Shell

"...eeping at the moment, so please be quiet."

Taylor deliberately keeps her eyes closed.

"Now explain what he is doing here." Splinter doesn't sound very happy.

"We were telling April about our history when the Foot showed up." That's Donatello's voice. "And, well, then he showed up and started fighting them with us."

"He helped us, sensei," Leonardo says. "Then the Shredder arrived and we ran while we had the chance."

"What? Are you certain you were not followed?"

"Yes. Nobody knows where we are. We kept checking."

Splinter sighs with relief. "I see." His garment rustles slightly on the floor. "What is your name?"

"Casey Jones."

There's a brief moment of silence, as if Splinter is sizing Casey Jones up.

"Thank you for helping my sons. But now I fear you've been caught up in something dangerous - as have you, April."

"Guess that means she's not going home either, huh?" Casey's voice sounds both sad and accusatory. There's no need to ask who she is.

"It's too dangerous," Leo says. "The Foot probably knows where April lives; it's better if Taylor stays with us."

"Yeah, and does she have a say in that? We're here voluntarily; she isn't."

It's probably time to wake up now. Taylor stirs and blinks her eyes open; she sits up, wincing as her stomach twinges.

"Taylor!" April's hurrying towards her. She throws her arms around Taylor's shoulders and hugs her tightly. Taylor hugs back, gripping April's jacket. "Are you OK?"

Taylor doesn't know how to answer her.

"I am so, so sorry you got involved in this. I should have just gone and met them like they asked."

As the hug ends, Taylor says: "I still can't believe you're not crazy."

April laughs ruefully. "I don't blame you for thinking I was. I mean, looking back, I probably shouldn't have told my boss..."

"Shhh!" Taylor glances wildly towards the turtles, but they're not listening to the conversation. Raphael is there, and he's having a glare-off with Casey. Taylor's stomach swoops unpleasantly; she swallows and looks away again.

"But she didn't believe you, right?" she whispers.

April grimaces. "She fired me."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

Suddenly she frowns. Why is she lying on blankets again? She fell asleep in that chair, she knows she did.

"...that you're not human is the only reason I'm not arresting you," Casey growls at the hulking behemoth.

Taylor frowns and sits further upright.

"What's that on Donatello's shell?"