Silver smoke curled around the computer screen. It was the only light in Agent Bishop's office, the blue glow leaving eerie shadows on the wall, on his skin. Unlike many people, however, Bishop didn't spook easily and he was rarely surprised. Computers…now that has surprised him. Most modern toys were means to make humans dumber, less self-sufficient but computers…they had a different kind of charm to them. Computers offered so much useful information and if you knew just how to use them, you could find out exactly what you needed to know.

In this case, proof positive that little Violet had been lying about her contact with the turtles. Bishop had, of course, known this already but now there was a trail.

Know an Agent Bishop? -V

It was quick and clear but it was enough.

Bishop smiled, taking another drag off his cigarette. It had been two weeks but weeping Violet had cracked and with her one little e-mail she could help him destroy the turtles forever.

****

The lair hadn't been the same since Donnie and Leo's battle of nerves nearly two weeks ago. Raphael was actually avoiding confrontation and Mikey could feel the tension wearing at his mellow calm.

Donnie had a girlfriend.

Donnie was in love.

Donnie had a secret and he'd kept it from Mikey.

That was what upset Michelangelo the most, truth be told. For as long as he could remember he and Donnie had been best friends. More than brothers, they had connected on a deeper level - they truly understood one another. Both were fascinated with the human world and both had other crafts they wanted to perfect outside of Ninjitsu. For Raph and Leo, the way of the warrior was all that would, could and ever be.

Michelangelo and Donatello wanted more. Art and science, recognition, appreciation, a chance to learn and be. These were dreams both turtles knew they would never reach but through one another they had found the next best thing. Don would read Mike's poetry and his stories, admire his sketches and Mike would listen to Don about his latest gadget, be dazzled by his brother's amazing intellect. It wasn't the dream they'd hoped for but it was close enough.

But now…now Donnie was keeping secrets or worse, confiding in someone else. Pitiful as Mike knew his fear to be, it began to gnaw at him until one evening it led him to Donatello's door.

Raising his hand to knock, Mike fought back the swells of anger and sadness that rushed up his chest. He would not be controlled by these things, he told himself, working to regain his composure. His fist fell twice against the door and his heart began to race.

Unlike Raphael, Michelangelo hated verbal confrontation, especially with Donnie. But he had to know…

The door opened to reveal the brainiac of the group and before Mike could think his fist connected with Donnie's jaw. His brother fell back on his shell, completely taken by surprise by his brother's action.

"Damnit, Mikey! What the hell?" He cried, clutching his jaw. Was that blood he tasted?

His eyes raised to see Mike frozen in the door frame, head down, fists clenched at his sides. "What did I do?" He asked quietly.

Donnie snorted, replying, "You punched me in the jaw, you stupid jerk." He put a finger to his lip and pulled back blood. Freakin' fantastic.

"No…I mean, what did I do that you wouldn't tell me about her?" Mike raised his blue eyes to meet Donnie's. His older brother looked flabbergasted at the turn of events. "Did I do something wrong?"

Donnie closed his eyes, shaking his head. Through all this he hadn't once thought Mike would have made this kind of connection.

That's because you were too busy thinking about yourself, he thought.

Donatello had never thought that his interaction with Violet would have effected his family this much but Mikey's reaction was proof positive. His little brother was blaming himself, wasn't smiling, wasn't joking….he really thought it was his fault. Donnie cared for Violet but he couldn't help wonder if she was worth putting his family through this pain and frustration.

"No, Mike. You didn't do anything. Anything at all," Donnie stopped, searching for the right way to explain. After a moment he said quietly, "I just…wanted something of my own, you know? I guess I haven't been such a great brother because of it, either."

"You're always a good brother, Donnie. That's why I thought…" Mike trailed off, looking at the ground again. "Sorry I hit ya."

Donnie smiled then winced, tenderly touching his jaw. "Here, help me up. I've gotta put ice on this thing." Mike reached down, pulling his brother swiftly to his feet. "You'd like her, you know," Don said off-handedly and Mike met his eyes with a shy grin.

"I figured as much." The great thing about Michelangelo was that he didn't hold grudges, didn't live in the past. Once a confrontation, a battle, the last piece of pizza was over and gone, he moved on. He might pout to get his way occasionally but he didn't brood like Leo or Raph. Occasionally, Donnie wondered how his family would survive without Mike's cheerful disposition.

"I told Splinter I'd give her up," Don admitted, glancing at Mike from the side. His brother didn't pause or startle. Just asked, "Are you gonna?"

Don nodded slowly, almost as if he'd just made up his mind. Maybe he had. "I care about her but I have to think of the family first. It's not fair to everyone else."

Mike nodded, watching his brother's face. "Maybe not. But if any of us had a chance with a human gal, don't you think we'd take it?"

He doesn't know about Leo, Donnie reminded himself but Mike went on.

"Look Don, Splinter's always talking about how we have to choose our own path. If you think exploring your options is relevant or worthwhile, you should do it." Donnie looked surprised and Mike went on, saying, "I don't mean defy Splinter directly but consider what you're giving up before you let it go. It shouldn't be something you regret for the rest of your life. I don't think Splinter would ever want that."

Donnie had never thought about it that way. Would it be something he regretted later on? Was it worth exploring?

This would be so much simpler if everyone agreed, Don thought wryly. But then, it wouldn't be home.

"Dude, let's get some ice on that jaw. It's swelling up like a cantaloupe," Mike said.

Donnie laughed and quickly regretted it, tenderly touching his face. "You know, you could have just said we needed to talk," he said as they walked towards the kitchen.

"Yeah, but look at how quickly this was resolved, dude! Punchin' ya made so much sense."

"You planned this?"

The brother's familiar and friendly banter continued down the hall, leaving the beep from Donnie's computer unheard. The beep that sounded every time Donnie got something new in his e-mail inbox.

*********

Leo sensed more than heard Raphael enter the dojo that evening. Legs crossed, eyes closed, Leo was attempting meditation.

Attempt was the operative word.

"Looks like Mikey made up with Don," Raph said, leaning against the wall and eyeing his brother with amusement.

"Hmm," Leo replied, hoping he'd take the hint.

"Right quick, too. Involved ice."

Leo raised an eye ridge. "Hmm?"

Raph smiled, crossing his arms. "After Mickey punched him."

The younger brother had hoped Leo would whirl around, shocked and angry. Instead he snorted and chuckled. "Mike makes things interesting, I'll give him that."

Raph was quiet for a bit but the crackling hiss of his aura, the heat and tension accompanying it reminded Leo his hostile brother was still there. "You seen Donnie's girl?" He finally asked.

Leo smiled. "Um hmm."

Raph arched an eye ridge. "She hot?"

Leo opened his eyes and thought of Violet, then of Kairi. Her jet black hair, almond eyes, flawless skin - so contained and controlled, even with her features. Violet's eyes had danced while she spoke to Donnie, her hair wild, untamed but not reckless. Both women were so different and both had physical attributes that spoke of their personality and mindset. It made him wonder if that should have been a warning sign when it came to Kairi. A sign of things to come.

"She's pretty," he answered, pushing away other, more painful, thoughts.

Now it was Raph's turn to snort. "Yeah, I didn't think Donnie could do hot."

Leo stood, setting his eyes on Raph with a familiar challenge. There would be no meditation tonight. "As compared to your multitude of…what, exactly?"

"You challenging me, bro?"

The two went into their traditional poses, prepared to spar. The sound of glass shattering broke their focus and Mike was calling for their father urgently.

"Rain check," Leo said, patting his brother on the arm as they took off to see what the commotion was all about.

*******

Donnie felt cold inside, like a blade of ice had been jabbed into his heart. The computer screen glowed, the e-mail the only window open on the screen.

Know an Agent Bishop? -V

The e-mail had been such a shock he'd dropped his drink and now the cold liquid was seeping around his toes, into the small rug. He heard Mike calling for Master Splinter in the background and the calls from his brothers but all he could see in his mind's eye was Violet and Agent Bishop.

It wasn't a pretty picture.

"Don," Raph's voice was gentle as he laid a hand on his brother's shoulder, leaning forward to make eye contact. "You okay?"

"I…," Donnie looked from the screen to his brother before nodding. "Yeah, I'm okay. But Violet…"

Violet. Anger and fear surged through him and he quickly hit the reply button, hurriedly typing an e-mail. He had to warn her, had to get her to safety…

Leo's hand slid over the mouse, moving it away before Donnie could hit 'send'. Don looked up at Leo, angry, questioning but found only quiet compassion in his brother's dark brown eyes. "What if it's a trap?" He asked quietly.

"What if it's not?" Donnie countered although he knew there was a strong possibility it was. Who knew if there was a trace on the e-mail? How could he be sure Violet wasn't setting them up? How could he know if she had really sent that e-mail? There were too many unanswered questions and Leo was right - until they knew anything for sure Donnie couldn't send that e-mail.

"What do we do?" Mike asked and this time there was no response. The fact was Violet was a liability and this e-mail proved it. The best action was no action. Leo and Raph said nothing and Donnie silently closed the e-mail, turning his eyes to his lap.

The silence irked Mikey - he had never cared for silence and now it was full of unspoken understandings. "We have to do something. What if she gets hurt?"

"Better her than us," Raph said quietly and despite the coldness of his words, everyone knew he didn't truly believe that.

Master Splinter was sitting on Donnie's bed, taking in his son's deliberation but now he chose to speak. "The humans are a risk to us but they are part of our lives, whether we want them in it or not. If you feel inaction is best, I will support your decision. However," he said standing. "If the e-mail is true this girl may be in great danger. You must decide the greater risk and the right action to take."

Having said his peace, Splinter left the room and his sons to think. He knew the order he would give but they were growing older and soon he would have no real right to tell them what to decide. Every parent knows there is a time to let their children go, knowing full well they'll make mistakes. Doing so under his supervision seemed a good way to monitor and judge the lessons he still needed to teach.

"Father," Donnie's voice made him stop and turn.

"Yes, my son?"

Donnie's eyes were on the floor as he spoke but there was determination there. "If the e-mails are true, they're my fault. I initiated the relationship with Violet, I continued it knowing the risk and that makes her my responsibility." He raised his eyes to his father's, holding his gaze. "I have to make sure she's safe, Master. Please understand."

Splinter nodded, a small smile on his face. "Of course, my son. Do what you believe is necessary." He moved forward, placing a hand on Donnie's shoulder. "I have always known you to have good instincts and a kind heart, Donatello. It makes me proud to see you use them."

The icy feeling in his chest began to ebb away and Donnie nodded. He hadn't meant for this to happen but he would see it through and it was reassuring knowing he had his father's support.