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Phoenix closed the door behind her, and was relieved to find the bathroom empty. She sank down onto a small padded bench across from the sink and closed her eyes. Coming tonight had been a mistake, she realized. 'Harsh,' she thought, 'but true.' She met her own gaze in the mirror, and frowned. It didn't make sense... the last three shows she'd had? She actually enjoyed! She'd had such a rush knowing that people saw her work and liked it. When the critics had raved, she had been ready to... to...

Reality hit her suddenly, and her thoughts came to a screeching halt. None of the people, conversations, or complements tonight had meant anything to her.

Someone tried to tell her what they thought one of the paintings meant, and she remembered the thoughts and feelings going through Michelangelo's mind while she'd listened to his stories. Another offered to buy the collection, and she'd responded with anger, not the cool but graceful indifference she'd learned to use. Phoenix rubbed the back of her neck. Several men had complimented her art, but had looked at her with interest... and all she could think of was the expression on Mike's face when he'd turned and saw her. Oh, that look of... well, she didn't know what, but she wanted to hug that moment to her forever.

The music from the next room filtered through the door and the words where clear...

'I can't fight this feeling any longer, and yet I'm still afraid to let it flow... what started off as friendship has grown stronger, I only wish I had the strength to let it show... I tell myself that I can't hold out forever, I say there is no reason for my fears... 'Cause I feel so secure when we're together, you give my life direction, you make everything so clear... And eve as I wander, I'm keeping you in sight, your a candle in the window on a clod, dark winter's night... And I'm getting closer than I ever thought I might... I can't fight this feeling anymore, I've forgotten what I started fighting for...'

What WAS the feeling that she kept having rise up within her? She didn't know. It was so confusing, this warm, almost overpowering feeling...

She shifted on the bench, and moved one of the pillows along the back, wanting the cool tiled wall against her spine. A book was shoved under one of them. Phoenix picked it up, and looked at the cover. It was worn, and the only word she could make out was 'Gideon'...

She let it fall open to where the silk ribbon bookmark was and read the first line.

They almost had her cornered, Leo smiled. The signal hadn't moved in almost 30 minutes, and they where closing the net. He still wasn't sure what they where going to do when they found them. Yes, ask Mikey to come home. But what about his... Friend? What if she wasn't the strong and wise teacher that Mikey had made her out to be? What if her true colors reveled something ugly.

Most importantly: What if that happened, and his baby brother fought for her, not them?

Raph paced in the shadows, like a caged beast. He wanted his brother back, darn it! Even if this girl was all sunshine-peaches-an-cream, NO ONE messed with their family... no one messed with his... best friend. He acknowledged it.

No, Casey was a friend, a good one, a ugreat/u one. But his little Bro was his best friend, and that it had taken losing him to someone else to make him realize it... Raph darted to the next set of shadows, and began pacing again.

Don followed the tracker, and smiled smugly. 'I'm too good!' He thought. His mind wandered to April, and wondered how her evening was going. 'Stuck with some guy named 'Arnold',' he shook his head in silence, fighting back the feeling of jealously. And he was. He'd deny it to his brothers, but... iHe/i wanted to be able to take her to an art show, or to a movie, or even just be able to have her be able to take a picture of them together! But he couldn't, because of what he was.

He would never give up his brothers, his family. But sometimes... He sighed. Sometime he wished he could give up being a turtle.

The three moved in closer, and soon found themselves on the same roof. They made eyes contact, and looked around in confusion. The roof-top was bare, nowhere to hide... and empty. A flock of pigeions sat together, giving off those little 'coos' they where so famous for.

Donatello felt a foreboding grow in his gut, and walked to where the signal was coming from. With ninja-swiftness, his hand shot out and grabbed one of the birds. He looked it over, and saw his little device.

"DARN IT!" he shouted into the night. He let go of the bird, and smacked his palm into his head. "Stupid, stupid, STUPID!" The crushing disappointment swamped him, and hot, angry tears gathered in his eyes.

"Don..." Leonardo asked softly, "Was this a diversionary tactic?"

"Call it what it is, Fearless!" Raph's voice was filled with fury. "A wild-goose chase! A waste of time!"

"Raph!" Leo turned to his hot-head brother.

"No, he's right." Donny spoke up before Leo could continue. "I was so sure of my own brilliance that it never occurred to me that she found my tracking device; Let alone put it on something else." He looked down. "It's my fault. I should have just followed him. I should have... done something!"

Leonardo watched as the purple-wearing turtle shook from guilt and self-loathing.

"It's all our faults, Don." Raph spoke suddenly. "We drove 'im away. Never lis'ned. Never took 'im seriously. So he found someone who did. Can't blame 'im." He didn't notice the other two staring at him. "So we go back t'what we where doing before. We keep look'in. We don't just quit."

Leonardo smiled, and nodded, a bit shocked at the words coming out of Rapheal's mouth. "We don't quit." He looked at his brothers. "So we go set another block... tomorrow night." He looked up at the overcast sky. "It's suppose to storm."

"Mikey hate's storms." Raph spoke softly as they headed for the sewers. 'I hope he's ok...'