Author's Note: Hello, everybody! Welcome back to TMNT 2k14! I'm so happy hat you guys are enjoying the story and are always waiting for the next chapter each time. 150 reviews! You guys are awesome, and I want to thank you all for those who took the time to review it and follow/favorite it. I also want to make a special shoutout to following people: ciarabrightblade, Mindy1981, SuperHERO382, Fantasytraveler and TMNTKunoich - you guys are freaking awesome and I can't thank you enough! I dedicate this chapter for you guys!

Disclaimer: I do not own anything of TMNT. All rights go to their creators. I only own my OCs.

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Vern couldn't believe what he was hearing - both he and April were to stay below, in a sewer, with four over six foot tall talking turtles, and four girls who were trying to get over from being sick and wearing clothes that didn't cover them completely? What the damn hell was going on here? These girls were missing twice within a month and a half time span, and yet, they were down here in a damp sewer home with four giant turtle freaks? This was once seriously fucked up situation, and he had no idea how to wrap his head around this one. Being a cameraman for quite a while, he had seen many things that were gritty and weird, but this one took the cake in his book.

"Wait, what? You can't be serious about this, right?" April asked as she looked at Lauren incredulously, wondering if she heard exactly what was said earlier.

"You heard us. You two are staying down here until we work this mess out." Lauren said defiantly as she stood her ground against the two adults. There was no way she was going to let either one of them out of her knowing that the turtles were their secret; she would rather slice the camera and phone with her katana than let any proof of the turtles' existence be brought to light.

"W-what?! I don't believe this! You expect us to stay down here?! In a sewer, with four giant fr-" Vern exasperated as he looked between the girls and the four turtle brothers, ready to say the "F" bomb before Rachel shot over to the camera man, and held a sai against his throat with a deathly glare in her eyes.

"RACHEL!" Lauren yelled as she watched her sister move at Vern with a deadly stealth that assassins used. She had never seen Rachel this upset before, and it scared her to no end.

"VERN!" April yelled as she tried to come to his aid, only to be held back by Eri, who shook her head no and let the scene before them take its course.

"Let me explain something to you, old man. First of all, you're not going to be using that word down here anymore, got it? Second, you have no idea what the hell we've been through for the last month and a half, so you don't get to come down here and order us around like little school kids anymore! These brothers are the reason why we're still alive, and I'm not going to stand here and let you talk shit about them, when all they've done is help us and treat us like equals. Especially Raphael! You so much as say one wrong word down here, and I'll slice your fucking throat! Got it?!" Rachel threatened, her voice hoarse and going higher in volume while pressing the steel of her sai closer to Vern's throat, ready to strike and slice it open. How dare he call them freaks, let alone her Raphael?! She breathed harshly while glaring at the man in front of her, watching his Adam's apple bob up and down before he raised his hands up in surrender, fear in his eyes.

Raphael had never seen Rachel like this, and it shocked him to the core that she would go out of her way to protect his identity as well as his brothers' identities. Never had someone risked their neck for him, let alone a female, and yet here she was, her weapon ready to slit the throat of someone she considered a friend because he called them freaks. It melted his stoned heart, and made him realize just how much more she meant to him, even if he wouldn't allow anyone else to know that fact. He walked over to her, and laid his large hand on her shoulder gently, pulling her out of her deadly reverie with the human man. Rachel looked up at Raphael, her green eyes staring at him with unshed tears; her cheeks still had a little blush to them, her skin a little warm from the fever, but overall, she was a daring beauty that he wouldn't trade.

"Hey, hey. Come on, Rachel, don't be like that. I'm used to being called that." Raphael soothed her quietly, as he tried to calm her with his voice.

"B-But he -"

"It doesn't make it right for you to threaten him because of a single word. It's just a word, and I'm used to it. Now come on, let go of the sai." Raphael said wisely, which was very rare for him to say anything wise at all.

Rachel stared up at Raphael, whose golden pools calmed her down almost immediately. She never heard him talk like this, and it shocked her just as much as everyone else in the room. She gazed into those amber orbs, losing herself in their warming gaze he held for her and her alone. She vaguely felt him pull her away from Vern, and gently took hold of the hand with the sai. Her fingers felt like jello, and she let go of her prized weapon, which was held carefully in Raph's hand. Her eyes held unshed tears, her body shaking almost violently that she needed to release her repressed anger before it consumed her completely. She bit her lip hard, and shoved at him before briskly walking away from the den and into the workout room not far from the dojo. Raphael sighed heavily, knowing that he needed to keep her calm before she blew like a volcano. He knew what it was like to be angry all the time, and he would get upset over the stupidest things, but he also knew that Rachel was his and needed to tend to her quickly. He glanced down at her weapon, then glared at Vern, who quickly backed away from the large turtle, and walked away from everyone into the workout room, hoping he could talk to Rachel.

Lauren looked on in amazement, not knowing what to say or do in this matter. She looked to Leonardo, who looked after Raphael then back at her, his bright blue eyes roaming her body with carefulness and gentle concern. She smiled shyly at him, then looked at April who had no idea what was going on.

"Okay, maybe we should let someone explain everything to Vern and April a little bit better than we can." Lauren said as she looked at everyone else in the room, wondering how they would explain the situation to the two human adults.

"I believe that would call for me and Splinter, my dear." Shimizu said as both she and Splinter appeared in the den, looking at the girls then the turtles then to April, who stared at the two large senseis in disbelief. They looked at April, their curiosity for the young woman intrigued them as they watched her overlook them before falling to the floor unconscious.

"Oh, I think that went well." Leonardo said as Vern went over to April to check on her and make sure she didn't hit her head hard on the concrete floor.

"Well, I believe we should all have a decent nap before things get messy. And for goodness sake, Erica, will you and Danielle please put on some clothes that will make you both look decent? You're about to give me as well as Splinter heart attacks." Shimizu said as she looked at everyone then to her two youngest daughters, who blushed heavily before returning to their rooms.

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Hun walked into the dojo of his new master's home, the dark room emulating very little light throughout the room as he looked around. He was on edge, although he didn't show it, he was very anxious as to see what would transpire in here today as well as if his master would convince the Shredder to reconcile for the time being. He disliked his former master with a passion; the old master never gave him credit where it was due, never rewarded him with his efforts and disgraced him with his lack of honor back in the day. However, times have changed, and he now had an empire that brewed underneath the belly of the black market, his Purple Dragons claiming to all the good buyers and their stocks that the Foot once held on with an iron fist. Now, hopefully, this little ploy that his new master had in stock would allow a truce for the two empires to unite and bring down their common enemy for the time being.

He sensed a presence behind him, and knelt down to the floor on one knee, his head bowed in respect as he felt his master's presence enter the room. Eric Sacks had entered behind Hun, and turned to bow his head to his new right hand man. The aged man was ready for the plan to come into essence, and hopefully his master would appreciate what would come about.

"Naze anata wa, koko ni gakusei o kare ni motte kita?" The Shredder spoke to Eric as he appeared from behind the two men. Eric turned around to meet his master, the old adoptive father figure looking down at him with angry stormed eyes that seethed blood thirst for his former protege. The aged master was still weak and injured from the fight that occurred at the school, but he wouldn't show any signs of weakness. His master was a great warrior that rose from the ashes like the phoenix.

"I have a proposal for you, my master. Hun has brought this attention to me that the turtles as well as the girls have been the missing link to our research all those years ago. They are the reason why we couldn't replicate the mutagen we were working on. He would allow his Purple Dragons to work with the Foot clan in order to find the turtles and the girls." Eric began to reason with the Shredder, his brain hoping that he would take the bait. Hun kept his eyes trained on the floor beneath him, silently praying that this would work.

"Sore nimokakawarazu, jūyōna shōri ni naru onajiyōna mokuhyō o eru tame ni, doragonzu o sōsa suru ni wa. Shikashi, watashi wa kare ga watashitachi o uragiru koto wa arimasen koto o dono yō ni shitte iru nodarou ka?" The Shredder replied in his native tongue to Eric, causing the aged business man to pause for a moment to think of his next words, to convince his father that he would trust the man behind him.

"He has given us a contract with his blood on it, giving his honor and his empire of the Purple Dragons to reclaim our prizes. The city will be ours." Eric said as he looked back at Hun, who nodded while keeping his gaze to the floor.

The Shredder was no fool, he would kill his enemies without a moment's hesitation. But, considering that his forces were weak from their previous fight, and that the Purple Dragons were a force to be reckoned with, he would actually consider to have an alliance with them in order to obtain the girls as well as the turtles if possible. Looking between Hun and his adoptive son, he knew that matters would be much in his favor if he agreed to this.

"Hijō ni yoku. Watashitachiha, kono otoko wa watashitachi to kyōryoku suru koto ga dekimasu. Shikashi, keikoku sa reru - kare wa watashitachi o uragitta baai, watashi wa kare no nodo o suraisu dakedenaku, doragonzu no kare no teikoku o keshi saru koto o chūcho shinaideshou." The Shredder answered as he looked at his protege in front of him, who bowed his head in respect while his master left the dojo to meditate in peace.

After waiting a few moments to make sure that his master was finally gone, Eric turned around while watching Hun rise up from the floor and stand in front of him. A large smile appeared on both of their faces, knowing that he had fallen for their trap.

"Welcome back to the Foot, Hun." Eric said as Hun smiled gleefully.

"It's good to be back, my master." Hun said evilly as he cracked his knuckles in joy.

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Rachel was in the weight room for a while, her fists punching the bean bag in front of her with velocity and ferociousness that rivaled Raphael's anger. She was so mad at the whole situation with Vern and April as well as herself. She had never cried before in front of anyone, let alone him; she let her weakness show up and she hated herself for it. She was a tough girl, a badass, a skilled kunoichi that could fight the Foot and the Purple Dragons at the same time. And yet, the way Raphael handled her in front of everyone, how gentle and calm he was to her, sent violent shivers up and down her spine. She wasn't used to this treatment from anyone, especially him, and with her fever dying down, she was starting to get back to her normal self. Although, she wouldn't admit it, she did like how gentle and caring he was to her.

"You know, you keep hitting that and your knuckles are going to bleed open." A rough voice entered the weight room, which made Rachel stop punching the bag to turn around and see Raphael, who leaned against the doorway on his shoulder while chewing on a toothpick. Rachel huffed, not wanting to deal with Raphael right now - her emotions were so scrambled right now that she was ready to blow off on anyone that came near her.

"Go away, Raph." Rachel grumbled as she continued to hit the punching bag, her hits becoming harder and more violent than before. She was in her zone, and she wasn't going to let him one up her about what happened out in the den. She hit the bad harder, adding some kicks to her mix, and proceeded to beat the punching bag as hard as she could.

Raphael knew how upset she was about what happened in the den earlier, but her anger was not going to release its hold on her yet. He knew what it was like to be angry all the time, and how it could consume you if you didn't control it; he had almost fallen down the same path she was on right now many times, and it was best to let out all that tension before she hurt someone or herself. Raphael sighed deeply as he pulled away from his spot on the doorway and walked up to her quietly, hoping that he would talk some sense into her. He slowly came up to her, his bulking frame towering over her petite body, watching her intently as she continued to pummel the punching bag, her hits becoming more frequent and harder each second. She was in her zone - her mindset not caring about anything else but pain, hurting something to make her pain go away. She needed that release, that feeling of content and calmness she only felt after a good workout. But her anger, her seething pain that she radiated from within wouldn't let her go to the tranquil place - so her only option was to beat the pain out of her.

"Rachel -"

"I said go away!" Rachel growled as her fists collided harder into the rough material of the bag, the hardness that she felt against her knuckles began to break open the soft, silky skin of her hands. He smelled the blood before he saw the first drops of the dark red liquid.

"Rachel!" Raphael yelled as he watched her punch the bag one last time before watching the chain break off and the bag came crumbling down to the floor.

"FUCK OFF, RAPH!" Rachel roared as she whipped around to glare at the large terrapin, which caused him to gasp in shock as he saw her face.

Rachel's beautiful green eyes bore tears; her eyes streaming twin trails of tears down her beautiful face like a river that shouldn't exist at all. Those green eyes he could get lost in so very easily if it weren't for the fact that she not only angry but also saddened, hurt, confused and raging out all of her pent up emotions that she needed to let out. Rachel huffed and heaved in ragged breaths, and growling under breath, began to pound her fists into the bony plates of his chest, taking the blows like they were little knocks. He stood his ground and let her beat out her aggression on him, absorbing her weakened blows into his chest before wrapping his large arms around her spastic body and pulling her tight to him. Rachel continued to beat his chest, her blows becoming weaker and weaker until she clutched at his bony plating of his chest. She buried her face into his chest and poured out her pent up feelings, sobbing loudly and brokenly; Raphael felt broken and hurt as he held her, letting her pour her emotions out. It broke his heart to see her like this, his battle hardened beauty so vulnerable and defeated with her own self made him even more determined to protect her.

Rachel felt her sobbing begin to quiet down, her chest not as tight but still hurting from her pent up emotions; she hiccuped a little, her shoulders still shaking but only slightly. She looked up and he smirked a little while chewing on his toothpick; her hair clung to her cheek a little, plastered to her like a second skin. He swept the hair away from her cheek, and stroked his thumb across her cheeks, brushing the tears away from her gorgeous face. He peered down at her, seeing her pleading eyes bore up to him made his heart stutter in its staccato. Rachel looked up at him, needing his reassurance that she wasn't going to be taken away from him; needing his knowledge that he knew how much she cared about him, and he for her.

"Rachel . . ." Raphael started to say when she placed her fingertips to his large lips, feeling his chapped skin beneath her soft pads.

"I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Raph." Rachel hiccuped as she looked up at him with pleading eyes, her unshed tears highlighted and brightened her light green eyes, seeing a horizon of unspoken emotions that demanded to be heard, but were afraid to be spoken.

Raph smiled at her, taking out his toothpick and soothing her quietly with his thumb against her cheek. There was no need for words between them, just unspoken emotions that needed to run their course. Actions did speak louder than words, and Raphael was definitely an action kind of person. He leaned down slowly, his amber eyes never leaving hers and watching in awe as she closed her eyes in submission, awaiting for his secret kiss. He closed his eyes, and let nature take its course; his chapped lips touched her silky plump ones, the small, simple touch between them sending little sparks between their bodies, electricity sparkling little messages throughout their bodies.

Their moment of peace was cut to a brief standstill when Raphael felt a presence enter the room, he pulled away and glared at the door way, his amber eyes almost glowing a bright gold in annoyance and agitation to whoever was there to disturb their inner world. Leonardo stared at him, wondering what was going on, but getting a quick insight of the situation between him and Rachel. Leo looked a bit irritated, but it was hard to read him; after all these years, even Raph had a hard time reading the oldest brother, not sure what he was feeling or thinking was always making him scratch at his head in question and confusion.

"Hey." Leonardo simply said as he eyed his younger brother and Rachel in his arms.

"Hey." Raph responded, eyeing his brother wearily while holding Rachel carefully in his arms.

"You know she's bleeding, right?" Leo asked, taking in consideration that her hands were still busted open.

"Yeah, I know. I'm gettin' her cleaned up." Raph growled as he scooped her up in his large arms and began to carry her out of the weight room, his eyes never leaving Leo. It was as if he was challenging "fearless leader" to say anything more just to aggravate him even more.

"We need to confront the two human adults about our existence." Leo said as Raph rolled his eyes at the mere mention of the two humans, but he knew that Leonardo was right, as always.

He sighed and didn't say a word to his brother, but simply carried Rachel to the needle room, knowing that she needed her hands tended to before they got infected. He knew that the two adults would have to be on their radar constantly, to make them secure and sure that they won't reveal their secret to the media in general. Raphael knew that it would have to be done, but there was no way around it - they would have to be punished.

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Michelangelo and Erica were in the kitchen, cooking up a mega storm of whatever they could find in the mini refrigerator that occupied their living space. The oven was on, cooking the pizza and french fries while the top of the stove was boiling water to make the chocolate melt for their desserts that they wanted to create. Both were in their little world and didn't realize that Vern had come waltzing in to see what there was to do since the incident earlier with Rachel. He and April had been in the meditation room with Master Splinter and Shimizu; the two rodent senseis explained to the human adults what had transpired within the last month and a half as well as delve into the history of how the turtles came to be. Vern scratched the back of his neck while approaching the youngest couple of the turtles, hoping that they wouldn't treat him any different than they had earlier.

"Hey, Vern." Eri said sweetly, her fingers sticky and covered in a mess of melted chocolate. Her sweet smile never left her face, and Vern smiled sheepishly when he saw Michelangelo turn around to greet the human adult.

"Hey, dude. You're just in time, the dudette and I are making dinner and dessert. Wanna help?" Mikey asked as he smiled at the man, his hands breaking apart chocolate and putting them in the top pan that sat in the pot of boiling water underneath.

"Sure. So, what are you guys making?" Vern asked as he looked at the two wondering what was going through their minds at their concoctions that were in the process of being made.

"Hawaiian pizza with french fries in the oven, and making a chocolate pie with real melted chocolate pieces." Eri answered as she stirred the spoon in the pot of melted chocolate, the pie crust all prepped and ready to be filled with the chocolate goodness.

"Wow. So - you guys are the cooks of the family?" Vern asked as he tried to get in their way with their devious cooking skills.

"Totally, bro. I can make a really mean pizza." Michelangelo bragged as he flexed the muscles in his arm, proving that he was not only strong but also an awesome cook.

"Wait a minute, now. I'm the one who can make the best pizza, dude. I do have a title for that, you know." Eri interjected as she glared at him with a mockery of disbelief.

"No way, dudette. I've been making pizzas for years, and I can make the ultimate perfect pizza." Mikey boasted as he got closer to Eri, both standing up to one another while trying to see who had the better pizza making skills.

"Really, dude?"

"Really, dudette."

Vern had no idea what he had walked into, but he knew it was about to go down really quick. The timer went off on the oven, and chaos ensued faster than he could blink. The oven door flew open as the pizza and french fries went flying between the turtle and young girl while Vern took cover underneath the table, watching in disbelief and awe as the two ninja began their food fight with one another.

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Lauren sat cross-legged in the middle of the dojo floor, her demeanor peaceful and calm as she meditated while trying to block out the noise that radiated from the kitchen. She had to keep calm since her fever had diminished very quickly after having the medicine the boys brought home; she was very thankful for them on taking care of her and her sisters. She had no idea what she would've done if it weren't for them; Lauren had owed them big time for finding all of those medical supplies. She breathed in deeply and slowly exhaled, but her senses remained sharp as she heard a faint set of footsteps come into the dojo. Without having to open her eyes or look up, she could tell it was Leonardo, who was trying to keep quiet and not disturb her. She smiled - even when they weren't in battle and being comfortable around one another, he was still a master at the art of invisibility.

"I wondered when you would be showing up." Lauren said as she heard Leo walk around and stop in front of her.

"How are you feeling?" Leonardo asked as he extended his hand out to her while helping her up on her feet, watching as she tried to get her bearings together while slipping an arm around her waist.

"Much better now, thank you." Lauren answered as she smiled up at him, taking in his bright blue eyes and searching his thoughts with her royal blur orbs.

Both held each other with the utmost respect as well as devotion, and pure instinct of equality; neither wanted to leave the other, but it was the way of a leader for their families. Both didn't want this lifestyle, but it was a little choice between them; they had responsibilities and obligations to uphold in their households, but fate seemed to weave them together. They tried to read the other's thoughts and feelings quietly and secretly, their own feelings towards the other almost blinding their other senses to the surroundings. Leonardo brought his hand up to her loose bun, and slowly pulled out the band that held it up, letting the black strands fall like a dark waterfall in the middle of the night down her back. Her almond shaped eyes looked up at him, entranced by his handsomeness as well as the mysterious aura he inflicted upon her.

Magnets to one another; a flame that flickered and enticed them closer to touch and feel, Lady Love's arms drawing these two leaders closer to the other, begging them to take that leap of faith and feel what love would taste like. It was so close - they needed to feel the other's taste beneath their lips, treading into uncharted waters that were ready to be discovered. Leaning in close, their breaths mingled with one another -sweet green tea with peppermint and midnight lilies with jasmine. The combination of the two concoctions was making both dizzy, and closing their eyes, they slowly leaned in to fill the gap between them. Their lips lightly grazed each other's just as someone entered the dojo.

"Um, I'm not interrupting anything, am I?" April asked as she looked at the two teenage leaders with curiosity and confusion.

Both Lauren and Leonardo were broken away from their spell, and turned to see April standing there, wondering how long she had been there to see what had almost transpired between the two. Lauren backed away from Leo, silently missing his warmth and embrace already, but walked up to April with determination in her eyes, hoping that her friend would reconsider putting the turtles on the media spread.

"April . . . have you decided what you want to do about the situation?" Lauren asked, her mind and body going still as she anticipated the response.

"Yes, and I promise to keep them a secret. But only if I get an interview with one of you, of course." April answered as she smiled at Lauren, who looked at her with dead eyes before doing the unthinkable.

SLAP!

Lauren slapped her across the face; how dare she?! She wasn't sure if April was kidding or being serious at this point, but it didn't matter. She wasn't going to say a word about this to anyone, and that meant not getting an interview with her or any of her sisters. April looked shocked and returned the favor by slapping Lauren across the face, not believing that the younger girl would do such a thing. Both April and Lauren were stubborn when it came to what they wanted, and neither one of them was going to let up. Lauren issued another slap to April, and April issued a second slap to Lauren. Before Leonardo knew it, a bitch slap war waged on between the two women, their cheeks and hands were red and sore before he intervened, not wanting either one of them to be damaged or seriously injured.

"Alright, alright, alright, enough. Come on, enough out of the both of you." Leonardo intervened as he broke the two women apart before being slapped by them both. He looked on as the two women stared each other down, testing and readying themselves for another round of slapping. That is, until they heard the chaos that ensued in the kitchen.

"I make the better pizzas, dude! Now admit it!" Eri yelled loud as the three could hear pots and pans clashing and clattering around in the kitchen from the dojo.

"Never! You will never make me submit, dudette!" Mikey yelled as more clattering and chaos could be heard.

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Author's Note: Cliffhanger! Haha, I have to end it at some point. So now we are starting to see where things are going between the turtles, the girls and April and Vern. And we're also seeing where things are going with Hun, the Foot, Shredder and Sacks. Sorry it took me so damn long to post this, but work has kept me away from my baby ;) I hope you guys are enjoying this because the next chapter will have some surprises coming up soon. I hoep you enjoy your little taste here for the tension and chaos. I will see you in the next chapter. Reviews are welcomed :D