Hi guys! Think I took a long enough break? For taking over a month to post my next chapter, I made up for it a little by making it a nice, long chapter. It might be a tiny bit sloppy because I've been trying to rush through and finally publish something. Hopefully it won't be all that boring. Stay tuned, because a very interesting chapter is following up this one. Especially to any of you who are curious about our beautiful foes...

Also I'm bringing April and Casey into this chapter. I really don't know much about them, so I'm just going to use the information I know now and hope that I make their characters sound accurate.

Thanks to all my reviewers and readers, and to anyone who has read to this point without getting bored.

Disclaimer: I don't own 'em.

Everything happened quickly.

The Turtles reacted to the situation extremely fast. Every single one of them, even easygoing Mikey, bristled and stiffened. I froze too.

I watched with awe as a completely different aura surrounded them, their movements were now completely silent and agile. Leo was the first to bolt over to another roof, dropping down into a fire escape ladder down in the alley where the gunshot came from. Raphael was right after him, ditto with Don. Mikey paused by me for half a second to mutter in my ear.

"Stay here on the roof, Al."

Then he was gone with the others, shooting down noiselessly into the alley. I returned my attention to the situation, and now that I paid attention, I could hear scuffling and muffled laughter somewhere below.

Seconds of stillness passed.

Though I was originally frozen to the spot, my joints apparently were coming into working order. I ventured near the cliff of the roof, my fingers numb and my breath pouring out sharply.

There was nothing in the alley. I didn't know what to look for. I crouched down so I could squint into the darkness. I knew I would be reprimanded for it, but I was far too curious. No turtles, no gunman. I suddenly felt alone.

Then I heard another shot, followed by a horrendous scream. My stomach twisted and bile rose as I recognized it as a man's hoarse cry. This was followed by a horrendous crash, the unmistakable sound of glass shattering.

The sounds were coming from below me, in the building. I whipped my head back over the edge of the roof, fighting the bout of dizziness the heights gave me. There…there was a window in which they must've entered. I listened hard.

You know that tickling sensation you get sometimes? Like someone is watching you, or you are coming to a very dreadful conclusion. It's a subtle feeling at first, but too prominent to ignore.

"Alice McKellen. Stop what you're doing. It is foolishness."

The voice was unbelievably beautiful, though as I turned to view the speaker. He stood several yards from me, on the other side of the roof. He stood so shrouded in darkness; masking his appearance in black, baggy clothing…I didn't know what to make of it.

"Who are you?" I found my voice, it was not frightened. Then a sudden gust of wind caught me, blowing back the hood of my jacket and sending what felt like tiny ice crystals at my face. I was forced to close my eyes, raising my arm to shield my face. I felt so hot that the cool air was refreshing.

When I straightened up, he was gone and I was at a loss at what just happened.
Next thing I knew, Mikey was tapping me on the shoulder and my teeth were chattering ferociously.

"Something's wrong…" I was surprised to see Leonardo standing over me suddenly. I felt a sudden desire to recoil and run away from them. All of them.

"Alice McKellen, are you alright? Speak to us." Don's voice was urgent in my ear. I forced myself to acknowledge them and unfreeze myself. Their puzzled and worried features knocked some sense into my numb being. I gritted my teeth, trying to quell the incessant shivering of my jaw. I wasn't even cold, why was I shivering?

"I should be asking you the same thing," my voice was unsure and the words barely slipped out. "What just happened down there?"

"We need to get inside," Leo decided abruptly, barely waiting for me to finish. For the remainder of the journey I was pulled along, having almost no coordination left to speak of.

"Okay, Al, hold on tight. We're gonna drop down into April's window here." It was Mikey who was speaking to me, I think. I just obeyed, curling my fingers around his shell as he temporarily lifted me off of the ground. My vision swam with dizziness, I closed my eyes.

When I was released we were inside somewhere. The cold sting of the New York weather no longer tingled my cheeks. A snap from the window behind us told me someone had shut it. I blinked stars out of my sight, my eyes strangely having to refocus and adjust to the light. We were out of the strange weather and inside shelter. I felt my chest loosen and air flowed in easier.

The apartment was lovely, kept clean and organized. I let my gaze meander through the room. I flexed my fingers, returning my eyes back over the stiffened turtles. Leonardo looked like he had been sucking on a lemon.

"What did you see?" he demanded softly but rapidly, before Mikey could form the words: 'Alice, are you alright?'
All brothers paused and straightened up, solemn and quiet.

I found my eyes clicking into contact with his and I was completely undaunted. I took a little pause, thinking. I was about to tell them all the truth, but my throat stuck when I remembered the stranger. His words, though they were but a few, were still shaking my core. His presence left a familiar taste on my tongue; a sensation that was not welcomed. I did not feel like sharing this with my friends.

"Nothing. I was just…worried about what was going on with you guys." I lied-well it was only a part-lie. I really did want to know what had occured. "What happened?"

"Theives…" Don enunciated slowly, but only because his face looked consumed with thought as he spoke. "…there were several bags of money taken from who knows where. They had established a hideout and got carried away in a disagreement, I think. Still, the circumstances were strange."

I titled my head with curiosity, eyes asking him to go on.

"These men did not bear resemblance to any crook I've ever seen." Leo said, exchanging glances with his brothers. "One was dressed in formal slacks and a tattered business suit and the other was in floral tourist-like garb."

"And that first gunshot we heard never met its target, though they were within point blank range." Don added. "Still, this could've been because there was a tussle."
Raphael still had his weapons out, surveying them before stowing them away again. "They were fightin' like dogs when we got to 'em, both trying to get to the gun."

"I see. Two of them. Still, what's so weird about it? When they were robbing the place …it makes perfect sense for them to not be dressed suspiciously," I probed. Anything was better than veering towards what happened to me. What a crazy coincidence that both these crazy things had happened.

Leo's gaze was stern as he looked down at me, "Alice, we've seen plenty of thieves in our time. Trust me when I say that these guys did not meet the usual profiles. That…and they were completely mad. They didn't look surprised when they…saw us. In fact, it was almost as if they expected us. The glass shattering was a crowbar that was supposed to hit Mikey."

My hand had slipped up over my mouth of its own accord.

"What about the scream?" I said quietly.

"One of them landed on the gun in a crazed attempt to retrieve it. He fumbled for it, and accidently shot his partner, not a fatal wound-look this doesn't have anything to do with the initial point…" Leo waved that away. "That little scuffle….everything pointed towards a …it seems like, like a diversion to us. That's why we rushed back to you."

He looked at me hard, and the others were doing just the same. He might've been preparing to say something else, but thankfully at that moment, we were interrupted.

"Hey you guys!"

The young woman who walked in was very pretty, in my own opinion. She was young, not too much older than myself I'd say, with bright, intelligent eyes and a clear expression. Her thick red hair was tied back into a ponytail.
"And guest!" she added, her gaze falling on me.

I smiled; a knee-jerk response to a kind greeting. The young woman I presumed was April seemed very normal and pretty. There was a slight pause.

"Finally inviting us back into your house, Carrot-top?" Raphael dropped into one of the sofas behind us.

"Nice to see you, too, Raph. It's just, that I've been so busy…" she was walking directly over towards me.

Then tension slid off like a landslide. All the turtles seemed to dismiss it and join in on laughter and greetings. Out of the corner of my eye I saw Leo's fist clench, he did not move away from me as did the others.

"Hiya April! Did you order anything for us to eat?" Mikey exclaimed, bouncing by her in what looked the kitchen part of her apartment.

"You could say that," she said in answer to him. She turned to me, having finally crossed the room without interruption.

"Alice, am I correct?" She held out a hand, I shook it. She was also quite a bit more slender and taller than I was, I couldn't help but think enviously.

"Yes ma'am," I felt it easy to be warm to her, though still feeling a bit awkward. "You're April…"

"April O'Neil."

Mikey had circled back into the room, swinging around what looked like a…fake rubber snake. I stared.
"So we've got an Ape and an Al…awesome!" he said teasingly, dangling the toy in front of April the way a sibling would to annoy his older sister.

"Ugh, Mikey take that thing home please. And I'm sure Alice doesn't like you calling her Al…I certainly don't like—"
"Ape…yeah. I like your full name much better," I commented, then feeling awkward, I reached to add more. "It reminds me of spring. I love that time of year—" I cut off suddenly when I realized what I was saying. "Sorry," I added quickly, feeling like a dork. There I was thinking aloud again.
She paused to watch me for a second...and wasn't the only one to do so. A smile slipped onto April's features.
"Thank you. I like your name, as well. Never met any Alices before."

She and I were getting into some more small talk about times of the year and lapsing into birthdays so I wasn't surprised when we were interrupted.

"I'm sorry to break into this, but…" Leonardo trailed off. I would've eagerly spun on him and whipped out the accusing index finger, but he was much more polite this time. Genuinely eager to sort this out.

April's gaze slid over towards his and back over to me, nodding immediately. "Do you mind-?"

"Nope."

Everyone took their seats around the living room. A very clean living room, despite a few magazines on the coffee table that were ajar and the one of the curtains from where we had entered through the window had been knocked down. I wondered if April ever had to deal with damage dealt to her home by these guys.

I soon discovered that somehow Master Splinter had showed up too, for he was soon in the room, formally addressing April with a smile. That guy certainly could get around when he wanted. Were it not for the fact my thoughts were so scattered and distracted, I would've surveyed as to why Master Splinter didn't just go with us in the first place.

Part of me still felt numb as I sat down in the chair offered to me. I realized I was in shock, still. As soon as people stopped conversing with me and my attention wasn't focused on appearing normal, it skidded back in the direction of the occurrence on the roof. My mouth instantly went dry.

And I found I did mind talking about this subject. What was I to do? Tell them? Yes…that had to be the right thing. Why would I even doubt that? I still knotted my fingers together on my lap as they got over dispersing pleasantries.

There was a slight pause. I noticed how everyone glanced at Leo to start

"Okay, it's kind of hard finding out where to start. By the time we get to the good part-" Leo was interrupted, then.

"Food's here!" A masculine voice resounded from the hallway while accompanied by heavy boots stumping across a door mat. I also detected the rustle of plastic bags.

Several things happened. Mikey and April sat up a bit straighter. April, I reasoned, because this was, in all likeliness, her betrothed. Mikey, oh come on you have to guess this one.

"Hey! It's 'bout time, Case." Raphael was on his feet as the man entered the room.

I glanced at Leonardo from the corner of my eye and I did catch the slight droop of his shoulders. Though more out of frustration than disappointment. Master Splinter must've noticed too, he set a hand on Leo's shoulder.

"My son, let us wait until after dinner. As you can see, most of us are rather preoccupied." Leo nodded wordlessly.

Casey Jones was also tall and attractive, looking to be a weight-lifter. He balanced several bags, bringing in the delicious wafting scent of Chinese take-out. Raph was already over there, the two greeting each other as two old friends would. Michelangelo was on his feet as well, leaving the rubber snake in his eagerness to eat. Donatello and April followed suit.

"Ah…" I could hear Master Splinter continuing to talk to Leo, "I believe my senses are detecting broccoli and chicken, and some fried rice. Remember, my son, the nose always knows." He chuckled, gently patting Leo's shoulder before making his way gracefully over to greet as well. The clatter of plates and silverware now joined the talking, Raph and Mike were getting in an argument of some sort. Though the atmosphere was still completely normal.

I felt awkward, I didn't want to get up. I felt like going home now.

This scene was of family. I felt like I was intruding.

I blinked when I caught Leo staring at me out of the corner of his eye. I deliberately turned so I was facing him, he was a chair away from me.

"Casey's a friend of yours, too…isn't he?" My tone was innocent and curious enough. I might as well speak to someone while I fought off embarrassment, fear, and desire to go home. I couldn't understand why I suddenly didn't feel that well…did that quick visitation from that creature have such an effect on me?

"Of course," he said stiffly. Oh so now he wouldn't look me in the eye.

"Well you haven't seen him in a while, he'd want to say hello to you, too."

"He's never even met you. Go introduce yourself, why don't you…" he countered.

"No, I—" I opened my mouth to steadily hold my ground, when the randomness and stupidity of the conversation caused me to break it off. I glanced away momentarily, then let my eyes drill him again.

"Why are you…so set on edge all the time?" I confronted him, leaning forward so I could keep my voice down. I tried to think of something else to add on, but that pretty much summed it all up for me.

His face flickered with indecision before he spoke in mutters, too.

"You don't understand. To tell you the truth, it's preferable that you don't. Otherwise you'd be running straight back to your little apartment shrieking."
I was indignant, "You wanna bet?"
He was leaning forward now, too, "What are you talking about?"

"Try me. Let me attempt to understand, if I'm as feeble and stupid as you treat me then running home would keep me out of your hair, speaking figuratively," I added with a glance at his bald head.

For a moment I allowed myself some self-gratification as he blinked. His expression twisted up into an undeterminable one, I couldn't tell if he was angry or merely thoughtful.

"Y'know, maybe you do need a bit of scaring. I think you're too bold for your own good, Alice."

"So I'm Alice now, not 'the girl'?"

He scowled at me. I continued: "What, do you think I'm being too bold hanging around you guys? Do you want me to be afraid of you?" I wanted it to sound tough, but somehow…it didn't.

Leo didn't reply, instead sat up straight again. His eyes were glazed with thought; his posture was almost annoyingly straight. By now I could feel the occasional inquisitive glance our way. It didn't matter, though, this conversation was over.

Without dwindling any longer nor having a wish to continue the pointless conversation, I got to my feet. Casey was nice, a little surprised to see me…but he never asked me where I had come from. I was glad neither of them had, or if they had already been filled in or not.

I was offered food, but I politely declined. I had no appetite save for one fortune cookie, which was chucked at me by Raph when I sat down again. He turned his attention away from my challenging expresson, one of my hands holding the cookie and the other cupped over my left ear.

"Man, you're lookin' more 'n more like a married man, Case," Raph grunted with a smirk. "Carryin' in the bags for supper."

Casey smirked right back, "I'm telling you, it's worth it." April blushed and looked down at her feet.

I ripped open the plastic wrap to get to my cookie, absently watching and listening to the socializing. Everyone seemed have a equal part, except for Leo…who was just as quiet as I was.

I was distracted as I cracked open the fortune cookie. The cookie did almost nothing for me, the texture and flavor was lost. My stomach bubbled unpleasantly to the added contents.

And I was convinced Leonardo was the one wound up tight…

"Are you sure you're not hungry for anything else, Alice?" April asked me politely. I shook my head and waited for them to finish their dinner.

And they did. Eventually.

The coffee table which sat in the midst of the living room soon bore all the traces of a thorough supper. Quite a few of the males were lounging back, full and content. April shot a little frown towards the wreckage of her living room and I threw her a look of sympathy. Our eyes met and she smiled. Only females would understand.

April was on her feet then, industriously depositing trash into a plastic bag. There was quieting down and a small pause. Leo took a breath and everyone waited, he seemed to have the natural leadership…it was expected that he start this dialogue. I took a small moment to wonder what kind of effect this could have on a person, whether they were human or not.

"I'm sorry about all of this right before your wedding, April and Casey." The remorse in his tone was true, and the two engaged glanced up.

"Don't sweat it Leo," Casey breezed with an effortless smile, "It's not your fault, man."

"We'll always be here to support you guys," April added as she sat down.

Leo bowed his head a bit and the others chorused their appreciation for the couple. I tilted my head at the sight in curiosity. A family, they really did seem close. Again I felt the urge to leave, my ankle twitched but otherwise I was completely motionless.

"So…what's this all about, anyway?" Casey's mood changed to more of a brooding sort, brow furrowed. "Some new enemy?"

"No…" the stillness in the room seemed to hit full on when Splinter spoke. He crossed his hands on his lap where he sat, his gentle but strong gaze falling over each one of us.

"Not a new enemy. An old one. And there are many of them."