The start of something new! The Sequel to 'Family Forever'. (If you haven't read that, you won't be completely lost, but it helps.)

I want to add this… With exams coming up, I will only update every five reviews. That should give me the time necessary to write the chapters without falling behind. School ends mid-June, we'll see what happens after that.

Prologue

I was running through a dark forest. Kinda clichéd, but whatever. I wasn't thinking of that, but of my family- my four older brothers and my grandfather.

As I ran towards a clearing, I heard a strangled cry. I gulped; I knew that voice, it was MIKEY!

I burst through the clearing to see Mikey lying face down in his own blood. I ran to help him, but was stopped when I heard a gasp behind me. I swung around, and then saw Donnie, just as bleeding and broken as his little brother.

My mind was reeling. First Mike, then Don… I knew who came next…

Oh please no.

A grunt came from the trees, and Raph's mangled body was thrown into view. I shrieked and started running, but a voice in the woods screamed, "Dani, RUN!"

My heart stopped. No, not…

Leo was thrown right on top of his immediate brother Raph. I fell to the ground, screaming, "BROS, NOOOOOOO!" Then the sound of an evil chuckle caused my head to snap up.

The Shredder, holding a dead Master Splinter, cackled "You're mine", and raised his gauntlet to strike me…

"Dani!"

"Sweetie, wake up!"

"It's okay, kid!"

"Sis, please!"

I bolted up, gasping and weeping. I glanced around frantically and saw all four of my bros surrounding my bed. Leo was sitting on the edge next to me, holding my shoulders. Raph was standing behind him, looking at me intently. Mikey looked like he was barely awake, slumping against the wall. Don was standing on the opposite side of Leo and Raph, looking worried.

I was breathing heavily, and I realized that I must have been screaming out loud, and had woken up the boys.

I looked at my bros, one by one, seeing that each of them was truly alive and well… and I slammed into Leo, bursting into noisy sobs. This shook them up.

"Dani?" Leo asked anxiously, stroking my hair, "Shhh, honey, it was all a bad dream."

"Nightmare that bad, sweetie?" Raph asked, rubbing my shoulder.

"I-i-I thought yo-o-ou were de-ad", I sobbed into my eldest brother's chest as they tried to coax the nightmare out of me.

Mikey, who was wide awake at this point, asked, "What do ya mean, D?"

I took a deep breath, not letting Leo go as I explained, "I was running... and I saw you each be killed, one after the other." I shuddered as the others stared at me in shock. "Then he was gonna kill me…"

"Wait, hold up", Raph cut in, "WHO killed us?"

I was barely able to whisper the name of the monster, "Shredder."

The boys all tensed, and Leo held me a little tighter.

Don sighed, "You're obviously still shook up from what happened, huh, Dani?" I nodded my head, and Leo tilted my chin so that I was looking at him, "Dani. He is NOT going to hurt you, or any of us. IF he is truly stupid enough to try to get near you again, I will make SURE he regrets it."

I scowled and growled, "You think THAT'S what I want? You getting yourself hurt or KILLED protecting ME?! Well, news flash, Fearless, I DON'T." My brothers all widened their eyes in shock; they know I only ever called Leo 'Fearless'… never. That was Raph's job, and one that I usually get at mad at him for.

Leo winced; my eyebrows dropped and I rubbed Leo's arm comfortingly, "I'm sorry, guys. But the scariest thing for me right now is the thought of you all being hurt."

Raph smirked, "Listen, sweetie, it has been three months, and we haven't seen any Foot activity at all. Shred-head is licking his wounds in hiding, so we must have shaken him up pretty bad. So try not to worry about him, okay?"

I sniffled and nodded, whimpering, "Okay." Raph rubbed my hair and yawned. "Well, since it's 3 a.m., let's head back to bed." I bit my lip; Leo noticed.

"You want me to stay until you fall asleep, baby?" he muttered so the others couldn't hear him. The fear in my eyes answered him, and he said, "Why don't you guys head to bed? I'm going to talk to Dani."

They all nodded sleepily, muttering, "Night, Leo. Night, Dani."

When the other three left, closing the door behind him, I whispered, "Um, Leo? There actually IS something I want to talk to you about…"

My eldest sibling sighed, "I figured. It's about HIM, isn't it?" I nodded sheepishly, "I don't think…" But Leo cut me off, "You're right. He isn't gone forever. He's going to return, and he'll want your head."

I blinked at how bluntly he said all of this. Leo looked at me and smirked, "Don't worry, there's a but. BUT he will never touch you. You've been through so much, kiddo…" I saw what looked like a tear in his eye, but when I blinked, it was gone, "I couldn't stand it if you got hurt again."

I sighed, "I know, Leo. I feel the same. Only I have that whole 'it's-all-my-fault' thing hanging over my head."

Leo smiled, "Look, it's 3:30 in the morning. Try to just go to sleep. I'm right here, and our brothers are safe in their rooms, okay?"

I yawned and nodded, curling into a ball as my brother tucked me in. He sat next to me, stroking my hair, and I couldn't help but fall asleep with a smile on my face.

Leo's POV

As I watched my sleeping sister, I sighed. Why did all this stuff have to happen to her? She was only eleven, yet she had been through hell and back about five times in the course of a few days.

It had only been about a month and a half since Dani had first been abducted. Her injuries were healed, but not her heart. She's having nightmares, and won't leave the lair for anything. And in all honesty… I'm partially to blame, given the fact that I have REFUSED to let her go ANYWHERE alone.

I almost had a stroke when, yesterday, I looked around the lair for her and couldn't find her. I started panicking, but then she came up behind me, saying, "Yo, you look pale, Leo, you okay?" I spun around and pulled her into a bear hug. So, I guess I haven't recovered either.

I stood up, kissed Dani's forehead, then walked out of her room. I placed my hands in my head tiredly, and I heard footsteps behind me. "You okay, bro?" Raph asked, looking worried.

The ONE good result of all this was that Raph and I were on good terms. My hot-headed brother and I were getting along much better. We had agreed to settle our differences without fighting, for Dani's sake, and our own sakes as well.

I looked up at the oldest of my little siblings, "Yeah. Just stressed and worried." I glanced back at Dani's room, "Poor kunoichi…"

Raph grimaced and nodded, "Agreed. That kid needs a vacation. TO THE BAHAMAS. FOR SIX MONTHS MIN." I smirked at Raph and he said, "Look, he can't get her here. I'd throw myself in front of him to protect her, we all would."

"In the words of Dani, that ISN'T what I want." I snapped. "But, you're right, I guess. Let's go to bed." Raph punched my shoulder, muttering, "Overprotective", and with that we both retreated to our rooms.

I fell into bed. WAS I just overprotective? Or was there something that really seemed wrong? I only hoped that I was strong enough to protect my loved ones this time…

Third Person POV

"Sir, we have located the Shredder, as you requested." A voice came from a two-way in the man's hand. The man smiled, standing up from his chair. "Good. Do tell him that I would like to meet to strike a deal. After all, we both want the powers of the Elementals and the turtles' demise. I believe an alliance is fitting…"

Who's the new baddie? Will Dani be able to control her powers, especially fire? Review, Comment, Suggestions!