I felt a sudden chill my body after hearing that the Purple Dragons were really after me.

'But... why?' I kept asking myself that question over and over.

"Now that I think of it. The Dragons were after you at your school, right? It looks like they've been targeting you this whole time." Leo stated, "So as far as I can tell, as long as you're on the surface, they can find you and that makes you feel unsafe."

None of my best friends can honestly never, ever consider that. Can they? What are they going to do? I mean they can't just follow me throughout the day watching over me. No matter where I went, the Dragons were tracking me down. My safety was now in jeopardy. Master Splinter looked at me with a very concerned feeling. He couldn't believe he was about to say this, but for the first time in being, it just had to be the only option.

"Brianna, will you come with me for a moment? I would like to have a word with you." I gasped when Master Splinter motioned me toward the dojo. We left the guys in the lab who all had a mixture of worried expressions and they looked at each other wondering what Sensei wanted to talk to me about.

'I know the guys have to find a way to keep me safe, but exactly how?' I was lost in thought.

My heart was racing as I followed Sensei into the dojo. My mind was spinning at the thought that the Purple Dragons wanted me.

'But for what reason and why?'

The lingering thought scared me. And then another thought came to me that terrified me to the bone.

'If the Dragons are after me, then why do they still have my family and what are they doing with them?' I was thinking constantly.

I wanted to cry at that very thought, but I didn't dare to lose myself in front of the rat master. Soon I sat in front of Sensei and bowed my head in respect. Master Splinter sat there for a while quietly, I was thinking that he was in his deep thought meditation. We sat there quietly until he opened his reddish-brown eyes and broke the silence.

"Brianna, I can understand that you must be concerned about the news you have just received about the Purple Dragons. I am concerned as well. I assure you that my sons will protect you, but you do understand that neither of us can watch over you during the day all the time. Yes?" Master Splinter asked with his sincere, but serious fatherly look. I nodded in his response. I couldn't find the ability to mutter a word. I... I... I didn't know what to do or say.

"Even though I didn't meditate on that thought for very long, I knew that for now that this could be the only option to ensure your protection. I know this will raise many questions for you, and also considering your current guardian, but I highly recommend that you stay here with us where we are sure the Dragons will not find you." I stared at him for a while. I wasn't sure what to say. I would have to say that he was right about one thing. It certainly raised a lot of questions.

'What about my beloved grandmother? What about my needs for education? What would I tell people about what happened to me? What... What... What would I do?'

Master Splinter could see and understand the confusion I was feeling at that moment. The rat master knew it was a bold decision, but what else could he do? He wanted what was best for me, but to protect me and provide for me would be two difficult things to accomplish.

"You don't have to answer right away my child. I'm not saying that you have to, but I strongly recommend that you do for your own safety." The rat master said.

I nodded in response. So I respectfully bowed my head and left the room. I wasn't sure what to do. Sure, I mean it would be great to get out of school, but what would I say to the people when I got back, when will this whole nightmare ever be over? What about my grandmother? What would I say to her? I loved my grandmother very much and I didn't want to make her worry, especially if I had disappeared all of a sudden. My head began to spin again and my stomach was churning. So many things were happening all at once and I didn't know what to do. I felt like I was going to faint until... Until someone caught me. It was Leo.

"Brianna, are you alright?" said a tall figure with handsome blue eyes hovering over me with his hands wrapped gently around my shoulders. I looked up to see a blue masked wearing turtle looking at me with a worried expression on his face. Leo, kept his hands around my shoulders to hold me steady. I felt like I was really going to faint. I took in a deep breath. As much as I felt like crying, I never wanted any of my best friends to see me like this, especially Leonardo.

"I'm okay Leo. I just have a lot on my mind. Thanks for worrying about me." I said with a faint and unconvincing smile. Leo wasn't convinced, but he decided that it was best to not push the issue, it would probably do more harm than good if he did. He cared for me very much and always wanted to be there for me, but also knew when to give me some space. He reluctantly lets go of my shoulders and offered to walk me home.

As Leo was taking me home he couldn't help but notice how deep in thought I was. He knew I was trying to be brave and everything, but he couldn't help but worry about me. He loved me so much that his heart ached at the thought of me being in any kind of pain. He would do anything to get rid of my pain, even if it meant giving up his own life to do so.

Before coming up the next rooftop toward my apartment, I was tired and wanted to stop and rest for a moment. Leo and I sat together on the cold rooftop for a while in silence. My head kept on spinning. I felt like I was going to be sick. Leo took my shoulders in his hands again. "Brianna, what's wrong? Please talk to me. I'm your best friend." Leo pleaded with much worry for me.

Leo was about to carry me to my apartment until he heard the sudden noise of glass shattering through a window. Leo quickly looked over the next building to where my apartment was at. There he saw five men wearing purple dragon jackets breaking into my apartment.

The Purple Dragons were looking for me.

Leo and I had to get back to the lair, and fast. But as Leo went to turn back to where he left me... A big and tall man stood with a sharp edged knife that was pointed directly at me. My eyes grew wide with fear. Leo felt sudden hatred and stupidity for leaving me for just a split second. My heart began to race. My body froze from fear. The man quickly took out the knife and prepared to slash. I could see the flash coming from the knife coming out of the man's knife case. I tried to run, but couldn't move. So I closed my eyes waiting for the pain of the knife and injure my body. But it never came.

In a sudden flash, the knife rushed past me as the man threw the trigger knife. I was pushed and nearly rolled over the edge of the building. I searched through my body quickly for any wounds. But I was fine, not a single scratch. My eyes moved to where the throwing knife came from. There I saw Leo laying face down by my side covered in pure, red blood...

Leo was stabbed...

My body began to tremble as I reached over to him. He wasn't moving. As gently as I could, I tried to turn him over. He laid there still, not moving. My eyes widened with terror.

"Leo...! Leo!! Open your eyes!!! Look at me!!!!" I cried hysterically. Then suddenly, Leo let out a weak groan of pain. He slowly opened his blue eyes and saw the one he loved crying before him.

Leo knew what he did was rash, but he would do anything to protect me, his loved girl. The blood continued to flow from his chest as I held him very close to me. Leo felt his body going numb as I held him tightly to my chest. I could tell that he was smelling my sweet fragrance of lavender flowers in my hair. My hands, arms, and shirt were all covered in my best friend's pure, red blood. Leo was beginning to feel himself slipping away, but before he could, there was one thing he had to say.

"Brianna," he whispered in a weak rasping voice that made my heart shatter,

"There's something I-I've been... wanting t-to tell... you." He began to break off,

"What is it Leo?" I asked.

And he said slowly, "I love.... you...." He soon fell silent as he felt himself fall into a deep eternal slumber...

"Leo?... Leo?..." I was begging him to come back.

"LEOOOOO!!!!!" I yelled.

I screamed as I felt my dearest friend slipped away. A sudden feeling of ice piercing my heart as I screamed his name over and over. The blood was still running from his chest where his heart was once beating. I just sat with him as he died in my arms, as he was about to confess his true feeling to me. My body grew so cold it began to burn. I felt like a part of me had died. But then...

The man in the purple jacket was still there...

'Wait a minute...Was he just standing there...? Watching...? Enjoying my pain...?!?' I was filled with rage and horror. My body began to burn with hatred. The man came closer and pointed the knife again at me. I couldn't move... Leo had given his life for me, and how was I going to repay him? By freezing?! NO!! I had to move, I just had to! But the man was quicker than my actions were and stabbed me...

I was soon blinded by tears and a flash of silvery light. All went silent until I broke the silence with a blood curdling scream. I felt myself falling, still holding on to my blue savior. Everything in sight went black until...

........................................................................................

"Brianna...? Brianna! Wake up!! You're having a terrible nightmare, wake up!!" A familiar voice called out to me as I felt two strong hands holding onto me. My eyes widened to see my blue clad turtle friend staring at me with a very scared look on his face. He came up closer to me as I felt my body beginning to tremble. I quickly ran my hands over his chest where he was stabbed.

'Wait... He wasn't stabbed... no blood... He's fine...'

"You really gave us quite a scare right there Brianna. Right after you left the dojo, you started acting strange. You told me that you were ok, but then you passed out on the floor. I called for help and Sensei helped me settle you here on the couch. I was worried so I stayed up to watch over you." He said.

"Were you? My god."

"Are you sure you're ok?" Leo said as he placed his hand over my forehead.

I sniffed from my nose and my eyes were beginning to water.

"Brianna, what's wrong?!" Leo was cut off short as I quickly grabbed him in a tight hug crying like crazy into his chest. Leonardo didn't know what kind of nightmare I was in. He has never seen me cry like this before, or ever for that matter. He held me tightly in his warm embrace. "It's alright Brianna, it was just a nightmare. It wasn't real. It's over now," Leo whispered into my ear as he gently stroked my back with one hand and ran his fingers through my dark brown long hair with the other.

My gasps for air began to deepen and relax. So we remained here, holding on to each other for the longest time. I was hesitant about telling him about my nightmare. I honestly didn't want to repeat it; I tried to hold it, but...

"I'm here for you. It's ok if you don't want to talk about it. But if you do want to talk about it, I'll listen," Leo said again whispering softly into my ear. I couldn't keep anything from him anymore. I cried everything out and told him about the nightmare.

Leo never letting go of me, his ocean blue eyes grew wider and wider as the story continued. He held me tighter at the part of the nightmare that made me burst into tears. Leo held me and sat me on his lap. He cuddled me close to him as he wrapped a blue blanket around me. He began humming a song in a very low whisper. I fell asleep to the sound of his humming and the sound of his heart beating. It was then I had realized that... I had fallen deeply in love with Leonardo.

For a moment, I wasn't sure if I was still dreaming. The next morning, I found myself lying on the couch with Leo sleeping by my side sitting upright on the floor. I smiled at my blue sleeping savior and kissed his cheek. As Leo was stirring from his sleep, I rested my head again on my pillow and closed my eyes.

I whispered to him, "Good morning Leo, I love you." And I pretended to be sleeping still. Leo turned to face me with his eyes still closed from sleeping.

He smiled and whispered back to me, "Good morning Brianna, I love you too," also pretending to be sleeping still.

I opened my brown eyes and began to smile. Leo did the same, showing his cute blue eyes.

Together alive and in love. The whispers from our hearts may sometimes speak to us in the most unusual way. But however if it is spoken to you, it is meant to bring you happiness. Forever.