Things settled down the next couple of days. I really had no idea of what was going on because I stayed put in bed. I do know my brother had called the school to explain the kids' absence. Apparently we had an out of town emergency we had to go to. Well it wasn't quite a lie if you think about it. We did go out of town and it was an emergency. He also told me Mom flipped out at our sudden disappearance until Dad told her to knock it off. He understands them a lot better than Mom does I think and he knew they would do their best to keep us safe. But he is also realistic enough to know, shit happens. Being a service man himself, he's been in some bad spots before in his life. He could handle it. He didn't like our sudden disappearance but he handled it.

I remember waking up to find him and Leo in my room having the what happened discussion. Leo was having a hard time explaining to him why I was hurt, again. Dad had looked up into Leo's face and said "Boy, you may do things differently than I did and you have to deal with things I really don't understand. Extra turtles, alien kidnapped crazy special agent, this silly portal roller coaster hopping thing and all that other weird shit. Sure they got banged up a little, but you brought them back home." He paused to lay a hand on Leo's shoulder. "I'm a soldier and so is Vicky. We have both seen and been through some shit. We both fully understand that things happen you can't change sometimes. It's how you handle them that defines who you are. You were able to bring her and my grandchildren back alive and relatively well, considering she wasn't in the best shape to begin with. Son, you did good. Don't let that crazy lady I married ever tell you otherwise." Then he noticed I was awake. "Didn't you learn your lesson from last time? I told you to stay away from those damn crazy trees, they'll gitcha in a heartbeat, whack ya when you ain't lookin."

"Oh? I thought it was the crazy old men I had to watch out for."

"Why? You know one?" He grinned at me. "I gotta go feed that pain in the ass Cris calls a horse. She's still sleeping so I'll deal with his dumbass again today. Heck he's starting to grow on me I think. He only tried to bite me twice yesterday." He turned back to Leo and gave him a quick pat on the shoulder then removed his hand. "You did good, Boy." He said again then left. I just shook my head, Dad was a nut.

Leo had a somewhat befuddled look on his face. "I was expecting to get yelled at again." He mumbled.

I Laughed. "Wrong parent. It's Mom you need the ear plugs for."

This time we didn't really say goodbye to the other turtles. What had happened in the woods changed that relationship. Though Donnie didn't leave a portal open for them like he did me, he didn't have the energy supply to do so, he still kept into constant touch with Little Donnie and every few days it would pop open and they would come through for a few hours.

I was healed up enough to move around again by the time Valentine's day rolled around. The bruises had faded away by now, except for a couple of large ones and they were almost gone. Still had to be careful though if I moved wrong my ribs would let me know. I was in the lair gasping for air after one of those wrong moves after I tried to pick up one of the toys my son had left out. As Leo helped me straighten back up Mikey came hauling ass toward us, then swiftly just flipped over us then kept running. "I'm not here!" He told us as he kept running.

Leo and I exchanged dumbfounded looks. What the hell was going on now? We got our answer a few moments later when Raph came charging out of the direction of the hallway that lead to the bedrooms. I couldn't help but notice he was wrapping his loincloth around him as he ran. "Where is that little fucker! I'm gonna kill him! MIKEEEY!"

I got a feeling I think I knew what happened. I looked at Leo. "You don't think he...?"

"Barged into Raph's room and saw something he shouldn't have? Yes that's exactly what I'm thinking." He tuned me loose and went charging after his brothers.

Cris came out of Raph's room wide eyed and trying to pull her shirt on. "Where is that idiot! I'm gonna kill him!" Then she took off running after the others when she heard the commotion that started in the dojo. I followed everyone and peeked in.

Leo was desperately trying to keep himself between Mikey and Raph as the larger turtle kept trying to reach around him to grab Mikey. He had his hands full with that already when Cris came in and kept trying to hit Mikey with her handbo. So here was poor Leo trying to hold back a pissed Raph and a swinging Cris when Donnie finally entered the dojo to see what the noise was all about. Leo looked at him with wide eyes. "Donnie! A little help please!" Donnie sighed as he moved in to help his older brother. I did my best to not laugh, and failed miserably.

Later that evening, after the rampage had been calmed down, Leo took me out for some 'us' time. Well it was Valentine's day after all. We went to a near by park since it really wasn't that cold out. It wasn't exactly warm either but the bitter cold of winter was starting to fade into the chill of early spring. Other than that it was a pretty night, crisp, but clear as the stars filled the dark sky. We walked along the darkened park with him holding me close, until we came to a spot that was set on a hill. Before me opened up a nighttime view of the skyline of the city with the star painted sky surrounding it. It was beautiful. I just leaned in against his chest and he wrapped his arms around me as I took in the sight.

How long we stayed that way I couldn't tell you, I was mesmerized at the view. I was used to quiet country life beauty and never expected really to see something like this in a large city. "This is a wonderful spot." I finally said to him.

"That it is. I used to come here a lot right after we left you last summer. With out you in my life I needed something wonderful to look at. This was the best I could find."

"So after Donnie made that portal you never made it back here?"

"Didn't have a reason to. Until tonight."

I looked at him and smiled. "Well then I guess I should thank you for letting me be that reason."

"Your more than welcome." He bought his head down and caught me in a gentle kiss. I brought a hand up and placed it behind his neck, pulling him even closer to me as we deepened the kiss. His arms tightened around me holding me close to him and I felt a hand glide down my side and he rested it on my hip for a moment, then brought it back up under my clothes. I could feel his soft touch as he slowly moved his hand back up my side against my skin. I couldn't help a shiver at the soft touch and I kissed him harder.

Suddenly his head snapped back and his posture changed as he looked over my head into the small wooded area behind me. His hold on me went from arousal to protective in that instant as he brought his hand back out but he still held me close. His eyes scanned the woods, searching, then fixed on a certain spot. My blood ran cold as I heard a growl come from those woods. "What is it?" I whispered.

"I don't know. I can't make it out." He murmured.

We stood there, not moving, with his gaze firmly locked onto the spot our unseen watcher was lurking. I could fell that he was tense, he was ready to strike out if what ever it was came out for us. I was debating to move out the way at that moment and decided that might not be a bad idea. His grip tightened however, forcing me to stay put. "Don't move." He said very quietly not taking his eyes away from the woods. Again there was a growl and then the soft sounds of something moving away.

I felt the tension leave Leo's body, but his eyes still were locked on that spot behind me. Finally he looked back down at me. "I think it's time to go."

"Might not be a bad idea." He took my hand and led me back out of the park. We were almost out when he stopped and again pulled me close as his eyes swept around us. For the third time I heard that growl and Leo's gaze was locked into that direction.

Again the sound retreated and Leo didn't hesitate to get us out of there. Moving quickly now he picked me up and sprinted for the nearest manhole cover which was right outside the park entrance. Swiftly he opened it and dropped in with me. He had just put the cover back when we heard a loud thump land on top of it. We stayed put, not making a sound, and again whatever it was moved away.

Leo took my hand and guided me back to the lair. We had no idea what was that was out there and Leo had no intention of staying around to find out.