A/N: By the time this chapter is over you may hate me a little mre, I don't know. All I can say is that it will get better... eventually. Anyway enjoy and please review.

Chapter Fourteen: Arguments Galore

Later that week Delaney found herself walking the sewers around the lair while everyone else seemed to be a little occupied. She needed some fresh air and now that Casey was linked to the Purple Dragon incident, April's apartment probably wouldn't be the best place to go. Donatello was trying to change the bandages on Michelangelo's leg at the moment, and it didn't help that the patient complained about it the whole time. They finally took the bandage off his head and reveled a very big bump on the noggin, but nothing too serious. He was doing much better, and against Splinter and Donatello's advice he was back in the dojo in the mornings. His limp was close to gone; a lot of them didn't even see it any more. He didn't spar with his brothers just yet because of his leg, so he helped to meditate or train with Delaney on basics. She enjoyed the company and she had a feeling he did too.

The issue with Callista and Raphael has grown even more mysterious. Every time that Delaney tried to bring it up to Callista during one of their brain storming sessions in their room, she cuts to a different discussion or ignores her completely. Michelangelo tried to get the information out of Raphael, but he was even harder to crack than Callista was. He wouldn't hurt Michelangelo because of the injuries he already had, but he has threatened to make new ones once he got better if he kept pushing his luck. Michelangelo would soon back off after that and would wait for a few hours before bringing it back up again.

Delaney put the large orange sweater Mikey gave her on the cement and sat down on it. She watched the slow moving water and sewage float by and could have really gone for a better view, but what could she expect from a sewer?

She slowly closed her eyes and began to meditate by the edge. She successfully blocked out the smell of the garbage and let the sound of the water calm her. She took a few centering breaths and began to concentrate. Through her concentration she felt another presence in the tunnel. It was trying not to bring attention to itself, but it was hard to keep your presence unknown when someone was meditating. The person stepped over to her and started to bring their hand in front of her face. Faster than she thought was possible she grabbed the wrist and opened her eyes.

"Hey, your reflexes are getting better," Michelangelo commented looking at her hand that had his wrist.

"I thought you would know better than to sneak up on somebody who was meditating," she let go of his wrist and watched him lower himself down to the cement with her, "I get very zoned when I do and don't recognize anyone if they chose to come looking for me."

"Yeah, well call me a fool."

"I already do," she smiled.

"Hey!" he lightly pushed her in the side, "Why aren't you meditating in the dojo? I think Leonardo is done practicing his balance now."

"Wasn't he focusing on his concentration?"

"Yeah, but he is also getting a little off balance too. I think something is really distracting him. He's never been like this before."

"Huh…" she shrugged her shoulders, "I wanted to take a walk, and then I wanted to meditate. My mind likes to wonder that way."

"I know what you mean," he smiled.

"I know if no one else does, you will always understand," she looked at his leg and saw the new bandaging, "So you're doing all right I see. They didn't have to amputate."

"Might as well have," Michelangelo pouted and looked at his leg, "It isn't even bleeding anymore and he wants to change the dressing every day."

"So it won't get infected and so no one will have to amputate the leg," Delaney reminded him, "Does anyone have any idea on what's going on with Yukio and his clan?"

"Nothing that I've heard. Donatello said he found something on one of the shurikens we picked up after the fight. Something like clothing material. It may lead us to the hideout," he kicked his feet back and forth just above the water's surface, "Why?"

"Because I'm going with you guys this next time and I want to know what to expect."

"What?" he snapped his head toward her, "You can't be serious, babe. That guy has some major issues and he is mondo hard to beat. I stand before you as proof of that."

"It's not like I'm going to challenge him or fight him at all. I just need some questions answered, that's all."

"I don't want you to go, dudette," he put and hand over one of hers.

"Mikey, he has given me no choice."

"No, I'm giving you no choice."

She looked a little surprised and then took on a stronger voice, "I won't sit back this next time and wonder which one of you is going to be hurt next. I want to be there."

"So you could be the one to get hurt?" Mikey cupped her face in one of his hands, keeping the other over her hand, "I don't want you to face him. Not without serious training. This guy is bad vibes."

"I know he is," she nodded, "But there is no way that I'm going to let it go without some questions answered."

"Then ask him when he's behind bars. After all of this is over and you're safe."

"He won't talk then. He's been trained not to. And he's stubborn that way," she shook her head and took his hand from her face with her free hand, "I need to know why."

"Because your dad got too close! How much harder or complicated does it have to be for you to understand?" he asked a little too harshly. Delaney looked at him with a near disgusted face and pulled her hand from his.

"Don't you think I can do this without getting hurt? I'm not stupid."

"You're strong and incredibly smart, Delaney. No doubt there, babe, but this guy is stronger. You have only had a few days of practice and training. This guy has no doubt years upon years of experience. I do too, but this guy swept the floor with me. And if it weren't for your ring he probably would have killed me."

"And that's what I'm trying to prevent. I won't let him kill you," she stood up and looked down at him, "Or anyone else. I will keep to the shadows and just listen in, it's not like I'm going to go right up to him and ask away."

"So you're going to sacrifice yourself for the cause? Is that it?" he stood up in front of her and looked her in the eyes, "He's good. I have a good feeling that even Leo would have a problem in taking him down. You have only started to train. Don't underestimate him. Don't put yourself out there for him to target."

"I am stronger than you think, Michelangelo!" she spat getting angrier, "If I did take the chance to face him I could come out alive. He may be a cold blooded killer, but he was once my friend."

"He pretended to be your friend. There is a big difference between that and actually being your friend."

"Like you right now?" she asked harshly causing him to step back a bit, "He was genuine at one point. He had ample time and opportunity to kill me before. Why did he wait?"

"Because he wouldn't have to kill you if your dad didn't figure it out it was his clan who did the murder."

"But my dad did. That night he could have killed me in the hallway, instead he made me run. Why? I want to know why. I need answers, and no one is going to get in my way to get them," she turned away from him toward the lair not wanting to go any further, but didn't get but two steps from him.

"Now who's being the fool?" he said softly toward her.

She turned around and glared at him. Quickly without any thought or reason other than rage and emotion she slapped him across the face with her right hand, "Don't you dare call me a fool for caring about you and everybody else! I want to protect you guys from my mess."

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. The hurt wasn't physical so much as it was emotional for him. She has never been this emotional before, and he knew that she would never raise a hand to anyone unless she felt that she needed to. After a few moments he slowly turned his face to her and opened his eyes. He looked down to see her looking at her right hand, still surprised at her own action. His feelings were confirmed. She didn't really want to do that.

"It isn't your mess," he started softly, "You got dragged into it, just like your friends and family did. This is not your fault. None of it."

He tried to touch her, but she backed away from his touch… for the first time.

"Then tell me. Whose is it…" her voice was cracking even though she was as still as a statue and still holding her gaze at her right hand, "…if it isn't the fool's?"

"True, that's what you are being right now, Delaney. Like a fool. But you are not to blame. You were never to blame. This guy can kill you! Think! What have you been running all this time for if not from him? God, please just think about this!" he was close to begging for some common sense. Ironically enough, something he has lacked most of the time.

"He will not kill me," she turned again from Michelangelo, "I won't give him the chance. He'll catch my shadow before he will kill me… or anyone I care for."

"Delaney, please think about this," he watched as she stormed from the tunnel back toward the lair.

He let out a breath of air, touched the left side of his face and looked down at the place they were sitting. She forgot the sweater on the cement. He picked it up and slung it over his shoulder. He looked at the water for a few seconds to think and then closed his eyes in frustration. If she did go through with it, there would be a very good chance that she wouldn't get out of it alive. There was no chance that he would let that happen. He took one of his nunchakus from his belt and looked at them as he made his way back to the lair.

Once he made it back to the lair he saw Amity and Donatello looking over the piece of material under the microscope with Eros in the background looking at what looked like a smaller piece of the material. Callista and Raphael were on the couch watching another one of the alien movies commenting on the bad effects. Splinter looked like he was in his room, more than likely meditating on the situation. Leonardo was seen walking up to his room with one of his katana books, he would be busy for quite a while. But where was Delaney?

He scanned the room once again and found her head poking barely over the top of the beanbag next to the couch. He cleared his throat and took a deep breath. He took the sweater off of his shoulder and went over to the beanbag chair. He stood right next to her and held out the sweater. She didn't move, but he knew that she knew he was there.

"You left this out on the tunnel," he said in a dull tone and handed the sweater to her.

"Thanks."

The one word answer seemed to hold no emotion, no feeling, and no actual gratitude. She took the sweater from his hand and quickly went to her room, not even giving him one glance. He closed his eyes at the sound of her door slamming and slowly opened his eyes to see everyone looking at him.

"What was that all about?" Raphael asked since he was the closest to his brother.

"Just…don't," Michelangelo shook his head and started to head up to his room.

Raphael turned to Callista for an answer. She looked at him, to Michelangelo and then to the tunnel that led to the girl's bedrooms. She took a deep breath and got up from the couch.

"I'll talk to her," she said and started to walk to the room.

"And I'll talk to Mikey," Raphael stood up. Callista looked back at him with an amused smile on her lips.

"You? The tough guy? Going to talk to Michelangelo about relationship issues?"

"Tough times call for tough measures," he offered and headed toward the upper level to his brother's room.

Callista shook her head in wonder and went to the room she shared with Delaney. Amity excused herself from Donatello for a moment and caught up with Callista before she got too far.

"You sure you don't need reinforcements?" Amity offered.

"I'm pretty sure. Besides, you probably will be poking me in the side with every word that I'm going to say to her."

"Don't be too harsh," Amity reminded her and walked back toward the lab.

"Yeah right, harsh is my life," Callista whispered to her herself and opened the door.

"I don't want to talk about it," Delaney automatically said from her position leaning over the photos and evidence that they had collected so far and gripping tightly to an old looking tie that Callista has never seen before. She must have gotten it from her father's apartment before she went on the run and never brought it out until now.

"Well, tough luck because we are," Callista came straight over to her and pushed her face up to meet hers, "What the Hell happened out there?"

"Nothing," she tugged her face away from Callista's grasp and went over to her bed wrapping the tie tightly around her right hand.

"Don't give me that bull shit," she followed her and stood not but two inches from her the whole time, "You and Michelangelo have been inseparable since the day you two met. What the hell happened?"

"Some things were said on both of our parts that wasn't so good," she said and turned to her friend, "Happy?"

Delaney sat on the bed and crossed her arms over her chest, focusing her eyes on the other side of the room. Her eyes were becoming glossy and she knew that if she kept talking on the issue she would begin to bawl. Callista pushed back her hair and let out a breath of air. She sat next to her friend and looked her straight in the eyes.

"Whatever it wasn't couldn't be as bad as what you are making it out to be."

"Wanna bet?"

"Okay, give me a sample."

"He doesn't believe in me," her voice choked a little at the words.

"Did he say that?"

"No, not in those exact words," she said slowly.

"Did he say it at all?"

"He said I wouldn't survive if I went with them this next time."

"Went with them?" she asked, "Are you nuts?"

"Oh great! Now I'm getting it from you too!" Delaney threw her hands in the air and let a tear fall down the side of her face. She quickly wiped it away, "'You can't go because it's too dangerous'… 'You'll be the main target'… yada yada yada."

"You would be the major target, D."

"Look, all I want to do is stay in the shadows and listen in on their little conversations. I'm not thinking about going in there and just walking up to them and inquiring about my parents. Do you and Michelangelo really think that I am that dim?"

"No, we just care about your safety," she tried to calm her friend down, "Stepping into that place, wherever it is, is going to be a big step all together. That's dangerous to begin with. And you've been on their sonar for the past two months."

"I hope you are going to bring some relevance to your little speech soon, because I'm becoming very tired of it," Delaney said with a sigh and a sniff.

"You know what? So am I," Callista got up from the bed and walked toward the door, "I'm sorry that you and Michelangelo hurt each other right now, but you have a big problem in sulking in your own self pity. Pick it up and move on, because it will take a lot to convince the others to let you go. Especially to convince Splinter. Let it go. Just let it drop."

"Whatever Dr. Callista," Delaney rolled on her side her back to the door.

Callista shook her head and walked out the door, slamming the door shut behind her. Leaning up against the door she heard the start of sobbing noises coming from inside the room. Some other noises that resembled the tearing of paper and items thrown around the room were also heard. Then something was against the wall and seemed to slide down to the floor. Delaney got hurt. Badly. Callista took a huge breath and looked toward the upper story of the lair to see Raphael slowly stepping out of Michelangelo's room.

"All right be me! Just stay in your own self pity!" Raphael closed the door and came down to the ground floor. He found Callista with her arms folded in front of her, "I really hope it went better with Delaney."

"In what life time?" they both took a seat on the stairs, "Those two are of the same wavelength. I expected that with Delaney's reaction, Michelangelo probably would not be that far off."

"You know, I haven't seen him cry in quite a while," Raphael murmured thinking to himself, "Scream like a girl, yeah… but cry… I told you she would hurt him."

"They hurt each other. She was sobbing after I closed the door."

"Hey, I think I found something," Amity said as she looked into the microscope, "Donatello, take a look."

As Callista and Raphael made their way over to the lab Donatello made his way to the microscope from talking with Eros about the material composition.

"So what'd ya got, brain?" Callista asked Amity when she got close enough.

"I'm not quite sure," Amity said stepping away from the microscope so Donatello could see, "The material itself is a little atypical from our usual synthetic fibers on common clothing or as the guys are used to in ninja clothing, so it's problematical to find anything foreign on the fibers to begin with. But there is a variation of… soot or manufactured chemical that was rubbed on the cloth."

"Right…In layman's terms professor?" Raphael looked toward Donatello who was still looking at the soot spot that Amity had found.

"She said that it's not the same kind of ninja suit we're used to seeing. It's different… and it has a stain," Donatello looked up from the microscope with a little agitation to his voice about explaining plain English to his brother. He understood it perfectly.

"Well, there you go," Raphael said and leaned on the table.

"I think we should get Splinter and the others together after a few tests," Donatello mumbled as he typed some factors into his computer, "I think I know just where this stain comes from."

Everyone once again sat in the den watching the television screens. Donatello, Amity and Eros stood by the screens ready to explain the pictures flashing from one to the other every few minutes or so. Splinter took his usual spot on his large pillow with Leonardo sitting down beside him. Raphael and Callista took the couch but leaving some room if Delaney wanted to take a seat next to them. She slowly took a seat in a folding beach chair at the side of the room, trying to stay on the outside of the group. She didn't want anyone asking any more questions. After Callista talked with her Amity and Eros also tried to give her some comfort, but it didn't help. Callista looked at her friend to find the old tie material now wrapped around her right hand. Michelangelo was the last one to find a seat. He looked over at Delaney who had all her focus on the screens and he slowly sank into the beanbag chair.

"All right you scientists, what are we looking at here?" Raphael called from the couch, "You've been looking over that stupid stain for a few good days now since Amity found it. What's going on?"

"We are all in good agreement that the stain was from some fish oil produced on the east docks," Donatello pointed to the main screen that flashed a picture of the stain and then to a warehouse at the edge of a pier.

"Well, that's all good, but how do we know that that is the right warehouse?" Delaney asked.

"The specific fish oil we found had a particular attribute to it that is particular to that specific warehouse," Amity spoke up and went to another screen, "This warehouse has a slightly higher percentage of a certain type of steel in its structure. It eventually seeped into the fish oil."

"So there's your culprit, boys," Eros said and looked at the last screen on her side. There was a face of an old looking man that looked extremely close to what Yukio looked like if he was in his early fifties, "I introduce to you Taro Watanabe. He is the owner of the fish market and oil distribution… except, it looks like he has a side business as well."

The screen flashed to another close up picture to the back of the warehouse where the same Japanese symbol that Yukio had on his wrist was printed boldly in bright colors. It seemed a little comical when everyone thought about it. The symbol wasn't the only thing that was on the side of the building, it also showed a fish jumping behind it with a very big smile.

"You would think that a company would hide that symbol from the public if it was going to be connected to murders," Delaney offered.

"Yeah, but out of all the advertisements that we see around town, how many people actually pay attention to those that are selling fish oil?" Eros offered with a disgusted scrunch of her nose.

"So now, we know where the ninjas are coming from and their cover. Now the question is… where do we go from here?" Donatello looked at the warehouse and thought for a moment or two.

"I believe it is time that you visit this place," Splinter spoke up form the side.

Leonardo turned to his master, "Sensei?"

"Find out just what this company is doing behind closed doors. With the dragons having problems of their own, they may have resulted to making their own weapons. Try your best not to engage them in battle," Splinter got up from his pillow and started back toward his room, "Good luck my sons."

"Get ready for a steak out, turtles," Leonardo stood up, "We're going tomorrow night. Mikey, you going to be ready?"

"I have been ready," he nodded and flexed and relaxed his leg for his brother to see its progress.

"Master Splinter," Delaney stood up gaining everyone's attention, "I am going too."