A/N: Happy February! Is it just me, or did January just fly by? Speaking of flying by, this story has already breached its halfway point! I really hope you all are enjoying this. I PROMISE you, there is so much more to come. Again, thank you to all who have read, favorited, followed and reviewed. It means a lot.

CHAPTER 11- Hai Spy

Casey hadn't said anything during the 50 paces it took to travel from Irma's side kitchen door to the sparkling bakery. He stays a few paces behind April, wanting to stop her and say something, but can't. What Mona had previously said to him makes him wonder. What if there is something more to Donatello and April that he cannot already see? What if he is the one who is the clueless nerd? Getting the nerve to ask April his question may be pointless. But, Casey isn't that logical and is sure that April would never choose a mutant turtle over a human.

It's at this time that Casey remembers that April isn't all human herself and asking her his question seems that more pointless.

They walk in and the brass bell tinkles at their entrance. Casey watches April speak with the bubbly clerk on the other side of the display glass. April doesn't notice his silence until she turns around and asks him what Mona wants.

"What? Oh, she wanted brownies or something." Casey says.

"Was it brownies or not?" She giggles.

"Yeah, two big slices."

They pay at the counter and before Casey opens the shop door, April grabs his arm. "Hey, didn't you want to talk to me about something?" She asks.

Casey turns around and looks at her. "It's… nothing. Forget about it."

"Oh, no you don't." April pulls him over to a small, white set of a round table and chairs. Once seated, she continues. "Spill it, Jones!"

Casey sinks back into his chair and groans. Why is it so hard for him to say? "It's dumb, OK?"

"What's dumb?"

"Mona just… said some stuff that got me thinkin.'" Casey crosses his arms and looks away.

"Ha." April says. "She got to you too?"

"What do ya mean?"

April glances quickly at her hand on the table, her nails still polished in green and purple. "Let's just agree that Mona has a lot of opinions on things she knows little about."

"Exactly!" Casey yells. "Like, she was just tellin' me that I should buy flowers for Irma and BEG her to go to the school dance with me… as if!"

"Really?" April grins. "Where would she get an idea like that?"

"Beats me."

"I mean, you'd think she knew that you wouldn't be caught dead at a school dance."

"Well…" Casey rubs the back of his head. "I wouldn't say all that… if I get the right girl to go with me, I may be able to stand wearin' a tie for a few hours."

April looks at him strangely. "Are you saying you'd go if you had a date?"

Casey sighs. "I'm saying that I'd go… if you went with me."

April's eyes grow wide. It takes her a moment to answer him. "Casey, I…"

"Look, April…" He interrupts her. "I know things are crazy right now with the 'fighting to stay alive' stuff. And we've been back and forth to the Lair so much, I feel like we live there. It's cool that we don't have normal lives with normal friends. I wouldn't trade our friends for the world! But, it might be nice to do somethin' normal and corny for once, ya know? Do what regular high school kids do… and go to a spring dance. What do ya say?" He looks at her and holds out his hand across the table.

April blinks at him in surprise. Casey is being sincere and it's creeping her out. Still, what he says moves her. It would have been stranger if Casey had asked her about the spring dance without Mona stirring the conversation. April would have guessed that Mona would be more upset about missing the biggest event of the school year. But if the zany, mutant girl talked so casually about it with Casey, then April supposes that Mona is over it. The only confusing thing to April is the reason WHY Casey is asking her to be his date; it is what normal teenagers do.

Before April met the turtles, she was all alone. Normal kids ignored or bullied her. She found peace in doing well in her studies and being her father's personal lab assistant. She never felt normal. Perhaps her secluded upbringing and social rejection prepared her to accept the Turtles as they are. She grew fond of them immediately. From that point on, April could care less as to what others thought of her. People can be huge jerks, but at the end of the day, she knows she will be able to smile and laugh and be happy with the Turtles. So, she finds it strange that Casey is trying to offer her normalcy in the form of a spring dance, when her true family is anything but. To do something normal would be abnormal.

April looks down at her nails again. She can't help but consider; to do something as normal as go to a dance as Casey's date would be a cruel offense to the closest person in her life, of whom can never be normal.

Without wanting to go too deep into her reasoning, April replies. "I don't think so, Casey. I'm just not into that kind of stuff." She shrugs and stands up, holding the white bakery box. "Plus, I bet you don't even own a tie."

He notices her trying to end the conversation and make her way out the door, but he waves a hand at her, attempting to coax her to sit back down. "Hey, that's not the answer I was lookin' for. Did ya even think about it?"

"Yes, I thought about it, and it's the only answer I have." She grins. "Come on. Let's get these brownies back to Mona before she wigs out."

Casey stands and catches the door as she walks out of the bakery. The way she's being so light-hearted and ignoring his grown-up, serious tone is ticking him off. He catches up to her before they pass the tall hedges in front of Irma's house. "Wait a second! I'm not finished! Tell me why you won't go with me? It's just a stupid dance!"

April turns around to face him, trying to keep her cheerful façade. "Gee, Case, if it's just a stupid dance, then why are you practically begging me to go?"

"Because, it'll be fun! I'd show you a good time. We'd dance and drink punch and hang out. AND I DO own a tie!"

April tilts her head to the side. "If you want to have a dance party, why don't we set one up at the Liar? The guys would like it, Mona would LOVE it, and it would be a good way to introduce Irma."

"Sure, we can do that later! But that's not what I'm askin' ya now. I want to go with YOU and just YOU. I want it to just be us. I want it to be a date, a real one. Why…" He stops and looks at her hands that clutch the white box that she holds. He finally notices her manicure. He looks at her suspiciously. "If you don't wanna go with me… who would ya wanna go with?"

April huffs and looks away from him as if he's being childish. She's slowly loosing her cool. "I couldn't go with anyone."

Casey steps closer to her and lowers his voice. He runs a hand over hers, gently sliding over her olive and grape-colored nails. "I didn't ask ya who ya COULD'NT go with…"

April frowns at Casey. If her trying to reflect the issue is so obvious, why is it not obvious to Casey that she just wants to stay neutral? It's key to their friendships and their survival. "Casey, going to the dance with you is not a good idea."

"Why? Is it because you don't want to be seen with me, or is it because you can't be seen with HIM?"

"I... I can't believe you're doing this now! You're asking me to do something that HE can never do! It's like you're trying to score some imaginary points over him! Well, I'm not playing any games! I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings! You are both my friends, and he's your friend too. What you're asking… wouldn't be fair."

"That's a dumb excuse. You didn't say no when he asked you ta go flying in his helicopter! You don't say no when he asks you to help in his lab, and you were beggin' HIM to help you study when you're supposed to be MY tutor! I ask you to do one little thing and you straight-up dis me!"

April wanst to be more angry, but that would give too much away of how she's really feeling. Going to the dance would not be a little thing to Donatello. April relaxes her shoulders, rolls her eyes and smirks. "I'm trying to find a better reason for you to be acting like this, but all I can come up with is that… you're jealous."

"I'm not JEALOUS! Why can't you admit that you like spending time with him more than you do me?"

April shakes her head. "That's not true…"

"Yeah, it is. Why th'heck you agree to an 8am study session on a Saturday with him?"

"It was the only time he was available this week." She says simply.

"What about me? Saturday is my holy day, my sacred weekend time! But, you don't seem to care about that! You stopped coming to the ice rink with me, stopped going to the pizza parlor! Then as soon as we get to the Lair, you're all like 'What's up Donnie-boy? Whatcha workin' on, Donnie? Can I help you in the lab, Donnie? Can you help me with my Algebra homework, Donnie? Can I wax your shell, Donnie-Wonnie?'"

April levels his eyes at him. "You're being ridiculous."

"It's the truth! You can't wait 'til you get around him and you both fly off into your nerdy world."

April rightfully ignores his mockery. "I stopped going to ice rink because I started taking pre-college classes on those evenings. And eating pizza every week is unhealthy! You and I are together everyday at school. I see you six days a week. That's how much you and I hang out. We cut up during class. We eat lunch together everyday. We walk home together. We ALWAYS walk together to and from the Lair. If anything, I spend most of my waking moments with you. Doesn't that mean anything to you?"

Casey opens his mouth to bark at her, but snaps it shut again. He deflates a bit and folds his arms. "Yeah, it means a lot to me… that's why I wanted to go to the dance with ya. I thought dressin' up and doin' somethin' different would be fun… we'd have a blast."

"I always have a blast with you, Casey." April smiles. "But, the spring dance is out of the question. I'm sure you understand why I don't want to do something that makes our 'other' friends feel left out."

He looks at her and sighs at her resolute stature. He tried. He knows that she's being honest, but she's not being totally honest. And he's sure she's not going to tell him everything right now. Casey places a hand on her shoulder. He bores his eyes into hers. He doesn't want this moment to be forgotten. He wants her to remember the choice that she made today, and why she made it. He wants to caution her that she'll have to make another choice in the future as well. "Life isn't fair, Red." Then he says something truthful, but unfortunately, revealing. It surprises them both. "You are going to have to break someone's heart someday. And you are going to have to live with that decision."

April stares at him silently. Casey gets the last word and he takes the box of sweets from her hands and walks back to the house. April follows him from a distance, feeling the weight of his final words of the matter on her shoulders. She wouldn't have felt so heavy if she already knew what her choice would be.

Mona sits at Irma's desk, brushing her hair. "53,54,55,56…"

Irma sits on her bed, looking up from her book at Mona. Is she seriously counting her brushstrokes? Is she really that type of person? "So, what are you going to do when you see Raphael tonight?" Irma asks Mona.

Mona stops her brushing and looks over at Irma. "What do you mean tonight?"

Irma shrugs. "Sorry, you can't stay here. It's not that I mind, but I don't live alone. My Mom would blow a fuse if she saw you here. Camouflage or not, it's too risky. So, you and April and Casey, and I are going back to this secret Turtle Lair tonight."

"But, Irma!" Mona puts the brush down. "I can't go back yet! I just ran away this morning! Raph hasn't had enough time to feel stupid! The next time he sees me, I want him to grovel! I want him to beg for my forgiveness!"

"What in the world did he do?"

"He… said some very mean and disturbing things to me."

"Like what?"

"He said that I'm ruining his life and he can't wait to get rid of me, and that I get in his way."

Irma shrugs. "I used to think of you like that all the time at school. Why is it bothering you now that someone FINALLY says it to your face?"

"I don't know… Maybe it's because… I never needed anyone else other than my parents before. They threw me out like garbage. Now, another person I need to depend on doesn't want me around… I guess it hurts." She feels the weeping coming on again, but decides to get mad instead. "He really, really gets on my nerves!"

"Sounds like my kind of guy." Irma looks back at her book.

"Come on, Irma!"

"I'm sorry!" Irma smiles at her. "I can't help it if I find it amusing that there is someone in the world who is more annoying than you. I feel bad that all of this happened to you, I do. But you can't ignore the irony."

"It is ironic!" Mona stomps her foot. "I was a bully, now I HAVE a bully! I always got the last word in an argument, and now Raph can't keep his trap shut! He's a meanie!"

"Can't wait to meet him." Irma says.

"Oh, don't you worry. When you do, you'll see what I've been talking about! He can act as cool as he wants, but I know he's just… RUDE!"

Irma sets her book aside and peers at the lizard girl as she pouts up storm. Irma tests the waters. "I think this has nothing to do with what was said and ALL to do with who said it."

Mona looks at Irma. "Come again?"

"You like Raphael. In fact, you really like him. I suspect when you two are in a room together, it's like fireworks. There is so much energy and tension between you two that if one of you doesn't leave, there would be a massive explosion! I bet there were times when he walked into a room, sees you, and then walks right back out. I bet you've done the same thing."

Mona can't argue with that. It has happened.

Irma taps her chin. "I bet he never has anything positive to say to you or about you. I bet you two loose sleep thinking menacing things about each other. My theory, however, can only be valid if Raphael likes you too... and I think he does."

Mona shuts her eyes. "You couldn't be more wrong."

Irma raises an eyebrow at her.

"You're right about me though!" Mona says. "I do like him… I want to like him, but I don't think it would do any good."

"What do you like about him?"

"Before I answer that question… why do you not find it icky that I think a mutant turtle is dateable?"

Irma holds up her book. "I'm reading a mystery-thriller about a half-girl half-witch, who falls in love with a were-wolf detective… I can't really judge you."

Mona smiles as she thinks of Raphael. "There's just something about it him… Besides the fact that I think his grumpy face is adorable and has muscle-y arms that could probably lift a truck... I like that he's volatile. I like that he's gritty and quick-witted, and smarmy, just not with me. I just wish he'd let me appreciated those things instead of be inflicted by them. And I know that there's a soft side to him, if only he'd let me see it… As much as I don't want to believe it, I know that Raph can't stand me."

"He sounds like a big baby." Irma flips through her pages. "A little boy who doesn't know how to share his feelings; the type that teases the girl he likes and pulls on their ponytails."

Mona gasps at Irma's words. She remembers… all of the teasing, how Raphael could never give her a straight response, how he eggs her on, and how he pulled on her ponytail that one time during Turtle Tag. Maybe…

Mona's face turns red when she sees Irma's big smile. "No, no no! It's not true. It couldn't be. But if it is…"

"So, if you turn everything around that Raphael said to you, that made you want to run away, I bet you he wanted you to stay and see that he does care about you. We being female, being the superior sex, have to do all the thinking and catch all the clues. Raphael may have said some mean things, but you have to figure out why he said them. I bet that Raphael is very sorry for the things he said and how he made you feel. I bet he can't wait to have you back home."

"Huh, that's a new way of thinking about it." Mona says.

"It makes sense to me, and I've never met the guy." Irma lies back on her bed and opens her book again. "Guys, are so easy to read. They usually say the opposite of what they're feeling so they don't look weak. That's what this werewolf detective guy in my book is like."

Mona spins in her chair a few times thinking. "Do you know what Casey is thinking?"

Irma grimly looks over at Mona. "Sadly, I think I do."

"You should give him a chance, Irma. If April should with Donnie and I should with Raph, give Casey a shot too."

Irma sits up so quickly, she almost drops her book to the floor. "April with Donnie? She… SHE DIDN'T TELL ME THAT!"

"Oh, boy… Sorry, Irma. Excuse my big mouth! Nothing is going on yet, I swear! It's just my wishful thinking!"

Irma stares at Mona having a giggle fit. She shakes her head. "This is the weirdest day of my life."

Mona nods her head at her words. She spins around in the swivel chair once more, thinking that in just a few more hours, she'll be going back to the Lair. What will happen once she walks through the turnstiles and looks at Raphael again? Will there be fear, anger, or resentment? Will he still have that calloused expression, or will he let her in? Either way, Irma is right. Mona has to go back. She owes her friends an apology for making them worry. The Lair is her home and its residents are her family. For now, she will keep guarded, yet optimistic, about Raphael. "So, Irma, are you excited to meet the guys?"

"They are mutant turtles that know ninjitsu, right?"

"Yep."

"I am totally excited!"

The stranger in the shadows has not left their post, keeping a trained eye on the tall, yellow house, where inside, four teens enjoy their lazy Saturday. April, Mona and Irma eat their sweets from the bakery. Mona, in her glorious, sugar high, starts painting toenails and Casey excuses himself to the den to watch some hockey on the only TV in the house. Later, Irma hobbles down the steps, not wanting to mess up her new pedicure. She goes to the den to check up on Casey. He gives her a gapped smile and thumbs up as the sports channel flickers on the screen. He looks down at the black paint on her toes. The big toes are decorated with a white skull with red eyes. He thinks they're awesome, but doesn't say it.

Irma asks Casey if he wants to help her make pizza. He jumps at the opportunity, but is quickly disappointed when Irma pulls out the ingredients; broccoli, artichokes, pears, basil, olive oil, and fresh goat cheese. He helps her make the disgusting pizza anyway and they bring up the wholegrain-crusted pies to Irma's room, where they find Mona and April singing and dancing to loudly to pop music. When the chorus comes in, Mona lets her hair down. She and April face each other, singing into their hairbrushes. April sees Casey gawking at her and she calms down quickly. But, Mona keeps on performing. They all applaud her once the song is over. They sit in a circle on the black area rug and cut into the pizza. Casey eats four slices and Irma gives him an 'I told you so' face.

Into the late afternoon, they finish another round of Crazy Eights. Indie Rock plays softly in the background. Irma passes around more hot, herbal tea and kale chips. Mona, sick of loosing another hand, leaves the circle and decides to take another nap, falling asleep at the foot of Irma's bed. Casey plops on the beanbag in the corner and pulls the lid of his cap over his eyes.

Irma yawns and turns to April. "I think they have the right idea. You can take the other side of my bed and I'll take the floor pillow."

April is about to speak as her phone buzzes. It's Donatello. "You go ahead and rest on your bed, Irma. I'm going to take this." April quietly leaves the bedroom and trots downstairs. She answers her phone as she sits on a stool at the kitchen counter. "Hey, Donnie." She says with a smile.

"Hiya, April! Just checking on you guys to see if everything is OK." Donnie says.

"Everything is fine. Mona is in a good mood. Irma is surprisingly taking the news well about me having mutant friends. Casey is being Casey."

"Oh, is he?"

She giggles. "Yeah… How's Raph?"

There is a pause. "He got Splintered."

"Yikes." April hisses. "I bet he did. Do you know how bad it was?"

"We don't know. A few hours had gone by without any sign of Raph."

"A few hours!" April gasps. She remembers getting Splintered, having to hold one bucket of water over her head for just one hour. She couldn't lift her arms to do her hair for a week. The turtles have to hold two buckets of water. Raphael must be worn out.

"When he came out, he looked very tired. He went straight to his room without a sound." Donnie says.

April almost feels bad for Raphael, but remembers how much worse Mona must have felt from his words. "He probably deserved ever drop of water in those buckets."

"Maybe…" Donnie says. "Will you be bringing Mona back tonight? Does she even want to come back?"

"Yes, and yes. Somehow, Irma talked her into it. We'll be leaving Irma's house as soon as it's night."

"Great. I'll be waiting for you… I mean! WE'LL be here waiting for your safe return! Heh…"

April just remembers something. "Speaking of returning, I need to ask you a big favor…"

"If it's about Irma, Splinter already agreed to meet her."

"Wow, really?"

"Yeah, it's OK for her to come down."

"Thanks, I thought Splinter would have been more angry."

"Me too. Maybe he took out all of his anger on Raph earlier. When Splinter came out of his room, he seemed very calm."

"Whatever he did to Raph must have been horribly satisfying." April shakes her head.

Donnie chuckles. "I just hope things change for the better between Raph and Mona."

"Me too, and the sooner we get her back to the Lair, the better. It seems like Mona causes trouble wherever she goes."

"What do you mean? I thought everything was OK there. What has she done now?" Donnie asks with concern.

April giggles. "Don't worry. It's nothing too crazy. Mona is just…flighty. Our school's spring dance is next week. Mona was the head of the planning committee before all of this happened. I think she's trying to ease her pain of not being able to go by forcing Casey to ask Irma."

"I… how does that even make sense?"

"It doesn't. I'm not sure about Irma, but I was surprised when Casey said he wouldn't mind going to the dance."

"Oh… so is he going to ask Irma?" Donnie asks her with all of the hope in the world.

April hesitates. "No… I don't think he is." Shoot! Now, I've said too much. Hopefully, he won't catch onto anything I HAVEN"T said. BUT HE WILL! He's too smart! The turtle is too smart!

"…Did he ask you?"

And why shouldn't I tell him the truth? I have nothing to hide! "He did."

There was a long pause. Donnie waits for April to share the result of Casey's question, and April is hitting her head repeatedly on the counter.

"Oh… OK." Donnie finally says.

April lifts her head from the counter. "That's it? You're not going to ask me if I said yes or no?"

"I figure… I'd find out sooner or later."

Oh, Donnie! Why do you have to be such the underdog? "Do you think that I'm the kind to want to put on a frilly dress and wobbly heels and mingle with people that I don't like to be around and dance to songs I don't listen to, just so I can hope to be as popular as Mona once was?"

Donatello's jaw drops at her cynical response. "Well, I guess when you put it like that..."

"The school dance was something special to Mona, not me."

"I take it that you said no to Casey. Is this why you turned Casey down when he asked you to go to the dance with him, because you don't like the other students or the music they'll play?"

She sighs. "No, those aren't the only reasons."

"Then, what else?" He bites his lip. He catches himself at the edge of his own stool, waiting to hear what she may say next.

She slaps her cell to the side of her face and looks up at the ceiling. "Those kids at school aren't my friends. They don't know me, and they don't go through all of the crazy things I go through… Besides Casey and Irma, if I wanted to celebrate with anyone, it would be with you, all of you."

Donatello smiles and nods. "I see… have you ever been to a school dance?"

"Once, in junior high. I stood by the punch bowl the whole time. I was left alone when the group of girls came with went to dance with their boyfriends. It was just awkward for me. The others seemed to have a great time."

"What happens at school dances?" He asks.

"There are dance contests, and a DJ and junk food and dorky ties and colorful dresses, and lights. The most popular boy and girl get crowned king and queen of the ball… I guess it's not all bad."

Donatello listens to April's words, but in the back of his mind, angry thoughts brew. Darn that Casey, trying to 'one-up' me! I'm glad April said no, even if she was thinking of me and my brothers and not just me. I can ask her too, even though I already know the answer. "Well, if it makes any difference, April, if I could go to the Spring Dance, I would have ask you too." His face goes red. "I mean, you know, then we could all go, and have tons of fun." He smiles a big toothy smile and though she can't see it over the phone, she knows it's there.

She can't help it. She shouldn't say it, but lately she's been allowing herself to be careless around him. "I would have said yes."

"R-really?" He asks breathlessly.

"I know we would have had a wonderful time… I'm gonna take a quick nap before heading out. I'll text you when we're close."

"OK… Sweet dreams, April."

"Goodbye." April slips her phone in her back pocket and heads up to Irma's bedroom. She wallows over the floor pillow and does dream sweetly.

Donatello hangs up and pulls out his trusty, purple pen and a fresh pad of paper. His mind is spinning with new thoughts and ideas. He will make this happen and it will be epic!

Under the cover of night, Irma nervously pulls at the strings of her gray hoodie as she walks beside a bundled up Mona. They follow closely behind April and Casey, being led through the dark, dingy backstreets of New York. A rat knocks passed a trashcan and skitters across their path and Irma gasps. It makes her think of the larger, mutant, rat father she is soon to meet. "Are you guys sure that going this way is safe?" Irma asks.

"We do this all the time." Casey says.

"Plus, we can't take the main streets with Mona." April says.

Mona stays quiet, pulling on her own hoodie strings. Her stomach won't stop flip-flopping with every step closer she takes towards Raphael.

"It's still eerie back here. How long will it take to get to this secret Lair?" Irma asks.

"It's going to take another 30 minutes. Your house isn't that far from the Lair, but we need to get a safe distance away before we go down into the sewers." April says.

"The sewers? Safe from what?"

April and Casey come to a corner and check the area before going forward. "We got awesome, secret friends, makes sense we got secret enemies too." Casey says.

"Enemies?" Irma squeaks.

Suddenly, something small and shiny whizzes past Mona's head. Mona stops and looks over at a ninja star sticking into the brick wall. She shoots her sight up and behind her and sees a gang of those dark-hooded ninjas looking down on her from the building's roof. The scary girl in the metal armor stands before them as well.

"Karai…" Mona whispers.

"Yeah, Karai is one of our more crazier enemies." Casey says.

"No, It's Karai!" Mona screams.

April turns back and sees Karai and her horde of Foot Bots. "Run!"

April and Casey allow Irma and Mona to dash past them. April unfolds her bladed fan and Casey wields a hockey stick, taking up the rear.

The four teens sprint through the tight corridors, not knowing where they're heading, desperately trying to gain distance from those red-eyed mechanical monsters and the dangerous ninja girl controlling them.

"Stop them!" Karai yells.

Irma and Mona come to a split in the path. Two Foot Bots jump down on them. Mona darts left and Irma dodges right. April pounces on one bot and makes a clean slice though the wires in its neck. It falls to the ground with a clunk. Casey ducks and dodges the punches of the other bot. April joins him and takes down the robot with a few good hits. The bot twitches and Casey stomps his chucks hard on its head.

"I'm going to catch up with Mona, you go find Irma!" April runs to the left.

"Got it!" Casey hurries down the path to the right and slams into a frenzied Irma.

"We can't go that way!" Irma screams.

Casey looks behind her and sees over a dozen Foot Bots closing in. Casey grabs her hand and drags her back where he split with April.

"What are those things?" Irma pants, trying her best to keep up with Casey.

"Foot soldiers! Evil ninja robots!" He calls back to her.

"That's insane!"

"Just hope you never meet the alien brains!"

"The WHAT?"

Casey races around a corner and finds April and Mona at a dead end blocked by a chain link fence.

"What are you waitin' for? Jump the fence!" Casey yells at April.

"We were waiting for you!" April yells back.

Casey gives a leg up to the girls, one by one. April flips and lands expertly on the other side. Mona hops over and April helps her to land.

April and Mona stand ready to catch Irma. That is when the four teens hear the metal clang and electronic chirp of the ninja robots behind them. Casey pushes Irma over the fence with all of his might.

"Ah!" Irma yelps and she lands in April and Mona's arms.

Casey is ready to defend himself with two cricket bats. "C'mon you metal monsters!"

The Foot bots storm towards him at an alarming rate.

"Casey!" April screams.

The bots knock Casey to the ground, out cold. One bot holds Casey by the leg. The rest scale the alley walls, pour over the fence, and capture the girls. April tries to fight back, but there are just too many and she can't fight and protect her friends at the same time.

With the girls restrained, Karai appears before them. She removes her metal mask as she approaches April. "Good evening, my red-headed friend."

"What do you think you're doing, Karai? Let us go!"

"Oh, I can't do that." Karai smiles devilishly. "After your pet lizard made it so easy for my spy to follow her, all we had to do was wait until you were out in the open. She's made it so easy for us. My plan should work out nicely."

"What do you plan on doing with us?" April spits at her. She is somewhat fearful, but she has to stay strong, for Mona and Irma's sake.

Karai pats April on her cheek. "You'll find out soon enough." She turns and walks down the alley, leading her robots. "Let's taken them back to my hideout quickly."

The Foot Bots tie the girls' arms and legs. Mona looks at the frightened expression on Irma's face as a black hood goes over her head. Mona looks over at April. "I'm so sorry I got us into this." She whispers as a black hood goes over her own head.

"Don't worry, Mona. We'll get out of this." April's vision is swiftly blocked by a hood.

The ninja robots hoist the girls onto their shoulders and follow Karai through the alley.

Casey's eyes pop open as he comes to. He realizes he's being dragged by a one of the horrid Foot Bots. He looks around quickly before making his move. He charges his Shock Mitt and electrifies the robot to ruin. Casey scrambles to his feet and runs for all he's worth in the opposite direction.

Karai sees him escape and decides to let him go, all the better for her plan to work out faster.

Casey finds the nearest sewer drain and slips down inside. He looks through all of his pockets for his T-phone and when he finds it, sees that it had been crushed during the fight. Great, just more wasted time in trying to get back his friends!

...

It seems to take forever for Casey to make it back to the Lair. He startles Michelangelo and Raphael watching TV as he almost falls over the turnstile. He lands on his hands and knees, gasping for air. Mike and Raph are quickly at his side.

"Casey! what's wrong?" Raph helps his human friend onto his feet."

"April... they got... taken... the girls... Karai..." Casey tries to catch his breath.

Leonardo and Donatello apprear from the hallway. "Hey, guys. What's going on?" Leo asks.

"Where's April?" Donatello starts.

Casey looks up at his frineds. He swallows hard. "Karai and her Foot Bots attacked us. She kidnapped the girls."

"Oh snap!" Mikey yells.

Donatello marches up to Casey. "What do you mean 'kidnapped'?"

"Just like I said. Those robots jumped up us and took April, Irma and Mona away."

Mona... Raphael quietly mouths her her name. He'd spent the entire day coming up with the perfect apology speech. Now, there is a cavernous hole in his chest at the thought of never being able to tell her. He can't let that happen. he can't let the last words he said to her be full of contempt and lies! He has GOT to save her!

Donatello begins to fume. "How were YOU able to get away!? Why did you just LEAVE them!?"

Casey pushes back on him. "There were like twenty of them! I'm a great fighter, but I ain't UltraMan! They knocked me out, but I was able to get away. I came here cause I need your help to get OUR friends back! Now, are ya gonna track April's T-phone so we can save them, or do ya wanna rumble with me right now?"

Donatello seethes, almost tempted to take Casey up on his offer to knock his block off.

But Leonardo steps in, pulling his brother away. "Casey is right. We don't have much time. Donnie, pull up April's tracking device. The rest of us will suit up and meet in the garage. We're going to need the T-copter again if we're to get everyone out and away fast."

Donatello huffs, still angry that April has been taken. He's more upset that he wasn't there to protect her. He turns to run to his lab when Leonardo's phone begins to buzz.

Leo looks at his screen. "It's April!"

...

A/N: Cowabunga! So, what do you think? If I'm telling it correctly, you should be able to recognize that this story is happening before the Invasion and farm house and Karai becoming snake-ti-fied LOL. I'm wanting it to all tie together with the show. Hope you're entertained, because I'm having a ball! :) The next chapter is SOON TO COME!