Chapter 6:

Three hours after the attack the turtles sat on the rooftop that overlooked the scene of the vicious 'animal attack'. Raphael stayed close to Casey who was watching the scene closely to keep tabs on all the police activity. Donatello sat looming over his small computer to file through the known mammals to track down the thing that attacked the girls while Analise looked over his shoulder every once in a while in curiosity. Michelangelo stayed close to both of them for his own curiosity and he felt that he needed to be close to Analise. Leonardo and Deidra were on the other side of the rooftop cleaning up Deidra's injury so it wouldn't get infected by whatever that was. It seemed they enjoyed one another's company since Deidra smiled and Leonardo chuckled a few times in response.

"Who's Alfred?" Michelangelo asked and grabbed Analise's attention from the small screen in Donatello's hand, "Is he like your beau or something?"

"Ex-boyfriend," she answered, "The last I've seen of him was three years ago. On top of that I haven't had a boyfriend for a few months now. Last one didn't end well for me."

"Tell me his name and I will beat him up for you," he smiled and showed her his nunchakus, "I am pretty sure I can."

"Believe me, you could pretty quickly," she laughed, "Truth be told there was fault on both sides of the relationship. It's time to move forward. Even though it may hurt, things happen for a reason and I am stronger, not to mention smarter, for it."

"You almost sound like Splinter."

"Splinter?" she asked a little confused.

"Our father," he corrected, "You'll meet him soon, I hope."

"Wow, only three days and you're already bringing me home to your dad," she smirked as he began to laugh with her, "That is a new record, I have to say."

"Babe, you are totally awesome!"

"Ah!" Deidra hissed as another coat of antiseptic was put on her injury. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Raphael turn his head toward her almost on alert, but then quickly turned to annoyance.

"It'll be better once we get it completely cleaned," Leonardo assured her.

He put the last layer over her cut and she looked a little relieved. Suddenly she took a short intake of breath that sounded more like a hiccup and shivered. Leonardo held up his hands as if in a mock surrender.

"What? What's wrong?" he asked with his hands up and wide eyes.

"Sorry," she smiled a little and then laughed a little, "It's my pain reaction."

"I thought you were having a bad reaction to the medication," he said a bit relieved.

"Nope, that's just me," she smiled and looked over at Raphael and Casey where once again the red clad turtle seemed on his guard, but then stood down once she locked eyes with him.

"So, Casey, how long have the police been circling the building?" Raphael asked Casey to try and distract himself from all the surprised noises coming from Deidra.

"They're starting to pack up," Casey pulled down the binoculars from his eyes and then turned to his best friend, "So what's the story?"

"Story?" Raphael asked and sat on the edge of the building.

"With the girls?" Casey looked at Michelangelo and Analise who were laughing with one another over who knows what while Donatello looked a little annoyed, yet amused. On the other hand, Leonardo finished up with Deidra's bandage and they now chatted amicably seeing as Deidra had a small smile on her face as they talked, "Mikey seems really into the brunette."

"He's head over heels for her," Raphael grunted, "I don't know if he knows it yet. Didn't take him long- Didn't take him long with Mitzu either when he was sixteen."

"Leo seems friendly with the red head," Casey smirked as Raphael only grunted in response, "What? No snappy comeback for them?"

"Don't start with me Casey," Raphael pointed at him and glanced quickly to the other two, "She's a pain in the tail and thinks way too much of herself. She's perfect for Leo."

"Spoken like a true green eyed monster," Casey chuckled and clapped Raphael on the back of the shell, "So that's why you hurried over here after that fight with Hun. She'll come around, don't worry."

"I don't want her to come around!" he yelled and everyone on the rooftop turned to look at him with a question on their face. He frowned and crossed his arms over his plastron, "What are ya all lookin' at?"

"Something ugly by the look of it," Deidra also crossed her arms and stared him down.

"You know, lady. You can just shov-"

"Raph!" Leonardo yelled and stopped him from going further.

"No, no let him finish," Deidra stopped Leonardo, "I would like to tell him where he could-"

"Deidra!" Analise shouted and frowned.

"She's got a temper, don't she?" Casey asked as he made his way over near Michelangelo and Analise since he didn't know how bad Raphael was going to get.

"She's Irish, 'she's got a temper' is an understatement once you get her going," Analise took a deep breath as Deidra fought with herself to tell Raphael off. She went over to her friend to try and distract her, "How's your leg?"

"You were right, it wasn't that deep," she said in a struggle.

"Ignore him, he's being a douche schnozzle," Analise smiled and sat next to her best friend on the air conditioning system, "Soon enough we can go into our apartment and get it fixed up again. Then finally get some sleep. We both have a day off tomorrow, yeah?"

"Maybe you do, but we got to hit it into overtime on this Black Death guy," Deidra crossed her legs and let out a deep breath that seemed to calm her, "He has a new girl and I am sure that he hasn't planned on stopping anytime soon."

"And he now has help," Leonardo added.

"What do you mean?" Deidra snapped her head towards him.

"He's hired Hun and the Purple Dragons to do some dirty work for him," Leonardo explained, "That's how we got here in time for you girls. He told us that he was the distraction. He didn't think we'd have enough time to help."

"You wouldn't have if we had walked into the apartment," Deidra shook her head and then looked at Analise, "Ana stopped me from going into the apartment. One of her feelings told her to run and run she did."

"I'm good at that," she smiled proudly.

"Okay, so I need to get up to speed," Casey waved his hand in the air a little to grab their attention, "One: Who are you two? And two: What did that thing have to do with a serial killer?"

"My bad," Analise apologized and held out her hand for a hand shake, "My name is Analise Arelle. I'm a manager at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. We met the guys when some thugs tried to make off with one of my exhibits the other night."

"Did they?" Casey smirked as he already knew the answer and shook her hand.

"We took care of most of them before the guys got there," Analise giggled a little, "It was the thought that counted though."

"I'm Deidra Jenson, an agent from the FBI in the criminal profiling division that helps out the different departments in the area," she nodded her head to him, "You remind me of somebody."

"This help?" he pulled down his hockey mask.

"Definitely," she nodded, "You're the 'Gongala' vigilante some of the departments talk about."

"They've named you," Raphael patted his friend on the back since he had cooled down a bit, "You're moving up in the world."

"My real name is Casey Jones," he tilted his mask back up to the top of his head, "Been with the guys here since they were teenagers. I don't know if you've met April yet, but she's my wife- she was the first human to make friends with the turtles."

"That's awesome," Analise swung her feet over the edge of the air conditioning system she was still perched on and turned to Leonardo and Michelangelo, "I wish you guys would have shown up sooner. My life needed some adventure."

"And a human sized animal tracking you down isn't enough adventure?" Michelangelo asked with his hands on his nunchakus.

Analise and Deidra looked at one another and together punched the air shouting, "Adventure!"

Most of the guys looked at one another in confusion while Michelangelo joined them into another shout of 'adventure'.

"So, what does big and hairy have to do with the bad guy?" Casey asked again and pointed in the direction that they animal ran off in.

"Don't know yet, but I have an idea," Deidra thought back to the briefing, "We had noticed a good portion of animal like characteristics on some victims. We think he may be mutilating some of them. Maybe this thing survived the mutilation."

"Is that even possible?" Leonardo asked as he looked at Donatello.

"Not sure, but first things first," Donatello looked over the ledge, "The police are leaving. We should check out your apartment."

"Great, I love damage control…" Analise sighed and hopped on Michelangelo's back for the climb down.

"I promise to go down a little slower," he said back to her.

"It's appreciated," she hugged him a little tighter around his neck which made him smile.

"Hey, Leonardo?" Deidra asked as the others began to leap off toward the apartment building.

"You need some help down?" he asked.

"That and I wanted to thank you," she leaned on her toes and kissed his cheek, "So, thank you. Never seen a better hustle."

"You're welcome. Any time," he answered and picked her up quickly. She couldn't tell, but she could have sworn he was blushing.

Raphael wasn't sure, but he could have sworn he was going to gag.

Analise and Michelangelo were the first in the apartment and Analise's shoulders dropped in response to the view. The front door was splintered, at best, and the front living room was in shambles. The love seat and couch that they were all sitting on the night they met were in pieces, not to mention the stuffing torn out of them. The TV had a hole in it that wasn't there before.

"I just fixed this place up with new furniture and art pieces…" Analise grumbled and put her hand to her forehead, "Just my luck."

"A giant animal trashing your apartment is just bad luck?" Casey asked as he stepped into the apartment, "If you're going to have guests you should really clean the place up."

"I will clean your face if you start on my decorating," Analise shook her fist at Casey.

He put his hands up in defense, "I'm just sayin' if this is your living room, I'd hate to see your bedrooms."

"My room!" Analise's eyes bulged as she ran back toward the bedrooms all the while she hopped over the pieces on the floor, "If that thing even touched my commissions I will personally shave and skin it!"

"Commissions?" Michelangelo asked Deidra who was just placed on the floor by Leonardo.

"People hire her to make specific pieces of art work. Mostly portraits or character profiles," Deidra explained.

Donatello leaned down and checked the scratch marks on the floor. Leonardo leaned over with him, "What do you think, Donnie?"

"I don't know yet," he stood up with a sigh, "We didn't get too much of a good look at it. I collected the fur that you sliced off of it outside. Maybe that will shed some light on its origin."

Deidra smiled as she saw a relieved Analise walk from her room with a large Portfolio art bag under one arm, "They still in one piece?"

"Thank goodness," she sighed and hugged the large bag to her, "I've been working on these characters and pieces for the past month."

"How's the bedrooms?" Deidra looked toward the hallway.

"Untouched," she shook her head, "I think the animal just stayed in the living room to wait for us. Why he had to trash our new couch and love seat is anyone's guess."

"This is going to take a huge explanation at the office," Deidra pushed a hand through her hair, "Not to mention a group to clean up."

"A headache in itself," Analise grumbled and fell back into one of the only chairs that was left over in the living room. She looked up at Deidra, "This is a total bummer."

"Ditto," Michelangelo nodded. He paused a minute and looked at both of the girls and the mess around them. He knew that the monster would be back, it would only be a matter of time. It could be next week, or the next hour. If it was strong enough to take on the four of them, it could be a very big problem. He rubbed the top of his head and turned toward Leonardo, "Hey Leo…"

Both Leonardo and Raphael looked at Michelangelo and the way he looked at the mess and then at the girls. Both of the older turtles got the message.

"Don't even think about it, Leo," Raphael warned, "What is Splinter going to think?"

"Think of what?" Analise asked as she saw Leonardo run an idea through his head. Michelangelo smiled as he knew that it might be a positive answer with how much thought Leonardo was putting into it.

"It may be a good move," Leonardo said.

"A good move? Really? Bringing yet another human into the lair?" Raphael asked and stood face to face with his brother. Casey, Michelangelo and Donatello all stood back as they saw another fight brewing.

"What human?" Deidra asked this time.

"You're one to talk, Raph," Leonardo stared him in the eyes.

"We don't need them putting their noses in our business!"

"Who says that they are?" Leonardo threw up his hands.

"Hey guys, take a chill pill, will ya?" Analise yelled toward them as she didn't really want to get into a physical altercation with a couple of ninjas who already look heated. Deidra, on the other hand…

"Hey backity up!" Deidra wedged herself between the two of them and pushed them from one another. She stood between the two of them and looked back and forth from one to the other, "Now, if this has to do with Analise and I, you would think that we would have some input in this."

"Well, I was just thinking that it may be a good idea to get you girls in a safer spot where help is nearby," Michelangelo mentioned.

"And I think we should look at the lair as a possibility," Leonardo crossed his arms over his plastron, "We have plenty of empty space that can be made into a room or two for you."

Raphael gripped his sais to control his anger, "I just don't think it's going to be a good idea."

"I think it is," Analise popped up and looked at Deidra, "Like it or not, there is something worse than a human tracking us. It was in our place. And if it could do this much damage… What if it was only you coming home tonight? Or only me? I don't like those odds. Fighting doesn't guarantee survival, and neither does running. At least with them we have some back up. I mean, no one has found their lair unless they took them there, otherwise it would be all over the news. It's a perfect place to lay low."

Deidra thought for a moment. She looked at Analise, Casey and then at each of the turtles. Her eyes stopped on Leonardo with Raphael behind him with an expression she couldn't quite name on his face. It was somewhere lost between annoyance and maybe a bit of hope. She sighed and then closed her eyes, "I know this may induce some headaches later, but you all have a point."

"So you coming with me?" Analise asked with tug on her art portfolio and a smile on her face, "I don't want to leave you behind."

"Yeah, I'll come with," Deidra smiled, "Can't leave you on your own."

"Don't you know it," she chuckled and turned toward Leonardo, "When do you want us ready?"

"Within the next twenty minutes. We don't want that thing following us to the lair," he said and turned to Deidra, "Will that be enough time?"

"Plenty," she started to limp slightly toward the bedrooms, "Come on, Analise. Let's see what we can live without for a while."

"Yes!" Analise jogged a little after her friend to find what to pack.

"You're insane, Leo," Raphael grumbled and put his sais back into his belt as he passed him.

"Would you rather stay behind and watch them for hours at a time?" Leonardo offered as another option, "I don't think they'd be up to a turtle sentry on their back all the time. Michelangelo had a good idea. I think we should give it a shot."

"Is it that or do you want your new girlfriend nearby?"

"She's not my girlfriend."

"Sure seems like it. You two seemed really cozy up on the rooftop," Raphael turned away so his temper would not get the best of him. He looked toward the other three on the rooftop and saw that Michelangelo had brought out some pork grinds out of nowhere to share with Casey and Donatello, "Where did you get those?"

"We have shells for a reason, dude," Michelangelo answered which only confused his brother further.

"Whatever," Raphael shook his head and waved at Casey, "You ready to go home yet?"

"Probably would be a good move," Casey could tell Raphael was trying to cool down, "See the rest of you later. Got to do some husband and father duties."

"Later Casey," Donatello and Michelangelo chimed together. Leonardo watched closely as the two of them leaped from the building and toward Casey and April's apartment.

"I hope he stays out of trouble," Leonardo sighed and sat next to his brothers on a broken piece of table. Something caught Donatello's eye and he leaned over with a pair of tweezers to pick up a few dozen pieces of what looked like fur. He put it in a bag so he could test it later.

A few minutes later the girls came back out with a couple of bags each. Analise lugged a large backpack of clothes on her back, art portfolio over one arm and a gym bag over another arm. Deidra had a bag on her back as well as a large gym bag over her shoulder with an accordion file under the other arm.

"Got everything?" Michelangelo asked and took the art portfolio and gym bag from Analise.

"I hope so," she chuckled, "I think I could live without a lot."

"Here, let me," Leonardo took the back pack and gym bag from Deidra and put it over his shoulder.

"Thanks," Deidra nodded at him and then looked around the apartment, "Where did 'anger management issues' and Casey go?"

"Casey took Raph with him when he went home," Donatello explained and they all began to make their way down to street level.

"So which way?" Analise looked up and down the street once they were situated and Deidra reassured Leonardo that her leg was fine.

"Down, where else?" Michelangelo laughed as he picked up a sewer lid.

"I thought those were only rumors. Awesome!" she squealed and let Michelangelo help her down the sewer hole.

"Only my best friend would be excited about going into the sewers," Deidra laughed a little.

"Aw, you're excited too, I just like to show it more," Analise said half way down the ladder.

"Yeah, that's it," she nodded and followed Michelangelo down the hole. Donatello followed after and looked up at Leonardo who looked like he was watching for something.

"What's wrong Leo?" Donatello asked and then took a scan around them as well.

"I don't like the feeling about tonight," he whispered, "Not at all."

"Let's get back to the lair," Donatello offered, "I don't feel it watching us."

"I know it's not, but I also know it's angry and won't hold back next time," Leonardo took one last look around the neighborhood and then closed the lid over them.

"Donatello, right?" Analise asked and pointed to the purple clad turtle.

"Yeah."

"Did you make any leeway on what that thing was?" she asked. Deidra looked at him also interested in the answer.

"All I know is that it is mammalian," he shrugged, "I found some particulates from your apartment that I can run some tests on when we get to the lair."

"If anyone can find out what this thing is, Donnie can," Michelangelo gave his brother a noogie.

"How long do you think we will be down here?" Deidra looked up at the tunnel ceiling.

"Until it's safe again," Leonardo answered.

"Then we're moving in," she shrugged and Leonardo looked at her for an explanation. She looked from the ceiling to further down the tunnels, "It's never safe."

Leonardo frowned a little and let Donatello lead the way. After a half hour of turns that left the girls utterly confused the small group happened on a section of the tunnel wall with many pipes. On the far side of one of the pipes was Raphael who picked at his teeth with one of his sias as if it was a toothpick.

"So only four bags all together?" he nodded toward them, "I'm impressed."

"Me too, didn't know for sure if you could count," Deidra smirked as Raphael narrowed his eyes at her.

"April says hello," Raphael responded to his brothers.

"We need to stop by soon and see her. Shadow must be getting big," Donatello said as he pulled on a few pipes and opened up a section of the wall which lead to a long tunnel toward what looked like a few dozen screens. He looked back at the two girls who looked amazed at the entrance. He chuckled a bit, "Welcome to the lair."

"Awesome," Analise whispered as Deidra nodded.

They walked in and took a quick look around their surroundings. Analise clasped her hands together and could hardly contain her excitement. Deidra seemed calmer, but she could hardly contain herself as well. The technology looked amazing for being stuck in subterranean housing.

"My sons," a voice spoke from their right. The four turtles bowed their heads in respect as a giant rat dressed in Japanese style stepped out from another room with a short stick that he used as a cane. He looked at the two girls with slight confusion, but then gave them a friendly smile, "It seems as if you have returned with more than you expected tonight."

"Yes father," Leonardo lifted his head to address Splinter, "We-"

"PUPPY!" Deidra ran ahead despite her leg, wrapped Splinter in a hug and began to pet his head.

All four turtles' jaws hit the floor in astonishment and fear of what their master may do.

"Uh, Deidra, I don't think that he is a puppy," Analise slapped her forehead with her hand in a bit of embarrassment. She walked to her friend and pulled her slightly away from the much older mutant, "Apologies, Splinter."

"None necessary," he held up a paw toward her as Deidra was still grinning and Analise bowed her head a little in greeting. He bowed his head back, "I believe that your friend's greeting was one of the best and friendliest that I have ever received from a human."

Deidra held out a hand once she noticed a few differences between what would be a canine and the more rodent like features of the mutant in front of her, "My name is Deidra Jenson."

"Pleasure," Splinter shook her hand gently.

"And I'm Analise Arelle," she shook his hand as well, "It's nice to meet you, Splinter."

"It seems as though some stories are needed to be told," Splinter looked to his sons and then back to the girls. He held out his arms for the girls to take hold. Deidra and Analise took an arm each and let Splinter lead them toward another room while the four turtles tried to figure out what had happened, "Let's settle in the living room, shall we?"