Mikey tried not to stare. He rounded the corner with Donnie, T-Phone tucked in his belt, headphones hung around his neck now that he was being dragged away from the TV to interact. Now that he was complaining about interacting with her. But Mikey had made a promise to himself that he'd be more careful, that he would protect his feelings and not make the mistake of getting hurt again.

So while he gazed intently as Sadie, Mikey had to constantly remind himself not to marvel as her hazel eyes as they met his baby blues. Yes, her auburn-brown hair was swept over her shoulder to frame her face perfectly, and yes, he was wondering how her close-mouthed smile looked so dazzling, even after having woken up from what would've had to be a lot of misery - but that didn't matter.

"Hello," Sadie smiled bigger, showing her teeth this time, and Mikey almost had to glance away to avoid becoming completely enthralled.

"Hey," He greeted, plastering on his goofy grin that he reserved for his friends, hoping to convince her - and himself - that that was all she was to him. "I'm glad you're okay."

Sadie shifted slightly to face him, obviously trying to hide her discomfort as she replied, "I probably wouldn't be if not for you and your...brother?" She guessed, eyes shifting between the spazzy turtle and Donatello.

"Correct," Donnie affirmed.

"And what am I, chopped liver?"

Mikey grinned when he finally spotted Annabeth, her hands planted firmly on her hips as she blew a wisp of hair away from her stormy blue eyes.

"Hey! When'd you get here?" He gestured in his friend's direction.

"I got here hours ago," Anna retorted icily, crossing her arms, "I was here when you brought Sadie in. Remember? Oh, maybe not, since you're too wrapped up in your own thoughts to think about anything else, these days."

"Annabeth," Donnie hissed in warning, only causing the brunette to look away angrily. Mikey's smile disappeared, as he stared down at the ground.

"...Umm," He heard Sadie start uneasily, "I'm not really sure what that was, but... Thank you. All three of you. I wouldn't be talking to you right now without your help."

"Don't mention it," D mumbled, the newfound awkwardness in the air making it hard for him to sound cheerful.

"Yeah, anything for my friend," Annabeth said, though her gaze was directed straight at Mikey as she let her arms drop to the side, "Well, I'm outta here."

"W-what?" Donnie furrowed his brow in confusion, "Hang on Anna, you don't have to--"

"I need to blow off some steam," She cut him off, starting toward the door.

Mikey caught her arm before she could walk out, eyes downcast, his voice low. "Anna, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings. I guess I'm just... sorting things out still."

"It's been two months," She retorted in a choked whisper, shaking away from his grasp, "She's not coming back, Mikey. You need to move on, before everyone else moves on without you."

Annabeth pushed past him, leaving him to his miserable thoughts as she hurried out.

"Okay, can someone please tell me what's going on?" Sadie asked, trying to sit up and wincing.

"Nothing's going on," Donnie replied without pathos, eyes still lingering on the place where Anna just stood.

Mikey blew out a breath, trying to recover some remnant of his earlier smile. "Yeah, everything's fine. Totally cool. No problems here."

I'm crying on the inside about Renet. I'm trying not to look at you, because you're amazing and I don't get why heart's beating so fast. But other than that, no problems here. He thought bitterly.

"Alright," Sadie consented, leaning back on the pillow and knitting her brows together, "Anyone got an Advil?"

"Got some right here," Donnie readily quipped, searching through a cabinet to find some pain meds, "You should be able to walk in a day or two, depending on how well your recovery goes."

Sadie nodded, reaching eagerly for the single pill and glass of water Mikey's brother handed her, "Thanks."

The genius bowed his head ever-so-slightly  in response, and set the medicine on the bedside table, returning to one of the many experiments he had scattered throughout the lab.

Mikey sighed, playing with the cord on his headphones, looking over his shoulder at the dark television screen that beckoned him, a one-way ticket out of Awkwardville. He was just about to turn around, just about to escape back to his video games, when Sadie called a bit hoarsely, "Hey Mikey!"

He wished her voice could've sounded like nails on a chalkboard, rather than words spoken from an angel's mouth. Nails on a chalkboard would've been much harder to listen to, much harder to consent to. Mikey whirled right back around.

"Yeah?"

"Can I talk to you for a minute?"

Nah, I have this high score on Halo I really wanna beat, and plus, I wanna snap out of this hypnosis you put me in.

"Yeah, sure."

Mikey stride over to her, a small smile trying to burst forth, though he stubbornly tried to contain it. Sadie's eyes wouldn't meet his.

"I wanted to apologize," She murmured, "For reacting the way I did, when we met."

Mikey rubbed the back of his neck, shrugging, "s'Okay, I'm used to it."

That only seemed to sadden her more, making him wish the words never left his mouth.

"I wish you weren't," She continued, intertwining her fingers as she looked up at him, "You helped me, and I'd just screamed in your face. Most people would leave me to die."

Mikey's eyes filled with sympathy. "I know lots of people who would've helped you too..."

Sadie sighed. "Well, my people are keen to the 'survival of the fittest' idea," She corrected herself.

Your people..., Her words rang in the turtle's mind, fading into oblivion as he spoke again.

"Hey, you're safe now, dudette. Don't worry."

Sadie smiled again, though the happy gesture never reached her pretty hazel eyes.

"No need for me to worry, thanks to you."