A/N: Things are going to get bad before they get better.

Samantha stared at her apartment and almost stepped back outside to check the house number, but then she spotted Joey sitting at the table with a… Was that a warthog? "What is going on here?"

The warthog grinned at her. "Hey, Cupcake! Long time no see!"

She blinked at him. "Bebop?"

His grin somehow grew. "The one and only."

She shook her head at him, then turned her attention back to the apartment. There was now a rug on the floor, a spare mattress tucked under the bed, a fluffy comforter on the bed, a microwave, and although she couldn't see it, she knew her cabinets were full of food. She stretched a hand out, indicating all the things. "What is all this? Where'd it come from?"

"What's it look like? You needed some stuff, so me and Bebop went and got it." Rocksteady said with a proud smile.

Samantha frowned. "You mean you stole it." It was more of a statement than a question.

Bebop shrugged. "Well, yeah. Ain't that what we usually do?"

She felt the heat rise to her face as her anger began to grow. How dare he come back into her life and try to run it all over again. "I don't want it. Take it back."

Rocksteady stood. "What? You ain't never turned down nothin' I got you in the past. Why don't you want it?"

She took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Because it's stolen."

"So?"

"So, I've worked hard to get what I have. I don't want things that I didn't earn anymore. That was something we had to do to survive. Well, I don't have to do that anymore. My place might be small and not have much in it, but it's mine. I earned it, fair and square!" She picked up the light rug off the floor and shoved it into her brother's arms. "Now, take it back or get rid of it!"

He shook his large gray head. "I don't understand, Sams."

"I don't care if you understand it or not! I don't want them!"

He looked around the room and then at her. He was completely confused. "But-"

That was it, she couldn't take it anymore! She was tired of everyone trying to tell her what to do and "take care of her". She was an adult for crying out loud! Everything had been going so well and now it was all screwed up. "Get out! Just get out!" Bebop took the clue right away and scrambled out the door, while Rocksteady stood gapping at her. She shoved him towards the door. "Now! This is my apartment! I don't need you here! I've been doing just fine without you!"

She gave him another rough shove and he stumbled out the door with the rug still in his arms, his mouth and eyes as round as they could get. "Sams, w-wait!"

But she didn't. She slammed and locked the door, falling to her knees on the inside. She buried her face in her hands, allowing the tidal wave of emotion to finally break free. Everything's falling apart!

Leo had been wandering around the sewers rather aimlessly, barely noting which direction he turned. Until he arrived at a familiar ladder. He sighed, setting his hand on one of the rungs. This was the ladder leading up to Sams' place. He wanted so badly to climb it and talk to her, but he fought the desire down. She was better off without him. He'd had no right to try to start a relationship with such an incredible creature. She was smart and kind and beautiful. And what was he?

He looked down at his hands. For the first time in his life, he truly hated what he was. If he was human, he could be with her all the time. He wouldn't have to hide in a sewer or be the enemy of an insane ninja megalomaniac intent on world domination. And in turn, he wouldn't be the enemy of her brother. The knot in his stomach twisted tighter, nearly cutting off his air. Drawing upon his training, he willed his heartrate to slow and breathing to calm.

No, I can't abandon my family. Just as she can't abandon hers. This was the right thing to do. He turned and headed home. The others were in the kitchen when he arrived, the smell of hot pizzas filling the air. His stomach lurched at the very idea of food. Knowing that it would only cause more concern if he showed himself but didn't eat, he skirted around the living room.

But he was spotted anyway. "Yo, Leonardo. Come join us, bro. I made your favorite, jellybean and avocado."

Leo stopped with his back to Mikey. He'd nearly made it to the bedroom. "No thank you, Michelangelo. I'm not hungry."

Mikey frowned. "But you haven't eaten anything since this morning and that wasn't much."

"I'm fine." He automatically replied.

"That's a load of bull, if I ever heard it."

Leo at last turned to find Raph and Don had joined them. He frowned. "What is your deal, Raphael? You're miserable, so the rest of us have to be as well."

Raph narrowed his eyes. "I ain't the only one that's miserable." Leo huffed, folding his arms. Raph moved forward pointing a finger in his face. "There's something wrong and you're gonna tell us what it is!"

Leo slapped the hand away, his eyes growing cold with barely controlled fury. "It's none of your business! Now back off!"

Raph growled and both Mikey and Don grabbed him, pulling him back. Starting a fist fight was not going to solve anything. "Calm down!" Don told Raph, then he turned back to Leo. But he was gone. The sound of the punching bag being pummeled in the distance echoed through the lair. He sighed, turning back to Raph. "Fighting with him isn't going to get him to open up. We need to give him some time."

Raph pulled his arm from Mikey and folded them. "Fine, you deal with him then. I'm done." He walked over to the couch and flopped down, grabbing the remote and flipping channels vigorously.

Mikey threw his hands in the air. "Oh, great! Now we have two of them in a funk."

Don sighed. "Don't worry, Michelangelo. Raphael will get over his soon enough, it's Leonardo I'm worried about."

"But we can't do anything to help him, until he tells us what's wrong." Mikey looked towards the dojo with concern.

"And for that, we'll just have to wait." Don put an arm around his baby brother and turned him back to the kitchen. Pizza was always a sure way to cheer him up.

Having no appetite, Samantha had crawled into bed and cried herself to sleep. When she'd woken late in the afternoon and looked at her watch, she frowned. She didn't feel like going to work. She didn't feel like moving at all. There was a cold ball in her stomach and despite the warm blanket, she felt colder than she had in years. It was like she'd spent the night on the street, sleeping behind a dumpster in the middle of winter. She didn't feel like seeing anyone. She'd thrown out her brother for giving her things, which in all truth she did need, and she'd likely burnt her bridge with Leonardo. She'd probably never see him again.

The ball in her stomach seemed to expand, sending chilling waves through her veins. She rolled over, facing the wall and blocking out the world. She knew it would go on without her, the little street urchin that had thought she could climb her way out of the gutter. New tears fell, but no one was there to see them.

Rocksteady was back to pacing. It was the only thing he could do. He was nervous and anxious and confused. He'd left like Sams had asked or rather demanded. But he still didn't understand why she was upset at him. He'd only been trying to help.

"Hey, Rock, maybe you should just calm down and sit down for a while." Bebop sat at table in the old warehouse, stuffing his face with hamburgers.

"I can't. I gotta go and talk to her."

"She don't want to talk to you." Bebop pointed out.

"It's been three days, surely she's calmed down by now." Rocksteady was interrupted by a knock on the door. The two looked at one another. Nobody knew they were there. Slowly he approached the door, ready in case they had to bolt or fight. He opened the door and stared in surprise at their visitor. "Lugnut?"

The older male folded his arms, scrutinizing the two mutants. "Red said I'd find you out this way." He stepped inside and looked from one to the other. "I know you're Rocksteady." He turned to eye the warthog. "So, you gotta be Bebop."

"What you doin' out this way?" Bebop asked.

"I came lookin' for this bonehead." He turned to Rocksteady with a scowl. "What did you do to Cupcake?"

"Nothin', I swear. We just had an argument." Then he paused. "Why are you askin' about her?"

"I got a friend at that packin' company that keeps an eye on her for me. She ain't seen her in three days." He shook a fist at the rhino. "If anything's happened to her, I'm gonna pound your head in!"

Rocksteady was already moving to the door. "I'm gonna go check on her."

Bebop hurried after him. "I'm commin' too!"

People scattered as the two mutants pushed through the streets, coming at last to Sams' door. Rocksteady knocked on the door with a heavy fist. "Sams, are you in there! Open up!" There was no response, so he dug through his pants for the spare key. He nearly dropped it as he tried to put it in the door. But the deadbolt was locked and the chain was on. He pounded on the door again. "Sams!"

"Move!" Bebop shoved him aside and put his shoulder into the door. It popped open like it was spring loaded, banging into the wall. The apartment beyond was dark and there didn't seem to be any sign of life.

But Rocksteady's nose knew better. He pushed past his old friend to move towards the small bundle on the bed. She didn't turn to him or acknowledge him and a tingle of fear pulsed through him. He touched her shoulder. It was warm and there was slight movement when she breathed. "Sams?" He gently turned her over. She stared at him, eyes blank and distant. She looked awful with dark rings under her eyes. "Bebop, get her some water."

He sat on the side of the bed and lifted her gently into his arms. "Come on, Sams. Talk to me." She continued to be unresponsive, almost catatonic. He touched her cheek and she looked at him. But still she did not speak. Bebop handed him the cup of water and he lifted it to her lips. "Come on, Cupcake, you gotta drink somethin' and, from the look of you, eat somethin'." She did, but only a few sips before turning her head weakly away.

He frowned. "This ain't about our fight is it?" She didn't meet his eyes. "I knew it! This is about that stupid, good-for-nothin' turtle!"

"Turtle?" Bebop echoed. "What turtle?"

"She's got a thing for one of those stinkin' green-faced geeks." Rocksteady told him with disdain. He turned her towards him, grabbing her shoulders tightly. "Forget about 'im, Sams."

"No." She peeped, her eyes hooded. She tried to push his hands off her shoulder, but he grabbed her wrist.

"I mean it! I promised to take care of you and that means I ain't lettin' that freak anywhere near you!"

She tugged at her wrist. "Let go!"

"No, not until you listen to me for a change!"

Tears welled in her eyes. "You're hurting me!"

He immediately released her, staring at the angry hand shaped bruise forming on her wrist. She drew it against her chest, looking away. His mouth hung open for a moment. "Aw, Sams, I'm sorry. I don't know my own strength sometimes." He stood and stepped away from her, chancing a glance at her out the corner of his eye. She didn't look him, her head down and face hidden behind a curtain of blonde curls. He suddenly left the small apartment.

Bebop gave Sams a sympathetic look and then hurried after him. "Where you goin' now?"

"To find me a turtle." Rocksteady half growled. "It's time to put an end to this."

"How you gonna do that? We don't know where they are?"

"No, but April O'Neil does."

The two left, leaving the door standing ajar. Inside, Samantha's mind was slow to grasp what they'd said. The only thing it latched onto was they were going to find Leonardo. She was weak and dehydrated, but she didn't care. All she knew was she couldn't face him. Not now. She struggled to her feet and to the dresser, her hand landing on the turtle-com. For a moment she stared at it, a foggy memory of him handing it to her surfacing. She tucked it into her pocket and stumbled out the door, not bothering to close it after her.

She picked a direction blindly and started walking. The world barely existed, the sounds of cars and people fading away to white noise. All she did was concentrate on putting one foot in front of another. The sky was dark, when her legs begged her to stop. She forced them on for another block or so, then slumped against a brick wall. She clutched her injured wrist against her chest. It was throbbing in tune with her heart. She knew Joey hadn't meant to hurt her. He would never intentionally do such a thing. She knew he felt terrible about it too.

And yet, her mind kept going back to Leo. What if they were able to find him? What if they hurt him? I should never have left. She pulled out the com and stared at it in the dark street. Maybe I should call him. He told me to, if I needed him.

"Now, what do we have here?" The voice chilled her to the bone. It was the one that haunted her dreams.

Leo pumped the bar again and again, sweat dripping from his whole body. He'd been doing his best to avoid his family in its entirety. Even Splinter was beginning to question him and he usually let Leo work things out for himself, only intervening when absolutely necessary. He had struggled through the last three days to say the least. And it had shown in every aspect of his life. He barely ate and sleep was elusive. He'd had his shell handed to him several times over the last few days in training. That was likely why he was now drawing his father's attention.

So, he'd spent the majority of the day in the dojo, trying desperately to keep his mind off Sams – off the vanilla scent of her hair, off the softness of her skin, and the gentleness of her touch. Yeah, he was trying, but not really succeeding. He groaned softly, dropping the long bar into the bench's hooks. This was not working at all. He stared at the ceiling for a moment before slowly sitting up. The turtle-com on his belt chirped and he pulled it out, staring at it. Was it Sams? Would she call him now, after more than three days of nothing?

It chirped again and he answered it, not wanting one of his brothers to. The shadow of hope left him as the image came to the tiny screen. "Uh, hey, April." He cleared his throat. "What's up?"

April held an uncertain look in her eye. "Um, Leonardo. Could you come over? I have something I need your help with."

He frowned, still not in a mood for socializing. "I'm kind of busy. Could I send one of the other fellas?"

She looked at something off-screen and then back. "No, I really need you for this. Do you mind coming over right away?"

He gave a soft sigh. "Okay, April. I'll be there in a few minutes." He hung up and went to clean up. Well, at least it'll get me out of the lair for a few hours.

A/N: Boy, Sams must not have been thinking right. Review please.