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Chappie number four! Whoot whoot!

"Hey, Don?" Leo asked as he entered the kitchen.

"Hm?" his brother hummed in reply. He was concentrated on his task, stirring the macaroni so it wouldn't burn to the pot. Mikey was the cook of the family, and sense he was sentenced to bed rest for a few days the rest of them had to fend for themselves. Raph and Don had to really concentrate to make anything edible and Leo wasn't aloud anywhere near the kitchen appliances. So they usually ate take out. Tonight, however, Don decided to make some macaroni and chicken nuggets for their guest. It was easy on the digestive system and filling, both qualities she needed from her food. He'd worry about nutritional value when she was a little healthier and could digest things more easily.

"What do you think happened to her back?" Leo's voice held both disgust and worry.

"I don't know, Leo. I just don't know…" Don took the pot of the stove and strained the noodles. As the steam went up he continued, "My first thought was that it was some sort of injury that had not healed properly. Thing is, there's no scars over or around the abnormalities. Plus the bruises were far too fresh. Then I thought that perhaps they were some sort of implants gone wrong. But again, there are no scars, surgical or otherwise. The only thing I can think of is some sort of … mutation."

Leo went still. Only two people that he knew of messed around with any sort of mutagen; Agent Bishop and Dr. Stockman. Then again, they could be dealing with a completely unknown factor here. Suddenly things seemed much more complicated. "When she gets out of the shower, we'll have to ask her a few questions."

"Yeah, Fearless? How she gonna answer? She don't talk!" Raph grouched as he stomped into the room.

"We'll give her a pad of paper and a pen, Raph. It isn't all that hard to get around," Donnie sighed. He was now adding butter, milk, and the cheesy powder to the noodles.

"Hey, Mac' n' cheese! There enough fer all o' us? What do ya think is wrong with 'er, Don? Her back was gross." Raph sat heavily next to Leo and leaned back on to the two back legs, tipping his chair.

"There's enough if you're not a pig and let her," he motioned in the direction of the bathroom with his wooden stirring spoon, "get first dibs. As for her back," he rolled his eyes at having to explain twice, "she has some sort of mutation happening there. Other than that, I have no clue."

"Well I coulda told ya that," he snarked at his brainy brother.

"Four on the floor, Raph, or do you want a repeat of last month?" Don replied smoothly. Remembering last month's broken chair and his subsequent tumble to the floor, Raph rocked forward with a thump, scowling.

Suddenly, the rushing sound of water often heard throughout the lair changed, signaling the water for their shower being turned off. "She'll be down in a few minutes. Raph, could you pop the chicken in the microwave?" Don asked.

"Why me and not Fearless?" Raph growled. Don looked pointedly at the toaster, and then at Leo. Raph grumbled a few choice words as he heaved himself up out of his chair. Leo just smiled sheepishly at his brothers. He couldn't help it! Electronic kitchen appliances were demons in disguise, he was sure of it.

The brothers looked toward the doorway when a strange skittering noise reached their ears. Leaning on the doorframe, the woman peered in. She was scrubbed clean, and her pale skin was striking, as was her long, dark auburn hair. Leo smiled and pulled out a chair for her. "Hello, there. Hungry? Don and Raph are almost done with supper." She smiled back at him and loped to the offered chair like a monkey on all fours. Her hands and feet were quick and light on the floor, making that skittering sound they had heard before. She leapt laboriously from the floor to the chair, coming to rest with her feet tucked under her. Leo set the table as Don put the pot of macaroni on a pot-holder on the table. Raph came up a second later and deposited a plate piled high with chicken nuggets. Her eyes were wide and hungry as she gazed upon the food, but she did not take any.

"Go on ahead, load your plate," Don urged.

"Mike and Master Splinter are sleeping; we'll save some for them. Take what you want." Leo affirmed.

Her eyes darted around the table, before she slowly reached for the wooden spoon stuck in the pot. Eventually she was chowing down, trying her best to be neat, but she was so hungry.

"Slow down a little, or you'll throw it all back up," Don warned. She didn't seem to hear him.

As she went for seconds, Leo intervened, interrupting his own eating. "Easy, there. Your stomach can't handle all that. Let that settle and if you're still hungry we'll get you something a little healthier." She looked very sad at that pronouncement, but nodded.

She straightened some (though not much) and gave Raph and Don a smile, patting her stomach. Raph half smiled and Don nodded saying, "You're welcome."

Leo made to rise and leave when the woman hurriedly grabbed his arm. She looked very alarmed all of a sudden. "What is it?" Leo asked very confused. She let go sheepishly, and shook her head.

"I'll go get the paper and pencil, Leo. She seems to be attached to you," Don stated as he strolled out the door. Raph snickered. Don beaned him over the head with a notepad as he came back in. "Here," he murmured, setting the pad and pencil in front of her. She grabbed the pencil and scrawled out thanks as he sat down again.

"So," Leo smiled at her, "What is your name?"

Roxanne.

"Nice to meet you, Roxanne," Leo grinned. His brothers greeted her by name as well. Leo's grin fell as he moved on to the next question. "Can you tell us what happened to your back?"

Her face fell. She heaved a great, resigned sigh, and wrote, Should I tell you my whole story?

"That'd be beneficial," Raph growled. She shrank back from him and Leo smacked the back of his head. Raph mumbled a few more choice words and glared at Leo. Don ignored the two and made a "go on" motion with his hands.

It began when I came to this city to live with my aunt and uncle…

Mwaa hahahaha! Cliffie!