I am so majorly sorry! Senior year, is, well… a pain in the ass. Especially when your roster is comprised of nothing but honors/AP/college classes.

The TMNT and Dani: -rolls eyes-

Dani-curtis-16: Plus I'm going away for a retreat this week, KAIROS to be exact.

Dani: That's writer language for the next update is gonna take 2 more months.

Dani-curtis-16: -smacks Dani upside the head-

Dani: Raphie, Leo, dani-curtis-16 hit me!

Dani-curtis-16: Anyway, on with the action -Runs away from a very pissed of Raph and Leo screaming-

Don's POV

I seriously have no idea why I agreed to this.

Raph, Mike, and I are currently looking through the sewers for Tal, but we haven't seen any sign of him. But every time I suggest going home, Raph gives me a look that shuts me up real fast.

Guess I keep forgetting that he's doing this for his only older brother and best friend. Anyone else would think it was Casey who was his best friend, but Raph has always been closest to D, with Leo being a close second. If they needed him, whether he admitted it or not, Raph would be there for them.

Mikey groaned, "Do we have any idea where D's 'dear old dad' ran off to?"

I shook my head, "Not even. We already checked his lab, remember? We found nothing."

Suddenly, Raph asked, "Hey what about the office?"

I smiled and exclaimed, "Of course, Raph! Why didn't I think of that? Let's go check it out!"

The three of us hit the rooftops and ran to Tal's office, where we had confronted him for the first time.

Where Dani had learned the gut-wrenching truth that her father was the same madman who attacked her.

We all peeked into the room, and lo and behold, Tal was sitting at his desk. But we were all shocked to see that he was crying, holding a picture frame.

"What's happened to me?" he wept, looking down at the picture. Raph's eyes widened, Mikey gasped, and I just stared when we saw that it was a family portrait of a younger Tal, a beautiful young woman, and a cute baby girl.

My bros and I looked at each other; the baby was obviously Dani, and the woman must be her mother.

Raph landed in front of Tal, who jumped.

"What do you want?" he snapped at my brother.

Raph just looked at him coolly, and asked, "What happened to her?" pointing to the woman in the pic.

Tal sighed, "Yos- Shredder took her from me. I assumed he had killed her, but after seeing Danielle alive…" He trailed off and his head snapped up, "Where is Danielle? Is she alright? And what of your oldest brother?"

Raph ignored the questions but asked, "Do you think your wife could be alive? Could Shredder be holding her captive?"

Tal looked down, "I honestly don't know. But for what it's worth, I am sorry for all I have done to you and your family. I have dishonored the memory of my good friend Yoshi in what I have done to you, and I have caused my only daughter so much pain." He eyed us warily, "If she'd rather be with you, I can't think of anyone more trustworthy to protect and love her."

I nodded my head, "Someday, Dani may be able to forgive what you have done. But you have to give her some space and let her choose. She deserves that, and much more." My brothers nodded in agreement.

Tal chuckled, "Thank you. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have someone I need to meet with…"

Dani's POV

I was eating a huge bowl of rice, sitting between Leo and Usagi, who were both laughing at how hungry I was.

"Leonardo-san, I fear you have been neglecting to feed her", Usagi teased.

Leo rolled his eyes, "Clearly. Sorry, sweetie, it's been so hectic, and you've been in and out of consciousness."

I grinned, "I know, but now that we are semi-safe, I gotta admit I'm starved. And this is sooo good." I took a huge bite out of a dumpling.

Leo turned to Usagi, "I never got the chance to thank you, Usagi, for protecting my baby sis. I can barely imagine what I would have done if I'd been too late…" he trailed off, wrapping an arm tightly around me and pulling me close.

Usage raised his hand, "My brother, I have come to love this little kunoichi dearly. I am all too relieved to be here to help keep her safe." Leo nodded warily.

I looked at my tired aniki. I felt a pang of guilt; he had aged 20 years in a matter of months thanks to me.

Leo glanced at my expression, "Don't start, Danielle. I will ground you if you dare blame yourself for things so outside your ability to control. I love you, of course I'm gonna do my best to protect you, and that's no fault of yours."

I growled lightly, "If I wasn't so useless…"

Usagi and Leo both dropped their chopsticks, and before Leo could have a meltdown, Usagi said, "Danielle, WHO is putting these ridiculous notions in your head?"

I tried to look down at the table, but Leo's firm hand lifted my chin so that I was looking into his eyes.

He took a deep breath, "Dani, is that what you HONESLTY think? That we find you a useless, worthless burden?"

I nodded sadly, "Shredder and Hun said so." Leo looked as if I had punched him in the gut. He pulled me into a hug, and I placed my head on his shoulder, crying into his neck like I used to do as a baby.

Leo cooed, "They were lying, angel. You've never been useless, you've never been worthless, and you've never been a burden. You're the baby of the family- MY baby- and you mean so much to us."

I sniffed, "But that makes no sense."

He sighed, "Yeah, it does, you're just too close to see it. Without you, do you think any of us would be the same? Raph would become impossible without you, Mikey wouldn't laugh as much, Don would never leave the lab, and I wouldn't be the leader I am if I didn't have you to care for."

I grinned and nodded, "True. I just wish this would all END. I know what it feels to watch your loved ones in danger; it's not fun."

Leo smirked and rubbed my hair, "I know, sweetheart, I know."

Review! At 140, I'll update.