I doubt anyone cares about this anymore. It has been so long. But for some reason it kept bugging my brain that I couldn't mark the fic as complete and there was only one more chapter left. So I busted this out. I don't know if it's as good as the stuff that came before it but at least it is an ending. I think it was implied by the chapter before but here it is anyway.

Liz can't sleep knowing what tomorrow will bring. After only a few hours of restlessness she gets up and heads back over to where they left Alopex. She still hasn't regained consciousness since whatever happened. She sighs as she slumps into a nearby chair. Actually, she is rather shocked that Donnnie isn't anywhere to be found. Maybe he was trying to create something to ease the spasms she was still occasionally having. Anything to keep the mind occupied while there was nothing to be done but wait.

"Oh Allie...why is life so hard..." For Allie because she constantly keeps getting ambushed and for Liz she can not constantly be around all of those she loves. Most of Allie's troubles might in fact be because of Liz, and for that she is sorry. She doesn't mean to make those around her suffer. And yet...

So perhaps it is for the best she is going to leave the turtles behind. Maybe she shouldn't even visit them at all. But she would miss them terribly then. She thinks even Slash wouldn't like to never come back. He does care about Raph after all.

She looks absently around the lair. But there's nothing to really grab onto to distract her from her thoughts. Only Alopex is there. So she stands and starts walking in a tight circle around the couch, as if she might keep just ahead of all her annoying thoughts.

It doesn't take long for her legs to start to grow heavy and she finds herself in the chair once more. And still Alopex sleeps. If only she could as well. She sinks further into the chair and even closes her eyes. But she could not feel less sleepy. If anyone was awake it would be well worth it. She would cherish every moment, every word spoken, but this is just plain painful.

One hour. Two. Then, movement. Liz snaps to attention.

Alopex stirs slightly. Her eyes flutter and she blearily looks around. A grimace splits her lips as she shifts in just the wrong way and she is reminded of her injury and what happened the last time she was conscious. But she isn't on concrete like she half expected to be. Is this...the lair? Did he seriously drag her all the way back? Color her surprised. She supposed Lis must have been whispering in his ear.

"Allie!" Liz's face lights up. "Don't move too much. You might aggravate your injury."

Alopex chuckles. "Since when did you become a doctor?" She smirks.

Liz sticks her tongue out. "Around the same time you stopped getting attacked."

Alopex lays a hand over her forehead and lets out a dramatic sigh. "I'm hurt. You can't be mean to me."

Liz shakes her head and laughs. "I'm glad you're ok. I was really worried, especially since it was..." The injury seemed the same as the time they were taken together, so she is pretty sure of the culprit. The Newtralizer. It feels like so long ago, but those words dimly come to mind. He called himself that once, just before knocking her out. Did she ever even tell the turtles? Maybe not. Somehow it didn't seem that important after all the insanity had died down. Perhaps she had thought not talking about it would cause it to fade from the annals of time and memory. Unfortunately, it seems not to be.

"He's nothing but a coward." Alopex scoffs. "If I catch him again, I'll tear him apart." Her lips curl back devilishly.

Instinctively Liz opens her mouth to reprimand her for saying such things, but then she remembers who they are talking about here. "Should we tell Slash...?" so instead she posits this. He would surely rip him limb from limb if they ever crossed paths again. Perhaps a fate worse than death? Maybe the one person she would allow Slash to harm.

"And let him have all the fun? I don't think so."

Liz shakes her head. "Can't you two get along for just one mission. He could keep you from getting shot in the back, you know?"

"Doubt it." Alopex crosses her arms and looks away like a pouting child.

"Fine, you'd get shot twice as much with him there. Happy?"

Alopex snickers. "Never." She carefully sits herself up so she can better face Liz. "In all seriousness, I can't believe you haven't told him aleady."

Liz shrugs. "I guess I was hoping it was just over...y'know?" Of anyone, surely Alopex will understand her without having to really explain herself.

Alopex sighs. "Yeah...but life always has other plans."

"Speaking of other plans," Liz stretches out each word, putting off the end as long as possible, "I'm going to be leaving with Slash today."

Alopex's eyes widen slightly. "Oh." But it is not nearly as severe a reaction as Liz expected. "How did they take it?"

"You aren't surprised?"

Alopex utters a half laugh. "You care about the turtles, sure, especially Raph," she pretends to be disgusted. "But you've never stopped trying to get back to Slash. It's more surprising it took this long."

Liz rubs her head. "I guess you're right." She smiles. "I just hope the turtles aren't too upset." Raph. "I didn't want to choose. But if I have to..."

Alopex waves her hand. "You don't need to explain yourself to me. Although I might see you less now that you won't need me to sneak you out to see him." She snerks.

Liz lightly hits her on the shoulder. "You better still come see me."

"And how am I supposed to find you?" She rests her head on her knuckles and looks a Liz with amusement.

"I know you can recognize people by their smell." Liz taps Alopex on her nose. "So don't be a stranger."

"You got me there." Alopex grins. "Maybe if he ever wanders too far I'll come stand guard."

Before Liz can call her rude, she hears footsteps. They both perk and turn toward the sound.

"Alopex!" It is Donnie. He rushes forward, but before he reaches her he thinks of her injury and stops. "Does it hurt?"

"You worry too much," she gives him a meaningful look. "I'm mostly fine." She stretches one arm as far as she can to prove it.

"Uh-huh." He looks dead pan at her. "Then why didn't you stretch your other arm?"

"I said mostly." She scowls, but it doesn't have any bite.

"Alopex!" Mikey calls from afar. In another moment he has ran from one side of the room to the couch. "You're okay!" He is beaming.

Of course." She holds her good arm up for a high five.

Mikey gives her a high five.

Liz smiles to herself and basks in the moment. This altogether ordinary, peaceful moment with so many of the people she loves. The other two can't be far behind, especially with the way Mikey yelled. Maybe he did it on purpose to gather them.

Just as she expected, it is only a few minutes later when Leo and Raph come plodding in. Raph in particular looks half dead. Perhaps he had a rotten time sleeping as well. If he had come out here then she could have kept him company. But she supposes that would mean admitting how worried he was, which he could never do, not out loud.

Leo smiles at Alopex and nods. "Glad you made it through alright."

"What he said," Raph mumbles.

Alopex lays a hand on her heart. "Aw, I didn't know you cared," Alopex directs at Raph.

"Haha, so funny." Raph shakes his head, but a smile peeks out despite his efforts.

They continue to talk, but their words turn to buzzing in Liz's ears as she sets her eyes beyond them. On the figure slowly inching closer, drawn in by all the laughter and noise. Slash. He won't come so close as to draw their attention though. It is meant as words for her and only her. It's time to go. Yeah, she knows it is. She hates to break up this absolute bliss. But she can't not say goodbye either.

Liz stands and clears her throat. "So, Allie, I'm really glad you're ok, but..." her eyes lock on Raph in particular. "...I think it's time for me to go."

And it breaks.

All the turtles' faces are stunned. And there is a long moment of silence. Then Mikey moves first. He jumps forward and squeezes her in a tight hug. "I'll miss you sooo much."

Liz laughs. "I'll miss you too." When he releases her from his hug she hugs him back. "But I won't be gone forever. I promise. I'll come back to visit."

"You better," Donnie jokes. Their home is really becoming quite the haunt for other mutants with nowhere else to go. Although none of them seem to ever choose to fully stay here. Maybe that's just their type of people.

Liz releases Mikey and moves toward Donnie, hugging him now. "Take care of Alopex for me."

"Always," Donnie answers.

Alopex narrows her eyes. "I'm offended by this request."

Liz laughs. "It seems you need to more than him."

"Lies."

Liz lets her hands slip from Donnie and she moves to Leo. She gives him a side hug. "And you have to take care of all of them."

Leo chuckles. "And you be happy."

"I'll try my best." She lingers longer than the others, bracing herself for facing Raph. Everyone else took it well, happily even. But him... She swallows hard, then lets her arm fall away from Leo and heads over to Raph. "Raph..." his name tingles on her lips.

Raph is tense, grinding his teeth in part from anger but mostly in an attempt to hide the hurt. He knew it was coming yet he still couldn't quite reconcile it. Why? Why did she want to be around Slash so much? Even more than all of them combined. It just doesn't make sense. And honestly he kind of wants to cry. But he'll be damned if he lets them see how upset he is. He'd rather just scream. He'd probably feel about as good afterward.

She lifts a hand and grazes his cheek with her fingertips. "I don't mean to hurt you," she says softly. "But I know leaving will, and I'm sorry. Do you forgive me?" She leans forward a kisses him on the cheek.

Raph catches her chin as she pulls away and he gently tugs her back.

Liz smiles and allows him to being her in for a kiss on the lips. She takes that as a yes. She wraps her arms around his neck. She'll miss this. What she has with Slash is nothing like this. She'll definitely have to come back every so often. "I'll miss you most of all," she whispers.

Raph breaks the kiss. "You could stay," he grumbles, looking like a petulant child.

She draws her arms back. "You know I can't." Beyond him, Slash is only an arm's length away. She's surprised none of the turtles have noticed and grown wary. She wraps her fingers around Raph's and squeezes slightly. "It's time for me to go now."

A thought lights on Raph's face and he reaches up to the tails of his mask. He tears off the longest side and holds his hand out. "It's not much of a neckerchief, but I thought you could wear it as a wristband or something. Y'know...to think of me." He rubs his neck and his cheeks color slightly.

Liz giggles. "I love it." She ties it around her neckerchief so she doesn't lose it. Maybe she'll put it around her wrist or somewhere else later, but for now this is good. "I'll wear it all the time."

"R-Really?" His cheeks get darker.

"Of course." She reaches for his hand again. "And I promise I won't just disappear forever. I'll visit a lot." She leans sideways slightly to better see Slash. "You'll bring me, right, Slash?" She wants to reassure herself as much as she wants him to know she means it.

"Yeah, yeah." Slash rolls his eyes and agrees. "Just not too often." He has to be a little obstinate.

Liz gives Raph's hand one more squeeze then slowly starts to walk to Slash. She keeps his hand in hers as long as she can, he even turns around with her, but finally she moves out of arm's length and his hand slips from hers. She wraps her arms around Slash's arm and leans against him. "Bye everyone." She gives a timid wave.

Then the pair turn around and leave the lair together. "Let's go home." She'll tell him about the Newtralizer some other time. She doesn't want to ruin this moment.

Also I can't remember if I originally was going to have them team up to get Newtralizer since I said there could have been 2 chapters max. Theoretically could still happen with this ending. But I won't be writing it. lol I think way back when I was writing this I also planned to do a spin-off of SlashxLizxAlopex short stories. One of them might be on my tumblr but I never wrote more than one, so I didn't put it here cause I was already burning out. Hope anyone who might care about the ending enjoyed this. Please review!