He wasn't even sure it was possible. A month of no battle had changed every single one of them. And it wasn't a good thing. Their skills had suddenly become sloppy and the rain especially wasn't helping their movements. It felt as if Master Splinter had conjured up the bad weather to see if they could survive with it. He wasn't blaming Splinter for the rain pouring on them, but he jotted it down as a likely reason.

Leo could almost his sensei's voice in his head telling him off for not training harder, and he doubted that they would win the battle against their opponents, but they did. And it felt great. Victory again. A feeling that they were all too familiar with. He knew the battle was over once he heard the last clash of metal weapons and a small 'ooph' escaping from a foot soldiers lips. Karai had somehow disappeared, but he was quite happy so he wouldn't have to fight anymore. Better train first before I could spar against her again.

"Easy. As. Pie. Well, sort of", the red banded turtle grinned proudly while holding his hand up for a high three. The turtles high-threed and cheered.

Leo stared at the dark sky above him and spread his arms out like an eagle with wings. He let the rain drip from the sky and onto his body. The droplets trickled down his chin. He opened his mouth and gladly accepted the water that slipped down his throat. It was very refreshing and this moment was the only time he appreciated the rain. But every movement he made triggered a thought to surface in his mind. It was nagging him. It felt like, something was missing. Wait. Make that, someone was missing.

Donnie could also feel someone's presence missing. He shut his eyes and dug through the thoughts in his mind. There was an empty space that haunted him and he didn't know why. He paused for a moment or two, and a light bulb clicked in his head. He finally realized what, actually who, was missing. "Guys, where's Jaylene?!"

Mikey and Raph immediately froze. Their breathing hitched and the little brother gasped. They scanned the rooftop and shook their heads. "I think she is waiting at the other building. I told her to hide their so she would stay safe from Karai and the foot soldiers", the blue banded turtle explained. Raph dashed over to the adjacent building, and he began searching for her. His thighs bunched together as he leapt in the air and somersaulted. His landing was silent and he gave a look to his brothers. The look was impatient and scared so the brothers knew he was serious. They jumped after him and began to search.

The four turtles had been looking from one building to the next and eventually the whole area, but they still found no trace of the teen. It was almost six am and the sun began to rise. The sky had turned orange, yellow and pink as the large, bright star emerged from behind the horizon. The turtles had been searching for their friend for more than seven hours nonstop. Their legs ached, their muscles hurt and they were out of breath. By then, they were sure she wasn't still at a building and waiting for them, so they rested on the rooftops where their battle took place. While the three brothers sat on the ground to catch their breath, the red banded turtle began to angrily pound his fists into the brick wall he was leaning against. Dismal thoughts snuck into his head. She was caught. She's being tortured as you all sit helplessly. She's probably dead now. You claimed you would watch her back and protect her, but look at what you've done. She's long gone.

He pushed the impossible suggestions out of his mind, but the orange banded turtle caused them to return.

"You think she was caug-"

"No Mikey, no! She can't have been caught by the foot and Karai. She's smart enough to outsmart them", Raph shook his head as he sat down on the concrete with his face buried in his hands. Donnie stared at his red banded brother in confusion, but knew what he was feeling. He felt the same when April got captured by the kraang and kraang prime. He sat down beside his brother and patted his shell soothingly as he tilted his head to face the sky, as if it showed a map to the location of the missing brunette.

"C'mon guys. Let's head back", Leo said. He stood up and offered his brothers a hand. They gladly accepted it without hesitation and he sighed in relief. At least they are cooperating even though I know they don't want to go back home, he thought as he jumped off the building to find the nearest manhole. The others sighed in sadness, but they knew they had to head back. The three brothers followed their leader off the building and slipped down into the manhole.

/

Master Splinter anxiously waited at the entrance of the lair for his sons return. His ears twitched to listen for the slightest noise that could possibly be the sound of their footsteps or the engine of their vehicles. An hour went by and he began to get more worried and feared they would never make it back.

Suddenly, he heard little thuds against the pavement getting closer and closer. He listened carefully, and a sudden burp echoed from the end of the tunnel. The sensei grinned when he heard the unpleasant sound, but it felt like music to his ears. Thank goodness, he thought as he sighed in relief and chuckled in amusement.

When his sons were in sight, he dropped his staff and ran over to them. "My sons, what has taken you so long? We thought you wouldn't return", he said to them as he embraced them in a hug. "We?" Donnie asked. "Yes. April and I have been waiting all morning for you return. She insisted on staying just to make sure you were okay", Splinter told them.

A blush crept up Donnie's cheek and he began to rub the back of his neck as April approached them. "Are you guys alright? I was so worried", April said and ran to hug them. "Hear that Don? She was worried about you", Mikey whispered to his brother when his turn came to get a hug from April. She wrapped her arms around Donnie's neck and squeezed tightly before linking her arm with his arm and leaning on his shoulder. "Sorry we worried you and Master Splinter, but we were up all night and morning looking for Jaylene. I told her to wait on the rooftop beside the place of our battle against the foot and Karai, but she wasn't there after the fight", the blue banded turtle explained and gulped nervously as he did so.

The faces of the three other turtles turned pale, Splinter noted, and he knew why. "Have you checked her room?" he suggested. The gang exchanged looks at each other and their faces lit up. The color of the orange, red and purple banded turtles were no longer pale and their regular green shade returned.

Raph was the first to make a move. He dashed away from the group and ran to the lair with the others running behind him and trying to catch up. He hopped over the pizza boxes and the beanbag in his way, and sprinted to the bedrooms area. His feet skimmed on the floor as he came to a stop at Jaylene's door. His hand reached for the doorknob but he hesitated. He brushed imaginary dust off his shoulders and straightened his mask before pushing the door open a crack. He peeked through the hole and the small bit of light poured into the dark room. The room was pitch black. The lights were off, but the forest green eyes of the red banded turtle could make out a petite silhouette sitting on the edge of the bed with her back facing him. He breathed a sigh of relief and pushed the door open further, with the squeaking echoing in the atmosphere.

The ears of the brunette perked up and she slowly turned to face the turtle. "Raphael?" Jaylene choked out. The question came out barely a whisper. Her voice sounded raspy and oddly quiet. She lifted her arm and used it to shade her eyes from the bright light that blinded her. It looked as if she hadn't seen light in millions of years. She squinted her eyes at the figure standing in front of her and scrambled across her bed so she could sit on the other end. Her legs hung over the edge of the bed and she blinked slowly as she tried to speak, although no words came out.

The turtle watched carefully and took in every detail of the girl sitting a few meters away from him. Her arms and legs had cuts and bruises swelling up, and a red stripe was marked on her lower arm. A suggestion popped into his mind, and he agreed with it. Karai. She was the one that did this to her. "Wh-what happened?" the turtle asked, with shock written all over his face. He sat next to her on the bed and glanced at her face.

Her eyes were red, and puffy, like she had been crying. The brunette didn't even tilt her head up to look at his worried expression, but leaned her body into his, and started sobbing. She pressed her head against the top of his plastron and wiped the tears with the back of her hand as she moved closer to him; until their legs were touching. The red banded turtle was too shocked to move, but relaxed after a moment and wrapped his arm around one of her shoulders.

It was…sort of an awkward moment. They were sitting in the dark with the young brunette pouring all her emotions on him through her tears. Raph didn't mind though, at least he was the one to comfort her. He could feel the sadness radiating off her and the dark atmosphere reflected it.

Her misery stung him. He never liked seeing a girl depressed, let alone Jaylene, because there were feelings he hid and didn't want to admit. He just never reacted well to these kinds of situations, like the time when he watched a movie with a young woman feeling depressed; it made him uncomfortable. He also didn't know the reason for Jaylene crying. Is she crying from the pain of her bruises? Cuts? Did she twist or sprain anything? There was obviously another reason for her being miserable, and he needed to find out. Soon.

Her sobbing soon died down and he smiled thankfully. There was a sort of desperation inside him, telling him to help her, so he dug deep inside of him to find the courage to ask her.

"I'm sorry", Jaylene sniffled. "Its fine", Raph replied quickly, almost too quickly, as he removed his arm from the comfortable position around her shoulder. Honestly, he didn't want to let go. He regretted his choice, but he shook off the thought. The brunette smiled softly. She moved her head from his plastron and rested it on his shoulder. He was just about to ask her why she cried, but her small voice interrupted him.

"It's just that Kara-"

"So you were here the whole time-wait did I just interrupt something?"

A smirk sprouted from the lips of the blue banded turtle as he leaned against the door frame with a taunting look on his face.

Seriously?! Out of all the moments, all the people, why did it have to be Leo to interrupt his moment of peace and happiness he had just shared with Jaylene. She was about to tell him something, but Leo had to interrupt her. He fought the urge to punch his brother right there and then, even in front the brunette, but he pushed aside the anger exploding action suggestions. Instead, he answered his brother calmly.

"What? Oh it's nothing Leo. Jaylene was about to tell me something that sounded important", Raph stood up and scurried to stand next to his brother. The last part had a hint of annoyance, but Leo let it slip. His smirk disappeared and he frowned. Important? Hopefully she will explain the reason for her short disappearance. "Let's go outside. Everyone is going to want an explanation", he said. Leo tried to put that sentence lightly, but it seemed that there was no way to make it not sound like a firm demand. He didn't want her to feel intimidated, but it sounded like they were going to interrogate her. Surely she wouldn't think of it that way. He motioned for her to follow them and she stood up shakily as she left out the door, leaving the despair locked in the room with the darkness as company.

Fin

I just really had to get this up! Don't even know why though, because this chapter won't be as exciting as the next one! More about Jaylene will be revealed! Please review and I don't own TMNT.