Bradford and I sat in the living room of his somehow magically fixed apartment. I was more than a little suspicious. "So what did you need to ask me?" Bradford asked. I couldn't help it, I lost it. "What does it look like I have to ask ya?! Just look!" I yelled, gesturing to the apartment. "What do mean? This is our same old apartment," Bradford said. My eye twitched. "No! This place was demolished when I was kidnapped! Then you just disappear for over two weeks, and then BOOOM! You're back and the place is fixed! What do you think I mean?!" I screamed.

Bradford made a move to comfort me, but I slapped his hand away. "Kayla this place was fine when I came back. But you were kidnapped! Who took you?" he asked. I crossed my arms. "Some freak called Big Daddy. Who is he, and what deal did you make with him?" I asked. Bradford sighed and looked out the window, telling me he knew, but didn't want to talk about it. I glared at him, telling him that I wanted to talk about it.

"Listen... A long time ago, Big Daddy wasn't like that. He was a... A friend of mine," Bradford said. My eyes widened as I waited for him to continue. "His name wasn't always Big Daddy either. It was Walter. That deal we made, we made it about ten years ago, just when I was raising you..." "What was the deal?" I asked. Bradford shifted in his chair. "I don't know if I should tell you," he finally answered. I frowned. "Tell me. Bradford, I need to know," I said.

He cleared his throat. "The deal... I told him I'd give him.. He needed new recruits," he said. "Recruits? What do you mean Bradford?" I asked. He shifted in his chair again. "He told me that if he gave me some of his fortune, I'd have to give him something," he rushed out. I started to get scared. "W-what did you give him?" Bradford looked at the ground. "You," he whispered. He said it so quietly that I would've thought it was a breath of air if the situation wasn't so serious.

My heart nearly stopped and it was getting hard to breathe as I processed what he just said. "Y-you sold me?" I asked in disbelief. "Kayla. I..." He made a move to grab my hand. I shot up from my chair. "You sold me!" I screamed. My eyes blazed with anger. Bradford tried to calm me down, but I wouldn't listen. "Kayla I didn't sell you," he said. I pulled away from him. "You're lying! You sold me Bradford! You SOLD me!" I yelled. Angry tears welled up in my eyes. "I didn't sell you. At the time I didn't know what I was thinking-" "Yeah ya weren't you sold me!" I snapped. "I didn't sell you. I promise I would never do that," he said, "But... I had a time limit."

I still didn't go near him, but I needed answers. "What time limit?" "I was allowed to raise you for one year- you were only five at the time. During that time limit, something clicked, and I couldn't let you go no matter what. I decided to go off the radar for awhile and keep you in hiding by avoiding Walter. Somehow he managed to find me, and now he's after you. He must've figured out that I wouldn't give you up, so he decided to take matters into his own hands," he explained.

I still wouldn't go near him. Not just yet. "You hid me... How?" I asked. Bradford dragged his hands down his face as he sat on the couch. "By leaving you in Japan with the Shredder and Karai. I never brought you on any of my business trips to protect you. I swear I didn't mean it," he said. I calmed down a bit. That's why he always left me with Karai. He left me to protect me, I thought.

I took one careful step towards him. "So.. You didn't sell me?" "No, I thought I wanted the money. But in reality, I just needed you," he replied, "Now do you forgive me?" I hesitated at first, then nodded slowly. Bradford got up form the couch opening his arms for a hug. I didn't move, but once he'd closed the distance between us, I collapsed in his arms, my shoulders shaking as I cried. "I was scared Bradford. I thought I'd never get out of there," I sobbed.

He gently stroked my head. "I know, and I'm sorry I wasn't there. But how did you get out?" he asked. I wiped the tears out of my eyes. "A... A friend helped me," I said quietly. It silent for a minute, but I broke the silence. "Where were you? You were gone for so long," I whispered. "I had to go on a trip," he replied. The way he said trip made the alarms go off in my head. I looked up. "You had a business trip, and you didn't tell me?" I asked. Bradford looked away with guilt, and I started to pull away.

"You said you'd tell me when you had another trip," I said, my voice rising slightly. "I had to leave right then so I didn't have time to-" "Oh stop with the excuses Bradford! You could've called me on the phone you left here! And what was THAT all about huh?! Leavin your phone here! Those guys found it and used it to kidnap me! What was that for Bradford?!" I screamed in his face. Bradford reached for me, but I slapped his hand away. "You... You wanted them to find me didn't ya!" "No, I left it because my boss told me to. I had to get a new one because I think some paparazzi got ahold of my number. I knew I should've locked it up..." he said guiltily.

My eye twitched again. "You didn't lock it up! Oh you think that since one of the world's most famous martial artists goes on a trip and almost everyone knows he's gone you don't think someone's gonna try to get a souvinir? Bradford why! And ya could've called me on your new phone if you actually stopped to think about it!" I screamed. He took a step back. "Look I know you're mad, but just listen okay. My boss wouldn't let me contact you until after the trip because of the whole paparazzi issue. H said that you may need to get a new phone too," he explained. I was still pissed, but I listened.

"I'll try to make it up to you. I have some time off this week, maybe we can have a Daddy Daughter Day. Just you and me for the whole day," he said. "Even though I can't believe you sometimes, I guess you're still my dad. But who fixed up the place? When I was kidnapped, it was demolished," I said. Bradford shrugged. "I dunno, but as long as you're okay, I don't care. Could you give me a hug and put this whole thing behind us now?" he asked with a crooked smile. I sighed, and came over. "Love you kiddo," he said softly. "I love you too Dad," I whispered. I'd never really called Bradford Dad before- let alone Father. Maybe now I should start.

Bradford chuckled. "What?" I asked. "Oh nothing. It's just that when you were mad at me you wouldn't talk to me until I apologized. Now you're just forgiving me," he said. I shrugged. "I'm not exactly a little kid anymore Bradford. Plus I'm just to tired to yell at you anymore," I replied. I grabbed my stuff. "Where are you going?" "Nowhere. I just... Need to think about things. I'll call you in the morning okay?" I said. He nodded and let me leave.

I walked down the street towards my hideout. The fall wind was blowing my hair around, and leaves swirled around. It really was pretty out here. The perfect place to think. I took a deep breath, and then suddenly remembered something. Something important. Raph! He's still at the Foot! I thought. I quickly changed direction, sprinting to the Foot HQ.

I threw the door open, and ran down a hallway to the huge maetal door leading to the basement. Luckily there wasn't anyone around to see me. The maze of cells in the basement didn't keep me from finding Raph at all. I quickly threw the cell door open. Shredder must've tried to get Raph to tell him where Master Splinter was again. The bandages were ripped open and he was all bloody and bruised again. "Raph!" I yelled. I waste anytime putting my palm down on his plastron, and summoning the healing bands.

The purple bands seeped in, and I grabbed the more bandages and peroxide for the remaining cuts. "I should've stayed here. I'm so sorry," I whispered. He didn't wake up, not even as I finished. I stayed where I was, hovering over him, looking him over. "Raph? You can wake up now," I said. I gently stroked his cheek with my fingertips. "Please wake up," I whispered, "Please." He still didn't wake up. I was getting scared, but I kept pushing those horrible thoughts that were eating me alive down. The way he had looked ran across my mind. He was bloodier than before, and had more bruises. I hope he isn't... Please he can't be. I can't lose him now, I thought.

I gently placed my fingertips on the side of his neck. Just one beat. That's all I ask for. Just one beat, I thought. I waited patiently, but to my horror, there was nothing. "No... Raphie wake up," I said. He didn't move. "Raph? Raph please don't," I said softly. Tears started slipping down my cheeks as my worst nightmare came true. "No. No not you... Raph wake up. Please!" I almost yelled. I looked down at the blood on my hands, and shook my head in disbelief. "No... Nonononono! Raph! Raphie wake up! Don't you die on me!" I demanded. Again he didn't move.

I started to shake, and my stomach hurt. He can't be dead. He can't be dead. He can't... The words ran along my mind. More tears fell. "Raph wake up. I can't lose you. You promised..." I whispered.