"Oh, shell!" Donatello cried. He desperately waved his arms at the smoke coming from the oven. "I thought you guys said you were watching it?!" He looked

disapprovingly at Sam and Pete. Sam was backing away from the smell, covering his nose, while Pete kept his distance at the doorway.

"I thought you told Emily that you would watch it!" Pete argued, but coughed as the smoke reached him.

Don didn't answer. He was too busy looking for the oven mitts. He paced the kitchen frantically.

"Uhh, Don?" Sam asked. He was dangling the oven mitts, "They were on the dining table. Here, I'll get it." Sam opened up the oven and took out the black

pizza.

Don sighed, and sat at the dining table. His hands were cradling his head as if he were exhausted.

Sam put the burnt pizza in the garbage bin, and put the oven mitts in a drawer. "You okay Donnie?" He asked.

"Define okay." Don replied as Sam joined him at the table.

"Well, that ain't optimistic." Pete muttered as he leaned on the counter.

"Yeah, tell me about it." Waving his arms towards the ceiling, he said, "This whole house has been on the verge of breaking for months now."

"It's okay, Don," Sam placed a hand on the turtle's shoulder, "You guys got a good thing goin' here. Right Pete?"

"Uhh-uh, whoa!" Pete had been playing with a pot, which he just nearly dropped. Straightening up, he said, "Yeah! Ahem. I mean, you got a good dad, and

your brothers care. And, stuff."

"Don't forget Emily!" Sam rolled his eyes at him, "And quit bein' a jerk!" He snapped.

"Yeah, her too." Pete nodded, ignoring the jerk comment. He glanced at the doorway, "I gotta use the bathroom. Uhm, I'll be back." He left the room.

Sam turned back to Don and smiled, "Like I was saying, you and your family can pull through this. You're strong."

Don grinned back, but his smile faded as he said, "Please... Don't tell Emily, but I've been researching heavily on the mutagen that was used on her. It is a lot

similar to the Utrom's mutagen, but it was altered somehow. I've been trying to figure it out, and I feel like I should at least try... Did I tell you before? There

were Nano bots in her bloodstream and I couldn't detect them, who knows what else he put inside her?" He shuddered involuntarily, suddenly uneasy. "It was

all my fault... Watching a family member have no control... It's a nightmare..." Don fell silent, but he looked relieved to have gotten that off his chest.

Sam took a moment, then said, "Yeah okay, you do realize I have no idea what you're talking about...? But anyways, I won't tell her, I promise. Y'know, it

seemed to me like she really wanted to talk to all of you guys, but she was afraid to interrupt."

Don looked surprised, "Really? How could you tell?"

Sam stroked his chin thoughtfully, "I donno, I've gotten really good at reading people... I have to be, being Pete's friend! Emily just... Wants her family back,

but doesn't want to be selfish, and she doesn't want to hurt anyone. She's really careful and quiet around you guys, have you noticed? But you guys are

boys! She feels different, and you guys maybe don't know how to be good brothers to a sister. You know what I mean?"

"Wow," Donnie said, "Yeah, I think I do understand, actually. You really are good at reading people!"

Sam smiled, "Thanks."

Pete suddenly coughed. Both Sam and Donnie looked at him. He was standing in the kitchen doorway, with an arm wrapped around his belly. Something was

terribly wrong. Don realized with horror that Peter had coughed up blood, and it was trickling slowly down his chin.

"Ruunn..." Pete choked as he slowly fell to his knees.

Donnie realized too late that there was a man standing behind Peter, gun trained on Sam. Don immediately tried thrusting himself between them, to protect

the boy, but Sam pushed Don away before he could do anything. Then a shot rang throughout the Lair.

...

...

"MIKEY!" Leo screamed. A thug with a gun had just shot his little brother.

Mikey clutched at his right side, the bullet had penetrated the shell, and blood began pouring from the wound. Leo gave a war cry, and thrust himself at the

guy with the gun. Without hesitation, Leo sliced off the hand that was holding the weapon.

"ARGHHH!" The thug screamed as he fell on the concrete. The other Purple Dragons had frozen in place.

"LEAVE. NOW!" Leo did not have to repeat himself. The thugs helped their one-handed man to his feet.

One of them stopped to look at Leo and said, "Look, I'm just a new recruit... They made me join them, so I wanted to let you know that they got your red

buddy over on Wall Street. In a science lab. Give 'em hell, kay?" He sprinted away without another word.

Breathing heavily, Leo wanted to go after the rest of them and tear them apart, but Mikey called out softly to him.

"Leo..." He cried weakly. He was stooped over in pain, now putting pressure on the wound. "Does it look- does it look bad?"

Leo sheathed his katanas and rushed towards him, immediately supporting Mikey's weight. The blood was all down Mikey's right side, making a pool on the

concrete. Leo nearly choked on the lump that was forming in his throat. "No, Mikey!" He spoke softly, as if afraid that even a loud noise would harm his little

brother. "We'll get you home and Donnie will patch you right up, okay? Just let me call home." With one hand, Leo pulled out his shell cell and dialed home.

There were several rings before Don answered, "Hello?"

"Donnie, we don't have much time! Mikey's been shot! We need to get home. NOW.

"L-Leo, okay! I'll try to get there as fast as I can!" Don sounded shaken, and he was speaking swiftly. "Sam was shot by some guy in a black suit! Some

Purple Dragons got in here too, and they stabbed Pete! The man in the suit was aiming for Sam's chest, but Sensei managed to move the pistol in the nick of

time! They're unconscious now, and I'm getting Master to-"

"Okay, okay!" Leo interrupted him, "Calm down, Donnie! Can you get the Battle Shell over here? And where's Emily?"

A moment's pause, "Alright Leo! And Emily went for a walk, like, an hour ago. I think she might've went looking for Raph! I'll be there soon."

Leo quickly hung up and put the phone away. He cursed under his breath.

"Leo..." Mikey croaked.

"Yeah?" He answered.

"You should... Go l-look for Em..." Mikey's breathing was raspy. Leo took this opportunity to better examine the wound.

"No way Mikey," Leo shook his head, "Look, the bullet must've got the top of your lung... You could pass out while you wait for Don to get here!"

"No problemo dude, this is nothing." The orange-masked turtle pushed himself away from Leo. "You've gotta go take care of Raph and Em." He paused, "And

besides, April is upstairs!"

Leo stopped immediately. "Oh," He said while he looked at the shop window, "I can't believe we forgot that in all the confusion!"

...