I do not own the TMNT

Chapter twenty-six; April returns

"I was going to fix that." Kit muttered.

"I wasn't aware you knew magic." Donnie whistled, staring at the mangled shirt with the missing collar.

"It's not that bad." Kit snatched the shirt off the coffee table and proceeded to stuff it back into her backpack. Although she was acting aloof as ever her whiskers were flat and her ears stiff, a gesture that Master Splinter had often gotten when the family finally got public television and discovered how 'adult' programming could be.

Once the offending shirt was out of sight Kit zipped the bag shut with a quick motion and settled back on the couch running one hand ran over her scalp, leaving thin lines where her claws had pushed through damp fur. Her eyes seemed intently focused on something off to her right and well away from where Mikey was standing fighting between a pout and genuine concern.

"You know… we were worried about you." He said softly.

"Don't." Kit said simply, not as a way to cut the conversation off but as though offering advice. She shifted on the couch and pushed herself to her feet, heading to the kitchen to see if her clothes were dry yet. Mikey followed while Don headed for his lab. The turtle in purple was shaking his head but didn't seem frustrated, almost as if he were getting used to this behavior.

Mikey kept trying to get his point across to the cat. "You know, it's better hanging out with people. They can watch your back and hang out with you and… you know, 'being with people' stuff." He explained.

"So I've been told." Kit deadpanned. She entered the kitchen and shoved up the sleeves of a borrowed sweat shirt. The thing was huge on her, falling to the knees of her jeans and the sleeves were constantly slipping down over her hands. It wasn't the best option, but the strange white clothes Mikey had found were too small. The huge shirt also did wonders for making her look like a lost little waif. The appearance wasn't helping Mikey to drop the subject any.

"Hey, when the tunnels –uh- clear up, you don't have to leave." He suggested. Kit didn't respond as she ran her hands over the clothes hanging on what looked like some kind of electric wiring. She really hoped that wasn't plugged into a live feed, the thin bandages Don had insisted on wrapping her hands with wouldn't protect her from that kind of shock.

Mikey pouted a little at being ignored but before he could pursue the subject further he heard the relatively new sound of the stone elevator's doors opening. He grinned when he heard one of his brothers calling; "Hey! April!"

Pretty sure the two hadn't met, Mikey turned to Kit to ask her to come along, she suddenly seemed very interested in the hole in her sweatshirt. Sensing the cat didn't want to meet the human, Mikey frowned slightly before heading out to greet their friend.

Once the turtle was gone Kit looked up nervously before letting loose a pent up breath of air. She could hear them talking now –something about pesky Girl Scouts. It seemed innocent enough, but Kit still wanted no part of it. The shirt next to the sweat jacket was lightly stained and the pink tinges stated clearly that the shirt was not yet dry. "Great, first shoes, now shirts?" Kit growled, shifting her bare feet on the stone floor.

"Fortunately cloth is much easier to replace than food or shoes."

Kit jumped slightly before spinning to face Master Splinter. "You… what… huh?" She glanced behind her as if the answer to why everyone was sneaking up on her lately might be clinging to her back. Not finding the answer, she turned back to the rat. "I'm sorry, what?"

Master Splinter smiled. "Do not worry about your shirts. You seem an adept seamstress and material is not difficult to come by." He said. "And I thank you for fixing my sons' punching bag. They are quite hopeless with needles."

Again Kit's whiskers flattened and she kicked a little at the bag she'd dropped on the floor. "…-t's n-thing." She muttered. "…glad t'help." Abruptly she cleared her throat and turned to start taking her clothes off the wires. Shirt, pants, jacket, she didn't have much. Once those were down she climbed onto the counter to find out how the wire was attached to the wall. As luck would have it the over-large sweatshirt hooked her knee and in no time at all she was on the floor being reminded of every hurt she'd gained before and during the fall. Had the floor not been solid stone her landing would have made quite the thump.

Before Kit could even mentally scold herself a pair of thin but strong hands under her arms helped her to stand. "When we first met you had fallen off a ledge and landed on your feet with no ill effects." Splinter noted with amusement.

"That was a fluke." Kit mumbled, flinching as something painful was stressed.

Master Splinter made a soft noise of amused disbelief. Rather than pursue the subject he changed it. "I see my sons have informed you as to the… tunnels." He noted.

"Why does everyone stop before or after saying 'tunnels' now?" Kit observed curiously.

"A family such as ours tends to develop unusual habits." The rat sounded amused.

Kit frowned skeptically, but decided it wasn't worth pressing for more information. Instead she glared at the wire over her head and followed it to the other side, which didn't require treacherous counters to reach the end.

"I hope your stay this time will be much less tedious than the last." Master Splinter said conversationally. "Donatello will likely have no basis to keep you confined to your room and you are welcome to anything you should need."

"Eh… Thank you." Kit muttered. She sounded a little uncomfortable again as she released the end of the wire and began coiling it. Much to her surprise, by the time she'd finished Master Splinter was holding the other end of the wire. He wasn't any taller than her, probably a couple inches shorter, so Kit couldn't see how he'd get it without climbing up the way she'd tried, but for some reason the idea of him actually doing that didn't compute and refused to be accepted as a possibility.

Once the wire was coiled Kit picked up her backpack with a free hand and slung it over her shoulder. She nodded politely to Master Splinter before heading out into the lair.

At the time, April was out of sight, as were the turtles so that wasn't a big deal. They were probably somewhere looking at something or another. Kit hurried over to Don's lab area and glanced around until she selected a probable place to leave the wire where it would neither be in the way, nor be missed. She was on her way to the stairs when the main door of the lair opened and the five absent parties walked in.

"Wow, that's really impressive." April was saying, doubtlessly marveling at the improvements Donatello had made to the door's camouflage. Kit had to admit, it was pretty cool. She hadn't even seen it till it was already partially open. When April turned and obviously noticed Kit the mutant stiffened like a blinded deer. "Hello, you must be Kit. Looks like you're feeling better." The woman said, smiling genuinely and a slight guarded look covering her natural surprised interest at seeing yet another mutant.

"Yeah, much better." Kit answered in a tone that bordered on defensive. It was clear to the guys that she was pushing back up the walls she'd had in place when they'd first met her, perhaps even more. The cat managed a curt but polite, "Nice to meet you." before giving a short nod and hurrying to the stairs.

April looked helplessly to the guys. "Believe it or not, that went well." Leo explained.

"Don't take it personally." Donnie reassured her. "We got the same treatment… more or less."

"She might take ta' you better if ya hit her first." When his suggestion was met with glares from his brother's Raph only glared back. "That wasn't a joke." He insisted.