"Jazz…"

Violet moved in between Hun and the two turtles, snarling.

"You take another step and you'll wish you were burning in hell!"

"He'll be burning before you know it…"

Violet turned.

"Mom…"

Cat twirled her blades, eyes on her fallen daughter.

"…She's still a child…but you don't seem to have any honor, anyway…"

Her eyes were so hot, like a wildfire, that the glare could've melted stone.

"And you hurt my family…fatally or otherwise...I'll kill you…"

Raph seemed pissed, holding back his fury as Elisa and Leo moved closer.

"Oh my God…"

Ben and Theo were restrained by their parents, crying.

"W-We didn't m-mean to p-pick on h-her!"

"Y-Yeah! We w-were just pl-playing around!"

Mikey felt tears as he held Ben close, feeling his son's tears on his skin.

Rach just tried to hide the emotions, but they welled up in her chest, threatening to make her burst.

There was a panic when Jazz fell sideways, her shell smacking into the floor.

"JAZZ!!!"

Elisa felt for a pulse, and was relieved to feel one flutter under her fingertips.

Leo did the same for Rose, and sighed in relief.

"She's alive…"

"HE won't be alive for long." Joss growled, but her mother held her back.

"We're retreating. Both are in serious risk right now."

A hesitant nod, and they got onto the modified snowboards Jazz had made and worked on for so long.

The rockets powered them a few buildings away, and they went into the Battle Shell.

"Man!! What happened ta 'em?!" Casey asked as they piled in, careful of the injured turtles they carried.

"Not now, Casey." April reprimanded softly, and motioned for him to drive.

As the lights flew by through the windows, Don held his daughters head on his lap.

'…I hope everything is going to be okay…'

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Weeks had gone by, and it seemed the physical wounds were healing exceptionally well.

Rose would forever have a pale scar on her plastron, much like Joss, but the wound had been healed so well that she was up and about in a week.

Jazz had to have a cast on her broken leg, which had multiple fractures along the break, have her dislocated shoulder painfully righted, and stitches, bandages, and gauze covering her many wounds.

She stayed in her room, trying to work on some projects or writing.

She didn't usually come out of her sanctuary, only allowing her father in to check her wounds.

Normally, they would see her around the TV or kitchen, at least interacting slightly, but now…they didn't see her at all.

When her parents, after five weeks of isolation, had coaxed Jazz out of the dark haven of her room, all of her cousins basically jumped her, hugging her and asking what hurt and asking if she was okay.

Jazz only offered a weak, faltering smile, though her throat wouldn't allow her to speak.

Rose looked at her worriedly.

She'd usually have a response to such questions, and red/purple eyes landed on the inventions in the bedroom.

"What have you been building?"

Understanding flashed in the hooded eyes, but she didn't answer, just shrugged nonchalantly.

That worried the younger turtle more than the wounds and cast.

What had happened to make her voice die?

Rose remembered being little, and her cousin would always talk her to sleep, maybe sing a soothing lullaby…

That voice seemed something she needed to calm down, to relax and enjoy the moment…

Where was it now?

That gentle voice, like a warm breeze tantalizing the senses and bringing the imagination to life…

Joss saw it, too, and her worry shone through her eyes.

"Jazz, you okay?"

A nod, soft and shy.

Ben and Theo were jumping around like they were on sugar highs…

Actually, Violet had caught them in the sugar a few minutes ago…

Jackie seemed to sense the disturbance, the conflicting emotions and raw pain, and couldn't help the whimper as Jazz carefully moved her cast out of the boy's way.

It was like she could feel the pain…

Leo looked at Don curiously, silently asking what was wrong.

If someone asked Jazz about her inventions, it was like she couldn't stop talking.

Even if it meant she had to tone down on the sophisticated vocabulary, you couldn't bring her down.

Violet watched the adult's exchange with curiosity, feeling the curious worry.

They were a tight-nit family, used to having constant family around them…

She imagined what it would be like to be all alone for the first time, a prisoner being broken…

'…It would be lonely…and horrible…having someone trying to break who you are…without someone there to encourage you, lift you back up again and heal the cracks in your heart…'

Cat looked a bit worried, but refrained from asking aloud like she normally would.

This was a delicate subject.

One wrong word could shatter the shaky courage her niece had dredged up to come out at all.

Mikey looked uncertainly at everyone, unsure of whether to try and make a joke or stay silent.

This silence…this uncomfortable, muffling, persistent silence was going to drive him insane!

Rach put a calming hand on her mate's shoulder, giving a strained smile.

This uncomfortable aura was affecting her, too…but she wouldn't let her family know that.

She needed to be strong for this…

Gio sat on the couch, looking agitated.

This atmosphere was not something she liked, and she looked up at the slightest noise.

'What do I do?'

Everyone snapped out of it as Jazz's stomach growled, and she blushed hotly in embarrassment, wrapping her arms around said area.

Ben smiled brightly.

"Looks like you need some home-cooked goodness!"

He grabbed her arm carefully, pulling her towards the kitchen, mindful of her limp.

He pulled out some cereal and strawberry milk, Jazz's favorite kind.

Theo had followed, and guided his cousin gently to a chair.

Rose watched from the doorway, silent, as she listened to the murmur from the living room.

She couldn't wait for Jazz to get back to normal and start talking again.

Sure she usually zoned out when the light pink-banded turtle started talking about her inventions, but she loved the subtle tones and true enjoyment that colored her words.

Violet watched her sister worriedly.

'Is she gonna be okay?'

Jazz ate quietly, smiling gratefully when Rose went to make some coffee for her.

Just like her father, she was addicted to coffee, not so much for the caffeine than the taste.

Her brain, always thinking, hardly let her rest, so she only used coffee when her body wouldn't move without rest.

As she waited for it to brew, Rose grabbed a bag of chips, opening it with a crunch.

Ben and Theo were there in a moment, stealing it from her and running off, laughing as they stuffed their faces.

"HEY!!!!"

Rose started to give chase, when she noticed Jazz's smile and saddened eyes.

"…Home's where the heart is…If that's true, why do I feel left behind?"

Rose stopped at the doorway.

Jazz was known for sometimes speaking her thoughts out loud, but it was ignored.

After all, hardly anyone understood what she was saying anyway.

She was torn between approaching these hurt feelings of her cousin, but…it scared her…

What if she broke her cousin even more?

She was never very good with emotions…

Or she could just walk away…

That idea shredded her heart.

She couldn't just leave her cousin in pain like that!

It would go against her Nindo, and Bushido…

"…Jazz…"

Her cousin looked up, mouth set.

"…I don't…I don't know what happened…back at the Foot headquarters…but ya know we all love ya…we just want ya ta feel better…"

She looked at the light pink-banded turtle out of the corner of her eye.

"…Remember…ya'll always be yer father's little sakura…"

'Sakura…Cherry blossom…'

Jazz nodded slightly, but the darkness left her eyes, making them shine like stars.

"R-Rose…"

The dark red-banded turtle stopped.

"…Y-You can c-call me S-Sakura-chan too…"

Rose smiled.

That was a nickname that Jazz never really accepted.

She'd only respond to it if her father called her that, but silently ignored anyone else who did.

It was an honor to have her allow Rose to call her that.

"…Thanks…Sakura-chan…"

Rose moved into the living room, and put up a defensive wall when she saw the looks she was receiving.

"What?"

"Aw! You're such a softie!" Violet teased.

"I AM NOT!!!"

Ben and Theo chuckled.

"Look at the little girly girl!"

"YER DEAD, BENJAMIN!!!!"

As the sounds of crashing, screaming, and fighting echoed throughout the lair, Jazz smiled, sipping her coffee.

'…It's great to be home…I suppose it's true…The cherry blossom blooms twice…'

The smile grew as Rose's taunting, angry voice yelled above Ben's pleads.

'…Man, I LOVE being a turtle!'