The turtles and girl ran to each building in silence. None of them wanted to draw attention to themselves. They ran for about an hour until Leo stopped.
"Why did we stop? Where are we going?" Kaylee asked, confused.
"We are going down there." Leo pointed to a manhole cover in an alley below.
The turtles and girl went down the fire escape. Don removed the large manhole cover with his bo staff and hopped in. Mikey and Raph went next and then Kaylee went down into the dark hole being spotted by the three turtles even though she was perfectly capable of climbing down a ladder. Leo jumped in with ease. They were all safe underground so they began walking instead of running.
"So you all live in the sewers?" Kaylee said.
"Yep. Sewer Sweet Sewer." Mikey stated, with a large grin which was contagious. Everyone ended up smiling.
"What about you? You live in that apartment building with your brother. Right?" Don asked.
"Not exactly. It's a long story." Kaylee stated.
"We've got time." Mikey said, which earned him a smack in the head by Raph. "What?"
"You guys really want to know?" Kaylee asked. The turtles all responded with nods and yes'. "Um, alright. Well, first, let me clarify Luke is not my brother, but you could call us that. We are very close. Him and I met each other at the orphanage."
"You're an orphan?" Leo asked.
"Yep. I met Luke at the first orphange. He was four at the time and we took a liking to one another. People, easily, mistook us for siblings, but we weren't. We grew super close, but about three years back he got adopted, but I didn't; however, his parents saw my connection with him and so they still let me see him. I still live or lived at the orphanage. He is my only family, even though we aren't biologically related." Kaylee explained.
"Why didn't his parents adopt you if they saw your connection?" Don asked.
"Because they didn't want a thirteen year old. If you are a teenager in an orphanage your fate is sealed. Adoption is out of question. When I turn eighteen in two years, I would have been forced out of the orphanage and into the real world and that would be it." Kaylee finished her story, but somehow kept a pained smile on her face. Little did the turtles know that she was putting on that smile for them.
"Major bummer, dudette." Mikey said, frowning slightly.
"No biggy. I accepted it. I still had Luke and I was allowed to attend school." Kaylee said, smiling as though she had never felt pain. "I answered your questions so now answer some of mine. How are you guys, you know, mutant turtles? Sorry if that sounds rude, but it's just not something you see every day."
"That is an extremely long story." Mikey said.
"We've got time." Kaylee mimicked Mikey's voice which caused everyone to laugh. Mikey gave a fake pout. Then the story started off. The turtles took turns explaining things. Kaylee listened, attentively, and asked very few questions. The turtles explained how they had been pet turtles to a young boy who was walking down the street with them in a glass tank, but an accident occurred which caused the boy to drop the tank and the four baby turtles fell into the sewers. Master Splinter, who was a normal rat at the time, saw the incident and decided to check on the four turtles. When the turtles had fallen they got doused in mutagen. Master Splinter attempted to clean the turtles which led to him also getting covered in ooze. Splinter took them to his burrow and by the next day all five of them had grown twice in size, both in appearance and intelligence, and, as time went on, tall continued to grow. Splinter figured that the turtles needed names and so, from an old book on Renaissance painters,he gave them the names they have now. The turtles explained their ninja training by Splinter who had been trained by Master Yoshi, Splinter's owner. They explained the enemies they had. There was so much to say so they didn't explain everything in great detail. At the end of the drawn out explanation, Kaylee spoke. "You guys are Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." The brothers nodded. "That is so freaking cool! You guys are like super heroes." The turtles all smiled at the girls reaction. They continued to talk and laugh until they finally reached the "lair's" entrance. The turtles opened the door and walked in. Telling Kaylee to stay in the tunnel for a few minutes.
The turtles father, Master Splinter, heard his sons enter and walked out into the very large common room. The turtles all stood in front of the open door. "Master Splinter."The four turtles said, nervously smiling and saying "hello" in their many forms. Splinter was as a ninjitsu master and a very protective father could easily see through the fake smiles. "My sons. I may be old, but I am not stupid. Please invite our guest inside." Splinter said. The three eldest hung their heads in shame, but Mikey smiled brightly and invited Kaylee inside. Kaylee walked in and stood tall, but smiled warmly.
"Hello, child. What is your name?" Master Splinter spoke gently, not wanting to frighten the very strong girl.
"My name's Kaylee."
"Do you have a last name?"
"No, sir."
"Well then Ms. Kaylee. My name is Hamato Splinter." Splinter bowed to Kaylee.
"It is an honor." Kaylee bowed. This caused Splinter to smile.
"Michelangelo would you please get our guest some tea. Donatello would you tend to Ms. Kaylee's wound." The wound, when reopened, was much deeper. Kaylee didn't even remember the bleeding gash. "Raphael help your brothers. Leonardo may I talk to you." Splinter told his sons, but before he could leave the girl grabbed his arm.
"Please don't be mad at them. All they did was help me." The turtles stared at Kaylee as she released Splinter's arm. Splinter nodded to the turtles and they all went to their ordered jobs.
########################################################################
Leonardo followed Master Splinter to the dojo. "I'm sorry, but she needed help. The Foot are after her and she has no real family, other than her nine year old 'brother' who isn't related to her, and we couldn't just leave her. She wasn't scared of us and so I offered her our home. It would have been dishonorable to leave her."
"My son. I am not mad what you did was the right thing to do, but I needed to talk to you about her for a moment in private."
"Why, Sensei?"
"This girl is very different and kind hearted. She tried to protect you, even though she has just met you, but she hides much even from herself and I think she needs our help in more then a physical sense, my son. She needs protection, reassurance, and kindness from you and your brothers. Are you prepared for this added responsibility?"
"Hai, Sensei."
"Very well. Please tell me what you can about Ms. Kaylee."
########################################################################
Meanwhile...
Don and Raph brought Kaylee to the large couch in the common area. Don asked Raph to go gather the first aid kit which was in the lab. Mikey had gone to the kitchen to start the tea. Don and Kaylee were left alone. Kaylee's smile had dissipated as all of this happened on her behalf and she remained silent until Don addressed her.
"You're gonna need stitches." Don said, with a soft smile. Kaylee nodded her head, but stayed silent. "Are you alright?" Kaylee gave a half smile.
"I'm fine." Kaylee said.
"You do understand that you can trust us. Right? Talk to us." Don asked.
"Yes." Kaylee continued to smile.
"Good." Don said, using a tissue to wipe away some of the blood.
"Here ya go, Donnie." Raph said, walking in and handing Don the first aid kit.
"Oh, look the nurse has arrived." Don said, getting him a smack to the head. "Ow." He said which made Kaylee laugh. Don got to work on Kaylee's cheek after that. She needed seven stitches and they had no pain killers that would work immediately so Raph was told to hold Kaylee still while Don worked. Kaylee didn't move much but she clenched her teeth every now and again which caused Don to stop, but he would start up again soon after he felt her jaw release and, eventually, Mikey walked in and gave her the tea and Donnie gave her a couple of pills to fight against infection and pain. They all started conversing and laughing about random topics. Don sat on one side of the couch, Raph the other, and Mikey stood, acting out pretty much everything he said.
Leo and Splinter walked in to see the happy group and they both chuckled, but the father in Splinter took over. "Well. I believe it is time for us all to turn in for the night. It is almost five in the morning." Splinter said which brought up sounds of disappointment from the four that had been around the couch. Don rose and said night to Kaylee, Splinter and Leo with a rather solemn look on his face and went off to his room, Mikey and Raph (Raph with more of bite to his voice) followed suit.
"I'm afraid, Ms. Kaylee, that we do not have any other rooms made for sleeping." Splinter explained, after the three youngest turtles went to bed.
"I can sleep on the couch. It's no problem." The girl said, smiling.
"No. You can stay in my room." Leo stated, remembering the conversation he had with Splinter before. He needed to protect her, wanted to.
"Leonardo. That is really nice of you but I couldn't."
"I insist."
"I really...thank you." Kaylee started to speak but fell back on herself and accepted the offer.
"Leonardo, please, escort our guest to your room. I, myself, will be turning in as well." Splinter spoke before leaving for his own room and closing the door behind him.