UPDATE! My songs of inspiration were 'Fight Song' by Rachel Platten (totally Liz's theme song) and 'Get Hurt' by The Gaslight Anthem. Both awesome songs. This was hard to get started, but once I got a good stretch of free time it flowed out of me. And I just noticed - I BREACHED A HUNDRED REVIEWS. I've only done that a couple of other times. Yayz I hope you enjoy!

The night drags on. Time passes, yet it doesn't pass at the same time. Everything remains the same. Her screams grate on him, each one causing him to cringe and grind his teeth all the more fiercely. There is simply no end. No matter what he does there is no way to soothe her. Sure, if he pets her then she calms down slightly, but even then only for a short time. It isn't long before she is screaming once more and his heart cracks for the umpteenth time. There's just no end…no end in sight. "Why…?" He breathes. "Why are you still in pain?" Did they do something to her before he could get there? Of course they did. Just look at her skin! It's blue for Christ's sake. The thought boils his blood. It takes everything in him to not clench his hands into bone crushing fists.

"But what am I supposed to do…?" He says weakly, in a voice he scarcely recognizes as his own. He isn't the smart guy. He doesn't know anything about mutagen or even if that is what they used on Liz for what would be the second time. He can't figure it out either. He just doesn't know anything. He lifts his gaze skyward, the dark night as oppressive as ever. No stars are strong enough to break through the blinding lights of the city. There isn't a single one to wish upon. If he believed in that nonsense anyway. He doesn't of course. Still, covering all bases can never hurt. All bases...

The thought pulses in his brain. But has he really went over all the possibilities? No. He knows he hasn't. His lips curl in disgust. But how is he really supposed to go about such a thing? The last time he saw them, really saw them, he tore them apart. Then there was the incident with Leo. Perhaps they don't know about that though. He did attack from out of the shadows and with lightning speed, bringing the kid an inch from death. Maybe he even suffered memory problems. Who knows. Regardless, it will be hard.

He jumps as a particularly sharp scream pierces the air. He glances down at her. Right, he's still in the thick of this. He has no time to doubt or even think. He must act. So he leaps to his feet. "You're an innocent," He caresses her head. "They won't let you suffer just because it's me." Solidarity. It's something they understand well. He exits the alley and runs down the street. It's been a long time, far too long, but he remembers the way perfectly. He lived there far too long not to.

He jumps down the nearest manhole and makes a beeline for the lair, for a place once called home. Soon the light from within shines out into his line of vision. He catches his breath and his heart speeds up. How ridiculous. It's not like they can do anything to him, not even together. But some part of him trembles anyway. Maybe it is a part that Liz brought to life in the time he has known her, a part that can feel guilt for more than just Raph. How strange, how completely and utterly unwanted. Still, there's no going back now. He stands straight and marches into the lair.

Just moments ago Leo, Mikey, and Donnie had entered the lair. They hold their heads low and their shoulders slump as they make their way over to Raph and Alopex. The two are surprisingly sitting together, but their despair is so intense that they can't be bothered to take much notice, especially not to verbalize it.

Raph grimaces. There's no point in asking, but he does anyway. "How'd it go?" Clearly they do not have her with them. And if they had found any clues then surely they would still be out there – searching.

Leo shakes his head. "Nothing." There's nothing more to it. Raph took so long before that he knows he already looked around the site where they found Alopex. So surely he already knows the little that could be gleamed from there. "She's just…gone." His heart clenches and he feels sick to his stomach. How can it be? How can she just be gone?

Raph smiles sadly. "It's alright."

The three of them start and jerk their heads up. Their eyes widen and hearts skip a beat. "W-What?" Donnie chokes out. "Just a few hours ago you were up in arms about this whole mess and were about ready to kill us for taking care of Alopex first."

"Yeeeeah," Mikey narrows his eyes. "What's up?"

Raph sighs. "I-" He stops before he can offer the revelation. His mouth hangs open and his eyes bulge. No way. It's nightmare meets dream come true. It's too soon for him to prepare his brothers. But there's no time for him to recover and his brothers pick up on it instantly, especially when they see Alopex.

Alopex's fur bristles and her lips curl back to reveal bared teeth. "You-"

The three turn in unison and time freezes. Slash stands across the lair, his stare reaching over the space and meeting theirs. But not a word is spoken. Silence engulfs them.

Donnie stiffens. His throat tightens and his heart stops dead. All those times before flash through his head – Slash towering over him, beating him an inch from death, and worst of all turning all that anger on his little brother. He remembers what Alopex went through as well, how he is the one who sent her spiraling into insanity. Yet there is not anger. It bubbles just beneath the surface, but the fear is just too overwhelming.

Mikey cowers. He shouldn't be so weak. He's a ninja! Still his knees tremble beneath him and twitches possess his arms. It's all he can do to keep from retreating and hiding behind one of his brothers. Raph is farthest away. And Slash likes his best. So…

Leo, however, is undaunted. He glowers at the beast before them. "How dare you come back here – anywhere near my family?" He draws his blades and points them at Slash.

Raph sucks in a breath and leaps to his feet. "Leo, wait!" He scrambles forward and places himself between the two sides. He spreads his arms out wide.

Leo is taken aback. He looks at Raph as if he is insane. "Wait? Have you lost your mind? I'm not waiting for anything. This monster nearly killed us on multiple occasions – Donnie and Mikey especially! You're little brother Raph."

Raph snarls. "You don't think I know that?" He clenches his fists. He blows out a heavy breath, forces himself not to snap. This is no time for that. "But trust me. That isn't what he's here for. Not this time."

Leo stares dumbfounded. "What?" He can't find any other words to say. Slowly he lowers his weapons and his arms hang limp at his sides.

Raph stares long and hard. Then, once satisfied Leo will not act out, he turns away from his brother and to face Slash. He looks up at the hulk of a mutant, into sea green eyes so familiar that it is painful. So many memories.

Slash nods stiffly. "Raphael's right. This is something else entirely." He lowers his arms enough so that they can see the form in his arms. "I know you hate me and I don't expect any favors, but don't condemn her just because she knows me. She's a person, just like you, and she needs help. So, please. Please help her."

Shock washes over them in a wave. "Liz!" They cry in unison. They rush over. "I can't believe it." Mikey says. "How did you-where-" Leo stutters. "Give her to me! Hurry! Now!" Donnie fights to get her from Slashes arms. He must inspect and evaluate her health. Clearly problem number one is her skin condition, but that is likely only a symptom.

Slash blinks. He loses his place in the moment. Only one thought floats in his mind. They know her? Of all the ways he imagined this scenario playing out, this was not one of them. He only thought there was one person Liz was close with other than him and that that person was Alopex. So it isn't so. She has them too. And she hid it from him – masterfully too.

Donnie rushes her to his lab. He lays her out on the metal table and goes to work. He stops suddenly as a thought strikes him. He doubts it, especially given Slash's mental capacity – nothing compared to Donnie's – but it certainly won't hurt to get as much information as possible. He turns toward the door and a shiver races up his spine. He grimaces. He hates himself for it, but the fear lingers no matter how much time passes. It will be hard to face the brute after everything. But no! This is for Liz. He has to get over himself. So with a deep breath he braces himself and returns to the center of the lair. "Hey," He says with harshness. Everyone looks at him, but he locks his eyes on only one. "Yeah, you." He pointedly avoids using Slash's name. "What'd you do to her?"

A fire leaps forth in Slash's eyes. A growl rips from his throat. "Why you sorry little-" He starts forward, as if he might go after Donnie.

Donnie jumps backward even though there is no way for Slash to cover the distance between them fast enough to do anything. Stupid reflexes. He hates himself more and more by the second.

Leo jerks his weapons up and pounces in front of Donnie, ready and willing to tear into Slash at a moment's notice. His eyes blaze.

Raph jumps into action. He hurries toward Slash and holds his hands up. "No, don't."

Slash seethes. "That nuisance was insinuating that I hurt her. I would never so much as lay a finger on her." He breathes deeply in and out.

"No, no," Raph shakes his head. He scrambles for the right words. "He just wanted to know everything that happened. You are the one who found her, right?"

Slash grumbles beneath his breath, but he forces himself to calm down. "Yeah," He brushes Raph's hands off of him. "That monster had her. Her father. That black guy too."

Raph's eyes widen. "Baxter? Baxter was there?" He clenches his fists.

"Yeah, an they had her locked up in a cell. So I beat the one to death and got her the hell out of there. The other guy got away though." He clenches his fists, the mirror image of his previous owner. He shifts his gaze to regard Donnie coldly. "I did not turn her blue." He knows that is really what Donnie meant.

Donnie ducks his head. "I didn't…" There's no point arguing. Of course that's what he meant. "Then who did it? How?"

"How the hell should I know?" Slash takes a slams his foot down, taking a single step. "I wasn't there. Whatever they did they did it before I got there." His skin crawls and his lips curl back at the disgust that fills him. "Some injection maybe."

Donnie nods. "Alright." He doesn't linger longer than he has to. He retreats to his lab to ascertain the disease which is afflicting Liz.

Silence settles on them for a time. The awkwardness soon follows. No one knows what to do or say. Someone who tried to kill them on more than one occasion is standing in their living room. Just standing there. They tug at their arms and fidget with their weapons. Until finally Leo breaks the spell, "You can leave now." He looks with intensity at Slash.

Slash perks. His gaze hardens and he narrows his eyes at Leo. "What? Do you really think I'm just gonna walk out of here, that it'll be that easy to get rid of me?" He scoffs. "No way. No way in hell. I'm not going anywhere until I know Liz is alright."

"Why do you even care?" Leo closes the distance between them, leaving only a few feet, easily coverable with his katanas. "I know you aren't just being a good samaritan."

"Of course not." Slash shakes his head. "You know me too well." He flashes him a devilish smirk.

Mikey shrinks back at the sight of it. A memory flashes through his mind, of that same dark smirk an instant before he was attacked. An instant before his blood splattered across concrete.

Slash sombers. "No, but she is my friend." He says it will the utmost confidence now. "I saved her the first time, right after she was mutated I guess, and she wouldn't leave me alone. She insisted on following me everywhere after that and I let her. Mostly I just wanted her to stop whining about being alone. It was so annoying. But then…" He doesn't know really. Something changed. Something about her. Maybe how innocent or angelic she seemed, especially in comparison to him. "But I didn't do anything to her." He bristles. "I would never."

Alopex eyes him with disinterest. She chews on her claw. "He's telling the truth." She hates to give him credit or side with someone as terrible as he is, but it's true.

Everyone turns their eyes on her.

"You know Donnie told me to watch over her, right?" The rise of resentment and discomfort in their eyes tells her this is a fairly recent revelation. Oh well. "Well, I was there with her – every night. He never did anything to her. He even," A smirk curls her lips as she teases revealing just how soft he is. The threat that sprouts in Slash's eyes, however, stops her. She clears her throat. "Let's just say he treats her like family."

Leo makes a sound of acknowledgement, but he isn't particularly convinced. He continues to watch Slash like a suspect in a murder case. He must keep track of any movement the brute makes. People don't just up and change like that. Coldblooded killers don't become saints. There's something else though, something deeper. He feels it in his very bones. He just doesn't know what 'it' is. A sickening sense of familiarity that he can't quite remember. Still…it only makes him more on edge.

Raph looks Slash over. "Family? Really?" In a way he is hurt. Slash dumped him and all of his family in the blink of an eye even after so many years of being together. Then he goes and forms a new family. At the same time he can't help but be relieved. If not for Slash it seems he would have never met Liz in the first place. "You care that much for her?"

"You know me Raphael." Slash smiles. "I'm a lot like you. When I feel, I feel with intensity."

Raph returns his smile. "Yeah," He knows it all too well. "I believe you. So you can stay, at least until you know she's alright."

"Raph!" Leo snaps. He whirls on Raph. "What gives you the right to give that kind of permission?" He stares his brother down. He grips his katanas tight. "You aren't in charge here."

"And neither are you." Raph challenges. "So step down."

"No. I won't." Leo gets in Raph's face. "There are others here besides you Raphael. People who don't want to be in the same room as that psychopath." He points with his weapon. "No matter what. I mean, you know what he did to us – all of us. Even you."

Raph growls deep in his throat. "You don't think I know that." He shoves a finger in Leo's face. "I know better than anyone. I was there, remember? That first time. But that doesn't matter. He won't do anything now. He wants to see Liz too much to. And besides, I'll be sure to watch the other two just in case."

Leo scoffs. "Whatever." He pushes Raph's finger away from his face. He turns away from Raph. "Come on, Mikey." He drapes his arm around his little brother's shoulder. "Let's go somewhere else." Of all of them Mikey is the most visibly shaken. So he'll take Mikey to another room, as far from Slash as possible under the circumstances.

Raph rolls his eyes. "Whatever to you." He heads off, toward the lab. He needs an update from Donnie. That and he swears he will be by Liz's side until she wakes up.

Slash stands uselessly in the center of the room. Everyone has scattered. There is nothing left for him. His eyes shift in the direction of the lab. He wants desperately to be there, right by Liz so he can see her immediately when she wakes up. But he isn't stupid. Donnie is in there and being so close will only cause complications. It might delay progress.

Alopex narrows her eyes at him. "So you really are gonna stay, huh?" She rests her elbow on the couch arm and lays her chin in her palm.

Slash glares back. "Don't be stupid. You know I am."

"Yep. I was just kinda hoping I was wrong."

Slash rolls his eyes. "Stupid mutt." He plops himself down in the floor. Nowhere else to go. Might as well get situated here.

Alopex snickers. "Looks comfy."

"Shut up before I beat your skull in."

Alopex bares her teeth at him. "Just try it." She has no doubts he means it. He is a monster, and a force to be reckoned with on top of that. Never a good combination. So she watches him. With Leo on Mikey and Raph on Donnie there is probably no need, but she does it anyway. One can never be too careful with the likes of him.

Within the lab, Donnie works like a maniac. He shuffles to and fro. Raph watches every move he makes, growing more and more antsy by the second. He picks at his elbow guards and even the chip in his shell. Then he can no longer take it. "So what is it Donnie?" He throws his arms forward. "You've gotta know by now."

Donnie shakes his head. "I don't know." He says half to himself. "Some kind mutagen mix. Looks like an attempt to undo the effects, but…clearly that didn't work out."

Raph waits for a long moment. Then he sighs. "Yeah, and? What does that mean you have to do?"

Donnie settles down in the farthest part of his lab. An assortment of equipment is gathered around him. "Dunno. I have to counteract it somehow. But…I've not even figured out how to undo normal mutagen effects, let alone this." He rubs his temples.

"Don't say that!" Raph glowers at the back of Donnie's head. "You can do anything."

Donnie chuckles. "Your faith in me is flattering. But I'm not God. There are limits."

Raph sighs. He runs a hand over his face. "You gotta do it Donnie…" His voice is suddenly soft, weak. He sinks down in the chair rolled over next to Liz's side. "You've gotta make her better…you just have to." He reaches over and curls his fingers around hers.

Liz mutters something incoherent. She squeezes Raph's hand in return.

Raph gasps. His eyes widen and his heart skips a beat. Then his expression softens and a tiny smile turns his lips. She's in there. The pain takes away most of her consciousness, but she's still there, somewhere within. "You'll be alright…"

Donnie peers over his shoulder and grimaces. He wishes it were that easy. Then he'd do it in a heartbeat. Of course he would. Unfortunately he is only one man-er, turtle. He sighs. If only it weren't Liz there. He could really use her insight. She is rather smart herself. Her fear of the sight of mutagen was all that held her back before. Now though…boy would it be nice to have her.

There's nothing to be done about it though. So he turns back to his beakers and chemicals and gets to work. He won't let her suffer any longer than she has to. He will save her, even if he must do it alone. Raph is right. He can do this. He can.

…

Hours slip by. Donnie never stops working, not for an instant. He bends over his tools and mixes and matches all the possibilities. He tries each combination on the sample he took of her blood, comparing the trials to a vial of her blood he drew back when they first brought her here. Each attempt only makes it worse. He cringes and shudders at the results. It knocks his confidence down each and every time. And now he is left with scarcely any faith or hope. He hangs his head and stares dully at the assortment of chemicals spread out before him. "I don't know what to do…" His voice is strained. He runs his hands over his face. "I don't know…" Still he refuses to give up.

It is early in the morning when he hits gold. By now everyone is in here, everyone but Slash. Leo sits against a wall with Mikey by his side, his head lolled over and pressed into Leo's shoulder. They are sound asleep. Alopex is curled up only a few feet from Donnie. She slunk in at some point without him noticing. He was far too engrossed in his work. He gasps. "I've got it!" He screams. He puts a dose into a syringe and leaps to his feet, rocketing over to where Liz lies. "I've got it!"

Raph grumbles. His eyes flutter open and he lifts his head from the cool metal table. "What?" He looks at Donnie through half lidded eyes. "Whatcha say?" He yawns and opens and closes his mouth to wet it.

Alopex pops her head up, looking around for the source of the commotion.

Slash jerks his head up. His ears prick even from as far off as the living room and he shoves himself to his feet. His feet thunder against the floor as he makes a beeline for the lab. He doesn't care what the others think or how they will react to his presence. He will be there when she opens her eyes.

Mikey lifts his head off of Leo and peers blearily ahead.

Leo snaps to attention much faster than Mikey. "Come on," He grabs his little brother's arm and drags him to his feet and toward the metal table. Toward Liz. "Donnie's done it!"

Raph registers the situation and he immediately comes to life. "Liz!" He leans far forward, staring intently at her face. He monitors it for the slightest change, for the change which must soon follow. It has to. He squeezes her hand for what must be the millionth time.

Donnie skids to a stop and plops down in the other chair by Liz. "It's alright now," He coos over her. "You'll be alright soon." He holds his breath and injects her arm.

Alopex jumps to her feet and hurries over to Donnie's side. She peers over his shoulder, holding her breath the same as him. Liz went without care for much longer than her. And she got a dose of something or other. Who knows the repercussions of that, even if Donnie can reverse the pain and skin color issue?

From the point of injection, the effect takes hold. The blued skin turns green. The green spreads out, covering her arm, her chest, head, until finally it is done. There isn't a trance of blue on her skin. Her demeanor also changes. Her tense body relaxes and the pain twisting her face recedes. Then, slowly, her eyes open. Her vision is blurred and she isn't sure where she is. Last time…she was…her eyes snap open and she shoots up into a sitting position. Her heart pounds a million miles an hour.

"It's alright!" Donnie exclaims. He places his hands on her shoulders. "You're ok now. They don't have you anymore."

Liz zones in on his face. Her erratic breathing settles. "Ok…?" She takes in her surroundings. Everyone is there. They enclose her in a tight circle. Donnie…Leo…Mikey…Raph…and-and… "Slash!" She scrambles across the metal table to reach him.

Donnie starts. "L-Liz!" He reaches for her. "Hey, wait, take it easy. You're still recovering." He uses that as a cover at least. It isn't a lie, sure, but the question underneath is painfully obvious. What the hell's wrong with you? Why would she call to him of all of those present?

Slash comes to a halt at the bottom of the table. He stands motionless. He shouldn't be so guarded about it – his feelings toward her – but he is. He must be, now especially. If he makes one wrong move the turtles will get the wrong idea. He sees it in them even now. They are on the edge, prepared to act in a moment's notice.

Liz throws herself at him. She locks her hands around his neck and buries her face in his chest. "Slash," Her voice cracks. She shakes and sobs choke her. "They got me. An-And I didn't know if I'd ever get out, or see you again. I was so scared that I wouldn't see you again." She sniffles. She tightens her grip on him.

Slash hesitates, but he brushes his insecurities away in a breath. "It's alright." He engulfs her in his steady embrace. He leans his head down close to hers to whisper, "I have you. And when you're with me, you're safe." While his voice is soft and gentle, his eyes are sharp. All the while he keeps his eyes locked on the faces surrounding the table. He hopes his gaze sends the message – what now? See? I was right, and you were wrong. He very much wants to rub their conceit in their faces.

"I know." Her voice wavers. "Thank you."

Leo eyes his with suspicion. It is a rather unsettling sight – seeing Slash so close to someone as fragile as Liz, but not just that. It was also seeing him being gentle toward any living being. Even with the reality right before his eyes it is a hard pill to swallow. He would never admit it, but he still has nightmares. Not for himself, but of his little brothers being reduced to nothing but lifeless meat in a pool of their own blood. Every day after one of those dreams it is hard to bring himself to take them topside, but after another day or so it is just like before. Rinse and repeat every month or so.

Donnie is frozen with his arms still reaching for Liz. He fears that to move might mean to shatter the moment. And he can't risk that. He can't risk Liz being harmed. It would be all his fault after all – not stopping her fast enough.

Mikey bites his lips and holds his breath. His eyes swim with fear. The panic is so intense that his emotions are an inch from overflowing. Tears well and sit on the edge of his eyes. Still, through the haze of emotion he senses it. He can feel how sincere her relief is and most importantly he feels Slash's overwhelming happiness and relief to rival her own. He meant it when he said he wanted her to be ok. It was clear even only looking for Slash could crush her in an instant, break her into a million pieces like he tried so hard to do to them. Yet he doesn't, hasn't…won't. Because to break her would break him. That won't even change how Mikey feels about Slash, but it does ease his fear for her.

Raph is the only one whose apprehension stems from another source. He worries that Slash might harm his brothers, sure, but not here, not in a place like this. No, now he is only concerned with the fact that she went to Slash before him. It means he really was the guy she mentioned the night before she got the better of him and wound up captured. Just like he said. Maybe he'll rub that in her face too, later. She has just recovered and he is too relieved to be what his brothers call being a jerk.

Liz slowly comes down. The solid feel of Slash beneath her fingertips is her personal tranquilizer. Then it hits her. "Wait…" She snaps her head up and jerks it around. "Alopex!" She hadn't seen her when noting all the faces, then again, she had stopped abruptly upon the sight of Slash. Her heart skips a beat and she searches frantically for her. "Allie!" She twists out of Slash's hold and propels herself to the head of the metal table. Her face stops inches from her target. "Allie!" Her voice cracks. She looks over her friend, her eyes jumping to her arm in particular. "Are you ok? You aren't poisoned anymore, right? They did fix you, right?" She breathes heavily in and out, working herself up despite Alopex's disposition. She can't help it.

Alopex offers a gentle smile. She chuckles. "Of course. You really think something so simple could do me in?" She arches a brow. "I'm far too good for that."

A smile breaks out over Liz's face. She hugs Alopex and nuzzles her face against her friend's. "Still," Her voice quivers ever so slightly. "I was worried. You…you looked so…so…" She can't bear to say it. Lifeless. It was something she had been confronted with far too often in this new life of hers.

Alopex runs her fingers over Liz's head. "I'm fine Liz. It was you who was in trouble."

Liz puffs out a laugh. "If you say so." A vision of her father standing over her with the syringe flashes before her eyes and she shudders. It was terrible, truly terrible. It will surely haunt her dreams for weeks and perhaps even months to come, but no, it was never as severe as what Alopex was subjected to. Liz is almost certain death was never a possibility for herself, but Alopex…death had hung over her like a shadow. It was very real and very frightening. No point arguing though. She doesn't want any of that. Not now and not ever.

Liz draws back from Alopex. She gives one last smile and then turns to the others. Her face focuses on Raph in particular. The smile slips away and her lips stretch into a grimace as her eyes cloud.

Raph looks back at her. His gaze is hard, unwavering. His eyes scream of all the things he wants to say, but no words come out. Is he that petty – bitter? Is that why his mouth won't open and the words won't spill forth? Or is it something more? Fear? Of what? It's silly. But that look in her eyes, that far off look, it only clams him up further. Is she just as afraid? Or…what?

Liz shakes off the daze and jerks her head away, only able to glimpse red at the corner of her vision. She pretends it is only some chemical in a beaker. She doesn't want to think about him and how he was right. He will only rub it in her face anyway. So instead she looks to Leo and Mikey and smiles. "I'm glad I got to see you again."

Leo returns her sentiments and nods. "I'm glad you're safe, Liz."

Mikey nods with added emphasis. "When Raph said you were gone I was so worried." He clasps his hands. "I thought you weren't gonna come back. Then it was even worse cause you were in trouble. Alopex too." He speaks at a million miles an hour, his words meshing together.

Liz laughs. Her face lights up. "I wouldn't leave you guys and not come back." She pats him on the head. "You took care of me when I was hurt. You are like family."

Slash flinches at those words. Family…them? He makes a face, but turns his head away so that he might be able to hide it from everyone else. Not that they are really looking, too enraptured with Liz. Family…really? Not that she had ever said anything to him about it, but he just sort of assumed…that he…was her family. He snorts in his head. As if. He chides himself. Who would really want to be family with someone like him anyway? Like he has always said – he's a monster. And monsters should be left alone.

Liz twists around. "And thanks Donnie." She smiles bashfully. "I know you were the one who made the cure, to whatever it was. Even though Slash was the one who saved me." She remembers it vaguely, more like a dream than a memory. Honestly she is rather surprised Slash would bring her here, no matter how dire the circumstances. After all, they have a nasty history. That they are all coexisting in the same room without tearing each other to pieces can only be a miracle. They all must really care about her.

Donnie shrugs. "It's what I do."

Liz shakes her head. "Yeah, it is."

Slash isn't sure he has the right, especially after her comment. But he opens his mouth and speaks before he can stop himself. "Alright, now let's go." He nods toward the exit.

There is a collective outcry. "What!?"

Leo is first to jump on him. "You're insane! The deal was you could stay to see that she made it. You are not taking her out of here with you. She stays."

Slash growls deep in his throat. He knows better than to do this, but he hates orders. And that was the biggest command he has ever heard pass the leader's lips in all of his time with the turtles. "You think you can order me around, little boy?" He cracks his knuckles.

Leo stands firm. Perhaps it is the table separating them that gives him such confidence, but he does not waste it. "She stays." He shoots daggers with his eyes.

Slash reaches for his weapon. He'll end this. Once and for all.

Alopex recognizes that look in his eyes. She bristles and is within an inch from charging him, when-

"No!" Liz sees it too. She lurches forward and seizes Slash's arm. "Don't hurt them. Any of them. I know you have bad blood, but, please, don't hurt them. It'll hurt me…and Raph too."

Slash cringes. He eyes dart to Raph who is ready to attack like each and every one of the others. Just like that first time – family comes first. So why should he care about hurting Raph's feelings when the red clad turtle no longer calls him family? Still…his affections for Liz are overwhelming. Even if he wanted nothing more than for them to die a horribly painful death, he…can't do it. He lets out a breath and lowers his arm. "Then tell your little friends we're going and to bug off."

Liz grimaces. She turns her head to peer over her shoulder at the three of them. The other two are on the opposite side. They wear expressions varying from angry expectation to hopeful pleading. "Won't you let him stay?" She says weakly. She flinches, fully prepared for the backlash on both sides. There's no winning here.

"No way!" Everyone, even Slash, says.

Slash scowls at her and all of them in turn. "I'm not staying one second more than I have to in this place." Too many memories.

Liz's eyes widen and she clasps her hands at her chest. "Come on guys. Slash'll be good. Won't you?" She looks with surprising sharpness at Slash. "And it's only for one day." She tugs at Slash's arm, letting him know that she is speaking solely to him now. "Just one day."

Slash looks deep into her eyes. He sees the words underneath as clear as day. I'm not ready to say goodbye. He lets out a breath. Figures. Women. They can never make a clean break. Then again, if what she said to them was true they saved her just as much as he had. She owes them. Perhaps more than she owes him. "Whatever." He is so not on board with this. He doesn't expect them to be either, no matter how charming Liz is.

Leo shakes his head. "He's too dangerous Liz. You don't know the things he's done to us." Even now his hands linger just over the hilts of his katanas.

Liz lowers her head. Her lips turn downward and her eyes sadden. "Lock him in here then!" She jerks her head up as the thought comes to her.

"What!?" Slash and Donnie say in unison. The strangeness of it makes them exchange uneasy looks and fidget slightly.

"With me of course." Liz giggles. "I'll watch him, k?" She grins.

Raph deadpans. "We are not locking you up."

Liz sticks her lips out in a pout. "Oh come on!" She crosses her arms in a huff. "Fine. Whatever." She hops from the table. "We'll go sleep in the sewer tunnels if that's what you want." She grabs Slash and pulls him along.

Slash blinks at her. She could never be strong enough to take him anywhere, but he allows it to appear that way. He goes right along.

They all panic. They scramble after her. "W-What?" It is Donnie who makes it in front of her first. He holds his hands up. "You…you'd really…leave with him?" Hurt swims in his eyes.

Liz grimaces. She averts her eyes. Her next words are tiny, "I don't want to choose…"

Donnie sighs. Of course she doesn't.

Raph is next, but again there are no words. He only passes her a cold stare before he just leaves. He stalks out of the room, leaving her to do whatever the hell she wants. He doesn't care. She can run out on them if she likes. She doesn't owe them anything. So whatever.

Liz watches after him. She opens her mouth as if to call after him, but no words come out. Her mouth falls shut and she casts her eyes downward. She is terrible at this.

Leo does not waver. He does not say no any longer, but he does not give in. He only looks at her expectantly.

Mikey comes around last. He contemplates her longer than he normally would, but then he smiles. It is softer than normal, almost subdued. "I don't mind if you stay."

Everyone nearly falls over from shock.

Liz, however, is not affected. It doesn't make her happy because she senses how hard it is for him to say that. He has forced himself to. "You don't have to do this." She smiles weakly. It is true though that with his permission she might actually be allowed to stay with Slash.

Leo jumps in. "She's right." He looks hard at his youngest brother. "Don't do anything stupid." That would usually be Raph's line, but Leo feels extremely protective under these circumstances. He feels very much like Raph.

Mikey shakes his head. "It's alright." He fiddles with his fingers. "I…I don't think Slash will do anything around her." It is half a lie, but that means it is half a truth as well.

Slash starts. He blinks, trying to clear away the illusion. Only it remains. Did he, really…just say that? He frowns. After everything? Of course, he is probably right. It is hard to act violently when she is close, sometimes even when she isn't as of late. There is just simply no reason for the youngest turtle to think so. Then again, he did always seem to have a knack for tapping into Raph's tender side. Perhaps he is doing much the same now – reading him effortlessly.

Donnie and Leo scrutinize Mikey like never before. They don't believe it. They don't buy it for an instant. They can practically see their brother trembling as it is, with Slash just in front of him. Still, he said it for a reason. So they might as well honor it.

"Fine." Leo spits out. "But don't you dare leave this room." He locks eyes with Slash as he says this.

Slash narrows his eyes and looks with just as much intensity at the turtle. "Wouldn't dream it."

Liz sighs. Relief washes over her. Thank God. Still, she is walking on eggshells. They all are. She will have to watch things, all things. She can't let this fragile peace crumble. If one can ever call it that. Is it really peace when both sides are still thinking of slitting the others' throats? Probably not. "Ok, I'll watch him."

Alopex circles around. "You better." She lingers close to Donnie. She makes it clear which turtle is the one she will kill for if anything happens to him.

Slash rolls his eyes. "I'm not going to eat your genius."

Alopex's ears fold back and she bares her teeth. Still, her face reddens despite her efforts. "He doesn't belong to anyone." She tries to brush off Slash's taunt. Still, she is afraid she walks right into it when she grabs Donnie's hand and pulls him away from the scene, out of the lab.

Donnie passes a glance at his lab as they leave. What will happen to it? With that brute in there the whole thing could be in ruins by morning. Just to spite him too. It pains him to abandon it. Still, he does want to be far from Slash. And, maybe even…wants to be…with Alopex. Just a little.

Leo wraps an arm around Mikey. With one last fleeting look of pure hatred he turns away and leaves Slash behind. With Liz. Could this be a mistake? Was Mikey fibbing? Trying to cater to her? No…not entirely. Still, Slash is a monster. Can he really care about her so much? Then again, every monster has a weakness. He grimaces. Even Shredder has Karai.

Slash stands there for a long time. The silence seeps into his very bones. Then he clears his throat, his voice low and gravelly. "You didn't have to do that."

"Hm?" Liz looks up at him.

"If you wanted to stay, you should have just stayed." He looks almost coldly at her.

Liz shrinks beneath his gaze. "But I…wanted to be with you. Too." She shrugs. "I wanted you both."

"Can't have it all." Slash lumbers over to the wall. He settles down against it. Without another word he closes his eyes and tries to sleep.

Liz ducks her head and looks almost ashamed. "But…" She slinks over to his side. She hesitates, standing over him. She looks down and for a moment there is a flicker of a smile on her lips. He looks almost peaceful. Only of course he isn't. So her happiness is extinguished. She sighs and sinks down next to him.

Slash peeks out of one eye at her.

Liz notices his gaze on her. "You can leave too you know." She pulls at her arm. "Just because I stay doesn't mean you have to. They'd be happier for it."

Slash snorts. "But you wouldn't be." He puts his arm around her and pulls her closer.

Liz squeaks as he brings her closer, so close she is touching him. He is warm…safe. It revives her smile. She leans her head into him. It is a lot like that first night in the alley. Only he initiated it with no prompting this time. Her eyes quickly grow heavy, all the events of the past day crashing down on her. "Yeah…" I yawn and cuddle further into him. "I'm happy…like this."

Slash snorts. "Yeah…" He says beneath his breath. "Me too."

So what'd you think? Like the interactions between everyone? It was interesting to write them all in the same spot, that's for sure. I hope I did it well. Please review!