So Suddenly

She shut her phone after she was done and leaned back against the wall as she shoved it back into her pocket. "Well. I stay here until he pulls up." She rubbed the back of her neck, "Thank god for Andy."

"Who's Andy, if I might inquire?" Raphael asked as he took her speaking louder as a good sign to join her again which he did so quickly.

"I guess you'd call him a big brother." She said fondly as she started stroking Loki's fur. He was a very fuzzy creature. At least he didn't have to worry about the winter. "Matt's also one……or…well…" She faltered. "He used to be. I don't know if he's still mad at me or not. I did run away after all." She giggled. "I threw a big huge temper tantrum and took off. I've been on the streets alone for a year until I met Bria-chan. I guess you could say I owe her so much; I can't even put a price on it. So I gave her my life."

"Your…life? It was that big of an impact on you, whatever it was?" Raph asked gently.

Rachel looked over at Raphael and smiled, "I don't have much on me. I used to not have any money or anywhere to live." She looked upwards at the sky. "Ian saved me and I gave him everything I had. My life was his to bend. Then I disappeared after my little blow-out and Bria saved me." She bowed her head. "But she did it at the greatest price. I'm forever grateful. In answer to that…yes…it had a huge impact on me…and on her. To be honest, I still don't have anywhere to live. What do you know, I'm a nomad!" She laughed.

"You're welcome to stay with us," Raphael told her with a frown.

She looked at him with slight surprise before looking away. "That would be nice I guess...but you wouldn't want me around for that long! I'd get boring and probably turn into a freeloader or something of the sort!" She laughed. "I barely stay in one place for long; even Bria can tell you that." Rae paused, thinking. "It would be nice though...I can't describe how wonderful that would be."

Rachel sighed, "When are you going to get here?" She grumbled to herself. "Stupid idiots always making sure I suffer first-ouch!" She winced when Loki flexed his claw on her already scratched up arm. "Thanks for making me bleed again." She grumbled.

Raph flipped a pouch in the back of his leather belt and took out a mini first-aid kit, "Don makes sure we always have one," he said gently and popped the lid open, but paused, "Could you turn him around so he can't bite me?" he requested with a nervous smile.

"He won't bite you any time soon." Rachel said with an eye roll as she complied with his request about Loki and held up her arm a bit so that he could see the wounds better.

"Donny could do a better job or even Leo, but I think this should do it until we get back home," Raphael smiled softly several minutes later as he patched the last wound and reluctantly removed his hand and put the kit back where it came from.

She looked at the bandages and smiled, "I think you did a great job at it." Her eyes softened a bit and then went wide when her phone started buzzing. Without even thinking, she pushed the creature into one arm and firmly held it there while struggling to take out her phone. When she got it she flipped it open. Her voice lowered so that she could talk and when she was done, she gave Raph and apologetic smile. "Feel like walking a ways? Just to near end of the alleyway? I have to reach the highway and I know you have stayed hidden so…"

Raph smirked; "Would Andy be afraid of me?" he tilted his head.

"Hmm…" Rachel said as she placed a finger to her lips. "I don't think he would be no." She said as she looked at Raph. "I think you'd only surprise him. Well, no you'd just actually amaze him."

"Well, then, let's walk," Raphael laughed and placed his hand at her back to push her alongside him but even when they were at a nice pace he didn't leave his hand down, "Unlike my brothers…I often freely walk my patrol routs…Night is safe, and hides most of what would be plain in the Day. I've talked to plenty in free conversation in the park this way…and often caught more criminals because they mistake me for someone who they can take down."

"As long as you don't point anything sharp to Andrew's neck, he'll be fine." Rachel said with a smile and a slight blush at the closeness 'Why? Why, why, why, why, why?! Always I seem to blush and the problem is that he's not doing much to even cause it!' She wanted to sigh. "It's a smart move...ninjas blend in with the surroundings and use it to their will. I can study everything about them, but I know that I can't do half of the things you and your brothers can do."

"Being a ninja is a lifetime thing," Raph told her, "My brothers and I learned from scratch when we were tots and kept at it for so long and so hard to get this good. It's not something you can learn over night, though some just have a natural talent. You have your own way of doing things, your own skills, so don't worry about whether or not you can do what we do."

"You're such a sweetheart underneath all that rage and temper I see you fly out the window." Rachel said cheerfully. "And there's Andy's car." It was a dark royal blue, parked just outside the alleyway's entrance. "He told me he was changing his car…guess he loved this one too much."

"Rae, say one word to any of my bros and I'll hide all the coffee," Raphael threatened with a smirk and only just now let his hand drop to his side.

Rachel pouted, "I won't say a word." She bowed her head, "Solemnly swear."

Raph laughed and nodded, "Arigato." He then hesitated a bit before stepping outside into the light of a streetlamp. He heard a gasp and rolled his eyes, "Typical…"

"It's always going to be a typical response. Normally me and Rae have go climbing down on hands and knees. It's been a while since someone walked up to me and actually showed themselves up." The man answered with a slight smile. "You must be Raphael. I'm Andrew. Rae couldn't shut up about you." He grinned. He was tall, lean, his black hair was shaggy and on the right side of his hair was a fading purple streak that was turning into yellow. Soon black would overcome it. He jumped down from the hood of his hair and looked over. "Let me guess, you fell down."

"It happens quite often." Rachel said. "And for that comment about me not shutting up, I'm going to hit you for that."

"You never could hit me." Andrew said truthfully. "You say the threats but never carry them out."

"Damn you." She growled, "Anyway, Andrew that is Raph, Raph that is Andy."

"We know already." Andrew chuckled.

Raph shrugged and held out his hand, "Not really fair, that I've been spoken of but I've never heard about you," he commented glancing sideways at Rae.

Andrew frowned, "It's been a bad break." He said as he walked over to Rachel. Without saying anything he took the creature from her hands and gripped firmly when Loki started squirming. "You got attached to it?"

"It attached itself to me I didn't do anything!" Rachel said slightly panicking. "Besides all I did was give it a name!"

Raph scowled and let his hand drop to his side again, his "thumbs" going into his belt loops, "I've dealt with it before, and it hated me. If I didn't have a helmet I wouldn't have a face."

"For the last time, it doesn't hate you!" Rachel cried out.

"Tell that to the restaurant keeper who got his place destroyed because I couldn't get it off of me!" Raph yelled back.

"It just wanted to play with you." Rachel said to him. "It didn't mean any harm."

"She's quite right. To estimate, he's probably just a baby by standards. Not a grownup." Andrew commented off handedly. "So, what did you name it?"

"Loki…" She said.

Raph grumbled, "Riiiiight," he looked at the creature and cringed back when it narrowed its eyes at him, "Perfect."

"Nice…" Andrew shook his head, "After the god mischief." He smirked. "So, let me guess. I'm giving him to someone special instead of the Defenders?"

"To Nicky," Rachel replied. "I'm sure he'd love him."

Andrew shook his head, "Speaking of love. Matt sends you his. He said he wanted to come with, but didn't know if you wanted to talk about it or not." He paused. "Are you okay?"

"Talk……" Rachel shook her head, "What you did just did here was ruin a perfectly good moment Andy."

"It works when I have a critter wanting to get back to its mother." Andrew smiled. "I'm sorry, but I did just come by."

"You have work, I understand. Then go! Kick ass at your intern stuff. Don't forget to show off a bit for the nurses. God knows you need a lover in your bed once in a while." Rachel pointed out to him.

"I don't need you or Matt to worry about me and my love life thank you." Andrew said before turning to Raph. "It was a pleasure to meet you. I think, since Rae's with you, we'll meet again someday."

"It was nice meeting you as well," Raph bowed politely, "Just…don't let that thing mess with that perfectly amazing car of yours. It's temperamental…seriously."

"Don't worry." Andrew said calmly. "I'm sure that even if it does mess around with it I can repair it. If not then I'll just get another amazing car. Better than the one I have." He smirked as he got in and waved as he pulled out and drove off.

"Nice guy…I can see Bria falling for a pretty boy like him," Raph tapped his chin.

Rachel smiled, "Oh Raph, if that ever happens I'll be the happiest girl in the universe. Completely and utterly happy," She grinned. "I just love romance sometimes." Her face fell a bit. "As long as I'm not the main character, but still!" She sang, "Alrighty then!"

"We've got a long way back…want me to carry you on my shell?" Raphael asked smiling, "I don't think you should be running after that dash you had with Loki."

"No, I wouldn't want that." Rachel admitted. "As long as you don't care…"

Raph rolled his eyes and went to pick her up and then bit his lip, "Hm…maybe a piggy-back ride wouldn't be so great…because I have to hold onto your arms…and your arms are all messed up. I'll just do this, then," he shrugged and surprised her by scooping her up bridal-style.

As if she couldn't blush any harder. Her cheeks went aflame the minute he got her in a comfortable position. "Oh wow…" She murmured. "I'm so dying of blood loss. Not literally." She said, before Raph panicked.

Raph laughed heartily and shook his head, "Don't worry," he smirked and then started running at a decent pace, not too fast, but not too slow either. He felt so light on his feet though, with her in his arms, that it seemed they still got to their hideout way too early for his tastes. Only when they reached the door did he set her down and let her walk freely, "Damn it's cold out," he rubbed his face which got blasted from the cold wind coming in, "Come on," he opened the door, "Inside where it's warm!"

"Alright!" Rachel said as she walked through and smiled. Well, if that wasn't a successful adventure, she didn't know what it was. She looked behind her shoulder and sighed. 'It ends so suddenly. Too quickly…'