Casey and April becoming friends. Both are 7. (The turtles would be 8.)

The girl was sitting in her corner again.

Casey had noticed that every recess, the small dark skinned girl with red in her black hair would go to a small corner. She would stay there the entire period. It was always the same corner, always her drawing in the dirt with a stick. She didn't really speak to any of the other kids, but was always the one to stick her hand up first in science.

This time, he was determined to find out why she stayed in that corner.

Instead of going to play kickball, Casey determinedly headed to the corner. The girl was already there, drawing in the dirt. She looked up in surprise when he sat next to her, but soon looked back down to draw. He craned his neck to see what looked like an engine, like what his father played with in his spare time.

"What'ca doing?"

She paused again. "I'm trying to figure out to improve an engine." she said finally. "So cars don't have to run on fossil fuels."

He had heard the term fossil fuels before, but that wasn't important right now. "Why?"

She paused again, actually stopping to stare at him. "You sound like the teacher. I want to, that's all. We need to learn how, for the world's sake." She returned to drawing.

"My dad has an engine." Casey wasn't sure why he said that. But it made her look up and stop drawing. "In the garage. He plays with it in his spare time." She hummed with what he would later call her thinking face. "Probably better than drawing in the dirt. And I know how to use most of the tools." He could feel the other kids' stares on them, but it didn't matter. "So if you want to..."

"Sure."

They both stood. He stuck his hand out to...his new friend? "Casey Jones."

"April O'Neil."

They shook.

17, turtles 18

He found her in the corner.

It had been two weeks since April returned to the Lair, face rapidly paling and keep her hand, half dissected open, together. Splinter had done some weird Japanese healing and the regular healing. Casey could still hear Splinter saying "Get me the poker and the brazier."

At the worse, her hand would get horribly infected and would have to be chopped off.

The best was if she simply just scarred.

He sat down next to her. She was drawing in the dirt, simply lit by a nearby streetlamp and the moon. She paused when he did but went back to it.

"Raph's getting worried."

She paused again before continuing to draw. This time, she was drawing the weird shell protection Donnie wore. He knew that there was some stuff hidden under heavy protection before he left, stuff she couldn't crack. Including any other shells. Maybe April was trying to figure it out without having one of her own.

"So are Leo and Mikey."

She paused again before talking. "I don't want to talk about it."

"It might help."

"It was stupid- I was stupid, Casey, okay?" She threw her stick down to thrust her bandaged hand at him. "I was stupid and this happened!" Tears started to slide down her cheeks. "I- It was so...stupid." She buried her face in her knees, the slow shaking of her shoulders showing she was crying. Casey sighed, patting her shoulder.

"I'm sorry."

She peeked out.

"It's not your fault."

"Kinda is." He stood up before she could respond. "Now, I think my dad got some copper wiring and a car battery. Wanna see what we can do with it? I can use tools."

April stared at him before laughing. "Sure." She stood. "Thanks Jones."

"You're welcome O'Neil."