Mikey didn't really know how to react.

Of course, his heart had exploded into a billion shards when the hazel-eyed girl had screamed at the sight of him. But that was to be expected, he thought halfheartedly, seeing as he was a monster - at least to humans, he was. He was about to sigh in relief that she'd been caught, that at least she was unharmed, until he saw her rescuer clearly. His first thought was: oh great, nice hero work, Mikey.

And his second: wait a minute, this is perfect! I could save her!

His third: what about the fact that she's completely terrified of me?

And finally: well, I'll work that out later.

Mikey's eyes narrowed as he pulled out his nunchucks and leapt down into the alley, growling at the Purple Dragon, "Let her go!"

The gang member who'd saved the girl turned out to be Fong, and he gripped the brunette harshly by the arms, forcing her into submissiveness, though he obviously looked nervous, for some reason.

"Not a chance, turtle," Another PD, Sid, argued a bit anxiously, "We got orders from the boss to take this criminal to headquarters."

"Criminal?" Mikey lowered his chucks in a bit of confusion, scowling at the gang of thugs, "What're you talking about? You dudes are the criminals, not her!"

The girl turned to look at him, and Mikey swore his heart melted just at how mesmerizing she looked up close. But her face told him she wasn't as ecstatic to have met him.

"Get out of here," She said bluntly, "I can handle it from here."

Mikey frowned slightly, his former plan of all-out attack forgotten as he tried to say, "But I thought--"

"You thought wrong," She insisted, twisting to give Fong a dirty look as he gripped her hands tighter, making him freeze in panic.

"Wait a minute, aren't you like, a damsel in distress?"

"I'm a damsel. I'm in distress," She blew a piece of her dark hair out of her face, throwing him a smile devoid of any real emotion, "I can take of myself."

Mikey huffed, his earlier schematic completely thrown out the window with the girl's stubborn independence. He was about to reply that he could help her out at least, when he was knocked against the brick wall of the alley.

"You two talk too much," The third punk complained menacingly, cracking his knuckles.

"Yo, at least ask nicely to get your butt kicked next time," Mikey asked with a smirk, swiftly kicking the thug to the ground. The Purple Dragon grunted as he hit the ground, stumbling to his feet. Mikey almost wanted to laugh as he punched the guy's lights out, sending him flying into the wall.

A small cry pulled Mikey's attention back to the girl as she freed herself from Fong's hold, grabbing his arm and flipping him over her shoulder. His jaw dropped as she turned to Sid, cowering behind his two now-unconscious buddies, sluggishly raising his fists as if he was actually ready to fight.  His eyes widened, watching as she punched the thug directly in the nose and then dropping to sweep his legs out from under him with her foot.

She dusted her hands off as the last Purple Dragon fell, looking over at Mikey with a spark of whimsy in her eyes.

"See?" She quipped, "Told ya I could take care of myself."

She turned, about to walk out into the open street, and Mikey's heart sunk.

"W-wait!" He called after her, "You're just gonna leave? No questions asked? No, 'Hey what's your name, why are you a turtle'?"

She stopped in her tracks, sighing as she turned back to look at him, "Look, I'm grateful, I guess. But I think it's better if we forget about all this."

There it was again. Another, 'You're nice, but I'm not even interested in getting to know you.'

The girl obviously seemed to notice his disappointed, because she murmured, "You seem like a really nice guy, but I--"

She was cut off as a knife was thrust into her side. Fong grinned evilly, croaking, "I hope you burn, scum."

Mikey's vision tunneled, watching the girl stare down at the knife jutting from her side, her eyes a mixture of shock and despair as she glanced up at him, before her knees buckled. He was there in an instant, cradling her body gently as he slid the knife out of her, covering the wound with his hand to try and stop the bleeding.

"Dudette!" He cried out, "Stay awake! I can help you, but don't close your eyes!"

She blinked slowly, her form rattling with each exhale, as if breathing was too much of an effort.

"C'mon," He murmured hopelessly, picking her up and sprinting to the nearest manhole, trying to get her to keep her eyes open, "Don't fade on me. Talk to me! U-uh...what's your name?"

"S...Sadie..."

He couldn't help thinking how pretty the name was as he lifted the manhole cover and beginning to descend the ladder into the sewer.

"Sadie, alright...what's your favorite color?"

She sighed, her body growing heavier in his arms as he jumped the rest of the way into the tunnel and began running toward the lair.

"Hey, cmon Sadie! You'll get through this! Don't...don't go to sleep..."

Her eyelids were growing heavier with each second that passed, and she whispered as her head lolled to the side and she fell unconscious, "Orange."