Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT

Song for this chapter "Fighter" (Glee Cast Version)

Chapter 3

She woke to the sound of a ventilator hissing and groaned when the deep ache that spread across the whole of her frame alerted her to the pain she was in.

She whimpered before slowly prying her eyes open to see another figure wrapped in blankets about four feet from the foot of her bed against an opposite wall.

She knew without a doubt, who it was.

Leo.

Her heart broke.

His family knew, that meant his body was finally giving out on him.

She slowly untangled herself from the blankets, keeping one wrapped around her shoulders and whimpering, slowly made her way towards the stuffed chair at the side of Leo's bed.

She curled into it and rested a hand on Leo's, which was on top of the blankets due to the IV needle.

She had dozed off by the time Splinter returned; he stood quietly beside his chair and smiled softly down on the young woman curled there.

There was obviously a bond but of what kind Splinter wasn't sure.

In honesty, he sensed only a close friendship and not a romantic tie between the two.

But he worried about his other sons' reactions to this young woman who was so close to their brother.

She was a very rough looking woman, but yet, had gentleness to her that was given away by her gentle, comforting grip, on Leonardo's hand.

She stirred and Splinter gently took a blanket and covered her up as she relaxed again.

"Rest young one," Splinter sighed, "I fear we may need your strength in the end…that he will when the time comes."

Splinter laid his hand reassuringly on her head before slipping back out of the infirmary, nodding in comfort to a slightly panicked Donatello.

"They are both resting well. Leave them be," Splinter coaxed.

Don sighed but nodded in understanding.

"Do you think?" Mike started to ask as Don and Splinter joined him in the kitchen.

"Think what Mike?" Don sighed as he sat down heavily.

"That they're…you know together?" Mike asked, looking a little sheepish as he spoke, "I mean…he let her have his number…Leo doesn't just-"

Splinter chuckled softly as Don groaned and put his head in his hands.

Raph had just finished cleaning up and had joined the rest of the group when Mike asked his question.

Raph sighed.

"Really Mike?" Raph grumbled, "I think that's kind of an obvious yes…"

"I disagree," Splinter stated after a moment's thought, "they seemed to have more of a friendship than a romance when I observed them a few moments ago."

"Are ya sure Sensei? Mike's right, for once, Leo doesn't just give out his number to strangers," Raph asked.

"I'd say no," Don replied, "I think they're friends."

"Why do ya' think that?" Raph asked.

"Didn't get that vibe," Don shrugged.

"Dude…even if they are friends…he's dying," Mike whispered, growing suddenly silent and sad.

Everyone seemed to sag and crumple slightly.

"Do you think she knows?" Raph asked, looking towards the infirmary.

"Yeah, I think she probably knows how he's getting the Chemo," Don replied sadly, "she's…probably been helping him hide it from us."

"I don't get that," Raph snarled suddenly, "why would he hide it from us? We could've helped him!"

"Because Leonardo has always held a desire to keep all of you safe; though I do not know for sure, I would think he hid it from us, so that we did not feel as if we had to protect him when he has always protected us," Splinter said softly as he stepped into the middle of the three boys.

They all nodded weakly, eyes flicking towards the infirmary.

A/N: Sorry for the long delay got married on June 23rd and just finished moving and settling in this last week. Please review folks!