(Eight Months Later)

Donatello was stretched over the bottom bunk, trying to seem somewhat casual, regardless of the fact that Jenna couldn't actually see him. He'd always had a little bit of trouble completely containing himself when they were on the phone, as it had turned into one of the highlights of his week, no matter what the topic of conversation. Mostly they e-mailed, but over the last couple of months, they had made a point to keep in touch this way at least once a week too.

"So does it feel any different to be 18?" He was asking her.

"No, I don't think any of the whole 'adult' vibe is going to start kicking in until I go to college in a few weeks."

"That's right, it is about that time, huh? Are you still going with your gut?"

"I say more like my heart Donnie. Music is one of the only things that made life tolerable for me when I was growing up - I don't find myself escaping it now. You know I've been toying with the idea of writing professionally ever since New York. Even if that didn't pan out, struggling musicians always find a way right? I mean, how many street corners do you imagine Sydney has? I'm sure I could claim at least one of them."

"Jen, you're not gonna end up on the streets - take it from me."

"It's not like there are any guarantees. But I'd rather fail at doing something that I love, than succeed at something that I settled for. How's the Big Apple?"

"About the same as ever. You know that summer turns into like open season with the gangs. I'll be glad when August is over."

"Is everything going okay at home? Everybody's healthy, not missing any important body parts?"

He chuckled a little. "No, everything's been fine, no injuries to report as of late. Luke and I have taken the downtime to finish up a couple more things, some groundbreaking stuff for us actually."

"New formulas you mean?"

"Yeah. I'm feeling a lot more prepared than I used to. It's like...being ahead of the game for the first time."

Donatello would have continued, if he hadn't been interrupted by a knock at the door.

"Hang on a second Jenna." He told her, and looked that direction. "Come in!"

Leo poked his head inside. "Hey, are you ready?"

"Uh...yeah. I'll be down in a minute."

Leonardo backed out of the room, and Donatello sat up on the edge of the bed.

"Hey Jen, sorry, I gotta go. I'm late for my beat down."

"You make it sound like so much fun."

"You should try it sometime. I'll talk to you later."

Donatello rubbed his shoulder a little absent-mindedly. It had struck the corner of the mat a little too hard when he went down - something he'd been doing a lot of lately. He met his older brother's gaze a little sheepishly, quickly dropping his arm so that Leonardo wouldn't think anything was wrong.

"Why does it feel like you're holding back on me Donnie?" Leo asked him.

Cause I am, he thought bitterly, but forced a smile for Leonardo. "You won fair and square...are we done now?"

Leo shrugged. "If you don't want a rematch, I guess so."

When Donatello walked out of the room a couple minutes later, Michelangelo was directly in his path with a scowl.

"Why did you do that?" Mike demanded.

"Huh? Do what?"

"Don't play stupid with me Donnie, you know exactly what I'm talking about! That was the oldest trick in the book - I saw it coming from a mile away. Why are you throwing these fights?"

"Would you keep your voice down please?" Donatello hissed at him.

Mike took him by the arm, and half dragged him all the way into the Lab, making sure the door was shut behind them.

"What the heck is goin' on with you?" Mike resumed. "You're better than that Donnie, even Leo knows it."

"Nothing's going on with me." He replied. "It's just easier this way."

"To just let him win?"

"I don't do it all the time Mike."

"More often than not lately! Why is it easier Donnie?"

Donatello didn't say anything for a long moment, contemplating his next words.

"He's um...I've noticed a pattern Mike, a certain behavioural difference towards me, based on whether I beat him, or whether I lose. Letting him have the fights keeps him off my back more, and I can go my merry way."

"And that satisfies you?"

"I didn't say that. I said it was easier."

"That's a crock Donnie. You shouldn't be letting him have his way with you! He's gonna figure it out sooner or later anyway."

"I'll cross that bridge when I come to it."

"Donnie!"

"What Mike, what do you want me to do? They're both irritated with me half the time as it is, for stuff that I can't even control! This is something I can contain, and it makes living around here simpler!"

"You're being ridiculous." Mike said. "This isn't you Donnie. Are you gonna let him put a collar on you next?"

"It isn't your problem in any case! Just drop it!" Donatello said sharply.

"I guess not! It's your life, it's your shell, why should I care what happens to it, huh?" Mike answered in frustration.

"I can handle myself on this particular matter Mike! I've already got enough weight on my back, without having you climb up there too!"

"Fine, I'm off your back." Mike snapped, and walked out.

Donatello sighed heavily, staring at the floor after he'd gone. As much as he hated fighting with Leo or Raph, he hated fighting with Mike even more, even though they rarely did. He hesitated for a couple more minutes, and then ventured up the stairs. Mike didn't usually go very far. He ducked inside their shared bedroom, and found his younger brother staring at the ceiling.

"Mike?"

He looked at him briefly, and then flopped back down on the mattress.

"Mikey, I'm sorry. I've been under some pressure lately...and I guess it's easier to lash out at you, than it is them."

"You've been different Donnie." He said in return. "Like more removed somehow. Why couldn't you just talk to me about this before? You know I wouldn't have judged."

"You're not the problem Mike, you never have been." Donatello answered, dropping back onto his own bunk.

"Are you gonna deal with this Donnie?"

"Yeah, I know I need to."

"You need to walk back down those stairs, and demand a rematch."

"I will Mike, I promise."

Luke read through the table of contents again, searching for the place where he'd left off from. Ever since Donnie had loaded his journal onto his laptop for him, he'd been spending more time studying their past. It was fascinating from the physiological point of view, but the stories it contained had proved an to be even more intriguing. It had never been enough for Donatello to simply record an injury or illness, he'd always gone well into background information.

Luke had been working his way through story after story, almost feeling like he was reading about some kind of mythical legend, instead of the unique friends he'd made not quite a year ago. He had already been recovering from his parents' death with April's help. Now having the guys in his life as well had seemed to make even more of an impact, as he stumbled his way back into purpose again.

He'd even found himself returning to the ER a little more than usual, regaining the old rhythm he had seemingly lost for awhile. It felt good to be saving lives again, certainly much more satisfying than hiding in a dark corner from which there was no escape. Luke wasn't sure how he could even describe his relationship with the guys to someone else, even if he wasn't keeping it under wraps.

Part friend, part guardian, part tag-along? Not that I'd complain, not matter what the title.He'd started writing up some notes of his own, and Donatello had encouraged him to e-mail them his direction, so that he could start integrating them into the program. As he started typing them up, he found himself glancing at the clock, and counting down the hours until it might be appropriate for him to be able to drop in on them again.