Author's note: Thank you everyone for you patience and your encouragement for my finals . I hope you all enjoy and thank you for all your comments!

Ch. 7

Straddling the turtle under me we stared at each other in shock as I felt his whole body tense up. It looked as if he was restraining himself not to attack as he eyed me looking for some kind of threat. Even if he were to attack I would have been still frozen with shock of who I had just tackled off the couch. He was the first one coming out of shock as he blinked a few times before looking away from me and giving a slight embarrassed cough.

"No I'm not…who are you?" feeling my cheeks heat up finally, it clicked. I was on top of the eldest brother. The one brother who had been gone…I was on top of Leonardo Hamato! He was home!

"Oh my god, your Leonardo…and…I'm still on top of you. I am so sorry," I blushed as I helped him up.

"Its fine, so you're a friend of Raph's…when did he get friends and…never mind I'm Leo, but seems you already know that," he rubbed the back of his neck at a loss of words making me giggle slightly as my face was still flushed as a tomato. Looking up at him he had his head down and slightly looked up at me in the same state making me give him a small smile which he returned with no hesitation. Blushing I felt my whole body grow warm under his shy smile. Just then the lights turned on. Looking over, Master Splinter gave a proud smile as Raph came in with a box in his hands.

"I see you've met my oldest son Catherine," blushing I looked down at my feet and nodded.

"So your names Catherine, pretty, nice to meet you," Leo extended his hand as I smiled and shook it. His hand was almost as big as Raphs but was gentle I could feel him trying not to hurt me with his grip.

"Thanks, glad to finally meet you sorry about that you see Raph was suppose to be sleeping on the couch," glaring over at him, "When are you up this early?" he was silent for a moment before he sneered to his side and then looked back at me.

"I was getting breakfast, thought you would like some pigs in a blanket instead of cold pizza for once," he growled at Leo as he put the box on the table and storming of to his room.

"Hey Raph wait," sighing I shook my head smiled at blue masked turtle behind me observing, "It was nice meeting you Leo," I smiled receiving his kind smile back.

"Same, finally someone who can get to that hot head," I laughed shaking my head.

"Oh Leo, that's a laugh," I walked off making him laugh a little before stretching and yawning. Walking up to Raph's room I knocked.

"Raph you alright?"

"Yeah I'm fine, just go to work alright?" He growled through the door making me step back a bit. I was taken back. Raph had never held that tone with me like this before. Even if we were out on the streets or trash talking in the training room, this held a lot more malice than I was use to. Shaking it off I knocked again not giving up and also knowing I had to get in there.

"Raph please open the door".

"Why the hell should I?"

"…you have my phone," I whispered lowly feeling his rage seep through the door. A few seconds the door was opened. Coming in, Raph was laying in his bed staring at the opposite wall to me. Closing the door I walked over to him and sat next to him rubbing his shell, "Raph?"

"Its fine, don't need you worrying about me" He muttered as he kept his back towards me. Rolling my eyes, I had enough I turned him over and pinned his shoulders to the bed.

"Alright you knuckle head, it is up to me over what I worry about," glaring up at me I sighed and did something I thought I would never do in my life; open up. Staring down at Raph I cupped his cheek waiting for him to shove me off but, he never did. His glare never faltered as he refused to react or touch me as I closed my eyes, "It's because he came back isn't it?" he looked away and back at me then away again. "Raph nothing will change. Just cause Leo came home doesn't mean that everything will change."

"It always does, Splinter Jr. is home again. Of course it will," stroking his cheek trying to calm his nerves and becoming a bit braver with the slack he was giving me I decided to do something daring. Lying down next to him I held him tight feeling my heart race a mile a second. What was wrong with me? I was here hugging my best friend who was having a crappy day and it wasn't even eight thirty yet. Here I am blushing like a mad woman because I can feel his muscular torso and his thick arms…Shaking myself back to reality I sighed and laid my head on his shoulder.

"I understand," Feeling my insides clench up my insecurities started to show through. Raph may have been the closet person I was too but… didn't mean I let him in truly. I made sure that no one would get me every again. Not after what happened to my brother. I swore that I wouldn't let anyone that far. I never understood why the Dragons were after my family but, I wasn't about to find out with them murdering anyone else close to me.

Sighing, I slowly stood up and stared down at the hot headed turtle who stared right back at me. Giving him a sad smile I finally found my words, "Just think of it this way Raph…you still have your brother," I felt my heart choke even let myself remember any of my past I closed the door taking my phone before he could say anything. Walking down stairs Mikey and everyone was up.

"I'm going to work," giving Mikey a nuggy and hugging Don as he held his mug I came face to face with Leo. Blushing we stared at each other for a moment till I broke the gaze by reaching past him to get a piggy. "See you later guys, Master Splinter I will have more tea for you tonight, more lavender and ginger tea right?"

"You are correct be safe Catherine," smiling I waved at them and raced back to my apartment and again raced to work.

Waking up this morning not only being tackled off the couch but being straddled by a strange girl was something new. It took all of my control to try and not attack her. When I looked up at her she was stunning, even in the dark her eyes shined out like neon green orbs. Shaking myself back to earth I watched the wild curly girl run out of the lair I was taken back. Not just by our first impression but her wild nature. Her bright smile, how she was with everyone and even with Raph. He never lets anyone in his room when he's in one of his moods. Looking up I could see Raph looking at the door like I was, when our eyes met he gave me the deadliest glare before returning to his room and slamming it.

"Sensei, how long have you all known Catherine?"

"As you can tell my son she holds a strong bond with Raphael. It's been a few months but Raphael has known her longer. She's a true beauty wouldn't you say," he teased me making me come out of my daze. He chuckled shaking his head at me before walking past me with his tea, "Its time for my stories". Going to my room I stared at Raph's door and shook my head. Catherine made me curious…what was she to Raph?

Walking in to the lair Leo wasn't going to bring down my day. Even if he just came in out of the blue expecting to have us fall in to line like damn sheep. I had the hottest girl in New York up stairs, in my bed. Stopping outside the door I felt every nerve in my body tense up as my stomach twisted in to knots. Then remembered what Casey said:

"Come on Raph you know you like her".

"You know most human's aren't up for, you know, big huge mutant turtles," he shook his head through his mask as he took it off watching as Cat slid in to her window safely. Touching my cheek were the heat of her lips lingered a small smirk crept upon my face. A Purple Dragon had almost knocked her out from her blind side, course I took care of it. Just didn't think I would be so lucky when she lifted her helmet and kissed me.

"Sure and she kissed you cause your cute? Come on Raph I have seen you two together so stop being a pussy. Plus if it doesn't work out you always have me," laughing he hit my shoulder walking off as I gave her window a small smile as she turned out the lights.

"Come on Raph you can do this, just tell her how ya' feel and it'll be fine," opening the door I heard a thump. Running in Spinter turned on the lights to see Cat staring in shock at Leo. Smacking my forehead I forgot…she even warned me she was going to attack me. Watching as she blushed embarrassed I could see Leo checking her out. My blood started to boil as they started talking and then she glared at me.

"When are you up this early?" she asked. Remembering why I had woken up this early in the first place, thinking of my plan I saw how stupid this was and growled.

"I was getting breakfast thought you would like some pigs in a blanket instead of frozen pizza for once," I growled as I looked at Leo who couldn't stop staring at her. Something in me snapped as I put the box on the table and started to shake. No, I can't loose it in front of her. Running upstairs I slammed the door and punched the wall.

"Pigs in a blanket! What the hell was I thinking?" I growled to myself as I sat on the side of the bed. I knew I woke up Mikey by the yelp and thud. I didn't care till I heard her at my door. Going through her begs I looked down at my night stand and saw her phone and gave a rugged sigh. Opening the door I couldn't look at her, I was too mad. Feeling her touch I almost felt my inner fire simmer down a bit till she pinned me. Seeing her on top of me and her curls coming down around her, my heart started to pound in my ears. No don't loose it; keeping my glare was hard when her eyes softened like they would for me. Touching my cheek I tried not to enjoy myself as she held me. Letting me go before I could react she said something that hit my chest hard.

"Just think of it this way Raph…you still have your brother," coming out of shock she was hugging everyone and came to Leo who stood there like an idiot staring at her. Watching her leave and what she said to me made me think. I really didn't know that much about her. I didn't know about her family, her friends or what other stuff she liked. She's always been obsessed with us. Glaring down at Leo, the one thing that would make my day would be to kick his shell, but I knew better if Splinter was there. Going back in my room I thought some more. What happened to her brother?