wow, I am nothing but a humble computer geek who stumbled upon the world of tmnt fanfics and decided to try it. I don't deserve your praise!

to answer some questions:1) yes he is pointing to something but i can't tell you that, it will ruin the story. 2) donny's playing with something dangerous because it's more fun to write then Donny's fixing the toaster. 3) the first chapter will make sense, but not until later on. remember, patience is a virtue! evil smirk

and for all you people reading the story and not reviewing: please? pretty please? reviews give me the confidance to post more, which I sorely need!

Disclaimer: Not mine! No! Turtles not mine! (I need to remind myself every once and a while)

Chapter 2:

The moonlight shone brightly on the rooftops in the city of New York. The night was clear and cold, with an icy wind gusting through the streets. A dark shadow leapt between buildings, taking off and landing silently. Raph was furious. He ran faster then ever before, panting and sweating slightly despite the cold. The wind played with his bandanna tails, causing them to whip out behind him as he ran. It was late fall, nearly winter. Winter was Raph's least favorite time of the year. It wasn't the dreary grayness he disliked, like most people. On the contrary, he found it rather comforting. It was the fact that because of the cold, and his being cold blooded, he was hardly ever allowed topside, except for emergencies. Being cooped up for that much with 'Fearless Leader' was enough to make his head explode!

God Leo, why do you have to be such a perfectionist? Just let me do what I like! I'm not hurting anyone.

His mind was racing, so many thoughts whirling around inside his head. I didn't really do anything that bad. He leapt across a particularly wide gap, which he had come upon without really realising it. He just barely made it across, but he stumbled a little on the landing, scraping his leg on the rough cement.

Shit! he cursed inwardly, stopping his mad dash across the city to inspect his wound. Nothing major. He had dealt with much worse over ther years. He was bleeding, but he left it alone. It wasn't life threatening, he could clean it up when he went home. Still, it was painful, so he decided to slow down for a while.

He wandered over to the side of the roof, and looked down at the busy intersection below. He made his way to the edge and sat down, inhaling and exhaling deeply, trying to slow his pounding heart. The drops of sweat clinging to his body turned cold, causing him to shiver. He hugged himself and rubbed his upper arms, trying to warm up. It really was starting to cool down. He'd have to go home soon, as much as he hated to do it. Once again he thought of Casey's nice warm apartment, and figured that he would definately have to stop by for a while. The longer he could avoid confronting Leo and Splinter, the better. He just had to think about some stuff first.

He sat there, fuming quietly, watching as each set of headlights flew by on the street far below. What is his problem! He wanted me to stay home for no reason. That really didn't make much sense. Why would he want me to stay around? If it were me, I'd be begging him to leave. He just didn't want me to do anything that wasn't his idea. Raph pulled a sai out of his belt and began to twirl it idly, still consumed in his thoughts. He knows exactly how to drive me crazy, and sometimes he's more annoying then Mikey! That's really saying something too. Man, sometimes I think I should just not go back home at all, but if I didn't, I know they'd just track me down, and then I'd have to deal with an angry Leo AND Splinter, instead of just annoyed Leo. I know that would be so much worse. Of course, Splinter already blew his top at me. Maybe they were glad to get rid of me.

Raph looked at his hand and realised he had begun spinning his sai faster and faster as his anger increased. He stopped his incessant twirling and stuck his sai back in his belt, still thinking about his earlier experience. Stop thinking like that, he scolded himself. Sure, we fight a lot, but what normal family doesn't? I can't leave them. They're all I have. Without them, I'd be even more of a nothing then I already am.

Raph sighed again. He was still furious, but he didn't exactly feel like killing anybody anymore. That was a good sign. He picked up a rock lying next to him and threw it into a dumpster below. He smiled slightly, satisfied with the loud crash it made when it connected with the metal. He really had to stop depressing himself like this. He had enough to worry about without having to worry about his own mind turning on him. Suddenly he sensed movement behind him.

He jumped up and drew his sais all in one fluid movement. He narrowed his eyes, searching for anything out of the ordinary. He thought he saw a flash of light out of the corner of his eye. He crouched low, and slowly made his way in that direction. He reached the edge of the roof, and peered down into the alley underneath. As he was examining the alley, he didn't notice the figure sneaking up behind him. He was trembling now, not from fear, but from the cold. He really should have worn a coat or something. He really didn't want to get into a fight at the moment, not when he was so distracted, and with the cold already begining to slow his reflexes. He heard a slight scuffling noise coming from right behind him, a whirled around, a split second too late.

A sickening crack echoed through the alleys below, and the shadowed figure dropped a now bent pipe on the ground next to the still body of the fallen turtle. He quickly signaled to his companions and two other shadows came forward, lifting the limp form and carrying him away into the night.

Back at the lair, Mikey and Donny sat on the couch watching T.V. while Leo sat on a chair nearby flipping through a worn out book of Japanese history. Splinter was still in his room, meditating. He was sitting on the floor in the lotus position, eyes closed, breathing slowly and evenly. Inside his mind, everything was just as peaceful. Splinter prepared himself to end his meditative state, needing to stretch his legs and have a cup of tea.

Out of nowhere, he suddenly got a very bad feeling. He wasn't sure what it was, but it was making him nervous. He pushed the feeling aside, thinking that it must have been an overprotective father worrying about everything. Still,... He got up, and left his room. Glancing around quickly, he counted three people in the room, all of which looked up at him as he entered. He nodded to them, and supplied them with a thin smile before proceeding to the kitchen. Raphael was missing yet again. The sinking feeling returned, at full force as he poured his tea. He would wait before he told his sons about this feeling. There was no need to worry them over nothing, not yet. Still...

A/N: Well, there you go. Getting curious yet? Keep reviewing and I'll keep writing, but not one without the other.