Hey guys. Happy Saturday. Hope everyone has had a good week. Have a lot to do tomorrow and won't be home tonight so I worked really hard to get this next chapter written for you. As always I really appreciate those who take the time to review, really appreciate it. I know it takes me a couple weeks to update but work has really been keeping me running around in circles lately and it's just getting busier and busier with the warmer months coming up. Really appreciate your guys patience. I do feel like I'm really getting into my stride with this story now sometimes it takes me a while before I do so hopefully the updates won't be so far between from here on out. Can't promise because it really does depend on how busy work is and how many hours of over time I end up working. But I will keep trying. Have a great weekend!

Chapter 10

Melinda sighed as she finished nailing a temporary sheet of wood over the last of the broken windows. She had no idea how she was going to explain this to the management. Four broken windows, glass all over the place, her apartment looked like it had been in a fight, furniture overturned, her TV was beyond repair, the Super Nintendo smashed. Several of her pictures had fallen off the walls, the frames and glass shattered adding more glass to an already treacherous carpet. She wouldn't be able to walk around without shoes for a while in here. Not until she was sure all the glass was gone. And with the way the broken glass was shining and dancing in the overhead lights giving away just how much was in the carpet she had a feeling that wouldn't be for a while.

Glass crunching underneath her shoes Melinda went to the kitchen and grabbed a trash can so she could start picking up the large shards of glass. She tossed them carelessly into the trash can as she crouched carefully, not daring to even kneel to give her body better comfort as she worked. The fact was she knew she'd be more likely to cut herself that way. Who knew that bringing an injured turtle into her apartment could ultimately lead towards her apartment being completely trashed and her picking up shattered glass at 2:00 in the morning when she had to go to work in just a few short hours. She hadn't studied much about this meeting and knew she was going in completely unprepared. Buddy was not going to be happy with her.

She shouldn't have interfered, she should have left the turtle where she'd found him. Then none of this would have happened. She could have been prepared for the meeting and she wouldn't be in danger of losing her job because of it.

Melinda winced as she sliced open her palm on a sharp piece of glass. Red immediately pooled to the surface of her hand and ran over the sides. Melinda swore hurrying to the sink, turning on the warm water and ran her hand over it. She hissed as the water stung, and catching a flash within the cut she carefully reach in and pulled a smaller shard of glass out of the meaty part of her hand feeling slightly sick.

It was a deep cut. She really didn't want to go to the hospital to get stitches, but stitching it up herself, especially considering the location would be tricky at best. Grabbing a dish towel out of the bottom drawer she wrapped up her hand. It would have to do for right now. She hadn't had a chance to shower since the blue masked monster had brought her back. She was terrified of him, but at least it wasn't the red masked monster, that one made her blood run cold in her veins.

The blue masked monster hadn't said much to her as he'd led her back home, Melinda had quickly gotten lost in the dark and confusing sewer tunnels, she wouldn't know how to get back to their home if she tried, and she figured that was probably the point. Especially since those "foot" people had been after the turtle she'd brought back to her apartment.

Michelangelo. That was his name. Elizabeth had told her that he had had a name. That she didn't own them. That they weren't pets. Melinda didn't really think that they could be pets. They were fighters, they carried weapons. She'd seen Michelangelo's weapons when she'd first found him, she'd almost fallen because she'd stepped on that round wood weapon with the chains that linked them together. She had no idea what they were but she had no doubt that they were weapons.

The monster that had escorted her back had had weapons too. She had no idea if this was Raph or Leo… or even Don. He hadn't really talked to her, hadn't introduced himself, Elizabeth had just come back and said that she could go use the bathroom if she needed to and that she'd be taken home in ten minutes. Melinda had waited nervously in the living room, looking around at the surprisingly comfortable home, it had everything anyone could possibly need, even a kitchen, which really shocked Melinda since she found out they were in the sewers.

And just as promised ten minutes later the monster in blue had emerged from a paper rice door, with a room hidden behind it. He'd looked at her, his eyes calculating her behind the mask he wore, his eyes not at all like the blue eyed turtle she'd helped. They were colder, more suspicious and a bit wary. "Let's go." Had been the only thing he'd said to her until they'd reached the surface.

Melinda had followed him, trying to avoid what she knew had to be in the disgusting waters of the sewer, making a face, and breathing threw her mouth so the stink wouldn't overwhelm her. Several times she'd seen him turn to glare at her, though she wasn't sure why he was. He almost seemed annoyed. Every time he did this he'd look around as if expecting the shadows to leap out at them, then he'd shake his head and keep walking without a word. They'd walked for a very long time. Melinda was getting frustrated, she didn't like walking in the stinky sewers and she had a feeling that they were going around in circles it all looked the same down here. But then at last the turtle had stopped and began to climb a rung ladder, Melinda had hesitated for only a minute before copying him. He'd lifted the manhole cover with relative ease and had slipped out waiting for her. Melinda was surprised to see they were just down the street from her apartment. Grabbing her arm he'd pulled her to the closest alley. Melinda was startled and had fought at first but his grip was strong and firm. He'd refused to yield to her struggles of protest.

"For obvious reasons I just can't walk down the street with you, you act like you are just walking home. I'll keep an eye on you from up there," he gestured to the roof, "see you home."

Melinda opened her mouth to protest that she didn't need an armed guard to see her home, especially when she was this close to her apartment, but the look on his face told her that it wasn't open for discussion and he'd taken to the roof without another word. Melinda had sighed and shaking her head, made her way down the sidewalk, feeling rather jumpy knowing that someone was watching her. He hadn't come back down though, and when Melinda had managed to get inside the building, and then her apartment she felt the tingly up her spine feeling of having eyes on her go away. Heading to the small storage close she rented she shifted several items aside before finding the flat piece of wood she was looking for, some nails and a hammer to board up her broken windows. She didn't need any more unexpected visitors coming in here, and that had brought her up to this point.

Overall it had been the strangest and most frightening weekend she'd had since she'd come to New York. Who knew that such creatures resided under the busy streets and carried such dangerous weapons, or that "foot" people were hunting them? Grabbing the garbage can, Melinda put it back in its place. Her hand hurt and there was no point in trying to clean up more tonight. She was tired, it had been a long night – a long weekend really. And she really didn't need to sleep through her alarm in four hours on top of everything else.

Glass crunching beneath her shoes, Melinda made her way down the hall to her bedroom only to scowl in frustration when she turned on the bedroom light. Glass sparkled all over her bed, that window shattered as well. She couldn't sleep on that. So now what was she supposed to do? Go to a hotel? What else was there to do? Even if she tried to pick up all the glass chances were that there would still be some there. She could cut herself again.

She balled her hands into fists and hissed as her sliced palm screamed in protest. The pain shocked the anger out of her and she headed to get her purse. Hospital first. Hotel afterwards.

Elizabeth stayed with Michelangelo as she promised waiting anxiously for her family's return safely back to the lair. She was surprised that Melinda had been so adamant about going back home, especially after Elizabeth had explained that the Foot would and could try to get her again, would torture the truth out of her to find out where her family lived. Melinda didn't seem to care – or she didn't believe her. Elizabeth wasn't sure which. But she knew that Leonardo wouldn't let any harm come to the girl, that he would lead her through the sewers back to her apartment, and she also knew that Melinda wouldn't be able to find her way back here without help, Elizabeth herself had really struggled with that for a while. She was so familiar with the tunnels now though that it really wasn't as complicated as she'd once found it, but for someone who had never been down here before trying to find it was impossible. Donatello had set up the security measures too well. The entrance to the lair would look like just another brick wall. There was no seam indicating there was a hidden door there, and if you didn't pull on the right pipe there was no way you could get the door open.

She knew the turtles weren't happy about taking Melinda back anyway. Elizabeth knew that they were worried about what Michelangelo might have told Melinda about them. But with what Melinda had told her Elizabeth knew there was little to worry about. Michelangelo didn't even know his own name, she doubted he'd remember anything about the lair or his brothers, which was a mixed blessing. If the Foot did go after this girl, there wouldn't be much she could tell them about Elizabeth's family – but the Foot were ruthless and Melinda could die trying to tell them that.

Finally Elizabeth heard the turtles return, and she wasn't at all surprised that Donatello headed right back to the makeshift infirmary to check on the youngest turtle.

"How is he?"

"Still unconscious. She get home ok?"

"Yeah she did. Leo made sure she got inside and there weren't any signs of any lingering Foot hanging around. Raph and I checked it out before Leo and Melinda got there."

Elizabeth nodded, knowing that the brothers would have been thorough before letting Melinda return home. Don walked over to Michelangelo and put a hand on his baby brother's forehead, frowning a little. "He should have woken up by now."

"He'll wake up when he's ready to wake up, Don. Just give him time."

Don nodded but he still seemed troubled he walked over to his desk, looking at an encyclopedia sized book again, Elizabeth shook her head and with one last look at the youngest turtle left the room, there was no point in being in here anymore. Donatello would watch his brother all night while studying what could possibly help with their little brother and prepare himself for whatever situation might hit them when Mikey did.

As Elizabeth entered the living room she heard the unmistakable sound of Raphael in the dojo hitting the punching bag. Leonardo was sitting at the kitchen table sipping at a cup of tea. His usual routine after a mission topside, even if it didn't involve a fight. Tea seemed to calm the oldest of the turtles, even if he acted like something wasn't bothering him.

Knowing that Raph wasn't in the mood for her presence right now Elizabeth opted to try and find out what was bothering the oldest turtle. He was frowning at the table, his hands hard on his cup, his eyes narrowed staring into nothing as if something was eating at him from the inside out.

"I'd say a penny for your thoughts but think they are worth at least a quarter," Elizabeth teased as she entered the kitchen, startling Leonardo into looking up at her. This surprised and worried her but she tried not to let it show. Sneaking up on Leonardo – or any of them for that matter was almost impossible. What could be troubling Leonardo, the one who trained the hardest and studied the art of ninjitsu the hardest out of all his brothers that she could take him by surprise when she just walked into the room?

He relaxed a little leaning back in the chair though he kept his tight hold on his cup of tea, and his smile was forced. "Afraid they aren't worth a quarter."

"Leo, I know something is bothering you, what's wrong?"

He looked at her, really looking at her, almost studying her. Sizing her up. Elizabeth scowled. She didn't like it when he did this. As if trying to see if he really wanted to tell her something. If she had the right to know.

"This doesn't feel right, Elizabeth. Taking her back. When we brought her back here that place was trashed, it isn't safe for her to be there, especially not with the Foot knowing where she lives. Knowing that she helped Mikey. They'll try to get her to tell them where we live."

"You think she can?" Elizabeth asked studying the turtle she saw as an older brother.

Leonardo shook his head, shifting his weight on the chair. "No, took the long route back to her apartment to give Don and Raph extra time to get the security measures set up at her place."

"And to make sure she'd get confused with all the twists and turns in those tunnels," Elizabeth said with a knowing look.

"I need to keep my family safe, Elizabeth."

"I understand that, Leo. But she wanted to go home we couldn't keep her here against her will."

"No I suppose not. Still doesn't feel right." He stood up taking his cup to the sink and rinsed it out. "I'm going to bed. Good night, Elizabeth."

"Night, Leo," Elizabeth watched him go and ran her fingers through her long brown hair. She really hoped for Melinda's sake that they hadn't made a mistake in taking her home, and that the Foot didn't find out she was home. Because if they did, Elizabeth knew the turtles would go on another dangerous mission to get her out of the Foot's clutches before they killed her.

Melinda knew she was in trouble, that Buddy was not pleased with her when she knew so little about the meeting. The whole day had started off poorly. By the time she'd finished at the hospital it had been nearly five in the morning. She'd headed to a hotel afterwards, knowing that she shouldn't go to sleep because she would have to head out in an hour to catch the subway down to work. But despite her determination not to fall asleep the long weekend and the long trek through the sewers had exhausted her. She'd taken a hot shower hoping it would help wake her up but as soon as she'd sat down on the bed she'd found her eyelids too heavy to stay open. The next thing she remember was the alert tone on her phone telling her the meeting was in an hour and a half. Frantically Melinda had hopped up quickly pulling out the sweet heart strapless black dress she'd selected for this meeting. Her hair had been impossible so she'd quickly pulled it back into a French braid and after slipping on her tennis shoes while grabbing her purse, high heels and stockings she'd hurried out of the hotel.

She was late for work, running and dodging between people who cursed at her as she passed she'd quickly gotten down to the subway just in time to see it pull away. She'd had to wait several long minutes for another one, which had been very full. Scrunched between a large man who smelled like he hadn't taken a bath in a week and a man who leered at her in the tight dress Melinda had endured the very uncomfortable ride. She'd darted back up to the street and jogged down to the office, only to realize when she'd gotten there that she'd forgotten her copy of the notes Buddy had given her.

He was not at all pleased, with her being later or with her being unprepared for the meeting. He'd taken her into his office after the meeting was over and had expressed his displeasure with her, not at all interested in hearing her excuses, even if Melinda had given him any. By the time he dismissed her to leave Melinda was tired, her hand hurt, and she was incredibly frustrated with herself for being so stupid. So careless. Buddy had clearly stated if she did this again she could look for another job.

What was she supposed to do if she didn't have this job? It hadn't been an easy one to come by and she knew Buddy wouldn't give her a good recommendation and with his business being so well known, she knew it could really cripple her chances of getting a good job.

Melinda walked down the street to her apartment, intending on getting more of the glass cleaned up off the floor before heading back to the hotel for the night. The less time she had to stay in her apartment the better. Heading up the front steps she stuck her key in the lock and pushed open the door and headed down the hall. She frowned when she saw the paper on her front door. It was from the management and they weren't at all happy. They had seen the boards in her window and had investigated they expected her to pay for the broken windows. So much for the money she'd saved up for a rainy day. Most of that would go into repairing the broken windows. She'd completely forgotten to call up the management and tell them about the windows… or even come up with a convincing story that would make it seem as if she were an innocent bystander in all this, and if she was perfectly honest with herself she was. She hadn't done anything wrong. All she'd been trying to do was help a poor injured turtle. But she had no doubt if she tried to explain about the men in the black pajamas they would call her crazy and she'd end up paying for the windows anyway.

Ripping the note off the door she went inside. Obviously they'd had the maintenance man in while she'd been out. While her furniture was still overturned and a mess. The glass had been cleaned up, the carpet looked well cleaned up. Melinda would have to thank him for that he'd saved her a lot of work. She went to the bedroom. Her bed was still covered with shards of glass and she knew that the maintenance worker wouldn't have wanted to touch her bed in case she reported it for prying into her personal things. She couldn't sleep there. She began to take more clothes off the hangers and put them in a bag, then grabbing an over-sized garbage bag she pulled off the comforter and put it in the trash bag. She'd have to buy a new one, she didn't want to risk glass being stuck inside the material and her accidentally cutting herself on it. When had her life gone down the drain – and how had it happened so fast?

Adding the blankets and sheets to the bag and after gingerly testing the mattress and finding no glass in it she carried her bag outside and threw it in the dumpster. She hadn't liked those horrid green sheets anyway. She'd gotten them on sale when she'd first come here with no job. Now she could get the comforter and sheets she'd seen when she'd been shopping a few weeks ago. The ones that were her taste.

As she headed back for the apartment she froze, a tingle working its way up her spine. She looked around but saw nothing there. It was black and still. But still something didn't feel right.

She hurried back inside and bolted her door, hurrying to the room and began to shove her clothes into it hastily. Suddenly the hotel seemed a whole lot safer.

Takeshi watched the girl hurry back to her apartment building.

"The turtles aren't with her, sir."

"No she is alone. But she will tell us what we want to know. She will tell us where our enemies are. She will learn what it means to cross the Foot."

Melinda grabbed the bag with her clothes and hurried out of the apartment. She'd grab a cab, it seemed safer than the subway. Hurrying down the front steps of the building she walked as fast as she could down the block towards the main road where she could easily hail a cab. But she never made it that far. She heard the softest whisper of sounds and that was her only warning before something hard hit her from behind and she went down, she didn't even have time to turn to see them before her world went black.

"Leo! Raph!"

Leonardo paused in his spar with Raphael and both turned to look at their purple banded brother. Don looked a bit frantic. "What is it, Donny?"

"The surveillance cameras I set up."

"What about them? Have the foot taken her?"

"I don't know but the windows are boarded up, I can't see anything and I have a bad feeling, something just doesn't feel right I just think it would be a good idea if you and Raph go check – just make sure that everything is ok. You don't have to go in, you don't have to contact her just go and make sure that nothing has happened to her."

"I ain't… "

"Raph, stop." Leo snapped. "She helped Mikey the least we can do is make sure she hasn't fallen into enemy hands because of us."

Raph scowled.

"Raph," Don said with a frown. "You know it's the right thing to do."

"Fine, whatevah – let's jus' get dis over wit'." Raph growled as he put his sai back in his belt and Leo slipped his katana back into their sheathes. The two of them hurried out leaving Don with the task of watching over their incapacitated brother, guarding their home, and letting Elizabeth and Splinter know.