"Ok Raph but I would prefer it if you slept with me," said Dana blushing.
He looked at her for a moment. He shrugged. "Ok, then."
Dana got tired so she crawled into Raph's bed and Raph crawled in too and he pulled her into his chest wrapping his arms around her waist and slowly drifted off to sleep. Then she went to sleep too. The warmth he felt made Raph hum with satisfaction. He snuggled up close to her in his sleep, enjoying the comfort it brought. She snuggled into him more pressing a kiss to his cheek while he slept and then she was out like a light. She was dreaming of Raph and everything he did for her. She loved him so much. He rubbed his nose on her cheek, saying her name in his sleep. She sighed and rolled over with her back against his chest and him wrapping his arms around her tighter. It was so calm and quiet. Raph had never been so peaceful in a long time. Dana was off in dreamland and she was sleeping peacefully. She never felt so comfortable in her whole life than being in the warm arms of Raph. The next morning Dana got up and stretched. She saw Raph was still sleeping next to her. She got up out of bed and went to wash her face. As she was washing her face someone approached her.
"Oh! Hey! How did you get down here?" another turtle asked. He was wearing an orange bandana.
"Oh hi. We haven't been properly introduced yet. My name is Dana and I am Raph's girlfriend." said Dana with a smile.
"Raph has a girlfriend!" The turtle jumped back in astonishment.
"What's all this noise," Raph said as he walked out of his room.
"You've been holding out on us?" the orange clad turtle asked, playfully storming up to Raph.
Raph pushed the turtle away. "I don't have to tell you anything, Mikey."
"Well Mikey, anyway, it's nice to meet you," said Dana coming over to Mikey and shaking his hand.
"Nice to meet you too dudette," said Mikey.
"So Raph, what's up for today?" Dana asks.
"Guess we're gonna figure out what those Dragons are up to," he said. "You've gotta stay here where it's safe."
"Ok, I will stay here. But please make sure you come back safely. I don't anything to happen to you," she said as she went over and kissed Raph for good luck.
He gave her a smile. "Mikey, find Donnie and let's go."
So with that Mikey, Donnie and Raph left with Leo and Dana stayed in the lair with Splinter.
"So Splinter, how long have you known them?" asks Dana.
"All my life," he said. "I raised them, taught them. They are my family."
"Really? That's wonderful Splinter. I just want you to know I love your son Raphael very much and I would never do anything to hurt him. We are dating right now you see," she said as she came out with it.
"As I suspected," he said, twitching his ear. "You've really changed him. I had a feeling he had someone by the way he has been acting lately."
"I...I changed him? Really?" asked Dana shocked now.
He nodded. "You shown him that there is goodness and kindness in people, even when they would reject us by our appearance."
"Oh really? I did that?" says Dana now blushing. "Well if that's true than I am glad!" said Dana.
He smiled back at her.
"Well Splinter, any interesting stories you want to tell?" asks Dana.
"There will be time for stories later," Splinter said. "For the moment, we have to work on keeping you safe."
"Ok Splinter, I understand."
It wasn't long before the boys came home. Mikey and Leo followed Donnie into the lab. They might have picked up a lead.
"Hey guys so did any of you get any hints or clues or a lead?"
"We might have found something," Donnie said. "The dragons are planning to scoop up money from any household on that block who won't pay for protection. Anyone who doesn't pay gets scorched."
"That's...that's just awful. Someone has to stop them from doing that."
"We'll find a way," Leo said. "We found out what they're up to, now we can figure out a way to stop them."
"That's great Leo. I hope you guys know what you're doing. And uh where's Raph?"
"He's still looking around up top. Don't know when he'll be back."
Raph was actually trying to find other places for Dana to stay in case they failed their mission to protect Dana's neighborhood from the dragons.
"Oh ok, I see, thanks."
"I'll leave the science stuff to Donnie." Mikey said. "You wanna play some video games with me?"
"Sure Mikey but don't forget I am going to beat your butt in it."
"You're on. Let's do this."
"Okay, you got it," so Mikey and Dana were busy and having fun playing video games.
"Hahaha 20,000 to 300. I win again Mikey!"
"Bummer, man. How are you so good?"
"Years of practice. Video games are my life. I have a ton of them at my place Mikey, you should check it out sometime!"
Mikey nodded and set the controller down. "Maybe Raph is back now."
"Are you going to find Raph Mikey? Can I come?"
Mikey looked around, making sure no one was here to see or hear him. "Sure. Just stay close. We'll find him."
"Ok, I will."
Mikey led the way down the sewer tunnels. He guided her to the nearest manhole and helped her up.
"Thanks Mikey. So do you guys have a plan yet to stop them?"
"Not sure yet." He said. "I'm sure we'll come up with something soon, but we just gotta find Raph first." Mikey was worried. He was gone too long for his comfort.
"Yeah, I am pretty worried too. We haven't see Raph yet. I hope he is alright."
Mikey hid in the shadows while searching for him. "Stay close and stay quiet. Trouble could be around any corner." Holding onto her, he climbed up to the roof ops to get a better view.
"Ok, I will," said Dana very quietly. Mikey was continuing to go from rooftop to rooftop.
From up top, he searched the streets. They were empty. He searched the alley ways, they were empty. "Where is he?" he asked.
"I don't know but I hope we find him soon. I am getting worried about him."
Suddenly a large shadow swooped overhead. Mikey whirled around to see Raph land right across from them. "What are you doing here?!" Raph asked, rather annoyed.
"Looking for you," Mikey answered. "You were out for too long."
"No. I mean what are you doing bringing her with you?! It's dangerous out here!"
"It's fine Raph. It was my fault in the first place. I asked if I could come, sorry."
"Come on, we're going back," he snorted, leading the way back.
"Fine Raph. I understand." She was a little afraid of this new Raph, not liking him acting this way. What happened to the other Raph she used to know? This wasn't him.
"Chill, man. We're moving. We're moving," Mikey said.
"Yeah we are. What the hell has been your problem lately? Giving out orders, acting grumpy and mean all the time now. What happened to you? Where's the Raph I used to know and love?"
He tried to calm down. "You can't be out here. Not until we find you a safe place to stay."
"Ok, I get it. Fine then," she said with a sigh and a shrug of her shoulders.
Back at the lair, Raph dismissed Mikey so he could talk with Dana alone. "I was looking for a place for you to live in case we failed our mission. I'll let you know next time where I am so you don't have to worry."
"Ok Raph, that will help out a lot. Thanks," Dana said.
"Raph, I might have found something," Donnie said. "We found out the dragon's plan and where to hit this tonight."
"Sounds good. Let's hit it!"
"So Raph, you're going back out again? Well if you must and I'll stay here. But just be careful." She went over and kissed Raph on the lips, waving him good bye.
They were off again. As usual, Splinter stayed in the lair to look after Dana.
"Alright, so Splinter, what do you feel like doing?"
"I must continue meditating. You may join me, if you wish."
"Ok, I'll try it." So with that Dana followed Splinter into the dojo and started to meditate right beside him. After a while, Splinter's ear twitched. "You're nervous?" he asked.
"No, I am not nervous. Why would I be nervous?"
Splinter smiled. "Your breathing is unsteady and you're twitching a lot. Are you worried for the boys?"
"Yeah I guess I am."
"I worry too sometimes," Splinter said, "but I have learned to keep calm and trust them as they go above ground. All of them are still learning, but they must go out and learn for themselves in order to grow. Once in a while someone will come back hurt, but that makes them only stronger. There are many things they must learn, as well as I."
"I see Splinter. Yeah, I know they will be ok. I should probably stop worrying after all it gets me nowhere and it's not good for me so I will keep calm until they return. Thank you Splinter."
He nods and goes back to meditating. Later, the turtles come back, wore out and tired. "We did it," Mikey said. "We stopped them before they could terrorize the block."
Raph walks up to Dana. "Looks like it's safe to move back in," he said.
"So I can finally move back into my apartment Raph? That's great, awesome! You guys did something good. I am proud of you guys!"
Mikey puffed out his chest. "No worries, little lady!"
Dana started laughing at Mikey.
"Come on," Raph sighed. "I'll take yah home."
"Ok," so with that Raph and Dana were going back to her apartment.
The End