For the next few days I tried to piece everything together.

I realised that they had all been protecting me, shielding me from the truth of the situation. Casey had been far more sick than I had even guessed.

We buried him that evening, gathered around his grave. It wasn't much, merely a mound of earth with a mask and hockey stick on top. April had been possessively guarded by Raphael, his arms around her to support her as she wept unashamedly on his shoulder.

I kept my eyes low and held onto Leo's hand. I felt horribly awkward standing among them during this private moment. I only wished I'd known Casey more.

The tributes came thick and fast.

Raphael was the first to speak. His voice cracked a couple of times and his eyes were blood-red from his raging emotions. "Casey, you dumb-ass. You had my shell in battle, you loved and cared for April and I'm glad I knew ya. Sleep tight, brother."

It summed up everything Raph was. He wasn't one for words but the cracking voice and tension in his tone said it all.

Leo squeezed my hand and then began to speak in a warm, humble tone. "Casey has known about us ever since the early days. When we first came to the surface, we didn't have anyone we could trust. Raph was hurt and Casey intervened. He was a rock to us all. Goodbye, brother."

"I remember when I lost Klunk," Mikey said sadly. "We'd had him for years. Casey went out, got beer and pizza and we spent the whole night playing video games. He was like that. If something bad happened he'd be there… even if he didn't know what to say. Bye, bro."

Raph smiled over at Mikey and everyone turned to look at Donny.

Donny was silent for a moment, as if weighing up what to say at such a momentous occasion. Finally his eyes turned to us and he began. "It seemed to everyone as if Raph and Casey were best friends… but we were close too. He'd help me work on attack vehicles, Raph's bike and he had a knack with anything mechanical. The amount of time over the years we've both been working on some old engine… I'm gonna miss him. Goodbye Casey. Goodbye brother."

Splinter stepped forward, his cane knocking the ground as he inched forwards. He had visibly aged in the past couple of days, his fur turning white in places. I had this instinctive urge to cuddle him but I held back and listened as he spoke in a sure, sad voice.

"Casey Jones was a stout ally, a generous friend with no motive except to nurture the people he loved. He counted New York City as his family and didn't settle for anything less than fairness and honesty. His battles have become legendary, his love for family will define our memories. To my friend and my human son, I am proud of everything you became. My only regret is not being able to save your life when you needed our help. My heart and love will be with you forever." Splinter bowed his head, his breathing shallow as he tried to keep his emotions in check.

April stepped forward, her legs barely carrying her weight. Raphael moved forward, a silent shadow beside her as she approached the grave and cleared her throat. "My husband; he was first and foremost a warrior. He spent his life defending innocent people against tyrants. He risked his life time and time again to fight the good fight. I knew he wouldn't have a long life… but it was a noble and just life. I was so proud and honoured to be his wife. Casey… you big lug… I'll always love you…" Dissolving into tears on Raph's muscular shoulder, April turned away from the grave and allowed Raphael to move her back to where the rest of us were standing, solemnly.

"I didn't know him for very long…" I whispered as I felt Leo's hand tighten over my own. "…but he was a good guy. He was family. I wish I'd known him longer."

There was a period of silence which seemed to stretch forever as we stood there. Leo put an arm around my shoulders, drawing me into his plastron and I lay my head against his chest.

Then the moment was over and we all returned to the farmhouse, crushed… but not broken.

The next few weeks passed in a hazy blur of activity.

My training had returned, with full force, with the backing of the entire family. It seemed to become a new focus, to distract from the sadness of the last month.

I was thrown into new situations daily. Splinter had devised a training rota which consisted of slowly building up my physical strength to the point where I would be able to handle multiple training sessions throughout the day.

For the first week, I was working out with Mikey. There was all sorts of new games he would create to keep me on my toes. Hide and seek was a particular favourite and Mikey used the woods as a giant playground. I was also learning basic self-defence with Master Splinter, concentrating on kicks, punches, blocks and holds… evolving into katas combining all the techniques I was learning. The katas were fun, like a dance that I was slowly becoming better at. My physique was changing as my weight dropped, a couple of pounds a week began to shed as my training intensified.

Leo kept a rigid control over my diet; lean meat, fish and vegetables were the norm in the evening. I was discovering a real craving for protein, along with an unquenchable desire for water during physical sessions.

The weeks passed into months.

I kept a distance from the locals, especially Sheila who was still looking at me as if I were some giant bug she wanted to squash beneath her feet. She had noticed my body becoming fitter and leaner… and I could tell she was envious.

After four months, I was beginning weapons work, starting with the staff. Donny led me through a series of gentle exercises as the others looked on, critiquing me as I tried to keep up with him and maintain momentum. The staff would slip from my hands often at the beginning and I felt frustration rising when I started to connect blows with my tiny fist. Raph loved to make fun of my tiny hands and it was decided that I should use my palms to strike rather than risk a broken wrist. I was also learning to deflect attacks and use pressure points.

The whole thing was a little blurry. Looking back on the initial training, I was just living from day to day under the tutelage of the others, concentrating on my technique, building up my strength and stamina. I don't remember when something started to click and I began to improve dramatically, but I remember the frustration more. The times when moves seemed to be beyond my ability, the times when Leo would give me a patient, infuriating look. Weapons work was still basic and I wasn't given a sharper weapon for fear of me hurting myself in training.

However, Sheila was always a worry in the back of my mind. I knew she was a bully, even now. When I visited the store in town, April would accompany me and deflect any malicious comments with a clever remark that would further infuriate Sheila. The malice she bore me was like a cloak wrapped around her shoulders. She wore it plainly, giving me vicious looks as my body became more toned. I was still overweight… but fat had begun to turn to muscle. My legs were becoming broader at the top, the shape reflecting the training and hard work. I delighted in showing my biceps to the guys who gave me praise for my ever-changing shape.

Weeks turned into months.

I was beginning to use the bokken; a piece of wood that had been shaped into the rough outline of a sword. I was exclusively training under Leo now as the training ramped up a notch. We would perform katas together, with him majestically swishing both swords so easily. I looked less appealing with the bokken but I kept to my studies as I followed his movements as closely as possible.

I would meditate four times a day under Master Splinter's watchful eye.

During one session, just after noon I had fallen into a deep meditation and the time passed as if on fast forward. I was really into the session… until I heard a voice calling me back to reality. I cracked open an eye and saw Sheila standing by my side. Master Splinter had vanished from sight and I breathed a sigh of relief that Sheila hadn't seen the giant rat.

"Gia? How are you? You okay?"

I breathed deeply and looked at her fully. She was holding another plant. April emerged from the farmhouse and stood across from us both, arms crossed.

"Hello Sheila." I said in a low voice. "What brings you here?"

"I was wondering if we could take a walk in the woods. I know we have a lot to talk about." Sheila seemed uncomfortable by April's presence.

"Absolutely not!" April said at once but I raised a hand and shook my head.

"It's okay, April. We won't go far." Rising to my feet, I walked off into the wooded area and I sensed Sheila following me. We walked for a short while and then I turned and gestured for Sheila to speak.

"Look, I'm sorry for what happened when we were younger." Sheila said, casting her eyes down. "I feel really bad about what I put you through. I was just a kid though."

I sensed a movement in the periphery of my vision. Sheila's form swam before me suddenly as a whistle sounded from somewhere close and I felt a sharp prick on my neck.

I shook my head at once, trying to clear my blurry vision. After a short moment of swaying, I fell to my knees and looked up at Sheila.

Far from looking contrite, she was smiling at me.

"I am sorry, really. I was a bitch. Still am." Sheila looked as if she was gloating as a woman emerged, distinctly Japanese, dressed head to toe in red and black. She had a katana strapped to her back and she stood next to Sheila, her face expressionless.

"Here is the money you are owed," Ninja Lady passed a wad of cash over to Sheila who took it without a pause. "Leave. Now!"

Sheila scampered away.

The trees around me were bowing and expanding as the drug affected my vision. My head swam as I tried to focus on the woman coming closer. A metal sigh sounded as her sword was drawn and the tip placed at my throat.

"You are the one Leonardo is in love with," the woman spat her words in hatred as she drew a little closer, the tip of her sword nicking my throat. A small stream of blood erupted from the sword's kiss.

"Who are you?" I wondered as she tightened the grip on her katana.

"My name is Karai. I am the Turtles sworn enemy. I take you now as a trophy and so Leonardo will forever be alone."

I closed my eyes as I felt the sword tremble in her hands.

It would have been over in seconds. I was mentally preparing myself to die when I heard a loud shout and a green shape barrelled into Karai from behind, knocking her sideways.

Two strong green arms pulled me to my feet and against his carapace. I didn't need to see his bandanna to know who was holding me. His embrace was so familiar to me by now. I held on to him as he ran me back to the house and set me down in a heap on the front porch.

The other turtles had emerged and as Leo sprinted back into the woods they followed without words. Falling into footstep behind him they shadowed his every move without needing details.

Splinter shepherded April and I into the main house and sat me down with a cup of green tea. It really was Master Splinter's solution to every problem. I felt tense as I awaited the return of the mutants and, as the time ticked on, I felt trepidation. The fear was all-consuming.

I kept glancing towards April and she nodded kindly towards me as we waited.

And we waited.

Then we waited some more.

(The conclusion to this story follows. I didn't want to leave this on hiatus for years so I have decided to end it ten years from the events in this story. If I add any more chapters on to it, so be it, but at least it won't remain unfinished. Thanks to everyone who has supported this story.)