The boys led Cat to the training room, each of them smiling. "Now, before we start training you'll have to meet Master Splinter," Leo said. "Master Splinter?," Cat questioned, feeling slightly shy. "He's our dad!," Mikey said joyfully. She almost cringed at the word. Dad. The word tugged at the empty hole in her heart. "Cool...," she trailed off. They all stopped in their tracks and looked at her with worried faces. "Is something wrong?," Donnie asked. She looked at him with wide eyes, behind them hiding a world of sorrow. "No. I'm fine," she said with a feigned smile. They all turned again and continued leading her to the training room. Brushing some hair out of her face, Cat continued to follow. Before she knew it, she was in the middle of a training room in front of a meditating rat. "Is that-?," she asked. "Yup," Raph answered her. "Master Splinter," Leo whispered his father. The rat opened one eye, then opened both to stare at the cat mutant standing before him. "Who is this?," he asked skeptically. "Her name's Catarina. She's a mutant with no home," Leo stated. "But you can call her Kitty! She likes that!," Mikey jumped in. Cat blushed and giggled nervously. "He's right. This guy speaks the truth," she said, trying to loosen up a bit. Master Splinter did not seem amused. "Why did you bring her here," he asked, almost angrily. "She doesn't have a home," Donnie said. Splinter shrugged, a scowl seeming to form on his face. "Is something wrong, Sensei?," Leo put a hand on his father's shoulder. "Her kind is not welcome here," he said at last. Everyone looked appalled...except Cat. She was used to this. "I'm not like them," she muttered, making Master Splinter shift his glare from Leo to her. He stroked his beard. "So I take you know what I'm talking about," he said as he approached her. "Of course," she sighed. His face grew a little softer, but Cat's contorted. "If I'm not welcome I won't stay," she said in her cool tone of voice, hiding her poor rejected soul perfectly, "I wouldn't want to impose. So, I'm gone." With that, she rushed out of the room and out of the lair, heading for the surface. Raph stared at his father. "How could you do that?! Why-?! How?!," he screamed, his blood boiling. Master Splinter just fell back into a meditating position on the ground. "Trust me. I am saving you from a world of pain that that Kitty would have brought you." Raph was infuriated, and strangely, so was Mikey. "But you can't just throw her out!," he yelped. Leo and Donnie were shocked out their brother's outburst, and Raph seemed proud. "Come on, guys! We gotta go get her!" Raph followed as Mikey rushed out of the room, nunchucks in hand. Leo and Donnie looked at Master Splinter, then rushed after their brothers.

Cat sat on her rooftop, her face buried in her hands as tears ran down her face. She didn't normally cry, but its necessary when your heart hurts that much. That rat just sliced open her old wounds, and destroyed that chance of friendship that was almost in her grasp. It was over before it even started. Oh so she thought. A certain bunch of turtles leapt onto the rooftop, not giving Cat any time to hide her feelings that were uncontrollably leaking out. Mikey's face dropped and his heart sank at the sight. Raph looked almost like he would explode with anger, yet melt with sadness at the same time. Leo and Donnie both had baffled looks on their faces, along with genuine apologetic looks. "Oh Kitty," Mikey mumbled. She sniffled and tried to discreetly wipe her nose. "I'm sorry," she said, "I should have known better. I'm not meant to have friends. I'm not meant to have anybody. For a moment I almost forgot that. I'm sorry." A tear rolled down Mikey's cheek. He rushed over and wrapped her in a hug without saying a word. Cat's eyes widened with shock, but closed as she couldn't help but accept the hug. She practically melted into his arms as more hot tears burned down her face. Raph walked over and put a hand on her back. "It's ok kid. Master Splinter was just being dumb," he said softly. Leo walked over and knelt down. "Yeah. You're welcome at our place...n-no matter what he says," he stated strongly, his defiance shocking everyone. Donnie stood there, too shocked and sad to do anything. More acceptance. More utter and unquestioned acceptance. As much as Cat loved and cherished this, she knew in her heart that deep down...Master Splinter was right.