A/N: Thanks for all the lovely comments from last chapter! Hope you like this one just as much! I had a couple people worried about continuing this story, no worries, I have even been planning the second story after this one! The problem is that I have to work fulltime as well as go to school fulltime as well as do student teaching so I'm all over the place! If an update doesn't come right away, don't fret, I'm not abandoning this story. : )

Dis: Don't own TMNT
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Alice tensed when getting the feeling of moving downward and brought her hand out to steady her body. Her palm pressed against cool metal and the sensations of moving down didn't stop. It was as if she was in an elevator and she twisted her head around to where she knew the turtle would be.

"You live underground?"

"Yeah," was his gruff reply.

"Like… in the sewer?" she asked, face twisting as a whiff of the underground snuck up into her nostrils.

"Well it ain't like we can live in a highrise now, is it?"

"No. I suppose not," she replied as the elevator stopped with a slight jerk. Luckily, with her hand on the side of the elevator, she could brace herself. She couldn't believe the situation she just got herself into. Maybe she should've taken her sister's advice and moved out with her and stopped her life of crime. At least then a possessed sword wouldn't have given her freaky powers and ninja (they had throwing stars, they had be ninjas, right?) weirdoes wouldn't be after her! Not to mention her nemesis was a turtle and the one person-turtle-that could help her out! "Oh, since I can't call you Watcher, what am I calling you?"

A pause, then: "Raphael."

"Alice."

"Pleasure," he said sarcastically.

"Trust me, the pleasure is all yours," she said, her tone snarky. He gripped her elbow a little rougher than necessary and she jerked away from him, pulling off the bandana. She blinked to get used to the darkness while he barked at her to put it back on. "Listen here, Sparky! I don't like you, you don't like me. FINE. But enough with the tough-macho-bullshit act you're pulling! I can just turn around and go to that bat-shit crazy woman instead!"

"Go ahead!" he barked, gesturing back to the elevator, giving her a chance to leave. "See how long you make it before she slices you open! She doesn't care about ya!"

"Well neither do you!"

"I'm the good guy, dammit!"

"Uh… Raph?" The turtle and woman, who'd been standing toe to toe arguing with each other, both whipped their heads around. A turtle in orange 'meeped' while being bombarded with dual death glares and took a step back. "Geez, hostility much?"

"Mikey? What the hell you doin' out here?"

"Waiting for you," said Mikey, eyeing the new girl then giving a questioning glance to his brother. "What's going on, Raph?"

"Mikey, this is Alice. She's running from Karai and her goons and needs a place to lay low."

"Oh, Foot got you down?" asked Mikey. "Been there, done that, got the t-shirt, postcard, and complimentary mug, and yet we still find ourselves going back for more from time to time."

"I see…" Alice smiled, she couldn't help it. He was… adorable. "Mikey, right?"

"Yes, pleased to meet you." He took her hand and kissed the knuckles, making Raphael glare and Alice laugh. "Is my overly temperamental brother giving you a hard time?"

"You have no idea," said Alice, feigning despair. "He's been such a brute."

"Would ya both knock it off?" snapped Raphael. "I'm surrounded by Knuckleheads!"

"Geez, usually its only Leo that can make him his cranky," said Michelangelo, slinging an arm over her shoulders, steering her away from Raphael. She tensed at first, but his personality and eager, blue-eyed gaze made her relax. He was nothing like the hostile turtle behind them. "So… how'd you two meet?"

"Uh… Karai broke into my apartment, Raphael happened to… be in the area," covered Alice.

"There's more to it," said Raphael seriously, making Mikey look over his shoulder at his brother. "We need to speak to Splinter right away."

"He was awake when I left a couple minutes ago. He missed his soaps today and was popping in the tape Donnie recorded for him."

Giving up on the chance of blindfolding Alice again, Raphael stole his bandana back from her and stomped ahead of them to lead the way. His mood was officially shot for the night and the sooner they spoke the Splinter, the sooner he could get away from her for the rest of the night. She managed to push his buttons without really trying. It was like she was Leo and Mikey combined and she didn't do as much to egg him on either.

Laughter behind him had him speeding up. Just like Mike to become best friends with his enemy, the idiot. Raphael made a mental note to mess around with Michelangelo later on before pulling on a lever that revealed the secret entrance to their lair. A gasp behind him had him looking back.

"You have a secret door?" she asked, her eyes alighting with an excited flare of a child. Strange, he didn't expect that from her. "Nifty!"

Nifty? Just who WAS this woman?

"Do you like videogames? How about comic books? I see the sword on your back, do you fight, too? Leo isn't here, we haven't spared much with him being gone, but with you we'd have even pairs again. Oh! Maybe we could-"

"Geez, Mike, would ya lay off?" said Raphael, smacking his brother upside the head. "Splinter first!"

"You're such a party-pooper," complained Mikey, rubbing the back of his head, stepping away from Alice so she could wander around.

Alice was rooted on the spot as her wide eyes took in her surroundings. This wasn't what she'd been expecting. Instead of slime and crud, the place was almost spotless and didn't carry the same sewer odor as the outside. In fact, she was certain she smelled some sort of sweet incense. It was spacious and laid out almost like an open floor planned apartment. There was a kitchen area, complete with a stove and fridge, as well as a training area filled with punching bags, mats, and an assortment of weapons. On one wall was mass amounts of television screens with two large sofas and a recliner by them. Close by was another set of screens that looked to be a computer system of some sort. Looking up she saw a balconied area complete with metal railings, one entrance had a curtain over it and she wondered if those were their rooms.

"This isn't what I was expecting its… really nice."

"Our brother Donnie is a genius and has enabled us to live in luxury," said Mikey, trying to sound like a British snob. "We just don't know what we would do without him."

"I heard my name," said a purple another turtle, totally engrossed in what he was doing. He wore large goggles and was holding some sort of gadget in one hand and a soldering tool in another. He looked up and jumped a little when seeing Alice. "Uh… hi?"

"Hello," said Alice, waving her fingers.

"I… don't know you," he said, pulling up his goggles, his eyes masked behind purple fabric.

"She's new," said Mikey, point what Alice considered to be his thumb at her.

"I… see." Donatello turned to Raphael. "Raph?"

"Splinter up?" asked Raphael, walking past Donatello.

"Yeah, but… what's going on?" asked Donatello, jogging to keep up.

"Let me go find him and we'll tell you three all at once," said Raphael.

"So…" Mikey smiled. "You like pizza?"

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Within a few minutes they were all seated in Splinter's room. Alice had hesitated when seeing that this Splinter person was a rat. A very, VERY large rat with sharp claws and teeth… wearing a terry-cloth rode. As if her world of weird wasn't weird enough. His kind smile and offering of tea had put her at ease a little more and she was soon sitting against a very plush pillow. His room smelled of the same incense she'd smelled earlier and her whole body was soon relaxed as she took her first sip of tea. She wondered if perhaps he'd slipped something in her tea, because a normal person wouldn't be this relaxed next to four large animals surrounding them. Then again, with the pyromaniac talents she'd administered moments again, she knew she wasn't exactly normal.

"I can feel great strength within you," rasped Splinter. "Raw energy flows through your veins, waiting to be unleashed in its full potential. May I ask how this came to be?"

Alice opened her mouth, then closed it again. Dare she tell them she was a thief? Ah hell, might as well air out her dirty laundry now. Raphael already knew, what would be the harm?

"I, ah, was hired to, um, acquire this sword," she said, twisting around to grasp it. She ignored the warm tingles and instead placed it in front of her.

"You mean steal?" asked a shocked Donatello.

"Yeah, Donnie, steal," said Raphael.

"Oh… Hm," he said, slightly put off, making Alice bite her lower lip. She looked up at Splinter, and she could see that his whiskers were twitching. Great.

"So, I felt something… strange, when I touched the blade. I put it off but then I touched it again and WHAM. I felt like I was being struck by lightning and when I woke up this woman was in my apartment-"

"Karai," informed Raphael.

"-yeah. And she wanted me to join her and that's when Raphael came in."

"I felt it," he said smoothly. "The raw energy. I followed it and came upon her."

"So, like, you're a thief?" asked Mikey.

"Yes. I know that totally goes against what you guys do and I'll understand if you want me to go. Honestly? I'm scared to death of this… power inside me. I want to control it. I don't see myself joining up with the likes of Karai mainly because she wigged me out."

"Hm…" Splinter looked troubled, and Alice didn't blame him. "What is it that you ask of me?"

"Raphael said you might be able to help me control it. It would be nice to not fear burning my apartment down." She showed her wrists, then her ankle, and finally pulled her hair aside to reveal the last tattoo. Even Raphael was curiously looking at the markings. "They appeared tonight and Karai said it had to do with the sword. Its past owner was Shingen Takeda and Karai made the comment that he had the same powers."

"I will help you, but I do ask a favor of you," said Splinter.

"Anything."

"While you are a guest in my household, you will not partake in you extracurricular activities. Even now you emit a small pulse of energy and I do not wish to have someone tracking you to our home. As you very well know, we live in secrecy so also, in return of teaching you, I ask you the favor of keeping us a secret."

"Oh I won't rat you guys out." Alice's eyes widened and she put her hand over her mouth. Mikey's chuckle made her even more embarrassed. "I mean… your secret is safe with me."

"It is late. Do get some rest, child, for we will start early in the morning. My sons do not partake in the rituals as of late, but are free to join in. My eldest son, Leonardo, is on a journey and his room is empty. You are welcome to stay in there for now."

"Thanks. Really. And I promise I won't say anything or steal anything while I'm here. I'm fully on board. I do have one question though." Splinter nodded, a sign for her to continue. "How did you come to be, you know, like this?"

"I will leave that story for one of my sons to tell. Good night."

Splinter left and before Alice could open her mouth to ask where she would be staying, Michelangelo was there with her bag in one hand as he took her elbow with the other.

"All right! Ready to see your temporary residence?"

"Sure…" Alice shifted on her feet. "Bathroom first? Please?"

"Right! April sometimes comes down here to clean or cook and sometimes train with us. She keeps her frilly shampoo here so if you need some I'm sure you can take some of hers…"

Michelangelo's voice trailed off as he and Alice left, leaving Don and Raphael trailing behind.

"You trust her?" asked Donatello, eyes on Alice as she laughed at something Mikey said.

"Hell no. She's a thief. A smart one, too."

"Think we're in danger?" asked Don.

"I'm not sure," said Raphael. "I don't think she'd rat us out." Raphael winced and looked over his shoulder to make sure Splinter wasn't around to hear him say that. "But she's a thief. A criminal. She bats for the other side so we gotta make sure she doesn't hit one over our heads."

"You always seem to befriend the interesting ones," murmured Donatello, making Raphael roll his eyes.

"Shuddap," he muttered before leaping up toward some lower pipes and with a few aerial twists he was on the upper level. He walked to the red curtain and looked over his shoulder to Alice and Mikey as they made their way up the stairs. He'll be watching her, making sure to keep her out of trouble. In the mean time, his bed was calling his name.

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Alice was trying really hard to be nice. She was tired, starting to get a little cranky, and Mikey was intent on talking her ear off. After relieving herself she washed her face then allowed Mikey to show her to her room. He told her of their origin and it really was an interesting story. He gave her a brief history of Karai, her 'father' the Shredder, as well as the Foot Clan. After hearing that horror story she knew 100 percent that she wasn't going to ever get mixed up in that crowd again. He told her of growing up, learning Ninjitsu and keeping the peace in the city while remaining in the shadows and it was during this part that she got it. They didn't get many visitors outside of the very few that knew of them. She was someone new, and Mikey was clinging to her for some sort of emotional contact so when they got to where she would stay she accepted the warm hug he gave and gave him a playful punch on the shoulder in return.

"You going to hang with me during my initiation tomorrow?" she asked, pulling back the curtain but not going in yet.

"Maybe… I have a party tomorrow."

"Uh… party?" she asked.

"Ever hear of Cowabunga Carl? That's me! It's my job."

"You have a job?" she asked, amazed.

"Yeah. Donnie and I. Don is good with computers and stuff so he's a Tech for those that forget that turning on a computer is essential for it to work."

"Ah. Well that's cool." Alice tried to stop the yawn but it came out full force. "Sorry. Long night."

"It's ok. I'm a little tired myself. If I don't see you bright and early, good luck!"

Mikey walked away after handing her her bag, and Alice entered the room further. It was really neat with the small bed made and everything in its place. She saw a shelf of books and looking closer she saw many of the books had the subject of meditation techniques, swords, and surprisingly 'A Tale of Two Cities' made it way into the collection. Candles were lit on a small dresser, and Alice was happy someone took the time to light them for her. She changed quickly into warm, grey sweatpants but kept her white shirt on. If she knew she was going to stay in a cool sewer she'd have packed some sweatshirts. Maybe she could talk them into letting her go to her place and pick some up?

She blew out the candles and made her way in the dark to the bed. When she bumped into it she eased onto the mattress. It was a little lumpy but still comfortable. The blankets were a little musty and she wondered how long this Leonardo had been gone for.

That was her last thought before falling asleep.

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TBC…

Next Chapter:
-the art of meditation
-sparring session
-meeting April & Casey