Sorry it's always taking me so long, I can never find the right moment…but now I've got a chapter for you that you'll have to find good enough! I can't always be typing. Like the other day was my birthday and I didn't have a chance. But it was a spectacular birthday…

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Days passed and Alex didn't show up. And every night Sarah would go out and look for her, staying out until midnight some nights. The turtles and Sarah's friends could easily see that she was stressed. Her eyes were bloodshot from lack of sleep, she snapped at people, and her quills were falling out. Jonah found that out the hard way when he sat on one, then jumped back up half a second later. Now they all checked the chair or couch before they sat down. One night, Sarah stayed out even later than usual, determined to find Alex. She'd searched half of New York City already, and she was beginning to panic. The first place she'd gone to was the airport, and they said Alex did in fact land on the day and time she was suppose to. So Akita's suggestion that she'd missed her plane of it had been delayed wasn't a possibility. Sarah had just finished searching behind and around the pizza shop that was always full of pedophiles when a piece of paper hit her face. She pulled it off and was about to throw it away when she spotted her name on the back of it. Carefully, she unfolded it and read it:

Sarah,

I have your little friend, Alex. You're probably wondering where she is and what's happening to her. I can't tell you that, but I can tell you that the future isn't always more important than the past…think hard…I'll be waiting for you.

Sarah read and reread the note over and over, then turned around and started to run home. This person, whoever had written the note, had Alex. They'd been keeping her captive all this time, all while she'd been desperately trying to find Alex. As quickly as her legs could carry her, Sarah ran through the streets and down into the sewers. By the time she kicked the door open, she was breathless. Jonah looked up at her curiously; he was staying there that night.

"What's wrong Sarah?" he asked, seeing the panic in her face.

"Here, read this." Sarah gasped, handing Jonah the note. Jonah frowned and handed the note back to her. Sarah started to ask what was wrong, then she stopped.

"Oh…right. Sorry, I forgot." she said, and Jonah's cheeks turned slightly pink as the turtles looked curiously at Jonah. Then Sarah read it out loud to all of them. All of their faces turned thoughtful, then Jonah asked the question they were all thinking.

"What the hell does that mean?" he said, bewildered. Sarah just shrugged, then yawned.

"Maybe you should get some sleep Sarah, you've stayed up I don't know how many hours looking for Alex…" Jonah said softly, but Sarah shook her head.

"I have to find her Jonah. I can't just let this person keep her captive. And they said they'd be waiting for me, so they obviously expect me to figure this out soon." Sarah protested, but was cut off by an attack of yawns. Jonah took her hand and led her into her room.

"Sarah, I know you want to find Alex, but wearing yourself out isn't going to help you. If you get some sleep, you'll be able to think about that note better." Jonah reasoned, and Sarah relented.

"Alright fine…" she muttered. Jonah nodded and turned to leave, but Sarah grabbed his wrist and he turned back to look at her, a questioning expression on his face.

"Jonah, I'm sorry that I forgot that-" Sarah said, but Jonah cut her off.

"It's alright Sarah. You've been really preoccupied lately. Just don't spread yourself too thin…" Jonah whispered. Sarah hugged him weakly and kissed his cheek, then let him leave. She literally collapsed onto her bed and barely had the energy to pull the blanket over herself before she fell into a deep, nightmare-plagued sleep…

Flashes of blood and tears, metal hitting skin, eyes glowing in the dark. The nightmare had many scenes. The first was a group of teenagers laughing and walking down a school hallway. Then those same teenagers saying goodbye and getting into separate cars. Then a homeless man being arrested and led to a testing chamber of some sort. Screams erupted from the room moments later, then whirring of machines drown out the cries for help. Then the scene changed to a man and a woman getting married, happy scene. Then two little girls giggling and playing in their backyard. The family of four was having a wonderful time from the looks of it…until a horrible monster that one could only imagine crash-landed into the yard, falling from the sky. The girls screamed and clung to each other and the father stood up to try to protect his little girls. One of the neighbors heard the commotion and ran over to help. The monster turned to look at him, the neighbor looked the thing in the face. Then he started vomiting and fell to the ground. He screamed for someone to help him, then he became still and silent….the hideous creature turned to the little girls and sprang onto them…

Sarah woke up screaming at the top of her lungs and kicking out at the air. Jonah burst through the door and ran to her side, careful to avoid her attacks. The turtles and Master Splinter followed Jonah and peered cautiously into the room. Jonah wrapped his arms around Sarah and whispered something to her in Japanese, something that made her stop kicking. She was still crying, but she wasn't dangerous. She hugged Jonah and cried into his shoulder. Jonah began speaking to her quietly in what sounded like German while he attempted to comfort her. Sarah was slowing her crying and listening intently to his words. Her tears were still falling, but she'd stopped screaming. Jonah sat down on the bed next to her and hugged her gently, allowing her to let it out. Finally, the tears came to an end and Jonah looked into Sarah's eyes, searching for something deep in her mind. Sarah shook her head and stood up, blocking Jonah from her mind.

"Sarah, what's wrong?" Jonah asked, standing up next to her.

"I had another nightmare…" she whispered.

"Was it the same as last time?" he pressed further, but Sarah shook her head again.

"No, this time it was worse…" she choked out. Jonah looked up at her thoughtfully.

"Care to give any detail?" he said hopefully. Sarah looked down at his and glared.

"I'd rather not." she snapped and Jonah stepped back slightly.

"Alright, don't kill me!" he said defensively. Sarah sighed miserably and her expression softened.

"I'm sorry, I'm just a little stressed is all." she said, then ran her fingers through her quills, pulling some out. Raph scoffed from the doorway.

"A little?" he said skeptically and Sarah turned to glare at him. He also back up defensively. Sarah turned to look at the clock. It was six in the morning. Fortunately it was a Saturday, and her mom didn't have to work on weekends. Akita had gotten a job as a doctor working at the hospital Sarah had stayed in when she'd killed Ikari. Sarah's mom had been a doctor back in Japan too, so it wasn't hard for her to find work. Sarah pushed past the turtles and began walking out the door and through the sewers. Jonah followed her to make sure she didn't hurt herself and they set off to Akita's apartment. Jonah remained silent through most of the trip, but finally he couldn't help himself. He had to know what her nightmare was about.

"Sarah, please tell me!" he begged, but she shook her head again.

"Jonah, if I knew, I'd tell you. But I don't, so I can't." she said simply. Jonah took that as a final answer and dropped the subject. When they arrived at Akita's apartment room, Sarah turned to Jonah.

"Now, don't say anything about the nightmare to my mom. I don't want her worrying about me even more. Got it?" she said sternly, and Jonah nodded. Sarah knocked on the door, and a few minutes later Akita opened it. She smiled when she saw her daughter standing there.

"Sarah! Good to see you! Come in, come in!" she said cheerfully, motioning Sarah and Jonah in.

"What's with the happiness Mom?" Sarah asked suspiciously, walking in. Jonah followed closely behind her.

"I dunno!" Akita said, and Sarah shrugged. Then Cloud ran in, Bolt flying behind her.

"Sarah!" the little girl squealed, hugging Sarah.

"Hi Cloud!" Sarah said, hugging the girl back. Bolt squeaked happily and flew into Sarah's chest. Crazy and Trimmer walked in and eyed Sarah and Jonah, tensing their muscles. Cloud looked at them nervously and hid behind Sarah, who looked between the little girl and the two foxes.

"What's wrong?" she asked them, and Cloud spoke hesitantly from behind Sarah.

"Remember how I told you Crazy and Trimmer were acting temperamental?" she said in a whisper. Sarah put an arm around Cloud and pulled her back forward.

"Don't worry Cloud, they couldn't hurt you as long as I'm here." she said meaningfully, glaring at Crazy and Trimmer, who rolled their eyes. Crazy lifted his hands and made slashing motions at the air, then pointed to Sarah. Trimmer used two of her fingers to imitate scissors and also pointed at Sarah. Sarah herself just shook her head and raised both of her hands. Both of the offending foxes backed up and lowered their ears nervously. Jonah, Cloud, and Akita watched with interest as Sarah communicated silently with the others, unable to decipher Sarah's message to them. Whatever it was, Crazy and Trimmer seemed afraid of it. Akita's eyes widened and she walked over to Sarah. She also lifted her hands and used a secret sign language to talk to Sarah. She pointed to Sarah's hands and then to Crazy and Trimmer, shaking her head. Then she got down on the floor and looked dead. Standing up, she crossed her arms and frowned at Sarah, who rolled her eyes and shrugged.

"Mom, I was kidding. I wouldn't really do that!" Sarah exclaimed.

"Sure...whatever..." Akita murmured, then turned and went into the kitchen. Sarah stared after her, her ears lowered. Did her mom really think she was serious...?

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Ah, there we go! Happy Alex? Not much of a chapter, but at least I updated! Let's see if you can figure out what the hell this chapter means! I've been very busy with other things that have to do with this story line, including one-person role-playing! It's fun because I can change it if I think it's wrong...but that's off the point! #O_O# The real point is I'm busy but I updated! Oh, and I downloaded this cool new writer, one with a word counter thing! How awesome is that!