Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT

Warning: All previous warnings still apply.

Is anyone actually reading this? I'm mainly just wondering if people are still reading or not.

It had been a while and Irma was still curled up into a ball, clinging to Mikey while shaking as he kept stroking her back. The guilt ate up at Raph as he watched the girl and his baby brother trying to coax her into calming down.

"Guys…" Mikey looked up from her while keeping an arm around. "I'm not sure what else to do…" he frowned while looking at them.

Raph wasn't sure himself. He sighed, thinking of all the times Master Splinter asked him to watch his temper. He could already see the disappointment that would shine in his dad's eyes and then this girl seemed so far gone. How would he even fix this one? He glanced over at Don and Leo. His genius brother was the fixer. Leo was the one who usually knew what to do.

He clenched his fists in frustration, with his head down. "Guys I'm...I didn't mean…"

"We know Raph," Leo's voice was quiet. "You were just worried about Mikey. We know that."

Raph nodded but it still didn't make him feel any better. The guilt was still swallowing him whole and he became more aware of the bandages before he let one hand dig nails into his palm until it pierced flesh.

"Yeah…" he grumbled the word. His eyes still looking away.

"Maybe we should get dad…" Don said softly as Raph finally looked up to see Leo coming towards both him and Don.

"I'll get father." Leo placed a hand on both their shoulders. "You guys keep an eye on Mikey and Irma. April and Casey should be here soon. It'll be okay" Leo gave a warm smile before going.

"Yeah…" Raph had started looking at Irma again. Her shaking hadn't stopped. And she hadn't let go of Mikey yet.

"Raph…"

He blinked and turned his head to where Leo had paused.

"You and Don just sit until I get back. Okay?"

Raph gave a slow nod before looking at Don, he frowned at the helpless look on the taller turtle's face as he let out a slow breath. "Come on, let's just sit tight and wait for Fearless." he moved a hand to Don's shoulder and pushed the younger turtle down to sit before he did himself.

"D, can't you fix her?" Mikey asked softly while looking back towards them.

"I... I don't know how Mikey." Don looked down, and Raph caught the frown before Don lowered his head in his hands as Mikey frowned with his arms still around Irma.

"Boys…"

Raph was already getting up as soon as he heard his dad's voice but stopped immediately as he thought of how he caused this mess. "I... I didn't…"

"It's okay, Raphael." Splinter laid a hand on his shoulder with a concerned look in his eyes as the furry paw squeezed before pulling him forward and he just laid his head against his dad. "You didn't know. You only wanted to protect your brothers. No one can fault you for that."

It was nearly the same words Leo said and Raph held back a dry laugh at how close Splinter Junior had gotten the words. But from his dad, it sounded all different. It felt different.

"I didn't mean to…" he whispered quietly.

"I know my son." he felt a light nuzzle to his temple. "All of you did your best in this situation. I am proud of all of you. But now we must do our best for our guest. She has been through a tough time."

Raph slowly moved from his dad and nodded his head.

"I'm not even sure what to do…" Don's voice was quiet as Master Splinter moved and sat near the purple-masked turtle with an arm moving around him.

"Donatello...if it was one of your brothers. What would you do?"

"I would...just…comfort them the best I could. Use soothing words. Try to relax them. Um...tell them to breathe and focus on me." Don's brow ridges pinched together as he spoke.

"And do you believe that would work now?"

"I…" Don lifted his head. "Mikey keep talking to her but tell her to focus on you. She needs to relax. It's mental...she's...she's having a panic attack." his hand went to his head. "How didn't I realize that before?"

"Who cares? Ya thought of it now." Raph looked at his younger brother.

"Though I would not have used Raphael's exact words, I agree. You thought of it. Help, no matter the point in time, is still important. Leonardo, make some tea. Once she's calmer it may help her relax more"

"Hai, Master Splinter" Leo took off in the direction of the kitchen.

"Irma…" Mikey paused before continuing. "Come on, Mia, I know you hear me. Just keep breathing in and out. And it's all gonna be okay."

Raph started to breathe in relief when he saw the shaking starting to stop. Her hands started to slowly slide from Mikey's arms and Raph bit his tongue when he saw the marks on his baby brother's skin from her nails and hands.

"See! We're all good!" Mikey grinned. "You squeezed me hard enough." he laughed as she slowly uncurled herself from him then gasped.

"You-your arm…I..."

"No worries, Mama Mia. Us turtles are real tough" Mikey smiled as she slowly nodded and looked around. Her eyes seemed to bug out the moment they landed on Master Splinter.

"Is…is that…"

"If you're asking am I a giant rat. The answer is yes" Splinter smiled at her as Leo came in with a tray holding cups and a pot of tea. "Thank you, Leonardo. And now...Miss Irma? Would you care for some tea? I promise we will not hurt you."

Irma's eyes went from the tea and back to Splinter before around to all of them but stayed on Raph a longer moment. "I…. yes. Sure…"

"Good." he gave her a smile as he went to pour a cup.

"Irma, you need to keep your ankle elevated." Don went over as Irma's eyes went down. They seemed unfocused a moment.

"My ankle?"

"Yeah, it got hurt...do…you remember?" Don asked her carefully while Raph rose a brow.

"Oh. Yeah, sure. Just tired, I guess" she slowly moved the leg and laid it back on the cushion. But Raph still looked at her confused.

"Here you are, young lady," Master Splinter had a gentle tone as he handed her a cup and she reached over for it but suddenly stopped as the cup slipped from her hands. Her eyes looking around in fear before focusing back and she looked at her hands and then to the floor. "Oh no... I'm…"

"It's all good Mia" Mikey gave her smile.

"It's just a spill. Tea can be replaced. Boys, can one of you get towels?"

"I'll get it!" Mikey jumped up, but Irma latched onto his arm with her eyes shut tight.

"No, please don't..."

Mikey went still, and Raph looked worried over at his brother. Whatever help this girl needed, he was sure it was too much for Mikey.

"Mikey, maybe…" Don began. "You sho-"

"The lady needs me!" Mikey grinned with a shrug as he pointed to Irma before sitting back down. "Sorry guys"

Leo exchanged a look with Raph before getting up. "It's fine. We'll clean it up, Sensei." Leo got up quickly. "Come on guys."

Raph snorted and grabbed hold of Don to pull him along while eyeing the back of Leo's head as he mimicked. "We'll clean it, sensei…. damn' teacher's pet" Raph teased.

"Ninja dropout," Leo smirked.

"Not now guys. I'm worried about Mikey and Irma" Don went to where they had a collection of towels and washcloths as he took some out.

"Who ya tellin'. She grabbed on him any damn harder, she might break his damn hard." Raph folded his arms.

"It's not just that…" Don paused.

"You mean the way she looked scared then it was like nothing? A few times I wasn't even sure what she was looking at exactly. Like she was somewhere else."

"Hmm…" Don went quiet as Raph looked back at Leo.

"I dunno. But that's a lot on Mikey whatever it is. I don't like it"

"I don't either but I'm not sure what else to do. You saw what happened when Mikey tried to move." Leo sighed. "This is…"

"Nuts?"

"Yeah. I think that covers it."

"So, what we gonna do then? Mikey can't babysit her forever. And like hell I'm gonna let him"

"Yeah, me nei-wait? Where Donnie?" Leo said suddenly before Raph looked around as well noticing the absence of the taller turtle.

"How much you wanna bet he had some idea and just walked off?"

"Is this a real bet?"

"Nah, not really. It's pretty obvious, Fearless" Raph smirked.

"Should have known. You're always broke." Leo smirked back and started walking off.

"Whatever." Raph nearly laughed as he followed his brother back to the main room. He slipped a hand into one of his pouches on his belt feeling it pulse as he felt a piece of paper and the device Mona gave him buzzing.

He pulled out the paper and noticed it was the one Casey gave him. He sighed before pocketing it back and pulling out the device instead.

"Yeah?"

Leo looked back at him with a questioning gaze before he gestured for Leo to go ahead. He watched Mona's face come up as he focused back on the phone call.

"Oh, good, I reached you. I needed to talk to you, and tell you…"

"Y'Gythgba!"

Raph rose a brow hearing the Sal commander's yell for his girlfriend. Mona's fingers touched the side some device and she slipped seamlessly from Earth language Salamandrian with the commander. He had no clue what they were saying before Mona returned turned back to the phone and her finger went to press it again.

He really hated when she did that. It just felt like more stuff he wasn't allowed to know or be part of when it came to her.

"I'm sorry, Raphael. I should get going. Call me later."

Raph frowned feeling what little spirits he had up, go down. "But it's already Tuesday here."

"Well, then. Who says we can't call each other on other days. On your Mondays, we will just make sure we reach each other. Sounds good?"

Raph bit his tongue. He was about to remind her of all the Mondays she'd missed before reminding himself that Mona had a whole military Air Fleet to think about. He should be glad she's trying at least.

"Yeah, good" he forced a smile.

"Good. Make sure you call me later then. Goodbye, Raphael" she smiled.

"Goodbye, Mo-" he watched her smile drop and her eyes narrowing.

"You still can't say it? G'thraka just said it!"

"Who!"

"The commander!"

"Oh…" Raph sighed. "Look I'm workin' on it. Just...it's not easy, aight? We don't got names like that here. "

"And we don't have names like Raphael here. Yet I remembered it. Bye." she hung up right as his mouth opened and he growled. His fingers moved to call her right back before he took a deep breath and stopped himself.

Later.

He'd call later. Maybe the stick would be out her ass by then.

"Yo! Mutants!"

Raph groaned hearing the voice as he made his way back. He and Casey were still on egg shells. He was about to wonder why the idiot was here until he remembered April was coming.

"I saw this at the entrance. It has Leo's name on it…"

"April!" Don cried out and Raph walked in to see him turning April from Irma, "What a pleasant surprise. And what pray tell brings you to our abode?"

Raph shook his head and muttered, "Can ya be any more obvious?"

April laughed before giving Don a look. "Donnie, what's going on? You called me remember."

"You I remember, Casey not so much…" Don mumbled before continuing. "Going on? Well um...it's kinda a long story."

"Donnie...," She paused and looked at him longer," Is it about yesterday? You know I understand, right?

"Yesterday?" Don repeated.

"See, you're so tired you don't even remember what it was yesterday do you?" April laughed as she continued. "Me. You. Tessen. Bo staff. Every Monday for months now?" she teased.

Don did a facepalm. "April I'm so so sorry."

"It's okay, Donnie. Master Splinter said you guys had an important patrol and the last time I saw you, you were barely holding on to consciousness" April smiled while Don looked sheepish.

Raph came closer and saw the box in April's hands. "Am I the only one who cares about shit like bombs or trackers gettin' snuck in?" he watched Leo look over the box carefully.

Don looked at it before starting to reach for the box "Raph has a point, maybe I shou-"

"No!" Leo grabbed the box. "I mean. No. It's fine. I knew it was coming"

"Since when? When ya even had time to get somethin' delivered? We been out all night and ya never said anything about waitin' for nothing." Raph looked at the package more before going to grab it.

"Raph!" Leo yelled while trying to get away.

"What's in the box, Leo?"

"Go away Ra-" Leo fell to the ground and before he could realize it he fell himself as he felt a tail swipe at his legs.

"Ow…"

"If you both don't mind. I would think it best you sit down." Splinter's voice was soft but firm.

"Woah. You guys got owned by a tail!" Mikey laughed while Raph snorted as he got up. He heard Casey laughing and eyed the other teen before plopping down on the bean bag.

Leo rubbed his arm a moment before sitting on the chair. Raph's eyes went over to April, "Ya ain't gonna go hug ya bestie?"

"My bestie?" April blinked before looking over. "Irma?" her voice was soft and Raph glanced to look over at Irma and saw her staring out again.

"I thought that was, Four-eyes. Where her glasses and the fake contacts?" Casey spoke up and Leo shrugged.

"We found her like this"

"She usually snaps out of it after a little while, Ape" Mikey gave a smile and gently rubbed Irma's back as April nodded.

"What the hell she snappin' out of?" Casey raised a brow.

"I think I have an idea but I'm not too sure yet." Don looked perplexed a moment and Raph looked to see Irma blink after a moment. The fear leaving her eyes as her hands stopped shaking.

"I... I'm sorry. I'm really no good with this anymore...or anything..."

"Don't say that, Irma" April frowned and Irma looked up.

"April?" Irma smiled a moment before frowning. Her eyes looking down as she brought her hands closer and Raph noticed her teacup now on the table. "You shouldn't be around me...no one should…"

"Hey…" April said softly as she came closer, moving on the other side of Irma. "Not true. I'm so glad to see you."

Irma just nodded and Raph could hear April sigh.

"Are you feeling any better?" Master Splinter asked, standing nearby with his cane in hand. Raph watched his dad, wondering if he sensed anything or felt anything about this girl. His father moved closer, and Raph wondered for the millionth time in his life why his dad even had a cane.

"Yes, I am," came Irma's soft reply though her eyes didn't seem to hold much emotion "Thank you."

"I hope you excuse my son for his behavior earlier. He, like many of us, have had frightening ordeals that still seem fresh. In time, I hope all wounds will be healed but of course, that takes time."

"Yeah...my bad, Irma," Raph grunted.

"Ordeals?" Irma repeated, nodding at Raph.

"He's talking about the Krang" April looked over at Irma and she stiffened immediately. Hands shaking as her eyes darted to and fro. "Irma?" April looked worried as Mikey's hand went back to rubbing Irma's back and after a moment her eyes seemed to focus.

"I..."

"Maybe we should talk about something else...I don't think Irma's doing okay…" April looked over at Master Splinter.

"Understatement of the fuckin' century," Raph muttered under his breath before he felt a cane hit him square on the head. He rubbed the spot while eyeing that damn stick. He was starting to get the idea why his dad had that damn thing.

"No, I'm fine." she didn't look up and instead her eyes stayed on the floor.

"Well…" Leo said slowly and Raph noticed Don hadn't said a word. One look at his genius brother and he could still see he was thinking about something deeply. "Do you know anything about some that might have made any that...looked like you?"

Irma's voice was still quiet and Raph let out a deep breath. "We all know she had to know somethin."

"We don't know that Raph" Mikey frowned at him but Raph was determined to look out for his baby brother even if Mikey was determined to be the naive one.

"But you don't either Mikey. I mean just look at her, sh-

"Enough." They both went quiet at their father's voice. "Only Miss Irma knows what she does or does not know. And it is her decision what relates to us. We cannot decide ourselves what she does or does know. Is that understood?"

"Yes, Master Splinter," Raph echoed along with Mikey before Master Splinter looked back at Irma.

"Now, is there anything you can tell us?"

Irma's brow furrowed as she wrung her hands together, "I saw it."

Raph looked at her, expecting her to continue but she continued to say nothing after that.

"Saw what exactly?" Leo asked.

"Oh. The..." She took a deep breath, "thing. Robot. The...the thing that looked like me..." she closed her eyes a moment before continuing. "It...it laughed...before…before everything went dark. I… I saw Ms. Campbell"

"Wait, why were you with her?" April looked confused.

"It was after that fight we had…" Irma trailed off while looking at her fingers, Raph noticed her pinching them from time to time. "The...hair one…"

"Ya...hair...?" Raph looked at everyone while wondering just how much more of this they had to listen to before it got to the point. He could see she had issues, but his patience was wearing a bit thin.

"She was trying to impress... Casey…" April made a face. "You changed your whole look. For a guy"

"Casey?" Raph repeated the name and blinked. She had a crush on Casey. Did all these stupid women want Casey? He let out a deep breath.

"Oh really?" Casey smirked. "So, you were feeling Casey Jones?"

Mikey looked between Irma and Casey a moment, "Were."

"Huh?" Casey looked at Mikey.

"Were." Mikey repeated and stuck out his tongue. Raph nearly smirked at Casey from Mikey's reaction. The bonehead didn't have to act like he liked the attention so much.

"I…" Irma's hands had started shaking a bit and she practically slid into Mikey's lap. Raph thought if she got any closer she'd be in his baby brother's shell. She looked pensive a moment. "But I said I'm tired of being known as the weird girl with glasses. And she was like Irma no one thinks that. And then I wa-"

"Aight, aight, I get it. Ya changed ya hair!" he interrupted quickly. He watched her go wide-eyed and jump, holding tightly to Mikey again. He rubbed his temples while feeling glad that he didn't have any sisters.

April glared at him. "Raph…" she hissed.

"What?" he gave her a look while April sighed. "Look, my bad again." He was tired of the hair thing and something about her liking Casey didn't make him feel better about her. Even if it was the past.

"It's okay Irma…" she said softly but Irma still held on to Mikey as she nodded her head slowly.

"I just...I thought it'd give me an edge maybe? Make him notice me more and that maybe he'd be the one." her voice still bothered Raph, he had expected some change especially with April around more. Yet nothing.

"So, what happened with you and April after that?" Leo had taken a seat. His eyes went to Raph a moment before sliding closer to him as he whispered. "You see her eyes?"

Raph nodded as he looked at them. When not scared, or looking like she was seeing something that wasn't there. They held no spark, no life. The dull brown held no type of emotion. The only time he saw a bit of spark was her slight reactions to Mikey, but to April it seemed like she was inching away from her.

"I... we…" Irma's voice was quiet.

"I told her she didn't need to change" April gave Irma a worried look. "It was a bit much...don't you think Irma?" April sighed. "You know we can talk about this later...like much later"

"Yeah...purple and blue were a bit overboard...and maybe the contacts too." Irma gave a smile towards April but Raph noticed it looked tight and it didn't reach her eyes. "No, I'll talk…"

"I'm just saying...as your friend…" April said slowly.

"We're best friends!" Irma snapped suddenly, fury was in her eyes a moment before looking down, "Sorry...I..."

"It's cool Mia." Mikey gave her a grin. "April knows you guys are real cool. No worries."

"Can ya just get to the fuc-"

"Raphael..." Raph's head turned to see the stern look from his dad" Language."

"Can ya get to the point?" He growled out each word before getting a kick to his leg and glaring at Leo.

"Can't you pretend to be a little sensitive?" his brother whispered to him before he sighed with his eyes turning from him. "What my brother is trying to say, Irma, is… will you please continue?"

"But April is right. If this is too much for you. Then questions can always wait." Splinter spoke softly.

"Oh...okay…" She averted her eyes from them as she continued. "After our fight, I skipped lunch. I went to the library. That's where I saw Ms. Campbell and she um…someone got behind me...they hit me with something. It... it stung my arm. Then it got dark..." Irma's hands started to shake while gasping for air.

"Mia?" Mikey looked alarmed and started moving his hands to her face but Irma's eyes were unfocused and wide with fear.

"I woke up in this place. It was cold. My clothes were gone, they put me in this white suit thing. I... I was ...my hands together…can't move...she looks like me. She looks just like me..." Irma started to shake more as her breathing went erratic.

"Irma wake up!" Mikey started screaming as he shook her by her shoulders.

"Mikey stop shaking her!" Don moved quickly over and Mikey frowned as he was pulled away from Irma then she started to scream once no longer attached to the orange turtle.

"No! Stop!" her fists and feet started moving, as she kicked and screamed.

"She's going to hurt herself more, I need a tranquilizer." Don moved his hands to her arms to pin her down.

"No, wait!" Mikey frowned as Raph got up and grabbed hold of Irma's legs so she'd stop kicking them.

"I'll get it" Leo jumped up and ran off for Don's lab.

"What's wrong with her?" April cried.

"Besides from her being nuts?"

Raph heard a smack and glanced to see Casey looking wide-eyed at April and he could see her hand coming down with fire in her eyes. Raph saw a red handprint right on Casey's face yet Casey still hadn't moved as he just stared at her.

"Don't you ever say that again." she said each word with conviction as Raph looked from April's lowered hand to Casey's face then back to the hand.

"Ya hit him!" Raph roared and April jumped.

"He deserved it! He called he-"

"I don't give a fuck what he did, ya don't ever hi-"

"Guys not now!" Don yelled but Raph was growling. Every bruise on Casey coming to mind from a different hand as he thought April's hand that just hit the other teen.

"Everyone calm down!"

Raph blinked before looking towards his father who came closer to Irma. "I think it's best you all stop holding her down like an animal. "

Don's mouth gaped. "But Master Splin-"

"You're just making her worst!" Mikey yelled and Raph looked over at his baby brother. "She only got this bad after you guys started doing that."

"Mikey. Dad. I'm just looking at this from a medical standpoint…"

"But sometimes science stuff isn't the answer, D…"

"And you think you have the answer, Mikey?" Don's voice had a slight bite to it and Raph knew why. It was bad enough when Don didn't think he could fix something but for someone else to say he couldn't, never went well.

"I dunno...I just have a feeling…" Mikey frowned.

"Mikey…"

"I think you should listen to Michelangelo. Sometimes all we have are feelings. And they prove us right." Splinter laid a hand on Don who sighed.

Don looked back at Raph and nodded at him as he let Irma go. Raph wasn't too sure about this plan but looked over at his dad then Mikey as he let her legs go. He looked to see Leo coming back into the room with some darts.

"What's going on?" Leo said slowly.

"Mikey has an idea…" April said quietly. The tension in the air was still thick as Mikey went closer to Irma.

If we all die. I'm blamin' Mikey...

Raph couldn't believe they were actually putting this in the hands of his baby brother. No one spoke or moved as he gathered the girl in his arms and started humming a song that sounded familiar to his ears.

"Isn't that…" Leo's mouth stayed opened and stared as Irma slowly stopped shaking.

"The lullaby I used to sing to the four of you" Splinter's voice held a fondness in it as Raph looked up to his father, his eyes on the scene with a gentle smile.

Mikey kept rocking and humming before slowly she relaxed. No longer clinging so tightly to him. Raph released the breath he didn't know he was holding.

"That worked?" Don stared at the scene with a perplexed look.

"Sorry..." Irma murmured with her face against Mikey's plastron. "...what did I say?"

Raph's eyes went to the cushions now on the floor. And then went to bruises now on Don's face that Irma gave to him as he shook his head. "Don't worry bout it, pretty sure we got the picture. Sides ya probably need a break," Raph mumbled and ignored the surprised looks coming his way.

"I agree. Michelangelo, how about you take Irma with you into the kitchen while the rest of us discuss what we have heard?"

Raph heard his dad's suggestion and though he didn't completely agree with it. He could tell they weren't getting much more out of her and Mikey seemed the only one she was responding to at the moment.

"Kay!" Mikey grinned as he picked up Irma carefully, "Don't worry, Mia. I never dropped a person before! Well, there was that one time with Spike..."

"What?" Raph's head snapped to his baby brother. "What time with Spike?"

"Uuuuh...nothing!" Mikey practically ran with the girl in his arms.

"Be careful with her, Mikey!" Leo yelled.

"Irma you're gonna love Ice Cream Kitty! And I even have this hidden stash of orange crush…," Mikey went inside the kitchen still talking.

"Is it a good idea to have them alone in the kitchen, Master Splinter? She seems to be dealing with a lot and Mikey is..." Leo gave a worried glance to the kitchen.

"Mikey." Raph finished.

"I would not worry." Their dad spoke in a calm tone.

"How ya know? Some ol' ninja trick?" Raph wondered.

"Yes. It's called a gut feeling," Master Splinter smirked, and Raph heard a snicker to his right. He snorted before elbowing Donnie right in his midsection and smirked at the slight groan.

"The night has been over for a long time, and it's now dawn. You all need your rest. Perhaps later we can figure out more answers but for now, we need a different solution to our problems. I recommend Mikey taking Irma to the medroom's bed and perhaps singing to her as you give her something to help her sleep, Donatello. Good night, everyone." Splinter said to them before making his way out the common area.

Raph rubbed a hand over his face, he felt exhausted. And not just physically.

"Any idea how Karai fits, Don?" Leo looked over at Don, only for the purple-masked turtle to shake his head.

"Not a clue." Don sighed.

"And ya supposed to be the smart one," Raph joked, hiding his confusion. A yawn came out of him and he rubbed at his eyes. This whole thing had been long and confusing. Karai was there as they saved the city, no scratch that, as they saved the whole damn world.

"All we do know is that teacher drugged her. They clearly did some stuff to her as well..." Don frowned.

"And they made the switch. I didn't even notice... I was just so glad we were talking again after fighting over something so stupid…"

"It's not your fault April" Don laid a hand on April's shoulder and April looked up at him with a smile. Raph took a glance at Casey noticing him now silent against the wall, further from everyone.

"It's no one's fault but, how are we going to get answers…" Leo started to pace. "Especially when we have the key to the answers. Or at least some of them. But said key is unavailable."

"And if ya'll ain't noticed she's jumpier than a rabbit." Raph snorted while moving to get up. His eyes went to the forgotten box on the floor with only Leo's name on it.

"Raph's right. We push her too much now she'll have another episode. And it could be much worse than the last one." Don explained. "I actually might have an idea what's wrong with her...but I'd need at least a month to be sure…"

"So, our choices are Jumpy or find Leo's girlfriend." Raph snorted.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Leo snapped and narrowed his eyes as Raph inched to the box.

"Are you guys talking about Karai?" April looked over in their direction.

"You know I could be nothing going on." Leo huffed.

"So, you're just holding on to that box too much because…" April drew out the last word with a small smirk.

"Who says I'm holding on to it. It could be empty" Leo barely shook the box and Raph just shook his head at how stupid it looked. "See empty. Nothing to see here."

"Um, yeah. Not buying it Leo" April snickered.

Raph started to roll his eyes at his older brother before they widened suddenly as he remembered something he promised to do. He rushed out the room ignoring the stares behind him.

"Raph?"

Raph paused mid-run, that voice that usually yelled as loud as he did was quieter. He turned to look back, seeing Casey move from the wall while ignoring everyone else still.

"Where ya goin?"

"I…" Raph went quiet. Their last talks that involved Mona or April didn't go well. Yet at the same time, he was tired of eggshells around Casey. Why should he bother caring about how Casey always seemed to get a pained look when he mentioned Mona.

The idiot went ahead and dated April without a thought to his little brother. And ever since he started dating her it annoyed him more than he cared to admit. He took a deep breath.

"Nothin," he said simply as he kept going. He ignored the dark eyes that narrowed at him, and the glances between him and Casey as he kept moving.

The moment he made it inside his room he took the device out his pouch and kicked the door closed. He dialed the familiar number while taking a seat on the bed, holding it in his hand while waiting for the thing to connect.

His eyes went to the clock after he yawned again. It had only been a few hours since Mona. Wait, nah. It's Y…something called. He really wished she'd have an easier name so this wouldn't be a stupid issue.

He drummed his fingers on the bed while looking at the whirling projections connection screen. He looked back at the clock, feeling frustrated as minutes passed and she still hadn't answer.

"Y'b...Y's...Yfrob?" he tried practicing and made a face at the rough sounding sounds coming out of him. "I wonder can their names translate…clearly nah" he thought of that device Mona had and how her name sounded worse in Salamandrian than English.

He glanced over at his alien pet turtle's tank with the letters spelling out Chompy Picasso at the top. Casey had got it for him after he refused to use the same tank he had for Spike, who was now Slash, the mutant turtle. He sighed at the memory, trying to push it away and concentrate on the call he was making.

He took another look at the clock while getting more comfortable on the bed before he noticed a lone drumstick. He picked it up and twirled it with his free hand while his mind wandered to Casey again. The red stood out on his pale cheek and infuriated him. He never wanted to hurt April so badly before.

He dropped the drumstick as his eyes went to the clock again. A whole hour had passed and the whirl of the connection screen hadn't stopped.

"Damn it, Mona! Answer!" He picked up the device, yelling at it. "Weren't you the one said call back! Weren't you the one said any day!" he kept yelling at it as he felt his temper grow worse before dropping it back on the bed with a frustrated grunt. He took deep breaths as his hands covered his face.

He remembered her slipping him the small device since neither knew when would be the next time that they would see each other.

"Or if ever again," he thought bitterly.

Raph had no intention of ever leaving Earth and Mona was a lieutenant with her own troops, so they agreed to try the device on what his planet called Mondays. It was an agreement for both of them and it excited him at the time that he had someone.

Lately, he wondered why he bothered. The first time had gone well, and the second did too. After those times, he realized what being a lieutenant meant and how much she'd be gone. Between the classified missions and sometimes just missing the other, it was a damn headache. Like now.

He rubbed his temples before getting off the bed, putting the device back in his pouch. Maybe she'd call back later or something. Or maybe she was just too busy for him. Always too busy for him. He could feel his spirits dropping more and he tried to push it down before more thoughts came.

"She loves me. And I care bout her, so it's all good," he told himself for what felt the millionth time since they'd began the relationship. He looked at the clock a moment before he remembered Casey's words. He wouldn't be able to sleep now that it hit his mind.

He got out of his room with the intention while thinking if anyone had an idea where to look or a book it'd be his purple masked little brother.

"Yo Donnie! Do we gotta book on newts?" he yelled.