Author's Note: This is my first attempt at co-writing a story. All of the odd-numbered chapters are written by my friend Kazari and are in Raphael's point of view, unless otherwise noted. All of the even-numbered chapters are written by me and are in Donatello's POV. So this first section belongs to Kaz, and the next chapter is mine, and on it goes. Hope you enjoy the team effort!


"This is the news at 5. Grave news….this afternoon a young male was shot by an unknown attacker on the BQE. Witnesses described the shooter to be around 5'9'' with sandy blonde hair…in his mid 20's. Could this be another gang related incident?" The male reporter broadcasted over the television.

Click…

"A teenager was stabbed in the Canal Street Subway station," a female reporter stated on another local channel.

CLICK…

"A local convenient store only a few blocks away from Times Square was robbed…"

CLICK!

So much for the news. This was really pissing me off. Lately all I heard was people getting hurt in New York City…MY city…and what did the fucking police do? Slap them on the wrist like they were 5 years old and put them back in the street. I was getting sick of it…..most importantly I was REALLY getting sick of sitting on my shell in the lair with my 2 other brothers.

Leo was out in the jungle in South America doing whatever because HE couldn't handle the pressure…poor baby, while the city was falling apart and we HAD to stay below because he wasn't here. What in the hell made him so special anyways? I don't know what's worse…having him here….or not having him here. When Leo left, my other brother Don kind of took over. It's been 6 months since Leo's gone and Don's got a job with some stupid tech support place and now he's making Mikey get a job. Who made him in charge anyways? Besides, all Donnie wants to do is just roll over and play with his stupid computer. What a wimp. Don NEVER did like fighting….and pretty soon if something isn't done….the city's going to be taken over by criminals….thugs….riff raff…hoodlums….whatever you want to call those lowlives. I am glad at least Case-man is on my side, but he can't fight this crud alone. I didn't see what the hell was wrong in going out and stopping some of this…

Well at least Leo is supposed to be back tonight. He left 6 months for his "training" session on this date and he said he would be back today. Maybe then he will see how the city's falling apart and how Don doesn't care about doing anything about it!

"Look, Donnie!" Mikey exclaimed as he held up a picture. I glanced over to see that my younger brother held up a drawing of what it looked like some turtle with a huge smiling head, which was kind of creepy if you ask me.

"Mikey? What the hell is that?" I asked. I was not impressed, whatever it was.

"It's a costume! I am going to have April help me make it." Mikey smiled back at me.

Okay…I totally didn't get this. "Costume, eh? Oookay….you're a turtle and you're WEARING a turtle costume? THAT makes sense."

"It's for my new birthday party job that Don's gonna help me with. MONDO MICHELANGELO!"

"No, it's Cowabunga Carl, Mikey," My other brother replied, correcting him. Donatello was over sitting at his computer….WHAT a surprise…and he had turned around. I think that nerd really did enjoy trying to correct others like he's some sort of genius.

"Awe…." Mikey whined as he placed his drawing back on the floor. I just sat where I was on the couch with my arms crossed. I was not impressed with my brainiac brother's idea.

"Mikey, I think the kids would enjoy cowabunga instead of mondo okay? Trust me."

"Why don't you just call it Dipstick Donatello? Because that's the LAMEST idea ever." I commented as I lifted my eye ridge at the 2.

Don shot me a glare, which was no threat to me. "Hey, Raph, you have been complaining the past few months that you were bored….well Mikey and I are finding ways to keep us occupied and help around here instead of sitting on our shells all day- like some turtles- and complaining."

"Helping? You know what would be HELPFUL, Don?" I stood up from the couch. GOD he was annoying me. "Why don't you get your ass out of here and go topside with me to help out those people that those criminals are just picking on?"

Donatello sighed and he turned back around in his chair with his shell facing me. "Raph, that is the job for the police, not us. We did what we were supposed to remember? Save Sensei and fight the Shredder. The Shredder's gone and the Foot has dissolved. Our job is not to go out and be crime fighters."

"Hmm….crime fighters? You mean like superheroes, Raph?" My younger brother asked me excitedly.

"Just keep working on your dumb drawing, Mikey." I waved him off. I was not going to be asked dumb questions….right now I wanted to deal with mister smartass. "Since when, Don, did you decide WHAT our job was, huh? Did Master Leo tell you?"

Donatello sighed. "I am NOT having his conversation with you, Raph. I have to work in a few minutes and I have to get ready." Heh, that was always like him. Pansy.

"Oh, I'm sooorry," I snapped back sarcastically. "I forgot you were WORKING. You know that's the dumbest thing ever. You are wasting your time…and OUR time…doing that stupid job for tech support. What are you even doing that for?"

"It's called money, Raph. You know the food that you eat every day? The t.v...your stereo…the sofa….that table over there….should I continue?" Donatello wheeled around in his chair, now facing me. His jaw was clenched. Heh, I think I was getting to him.

"Oh…." I chuckled. "All this time I thought you swiped that stuff, Don, at the junkyard… or did you not really fix it up like you said?"

"I GOT some parts from the junkyard, but do you really think all of this stuff was salvaged? No…and I DO NOT 'swipe' things. Casey and April bought most of it. They shouldn't be taking care of us, Raph. That's why I got this job…to help pay on OUR own. I thought maybe I would give an example to you and Mikey if I got this job. I guess your feeble mind didn't process the hint like I thought it would."

"Look, Don, I AIN'T getting a job. I ain't workin for stupid tech support place…" I then looked back at my youngest brother, pointing to him as I continued to speak, "and I'm DEFINITELY not dressing up in some stupid costume."

"I wouldn't dream of you doing that, Raph," Now my brother was becoming sarcastic. "I'm sure there's some job out there for your 'intelligence.'"

Did he just diss me?! "WHAT the hell did you say?" I growled. I balled my fists up.

"I have to get to work now," Donatello replied and wheeled back around in his chair, putting on his headset.

I just about had enough of him. I grabbed the headset off his head, jerking it off, pulling the jack out of the computer. "No…you are DEALING with me right now, Don…" I hissed. He really pissed me off this time.

"I can't WAIT for Leo to come back," Mikey said, but I ignored him.

"Awe, glad to see everyone together," I heard Master Splinter say as he entered the room. Damnit! I gave Donatello one more glare…this WAS not over, then walked back to the couch. "What's for dinner?"


Later on that night after dinner, we sort of watched the news together after Sensei's episode of Gilmore Girls came on. I never understood why he liked such stupid crap to begin with. Get this…Leo never showed. Ha….I figured. I stayed up most of the night while Don and Mikey fell asleep on the couch. Splinter Junior always thought he was better than us…he probably ditched us. Who needs him anyways? I was sick of him trying to control me and Don was NOT going to take his place. I have decided that I am going to deal with these lowlives.