Yeah, enter the really bad guys. Sylvia thought Jon Dejorn was bad, she hasn't met the Shredder and his goons... Yet.

I won't leave you hanging for long, promise. :)
Comments are welcome (loved! I will pet them and pat them and name them "George"...), as always.

Chapter 10 -The Foot-

Jeremy made his way down to the den, avoiding subway security and dodging a homeless guy who tried to grab his jacket. He was nimble, even weighed down with the odd assortment of items he'd scavenged.

"Sylvia?" There was no answer from his friend. He shrugged. Sylvia came and went, as he did. She would return when she was ready. He sat down on the stone floor, and began emptying his pockets. He'd had a good scavenging trip. He'd been fortunate enough to see the cook at a local bakery tossing out their day-old bread and doughnuts, and he'd been able to retrieve most of them before anything gross got tossed into the dumpster on top. Sylvia would be pleased; they had enough food for at least a couple of days.

He devoured two of the doughnuts, before regretfully closing the bag. He'd need to save the food, make it last as long as he could. Besides, Sylvia would be hungry, too, when she came back. Jeremy lay down in the nest of blankets. He'd just wait here for her.

***

The black-clad soldier moved silently through the now-deserted subway tunnel. No one, not even the homeless man who lay propped against the wall, snoring, noticed him. He practiced the art of invisibility, staying in the shadows as he followed the boy.

He briefly considered slitting the homeless man's throat as he lay there, but decided against it. A murder in the subway would attract the attention of the local authorities. No, better to spend his time finding the girl's hide-out first. Business before pleasure.

He slipped down the tunnel, following the tracks. He listened intently for the train, knowing the next one wasn't due for another twenty minutes. He had perhaps ten before the subway filled with travelers once more. The opening he suspected would be there loomed large, a darker black against the tunnel wall. The Foot smiled to himself. So, this is where the boy he was tracking had disappeared. Finding the girl would be easier than he'd imagined. Sources on the street had placed his target with the boy. Now all he had to do was follow the boy's trail. If the girl wasn't in the hideout, he would simply force the boy to tell him where to find her. He smiled under his mask. Perhaps business and pleasure would become one.

***

Sylvia sat in the chair, feeling surrounded, trapped, and more threatened than she had since she'd woken up. Leonardo regarded her with calm efficiency, like an entomologist studying a bug. Tentatively, she reached out, seeking his intentions, but she met a barrier. He was aware of her ability now, and had set up mental defenses against her. She withdrew, and scanned the others.

She felt the same resistance from each of them, though their defenses were less perfect than Leonardo's. From Donatello she sensed sympathy. Michelangelo was the most open. His emotions were calm, trusting, focused on his older brothers. Raphael… She recoiled emotionally. His hostility was still strong, simmering just below the surface.

Sylvia began to despair. They weren't going to let her leave alive. She thought of her father, not for the first time since she'd come to the city. She imagined him wondering what had happened to his only daughter, wondering why there were no phone calls, no letters, never knowing where she'd gone. Tears slid down her cheeks, not for herself, but for her family, who she was sure she'd never see again.

***

Splinter had disappeared into his room while the others questioned her. Now, he entered the kitchen, scritch, tap. Scritch, tap. Scritch, tap.

"Sensei?" Leonardo turned. "Would you like a cup of tea?"

"No, Leonardo," said Splinter calmly. His eyes were on Sylvia. "I sensed a… disturbance from our guest, and came to investigate. What has upset you so, my dear?"

"Leo says she can't leave, Sensei," Michelangelo said. "She wants to know what we're gonna do with her."

"Is this true, Leonardo?" asked Splinter quietly. Sylvia watched warily as the old rat approached. Leonardo's eye ridges rose as Splinter walked over and stood next to Sylvia's chair. She shifted, frowning. Splinter looked directly at her, and she froze. She blinked, and then relaxed, with a half-smile. She held her hand out to Splinter, and he touched it with his paw.

"I'm afraid we can't let her leave, Sensei," said Leonardo apologetically. Sylvia glanced at him, nervous, and took her hand back from Splinter.

"What do you propose we do, my Son?" asked Splinter.

Leonardo held up his hands in a helpless gesture. "I don't know, Sensei. We can't risk her leading anyone to the Lair. I don't know if we can trust her."

Sylvia picked up the pen. You can trust me. I won't tell anyone. I give you my word.

"That's not good enough," snapped Raphael. "She'll say anyt'ing to get outta here. How do we know she won't go runnin' to the Foot?"

What's "the foot"? she scribbled.

Donatello watched her write. "A gang of ninjas who would love to find out where we live," he explained. "They're dangerous, Sylvia. If they knew you had information, they wouldn't hesitate to use terrible means to force it out of you. Believe me, you don't want to mess with those guys."

I'll keep that in mind, she wrote. But now what? Why can't I leave? I'll go away, far away. I want to leave the city anyway. No one will find me. No one will use me to find you. Please.

"We can't take that chance, Sylvia," said Leonardo, sounding frustrated. "Listen, it's late, and we've been out patrolling all night. Why don't we all get some rest, and we'll figure something out in the morning, ok? You'll have to stay for tonight, but maybe we can work this out."

Sylvia looked at him, frowning. You can't keep me here! she scribbled furiously.

Leonardo shook his head. "I'm afraid we have to." He got up. "Who's going to take the first watch?"

"I will," said Raphael. Sylvia met his eyes, and shrank back, trembling. He scowled, fingering the handle of his sai.

"Ok, Raph. All you have to do is keep her from leaving, ok?"

"I can handle it, Leo."

"Sylvia, will you give us your word you won't try to run away? We don't want to have to tie you up," said Leonardo seriously. Sylvia jumped up, shaking. Donatello stood up, too, and Raphael moved to block the door, taking a defensive stance, his eyes narrowing. Sylvia froze. Even Splinter was watching her warily. She knew there was no way she could get past four trained ninjas and their master. For an instant she was tempted to try, but the hostility emanating from Raphael made her fear that she would end up hogtied in a corner, regretting the attempt. Her shoulders slumped in defeat. She picked up the pad and pen.

Ok, she wrote. If you promise not to tie me up, I won't try to leave. Where can I sleep?

The turtles relaxed. "You can use the couch, Sylvia," said Donatello. "Come on, I'll show you where it is."

***