A/N: Everybody thank Sairey13 for the suggestion to include Casey Jones in the Nature vs Nurture Universe.

Everybody says. "Thanks Sairey13!"

Please note: Character thoughts are in italics.

Disclaimer: I keep wishing but until it comes true, I do not own the turtles.

Chapter 2-Third Wheels

Arnold Casey Jones tried on another t-shirt, before ripping it off. He tossed it onto the growing pile on his bed. Grabbing yet another t-shirt he turned to his roommate, repeating the question. "How about this one?"

A deep chuckle rang throughout the apartment. "Same as the last one Case. It looks fine to me."

Leaning back, Raphael balanced on two legs of the chair beneath him. He absently twirled one sai in his hand as he spoke. "So why are you so worked up over this girl anyway? It's not like you've never been on a date before."

Frazzled, Casey ran a hand through his hair as he reached for yet another t-shirt. "This girl's different."

Casey stopped and faced his terrapin roommate. "She's special Raph."

Startled by the serious expression on his friend's face, Raphael stopped leaning on the chair. The legs hit the ground with a thud. "Whoa, you really like this one?"

Casey nodded eagerly. A wide grin spread across his face as he thought about April O'Neil.

The red masked turtle leaned forward as he raised an eye ridge. Anyone who has Case looking like a love struck puppy, is definitely worth meeting. "Then I'll have to meet her."

Casey stopped rummaging among his clothes to turn and face his roommate again. "Oh no. I don't think so Raph. One look at you and she'll run screaming for the hills."

Raphael smirked, leaning back again. "Are you sure she's seen your face bro?"

Casey scowled, but ignored the taunt. Hoping to distract his overly curious friend, he countered. "Don't you have some hunting to do tonight?"

Raphael frowned as he returned the sai to the belt at his waist. The red clad ninja had stormed out of the lair six months ago. At the time Raph was hell bent on seeking revenge against an old Triceriton enemy, Commander Mozar. And while he didn't want to admit it, the result of six months of Raph's searching spoke for itself. There was no way that the Commander was on Earth. Which meant that Raphael's rash decision to leave his family behind, was all for nothing.

Casey saw the guilt flash across his friend's face. "You're going to have to go home sometime."

Raphael let out a sigh. When he first walked out of the lair, he didn't give any thought into where he was going or what he was going to do. He was hurt by Donatello's involvement with the Triceriton Mind Probe. The only thing on Raph's mind was revenge.

The sai wielder rubbed one hand down his face. "I know. But how am I ever going to face Donnie again after what I said to him? Or Mikey and Master Splinter after walking out on them?"

Casey walked over and, in a rare display of affection, patted his roommate on his shell. "If they really are your family bro, then they are going to understand. We all make mistakes. Especially when it comes to dealing with family."

Casey turned and began gathering up his wallet, phone and keys. Shoving everything into his pockets he opened his mouth.

Raph raised a hand, cutting off his friends retort. "Case, I can't sit here all night. I need something to do. I'll stick to the shadows."

Then Raphael grinned wolfishly. "Besides, someone's gotta protect your date from the predators out on the streets."

Casey growled at his curious friend before heading out the door. After six months of living with Raph, he knew arguing with the head strong turtle was pointless.

Michelangelo balanced on the edge of the rooftop. The overprotective turtle was trying his best to keep an eye on April and her date. But his efforts were in vain. The restaurant was dark and did not have many windows. This made peering inside difficult. He backed away from the edge with a sigh. I'll just have to wait until they finish dinner and leave the restaurant. Too bad Ape couldn't bring me a doggy bag.

As he began to pace along the rooftop, Mikey pulled the nunchakus from his belt. The orange ninja adored his chucks. They were fast, and unpredictable, just like him. He spun them slowly at first, the weapons quickly picking up speed. Pretending he was facing a rooftop of foes, Mikey began sparring with the thin air.

Raphael was late arriving to the restaurant. The red masked turtle had to make a few stops along the way. Raph always enjoyed teaching a few Purple Dragons that stealing was not ok in his city. Unfortunately, Raph's pit stops meant that he missed Casey greeting his date before the young couple went to dinner. Now Raph would have to wait until they were finished. Leaning against a chimney Raph pulled one of his sais from his belt. As was his habit, he began twirling the weapon. The metal glinted in the moon light.

April used the cloth napkin to wipe the tears from her eyes. The red head could not remember the last time she had laughed this hard. Or the last time she had this much fun on a date. She was falling for Casey Jones, falling hard and fast. Casey's recount of his latest attempt to stop a mugging with his roommate reminded April of Mikey's brother Raphael. April could easily picture Raph and Casey paired together, trying to stop the theft. Ultimately, they would get the job done. But putting together two hot heads that both hated crime, would not make for a flawless fight. April knew it was impossible, but she was willing to bet a week's paycheck that Raph and Casey would become close friends, if they ever were able to meet.

Casey Jones stared into April's green eyes and felt his breath catch in his throat. She was smart, funny, and beautiful. The vigilante did not know what he did to find a girl like her, but there was no way he was going to let her go now. Arnold Casey Jones was falling for Ms. April O'Neil, falling hard and fast. And it felt damn good too. Now he just had to make sure he did NOT screw this up.

Sparring with nobody grew boring quickly. Michelangelo moved up into a block as he stepped backwards. He then ended the sequence with a snapkick, followed by a strike to the head with his nunchaku. Placing the weapons back into the belt at his waist, Mikey stretched his arms over his head. It feels good to be out of the lair. The orange ninja let his eyes roam across the city's rooftops. It's a beautiful night. Just look at that moon in the sky. And those stars twinkling on that rooftop over there.

Something about that last thought didn't seem right. Puzzled, Mikey stopped stretching. Wait a minute. Stars don't twinkle on rooftops. Fixing his gaze on the spot where he saw the twinkle, Michelangelo waited. The flash of light was fleeting, but it was there. Only one thing would flash metal on a rooftop. Excited at the thought of some action Mikey grinned. Looks like somebody's hanging out on a rooftop, with a weapon. Mikey glanced towards the restaurant. The twinkling rooftop wasn't that far and April had walked to the restaurant. Certain he could still watch over his friend when her date walked her home, Michelangelo headed towards the twinkling rooftop to investigate.

As Raphael waited for Casey to walk his date home, he twirled the sai in his hand slowly at first, then faster and faster. Spinning his weapons was an old habit. The red masked turtle used to spin his knives when he was living with the Triceritons. Twirling knives in his bare hands used to drive Raph's guardian, Traximus, crazy. The Triceriton always worried that Raph would slip and slice a finger off. And that was one reason why Raphael used to always do it. The red turtle liked the challenge. The rush he got from deftly handling a dangerous weapon. At any given moment he could get hurt, but he never did. The habit carried over to his new weapons, the sais.

Raphael let the weapon spin even faster. The glint of the metal in the moonlight heightened the look of danger. Besides, twirling a weapon in his hands always helped Raph to think. Ever since Casey's comment back at the apartment, Raphael was distracted by thoughts of his brothers. He was going to have to do a lot of groveling to earn their forgiveness after walking out on them. Especially to Donatello.

The sound of laughter from the nearby alley caused Raphael to stop twirling the sai in his hand. Raphael recognized Casey's voice right away. Accompanied by a female voice that sounded awfully familiar. No way! Is Case on a date with April?

Curious, Raph peered over the edge, looking down at the couple below. A grin spread across Raph's face. Well I'll be. That's April all right. Raphael's eyes turned mischievous. The opportunity was too good to pass up. With the stealth that only a ninja could possess, Raph silently made his way down to the unsuspecting couple below.

Michelangelo silently landed on the building of the twinkling metal. Sticking to the shadows he scanned the rooftop. The metal wielder was hidden in the dark, but the glint of the metal in the moonlight gave away their position. As Mikey quietly stalked towards his prey the laughter of April and her date rang through the night air. Darn it! Sorry mystery dude, maybe another time then. The orange ninja turned away, heading back to his post.

Michelangelo peered over the edge, looking down at the young couple below. A smile spread across his face. April sure looks happy with her date. As the orange clad turtle watched the happy duo, a movement in the shadows caught his eye. Something moving in the shadows? Maybe I'll get my chance to fight after all. Eager for a stress release, Mikey bounded down towards the alley below. With a determined look on his face he located the stalker in the darkness. A grin spread across the orange clad ninja's face. Mikey's muscles tensed up as he readied himself, planning to tackle his unsuspecting opponent, hard.

A/N: Oh boy, that's not going to end well is it? Thank you to those who have reviewed. I'm always delighted to read your thoughts and suggestions. Virtual banana splits to those who review.