Chapter 4

Raph groaned as he woke up the next morning, he hadn't been sleeping well since the Shredder's demise. It was like he had nothing to live for, oh- sure, when they were kids they stayed in the Lair and basically did nothing but okay childish games. But Raph missed the action, the hardcore work out. Now he was just empty, there weren't as many crimes as before. The Purple Dragon seemed to have disappeared with this Hun character. Raph glanced at his clock and grumbled, "5 am, damnit, I can't keep wakin' up like dis. Screw it-" He rose from his bed and peeked out his room with suspicion, It wouldn't surprise him if Leo was awake. Raph yawned and stretched. It was the same routine everyday, wake-up, eat, train, patrol and sleep. A never-ending cycle, it was enough to almost make him miss Shredder...almost.

"Morning, Raph" Leo greeted him as he entered the kitchen. Raph gave him a nod and opened the fridge, he let out a gruff growl," Thanks fo leavin' me milk"

"Don't blame me, Mikey ate cereal last, why don't you just eat some toast? I'll ask April to get us a re-stock of groceries later."

Raph rolled his eyes, but sat down and grabbed a piece.

Leo eyed him, studied him and pulled a face of concern," How did you sleep? It's the third night in a row you have woken up so early-"

Raph ignored his older brother, he really wasn't in the mood to discuss his nightly dreams and terrors.

"None of us business, Leo. I jus' don' sleep late no more"

"Ok, sorry I asked, kill a guy for being conc-"

"I don't want your concern, Fearless"

The two shared a silent glare, but Leo quickly softened his gaze and fingered his cup of green tea.

"Raph, I didn't-"

Raph sighed and nodded," I'm sorry, Leo...It's jus, I ain't ready ta talk about it-"

"I understand, bro."

Awkward silence descended on the two. Leo focused on everything in the kitchen to avoid eye contact with his brother. Raph tapped his finger impatiently as the kitchen clock ticked.

"Do you want to go spar?" Leo finally decided to break the silence. Raph's green gaze flickered to his brother, he could use some tension reliever.

"Yeah, whatever" he replied coolly

Donnie was up the entire night, working on his latest gadget. It was still a bizarre secret to what it was. But ever since they ran into this girl with a time sceptre - it's a long story, to make it short-He had been working on his own special time travelling device. One that could possibly avenge many lost allies. He focused, biting his tongue in sincere concentration.

"Boom!" Mikey popped up next to him, Donnie didn't even flinch.

"Nice-try, Mikey."

"Aw- that is a bummer. Hey! What is this?"

Mikey started heading to a bright blue button.

"Don't touch it! It can cause too much unstable trouble. That button is for emergencies only. Understand?"

"Yeah-yeah"

Donnie looked at his younger brother and sighed," What is up with you?"

Mikey glanced up at Donnie and shrugged," Nothing. Do you think we'll ever meet that Miah girl again?"

"Who knows Mikey."

"Right..."

Back and forth, he gets the advantage then Leo gets the advantage. It was a never-ending cycle. He would dodge and Leo would dodge, the was no fury in his blows, no rage just bland emptiness. He just didn't feel up to it. Raph grunted when Leo hit him down. Leo tilted hid head and held out a hand to Raph, but the hotheaded turtle refused it.

"I can stand ya kna, I ain't no charity case-"

"-didn't say you were"

Mikey passed by the dojo and peeked in, the dull look in Raph's amber eyes scared him. It was since the night they defeated Shredder. He shuddered at the remembrance, it still so fresh in the young turtle's mind. He walked away from his spot by the sliding-door and headed to the lounge, vaulting over the couch to play video games. What Mikey really wanted to do was go out there and find Miah. For a few seconds the turtle imagined having someone around here that wasn't April or Casey. It seemed like a far-fetched fantasy. No one could blame him for just wanting friends...

Donnie flicked his bandana over his shoulders and exited his lab in desperate need for coffee. His brown gaze fell on Mikey, who was playing his video games. Donnie scratched his green head and entered the kitchen, pouring himself a steamy cup of coffee. "It just doesn't feel right," he mused to himself," Everything that has happened in the last year has felt like a dream...if only it was"

"Do not regret the past, my son,but learn from it." Splinter walked in and poured himself a cup of soothing tea.

"Oh, morning Master Splinter."

"Morning my son, I sense a distress over the four of you. What is the matter?"

Donnie frowned, normally Splinter would know, but perhaps the vibes all of them were giving off was overpowering. Guilt. Depression. Anger. Hate. Not one of them came out of the battle with Shredder unaffected. "I don't know, Sensei."

"Donatello, you do know, refusing to face your emoti-"

Splinter stopped talking as his ears twitched,"Ah, Miss O'Neil and Mr. Jones is in the lounge. Let us go greet them"

Donnie gave a small bow," Hai" He wondered what Splinter was going to finish saying.

Miah giggled as she chucked a yarn ball up in the air and caught it. She had never been this happy in her life. It was nice to meet people and by people she meant turtles. It was pretty awesome in her books, not being screamed at, humans could be so fussy sometimes. Meh, she thought, she was generally an open-minded creature. Nothing really affected her as it did other races. She could hope to meet these turtles again...