After getting some answers about the past of Tyroth and Sephie, questions in Mona's mind begin to haunt her. What will happen when she is alone with Sephie?

I don't own TMNT.

Chapter 4

Confrontation

Donnie walked over to the medical room, just having finished the dinner, to check the results while the others cleaned up the leftovers. After a few minutes he walked out with a paper in hand that he showed.

The test had confirmed that the only thing Mona and Sephie had in common, aside from being female, were that they both were part reptile and used to be human. They weren't even the same reptile, while Mona was part salamander and anole, Sephie was only part gecko. Donnie attempted to point out the physical differences between the two that one could see if one looked close enough, such as the scales, but neither Mona, Sephie, nor their mates would allow such an examination.

The results at least gave Mona some consolation, but she still couldn't shake the feeling of distrust towards Sephie.

As it was getting rather late, or early depending on how you look at it, April and Casey decided to head back home and said good bye to their friends. Master Splinter said that it was high time to go to bed for them as well, Tyroth and Sephie were offered to stay if they wanted and were given some blankets.

Sephie occupied the couch while Tyroth was content with sleeping next to it on the floor, both with their weapons close at hand as they were used to.

Mona didn't sleep very well, mostly because she was worried of what might happen between her and Sephie. She thought that she had been able to put the events with Arashi and Arden behind her, that she had recovered from that horrifying experience, but now she wasn't so sure. Mona feared that she might snap at Sephie, like Leonardo had snapped against Raphael a year earlier.

She knew she had no reason to, as Sephie was just like her in many ways, nearly getting killed by criminals, mutating against their will, their families believing that they are dead, finding a new home were they're accepted. Sure, Sephie hadn't been through all the ordeals that Mona had, but there were no real reason not to trust her, they told their story without trying to hide anything, aside from their old identities for the protection of their families.

As Mona pondered on it she came to realize, that she took pity on Sephie but also admired her strength. Did she envy Sephie? She didn't get an answer to her question as she fell asleep, exhausted from the nights events.

When Mona woke up early the next night, she got dressed and walked to the kitchen. The lair was quiet as everyone else was still asleep, as she took a glass and filled it with water. Once it was empty she placed it on the kitchen counter and was just about to turn when she heard a gentle female voice behind her.

"You're up early. Having trouble sleeping?"

Mona recognized the voice as Sephie's and turned around, but she didn't make eye contact. Feeling how the knot-like discomfort in her stomach intensified, she had no wish to talk but knew that it would be very rude not to answer.

"I could ask you the same thing." Mona replied.

"I'm a light sleeper, we both are, but Tyroth likes to sleep in."

"I sleep rather lightly as well." Mona said. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't completely true at the moment either.

Mona could feel that Sephie was scanning her with her eyes. Sephie then took a chair and sat down, looking at Mona with very caring eyes.

"Are you alright, Mona?"

"What? Of course. Why shouldn't I be?"

"Well, for starters, you did try to attack me at first. But considering what happened to you, with the experiments and the Foot, it's not surprising that I scared you." Mona looked at Sephie, how could she know? Splinter never spoke about that during the dinner.

"Mikey told us, gave us the short version." Sephie said, knowing what question Mona wanted to ask.

"He's never been known to be the quiet one." Mona smiled.

"Anyway, there is more to it than that incident, isn't it?" Sephie continued. "I don't want to pry, but I do want to know what happened to you. I can see that you're troubled and I want to help."

Mona felt how the knot tightened even more and she looked down.

"I don't want to talk about it."

"I understand, but you may have to, for your own good. Something in your past is gnawing at you and I'm the reason for it surfacing. Why? It's not only because we look alike. Please let me help you."

Sephie was right, she was the reason that Mona felt like she did, but not in the way Sephie thought. And Mona knew that if she keep this inside herself, something terrible might happen one day.

"I was raped..." she said in a weak voice with a tear rolling down her cheek.

Sephie couldn't believe what she just heard. Mona was raped? Sephie shook with anger, but also great sadness.

"Three years ago, I was on my way back to my friends at the hostel after buying some food when I ran into members of the Purple Dragon gang. They captured me even though I fought back, then they beat, raped and abused me." Tears fell over Mona's cheeks as she continued.

"Once they were done with me, they covered me in reptile poison and dumped me in the sewers like I was trash! When I awoke, I looked like this, the poison had mixed with toxic waste and mutated me. I spent two years trying to survive one my own, stealing food and clothes and sleeping in an abandoned building, while I hunted for those that did this to me."

"Fucking bastards. How can anyone do such a thing and still be able to look themselves in the mirror?" Sephie said with tears in her eyes and her fists clenched. "I hope they got what they deserved."

"They did, they're all dead now, thanks to the turtles. But that's not what's bothering me, you are. You never showed any sign of that what happened to you bothered you, when you and Tyroth told us your story. I envy you because you were stronger than I was, that is what bothers me."

"Your wrong Mona." Sephie said in a soft but serious voice, and Mona turned her head toward her. "When I mutated, I was completely broken, despite what I said earlier. I ran into a empty room and cried in a corner. Tyroth comforted me by hugging me and saying 'Everything is gonna be alright', letting me cry on his chest, feeling his heart beat. For me." Sephie felled a few tears as she spoke.

Mona didn't know what to say.

"The reason that I seem strong after what happened, is because of Tyroth. He gave me the strength I needed to accept what had happened and move on, to find new strength of my own. You are much stronger than you give yourself credit for. Being raped, surviving on your own for two years, finding a new family and someone that loves you, takes a lot of strength. If anything, I should be envious of your strength, I wouldn't have survived what you went through."

Before Mona could say anything, Sephie had walked over to her and gave her a hug, whispering:

"I'm sorry, for everything."

"You're not angry? Even after all that's happened?"

"No. I could never be angry at a friend."

Those words was more than Mona could handle, she started to cry, digging her face into Sephie's shoulder. The uncomfortable feeling in Mona's stomach vanished as she cried, and was replaced by a feeling of relief and safety. The two stood, hugging each other for several minutes before Sephie let Mona go.

"Thank you, Sephie" Mona said, wiping away her tears.

"Anytime, Mona. If you ever need to talk, I'll listen."

"I know. I'd better go and freshen up, before the others wake up."

Sephie nodded as Mona walked out of the kitchen to the bathroom. After the bathroom door closed a voice came from outside the kitchen.

"I'm glad that she feels better."

Sephie looked out and saw Tyroth standing a few meters away.

"How much did you hear?" she asked.

"Everything." he said as Sephie noticed that his fingertips were covered in blood. He had clenched his fists so hard when he heard what happened Mona, that his nails had dug deep into the palms. She wasn't worried about the wounds, they had already healed. But Tyroth have never been one to become angry, not even during battle.

"Those lowlifes didn't deserve death." Tyroth said in a serious voice. "They deserved far worse. May their cursed souls burn for eternity." This scared Sephie, he had never acted like this before.

"How about some breakfast?" he asked as he walked over to the sink and washed his hands, like nothing had happened.

Meanwhile, in the bathroom, Mona was washing her face and felt much better than last day. Now she trusted Sephie, she felt safe around her. As she thought more about it, Sephie didn't really feel like a friend but more like an elder sister. A sister Mona never had, and never wanted to lose. A single tear rolled down her cheek, a tear of happiness.

This is perhaps the most touching I've ever written. Stay tuned for more.

For those that want a more detailed backstory for Monalisa, please read Bloodrayne666's stories 'Fury within Her' and 'A Warrior's Journey'. Those are the ones I base Mona on.