Finally. It's only been four years, thought Hope as she packed her things into a bag. She was so excited to finally tell Donatello how she'd felt since the second she'd seen those eyes. How would he react? Would he be happy? Would he kiss her? Take her in his arms? What would life be like with him as her boyfriend? What would it be like to know she could have that craving whenever she wanted after yearning for it for so long? She felt all tingly at the thought of finally being his. And to be free of this so called life she'd been living.

She got the last of her things into a bag, leaving the make-up that Orson had bought for her, and digging out her old dungarees (which he thought she'd thrown out) she slipped them on along with her yellow jumper and made her way to the door. She took a final look at the place she'd tried to call home. Good riddance, she thought.

Just then she heard the key in the lock and a drunk Orson stumbled in. He looked at her, and her bag and pieced it together in seconds.

"What the hell are you doing?!" He yelled, spit flying from his mouth. Hope felt scared, but the thought of getting back to Donatello's smile and being his, gave her strength.

"It's over, Orson, I'm leaving."

Orson snorted. "Pfft, where exactly? You've got no money as you've been whoring on mine and nowhere to go. You stupid little girl." He came at her so quickly that she had no time to react. After months of abuse she just couldn't get her training to kick in. His fist came flying towards her, connecting with the side of her jaw and sending her crashing to the ground. She scrambled on the ground for a second, blood flowing openly from her burst lip, and she forced herself to stand and face him. She spat blood on the ground.

"Not today." She said through gritted teeth.

He lunged again and this time she was ready. Grabbing his arm as it came towards her, and sweeping her leg under his, she flipped him over her shoulder, just as Donatello had shown her all that time ago.

Orson landed with a thud on the ground. She grabbed her bag and fled. She was free!

She ran and ran until she was almost at the sewer entrance. Stopping to catch her breath, she turned and looked behind her. Fear gripped her heart as she realised that Orson was chasing her. She had a quick decision to make. She couldn't go down the manhole; he'd reach her before she was down. She couldn't keep running; he'd only catch her.

This was a moment to stand and fight.

Her hand released her bag and she turned to face him. Everything felt as though it was going in slow motion. She brought her hands up to her face as she dashed towards her at full pelt. His fist raised up while still running. Hope knew that even if she blocked him it would still be a savage hit. She braced herself, tensed up, preparing for contact.

It never came.

A figure swooped down from the rooftops and engulfed him.

"You dare touch her again you evil son of a bitch and I will end you." Growled a voice.

Hope realised she'd curled up into a ball and wasn't actually seeing what was happening. She brought her head up, still in her hands and saw Orson out cold on the concrete. Shaking, she looked up and was face to face with Donatello.

"You're a sight for sore eyes." She managed.

"I will never let him hurt you again, Hope." Donatello promised. She collapsed into his arms and stared deeply into his eyes. He stared back.

I love you, she tried to say, but suddenly the pressure, pain, loss, hurt of the last four years of her life came tumbling down on her. She went into full shut down and passed out.