Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2012 is a product of Nickelodeon. This is a nonprofit, derivative work from the well produced and written cartoon series. The nature of this work is to provide entertainment and broaden possibilities unexplored in the original series without profit. This work will be used in aid to promote series and all intent for this story for the same purpose. Thank you Nickelodeon for providing a wonderful new rendition of an old-time favorite cartoon.

Rated T

A/N:Um...first story...I can only write chapter fics and have a million stories of various programs worked out in my head. But this one was the furthest along so I thought, all well, I'll just start posting the silly thing and see who I can entertain along the way. I don't have a beta, though one would be nice, so grammatical errors might exist. Just tell me and I'll do some more editing.

This story was inspired by the TMNT 2003 episode "Bad Day," but set in 2012. I tried to adapt to their unique quirks in this story...so an old, missed foe will have his own too. I'll try to keep everything in character while relating it to this new universe. I also could not listen to enough of Anathema's "Natural Disaster" without thinking about how this story is going to play out, so watch out if it gets a bit upsetting. I also have a mismatch of chapters of various lengths, so don't be surprised by extremely long to extremely short chapters. I haven't written the whole thing yet either, so updating will be randomized.

Suggestions and comments are helpful and motivating too. :)

A DISASTER TOO MANY

Chapter 1

The lair had been quiet at one point. That was as much as Mikey knew, still shrinking in front of the television, too fearful of moving now that a whole out war was raged between his two eldest siblings. He hadn't even bothered to interfere on this one. Too many days stuck down in the sewers, left everyone now-a-days in an unusually sour mood. It was as if the small flicker of freedom, called the surface world, had suddenly spun reality on it's heels, expanding the turtles' yearning for something greater, bigger, more real than living below the streets. This expansion of knowledge and vibrancy of an outside world had, as expected, hit Raph the hardest. The proof wasn't necessarily in the company, named Casey, nor in the abrupt mannerism. The proof was in the heated debates; more passionate, more dogmatic than ever before between the two eldest brothers.

Raph wanted his topside time and he wasn't to be under a curfew.

It had started as per usual. There was a bit of a disagreement of what Splinter did or did not permit them to do. Going topside was one of those things. Now Casey was suddenly involved and whereas Leo or Raph might have eventually backed down with a swing or two, their new human friend was unwittingly adding fuel to the fire. Now it was a full on battle.

The voices ranged so loud, Mikey had momentarily become paralyzed.

"What is happening out here?" came the voice of Master Splinter. Fury was clearly splayed across his face.

If there was one thing Master Splinter did not appreciate, it was being pulled from deep meditation. Everything else was generally tolerated with some sort of 'I am disappointed' lecture.

Mikey slipped a little further into his shell as Master Splinter's eyes spun towards each present family member. He didn't want to be spotted out amongst his arguing brothers and be thought of as a culprit. He was enough of a culprit as it was when it came to teasing them. He didn't need this new, brewing situation to be sewed on the back of his shell too.

Leo and Raph pulled apart so fast that it didn't even look like they were in the middle of a scuffle. If it weren't for Leo holding his arm and Raph touching a split lip, then all evidence would have been eroded there and then.

"Oh, uh..., Master Splinter," Casey budded in before anyone could say anything. His interruption wasn't exactly suave nor did it deter Master Splinter's attention. In fact, it only added to the frustration.

"Not now, Casey Jones," Master Splinter snapped a bit, his eyes focusing on his two eldest sons. The furrow of his brow was deeper now that blood had been spotted. "I need to have a long discussion with my sons. Leonardo, Raphael."

Both teens cringed as their names were called. Neither wanted to be amongst the unfortunate few that their father had a chat with. It usually meant discipline and discipline meant more time away from things that they wanted to be doing.

Nonetheless, both boys followed. They glared at each other, each holding the same accusation towards the other, blaming the other for the current disappointment of their father.

Mikey kept his cowardice from where he was as the group passed by. He waited until they were out of the room before giving a low whistle and grinning sheepishly. All tension fell from him as soon as the dojo door snapped shut. "Man, I think Master Splinter is gonna make them run until they can't get up tomorrow."

Casey groaned before making his way over to the couch and collapsing on it. "Well, so much for my sidekick. So tell me what's got into Leo? He goes topside too sometimes. Why can't he just let Raph and me go bash a few heads tonight."

Mikey shrugged. "Dude, no one tells me anything. If you want answers, ya gotta start hanging out with Master Splinter, because he's the one who knows everything."

A rather disgusted look crossed Casey's face. "Yeah, hanging out with a rat, by myself. I don't think so…I really don't think so."

"Or you could go ask April. She seems to know a lot about what's going on-"

"That isn't necessary," Donny called, his eyes narrowed a bit at Mikey's suggestion. His appearance in the doorway of the lab was so quick that both Casey and Mikey jumped a bit. "Master Splinter's been worried ever since we found out that there are more and more people that know about us. Shredder is back, Tiger Claw almost wiped us out, Kurtzman only proves that humans know about us, Karai is out for blood..."

"Tiger Claw?" Casey questioned with an eyebrow raised. "Leatherhead, Shredder, Kurtzman? How come I haven't met these guys? When did I miss them?"

Don folded his arms. His smile was a little too smug. "Well, you've missed out on a lot of our adventures we've shared since we met April."

There was no hiding the fact that Don had emphasized his knowing April long before Casey stepping into the picture. Sighing loudly, Mikey interrupted what could be a potential brawl with a, "Seriously? Are we going to have round two in the lair?"

It was loud enough to draw both Mikey's brother's and Casey's attention in at once. The embers in their eyes didn't ignite however, which was a sign that Michelangelo's dramatic display actually worked. Mikey smirked as he flipped backwards and watched the two resume their talk. If Mikey knew anything about Don, it was that the guy never disappointed in long, lengthy explanations about anything.

"Master Splinter pretty much put the lair on lockdown until he thinks that the air is cleared. And Leo's sort of the one that has to enforce that."

Casey grunted. "So…? You've guys been out of the lair since then, right?"

"Yeah…," Don trailed off, his face held guilt across it. "Well, Master Splinter might not know exactly about those times. He's…well…he sort of thinks that Leo's been keeping us training in the tunnels or giving April a hand here or there."

That caught Casey's attention immediately. "No way," he exclaimed, a little too loud for either Donny's or Mikey's liking. "You've gotta be kidding, so he doesn't know about you guys sneaking off half of the time?"

"That's not something we talk about, Casey," grounded Don. His brown eyes shifted towards the doorway of the dojo and then pointedly back at Casey. "If you want everyone in more trouble then be my guest and announce it to the world. But Leo's being cautious because we go disappearing one too many times and Master Splinter's going to be suspicious. He already is and we can't keep covering our tracks. We have to save those times for when April's in danger or the foot starts threatening us. Even you being here is jeopardizing us."

A frown folded across Casey's lips causing him to withdraw momentarily. A fight with Don, king of logic, tended to be somewhat pointless when Don had a point. He tended to win those sorts of battles. Firstly, he used the method of a lengthy speech about how things worked in a foreign language and secondly, Don tended to be right about most things anyway. Besides, if there is something that Don didn't know, he was blunt about it. It usually meant him living in his lab for days on end.

"Sorry about being such a problem, then," grumbled Casey in an unappreciative manner. "Maybe April and I shouldn't be going down here all the time if we're 'jeopardizing' or whatever."

What was probably suppose to be a good point on Casey's side concerning the love triangle between April Casey and Donny, actually hurt Casey's side. Mikey knew better, and worse, Don knew it too. In fact, Don was practically in victory gloating mode at the moment. Mikey sighed, awaiting the inevitable, and after all his fine work at preventing another outbreak in the lair. At the least, Mikey could count his lucky stars that he now had someone to share his troubles with. Ice cream Kitty was always the best listener of all.

"Actually, April is in just as much 'jeopardy' as the rest of us. She's being tracked too if you haven't been following," began Don, not bothering to keep the know-it-all voice from protruding.

Any good mood that Casey might have had, downward spiraled at that point. Don decided to gloat over his victory back in his lab. That meant that Mikey was going to have to clean up the pieces that his brothers left once again.

Mikey sucked in a breath before elbowing his new human friend. "It's nothing personal, really. Don just likes to win arguments. It's sort of his expertise…unless it's Leo, then it's sort of their expertise."

Casey cracked a smile at that. "I kind of figured that one. It's why Raph is so upset all the time, two know-it-all brothers. It's like double Irma's running around. At least, Raph has a good brother in you."

Needless to say, Mikey had to withhold a snort in that comment. He knew for sure that Raph didn't think himself too lucky, what with all the pranks Mikey pulled all the time. But if Casey was giving him a compliment, who was he to pass the opportunity down?

"Casey, are you still in there?" Raph called in a hushed tone.

"Raph!" cheered Casey only to be shushed.

Raph ran over and clamped a hand on Casey's mouth, indicating silence. "Listen, Leo's in the middle of meditation and I need to get back. Why don't we get on out of here in the early morning? We'll get some practice in yet. 'Sides, bad guys don't get that much sleep, am I right?"

Casey grinned from ear to ear as he pushed the three fingered hand from his mouth. "Yeah. I'll meet ya on the rooftop above my parent's apartment at one."

Then Casey turned towards Mikey. "If ya wanted to come-"

"No, not Mikey," groaned Raph, stopping half-way from heading back to whatever task Master Splinter had given him. Mikey feigned heartbreak, clutching onto his plastron and flipping onto his back.

"Oh the pain of not being wanted!" Mikey bellowed, though kept his tone soft and lighthearted. Raph rolled his eyes and Casey chuckled.

It was then that Raph warned his youngest sibling with a, "Mikey…"

"Ok, ok," Mikey whined. "I've got it. Big brothers only. Geez, Raph. I didn't even want to go anyways. I've got comics to read. And April's bringing over more as soon as I finish my stack anyways."

Raph grinned and then gave Casey the thumbs up before boogying back into the dojo. Casey mimicked the motion before getting up. "I guess that means I should get a little early shut eye."

Mikey waved a hand nonchalantly before spinning back to a particularly interesting program. His eyes were immediately glued. Though he did manage a, "See ya later," to Casey before the other left.

Casey might have said something, but Mikey wasn't too sure. He was already becoming inhumanly absorbed in what was happening on screen. If there was one thing Mikey could do right, it was the ability to focus if his mind was in it. Usually, he had extra encouragement on that aspect from Master Splinter when it came to practice and in the not so fun way. But for the fun stuff, he could rival Leo's concentration.

What Mikey didn't know was that the little rebellion that had taken place right in front of his eyes was going to be the breaking point of their families secluded secrecy. Had he known that this was going to be the last night in the lair, he might have hesitated in telling Master Splinter of the plans his older brother and human friend set forth. But he didn't and would always remember that he didn't as long as he lived.