blood red bandana tied around his eyes.

The turtle walked toward her, offering his hand to her so she could get up off the ground. "You okay?" Eleana stared for a moment, not believing what she saw, before slowly, reaching up and taking his hand. At his touch, she was filled with warmth and could tell he meant her no harm.

"I'm…I've been better," Eleana replied quietly as the turtle helped her up.

"Ya safe now," he said.

"Am I? He's probably waiting until you leave me alone to come back."

"I doubt it, but…ya should probably get home, just to make sure he'll leave ya alone."

"I won't be safe there; I live with him. Rather, I did." Eleana's eyes filled with tears. "I won't be safe anywhere." Raph opened his mouth to speak, but closed it quickly. He had no clue how to help.

"I could take you to a hotel…" He offered.

"How can I? I don't have any money." She gasped a little and bit her lip before bursting into tears. "He'll find me again, just like last time. I don't know what to do."

Raph watched at tears poured down the woman's face. It made his stomach twist into knots to see her crying. Her tan skin, red lips, brown eyes, all in such distress; it made him feel horrible. He wanted so badly to hug her, to stroke her long, chocolate colored hair, to let her know everything was going to be okay. But how could he? He couldn't tell her it would be okay when he himself didn't know what was going to happen to her? He had to do something.

"Hey," Raph whispered and touched her arm gently. He caressed his thumb against the supple leather of her bomber jacket. "You're gonna be alright." She tried to wipe away her tears, but only sobbed harder.

His mind went to Leo. What would Leo do? What would Leo say to a beautiful girl in danger with no place to go? Wait a minute… Raph thought of Bree. Whoa, déjà vu…

The girl pulled away from Raph. "Sorry, I never cry." She wiped her eyes and sniffed.

"It's ok," Raph looked her over. She was actually very pretty. This girl was tall and thin, but she obviously had muscles and some kind of training, determined by the way she'd fought that guy back. She was tan and her long hair was straight, with short bangs that covered the right half of her forehead. She wore tight jeans and red Converse that matched her red, lifeguard t-shirt. "By the way, I'm Raphael."

"Like the archangel," the girl said with a slight smile. Raph smirked.

"Yeah, but you can call me Raph for short."

"I'm Eleana Sanchez," She flashed a smile, revealing perfect, pearly white teeth. "You can call me Eleana. Thank you…for saving me." Raph could only smile back.

"No problem; It's not like ya really needed me. You were kickin dat guys ass just fine."

Eleana laughed. "I hope he goes blind in one eye."

Raph chuckled before clearing his throat. "So, Eleana, you really don't have anywhere to go?"

Eleana shook her head. "Unless you want me to sleep in that cardboard box over there,"

"Well, they are supposed to be insulated…"

Eleana stared, one eyebrow raised.

Wow, I sound like Mikey! Raph cleared his throat and shook it off. Calm down, man. What's wrong with you?

"I…didn't mean that. Uh, well, if ya don't have anywhere to stay, you can crash at my place?"

"Really? You mean you own a house?"

"Well, it ain't no penthouse, and it ain't mine either. I live with my dad and three brothers."

Eleana raised her eyebrow again. The look made Raph's stomach twist.

"Well, I don't actually live with em, they live with me-we all live together!" Raph corrected quickly. He could feel his face burning. Eleana nodded slowly.

"So, you have three brothers and a dad that live with you…and you're all turtles?"

"Yeah, well no. I mean, my pop's not a turtle. Me and my brothers are turtles. He's a rat."

There goes the eyebrow…

"That's mean to say about you're dad." Eleana said giving him a look.

"No really! He's a giant rat and he's got the tail and the whiskers and… yeah, let's just go with 'he's a rat.'"

"Well, I guess I can't say no. I really do need a place to stay. Thank you." Eleana flashed another smile. She turned and bent down to pick up her duffel bag. Raph forced himself to look away. "So…where's your place?"

Raph walked toward a manhole and pulled the covering aside. Her motioned toward the sewers below. "Ladies first,"

Eleana gave him a look. "Way to be a gentleman. Yeah, these are new Chuck Taylor's. No way I'm trekking around in shit." Raph chuckled. Eleana began to walk toward him, but then stumbled and clutched her side. Raph's smile snapped away and was at her side in an instant.

"Are ya okay?"

"I…" Eleana pulled up her shirt to reveal a huge bruise on her side where Dirk had kicked her. "Oh God…" She stumbled a little and grabbed Raph's arm to catch herself. "I…I don't think I can walk…" Raph gulped.

"Do…do you want me to carry you?" Eleana glanced up quickly at him.

"You'd do that?"

"Of course, you're hurt." Eleana bit her lip before nodding. Raph took her bag and slung it across his shoulder before slowly wrapping his arm around her waist and picking Eleana up bridal style. He could feel her gently eyes looking up at him, and he avoided her gaze as he lowered himself into the sewer, starting back to the lair.

The Lair (7:30am)

Leo walked into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes and yawning. Donnie sat at the table, taping his fingers against the table nervously. Leo stopped in his tacks when he met Don's gaze. He knew that look all too well.

"Where's Raph?"

"Leo, he…this morning he came into the lab and he was in heat. I tried to give him a sedative but then he ran off." Don explained, getting to his feet.

Leo's eyes widened in shock. "How long has he been gone?"

Don bit his lip.

"Don, how long?"

"…Almost four hours."

"Shit!" Leo ran to the front door. "Donnie wake up Mikey, we gotta go find him!" Realizing Bree was still sleeping, he ran back to the kitchen and began scribbling a note for her as Don ran upstairs to get Mike.

As soon as he slammed the pen down on the table, the front door slid open and Raph walked in, holding a gorgeous Hispanic woman in his arms.

"DONNIE!" Leo yelled before running to Raph. "Raph, are you okay? Don told me what happened this morning." Then he saw the girl. "Who's this?"

"Leo I'm fine. And…let's just say we had a little bit of déjà vu." Raph explained and set Eleana back on her feet.

"I'm Eleana Sanchez. I'm guessing you're Raph's brother?" Eleana said and shook Leo's hand.

"Yeah, I'm Leonardo. Leo for short."

"Leo, I hope it's not too much trouble for me to stay here. I was attacked and I had no where else to go." She turned to Raph. "Raphael saved me." Raph blushed.

"Ahhh… I see you've got the formal junk going on here, Raphael." Mikey chimed in as he, Don, and Bree walked down the stairs. "Hola, chica. I'm Michelangelo; the ladies call me Mikey or just plain Mike."

"Te habla espanol? Me llama Eleana Sanchez." Eleana replied. Mikey's face went blank.

"Nerd, translate please." He said to Donnie. Don sighed.

"She asked if you really speak Spanish, smart one." Don explained. "Sorry about our brother, I'm Donatello, but you can call me Don or Donnie. Whichever you prefer."

"Nice to meet you, Don; I'm Eleana Sanchez." She said with a smile and shook his hand. Eleana turned to see Bree, looking her over.

"Hi," Bree said.

"What's up?" Eleana answered.

The turtles watched intently, bracing themselves for a cat fight. Leo stepped in.

"Eleana, this is Bree. Much like yourself, she was attacked and now she's staying with us." He explained. Eleana gave a slow nod.

"Country girl?"

"City girl?"

"Yep,"

"Ditto."

The girls stared at each other for a moment before finally smiling and giving each other a hug. The turtles let out a sigh of relief.

"We're gonna be good friends," Eleana laughed.

"Best friends," Bree corrected.

They let go to see the guys watching.

"What?" They asked in unison.

"Nothing!" The guys replied quickly. Bree and Eleana shrugged.

"Wanna be my roommate?" Bree asked.

"Of course!" Eleana replied and after getting her bag from Raph, the two started up the stairs.

"Well," Mike said. "That went well. And…is it just me, or is Eleana smoking hot?"

Raph, Leo, and Don enjoyed smacking Mikey, once again.

"Well, Raph, I'm guessing you're over your…condition? I just makes me wonder, did the sedative ever take effect?" Don asked.

"Nope, I feel like a million bucks." Raph said and turned to walk toward the kitchen. Suddenly, his vision went blurry and he got extremely dizzy. He felt like he was floating, and then the next thing he knew he was on the cold floor.

"Raph!" Leo gasped.

Bree and Eleana raced back down the stairs to see Raph on the ground, surrounded by his brothers. Eleana gasped. "Oh God!"

Her heart felt as if it had stopped.

The world felt as though it had been put on pause.

Time had seemed to stop in its tracks.

And Eleana couldn't explain why.

And that's it for chapter three! I might be writing chapter four, so keep your eyes peeled for updates. (Warning: I'm about to go all Mexicano on ya!) Hasta!