I am SORRY! Just, with it being Thanksgiving week and all, I haven't exactly had the time. This is kind of an interlude chapter, since I'm kinda at a writer's block here. And I've meant to put this in the other chapters, but I NEED SUGGESTIONS! It's been a long time since I've started a new story, so, please?

By the way, this story takes place sometime between Touch and Go, and Imma pretend that New Blood doesn't exist. So, before The Lesson. I've got something planned for that... OK?

And Faith, Leo will interact with Splinter, just not yet. So be patient (Not meant to be offensive)!

PS, I've been copying this off of the written version in my book, and now I'm just winging it from here till a later chapter...

PPS, thanks to everyone who's reviewed! It's deeply appreciated, even the flames, as previously mentioned.

Leo sat on his bed, thinking about what he'd seen in the mirror. He'd looked like that before, he knew it, he'd just never actually seen the severity in it.

Shredder had been abusing him for his whole life, and he hadn't even known it!

Well, no matter; he was the second-in-command of his father, the Shredder, and he was loyal to the end!

With that last thought, Leo lay shell-down on his bed and fell asleep.

Splinter, the next morning, found himself watching his sons' mutations all over again as he meditated. But this time, he saw a large, hulking figure watching them from a corner. A man with bladed body armor...

Shredder...

Splinter woke from his meditation abruptly, then grabbed his aching head.

Had Shredder actually been watching them?

Sighing, the old rat stood up and made his way to the kitchen to make himself some herbal tea; it calmed his nerves and soothed his headaches.

He sat himself at the table and sipped at his tea, mulling in his own thoughts.

"Mind if I join you?"

Splinter looked up and saw Donatello standing there. "Ah, your stealth is improving, my son. Yes, you may join me."

Don gave a small smile and got a coffee ready before sitting down at the table with Splinter, sipping at his black coffee. The old rat smiled fondly. They just sat there in silence for a bit, just enjoying the company of the other, until...

"Sensei, do you believe that dreams have meaning?"

The old sensei looked up at his son. "I believe that you of all of your brothers should. Last time you had a strange dream, you cured a genetic disease that the Foot Clan created. Why do you ask me this?"

Don sighed and looked down at his coffee cup. "Last night... Last night I had a strange dream. We were back in the jar, and you were there, obviously. But... there was someone else there, too. Around a corner. My sight was fuzzy, but I could've sworn that he had bladed body armor on. And there was this red glint in his eyes, which was the only part of his face I could see... Does it mean anything, Sensei?"

Said rat sighed and looked down at his cup. "I am not... completely certain, my son. I saw the same thing when I was previously meditating. I hope to know more soon, if it is to tell us something, but right now, we should probably just ignore it."

The genius nodded and finished his coffee, glanced at the clock, gasped, then yelled, "SHELL!" and ran to the dojo, knocking on his brothers' rooms on the way there. This caused Splinter to chuckle, then walk slowly to the dojo after his son (hopefully sons...).

Sorry that it's short, but I told you I'm at a writer's block. Just so you know, Don absolutely knew who it was around the corner in the sewers. Read, review, flame, critique, criticism, just review. Hope ya'll enjoyed! *crickets chirping* I know that no one's actually reading this...