Caitlin and Jake exchanged glances. They both knew what had to be done; M had to be returned to his family. They had obviously been searching for him for a long time.

Splinter took the moment of silence to begin speaking. He needed answers to questions and he was sure that Raphael and his friends did as well. "Ahem," the old rat cleared his throat and got everyone's attention. "Perhaps we should all sit down and take a moment to relax. Then all questions can be answered."

Everyone agreed and took a seat. M stayed in his place on the couch with Caitlin to his left. Michelangelo plopped down on the sofa to his right and grinned at his brother when M glared at him. He was still hanging his head down in his hands, still feeling a little overwhelmed. His headache was doing it's best to hang on, despite Splinter's special tea. Michelangelo responded to his brother's stare with a giant grin plastered from ear to ear. M couldn't help but give a small smile back. The youngest of the turtles didn't seem to be suspicious of him like the other two and put him at ease, if only a little.

Leonardo brought in some extra chairs from the kitchen and seated them around the coffee table, across from the couch. Jake sat directly across from M and Caitlin. Casey sat next to Jake and Splinter claimed is usual space in his recliner. Leonardo stood by his sensei, refusing to relax. Donatello sat in the lawn chair across from Splinter and Leonardo.

When everyone was settled, Splinter began. "Now then," he looked at Jake. "Am I to assume that there is a higher authority that is expecting our return?"

Jake nodded yes to Splinter's question and Splinter continued. "Very well, then to keep this brief, we shall only focus on questions dealing with our present situation. I will ask a question and you will answer. In return, you can ask a question and we will answer in kind."

"Sounds fair enough," Jake responded. "Go ahead."

"Very well. Who are you and how do you know my son?" Splinter eyed Jake and indicated to Raphael as he spoke.

Jake took in a breath. He was trying to answer the question without giving away too much information. "Well," he started. "I'm Jake and this," he pointed to the girl on the sofa, "is Caitlin. I guess you could say we've raised……um……..Raphael. Caitlin serves as the kid's doctor and teacher. I instruct him on……other things."

Splinter accepted the answer, as general as it was and was ready for Jake's question.

Leonardo had other ideas. "Who are you working for and what is all that equipment for!" That was more of a demand than a question. Leonardo emphasized his point by slamming the pistol and wad of cash down on the table. "And what about this?" he hissed, glaring at his brother.

Raphael returned the stare with his own and a growl. He was about to stand and face the blue bandanna turtle when he felt a hand on his arm. He looked over at Caitlin who simply mouthed the words "sit down." M had experienced his share of discipline from both Caitlin and Jake when he was a child. If there was one thing he remembered from it all, it was that Caitlin meant what she said. Still fuming, he sat down.

While this was happening, Leonardo was receiving a version of the same thing from his father. "Leonardo," he stated firmly. "This is our brother and his friends are our guests. I will not have them treated in such a disrespectful manner," his tail and stick hit the ground at the same time. This action emphasized Splinter's words and produced the desired effect.

Leonardo bowed his head to his father. "My apologies sensei," he said softly. "I spoke out of turn." Splinter accepted the apology with an approving smile and nod to indicate to Jake, Caitlin, and Raphael. Leonardo nodded to the three of them. "I am sorry for my rudeness." Jake accepted the apology and Leo returned to his spot beside Splinter.

Splinter continued the conversation. "I believe it is your turn to ask a question."

"All right then," Jake said. "How did the kid get hurt and what happened to his stuff?" Jake pointed to the contents of the book bag, crushed into oblivion.

"Apparently, when my sons were out on patrol, they saw Raphael running. His face was covered so they did not know it was him. All they were aware of was that someone was running from the police and they tried to stop him. He was injured and brought back here." Splinter stroked his chin and thought for a moment. "I have yet to be informed about the destruction of your property. Perhaps Leonardo can shed some light on that."

"Yeah," M growled sarcastically. "I'd looooove to hear this one." He glared at Leonardo.

"Easy kid. Calm down." Jake instructed. "Give them a chance to explain."

"Explain! Like they explained how I got 'injured?" he made quotes with his fingers at the last word. "That wasn't much of an explanation."

Jake stood up to meet M's angry gaze. He spoke in a low but firm tone. "You need to sit down and sit down now." Jake was not playing and he wanted to make sure the kid understood it.

He didn't.

"No! I won't sit down." M had had it by this point. His anger had reached its boiling point. "I do my job and I'm running back to meet you only I get jumped. One of 'em knocks me out and I end up with stitches. Then they crap my stuff up!" He was going full force now. M turned to look directly at Leonardo. "And this one," he pointed. "He apparently thinks I'm some sort of criminal!"

"You were running from the police!" Leonardo said back to him. "You were carrying a gun. What was I supposed to think?" Leonardo wasn't yelling, not yet anyway. He was very close to it though.

"Think! That's just it you didn't think! You didn't even answer my questions when I talked to you! You just stood there with some stupid grin looking like a ………………"

M's words were cut off when he felt a slight prick and a warm sensation come over his body. His legs got weak and he tried to gain his balance but it didn't work. He heard soft voice in his ear again and a small pair of hands pull on his arms.

"The couch is right behind you," Caitlin whispered to him. "Just sit down. We've got you."

M turned to see who she meant by 'we.' Mikey was on the other side of him, with his hands under M's shoulders so he didn't go down to fast. He looked back at Caitlin, "What did you do?" he asked weakly.

"Your usual cocktail when you get this way." She spoke to him again.

He leaned back into the couch and rested his head on the pillow Michelangelo provided for him. "I hate needles," he said in an exhausted voice.

"I know," Caitlin answered sympathetically; she stroked the side of his face as she talked to him. "I'm sorry."

The last lucid thought M had, was what he said to Caitlin. Nothing complex. Just a simple, "s'okay."

Everyone but Jake just stared at what happened before them. They were all dumbfounded at what Caitlin just did. While Raphael was going into his rant, she injected him with something and then helped him to sit down.

"What did you do to him?" Casey whispered.

This time Jake decided to answer. "He gets that way, he can't always help it. It's one of the side effects of the steroid use."

"But," Donnie interrupted. "Steroids are a drug. Why would you let him use steroids? Don't you realize what they could do to him?" He was totally flabbergasted as what he saw and heard. He couldn't comprehend someone purposely doing things like that to them self.

"We don't let him USE anything. I give him the steroids; he doesn't take them on his own." Caitlin had dismantled the used needle and placed it in a container back in her bag. She made a mental note to dispose of it when they returned to the station.

"But why?" Michelangelo whimpered. Caitlin looked at the youngest turtle and smiled sweetly. He was defenitly the charmer of the group and she feared she had lost his trust with what she had done.

"Mike," she started. "I had to." She stopped for a moment. "Jake?" she questioned. "Is it okay? Or do you want to tell them?"

"I'll do it." He gave her a half hearted smile. What he thought had started out as the perfect plan was becoming the exact opposite. He cleared his throat and started in on his story but was interrupted.

"Excuse me," Splinter started. "I believe my son still owes you an explanation as to why your equipment has been ruined." Splinter eyed Leonardo and noticed that Casey was also beginning to fidget.

"It's my fault," the human stated, grinning sheepishly at Jake.

"No Casey," Leonardo interrupted him. "you only did what I asked you to. I'm the one responsible," and he turned to speak to Jake. "I'm sorry. We were afraid there were tracking or homing devices in the electronics. And he's right." He nodded to the now sleeping turtle. "Based on what he had on him and what was in his back pack, we thought he might have been a drug dealer."

Jake had to stifle a laugh. "He's the opposite of that."

Leonardo eyed him quizzically. "Please explain," Splinter asked.

By this time, Jake's laugh was a little more obvious and Caitlin was starting to giggle. "We're CIA Leo. The kid here is one of the organizations top operatives." Leonardo was staring at him dumbfounded.

"Cool!" Michelangelo stated. "My brother is a super spy."

"Well, not quite," Jake continued. "He does all the dirty work and clean up that the other agents can't handle. He does a good job of it. When you ran into him the other week, he was doing a little bit of research. He broke into that warehouse to get some info on some drop off points for a meth dealer."

"Makes sense," Casey said as he remembered what they had found in the abandoned building. "But what was he doing running from the police? You gotta' admit, that's a little suspicious."

"It is. He just shot someone." More looks of shock graced the faces of his hosts. Apparently these guys have a problem with guns. "Don't get excited. The guy was a known drug dealer and no ones been able to touch him, until now. The kid put him out of business." Jake was looking around the room, waiting on something to happen or someone to say something.

"Jake," Caitlin interrupted. "We have to get him back to the station." She sounded urgent and indicated to M as he was starting to shiver. His jaw had become clench and his brow furrowed. A small groan escaped his lips as he tried to move. "I need to get him back to the lab."

Jake nodded in agreement and looked at Casey. "Help me move him?" Casey stood up to give Jake an assist but a voice stopped him.

"Wait," Leonardo moved in. "I'll help." He grabbed under one of his brother's arms while Jake grabbed the other. As the moved Raphael into the sewers and back out to their vehicle, Leonardo spoke again, "Our brother needs to come home."

"Agreed," Jake answered.

"We knew this was going to happen sometime," Caitlin added. "Fortunately, we've prepared for such a situation."