The following week passed without incident. The money in my wallet was slowly dwindling, and although I made it a point to do my share around the apartment, I felt like a burden on April and Casey. I was unable to help them out with utilities or groceries, and in the rare times when I needed to go somewhere and no one else was around to take me, I was forced to drive one of their cars, thus using up their gas. I hated being so helpless and dependant, and I felt guilty that near-strangers were forced into taking care of me that way.

April and Casey insisted that it was no trouble. Apparently, they'd been in much tighter financial situations before, and now that Michaelangelo had finally made a name for himself in the writing business, the burden of supplying five mutants with food for the week and other necessities was almost nil. Still, it wasn't their duty to look after me. I am a grown woman. I should have been able to take care of myself. Should have, but couldn't.

Hesitantly, I had taken Splinter's advice. I was still pretty shaken up by what had happened to my accounts. I knew now that they had the power to alter what they wished about my private life. Needless to say, it made me very uneasy, and I began to feel the anguished emptiness of violation all over again. I longed to find a job and get my life back in order, but I knew the others were right. If Jim, Larry, and Curtis had tracked me this far, there was no telling what else they were capable of.

As the days passed, Splinter quickly recovered. Wounds and scars from his various mutilations healed up nicely, and with rest and plenty of care, his strength soon returned. I was still in awe over my new friends, but I started to realize just how human they were as well. I avoided Raphael as much as possible. There was something about him that gave me the creeps. Maybe it was the way he looked at me, or the way he smiled, maybe even the way he carried himself when I was in his presence. It was almost as if he was purposely trying to make me uncomfortable. Maybe that whole incident in the bathroom had caused me to worry unnecessarily. In any case, I couldn't shake the apprehension I felt whenever he was near.

I discovered how intelligent Donatello really is. His IQ far outshines that of anyone I've ever known. I have to admit, I was extremely impressed by what he is capable of. He'd fixed up their entire lair with lighting, electricity and plumbing, all on his own. It seems he's skilled with computers and anything mechanical. And he's intellectual too. We spent many an afternoon discussing his various theories, and what it had been like for me working in a lab. He seemed sincerely interested and awestruck with the type of work I'd been involved in before I met Splinter. I enjoyed talking science with him, even if, at times, what he said went beyond my comprehension.

Leonardo came up to visit on occasion, but spent most of his time down below. I wondered what could keep him so busy, but decided to mind my own business. I enjoyed his company. His presence seemed to soothe me somehow. He has this calm, centered control about him, like nothing could ever touch him--as if he alone controls his destiny. How I longed to be like him again. There was a time when I, too, had my life in my own hands. I wished I could change things back to the way they used to be. I had to keep reminding myself that if that were possible, I probably would have never met these guys, and they were proving to be a pretty important part of my life.

Michaelangelo came over often in the mornings to help me with breakfast and see Shadow off to school. He is so protective of her, it's almost hard to believe at times that she's not his own daughter. After everyone else left for the day, he'd hang around for a while, and we'd watch TV together, or talk. He has a very witty personality. He's always full of jokes and wisecracks, and there is a certain charm about him that I find irresistible. He always knows how to make me laugh. But there is a level of maturity behind the facade as well. Underneath his youthful charms, he has grown to become a responsible adult. He is the only one of his brothers with a home above the streets and a steady income.

I found myself starting to understand what April had meant when she'd told me these guys were like family. How easily they'd accepted me into their lives, and they truly cared about what happened to me. It was refreshing to feel a part of a bigger whole again. I hadn't felt such a sense of belonging since my father's death.

A couple of days passed since any of them had visited, and I was starting to miss them. April told me that Splinter had them working extra hard to prepare themselves for whatever was to develop with our enemies. I wasn't sure there was anything left for them to ruin though. And even if they did manage to mess up my life further, what exactly could my new friends do about it?

I hadn't seen Splinter in quite a few days, either, and I yearned for his guidance. He always knew what to say to make me feel more at ease. I'd heard that he was up and about, and back to his regular routine again. I could only imagine what a day for him entailed.

I decided to go down and pay them a visit. I loathed the idea of having to journey down into the wretched depths of the sewers again, but I tried to convince myself it was worth the agony. Casey had told me he knew the way to their underground home, so after much pleading on my part, I convinced him to take me there.

"You know..." He turned on the flashlight as the overhead lights began to dim. "You're just lucky you're cute, or I wouldn't be doing this. Now I'm gonna have to take another shower before work."

I smirked at him in the darkness. So, he thought I was cute, huh?

"So is that how you landed April? You helped out the pretty damsel in distress?"

He laughed a little. "Not really...my main job was to annoy her until she came around."

"Ahh...I see. The old persuasion tactic. I'll have to remember that one."

He chuckled and slowed his pace, shining the flashlight at a crack in the wall. It was barely visible in the thin ray of light, but I knew it was there.

"We're here."

"Great. Thanks. I really appreciate it. Remind me, and I'll make it up to you later somehow."

"Believe me," He joked. "I won't forget."

I pushed open the door and entered the lair cautiously, hoping I wouldn't disturb whatever it was they were doing down there. To my surprise, the living room was empty...and clean. I glanced around, looking for signs of activity, but found none. I sincerely hoped that they weren't out, because there was no way I could find my way back in the dark by myself.

"Hello?" I called out softly. "Anyone home?" Only silence greeted me. I began to search my surroundings. I hadn't actually gotten a tour the last time I was here, and I was intrigued.

Instead of hallways and doors, most of the rooms were separated by old drainage tunnels and piping. I felt near to claustrophobic as I moved from room to room through the narrow passageways. It was so amazing what they'd managed to do with this place. Despite the dilapidated condition of most of their belongings, everything was so homely and cozy, I found myself forgetting I was in a sewer at all.

There were two other bedrooms besides Splinter's, and they were located on the opposite end of the lair. Each was small and quaint, like Splinter's, only more ornately furnished. The bedrooms must have been shared at one time, because each had two cots instead of one. Surprisingly, both were neat and orderly, save for a mess of papers and some carelessly discarded tools. Since Raphael and Michaelangelo had both moved out, it seemed reasonable to assume that Don and Leo had each claimed one as their own.

A small nook had been designated as the kitchen area. It was meagerly furnished, and I was amazed that the small refrigerator and stove both worked. There wasn't much to eat in the fridge or the cabinets, and I found myself worrying briefly about their health. Still, I knew that Mike had enough money to provide, and from what April had told me, they'd been in dire situations when they were young, going for days without eating, and they'd still managed to grow into healthy adults.

I journeyed farther into the depths of their home, finding other tunnels that led to the bathroom (complete with running water), and a rather empty room that was filled with little more than incense and candles. I was very curious about the purpose of this place, but before I could contemplate further, a distant noise caught my attention.

Cautiously, I made my way through the tunnels. It sounded as though there was a struggle nearby. I remembered what April had said about the times their home had been attacked in the past. Nervously, I peered around corners and gazed into the shadowed walkways, searching the darkness for any signs of danger. Finding none, I made my way carefully through their underground home until I finally found myself in a huge drainage pipe. It was big enough to walk through upright, with several inches to spare. The tunnel led to an enormous cement room. The sounds of battle grew louder as I entered. Padded mats lined the floor from wall to wall, and various weapons were scattered here and there along the edges. A couple of chairs and a small table were placed at the far end of the room, for observation purposes, it appeared. Towels and a jug of water sat on the table, but otherwise, that was the extent of the decor.

I stood frozen in the doorway for a moment, watching in silence. It appeared that the turtles were practicing their martial arts. So that's what all the commotion was about. April had been right. They were working awfully hard at it. Sweat trickled down their foreheads and glistened off the taught muscles of their arms and legs. Their faces were fixed in concentration as they circled each other. Their hands, empty of weapons, were balled into tight fists. As they moved, they seemed to be luring one another, no one willing to make the first strike.

Suddenly, Raphael threw out a fierce punch, and I nearly screamed as I watched his fist move dangerously close to Leonardo's face. But Leo was quick. Just in the nick of time, he blocked the blow and grabbed Raphael's wrist, twisting it and pulling him to the floor. As Raphael rolled out of the way, something new appeared in my line of vision--something that I wasn't expecting. Splinter himself stood among his students, fighting just as fiercely as they were. He was wearing what looked like a white gi or kimono over a pair of loose fitting, black pants. He was barefoot like the turtles, and weaponless.

That was it. There was no way I was leaving now. Quickly and quietly, I hurried to the far end of the room and sat down in one of the chairs, hoping they wouldn't notice my intrusion. If they did, they made no outward sign. Their attention remained focused, their bodies rigid with unexecuted energy. I found myself breathless as I watched skilled punches and blocks and kicks, their bodies moving with swift fluid motion, like a well rehearsed dance.

Splinter held my attention the longest. I watched him move with the same grace and precision he had when he'd battled Curtis in the elevator. Again, I was amazed at his stamina, at how easy he made it all look. He commanded something in Japanese, and the turtles bowed and surrounded him. I watched intently, trying to figure out what would happen next. A few seconds passed, and then suddenly, without so much as a warning, the four attacked Splinter at once. I felt a tinge of worry spread through me as I saw them pounce, each one just as skilled and graceful as Splinter himself. But he fought them off well. He moved with a speed I never thought possible, blocking several attacks at once.

They stepped away again, their focus still intent on Splinter. Leonardo stood before him, ready and alert, carefully calculating his sensei's moves. It appeared Splinter was doing the same. Still, he knew the others were beside and behind him, and he had to act fast before they attacked. Leonardo punched toward his stomach, but Splinter blocked it easily, and spun around to block another punch from Michaelangelo. He then reeled to his left, sending a kick into Raphael's chest, and knocking him backward a bit. Next, was his right, where Donatello planted a good kick to his ribs. Splinter staggered a little, but regained his breath quickly.

"Eraidesune!" he said to Donatello before turning to face Leonardo again. I could only assume he was telling him he did well.

Donatello bowed and stepped back from the circle, having completed his task. He had a look of bewilderment on his face as he stared at his brothers, who were still combating their sensei. Leonardo got his shot in next. While Splinter was fending off Mike and Raph, he grabbed him in a quick, but non-lethal throw, sending him to the floor mats before he had time to react. Splinter breathed deeply and bowed his head.

"Appare, Leonardo."

The turtle bowed to his master, and left the mat.

Splinter rose to his feet once again, the tie at his waist slipping and falling to the floor. He ignored it though, and turned to face his remaining two assailants. I watched him move with lightening speed, blocking kicks and punches as if merely swatting flies. Finally, Michaelangelo got in a lucky punch, just grazing Splinter's cheek. The rat bowed to him.

"Rokuna, Michaelangelo"

"Arigatou, Splinter-sensei", he bowed and grinned.

Splinter turned his attention to Raphael, the last of his opponents. Raphael grinned evilly at his master. The dark glint in his eyes made me uneasy, but Splinter didn't seem to notice.

"I see you are the last to defeat me, Raphael."

"Yeah, well...I was just saving the best for last."

They began to fight, and instead of wearing down from fatigue as I'd expected, their punches and kicks actually seemed to grow more intense than before. Raphael's face became hardened, his expression relentless as he attacked. Splinter's eyes were fixed in concentration, studying his every move. I could tell that neither one was going to give up without a fight. Both seemed equally determined to win the battle.

As they fought, I could tell that Raphael was slowly losing his concentration. Fury filled his features as he punched over and over again, trying to knock his sensei back off the mats. But even with his angered determination, Splinter was able to counteract easily. He jabbed Raphael in the side, and he stumbled backward, nearly falling.

"Korasu." Splinter seemed to be warning him. "Anata no byousou makenai."

Raphael took a deep breath, and they began again. Splinter was moving so fast, I could hardly keep up with his motions. He punched and blocked so fiercely, the unfastened kimono began to slide down his shoulders, exposing his arms and chest. Raphael, seizing the opportunity, made use of the distraction, and surprised him with a roundhouse kick to the abdomen. Splinter doubled over and staggered back. Raphael chuckled and relaxed, wiping the sweat from his forehead.

"Heh...I got you there, master. Too bad you lost your belt, eh?"

But Splinter wasn't finished yet. He too, knew how to take advantage of his opponent's distraction. As Raphael silently praised himself for his good work, Splinter charged forward with a sweep attack, knocking Raphael to the mats. Raphael cursed silently, and Splinter leaned over him, laying a hand against his chest.

"A little too cocky, Raphael. You must always be on guard. Your enemy is always a threat unless he is dead."

The others began to chuckle, obviously finding humor in their brother's defeat. Raphael mumbled under his breath, but managed to tame the anger that fought to surface.

"Yes, master." He said quietly, leaving the mat.

It seemed practice was over for the day. I wondered if I should leave, but it was too late anyway. I'd been spotted.

"Hey, Holly! I didn't know you were down here!" Mike tried to give me a sweaty hug, but I ducked away from it, so he patted my arm instead. "So, what did you think?"

I felt three other pairs of eyes watching me as well, eager for my reaction. "Very impressive." I smiled.

Michaelangelo grabbed a towel from off the table behind me and wiped the sweat from his face. "You should come down more often. I was just warming up."

Donatello rolled his eyes, and I laughed.

Mike ignored us. "I get first call on the shower!" He darted from the room before anyone could object.

Leonardo turned to Donatello, and patted him on the shoulder. "You did good today, Don. You were the first to distract Splinter."

Don blushed a little, but smiled proudly. "Thanks, Leo. I've really been working hard the past few days. I want to make him proud."

I exchanged smiles with Leo as they grabbed their towels and hurried out. As I watched them go, Raphael sauntered up to me. I purposely kept my attention away from him, doing my best to avoid his gaze. He stopped in front of me and just stood there, staring.

"What?" I asked, still refusing to look at him. I wished he would just leave me alone.

"Nothing." He grinned. "I just came to get my towel."

"Mmm hmmm..."

Instead of walking around to the other side of the table like the others had done, he reached over me, leaning his body against mine. His sweaty arm grazed my cheek, and I shoved him away from me, wiping my face.

"Will you get out of here?" I tried to sound serious, but a light chuckle crept up in my voice. He was impossible. Absolutely impossible.

"Aw, come on." He whispered, bringing his face close enough to mine that I could feel the warmth of his breath. "You know you like it."

I pushed him away again, this time in fear and disgust. A picture of Curtis flashed in my mind, and for a moment, I was in the elevator again, his yeasty breath making me want to choke as he pushed me back against the wall. Sudden terror welled up inside of me. I swallowed hard and looked away. "Please...leave me alone."

"Hey..." Raphael's voice grew serious, and more gentle. He stooped down next to me, keeping a small distance between us, and studied my face. "I'm sorry. I was just messing with ya. Splinter told us what happened...I'd never do that to you."

"I know." I breathed. I genuinely did. Even though he'd been making me uncomfortable for the past few days, I realized it was just his way. It seemed he was trying to lighten things up after our embarrassing encounter a week previous.

"It's important to me that you know that. I may be an asshole at times, but I'm no pervert."

I gave him a playful, skeptical glance.

"Okay, so maybe that's a matter of opinion." He smiled. "Anyway...I'm gonna go kick Mikey out of the shower. You need anything?"

"No...I'm okay. But...thanks."

We exchanged smiles before he left. I believe it was in that moment that we finally made our peace.

Splinter was still busy gathering up the discarded weapons. I watched him for a while in silence, trying to allow my head to clear. When he glanced up, he seemed surprised to find me sitting there. He picked up his belt from off the mats and came to join me at the table, a quizzical look on his face. I answered his question before he could ask.

"Casey helped me down."

"Ahhh...I suppose he should know the way like the back of his hand by now."

"I hope I'm not interfering. I just wanted to see how you were doing."

"No, not at all, Holly. You are welcome any time. Would you like a drink?"

I smiled. "No, I'm fine, thanks."

I watched him pour himself a cup of water and drink it down quickly. His kimono was still hanging loosely, and for the first time, I got a really good look at him. I must say, I was surprised at what I saw. His arms were on the thin side, yet they were well toned, and seemed unbelievably strong. His chest was broader than I'd remembered, and it too was nicely cut behind the coat of fur. He wasn't as bulky or massive as the turtles, but he definitely had something to show for all of his years of exercise and practice. I supposed that was how he'd had the stamina to fight like he did, and to carry on even when the odds were stacked so highly against him. I gained a whole new respect for him in that moment, for all of the discipline and concentration it must have taken to get where he was today.

"The way you fight...it's amazing."

He smiled at me. It appeared he was pleased with my opinion. "I have been training my entire life...thirty five years. Still, there is always more to learn."

"I don't think I could ever move like that."

"Don't say such things, Holly. You can do whatever you put your mind into doing."

I lowered my gaze and picked at a nail. "Yeah...I guess..."

He could sense that something was wrong. He laid his hand gently over mine, concern filling his features. "Holly? What is it?"