Author's Notes: Okay, it's been a month. Time for an update! :D My college life is still kind of busy so I've been having little time to work on my stories. But as I've said, I will at least finish this story ;)

Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT. Only the plot, Violet, Ciara and Keiko.

Chapter 27: Game…

Ciara wakes me up today, but all I can tell is it's quite early.

She grips onto me like a young child would to their parent, but I can sense it's merely to do with the fact this is still a foreign place full of strangers to her.

As I walk sleepily to the kitchen with Ciara practically glued to me, I find a very tired looking Donatello, who looks much like I feel.

"Donny" I smile and nod to him. He nods back in recognition, not giving a single glance to Ciara.

As we go over to the refrigerator, she whispers to me, "He doesn't like me much…does he?"

I smirk, "Don's shy…" I reply with a small shrug. "So, what do you want? Cereal…toast…coffee?" I look at her, still feeling quite sleepy.

"Oh…um…" she blushes. "I don't know"

I sigh, "Too much choice already?" She grins sheepishly in response. "I'll give you cereal for now…" I say, grabbing some milk and getting a bowl of the sweeter tasting stuff we have. I then get myself some coffee and sit between Ciara and Don. "So what you been up to?" I ask Don casually.

He steers away from the question pretty quickly by answering, "Not a lot"

"Yeah…right" I roll my eyes. He stays fairly blank, blocking his emotions from me…I hate that he can do that now! Maybe one day I'll be able to get around it like Keiko does, but not right now. I instead sigh and look over to Ciara. "Got anything to say?"

She clams up, almost hiding behind me again. "I…um…er…"

Don glances at her, a glimmer of interest showing across his features for a moment.

She blushes, "I…like your home" she says quietly, almost in tears.

I glance quickly at Don, giving him an expectant look, urging him to respond. "Go on" I hiss as quietly as I can.

"Um…thanks?" he seems confused.

"Can we go Violet?" Ciara asks after only eating a few mouthfuls of cereal.

I nod and stand, still looking at Don. Before I go, I whisper to him, "If you like her…tell her!" Ciara holds onto my carapace again as I walk out slowly. "How about a bath?" I offer as we leave, giving a final glance at Donatello just before we move out of view.

I see him visibly sigh, but that's all.

Man! It was never this hard for Mikey to show to me…or even admit to me he liked me!

"Violet?" Ciara asks me as we sit in the guest room; I'm currently brushing her hair and drying it fully from her wash. "Be honest with me…does anyone here…like me?"

I carefully remove a tangle before speaking. "Yeah, Mikey trusts me, so he has nothing against you…and even if he complains, I reckon Raphie isn't that heartless"

"No" she giggles slightly, flicking her hair away from me as she turns to face me. "I mean," she blushes slightly, "Like me like me"

I bite my lip, "Like a crush?" a small grin coming onto my face. "I have my suspicions"

She looks suddenly nervous, "Who is it?"

"I think you should try to get to know them all better first…maybe then you'll notice" I smirk.

"Yeah…I guess" she mutters, turning so I can finish smoothing her hair down.

"Come on" I stand, smiling warmly, "We can go and mingle a bit" I help her stand up too.

She looks suddenly pale, "I don't know"

My grin widens, "Well I do!" I pull her by the hand, leading her out of the room. She doesn't object, but stays relatively quiet.

As we come into the main part of the lair, I find Mikey right in front of me within seconds. "Hey Babe!" he beams happily, "I missed you"

I roll my eyes, "From down the hall?" I catch Ciara's curious glance between us; Mikey notices too.

"Ciara! How you doing?" he asks, bringing her into the conversation.

She flinches, not sure what to say. "I…"

"Just be yourself" I advise, "Don't worry, take a deep breath and keep it cool"

"I'm okay" she squeaks.

"Awesome!" Mikey smiles at her, "I'm glad you like it here"

"And you?" she manages to respond.

He seems impressed as well, "I'm A-okay now my flower is back with me" he teases as he tickles me under the chin.

I back off a little, "Hey!"

"She's really ticklish" he winks at Ciara as he moves closer.

"Mikey!" I squeal as he attacks, tickling me much more than before.

He stops as he hears Ciara laugh too, finding his antics funny. After she stops, she smiles genuinely for once. "Mikey, I don't think anyone can feel bad around you" she giggles slightly again.

"Violet learnt that the hard way" he says with a cheeky grin.

I mock-glare at him before I notice someone else seems to be present…but the others don't know. I can feel their curiosity, as well as their suspicion.

"Please…can I have a moment alone?" I ask them as I stand up straight.

"Sure Babe, we're cool" he exchanges a smile with Ciara.

I stalk off, following the emotions carefully. As I come up the stairs, I find Raph overlooking the lair from above, a sullen expression on his face.

"What are you doing?" I ask as I take up a similar position next to him.

"Thinking" he mutters, still watching the others.

I shake my head, "Why don't you come meet her? She doesn't bite"

He sighs, "Violet…do you know how much danger that thing is here? We don't even know if she's on our side"

"What makes you say that?" I frown.

"You met her when you were caught…isn't that just a little suspicious, and how easy it was to get her out too…"

"So? You met me after Shredders goons chased me! How did you know I wasn't on his side?"

"That's not the same and you know it!" he snarls.

I fold my arms, "Oh really? I think both you and I know it kinda is" I make eye contact as I continue, "I know you're only thinking about our family's safety, but don't you trust me?"

"Vi…" he sighs.

I grin cheekily at him, "It's not like I can read emotions or anything"

He looks away, looking down at Mikey leading Ciara over to one of his videogame consoles. "Maybe…" he huffs slightly, "You might be right"

"So you'll come say hi?" I offer a hand, trying to give support to my brother.

"I guess…" he gives in, still feeling annoyed about the whole thing, "But if I see one suspicious thing…I'm dragging her straight outta here and back to Bishop's base"

I roll my eyes, "Come on tough guy" I grab his hand and lead him down the stairs. "Just don't scare her" I warn him. He doesn't respond, a nervous feeling filling him instead. "Relax" I smirk as we walk up to the two. "Look who I found" I grin; pulling him in front of me so he can talk.

Mikey circles round to hug me again. "Was he spying?" he whispers. I nod, a small grin still present on my face.

"Hey…uh…Ciara isn't it?" Raph scratches the back of his head, trying to be as polite as he can. She nods slowly, equally as nervous. "I'm Raphael…" he offers a hand slowly, and she takes it.

"It's nice to meet you" she mumbles. "I'm sorry…" she pushes some hair out her face, "I know this must be a lot…seeing as I'm a stranger in your home"

He shakes his head, "Nah, it ain't that" he sighs, "I just…worry a lot"

I grin before a sharp pain hits me…in my shoulder. I'd almost forgot about that unpleasantness. I grip at it, scrunching up in pain.

"Violet?" Mikey asks quickly, noticing my change.

It feels as if fire is spreading round the patch Bishop rammed a saw into, but I bite my lip and try to smile at him as I'm forced to kneel down.

I'm no longer able to keep tabs on my empathy, everyone's emotions becoming one blur as I close my eyes.

"DONNY!" Mikey yells out, still by my side.

"Don't…be scared" I whisper, not to any of them though.

"Scared?" Raph asks confusedly.

I try to open my eyes as I hear someone else approaching but can't bear to. "What's wrong?" Don asks as he comes and presumably crouches by us.

"I dunno, she just started doing this before" Mikey says slowly, "I think she's in pain"

"Violet?" Don's soothing voice reaches me, "Are you okay?"

"No…" I hiss.

"Where does it hurt?"

I scrunch further into my ball, "Shoulder… head…"

"Come on, let's get her to the lab" he tells the others quickly.

I'm lifted off the ground, but that doesn't help, it somewhat jolts my shoulder, causing me to scream out in pain.

"I'm here…no…tears" I say again.

"What is she talking about?" Raph asks.

"She might be kind of delusional from the pain" Don suggests as I feel myself placed on a bed. Now I feel something brush my shoulder, causing me to bawl out again. After a few more exploratory touches, Don moves away. "Some pain meds should help with all this" he explains to everyone, "But it won't make her very sociable for a few hours…she'll probably just sleep…"

I feel the needle pierce my arm briefly then leave. It makes me go into a more peaceful state, but I try not to let myself go yet.

"Mikey…" I mutter, feeling myself uncurl a bit.

"I'm here Babe" I feel the bed slump behind me slightly, Mikey's breath tickling my cheek.

"Don't…leave…us…" I breathe slowly.

"I won't Babe, I promise" He moves slightly closer, kissing me. I'm kind of unresponsive, but he doesn't mind.

"Don…" I murmur as I feel myself going under again.

"Yes?"

"…Look after…Ciara"

I don't allow myself any more consciousness, letting the drugs cloud everything and put me into an unnatural sleep.

As I sleep, I dreamt I was back at the farmhouse. I find myself standing in the living room alone, but as I looked about, I could find no one. I eventually went outside, into a rather balmy day. I see a small figure sitting on the grass, their brown hair that's in a high ponytail blowing in the wind. As I walk up, I realize it's a mutant turtle in front of me.

"Hello?" I ask slowly, finding them turn to me equally as slowly. Her eyes stare deeply into mine, those turquoise eyes that glitter in the sunlight. "Who are you?" I ask, still not receiving an answer from the girl. She turns away, hugging her knees much like I do when I'm thinking. My next words come out instinctively, "Why are you on your own?"

"I'm not" she says, glancing back at me, "You're with me…always"

I frown, realization slowly creeping in. Is this…?

I shake my head quickly and managed a confused "Huh?" in response.

Before I can question her further, she fades away, leaving me alone again. The sky quickly turns grey, the temperature dropping rapidly. I shiver as I hug myself, looking around myself again. I'm definitely alone, no feelings what so ever around me. It feels so wrong, the nothingness. Usually there's something…

I stir, half opening my eyes, exploring the surrounding. Mikey is next to me asleep, his head and arms resting on the side of the bed.

After a few blinks, I open my eyes fully to see the rest of the scene. No one else appears to be here. I sigh and sit up, ignoring my muscles complaints.

Mikey stirs slightly too. "Babe?" he yawns as he rubs his eyes.

"Thanks for staying" I mutter, attempting to slide to the edge of the bed. He stops me.

"Are you sure you're okay?" he demands, inspecting me cautiously.

I nod promptly. "I'm sure"

"Fine…" he half-heartedly moves his arms, letting me to get off the bed.

"Now" I look around, "Where are the others?"