I still don't own the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (does anyone know where it says we have to do these disclaimers?)


Dear Journal,

Today was surprisingly normal. I went to school, played catch-up with my teachers, brushed off my friends' concern for my well-being. I went to work, delivered pizzas, scrubbed some pots (part of the Revenge of Bob), and came home. There was this guy that was standing out in the middle of the street three blocks from my building; I practically had to swerve into oncoming traffic to avoid him. So yeah, normal day.

Then I got a call from someone I'd never met, but had heard about: April.

She'd heard about me from Don and wanted to come meet me and 'drop off something I might need'. When I opened the door an hour later she handed me several grocery bags containing enough first aid supplies to start a small clinic. Which, she explained, I probably would be doing. In addition there was a book containing detailed instructions for how to treat anything from a black eye to a gunshot wound, a page which had already been bookmarked. The extent of the supplies that she called a 'kit' made me wonder just how much action my new friends see. I hope I don't find out.

April herself was extremely friendly. She even brought homemade cookies and we sat and talked for a while. She used to be a scientist until she found out her boss was a maniac. That's when she met the Hamatos. They saved her butt just like they saved mine. Then she had to live in the Lair for a couple of weeks while she got back on her feet and that pretty much made them permanent fixtures in her life. Even though she's been moved out for a couple of months now she drops by every now and then, but it's much more common for them to come to her. Especially when they need some patching up in a hurry or a place to go to ground for the night if someone's tailing them. She suspects that they won't want to 'impose' on me if they don't have to, but it never hurts to be prepared. I suspect that she also wanted to size me up. April seems slightly protective of 'the guys'. I think she thinks of them as the butt-kicking little brothers she never had. I'm not sure, but I think I passed inspection. She invited me to their weekly movie night on Sunday, so I'd say that means I passed. And a huuuuuge bonus: she's going to let me use her washer and dryer! I don't have free access to laundry facilities in this building, so I've been spending a fortune in quarters every month to wash my clothes. Forget the butt-kicking ninjas, April O'Neil has just become my hero.

Dear Journal,

I know why the Purple Dragons were after me. Oh Max. Max, Max, Max. Why did I tell you to go for that job? If I hadn't been so darn 'supportive' he wouldn't be in this mess.

When I checked my voicemails after work tonight there was one from Max. He was whispering into the phone and he sounded more scared than I'd ever heard him. Raw fear. I think that's the best way to describe it.

He said that Saki Technologies wasn't what it seemed. That something sinister was going on there and he'd figured it out. And now they wouldn't let him leave unless he agreed to build 'it' for them. He said that the fewer details I knew the better, because he'd heard them talking and they'd set a plan in motion to use me as leverage. He'd managed to sneak to a phone and was calling to tell me to get the heck out of Dodge. Then someone in the background yelled 'hey you, get away from there!' Max said "Your birthday present is in my sock drawer. Don't do anything stupid. I love you Katie." And the message ended. I don't know where to go. The police will probably think I'm nuts. And without proof they can't do anything. I called Don (he left me the Lair's number, in case of emergencies) and played him the message. I just wanted to let them know why I was in that trunk. But he just got really quiet and said that they would be over in a few minutes. I can't stop thinking about Max. I should have done something sooner! Filed a missing person's report, something! How could I have been so stupid…

The guys are going to be here any minute. I need to go wash my face and unlock the window.

He's all I have. I can't lose him. I just can't.

I swear to you Max, I will find you. No matter how many stupid things I have to do.


Please R&R.

As always, a ginormous thank you to my reviewers. You guys rock!

There are bonus points available in this chapter for finding the episode reference. (I'm back to following the canon, hurrah!)