A/N: Hey everyone I know this chapter is a bit shorter than the last few chapters have been. Sorry about that I've had a lot going on right now and it has been hard for me to concentrate on writing or even feeling up to writing. Work is getting busier for me so updates may be few and far between but I promise I'll always update when I can. Unfortunately I've had crazy mood swings and there are some days I'm just not up to writing. I promise though I'm not giving up on this story. So I appreciate you guys hanging in there with me and for all the kind remarks and support I've gotten in my reviews. I really appreciate it everyone. So thank you. I'll try and get another chapter done next week because after that I start working 6 days a week. No promises but I'll try. In the meantime enjoy this next chapter. :D Also I know I put some more Japanese in this chapter - I don't speak Japanese so I'm sorry if it isn't perfect.

Musuko - Son

Otousan - Father

Daijoobu desu ka - Are You Ok?

Iie - No

Wakarimasen - I don't understand

Goseikou wo inorimasu - Good Luck

Chapter 13

It was well after three before Raphael rolled out of his hammock and slowly made his way down the stairs, hoping that there was at least one beer left in the fridge. He yawned, stretching his arms up over his head as he stepped off the bottom stair, still feeling his long night out.

He could hear Leonardo practicing in the dojo, and from the sounds of the constructive criticism Splinter was in there with him. The door to Donatello's lab was closed, usually meaning that his second youngest brother did not want to be disturbed, and over on the couch in front of the TVs Michelangelo sat slumped against the cushions in his usual pouting position. Raphael smirked a little as he made his way to the kitchen, wondering what had gotten Michelangelo in that sort of mood for it normally wasn't easy to do.

He paused when he reached the entryway of the kitchen and spotted Elizabeth at the kitchen table. She had a smile pile of empty candy wrappers next to her left elbow and it looked like she was playing a game of solitaire with two decks of cards.

Her mouth twitched a little, no doubt having seen him from the corner of her eye. "Back for more, Mikey?" She turned to look at him and the smile slid off her face faster than if it had been slapped off. What little color she had in her cheeks drained and her green eyes widened in surprise when she met his gaze. "Raph , I'm sorry I thought you were… "

"Sorry ta disappoint ya," Raphael said darkly as he made his way to the fridge and pulled it open. He growled low in his throat when he saw the absence of any traces of beer. All that was in there were a few cans of soda, the last of the milk and a couple water bottles. He'd have to ask Casey to make a beer run for him soon.

"No, Raph, it wasn't… I didn't mean it like… "

Raphael looked at her over his shoulder and Elizabeth's cheeks turned a dark pink. Raphael found the color in her cheeks quite flattering, he looked away quickly reaching for a bag of chips Michelangelo had left on the counter. He popped a few into his mouth, made a face, then put the bag back. He chewed and swallowed quickly. He pulled open the fridge, grabbed a can of soda, and gulped down several mouthfuls to get rid of the flavor, but even then he had the aftertaste lingering on his tongue.

Elizabeth didn't seem to notice, she was staring sadly at the pile of cards she had on the table as she slowly flipped over the cards she had in her hand, looking to see where she could make her next play.

"Why didn't ya say somethin', 'Lizbeth?" Raphael asked again, his voice a bit sharper than he'd intended.

Elizabeth flinched and looked up at him through hooded eyes. "About what?"

Raphael glared at her, his teeth grinding together as his jaw clenched tight enough to make the muscles jump in his irritation. He knew that Elizabeth knew what he was talking about and he didn't appreciate her putting him off or trying to avoid the subject.

"Da baby – why didn't ya say dat ya were pregnant?"

Elizabeth chewed on her bottom lip for a minute. "I guess I didn't think it was that important at the time."

"Not important?" Raphael was incredulous and he could feel the anger building in his gut like an unstoppable flood. He couldn't stop the next words from flying out of his mouth. "Ya lied ta us! Ta me! Ya put us all in danger by not tellin' us 'bout dis pregnancy! No wonder yer husband is lookin' fer ya!"

Elizabeth got to her feet so quickly, and with such force that her chair fell backwards onto the floor with a loud bang. She held her hands at her sides, balled into fists, her nails digging into the soft skin on her palms. She glared at Raphael, her green eyes brimming with anger and hurt. But there was something in her eyes that Raphael had never seen in her eyes before. It wasn't fear, or even anger. This was beyond anger. This was furious. And although Elizabeth was certainly no match for him in a fight Raphael realized quickly that he'd gone too far, he clenched his jaw even tighter unwilling to admit it even if it was only to himself.

"If you want me to leave, Raphael, just say it!" Elizabeth shouted, her voice easily carrying to the other rooms.

Raphael's eyes narrowed to thin slits. "I ain't puttin' no ideas in yer head, 'Lizbeth. If yer gonna let dat creep get ya pregnant why'd ya want ta leave 'im in da first place? Ya tink he's gonna leave ya alone now dat yer carryin' 'is kid?"

Something flew so fast towards his head that if Raphael hadn't been trained to avoid such things it would have hit him before he had time to react. Ducking quickly, however, the object smashed against the cupboard behind him, raining bits of glass all over the counter and floor. Raphael turned in surprise from the remains of a drinking glass to see Elizabeth storming out of the kitchen, she turned back, her eyes shooting daggers at him.

"I don't know what I ever saw in a jerk like you, Raphael!" Elizabeth spat, then she turned and hurried away.

"Elizabeth, what happened?"

Raphael's jaw tightened, hearing the concern in Leonardo's voice.

"Just leave me alone!" Elizabeth snapped. Raphael heard her feet pounding against the floor and then the unmistakable sound of the guest room's door slamming shut.

Leonardo appeared seconds later, his face torn between confusion and anger. When he saw the shattered glass behind his brother his eyes narrowed marginally and he folded his arms across his plastron in the hated position he took when he went into "leader" mode. "Raph, would you mind explaining what happened here?"

"Nuttin'," Raphael grumbled.

"Is everything ok? I thought I heard something break," Michelangelo asked as he and Donatello rushed to join their brothers in the kitchen. He frowned when he saw the abandoned solitaire game. "Where's Elizabeth?"

"Probably packin'," Raphael said crushing his empty can and aiming it towards the garbage can.

"What do you mean packing?" Donatello demanded glaring at his red-banded brother his normally even temper flaring up a little. "Raph, what did you do?"

"Nuttin'!" Raphael snapped his eyes flashing dangerously.

"What did you say to her, Raph?" Leonardo's tone irked Raphael's already volatile temper. He glared at his older brother, his jaw clenching and unclenching as he stared evenly back at his brother.

"Mike, you'd better go talk to her," Donatello said pushing his orange-banded brother towards Elizabeth's room.

Michelangelo nodded grimly and hurried away.

"Raph!" Leonardo said again, less patiently this time.

Raphael's glare darkened a little, but Leonardo met it evenly. "She had no right keepin' dat from us, Leo. She shoulda told us 'bout da baby."

"So you gave her the third degree because she didn't feel comfortable enough telling us that her abusive husband forced her to get pregnant?" Leonardo was incredulous.

"Forced 'er? She let dat creep do dat ta 'er." Raphael shot back.

"Raph!" Leonardo said his tone suddenly sharp and angry for the first time. "Elizabeth didn't want to have a baby – Graham did. You think that the only thing he did to her was physically beat the crap out of her? Graham forced her to get pregnant. Elizabeth told Mikey and I everything earlier and explained why she didn't tell us earlier."

"Don't tell me ya actually believed it!" Raphael snapped angrily.

Leonardo's expression darkened as he scowled angrily back at his brother. "You know, Raph, I'm a bit surprised that you aren't giving her more of a chance. But I guess she would be better off if she wasn't staying with us."

"Whatever," Raphael growled pushing past his brother and heading towards the door.

"Raphael! Where are you going?"

"Out! If dat ain't ok with you den try an stop me!" Raphael stormed out into the sewers slamming the door behind him.

Leonardo scowled at the door, working his jaw hard enough to make his muscles ache. Donatello cleared his throat quietly, but it caught his older brother's attention as if he'd shouted.

Donatello's eyes were somber. "Leo, you aren't going to let Elizabeth go back to Graham are you?"

"No, Donny, but Raph's pretty upset about this right now," He sighed and looked away from his brother.. "And he isn't the only one. I think it'd be best if Elizabeth went somewhere safe until things cool down around here."

"What if he's still looking for her though, Leo? Do we really want to have to go through what she risked her life to get us out of? Do you really think it is worth the risk?"

"What choice do we have, Donny? Do you really think she'd be happy staying here with us?"

Donatello frowned and looked off towards Elizabeth's room, where Michelangelo was hovering outside, hesitating. "But where is she going to go, Leo?"

Leonardo pulled his shell cell from his belt. "I'll call April. Maybe she'll know of a safe place that Elizabeth can stay until this all blows over. Then I'll go find Raph"

Donatello nodded, seeming to be satisfied with his oldest brother's solution, then he turned back and headed to the lab to continue the lab work he'd been working on before the smashing drinking glass had caught his attention. He saw Michelangelo raise up a hand and knock on Elizabeth's door. He sighed to himself and rubbed the back of his head. Elizabeth deserved better than this. But he knew that Raphael wasn't going to change. The news had taken him off guard and until Raphael felt he had a good explanation on why Elizabeth hadn't told them he wasn't going to forgive her. Donatello knew he hadn't been much better - he'd been just as angry as Raphael had been when April had told them Elizabeth's secret. Although Donatello wasn't sure if he was more upset over the fact Elizabeth had kept it a secret or that April had been the one to tell them. But right now there was nothing Donatello could do about it - all he could do was continue his research and lab work and figure out the best way to help keep Elizabeth and the baby healthy. Raphael would come around in time. He always did.

Michelangelo hesitated outside of Elizabeth's closed bedroom door. He wasn't at all sure what he was supposed to say to her. There was nothing he really could say to make this any easier for her. He like his brothers knew that Raphael was just being stubborn - but he'd come around. He always did after all. And he also knew that Leonardo was right. Until his brother did calm down Elizabeth would be at the mercy of his wrath and that wasn't a place Michelangelo would wish for anyone except for the Shredder, Bishop, or any of the other guys they'd had to fight over the years to be. Well, maybe Graham too. Michelangelo wouldn't mind if Raphael went a few rounds with that guy. In fact he'd rather enjoy it – he'd sell tickets and pop the popcorn for the show. He had no doubt it would be entertaining.

Michelangelo knew that Raphael had taken Elizabeth's news the hardest. And Michelangelo knew why – he'd seen the way Raphael had looked at her. All of his brothers had been taken by surprise none of them had known that Elizabeth was hiding such a dark secret. He'd been afraid after Raphael had taken off after April had told them the news that Raphael would treat Elizabeth indifferently. He himself wasn't super crazy about Elizabeth having Graham's kid – but after what Elizabeth had told him and Leo in the kitchen earlier… well he couldn't blame her for not telling them sooner.

Suppressing a sigh of irritation for his stubborn brother he knocked softly on the door. "Elizabeth?"

There was no answer.

Michelangelo waited a minute then knocked again. "Elizabeth? It's Mikey – can I come in?"

Again there was no answer.

Michelangelo frowned. Something didn't feel right here. He knocked again, louder this time and with more urgency. "Elizabeth? Can you hear me?"

When again he got no answer, Michelangelo twisted the knob and pushed the door open. He poked his head around the edge of the door, not wanting to bust in on Elizabeth if she was changing her clothes. He didn't see her. He pushed the door open the rest of the way and stepped into the room. Something still didn't feel right. But he couldn't quite place what it was.

"Elizabeth?"

Piles of Elizabeth's clothes had been thrown onto the bed in a messy heap, several of the drawers had been pulled out from the second hand dresser as if someone had been searching for something in its contents. Michelangelo made his way further into the room, his discomfort growing.

The sheets on the bed had been ripped off the bed and were now in a crumpled heap at the foot of the bed, the pillows thrown across the room to the furthest corner. A single lamp had been overturned it's lampshade now rolling slowly back and forth on the floor as if it had just barely hit the ground. Michelangelo stopped and picked it up, and froze. Three long streaks of blood were on one side of the lampshade.

"Elizabeth!" Michelangelo dropped the lampshade and hurried around the bed where he found Elizabeth crumpled on the other side, not moving. Her face was pale, her eyes closed, her shirt soaked with blood.

"DONNY! LEO!" Michelangelo screamed for his brothers as he fell down beside Elizabeth's limp unmoving body. He gently scooped Elizabeth up into his arms, trying to see where the source of all this blood was coming from.

"Mikey! You ok?"

"What's wrong, Mikey?"

Both Donatello and Leonardo rushed into the room together, both of them wild eyed and tense with their stress. Donatello was the first to spot where Michelangelo was clutching a limp Elizabeth to his plastron and instantly grasped the severity of the situation. He was kneeling next to Michelangelo and Elizabeth in a split second.

"What happened, Mikey?" Donatello demanded as he began examining Elizabeth for wounds.

"I don't know – I found her… " Michelangelo was staring down at Elizabeth's pale face in shock.

"Looks like she cut herself," Donatello said grimly examining Elizabeth's left arm and then doing the same with her right. "Several times." He looked up at Leonardo who hadn't moved from the doorway. "These weren't accidental cuts, Leo. She did them on purpose."

"How bad are they, Donny?"

"She's not conscious," Donatello said frowning worriedly at Elizabeth's pale face. He put two fingers to her neck. "She's going into shock. We need to get her to the lab."

Michelangelo nodded and stood up, jogging out of the room with his bundle as fast as he could. Leonardo moved aside quickly to let him pass, but grabbed Donatello's arm briefly. "She tried to kill herself, Donny?"

Donatello shook her head. "I don't think she did, Leo. I saw some old scars on her arms. I thought they might have been from Graham but now I think she may be a cutter. She's probably done this for a while and hit a major blood vessel this time."

"What did she have to cut herself with?" Leonardo asked bewildered.

"There's a shuriken on the floor over there, guess she found it in the dojo."

Leonardo released his brother and Donatello hurried away towards the infirmary.

Leonardo remained where he was staring at the small puddle of blood on the ground where Elizabeth had been lying a minute ago.

"Leonardo? Musuko? Daijoobu desu ka?"

"Iie, Otousan," Leonardo whispered, closing his eyes briefly when Splinter laid a clawed paw on his shoulder. "Wakarimasen."

Splinter squeezed Leonardo's shoulder gently. "Not everything has an explanation, Leonardo."

"But why would she do this, Master Splinter? Donny said that she did it on purpose."

Leonardo turned around so he could face Splinter's eyes, his own eyes searching for answers that couldn't be found there.

"Leonardo, the only one who can answer that question is Elizabeth. But I feel that Elizabeth has been under enormous strain after telling us about the baby. She feels as if she has let everyone down so perhaps she felt like she needed to punish herself. I have sensed Elizabeth's spirit and I fear it is very damaged, she brings a lot of weight onto herself and when your brother handled her news about the baby poorly Elizabeth withdrew further into herself. I fear the only one that can help her through this is Raphael."

"I'll go look for him then, Master Splinter," Leonardo said with a quick formal bow.

Splinter dipped his head in a semi-bow before Leonardo quickly brushed past him and jogged out of the lair. "Goseikou wo inorimasu, Musuko."

"Is she going to be ok, Donny?" Michelangelo asked. He was hovering behind Donatello as he worked, constantly standing on his toes so he could see over Donatello's shoulder, much to Donatello's annoyance.

Donatello finished wrapping an ace bandage around Elizabeth's arm. "She lost a good amount of blood, but she's stable, Mikey. She'll be ok."

"What about the baby?"

"I don't know yet, Mikey. I'll have to do a sonogram and see. I don't know how far along Elizabeth is – my guess is that she's still in her first trimester so I don't know if I'll be able to see anything, if not I might have to take some samples."

"Will that hurt the baby?"

"It shouldn't," Donatello said absent-mindedly. "Grab a few extra blankets, Mikey. She's still really cold."

Michelangelo hurried out of the infirmary to grab more blankets while Donatello started up his makeshift sonogram machine. By the time Michelangelo got back Donatello was running the transducer over Elizabeth's stomach and staring at the screen with narrowed eyes.

"Donny?"

Donatello didn't answer for a minute but continued to run the transducer over her abdomen, pressing a little and frowning at what he saw.

"Donny, is she ok?"

Donatello sighed and turned off the machine, wiping a towel over her abdomen to wipe away the gel he'd applied on her. "She'll be ok, Mikey."

"And the baby?"

"My guess is she's probably ten or eleven weeks along."

"That isn't what I meant, Donny," Michelangelo snapped impatiently.

Donatello looked at his brother in surprise. "The baby will be ok, Mikey. I didn't see anything that would indicate embryo distress but I'm going to take a few samples just in case."

"Donny?"

"Yeah, Mikey?"

"Why did she do that? What was she trying to do?"

Donatello sighed, remembering that Michelangelo hadn't heard him telling Leonardo that he'd already found the evidence that Elizabeth was a cutter. "I think she did it, Mikey, because it makes her feel like she is in control of some part of her life."

"How does… that doesn't make sense." Michelangelo disagreed.

"Mikey, Elizabeth has been in an abusive marriage for who knows how long now. Being controlled in every which way. You saw how Graham was – I'm sure he was in total control of when Elizabeth went out, when she was supposed to be home, what she was told to cook, how to dress, how she was forced to be with him. So as a result Elizabeth felt like she had no control whatsoever about what happened in her life and to her body. But by cutting herself she felt like she had some small semblance of control – by controlling her pain."

"But she hasn't done that before since she's come here." Michelangelo stared sadly at Elizabeth's pale face.

"Because while she's been with us she's felt like she has more control over her life."

"So why would she… ?"

"Probably because of Raph's reaction to her pregnancy. Cutting isn't just about control, Mikey. It can also be a way for someone to punish themselves. Elizabeth felt like she let us down – I should have seen this coming."

"Donny, you shouldn't blame yourself – you couldn't have known."

"There was evidence that she was a cutter, Mikey," Donatello argued. He sighed as he stuck a needle into her pale skin and slowly extracted some fluid. "It's a good thing you got there when you did, Mikey. You probably saved her life."

Michelangelo swallowed hard with the seriousness of this revelation. If he had gotten there just five minutes later… he suppressed a shudder as Donatello took another sample, then seeming satisfied he went to his work desk to begin to study it.

"Donny?"

"Yeah, Mikey?"

"Are you going to tell Raph?"

Donatello sighed and ducked his head for a moment before turning and looking at Michelangelo over his shoulder. "He's going to have to know, Mikey. You were lucky enough to find her fast enough that we could get the bleeding under control – but that doesn't mean she won't try it again. It'd be best if we avoided that."

"Do you think Leo will be able to find him?"

Donatello turned back to the samples. "If anyone can, it'll be Leo, Mikey. He'll bring Raph home."

Michelangelo looked outside of the infirmary towards the shut door. "Yeah, I know he will."