A/N I know it's been a long time since I last updated this since I haven't been sure what exactly I was going to do with it. Fortunately, I seem to be back on track with this story. :) Thanks to everyone who has read/reviewed/followed/favorited in the time since I published the first story.

Disclaimer: Nothing has changed. I still don't own TMNT. :(

Chapter Four: Talking to Casey

The night before, Angel had gotten back at around three in the morning having spent most of the night outside. She had collapsed into her bed, barely aware of anything except anger at Ty and remorse for the way she had treated Casey.

And now she was doing the dishes.

Or putting them away at least. And not by choice either.

Her grandmother had decided to not mention her leaving by night, probably because she knew that nothing she said would change what Angel did at this point, and instead had asked her to put the dishes away. Maybe it was a penalty for sneaking out, even though she thought that what happened last night didn't exactly fit the criteria for "sneaking." That would make this a punishment that "technically" wasn't a punishment. The other possibility was that she just wanted some help which Angel was all too happy to give her.

The dish towel was already damp, but there weren't any other clean ones for her to use so she just continued wiping the cloth almost mechanically. Angel was suddenly aware of her grandmother's presence behind her, the giveaway being the soft sound of slippered feet on the dirty carpet. Automatically, Angel tensed without turning around. She didn't want a lecture right now.

To her relief, one never came, but her grandmother's silent presence behind her did nothing to make her feel more comfortable.

Growing more and more irritated, Angel gritted her teeth, putting a plate away with perhaps a little more force than she should have.

"That belonged to your great-grandmother, Angel." Her grandmother's tone was neither harsh, nor even reproving, but for Angel, it was like putting a lit match on an already smoldering fire.

She whirled. "I don't need you watching me the whole time, Grandma!"

Her grandmother didn't react except for a slight widening of her eyes, which only served to make Angel feel guiltier.

That, in its own turn, only served to make her more irritated.

There was silence and Angel determined her grandmother was coming up with a response. Huffing, she turned away and roughly ran the cloth over the last bowl, shoving it into its place in the cabinet before she heard footsteps walking back down the hallway. The familiar shriek of rusty hinges told her that her grandmother had entered her bedroom and there was a groan from the bed springs as weight was added to the top of them.

Angel froze, wondering how her grandmother was feeling, and guilt tugged a little at her heart. "Grandma, I'm sorry," she whispered softly, staring up at the ceiling. She glanced at the door her grandmother had left through and almost immediately wanted to follow her. She needed to apologize and let her know that none of this was her fault and that she was being the best grandmother she could possibly be. It would be best to wait, though.

Nothing would be helped if she barged in on her grandmother when the woman was in a foul mood at her. That would only cause added strain to their relationship.

Tap, tap.

The sound of someone rapping on the sliding glass door leading to the fire escape cut into her thoughts and, considering last night's events, caused her to jump, nearly dropping the plate she had been about to put away. "Damn it!" she cursed before she could stop herself and she slid the plate back into the sink. She was nearly done with the task anyway. It wasn't like they had many dishes in the first place. Her hand closed around the handle of a relatively large kitchen knife since there was no way she was approaching that door unarmed. Stalking forward, the knife partially raised in an offensive position, ready to strike should the unexpected visitor be threatening.

Angel didn't think she had it in her to be a killer, but if it came down to self-defense, she wasn't going down easy.

Tap, tap, tap… taptaptaptap!

Whoever was there was getting impatient. Closing the distance between herself and the door, Angel thrust it open, raising the knife…

"Whoa! Angel! Down, girl! Who answers the door armed with a knife?"

"Casey?!" she gasped, leaping back. "What the hell?" Hastily, she dropped the knife to her side and merely gawked in disbelief.

The answer she received was a goofy grin. "In the flesh." A pause. Then, "Sooo, any reason you looked like you were going to skewer me? 'Cuz for a second there I thought you really were. And if you did, then April would likely kill me all over again for getting myself killed in the first place. After she came after you, that is."

Angel felt anger retake its place and she scowled at him, crossing her arms, knife and all. "Maybe because I didn't know it was you trying to break the glass. What's the matter, Jones? You never heard of a front door?"

"Thing is, I don't think your landlord really likes me. Decided to come back here rather than tryin' to sneak past him and risk getting kicked out."

"Sneaking around? You're getting to be a bad influence, Casey. Don't let my grandma find out about that. She'd probably never let me see you again."

"She asked me to look out for you, remember that?"

"Uh huh. That was before you turned to the dark side."

"The dark side? What? Angel, I've always been this way."

Angel shook her head, trying and failing to keep an amused smirk off her face. "Forget it, Jones. What are you here for anyway?" She raised a finger to stop him from speaking. "I'm guessing you're not here to rob us, so out with it."

"Robbery?" Casey held his hands up in a placating gesture, while his face took on a hurt, although fake, expression. "What do you take me for? A crook? Actually, I came to check on you."

"Me?" Something unpleasant thudded in Angel's chest as she recalled her hostile behavior from the night before. Caught up in their banter, she had completely forgotten all about it.

"Yeah, Angel. I haven't seen you since after the whole incident with the Purple Dragons until last night and it's no secret you acted odd and all." Angel almost snorted at that. Odd was an understatement. Try downright venomous. She held it back though. "Have you been avoiding me?"

Angel was quiet, not quite sure yet how she was going to say things. "Can I at least come in?" Casey tried again and, this time, Angel glanced at him, raising an eyebrow as one corner of her lips quirked upwards in a smile.

Stepping aside, she allowed Casey to enter, before sliding the door shut.

"Angel, listen, I'm serious when I say I worry about you," Casey said, plopping himself down in the most convenient chair and dropping his bag of miscellaneous crime fighting gear on the floor next to it.

Angel placed the knife on the small counter, then hoisted herself up so that she was seated facing Casey. "You know you almost died last time you tried to help me," she reminded him.

Casey's eyebrows furrowed. "You're still upset about that? I thought that was, you know, past and everything? Ancient history?"

Angel shrugged. "Not the kind of thing you forget easily."

"Yeah, well, forget it, because the rest of us already have. I mean it, Angel. Dwelling on something like this won't change the fact that it happened."

"That's surprisingly wise coming from you. Whatever happened to you talkin' with your fists?"

"Been hangin' with Master Splinter at the Lair." Casey leaned back in the chair, arms folded behind his head, looking decidedly pleased with himself.

Angel frowned. Master Splinter? Lair? What?

Casey's grin faded. "Right. You're new to the whole mutant turtle thing. Guess you haven't exactly been filled in on all the details, huh?"

"I hope you're planning on getting around to that sometime, Casey. I hate being left in the dark about stuff like this."

"I'm sure you'll hear all about it someday," Casey reassured her.

"I'd better," Angel muttered, resting her hands on her knees and leaning forward slightly.

"You still never answered my question," Casey reminded her. "You been avoiding me or somethin'?"

Angel looked away briefly. "I'm just… " She stopped mid-sentence and glared suspiciously at Casey. "You giving me the third degree here?"

"I'm being your friend, Angel. Isn't this what friends do?"

Ignoring the question, she said, "Seems weird that the Dragons would forget about everything, just like that," Angel said. "Doesn't it? Wouldn't have figured they were the forgiving type." She said the last bit with a disbelieving snort, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

Casey snorted, fingering the handle of one of his bats. "They're not."

"So where are they?"

Casey blinked. "What?"

"Where are they if they never forgive? They've already got a grudge against you, Case. You and your mutant friends have gotten in their way before-trust me, I've heard them talk- and after crashing their little initiation party…"

"The Dragons hate us. It's no big secret," Casey answered. Once more, the grin found its way onto his face. Like having a gang after your heads was something to be proud of. Likely, he thought it was, but, then, Casey had always been weird. His choice of friends was a testament to that fact.

She cocked her head to the side as she continued. "…it's a surprise that they haven't gone after you already. Plus, it won't take them long to guess that I was the one who led the turtles there."

Casey's eyes widened and he sat up straight in his chair. "They're planning something," he said. There was no doubt in his voice. He knew what he was talking about.

Angel weighed her next words carefully. "One of the initiates followed me last night," she finally ended up saying. She left out the part about her knowing him. For now, that stayed a secret.

Casey's eyes narrowed. "And you never said anything?"

"Didn't know till after I left you guys last night. He came here last night though. My grandmother spoke with him. Said he was looking for me."

"Friend of yours?" Casey snorted.

"Please. Like I was ever a 'friend' to one of those Dragons," Angel scoffed, putting on an offended air at the idea.

"I don't know, Angel." Casey raised an eyebrow skeptically.

"That was a long time ago!" Angel snapped, hopping off the counter. Changing the subject and deciding on a tactic resembling hospitality, she said, "You've been here a while. Want something to eat?"

Casey looked a bit sheepish. "Got any of your grandmother's cookies around?"

"There's some in the fridge."

"Then yes! Er," he corrected himself hastily, "yes, please, I mean."

Angel couldn't hold back a laugh. "This April girl's teachin' you manners. You were never this polite when I first met you."

"She wouldn't let me eat otherwise. And her cooking rivals your grandma's. As I recall, though, you're manners were worse."

"I'll always be worse then you, Casey." Angel grabbed the plate out of the fridge and chucked the first cookie at his head.

Casey grabbed for the cookie, missing it, so that it met its mark on the side of his forehead, afterwards landing in his lap. "Hope yer plannin' on sweepin' up the crumbs, cuz I ain't doin' it," he said cheerfully. "Toss me another one, will ya?"

Pursing her lips into a thin line, Angel hurled the next one at him. Prepared, Casey snagged it before it could connect with his head. "Aimin' for the head, are we?" he complains with a mouth stuffed full of cookie.

"Shut up. You asked for it remember?" Angel hoisted herself back onto the counter, crossing her legs and taking one of the cookies for herself. It was a wise thing to do as Casey momentarily hopped out of his seat and claimed the entire plate as his own.

"Ba' to the prev's top'c." Casey had trouble forming the words with his mouth full of cookie and Angel was seriously tempted to take back her comment regarding his manners. Seems as if nothing really has changed, she decided with the sort of fondness one would feel for an older sibling. He coughed, swallowing down the mouthful and grabs another one of the plate. "Back to the previous topic," he repeats more clearly, because, no, a plateful of cookies doesn't just make you forget about one of the most vicious street gangs that the city has to offer. "Did the guy following you say anythin'? Y'know, after you wised up and realized he was followin' you?"

Once more, Angel found herself wondering what to say. Mentioning the warning would most likely lead to the confession that she knew Ty and she had already decided to keep that detail to herself. Angel folded her arms in an expression akin to defiance, scowling at the wall to her left.

"Maybe…"

"Out with it, Squirt."

Angel nearly choked on her cookie as she squawked with indignation at the nickname. "What did you…?"

"Just… out with it already."

"Fine." Angel shifted uncomfortably, glaring at him for making her talk. "He warned me to watch my back." That was, essentially, the truth and it sounded enough like an anonymous threat that she didn't need to explain about Ty.

Casey leaned forward in his chair, hands clasped between his leg. Half a cookie was still hanging from his mouth and he took a moment to remove it. "A threat? And you didn't, I don't know, find that remotely concerning?"

"I don't need you looking after me, Casey."

"You forgetting that's my job?"

"Your job is dressing up in a hockey mask and beating the crap out of Dragons, not hounding me."

"I'm not hounding you."

"Yes," she pointed an accusing finger at him, "you are."

"Angel." He spoke slowly. "I. Am. No…" The front door creaked open, interrupting him and he snapped his mouth shut.

"Angel?" Her grandmother's voice had both their eyes widening.

"She's home," Angel whispered. Casey nearly choked on his current mouthful of cookies.

Regaining his composure, he swallowed the cookie, before answering. "So? She loves me."

"Angel?" Her grandmother entered the room, a bag of groceries in her arms. "Angel, what…?" She caught sight of Casey who, at this point, had devoured at least half the entire thing of cookies.

Casey leaned back easily, attempting nonchalance. "Hey!" he greeted, a wide grin spreading all the way to his ears. It was the smile of a guilty child, caught in the midst of doing something wrong, an I ate nearly all your cookies, but please don't kill me smile and Angel decided she would never get tired of seeing that look on Casey's face.

She slid off the counter, because, of course, there was a rule against sitting on top of that too. Her grandmother turned her gaze on her. Angel froze in place.

Crap. Her grandmother never did miss a single detail. Still, the look she gave her was more tired than angry and Angel once again felt something tugging on her heart. "Hey, Grandma," she said, more subdued than she had been while going back and forth with Casey.

"Angel." Her grandmother placed the paper bag on the counter. Her eyes drifted over to Casey and, then, to the half devoured plate of cookies. Casey, at least, looked more than a little sheepish. She cast a questioning look between the two of them.

"Caught him breaking in through the back," Angel informed her. She smirked halfheartedly, even though she normally would have sent a look his way. The indignant sputter that came from Casey as he leaped, or tried to leap, out of the chair made her smile more genuine. Halfway out of the chair, he seemed to decide it wasn't worth the effort and sank back down.

"I was not breaking in!" he protested indignantly. "That's the kind of thing I stop, not commit!"

"Uh huh." Angel would have thrown another cookie had there been one available and since all remaining cookies were next to Casey, she couldn't really decide to up and grab one.

"It's been some time since you came by, Casey." Ignoring the back and forth between them, she grabbed the plate of cookies without commenting on the amount left and whisked it back into the kitchen.

"You, uh, you make some great cookies," Casey answered weakly, the left side of his mouth twisting into a half-grin. It kind of reminded Angel of the characters you sometimes saw on TV. He stood up, slinging his bag back over his shoulder.

"Thinking of leaving, young man?" Her grandmother turned on Casey, her tone stern, though the faintest upward motion of the corner of her lips betrayed her mirth.

"Actually," Casey said, "I was wondering if I could take Angel with me."

Angel raised her eyebrows. This was the first she'd heard of that request. Didn't think to mention that when we were together, huh? she thought. Telepathy didn't exist, but she still directed the thought at him.

Or… maybe telepathy did actually exist. After all, if there were mutant turtles running around in the sewers, who knew what else was out there? There… there might even be giant rats running around in the sewers. She could just picture that. Rats and turtles.

What did he think they were going to do anyway? Attack the Dragons? In the middle of the day? And hadn't they just been talking about avoiding them?

Still, she at least could feel grateful. After all, she didn't really enjoy staying cooped up. If she was going to be hanging out with Casey, well, then what was the problem with that?

Her grandmother didn't answer and Angel recognized hesitation when she saw it. "I'll take care of her," Casey urged. "There's just something… going on."

Angel's eyes widened and she shook her head at Casey. Her grandmother knew nothing of her attempt to get initiated into a gang. She'd rather it stay that way.

"It might be best for Angel to hang somewhere else. I know a place," Casey continued. He narrowed his eyes at Angel. He'd gotten the message, but he didn't seem very happy about it.

"Angel's a teenager… What could possibly…?" Her grandmother sounded bewildered. Angel didn't blame her. She'd probably be pretty bewildered too if somebody started babbling the way Casey is. She made note to punch him in the nose if he ever was that confusing and unclear with her. The thought almost made her smirk. Almost.

Instead, she sort of snorted under her breath, which earned her a glare from her grandmother. Angel shrugged innocently and gestured at Casey.

"You want Angel to… leave?" Her grandmother looks between them as if their faces hold the answers she wants, but they don't. Why did her grandmother have to say "leave?" She made it sound so… permanent.

"No," Angel said, "not 'leave.'" She stops. How can she explain something when she had no idea what exactly is going on herself. She had an idea. Casey wanted her away from the Purple Dragons.

She decided then and there that she really was going to punch Casey in the nose for not bringing this up earlier. Or… maybe not in the nose. That might be taking things a little too far. The arm would be better by far. Hard too. He deserved that much at least.

Casey had already come closer and was extending one hand in a reassuring manner. "Yeah, not leaving. Well, actually, yes leaving. Not permanent or anything. It's just… really important that Angel find somewhere else to stay right now. It's, y'know, temporary." There he went again, speaking vaguely. Although, could Angel really blame him since he was respecting the fact that she didn't want her grandmother to know about her recent association with the Purple Dragons?

There was a lot she still needed to sort out.

"It has to do with the boy who showed up last night," Angel said slowly, gauging her grandmother's expression. She jumped up, before her grandmother could ask any questions. "I-I'm gonna be fine. I promise. I've had to take care of myself for a while, remember? I can do it."

For a moment, her grandmother stared at her. Angel could see a million thoughts flitting across her face and she wondered which one was going to be spoken aloud. Instead, her grandmother didn't say anything and surprised her by wrapping her into a tight hug. "Angel, promise me," she whispered into her ear. "Promise me you haven't gotten involved in…" she broke off for a moment, composing herself, and didn't finish the sentence. "Not like your father. I don't want you to end up like him." Her grandmother's voice was so heartbroken that Angel was harshly reminded that she had already lost a son, not to death, but to addiction and who knew what else. Angel swallowed and leaned into the hug, wrapping her arms around her grandmother's shoulders.

"I'm not, I promise," she answered. Her grandmother's arms tightened around her for a moment before releasing her and she could sense Casey shifting awkwardly behind her. Angel didn't have it in her to be embarrassed.

Angel could see the conflicting emotions in her grandmother's face before she finally sighed. "I'm trusting you," was all she said, before taking a step back and glancing at Casey.

Casey rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. "I know." Angel glared at him, but he seemed sincere enough. She silently let it go, feeling herself deflate.

"Be careful," her grandmother said.

XxXxXxXxX

It was amazing, Angel reflected as she took in the streets around them, how somethings could change so drastically overnight. At night, these streets were filled with teenaged punks looking for something to vandalize or gang members on the prowl. And then there were the idiots like Casey who ran around all night with mutant turtles and baseball bats, trying to whack them all on the head. And now… in daylight… they were still unkempt, but graffiti seemed less menacing and it was hard to imagine that a mugging could, and sometimes would, happen no farther then two blocks from where she lived.

Speaking of Casey… Angel tuned back into whatever "speech" it was that he was trying to make. Casey had never quite been one for words. "…really oughta tell her about… well, you know… everything. After all, she's probably been worried sick about you and… OW!" He broke off and rubbed the sore spot on his bicep, giving Angel a baleful stare.

"And that's for being, you know, confusing." Angel jammed her hands into her pockets and sauntered ahead, purposefully putting an extra spring into her step.

"Confusing? Give a guy a break, will ya?" Casey sent another glare her way.

"Next time, if you have something in mind, tell me, okay? Don't spring it on Grandma last minute like that."

"Oh, uh, that." Casey had the decency to look sheepish. "Sorry 'bout that. I was gonna say somethin' earlier, but then… well, it didn't come out 'till your grandma came home."

"You still should have told me!" Angel cried, exasperated. She paused. Then, "Thanks anyway."

"Thanks?" Casey sounded a little bewildered and Angel turned an irritated glance at him.

"Yeah, thanks. Don't sound so surprised. I mean it. It's for… talking to her like that."
"It's April's."

"What?" Angel spun around to face him, wondering just how much of her surprise was showing on her face. She supposed, though, she shouldn't be surprised. After all where else would he bring her? Unless he had some sort of secret base of operations she didn't know about and, knowing Casey, that wouldn't be too surprising. Angel remembered him mentioning "The Lair." What else did he have up his sleeve?

"April's place. That's where we're goin.'"

"And… does she know? About your 'idea?'" Angel refocused her attention on the matter at hand.

To his credit, Casey didn't squirm, but instead set his jaw firmly and marched ahead. "I didn't get the idea until you said you'd run into the guy last night. April… doesn't really like unannounced guests, but… if it has to with the Dragons… She'll understand. Trust me. She will."

"You really acted on a whim, didn't you?" Angel shook her head, but then her expression softened. "Thank you."

"What friends do, ain't it?" Casey answered gruffly. "Anyways, I promised your grandma…"

Angel's eyes widened in shock and she turned on Casey, blocking his path. "What the?" Casey stopped short to avoid walking into her and, almost against her will, Angel's hands grasped both his arms.

"Casey! My grandma! What about her?"

"Angel." Casey carefully pried her death grip off his arms and placed his hands on her shoulders. "I already thought about that. She'll be fine. If they worked that way, they'd have gone after April." When Angel didn't appear to be completely convinced, he continued, "Look, I'll ask Leo and the others to watch the place just to be safe, but it's best that you stay away for now."

Angel opened her mouth to respond, but instead pursed her lips, frowning at him.

Suddenly… "Behind you!" Angel shouted, face morphing into a panicked expression and Casey didn't think, just reacted. This was something he was used to.

Automatically reaching back and pulling out a hockey stick, he shifted his position, pivoting on one foot, so that he was facing in the new direction, ready to beat the living daylights out of whoever dared mess with Casey Jones.

The man standing in front of them was large. So was the bat he had slung over his shoulder, which he grasped with both hands, swinging if forward so that is was now positioned in front of him. What drew Angel's attention, however, was the dragon tattoo that was stood out on his cheek and then curled down around his neck. "Well, well," he said, an ugly smile appearing on his face as several more figures joined him, "looks like we just stumbled across two of our least favorite people."