Outside Chance

by WhyIsThisHappeningToMe

(set post s4 of TMNT 2012) Leo has to make a lifechanging decision when the rebel-foot clan destroys their home. In a desperate attempt to escape, the turtles use the strange substance 'purple ooze' to temporarily become human as a means to an end. But when the brothers are sepperated during the seige, how will they be able to find each other again before their enemies does?

13. Goodbye Surprise

2 days before the siege

He was just about to run, as fast as he could the purple mutagen in hand and the fiery building behind him, when he turned around and reality suddenly hit him like a brick. He felt his grip tighten around the blades, sweat on his brow as he reevaluated every decision led up to this moment. He should've known, really. He should've realized that this was a bad idea from the get-go- to put the team first before everyone else instead of risking everything by going it alone. And yet, here he was, purple mutagen container in hand, blood dripping by the tip of his blades and the fiery mayhem surrounding them from all sides.

And right there in front of him, not ten meters stood his partner in crime with a knife to her throat and a severe death gaze in her eyes that could've probably sent an entire battalion ablaze. The Oni-man stood firm, almost stiff as a board as he blankly starred ahead. Leo gulped. All around them lay the remains of fallen foot soldiers, now replaced by the hundred men worth of traitors waiting atop the building's- arrows pointing firmly in their direction. A dozen glowing dots worth of soldiers at the ready, now surrounding their leader who was especially not very happy with him and Karai turning his stock into charcoal.

"You know what you have to do. The canister, if you please" the Oni-man snarled, tightening the blade around Karai's throat to emphasize his point. This in turn made Leo twitch slightly, her on the other hand, not having it for one second.

"Don't you even think about it, Leo-"but she didn't get another word out, before her opponent once again pressed the blade to her neck, creating a small cut that for a solid few second of dread and nearly made Leo fall to his knees. What other choice did he have? He looked into the canister, a chill crippling its way down his shell as the memory of what this stuff could do, reentered his mind… sure, they'd destroyed their supplies, but who was to say they weren't capable of just making more? Or better yet, how could he have been so stupid, thinking they'd somehow be able to overman them? Even with the foot clan at their disposal, the only thing left now was a canister of mutagen and a platoon of soldiers dead. And why? Because he got cocky again. And now, Karai was at the mercy of their enemy, because of him. They'd failed. As a result, putting everyone else in danger because of it. Because he was so desperate for a mission, so desperate for his family to be safe that he once again decided to lie to them. Even Karai had said so, but he refused to listen. Now look where that led us…

He took a breath, for a moment or two wondering what might've happened had they just grabbed the canister and left when they had the chance, before he solemnly put it on the ground and kicked it in the Oni-man's direction. And while his face was still covered with that ridiculous mask of his, Leo could almost see the smile underneath.

He then released Karai, or rather- he threw her to the ground and out of his way, Leo on his way to help her up when she suddenly made the snap decision to turn back towards him. She reached for her blade, in one moment of instinct flinging it towards his shoulder before, almost like a reflex the Oni-man flung her wrist sideways and pinned her to the ground. Leo however, was fast on his feet, flinging a star through the air until it dug into his mask sharp enough to send him staggering backwards. Karai rushed to her feet, Leo helping her up as they looked onto the fractured mask- one glassy eye, as cold as a corpses pale skin remaining in its place.

"Wait a minute… you?!" she stuttered, the color leaving her face. And just like that- a shower of arrows suddenly rained their way, both realizing that they had to get out of there now or the whole building would crumple down around them.

---

2 days before impending doom

"MIKEY!"

Raph reached forward, nearly tripping as the sound of the chain breaking send him nearly tumbling along with them. He saw the fall, Mikey and the creature plummeting to their doom in one eternity long moment that made his vision blur and his throat tightening in on itself as time stood still around them. Blinking rapidly, as if for just one moment he was back on that roof, witnessing the slaughter. Hopelessly watching as his broken body fell through the air, with no way of stopping it, out of sight, gone forever. The memory alone was enough to make Raph shiver and shake, completely frozen in his place, eyes closed in tight panic as if that would somehow disproof what he was seeing. However, as he clung to the railing, knuckles growing white and his heart beating louder and louder in his chest, he finally turned around to see-

-he was fine.

Well, he wasn't sure what just happened really, just now thinking his brother was surely crashing down a skyscraper with a spike covered mutant to his death, despite not hitting the ground, and he needed a second.

Actually, Raph had to take several seconds to really process what just happened, seeing Mikey hanging bouncingly from a zipline shot directly into the building below- now upon further inspection realizing the shooter was none other than Metalhead 3.0 standing firmly on the other side, Leo running rampantly across the snow, controller in hand and worry in his eyes.

Raph forced himself to take a breath, trying to calm his nerves but it was like his entire body was going into overdrive, ever nerve and muscle and vein inside him catching speed- until eventually and like it always did, he reached a boiling point. Anger fueling his mind as reality and memory mixed- flashing back and forth from the monster who impaled him to the one right now lying bruised in the snow. He reached for his sai's, the fire inside him somehow sparking enough adrenaline for him to crawl down the scale in record time, as he approached the creature. It was still alive, that much he knew, going by the way its venom filled claws slowly buried itself into the ground, as a low hollow growl rung out from under it. As if the fall had rendered it unable to stand, but still angry enough to want another go with its victims. That's where we've something in common, Raph thought raising his fist high in the air ready to strike as he imagined the sharp end pierce its neck. It only took him one glance, one solemn moment of unclarity for him to yell out a furious scream. Channeling all his anger, all his hatred into one single blow not caring about the repercussions while his mind circled back to the Shredder's mutated blades stabbing their Father in the chest.

"RAPH! DON'T!"

But before he landed, someone else got to him first, pulling him out of the memory with just one look- his arms stretched out in front of it. Suddenly, he felt hands fold around his arms, pulling him back forcefully as Raph struggled to get free and finish the job.

"IT'S DOWN! It's down! You can stop now!" Leo yelled, struggling but somewhat managing to keep him restrained.

"Get off me!"

But Leo didn't relent, biting his teeth as both dug their heels deep into the snow, Raph too eager to put a dent in the mutant's gut to really care. But then he saw the look on his little brother's face, and it was like all that resentment, all that hatred dimmed out in those few glances. Still lingering slightly on the surface, though Raph at this point figured that sending Leo into ground again would bring him as little to no satisfaction as he'd gotten when punching the walls bloody just before. He pushed him off, yearning to kick something close by, but pausing once he saw Mikey's shivering- his eyes still lingering on the mutant without even bothering to pick up the remnants of his weapons, now lying scattered in the snow. Raph not really understanding what or why, instead reached out with his hand in an attempt to comfort him, only halted by Leo insisting on facing his brother head on.

"What were you thinking?!" he broke in, Raph scornfully emptying out a laugh, arms thrown in the air.
"Ah there it is! Lecture time from the fearless leader, definitely missed that-

"You could've killed yourself! Heck, you nearly killed Mickey!"

"Hey, my plan would've worked! Maybe if you and can-opener over here had actually bothered to pick up the damn phone, we wouldn't have-

"You're lucky we even got here in time! Not exactly easy to get a hold of your average trouble craving lunatic, when the entire block is down in case you haven't noticed!" he yelled, Raph pushing away the thoughts in his head claiming Leo might have a point, in favor of justifying their actions. At least, it seemed that way in the moment…

"It hates light! I thought that was obvious, y-you told us that's its weak point!"

Leo looked like he was just about to burst a blood vessel.
"Ah yes, so of course that would explain why you thought climbing a skyscraper would somehow bring it down. Come on, what were you thinking?! Get to the top and somehow flash it off the edge after you've intentionally destroyed half the neighborhood!?"

"It's one building, no one even saw us up there-"

"A fuse box doesn't take down an entire city block!"

Raph was just about ready to counter, just as eager to start a fight as it appeared his goody two shoes brother was at the moment, before he eventually took in the words. "What?"
And finally, he understood why, as if by sheer coincidence no one had seemed to bother with the giant glowing monster falling from the sky just moments ago. The entire street as a matter of fact had just… died. Sirens in the distance from ambulances, police cars and frantic screams coming from the other end of the building, as a seemingly endless layer of darkness roamed around them area, only few droplets of light barely visible in the distance. Streetlights, telephone poles, heck, even cars had gone down, drowning everything that wasn't the two-meter-tall mutant in front of them in shadows. Raph hadn't even noticed before Leo pointed it out, too caught up in the battle to realize that it wasn't just the skyscraper going dark. Everything had gone dark.

Leo sighed, worry on his face, "The power's been out for miles now, it's not just here... No- this was deliberate. I mean, come on, did you seriously think you could shut down the power with just one blow?! That was your plan?"

"Don't even give me that! You know if you could even manage to cram it through your thick skull, then maybe it'd occur to you that I'm not exactly the idea guy! That's you! Or at least it used to be! Where was your genius escape plan when we needed it?!"

Of course, that's what I get for listening to you, he thought, equally angry with himself for failing as a capable leader yet again, as he was for bringing Mikey in danger. Mikey, who'd stayed silent for the remainder of this entire conversation, back to the others as he starred quaveringly at the creature below his feet. They both saw this, not really knowing what to do, neither not even Leo in his current state used to their little brother staying so… quiet. It was eerie. Almost to a worrisome degree that, despite not wanting to admit it, gave Raph a very bad feeling.

"Come on, let's get out of here before police shows up" Leo suggested, doing whatever you had to press on the controller to make Metalhead 3.0 retract his zip line back into its sleeve.

"Finally, we can agree on something..." Raph said, hand once again, on their little brother's shoulder as if that would be enough to break him out of his trance.

"Mikey, you comin'?" he asked, the only sound escaping him being the small breaths escaping his mouth into tiny clouds of cool air. Raph tried to turn him around, gently, though he didn't seem to bulge, trying to grab his arm when suddenly, he saw the tears run down his brother's cheeks. Panic frozen in his now pale face, looking like he'd just seen a ghost while remaining completely stuck on the still-moving creature that just moments ago tried to kill him.

And as they were dragging the mutant towards the nearest cover, now neutralized by a single zap to the back as they'd done with Layton, only Mikey noticing the glowing pair of eyes following them closely from above.

Hands behind his back as an army of shadows rallied behind the mask wearing stranger- now nodding shortly, before vanishing seamlessly back into the abyss along with his followers, not a footprint in the snow.

---

When they reentered the lair, Donnie was the only one there, busy cleaning up the remaining shards of glass from the now obliterated tube lying in pieces in the lab. As for Layton- Layton wasn't exactly… there anymore. Leo had seen all of it. The convulsion, the grinding of the bones, the skin almost incinerating in on itself, leaving nothing behind but a speck of dust and torn apart set of limbs slowly driveling into nothing. It was exactly like the victims, Leo having read a good enough portion of them to recognize the same pattern, albeit not to this extreme. It was just as much revolting as it was heartbreaking. Granted, he'd only talked to Officer Layton a few times as he'd joined Hopkins in his apartment- or helped scold Leo for snooping around on the police station instead of going to school. But it only took that for him to know that he was a good person. Certainly not someone who deserved this fate, let alone the countless others who'd come before him. All mutilated in the blink of an eye, and all because of that serum, somehow turning the average person into something monstrous before ultimately rendering them into dust. And for what?

This was exactly the evidence Hopkins was looking for. If we'd just gone to him in the first place, maybe Layton wouldn't be… Leo shuddered at the word, helping Donnie fix up the next tube, hopefully more secure than the last. He'd try to ask him about before, not easily forgetting the crack in his voice over the communicator as he'd rushed off to who knows where in a panic- and he didn't really have a chance to, as Raph's signal beamed through the call quickly afterwards. Now resulting in this awkward tension, as Leo was almost close to a hundred percent certain he knew something he wasn't telling them. Something to do with the mutagen no doubt, except the words I need you to remember still seemed to linger in his mind. Not as a plea, but a statement. And whatever it was his supposed scientist brother had in mind, Leo hoped to god it would be soon, because the more he seemed to collect the missing pieces of his past, the more he seemed to grow incapable of focusing on the now.

"Okay so," Donnie began, clicking the last lock together as the mutant (still unconscious by the way) was placed inside, almost looking fairly peaceful for a moment as it was lulled to sleep, chest rising and falling calmly underneath the spikes. "When the power went out, my monitors send out a signal somehow almost identical to the radius of the mutagen detectors- picking up, at least from what I can tell, three links with a major concentration in approximately the last 24 hours. So, I ran them through a processor, deciphered the street numbers and found a possible storage here… and here. Which also happens to include… the OLS." He said, pointing towards the two dots on the screen. Neither needed a second glance to realize, though they weren't exactly sure how or why there was two big red circles around the NYPD and an old science lab from downtown.

"You gotta be kidding me" Raph scowled, crossing his arms. This had to be a mistake right…?
"How would they even get in unnoticed?"

"I mean, this is the foot we're talking about. They're ninjas. I'm pretty sure breaking into high security facilities without being noticed is an average Tuesday for them" Raph pointed out, though Leo was least to say, not very convinced.

"Still, it doesn't make any sense- Hopkins would've known. He's been investigating the canisters for weeks now! I'm pretty sure he'd know if they were right underneath his office this whole time"

"Hey, the scans don't lie. And besides, it makes perfect sense to hide it there. It's like playing decoy; the PD's send out the canisters around the city, wasting their resources while the real storage is right underneath their noses and suspicion is thrown off! Its genius"

"But we were at the OLS. Nothing was there! Not to mention, what kind of idiot would just willingly give their leverage over like that? I can't believe I'm saying this, but I'm gonna have to agree with Leo on this one"

And just as Leo was about to point out how truly impressive it was to see Raph actually agreeing with him on something, suddenly, a thought occurred to him, "They actually did manage to get one. Same night Layton went missing"

"And you didn't think to mention it?!" Raph yelled out, though Donnie was quick to diffuse his brother.
"Raph" he muttered, sternly, almost like a mother trying to keep her child in tow. It was still hard for him to wrap his head around the fact that Donnie was supposed to be the younger of the two- but then again, any comparison with maturity to him would probably be fruitless either way, he concluded. When he'd finally calm down a little, the scientist then turned to Leo again, who… now that he thought about it, didn't really know what to say. "And?"

"And nothing. That's the thing- You're telling me that purple stuff is what did… this, right? But then why haven't the police mentioned anything about the evidence?"

"Unless someone's keeping them quiet." Donnie muttered, hand under his chin mulling it over.

"Wouldn't put it past those bastards, corruption is kind of in their name"

"But why? For what? What could they possibly have to gain from an ancient ninja clan called the foot?!" Leo argued, seemingly the only one pointing out the massive absurdity of the situation.

Donnie sighed, his brow slightly furrowed, "I do have a theory, or well its more of a hypothesis really and we can't know for sure but, it seems to me, with the power outage, this guy attacking all of a sudden, maybe that's how they'll test it. Well, so far it seems they've gotten pretty damn close to whatever these guys are supposed to be. You barely stood a chance, compared to Layton." he explained, eyes darting back to the tube. "Think about it, all facilities are filled with test subjects from expendable ones to the authorities. Only ones I can't figure out are the ones at OLS, but with all their equipment, maybe that's how they'll make their next move. Once and for all, the final step or something. Not to mention-

"-They know we've been there" Leo finished, the sobriety of the situation finally setting in.

"Exactly. They must be trying to draw us out"

"Then what are we waiting for?! Casey's still stuck in there- we gotta get him out"

"Aren't you forgetting something? "

Raph stopped in the entryway, the look on his face already enough for Leo to know with certainty that he was going to regret this. But even so, he still decided that the voice of reason might as well be him, "This is the second time we've been attacked by mutants, and now an entire street of people has turned into their own personal playground. They went after us- they know we're onto them. Which means they must be onto us too, and you don't think storing three sets of mutagen doesn't look a little suspicious?" he tried, forcefully pushing aside his fears for the detective and wherever Karai found herself. If she was safe at all, despite the ruckus that was these last few days.

"You might not remember this Leo, but you and Casey are actually really good friends. Best friends actually, and if I were you, I think I'd really, really like to just shut my trap, and go save him instead of acting like a- Argh!"

Donnie didn't seem to hesitate to shut him up with the bow staff to Raph's shin, "What Raph's trying to say is, if we don't get to those canisters in time, we might not get another chance. It's now or never"

"And Layton? You still haven't explained how Sparkles over here exploded" Raph added, in turn making Leo want to borrow the stick.

It dawned on him that they were the only ones who knew his fate… deeming it their responsibility to tell Hopkins, to tell his family. With no body as evidence, and no proper way of explaining the circumstances of his death, they'd have to- he'd have to somehow face him with the news... But where do you even begin? This was… awful. The memory of his twisted body writhing inside, still burned clearly into his subconscious. Leo was getting dizzy just thinking about it, and he wasn't the only one it appeared. Donnie gulped, face gone pale like there was something stuck in his throat, before finally stuttering out the words.
"I… I don't know. Must be some error in the testing, as far as I can tell. I mean, they've been experimenting with this stuff for months now, there's no saying how unstable their batches are becoming. Not to mention, the supply is running thin enough as it is without the Kraang left to supply it. My guess? They're concealing what's left"

"Can you cure him?"

They all turned around, Mikey's voice suddenly and explicitly filling the room after what, ever since they returned, had felt like an eternity of silence. He'd put his hand on the glass, still watching over the mutant inside before he now, still not without lifting his gaze spoke up. Except now, somehow and in an almost unnaturally depleted way, the once cheerful optimistic energy of their little brother was replaced with the emptiness in his voice ringing hollow. As if it wasn't even him speaking anymore- the surprise of this enough to make all of them do a double take, trying to process.
Finally, Donnie was the one who spoke up, worry on his face as he dug for any sense of reassurance he could find. "I don't know… yet. But don't worry, I think I know a way I just- gotta figure it out. Whatever the case, Layton lasted at least a whole week before he-

"-died? Like he's going to, right?" Mikey finished, rising to his feet as his gaze fell to the ground. Raph sighed heavily, hand on his shoulder as he leaned down to eye level, though Mikey didn't seem to react.

"Mikey, we're going to fix this. This won't be like Layton, Donnie'll make sure of it. Right, D?"

Donnie nodded affirmingly. "Whatever it takes"

Mikey didn't respond, just tipped his head slightly before turning back to the tube. It seemed the brothers shared a momentary agreement to leave him be, not even Leo who despite not remembering spending a life with him, felt the light dim slightly in the room. Whatever the toll may be, fact remained that they were still just kids. This was way out of their control, and Leo couldn't understand why he was seemingly the only one seeing this, given so far, the Hamato's appeared to have no qualms about getting themselves into trouble on the daily- the entire city on their shoulders and all in the name of a dead man halfway into the grave... Something that, at least to him, didn't seem like it was going to stop the damage being done. Not by themselves.

"Maybe we can talk to him. Hopkins knows me- if we just tell him what we know-

"You seriously wanna negotiate with that guy? Are you nuts?! He's going to arrest you first chance he got!- no, we have to do this our way" Raph protested, making a point swirl his sai battle ready in his hands.

"And what way is that exactly?"

"The way that works" he snarled, Leo only now realizing the bandages wrapped around his bloodstained knuckles.

"Clearly"

"Guys, we gotta stay focused" Donnie interrupted, pushing both brothers aside as he made his way over to the computer, slowly tapping away at the keyboard. Leo sighed, feeling a headache incoming as the night seemed to grow longer for every second they spend underground, "Okay, so we can't warn them, fine. But how do you plan on destroying it?" he asked, Donnie shaking his head.

"We can't- not without unleashing it too. One drop and we might turn into those things, or worse, turn everyone inside into goo. No- we have to use the cure somehow. If I can just… use the same serum to somehow transform the chemicals inside, then one drop would be enough to, potentially, remake an entire canister. It'd be completely harmless"

Raph let out a scoff, throwing his arms into the air, "Great! Just perfect, really! Though, one minor thing… you still haven't exactly explained how we're even going to get the cure before they unleash-
"Guys! GUYS!" Leo suddenly interrupted, everyone going quiet as yet another realization set in like a brick. One he couldn't believehe hadn't realized sooner.

"Where's Mikey?"

…

They all sped down the hall, fast paced towards the footsteps echoing throughout the lair, out past the crumbling remains of the brick walls they used to call their home and deeper into the far reaches of the metro section of their hideout. Leo was right behind the much more agile Donnie and Raph as the three hastily and rather clumsily chased after Mikey, proving that despite his size, he was still the fastest out of all four of them.
"What the heck is he doing?! MIKEY!" Raph exclaimed though he didn't seem to care, even if he heard him.
"Sure! Yell at him…! Not like that hasn't worked before!"

"Funny you should say that, Don. Speaking from experience by any chance?!"

"For once… can you two just… STOP. FIGHTING!?" Leo panted, feeling a slight tingling on the side of his skull as his bruised body struggled to keep up.

"Good luck… telling him… that! Chalupa- I forgot… how fast he is.."

"But not smart- he's going after Oni" Raph concluded, his pace slightly accelerating as both Leo and Donnie raised their brows.
"What?! How… how do you know!?"

"Call it a hunch, lets just… catch him before he… does something stupid " he muttered, the exit nearing as moonlight shimmered through the lit, half closing before the figure above moved out of the way- the three brothers quickly following. They climbed up, barely catching glimpse of the orange fabric in his mask, rising above the buildings and out of sight, before promptly, and almost completely out of breath, they all climbed the fire escape. However, as they reached the top, something flickered for a moment, Donnie not managing to get more than a "get dow- out, before they were all suddenly blown sideways.

Purple smoke filled their vision, as Mikey's figure continued towards the next building, not even a weapon in hand as he apologetically fled the scene.

"Oh no you don't! MIKEY!" Raph however, wasn't having it. He threw himself forward, managing by some luck and brute strength to lash onto Mikey's ancle, keeping him on their side of the roof before suddenly- and before neither Donnie nor Leo had any time registering what just happened, Raph was slammed to the ground. Arm twisted painfully down, pinning him in place as Mikey without a word overmanned him, continuing his way down the next building.

"Mikey!" Donnie yelled, Leo helping Raph to his feet as he begrudgingly accepted, while he continued the pursuit. "MIKEY! YOU CAN'T DO THIS ON YOUR OWN! Come back! We need a PLAN! " he continued, pausing for a moment as Mikey with a striking efficiency Leo couldn't help but admire, used another smoke bomb to cloud the area. Thinking that he'd use this as a means to get away, they had a second or two to react before three things happened, all in the spam of what appeared to be fifteen seconds if anyone was counting. Firstly, it appeared Donnie's staff was for the hundred bajillion time broken into two, first piece nearly hitting Leo in the eye, as the second piece was pushed alongside its bearer into Raph. Secondly, there was Raph trying very hard and not very successfully to appeal to Mikey with the non-lethal side of his sai's, only to discover that he wasn't bearing any weapons at all, fighting effectively and efficiently with the broken end of a broom and the lit of a trashcan. He used the broom handle to trip Raph to the ground, dodging his attempt to restrain him with the lit, by promptly bashing the weapons out of his hands not too painfully.

"Mikey, what- what's the matter with you!?" he groaned, pain in his side as he stumbled to the ground just as exhausted as Donnie felt. But then, thirdly, there was Leo, having both arms up in seeming surrender, eyes pleading for him to just wait.
"Mikey, we can fix this. We'll talk, just come back to the lair with us. It's going to be alright… okay?"

Mikey opened his mouth, assumingly to disagree, but his eyes told a different story. Though, slightly hidden behind the fog Leo recognized the look, perhaps remembering how it felt too. The anger consuming every fiber of your body- the regret and guilt gnawing away at your core because you knew you could've stopped it. Knew if you had just been fast enough, more careful, if you'd just considered the risks, maybe she wouldn't have become the monster they turned her into… He understood. Not knowing fully why, but he did. And as this temporary pain of yet again collecting memories numbed his senses, Leo realized too late that Mikey was already gone. Not waiting for the others to get up from their severely bruised ego's at having been beat by the youngest sibling, he followed, despite his fears of falling over the edge. Building after building, jumping dangerously high into the air with the nerves in his body beating louder and louder inside him, running until it felt like his lungs were collapsing, closer and closer, until finally-

Mikey stopped. Too exhausted to continue, but too resentful to turn back. He starred breathless over the edge, hands on his knees as his back bended spine kept bouncing up and down like a motor engine collecting speed- Leo not having the time to get a word out before he turned around. Having grabbed the broken handle of door, he used the bended metal to twist Leo's wrist behind his back, nearly tripping him to the ground if he hadn't propelled himself forward. "Mikey, whatever's going on you need to listen to us- we are going to stop them, okay? But not like this. You have to trust us here, going by yourself won't solve anything. Trust me on that"

Mikey still didn't answer, lowering his gaze as he came in fast- heaving as he kicked Leo solid in the chest, faster than he was able to dodge it, and hard enough to knock the air out of him entirely. Leo tried to get up, swallowing the pain just long enough to see Mikey approaching him with what he could only assume was another flash bomb in his hands, raised high above his head. He was shivering, Leo noticed. Trembling actually, trying hard to stay resolute though his emotions betrayed him. And as his eyes started to water, lips quivering and seemingly his entire stance started to crumple, Leo- just in the nick of time wrapped his arms around his brother. Mikey, as a result dropping the egg, before he gave himself over to his embrace, voice all but a whimper as he dug into Leo's shoulder. He could feel his chest aggressively bouncing up and down, the guy a few seconds ago about to blast him to kingdom come, now crumpling in his arms, nothing but a scared out of his mind kid. And he didn't even know why… didn't know what to say, just kept holding him like the brother he used to be. Like he presumably always was, now more apparent than ever.

"He… he reached out… to me. He tried to-… b-but I didn't… listen! I just- If I just-… it's my fault he's… it's my fault… " he mumbled, tears streaming down his face as they both sat down, Leo not letting go.
"Who reached out to you?"

Mikey gulped, trying hard but stammering through his words, and before he could even get any out, the hastened footsteps of Raph and Donnie approached them. Starring confused, scared... Seeing Mikey like this was, to put it simply… it was heartbreaking.

"S-simon… I could've-… h-he tried to tell me- I wasn't there, I should've…" he said, understanding washing over all three of them suddenly, as the repercussions of tonight finally dawned on them once and for all.

---

Something was off. Not just on the station- ever since the blackout last night, the city had been up in chaos. People claiming' they saw monsters roaming free, while others (conspiracists mainly) was starting to distrust their enforcers, blaming it on the NYCPD for lack of results in the past few weeks. Citizens hiding inside their homes, as street punkers and gangs roamed freely around, causing disruption in every corner remaining…

Fifty-two people missing in total, most of which wound up either a shell of who they used to be, or a pile of bloody clothes on the sidewalk. He'd gotten nothing out of that Jones' kid, his superiors refusing him access to his cell like he was the prize toy in some grand lottery. No news from the red bandit either, vanishing almost the exact time Leo had and it made him wonder…. All the time in the world to escape that hospital, only to stay for a show about aliens and spaceships. Now, the kid jumps out of a window and it's like he was never even there. Maybe it was just the four all-nighters talking, but the detective was starting to think maybe the kid wasn't even real at all. Just another twisted manifestation in his head, brought upon by the stress of solving a murder case run by ninjas and mutated snakes and what not. It was ridiculous. The more he thought about it, it really was ridiculous and after so many hours at a desk looking at evidence… nothing. Hopkins was as close to finding the true killer, as he was to the morning latte he right now stood in line to at his favorite café in Queens.

After about fifteen minutes of waiting all too patiently for his age to allow, he made his way to the metro station, tired out of his mind. He was growing a never-ending headache, and as he felt his promotion slip more and more out of his hands, so did the hope that he could somehow tame New York city back to its former self before Christmas. No more conspiracies, no more crazy kids running around, no more vigilantes, no more deaths- no more innocent people dying because of him.

"Detective,"

The cop thought, once again, he'd fallen victim to his stress finally catching up with him. But then he turned around, standing just five meters away and he was starring at none other than the missing kid himself. Same bandaged body as the one he'd left him in, except somewhat was changed about him too… Maybe it was the way he stood, hands in his pockets almost more confidently than ever, a tiny wrinkle between his brow telling Hopkins that something was bothering him. And not just the fact that he'd essentially returned from the dead, presumably just another corpse not unlike the rest of the PD's victims. Yet here he was, in the flesh, alive… but still…

…off somehow. Hopkins could feel it- feel that something was wrong. And it made his stomach churn just thinking about it.

"We need to talk"

…

They'd found themselves underneath the train tracks' metal beams, stationed high above as every so often the rumble from the trains passing could be heard crackling through the concrete. Leo shuddered, eyes everywhere as he explained, Hopkins most notably noticing the blue bandanna stuffed into the underside of his pocket- nearly identical to that of the red bandit's'. He was walking back and forth as he talked, hands fumbling over the new cuts and bruises on them Hopkins recognized to definitely be fresh, as the boy he'd spend so many weeks housing told him the tale.
Word for word, starting with the most shocking, they're my brothers, and ending in the even more absurd we need your help. Stunned, the detective noticed his latte going cold as his brain struggled to take in the information. Everything from the secret ninja clan roaming New York city, to the secret brothers he'd apparently let kidnap him under legal authorities' eye. He mentioned the mutants, none of which resembling that of Hamato Karai, and sounding almost just as crazy coming from the average person as he was desperate. Worry on the kid's brow as he continued pacing, waiting expectantly for the cop to say something. Anything. To acknowledge what he was saying as evidence. To brush aside his logical reasoning in favor of blindly trusting that the kid responsible for nearly costing him his job, was telling the truth.

"Look, I know it's a lot to take in, I almost wouldn't have believed it myself if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes b-but its true. They're in the city. And they're- they're like nothing you've ever seen, Hopkins. We need your help" he said, almost pleading, giving that look on a kid's face when they're almost certain the adult in front of them is not hearing a word they're saying. "Look, I'm sorry I didn't tell you before. I know I should've, I just- I didn't know what to believe, I guess."

Leo hung his head, probably going through the ten million arguments in his head trying to justify him telling the cop. The cop who now, after having taken it all in little by little was starting to wonder, if he was crazy enough to not dismiss it immediately. But he'd spend enough time with the kid to know well enough that he was a terrible liar, and whether he believed him or not had been rendered almost completely immaterial following latest events.

"How long have you known about this?" he asked, body tense.

"Since… since I ran away?" Leo muttered, guilt on his face. Old habits died hard. "I know this sounds crazy, but I promise you I'm telling the truth here! And the more time we waste sitting around doing nothing the more people will- "

"I believe you" Hopkins interrupted, face blank as something loomed inside him. Same feeling right now prompting him to keep a safe distance despite the overwhelming difference in size.

Leo looked up, not understanding. "You do?"

Hopkins sighed, trying to collect his thoughts, as impossible as that seemed at the moment, "So, okay, let me just get this straight for a moment… you're saying your family's been investigating this, what was it… foot clan? Right underneath our noses all this time, and that, you've not only been playing house with these crooks to find these alleged mutants, but you actually know where they're hidin'? And you didn't tell us?"

"Well, yes but no, it's complicated but look- there's something else…" Leo's face went dark, another train racing past the tracks up ahead, in the process sending sparks and shadows glistening around them. He reached into his pocket, eyes avoiding Hopkin's face as he put a torn-up police badge into his hands. "Layton's dead. He attacked us in the sewer, I... I'm really sorry"

Hopkins starred at the badge for a while, not knowing what to say. He knew immediately, after a while of grieving, having almost moved past the point of believing his old partner might be alive. And yet, looking at his remains… it was almost like the universe cementing his passing. Putting together everything from Leo's insane story to the attack in the old church nearly costing him his life, to the purple canisters still as dissipated from the NYCPD's radar as it had been for weeks now. He imagined Layton, whatever sick twisted experiments he'd undergone to turn him into the same monstrous creature capable of putting a man down with just one strike… somehow, finding it all the more plausible, as he considered the damage. The victims in their shredded state, half alive with not even a second to breathe… was it possible the same thing had happened to his friend? All this time, was this really the effects of the mutagen? And he'd not only let this happen, but he'd invited one of them straight into his home… Hopkins paused, folding his hand around the badge before stuffing it down into his back pocket. He approached Leo, the kid hesitant at this but not backing away, as Hopkins put both hands on his shoulders, embracing him slowly.

"It's okay. You did what you had to do" he muttered, Leo not sure how to respond to this besides just nodding and accepting. "Leo?"

"What?"

"You did right by telling me, kid" Hopkins said, determination guiding his hand- grabbing a hold around the metal trigger, leading it to Leo's neck before without fail, he shocked him into unconsciousness. "Which is why I can't let you leave"

A quick, almost unnoticeable gesture, that fortunately no one seemed to notice, as Hopkins supported the kid back to his car, calmly placing him on the backseat before he reassured himself that he was doing the right thing.

That he was going to make this right, one way or the other.

---

"Gone? What do you mean gone?!"

Donnie sat down, head sizzling as Raph's constant pacing back and forth in front of the Tv made him wonder how long he'd actually been doing it. The front vein in his forehead close to popping at any second now. Donnie sighed, feeling at a loss. One problem after the other and with only a day left to get the cure- of course their fearless leader had decided to leave them now of all times. Was that supposed to be temporary too?

"Gone, you know the Hungarian restaurant on fifth avenue: Gone?- I mean that he's GONE! I picked up his transmitter around noon, now it's somewhere in downtown... He must've gone to that cop, but he's not picking up so unless he's doing it on purpose, I'm pretty sure he's-
"Gimme that-" Raph bit, stealing the communicator out of Donnie's hands before he could protest. "LEO! If you don't pick up RIGHT now, I'm going to personally kick you so hard you'll forget how to sneeze when I'm done-

"Not. Helping." he yelled, stealing it back. It was hopeless. No leader, no plan, no one on the surface being on any help, given that most of them seemed to primarily be out to kill them at any cost. Donnie sighed, genuinely feeling the weight of their mission starting to make him wonder if they even stood a chance. Teamwork so far seemed to be out of the window, leaving behind a disjointed mess in its place struggling not to tear the whole place down. Donnie sighed, "What are we going to do?"

Raph paused for a moment, really mulling this over before determination somehow crept back over his face, as he began collecting patches of weaponry. And whether or not his seeming confidence was a fabrication or not, Donnie still appreciated the attempt.

"Well- we have to find him, that's what we're going to do. Give that wrinkly old bastard a piece of our mind" he said, emphasizing his point by solemnly slamming together his fists. But then-

"I can't"

Once again, Raph had to pause, not sure if he heard that right, or if almost falling down a skyscraper had somehow damaged his hearing, "You… can't."

Donnie gulped, mind reeling a million miles an hour in his brain, because the truth was that he wanted to go… he wanted to help, to make sure that Leo was safe and to ensure that when the time was right, they'd be able to take the foot head on and turn everything back to normal. But there was still another priority looming in his mind… something he alone had to do, knowing that it was his last and probably best shot at getting Leo's memories back just in time. To get the last sample of the cure back and using it to make sure that his brothers were safe. To make sure that his mistake was corrected, before time ran out and all this would be for nothing because of him. Donnie couldn't have that. He just couldn't.

"There's just… something I have to look into. It's important that I… keep an eye on Metalhead 3.0. If I can just get him up and working again, sneaking into the NYCPD should be a piece of cake. I mean, you don't actually think that cop is just going to agree to help us, right? "

"Not unless he's taking Leo on a field trip to celebrate." Raph muttered, slinging his sai's back into his belt before he noticed something, turning back. "Hey, Don, are you feeling alright?" he asked, and now that Raph mentioned it, Donnie had been feeling a lot worse than usual. The last dosage of experiment thirty-seven rendering him temporarily blind for five minutes as well as causing extreme nausea, that he'd miraculously been able to recover from before anyone noticed.

"What do you mean?"
"You've been spacing out a lot ever since we got Mikey back. You' sure, you're ok?" Raph continued, apparently not very convinced by Donnie's very calming and very perfected approach to his question.

"'Course I am! Why would you say that? I've never felt better actually, just a little… yawn, tired. A simple product of the cells collapsing relatively faster in rate, due to massive overexertion derived from the transformation of a brand-new nerve system to pilot the multifaceted neuro-

"OKAY! Okay! Forget I asked"

Donnie smiled, though it was only a half-smile. Equally genuine as it was almost sad to him, that this, despite so many trials and error might've been his last chance to stabilize the mutagen. "You can handle it, right?"

Raph sighed, eyes darting towards the lab where, just in the crack of the door you'd see Mikey sitting cross-legged in front of the tube not closing an eye. He hadn't said anything, mostly just… observing. Not having left the spot ever since they returned, the gang had collectively decided to leave him be until they figured out what to do. Now it was up to Donnie to ensure that Simon was cured- his responsibility. Not just for Mikey.

"It's not me I'm worried about"

---

When Lizzie first saw the text on her phone, she didn't know what to think. It was a jumbled, almost unreadable mess of words clustered together, that only a Jones would be able to fully understand. Nonetheless, following their father going on his usual trip to downtown, Lizzie put on her overcoat, confusingly trying to follow the instructions as they were presented to her. She was confused, albeit too relieved to hear word from her brother to really care about the fact that he was essentially leading her down into the middle of nowhere, underlying the fact that it was an emergency. She barely understood who she was supposed to be looking for, putting her crutches to the side as an old lady on the bus asked her where a little girl was going by herself. She ignored her of course, trying to navigate the map she'd borrowed from her dad's desk drawer in his living room- meanwhile having subsequently armed herself with Arnold's hockey mask and a necklace of spray cans hanging loosely around her neck. As for the staffs, she'd successfully albeit not very easily managed to congratulate herself on taping the underside of each to one of the crutches, getting off the bus and further down the decoded route without being followed.

When she finally found herself at what appeared to be a dead-end a rather, not so pleasant thought occurred to her, and she looked down to confirm her suspicions. The smell was enough to make her want to vomit, opening the lit of the cover slightly as she starred down into the dark bacteria filled hellscape that she undoubtedly was about to traverse. So, as she strapped two armlength gloves around her hands and fingers, successfully tightened the knee-protectors and sanitized the straps, she finally pulled down the hockey mask over her face (a desperate attempt to shield her from the smell) before making her way down the tunnel.

---

When he looked up, the building was the same it'd always been, not much had changed really. Same bricks cemented in the wall, same balcony just a story high only ever seen from above- Donnie reminiscing to a time when the only way of transport for the outcasts, where the rooftops. Now as he stood there, one step away and a solid knock on the door, it occurred to him… how many times had he stood here? Following the days of the mutation, the days when Donnie finally became a human being, walking on this very street feeling his throat tighten. He'd wanted to knock on that door so badly for so long. Wanted to just… see her. Just once. Just, letting her know that he was okay. That he missed her and that he, he wanted her to know exactly how he felt. But every time he did, there'd come that wavering pit in his chest compelling him to back away. But it wasn't just to keep her safe. If Donnie was being honest with himself, something he'd struggled a lot within recent time, the main reason he hadn't just stepped through those doors and told her everything was the fear of what she might think. Would she be happy for him? Angry that he lied? Would she be afraid to see him like this? Confused? Betrayed? Would her feelings for him derive from the change, or would it be a testament to her continuous avoidance of confronting his- the feelings that were so obviously there… the dream that he'd build in his head, telling him that no matter what, she'd always have his back. Now shell-less, but still. This wasn't about him. This had become so much bigger now, that the only thing that mattered, was that Leo remembered who he was, now, once and for all.

And yet, as he stood there stiff and with his fist still hovering in the air, his gaze couldn't help but wander back to the balcony. And so, praying very significantly that her aunt wasn't home to spot him, Donnie instead climbed the front, managing with little trouble to make his way past the first floor, in front of her window- just like old times.

Okay, okay, okay, breathe, breathe! You got this, you got this! Easy piecy. Come on, Donnie… they're counting on you here…who cares if she hasn't seen you in three months?! She won't be mad. She'll understand, come on its April! She'll help! Yeah… she'll understand. You got this. Okay, then- deep breath… Here we go:

And so, he knocked on the glass (regretting this action as soon as he'd done it). For a while nothing happened, just Donnie contemplating all the quickest possible escape routes in the shortest amount of time before slowly, but surely, the window opened. Cautiously of course, because let's face it- you hear a knocking on your window you wouldn't immediately open up expecting company, and yet… there she was. April, for a split-second, peaking through the window before she noticed Donnie starring star struck back at her. Then, a scream.

"No! Nononono- no! It's okay! It's okay! April it's me! It's me! I'm not here to hurt you!" Donnie exclaimed, barging inside as he dodged toy animals and books being thrown at him, until finally a sharp black fan was propelled at him- only dodged in the nick of time as Donnie used his bo to block it. It bored deep into the wood, barely missing his head, and upon seeing the familiar Hamato crest painted onto the side of the Tessin, she stopped. Holding another book in her hand ready to throw when realization suddenly fell over her face as she realized the stranger, was actually not a stranger at all, it was-

"Darnly?!"

Oh, right. That whole thing…

"April, listen to me-

"What the heck do you think you're doing?! I could've taken your eye out! How did you find me?! Wha-why did you find me?! What the heck are you doing in my room?! " she exclaimed, clearly not pleased at the intrusion. Well at least she's still on guard, he thought smiling a bit, until he noticed the suitcase on her bed, almost fully packed. Well, it was until she decided to unceremoniously throw half of its contents at full speed near Donnie's face.

"April, look at me"

"What?"

"Just…" and as he said this, he moved closer, hands defensibly in the air but willingly stepping closer, breaking the barrier between them. "Like- really, look at me. I'm sorry I didn't say anything before it's just-… it's a lot to take in. But just, really try to take a good look, okay? It's me. Remember? Not ringing any bell? Science guy? The smart one? Once possibly on a clear night sky before we met might've- I dunno, saved your life? No? Wait, hang on-" he said, pulling out the fabric of his mask, tightening it promptly around his face, shoulders back as he anticipated her answer. He could feel the seconds tick by as by magic, April too lowered hers, putting down the book as her eyes suddenly lit up, confusion and fear mingled on her more and more. Like she wasn't sure if the janitor from that old laboratory she recently visited had really broken into her bedroom speaking nonsense, or if maybe, impossibly so of course but still with a tiny chance of truth to it… it was really him.

"…. Donnie?" she exclaimed, mouth agape as it finally dawned on her. Donnie on the other hand, felt the red rise through his cheeks as he rather awkwardly let out a smile, revealing his tooth gap and ruffling the back of his head nervously in the revelation.

"Heheh- Surprise?"

---

When Leo came to, everything was pretty much a blur. His body feeling almost jittery as his vision struggled to come back into place. He heard voices echoing slightly throughout the room, for a moment thinking maybe he was back in the lair overhearing the others' argument, when he then tried to sit up- which, least to say didn't go over very well. As a matter of fact, he found that both his hands were neatly handcuffed behind a wooden beam, limiting his movements. Finally, blinking a couple of times and battling the remnants of electricity still pulsating somewhere in his nervous system, he started to get a grasp at his surroundings.

It was some kind of apartment complex, not very fancy, probably from downtown where the rent was cheaper and the wallpaper paint less refined. It wasn't Hopkins' apartment, that much he realized just from seeing the at least orderly mess of stuff lying around in neat stacks. Nothing like the cluster in the detective's apartment, still sending shivers down Leo's spine. No- this place was much more… cluttered, sure, but in a very different way. He noticed bookshelves upon bookshelves stacked to the max, a small box-sized TV and billboards upon billboards filled with red threads and pictures, enough to send any cleaning service home and packing. Maybe a journalist? But why on earth would Hopkins' kidnap Leo to a journalists' apartment and not the police station? Scratch that, actually, why did he kidnap me at all?! Coming up on the already millions of different questions still running rampant in his skull. Most of which questioning, how the heck he was going to get the others' attention in time before nightfall. Only one problem- there was duct tape over his mouth too, making all those questions a little impossible to voice, unless he just so happened to remember some ancient ninja trick involving escaping out of plastic handcuffs with a gag and no weapons. Okay, maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all-

"Are you insane?!"

"Just, calm down for second, okay?"

"Calm down?! God damn it Hopkin's you can't just bring a kid into my apartment with duct tape at the ready and expect me to just smile and wave! What the hell are you thinking?!"

"He knows where they're hiding it, Kurtzman, I have to do my job-
"I don't give a damn if he knows where to get a billion dollars- You've gone too far, Hopkins! " the voice yelled, somewhere behind the beam, Leo concluded most likely coming from the kitchen, as the two men continued yelling each other's throat's dry.
"What- you think I wanna do this for fun?! I took him in myself- he's too important to let loose! I- If… If I had a choice, you know I wouldn't have come to you for help. Not unless I had a good reason. "
"Release. Him. Now." The voice insisted, something oddly familiar about it that almost took Leo for a loop, thinking he was about to pass out again.

"You know I can't do that. They won't believe me without evidence- and this is the closest I've gotten without getting the lights knocked out of me, and I am not letting this go for more innocents to get mutilated under our watch. I'm not dropping this. Not on my life."

There was a 'crack' sound emanating from the wooden beam as Leo mistakenly tried to stay still, footsteps approached him shortly after, revealing none other than Hopkins in the apartment, quickly followed by another gentleman. This one a little older, but equally grey haired and a whole lot more friendly looking than his partner. He wore a grey fedora, a worn-out suit and a face coded in disapproval and guilt, as he looked down upon the prisoner he'd unwillingly invited into his home. At least, Leo assumed this was his home.

"Don't. Don't even try it." Hopkins said, struggling to stay resolute, but his eyes betrayed him. "I'm doing this to protect us"

Leo didn't say a word, even if he could, maintaining eye contact given that was all he really had left to emote. He wanted Hopkins to know that he was angry. That what he was doing was wrong and that somehow, in a way Leo still struggled to understand, there was still a part of him that knew he was telling the truth. But as he crouched down, his gaze piercing like that expression he'd always get whenever he hit a rock in his research, Leo saw something different. This wasn't the same Hopkins he'd left… maybe it was the revelation of his friend's fate, maybe the desperation had finally caught up with him- he didn't know. But there was no denying the determination still burning through the cop like a wildfire, telling Leo that whatever happens now, he'd be powerless to fight back. Starring back at the guy responsible for getting him out of that hospital all those months ago, with a death glare only a Hamato could muster.

"Listen… all I want, is to stop this mayhem from killing anymore innocent people. No more monsters running around, no more kids fighting our battle for us. You're a good kid, Leo. I know you only wanna do the right thing, and the best thing you can do for your friends, is telling me one thing. I mean you always wanted to help out with the investigation, right? Well, I kept my promise. You got your family back. Now I need you to keep yours" he said, leaning in close. ."Tell me where the mutant is. I know you're protecting her, it's the only explanation. You show up, not three days later telling me you're a Hamato and if that wasn't enough- you've somehow managed to capture one of them. If I can just, get that mutant and show it to the higher ups, I can promise you, no one else will die. It's the only way we can stop these freaks. Get your life back, Leo… your freedom."

Leo shuddered, panic rising in his chest. The detective then rose to his feet, his full height towering over him like a giant and making Leo feel even smaller than he already was.

"So, what'll it be?"

Leo didn't say anything, anger rising in him as the realization that Hopkins might actually believe he would fall for any of this. That he would just blindly away their hideout for him to show off Mikey's friend to get a promotion. Leo wasn't stupid. He knew what this was really about- what it'd always been about, and how incredibly naïve he'd been for thinking maybe that'd changed… and then he remembered something, seeing as Hopkins so humbly stationed in his front belt, the gun matching that of the bullets from the lair. The same bloody trails used to hunt down the apparent 'mutant' that attacked him. Her… And suddenly Leo realized who he was referring to, the anger already burning inside him now reaching a boiling point. That's why she didn't come back, he thought. He shot her… he must've, who else could it be?! But why… why would he do that?!

Too lost in his anger to yell, Leo instead persisted, shaking his head bitterly as an answer, while letting Hopkins know exactly how he felt. Then, a light chuckle could be heard escaping his stubby mouth. "You know, I found it ironic how, just like your dear old dad, you seem to have a knack for surviving fires. It's almost supernatural, wouldn't you say? But of course, you can't remember any of that. Pretty convenient if you ask me. But then I realized something. Maybe it's not that…" he said, pacing around the room as Kurtzman watched pale at the scene. Hopkins then stopped, hunched down towards his ear as Leo closed his eyes, imagining the sharp end of his katanas aimed for his head. And yet, for some annoying reason, he still sounded genuine. Almost… pleading, with him, though of course he wasn't having any of it. "Leo, I am telling you… this is the only way. I know you want to protect her, but she is not your ally. Neither of them are. Don't you understand? You are who you choose to be, not what others make you. So, please, do yourself a favor and tell me the truth… I don't want to hurt you, kid" he said, whispering the last line. Leo held his eyes closed defiantly, not moving a muscle, as Hopkins slowly got it through his head that negotiations weren't exactly an option anymore.

"Have it your way" he just said, sighing, before making his way back towards his partner. His partner, right now looking like a murder was about to take place, and he was not happy about any of this.

"Hopkins, he's just a kid-

"He's a co-conspirator in an on-going police investigation. He had his chance"

Kurtzman grabbed Hopkins' wrist, voice lowered resistively as he tried to talk his former partner from what he was about to do, "This isn't right… you're better than this"

"Do you wanna stop those bastards or not?! This is the only way to do it! Doesn't make it fair, but that's just the way it is… this is the only way I can get them on my side."

He opened his mouth to argue, seemingly at a loss for words before he finally relented. He let go of his wrist, reaching into the bag on his counter and pulled out, to Leo's horror what appeared to be a giant syringe. Flicking the side gently before he reluctantly approached Leo, who at this point did everything in his power to not show his fear. But even so, Kurtzman was calm and collected, his eyes soothing kindness as yet again, that familiar feeling came over Leo who watched the man bend down on both knees, shaking his head from side to side.

"I'm sorry, lad. It's just to make sure you're not… " he began, words tumbling into a mutter, as his eyes wandered down towards the blue fabric hidden away in his pocket. Then, something else, Leo wasn't sure he understood but, in that moment, if only for a second… the old man looked at him- at his human face and his human hands and his human, well everything, and his mind was racing. It was kinda similar to a mathematician solving the world's greatest puzzle, bafflement and excitement and undeniably all at once filling, what at least to Leo, felt like an eternity long glance. Kurtzman stuttered, lips quivering before he whispered out, "… dear god… Leonardo…?"

Leo nodded confusion and relief flooding over him all at once.

It shouldn't be possible, and yet, there it was; the recognizable features perhaps the main catalyst, or simply Kurtzman's underlining detective abilities shining through despite the years taking their toll. Suddenly, without remembering exactly how or why… Leo trusted him. Even as the journalist grabbed his wrist and plugged the syringe into his vein. Leo closed his eyes struggling not to pass out, as the old man finished obtaining his blood that he quickly put into a tiny box stowed away on the counter. He sends Leo one last glance without Hopkins' taking notice, nodding once to his confusion, before returning back to his partner.

"Got the sample. But the microscope's gotta charge for a bit, won't take long. Can I get you something while we wait for the proceedings of handcuffing the child to my living room?"

"Just, get it over with" Hopkins grunted, as Kurtzman made his way to the kitchen, reaching into his cabinet to pull out what appeared to be plates- at least until he without warning dropped a full set of them onto the floor, where they smashed into pieces sending everyone into the air.

"Oh, clumsy me, hehe. Guess not much has changed since back when you last saw me, huh, John? Still a clumsy old fool, not a mystery why they got me an early pension" he muttered, reaching down to pick up the pieces as in a split second only a former ninja would've noticed, Leo saw the end of a key slit toward him- just out of reach.

"You take with or without decaf?" the journalist asked, as Leo with a sweat on his brow struggled to reach for his escape, Hopkins too busy refilling the holster of his gun to notice.

"Kurtzman," he said, Leo returning to his tied-up state for a moment of uncertainty, before the cop was out of sight yet again for him to continue the struggle. Come on, come on…!
"Personally, I'm more of a decaf person myself, not really one for staying too late. It ruins the health of an old man, you see, the older you get the more you gotta rely on the natural. Better to get up early and take a walk every once in a while, I always say"

But then- the sound of a gun clicking was heard on the other side. Leo looked up, Kurtzman having in that very moment turned around to find the loaded end of a gun pointed towards him, Hopkins starring fiercely on from the other side.

"Well, guess subtlety was never my forte either" the journalist sighed, hands horizontally in the air, though judging by the look on his face, not particularly frightened by the turn of events.
"You wanna know something, Jack?" Hopkins started, Kurtzman slowly darting away from the kitchen, as if they were in an old western standoff. Hopkins scoffed, nose slightly crinkled as the stubborn geezer in front of him as he put the pieces together, "There's something reaaaally eye-opening, about having your former partner stab you in the back- not once, but twice. Even know when all your crazy can finally be proven right to the world"

"Twice, you say?"

"First you cost me my job, just so that you can get to live a lonely life in this dirty apartment, taking everything, I've build and run it to the ground. And now, you're willing to risk your life for a brat you don't even know? You took my career, Kurtzman… I'm not letting that happen again" he said, removing safety from the gun at what even Leo wasn't sure if the detective was bluffing or not.
"Now, now, Hopkins. If you really hate me that much, what made you come back then?" Kurtzman said, as Hopkin's bitterness seemed to replace his compassion for his friend.

"I choose to believe that you might have a chance to redeem yourself, in honor of our past friendship. Clearly, that was a mistake"

Kurtzman just smiled, almost giggling. Closing his eyes briefly as if he was relieving an old memory. Something that seemed to even put Hopkins on edge, despite holding the trigger. "Now, see that's where you're wrong Hopkins. Always so stubborn, it's always been your downfall. But that's okay. I know you're just doing what you think is right" he said, still smiling, glaring back at Leo for a moment, until finally- he picked up the syringe,

"And so am I"

-and smashed it to the ground, one single gunshot ringing loud in the air.

---

Donnie sat on the bed, watching as April paced around the room frantically, with his heart up in his chest. He'd been fiddling with his thumbs in a panicky frenzy ever since he revealed himself, thoughts swirling inside him most of which ending in a not so friendly reminder that time was ticking and he didn't know what to say.

"B-but how!? When?! I don't understand?! How is this even possible?!"

"Believe me, I can barely understand it myself"
"Why didn't you tell me?!" she exclaimed, hands thrown out in the air as Donnie struggled for words to explain himself.
"I wanted to! Or well- I guess I could have told you at the OLS, but I just… I didn't know how. And well, I- we wanted to keep you save"

"By lying to me?!"
"We didn't think it was lying! You were gone, April. Please understand, if the foot had found out you were still in the city, they'd have come for you too. We couldn't risk it"

"Well, if you couldn't risk it, why did you even bother to come?!"

Donnie sighed. Why did he come? He had all the time in the world, all the availability and yet, it'd taken him this long to finally confront her face to face. To tell her the truth, if only for the slight chance that maybe she could cure Leo, that maybe she she'd forgive them for lying, but was that really all? Or had he simply come here in the hope that she'd finally admit her feelings for him?

"April, I'm really sorry"

She sighed, frustration and disappointment entangling just a fraction of what she must be going through right now. Seeing her used to be mutated friend like… this. Human.

"Yeah, well… so am I" she muttered, sinking down into the bed. Now Donnie was the one pacing, hands nervously running through his hair as he tumbled over every possible explanation that might somehow justify his actions. He then tried to level with her, bending down to meet her eyes, "Look, something's coming and soon. We think it has something to do with the mutagen that turned us into this, but if I can't figure out a way to stabilize the mutation then it won't matter. Leo's… sick. During the attack he got injured… seriously, injured and now well… he's pretty much forgotten who we are"

April's eyes lit up at this, shocked as she took in the information, "Oh wow. That's… awful"

"Which is why I came. Because let's face it, who better to tap into someone's head than you? If I can just get you to look at him, it won't be long, just maybe see if you can return his memories, or just anything that might help him remember, that's it. We can still win this"

"I can't"

"Of course, you can! I mean you've done it before-

"No, you don't get it, I can't anymore" she insisted, voice loud enough to break glass and it nearly made Donnie jump in the commotion.

"What are you talking about?" he asked, not comprehending.

As April put her head in her hands, voice graining as she slowly started to shiver. When she looked back up at him, her eyes were watery though contained somehow. Refusing to let her emotions overwhelm her.

"When the left Kraang left earth, something happened to me. I think it somehow broke the connection, but I haven't been able to use them ever since. Now I'm just… normal"

Donnie couldn't believe what he was hearing, almost to the point he didn't believe it- the smile vanishing from his face, "B-but are you sure? Maybe you just haven't had the right equipment? Yeah, come down to the lab, I-I'm sure we'll figure something out"

"No! Don't you understand?! I'm useless! Nothing's working, I've tried everything- God! Why do you think I left the city?"

Then Donnie remembered something. Something April had told Darnly as they walked down the OLS hallway during his shift, his gaze shifting away from her face as the guilt started eating away at him. "You wanted… to help Kirby, didn't you?"

She nodded, arms pulled up in an embrace as Donnie hesitantly tried to put his hand on her shoulder for comfort, "April I'm so sorry-

"I don't need your pity. Everything that Master Splinter taught me and now it's just gone… I can't help you, Donnie. You're going to have to do this without me" she said, Donnie feeling all his hope and optimism leaving him, despite his initial relief at seeing her again. This can't be happening… this can't be happening. He kept chanting over and over in his head, hoping maybe if he said it enough then it would somehow be true, feeling his desperation take over like a wildfire, "You won't even try? April, please, even if it doesn't work, I'm begging you, can't you just… just try?"

"I can't. I mean, honestly, do you really think they'd even wanna see me like this? I haven't seen you since… I can't even remember"

"Of course, they would- April, please just come back to the lab, we can figure this out. I'm begging you here, help us"

April paused, not able to look him in the eyes before she forced a smile that unfortunately only made Donnie more anxious. "You'll fix this, Donnie. You always do."

Donnie shook his head, Leo's words still echoing in his mind. The memory of Layton's broken body flashing in his mind, the blood dripping alongside the pavement as the ticking time bomb that was his body reminded him of what he'd done. The consequences that would follow unless he could just get Leo to remember where he put it-

Tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock tick tock….

"Not this time… you don't understand-" he said, getting dizzy just thinking about it. He sank down onto a chair, head in his hands as the room seemed to close around him all at once. April looked at him, nervous, though at the same time hesitant to reach out before sitting down next to him. Almost as if this was just any other normal visit, chatting about whatever as they'd wonder if there was any cheesy movie they could watch until midnight.

"So, are you going to stay this way? Human, I mean?" she asked, Donnie wondering if maybe she still needed confirmation that it was really him. He thought about it for a moment, instantly not knowing what to say, too afraid that something inside him might come out the wrong way, "I don't know if I'm being honest. I mean I- I want to, I think… but my family comes first, and I- I can't just leave them behind "

He felt a hand on his shoulder as April tried to reassure him, "Well, I mean, I'll still be here if you decide to stay that way. "

Donnie paused, not registering that the words came from her, "You will?"

She took his hand, looking into his eyes as Donnie seemed to forget how to breathe, "I know we left things on bad terms… when I left for Northampton all I could think about was helping my dad, but… I was starting to think I'd never see you again. That maybe… you wouldn't want me with you"

"No, no you got it all wrong-

Donnie got up from his seat, lights flickering as April pranced around the room, realization washing over her like a maelstrom, "But then it turns out, you were there all along, right under my nose, I mean how could I have been so blind? It's so obvious now! Everything makes sense" she said, taking a good long look at Donnie who at this point was starting to lose all sense of reality. She approached him, a half-written smile on her face, that surprisingly grew less and less timid as she went on, hair pulled behind her ear.

"I'm sorry I can't help you, but if it's any consolation, I mean… when this is over, maybe we could start over too?" she then asked, as a thought then and there crept over Donnie- one he'd only dreaded thinking about ever since their first meeting, but apparent enough to send a chill down his spine, thinking it might be true.

Of course he wanted to start over. This entire experiment had hinged on that ever since he first got the idea. A new life, even better- it would be a new life with the girl of his dreams, and here she was telling him that she was willing to take it.

Just imagening the possibilities in his head was enough to make him dizzy. Finally going out on open street together, no hiding in the shadows, no sneaking around where he could instead, in his human body walk next to her. Not caring, not scared anymore. Maybe they'd go see a movie, maybe he could offer her to pay for the popcorn, to lead her to their seats. He could tell her all about the technicalities the movie got wrong as opposed to real life physics- or simply watch her gosh over the action scenes on their way out as she'd get carried away as she usually does. They could go to a party together, dancing for the first time in his life in an open crowd without consequence, April laughing as he tripped over his human-feet. He'd offer to dance together because the song was too good and the night was still young and why should he care? No one was going to care. Maybe they'd go to school together, oh god they could go to school together, maybe I'd even get my own locker too, maybe it'd be right next to hers. Maybe they'd study together at the local library, complain about free time jobs or even going to the mall for spare parts instead of the backway of the local trashyard. Every day out in the open, every day by her side, no monsters, no problems that needed to be fixed, no one telling him where he could and couldn't go...

But then of course... if all that remained true, then why... why was this the first time they'd even seen each other since then? Let alone spoken to each other. They way she looked at him, angry yes, but her eyes betrayed her. Was... was it jsut because of the change...? She'd never looked at him that way before. Maybe it was the way she'd said it, the growing pit in his stomach as his human reflection was mirrored back to him through her eyes... like she wasn't even talking to him. And then another thought came to mind.

"April are... are you saying that because you want to, or... is it just because i'm human now?"

April took a step back, as if the question itself had somehow shocked her enough to make her stumble,

"What?! No! Why would you even say that, that's crazy!"

"But you didn't look for us. Did you?" he said, voice lowered as his lungs seemed to tighten in his chest, the realization washing over him as he in his mind replayed the last couple of months in a mirage of thoughts, because he knew the truth. And thinking about it now, it all started to make sense,

"All this time, you were off in Northampton. All this time when we didn't even know if you were okay. I tried to reach out to you, but you never answered me, you didn't even call! Nothing. We needed your help! But you stayed away. Why? Why didn't you look for us? I just don't understand, what did we do to make you leave us like that... what did I do, I just- I don't understand"

"Donnie, no. You didn't do anything. I promise, this was just... look, the important thing is that you're okay. Whatever happened before, it doesn't matter. I swear to you, I never meant to hurt you" she said, and before Donnie could stop her, she pulled him into an embrace- head bended over her shoulders as she brushed his hair. Though this didn't change the growing sense of tension filling his mind. I can't believe this... it's the same thing. Again... it's just the same.

"You can't be serious" he muttered, pulling away as his nerves tightened.

"Donnie-"

Donnie bit his lip, the other side of his mind, the one he'd grown so dependant on over these last few eyars urging him to stop, but it was already too late as he locked onto her gaze.

"Why do you keep doing this?!"

"Do what?!"

"Making me feel like an idiot! You keep doing this! Its always the same- I've tried over and over again but you still treat me like I'm just some irritation you can't rid off. Just some annoying mutant who wouldn't leave you alone. I thought I understood that. I thought you didn't like me and then of course, when I try to do the right thing, next thing I know you're telling me how much you need me! Or telling me I'm the best! That I'm not just some moron wasting my time trying to prove to you that I am more than everyone thinks. So I keep trying, keep thinking maybe if I just give you the time you need maybe you'll see me, but no! It's just more of the same!" he exclaimed, nearly breathless at this point, pacing around the room before he finally managed to collect himself. Feeling every sting of every day lingering ever since he first saved her- April O'neil the first human he'd ever met, now unable to even look him in the eye, because she knew that this wasn't coming from nothing. He tried to lower his voice, meeting her with the same exasperated loneliness and frustration fuiling his mind, "So how can you say that you want to start over? April, last time I saw you, you didn't even say goodbye. Did you think of that? You didn't even give us a reason, because why should you? You're April O'neil the most amazing person on this planet, and if you leave without as much as a goodbye we're just supposed to accept it, right?"

There was a pause, April's pupils dialated, this new version of the timid, socially awkward Donatello making her unable to speak. The words stumbling out in panicked breathes, as she too seemed to rely on her emotions,guilt stringing along for the ride, "Donnie, I'm sorry, okay?! I messsed up, is that what you wanna hear? I messed up! I don't know why you feel that you need to prove anything to me, because you don't and you never had, but I was only trying to do what was best! For all of you! Donnie, you know you mean the world to me, right? I'm a teenager I'm not supposed to have all the answers, I only tried to... I just needed to-god, why does it even matter to you? I'm sorry I left when I did, but I didn't know, and even if I had, who's to say I'd even-

"I LIKE YOU!" Donnie yelled- suddenly, and very abrupt. Not even noticing the warm and metallic substance that seemed to make its way down his mouth and April seemed to notice this, hand over her mouth and concern on her face.

"Donnie... your nose..."

"There. I finally said it... But you know that already don't you? Who am i kidding? You've always known, I mean I'm not exactly subtle about it. I know I'm not and I dunno, maybe I just figured, if you already knew, maybe you felt the same way about me. How silly is that? I actually thought you liked me. Mutant shell and all." He let out a sigh, choosing to accept the outcome. The words escaping his mouth like it wasn't even on purpose, but the anger inside him compelled him to not hold back. Ringing louder than he'd ever thought he could ever yell at her. And while Donnie could easily yell a lot at a lot of people, truth be told... he never in his wildest dreams could've predicted he'd ever yell at her. But even so, his voice hollered out in a declartion that only seemed to render April even more speechless than she'd ever been before- even Donnie having to process for a moment that it was really him saying it.

"Donnie..." April muttered, tears in her eyes.

Donnie let out a slight chuckle, everything shaking and if it wasn't for the ticking alarm clock on her desk, breaking away at his mind, he might've collapsed just from sheer exhaustion. Crumble up, because he'd just spilled his guts, once and for all, to the girl he loved. And the worst part. He didn't even care at this point.

"How is it, that I can find the solution to a mathematical pantehon of variables, but when it comes to you and how you feel about me, I keep landing back at square one? I'll never be good enough to you. You just never change- "

"You're bleeding"

TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK TICK TOCK-

Donnie ran his fingers over his lips, starring blankly at the blood as his mind began to pull him away from the room and back towards the million different reasons why this was a mistake and he had get out of there.

"I shouldn't have come-"

"Wait-"

But April wasn't that quick to let him leave, grabbing Donnie by the sleaves as she in her panick tried to come up with something that might fix this, that might make him stay, or just anything really, but he just didn't care. Not like he used to. Human or not, there were more important things he needed to do, things he needed to fix- that he knew for a fact he could.

"M-maybe you're right! Maybe, maybe they're not gone, mayeb we just need to try. I'll come back, we can, try one of those telekinetic, what was it again, a-and I'll, we'll think of something-

"No... no, you know something? Why don't you pack your suitcase and get as far away from here as you can. Go be with your dad, and then… if we survive this, I'll let you know" he just said, one foot out of the door before then, almost like the universe itself knew that something was wrong, a wave of dizziness returned. His sense of balance faltering as pain shot through his skull.

"Donnie, you're not well... let me help." April exclaimed, the blood dripping down his nose as Donnie used his bo to climb outside without falling.

"I'm fine, don't- don't worry about me. You're good at that" he said, returning one last glance at April before with a heaviness in his chest, leaving his old friend behind once and for all- emptiness replacing the used to be optimistic Donnie, as he made his way back to the lair, dread closing in...

---

"Okay, we should be in the right place. If not, remind me to rip Don' a new one when we get back" Raph said, folding down a pair of binoculars made from yours truly. The rain was pouring down over the concrete walls, replacing the snowy landscape ahead for a wet stormy winter's day. Raph and Mikey scouted ahead, reaching the transmitter to one apartment in particular, where apparently their fearless leader had found himself tangled up after a not so surprising turn of events. I told him that cop was bad news. They'd waited for a while, hoods covering their faces as to not be seen of course, while juggling a failing attempt at staying dry in the weather. "Weird, isn't this near that old paparazzi's place? What was his name again? Kurt- something? But why would the old geezer bring him here…? That can't be right… "

Mikey hadn't said a word. The poor guy'd just been playing with the broken chain of his nunchucks, as if they'd somehow reassemble, and make everything okay if they did. And while Donnie had tried to hand him a pair of new ones left behind by the weaponry, he'd just shrugged, kept to his own like he was clinging to them for dear life. And while he'd preferred to stay watching over Simon in the lair, when they'd told him that Leo was in danger, of course he'd be ready to do anything to help him… And while Raph wasn't one for overly sentimental stuff, it still pained him to see Mikey like this. It was usually the other way around, truth be told. He remembered years ago before the city was overrun and the first time they'd thought for sure that father was truly gone, while he'd been yelling and hammering on the bars in a breathless rampage- in other words, being a poor example of a leader, Mikey'd stayed optimistic. Somehow stayed the positive, ball of weirdness, glass half full throughout every danger they'd encountered. It was almost like he didn't even try. It was just the way he was. Or… used to be. Looking at him now, it was like the human exterior wasn't even there. Just the curled up, freckled goofball he called his brother- green or not.

"Mikey, hey… I'm sorry about before. I- I didn't know he was your friend, I shouldn't have been so-

"It's alright, you don't have to apologize." He muttered, into his knees. Raph gulped, struggling to search for the right words. Words... My favorite cheering up game, "No, no, I do. Simon's your friend. If that was either of you in there, I would've reacted the exact same way"

"Hm."

Silence. Well, except for the rain hammering on the roof. Only one building away from Leo and yet that leap seemed a million miles away from up where they sat. Raph, figuring that giving Mikey some space would probably be the best way to go, allowing him to focus on the mission and maybe a temporary distraction of sort, got up from his seat and back to business,

"Well, we should probably scope out the floor, see how many's inside before we start-

"I tried to tell him"

"What?"

Another pause. Mikey was still talking into his knees, making his words slightly muffled and difficult to hear, though his tone of voice was more than enough for him to get the message through (even if it was most likely not meant to be heard). So, now we're talking. He sat back down, patiently, facing Mikey who forced himself to look up from the alley below.

"… I… I wanted to tell him…"

And Raph (not comprehending the meaning of patience) immediately went; "Wha- are you nuts? Why would you do that?"

Mikey sighed, shivering in his tone and his eyes squeezed shut. "I just… I wanted to be honest. But then I did it again…"he said, hands clinging to his head like he was unknowingly trying to punish himself and making Raph even more uneasy… hating the fact that he was a long shot from what his brother probably needed right now.

"Did what…?"

Another pause, Mikey's voice breaking as he curled in on himself, not unlike the way he crept into his shell whenever he was frightened.

"I ran away" he muttered, heart beating faster as all of a sudden, as both legs fell down over the edge, hands fidgeting with themselves in his lap. "He tried to reach me, and I wasn't there. He was my responsibility, and I let him down. "

"Come on, don't be so hard on yourself, you couldn't have known" Raph tried, putting up a smile while cheerfully dashing him over the shoulder. This however, seemed to have no effect, and really he should've known. But what he didn't expect, was the words that followed.
"Is this why you hate it so much…? Being human?" came it, Raph completely taken aback by this- but Mikey continued. "If… if I'd just told him from the beginning, this wouldn't have happened. I screwed it up again and now it's too late… How can I ever look him in the eyes? Look his family in the eyes? He has a family. They probably think he's dead- o- or he's going to be… because I didn't tell him"

Raph waited for a moment, after hearing this rant, wondering intensely what master Splinter would say to all of this if he was here… what sorta wise old man proverbs he'd use to inspire and rekindle. But then he realized that, in all honesty… he hadn't the faintest idea what he'd say. And even if he did, it wouldn't make any sense for Raph to pretend he knew what he was talking about, like he would regardless. Shrinking a bit as he thought about all the times he'd hit him, or punched him or just, not being the greatest advice-giver in the world. Instead trusting his own intuition by putting his hand on Mikey's shoulder, taking a deep breath as he imagined the rain was gone,

"Look, Mikey, I know I keep giving you a hard time, but… it's only because I know how capable you are. Sure, sometimes you run away, but you always come back in the end and you're there for us, even if we're jerks sometimes, you always prove how extraordinary you can be. I mean shell, just look at tonight! You kicked our butts and didn't even use a weapon! If that's not the most badass thing, I don't know what is. Sensei even said it himself."

Mikey dried a tear, peeking up for a moment, "He did?"

Raph nodded encouragingly, hand around his shoulder, "You're going to get through this. I promise ya- Mikey you're stronger than you think. And besides- do you really think Simon would've wanted you to wait around sulking when there's scumbags waiting to get their ass handed to them? No! He'd want you to pick up that kitsune and start smashing. You're not alone in this, little brother"

And while initially smiling, that smile was short lived as another thought seemed to enter his mind. "It was still my fault"

And once again the urge to burn down the entirety of New York city if it meant grinding those bug-eyed bastards into the mud became more and more tempting.
"It was the foot's fault. Mikey, if you keep blaming yourself for what happened to him, you're letting them win. Like, come on, that's their whole schtick, it makes perfect sense;They wanted to pressure you, to make them think that they can make you weak. But just because it hurts, doesn't mean you can't still stand your ground. I've seen you do it. Now is no different"

"You really think so?"
"I know so" he said, getting ready to jump as he cracked his knuckles expectantly, "And even if you can't- I'll make sure those bug-eyed freaks knows not to mess with the Hamato's if they know what's good for them. You have my word on that"

Mikey sighed, smiled and then got up to his feet. Maybe not entirely out of the sobriety of things, but at least he was more willing than before.

"Thanks, Raph" he smiled, before solemnly without hesitating punching the very unprepared Raph on the shoulder.

"Argh! What was that for?!"

Mikey held his hands up defensively, "Nothing. Just wanted to try it"

Well, waddya know, maybe violence was the answer. "You punch like a worm by the way" he said, soon after making the run up to the edge and finally taking the leap.

Landing on the wall just underneath the window to the apartment, Mikey landed soon after. Not at all showing off with a double summer sault mid-air before grabbing on to the ledge with ease, not a sound of their endeavor remaining after they'd landed. Signing Mikey to scout the other side, he nodded quickly, shimmering silently to the other side as both readied their communicators. He peeked up, scanning the room with his eyes as the sight before them made them question if maybe they'd been there before.

"Okay, I think I can see him. There's Hopkins, and there's… no way!"

And then, as if simultaneously both of them saw him at the same time, it started to make sense why that was. "Kurtzman…?! what's he doing with that guy?!" Mikey exclaimed, ecstatic to see him. Last night they'd worked together, the old fool nearly got himself killed after taking a shot to the shoulder. He survived, though he had to stay in a cast for the remainder of that year. It didn't make sense why he'd work with a cop, least of all the guy responsible for kidnapping Leo. No, there had to be some explanation here. And whatever it was, it appeared the journalist wasn't too happy with the turn of events either. "Don't know, but from the looks of it they're not having a party"

Besides him, where of course, the geezer himself seemingly arguing with each other like an old married couple, and then finally… Leo. Tied to a pole in the middle of the room, duck-tape over his mouth, and Raph already imagined the look on his face when he'd tell him I told you so for the hundredth time. "We need to get those keys" Raph concluded, noticing the shiny metal shimmering on the counter, unguarded.
"I'll get them"
"What? No that's- " Raph paused, at first thinking this an absolutely horrible idea that couldn't not go wrong if they weren't more inconspicuous about this. But then he remembered, that out of all of them, the one and only hide and seek champion, as well as the only one of the team holding the record of sneaking up on Sensei successfully, was Mikey. And then, all of a sudden it didn't seem like such a bad suggestion… "-actually not a bad idea… huh"

Mikey nodded, mimicking what was probably supposed to be his attempt at a salutation before heading inside unnoticed.

"Just grab the keys, unlock the cuffs and on my signal, you get the shell out of there pronto, understood?"

"Understood, but eh- what's the signal again?" he stopped, head sticking down from the window above, as Raph wondered how the hell he hadn't been spotted yet.

"You know… the signal. "

"What is the signal?"
"Just- the 'signal'"

"How will I know when to run if I don't know the signal?! What- do I still run if you like- sneeze or something?"

"What the signal is, exactly, isn't important-"

"Well, then why didn't you just say so…?"
Raph felt like he was about to burst a blood vessel "Will you just go already!?"

And so, he did. Behind the couch, up the nearest shelf supportive enough for his weight, into the shadows as Hopkins walked past him for a brief moment- making this the second time they'd managed to fool him. When he finally walked past, Mikey then successfully was able to use the chandelier (or the poor excuse for one) in the ceiling to make his way towards the nearest support beam. And so far, it appeared none of the where none the wiser, until suddenly a loud crash was heard somewhere coming from the kitchen. Raph bit his lip to stop himself from yelling out, just as the commotion nearly send Mikey falling to the ground. However, as a surprising way of showing off how nimble he was, Mikey somehow managed to stop his fall by balancing between the chandelier and the nearest support beam. As he was left hanging there, Raph shimmered over to the other side, praying no one would notice the slight crackle from outside as he discovered the set of plates crashed to the ground. As Kurtzman was too busy cleaning up the mess, Raph eagerly waved Mikey toward the kitchen.

Took him a few heavy breaths and some well-deserved payback from years of training, before he managed to swing himself up again, close to the shadows and out of sight. He tip-toed silently past the counter, used the functioning nunchuck in his belt to wrap around it, and was just about to reach for the key when-

It wasn't there.

Are you kidding me?! Raph tried to search for the key, Mikey quickly returning to the upper side, looking dumbfounded as something tinkering nearby caught his attention. Turns out the key had somehow been shot halfway across the room, from the desk to the floor right near where Leo was tied up, and where he was right now in the middle of reaching for. You once used a toothpick to unlock an alien warship and you can't even reach a simple key?! But before either of them had the chance to step in, something else stopped them mid tracks.

Mainly, the sight of Hopkins holding a gun to Kurtzman's head, finger hovering over the trigger. "Raph, what do we do?!" Mikey whispered into the communicator, as Raph watched the scene unfold. He didn't get a chance to collect his thoughts however, before suddenly- Kurtzman let go of the glass, a second of instinct and adrenaline taking over as Raph exclaimed,

"Mikey! NOW!"

And just as the sound of a gunshot was heard piercing the wood behind, Mikey dropped down from his hiding place pushing Kurtzman out of the way as both tumbled to the floor.

"You!" Kurtzman burst out, quickly followed by Hopkins aiming his gun at Mikey before yet again he was the one exclaiming, "You…!" upon seeing the stranger.

Then, the unceremonious discourse as Kurtzman decidedly slammed Hopkins into the nearest wall, as Mikey shuffled to his feet. He grabbed the key, nearly tripping as he made his way behind the beam and unlocked the cuffs, to which Leo immediately sprung to his feet, ripping off the ducktape. "Mikey! How did you-

"No time to explain, bro! Come on- Woah!"

A gun shot was heard, Hopkins still at brawl with Kurtzman, blocking their path to the window where Raph was waiting anxiously on the sidelines trying to find an easy escape. Mikey tried to lead them past the kitchen, their path quickly cut off as another gun shot was heard fired in their direction. They were just about to run for the door, when Leo hesitant to leave Hopkins behind, faltered slightly in the opening as Mikey dragged both of them towards the exit. But then, as Kurtzman seemed to get the upper hand, pinning Hopkins to the ground.

"LEO! MIKEY! GO NOW! BEFORE HE-

But he didn't finish the sentence as one solid punch to the cheek send him into the counter, blood from his nose. When they realized he wasn't getting up, they did the only thing they could and ran down the hallway, up the stairs. With Hopkins close behind the pair had to get creative, Mikey using his quick thinking to block the door with his remaining nunchuck, as the geezer struggled to break through from the other side. Leo still lingering, almost hypnotically at the door was once again forced by Mikey up the stairs and out into the pouring rain.

When they finally reached the top, Mikey stopped for a while, completely out of breath and exhausted, however seemingly in the clear. When he turned around to tell Leo that, everything went silent however, as another gun shot was heard behind him.

"Stop, right there"

Hopkins was breathless too, heaving as he with a fire in his eyes, only rivaling Raph's, stood with the gun in his hand, aimed directly at the side of Leo's head- Leo, who as of a few moments ago had followed Mikey close behind him. Apparently not close enough. But then,

"HEY, PENNYWORTH! "

Another voice hollered through the rain, Raph marching toward the pair, both sai's at the ready as he revealed the red mask hiding underneath the hood.

"I hear you've been looking for me!" he yelled, a smile on his face as he saw the anger on his opponent's face, reveling in the fact that despite the detective's persistence, he was still no match for three teenagers in bandannas.

"I should've guessed. The Red Bandit, out and about. Greetings from your friend, Casey Jones "

"Look, if this is about that hole in your forehead, I'm sorry man. No hard feelings"
The cop ignored him, eyes focusing on Mikey whom at this point where only panicking at the sight of the gun, now not a shell to protect any of them if hit. And yet it didn't seem like he was trying to kill them, after all, having only the first shot fired being the result of a stranger tumbling down the ceiling.

"And you… you're Michael Robertson, aren't you? Another kid caught up in this mess- I should've known"
"Who told you that name?"

"Your mother. She's looking for you. Worried out of her mind, son, you should probably give her a call when you're done ruining your future with these guys"
"Hopkins, let them go- Leo tried, the hold on him only choking him further.

"Oh, I'm not even getting started on you" the cop sneered, taking a solid step forward,

"Here's the deal. You can spare yourself the trouble and bring me the mutant you've captured. and I won't put you all in a lab with a scalpel. Or, you try to run away again, and I won't promise I can protect your little friend... I know you know where they're hiding. And sooner or later they'll turn even more innocent people into monsters, unless you tell me what you know!"
"And then what?" Raph interrupted, not buying a word he was saying. "You'll put a 'stop to this' and everything goes back to the way it was? Well, not for us! We've been doing your job since we were little kids, and you think that just because you have the gun, you have the gall to tell us what to do? "

"Raph- he's going to kill you!"
"Oh no! Big man's got a gun, I'm so scared. You put one finger on that trigger, and I swear to all that's holy I will break every bone inside it" he said, cracking his knuckles for emphasis. "Now step away from the nerd, if you know what's good for ya"

The detective chuckled, a mixture of annoyance and surprise boiling over in his face.

"You got spine kid, I'll give you that" he said, talking through his teeth as his grasp on the gun slowly seemed to falter.
"Please, just let him go. We don't want any trouble here" Mikey said, pleading in his eyes as the cop persisted unwaveringly.
"Funny, because it sure seems to me like trouble always finds its way to you"

And then, as if time itself stood still, Leo had an idea. Raph saw it in his eyes clear as day, not knowing what he could possibly be thinking, but knowing at the same time that whatever he'd tried of stupid things in his life- talking Leo out of an idea was never one of them. So, before anyone saw it coming, maybe even before Leo saw it coming, like a blast from the past returning to safe the day, Leo closed his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Hopkins"

Then, he knocked the gun out of the detective's hands, a single shot ringing as he used the momentary shock to spin out of his grasp, grabbing the cop's arm and swinging his body through the air in one solid three seconds. There came a loud thump and a painful groan as he hit the ground, Leo using the handcuffs to lock him onto the roof door's handle. Mikey and Raph watched in awe, Raph in particularly stunned by the fact that he'd performed the technique flawlessly… and not just that, he'd used his technique to do it. Without the sai's, without the memory and supposedly without the necessary skill to perfect it, and yet here it was. The one move Leo was never able to do, the one Raph had used countless times doing sparing to have an easy win, now used to safe his life.
"Holy-

"You can thank me later- let's go!" Leo yelled, the three rushing towards the fire escape as a van suddenly rolled up the pavement below. Not knowing whether they should run the other way, suddenly the car door opened, revealing Kurtzman inside, eagerly waving them in.
"In here! Hurry!"

And just as they were driving away, save for once and against all odds alive, the unmistakable painfilled scream of the detective was heard calling out to them from above.

---

"I mean this is absolutely incredible! In all of my years I've never seen anything like this it's, almost impossible. Even with your standards, this is just, extraordinary, just thinking about the logistics behind this discovery is simply breathtaking I cannot…"

Kurtzman was still rambling by the time the building was out of sight, Mikey having unknowingly agreed to being the one on the receiving end on the journalist's bafflement. And though he went on and on and on about the unimaginable possibility of mutagen turning mutants into humans like a kid on Christmas, luckily, he didn't seem to mind.

Raph and Leo on the other hand had taken the backseat on this one, trying not to clutter over the stacks of newspapers from thirty years ago flooding the van's back in droves. And granted quite a few of them had already fallen prey to either the sharp end of Raph's sai or his legs kicking back where there was little to any space, Leo perhaps out of common courtesy, still tried to maintain as little room as possible.

"Go ahead. Say it"

Raph shrugged, pretending not to hear, "Whatever do you mean?"

Leo could feel his patience run thin the more time passed in the company of his brother, "You know what I mean"

"Oh, that I- that I told you so? Nah, I think I'll pass on this one, since you so clearly had everything under control, right chief? Ditching the team, endangering Mikey, "

"Look who's talking"

There was a slight tumbling of the van, as they hit a bump on the road. Both had their arms crossed, glancing everywhere else that wasn't the other person as if their shared stubbornness would somehow dissolve the situation. At least, that's how it felt for a solid five seconds of moping. Raph then sighed, head down as he gave in to the stirring awkwardness,

"Sorry for kicking you in the face"

Leo looked up in surprise, never in a million years thinking he'd get an apology out of Raph of all people, before promptly leaning back down against the wall, "Sorry I didn't trust you about Hopkins"

Raph nodded in acknowledgement, failing to hide the slight smile on his face as it then occurred to him, that if he was going to take another ten minutes inside that van, he was gonna need something other than his sentimentality to occupy the space.

"GArh! All this apologizing is giving me a headache...! Speaking of which- you startin' to remember anything yet?"

Leo shrugged, his brows slightly pulling together as he thought about it, "No… well- besides the basics, maybe but that's it. Well that, and eh.."

"Splinter" Raph finished, this time not with malice however, but a form of mutual understanding, "Makes sense. You were always closer to him. Guess I just figured he'd come back or somethin' to help all of us when we needed it-you know with the whole, this whole situation, I just… It's stupid"

"Maybe not"

"No?"

Raph hunched forward as Leo tried to explain, struggling to make it make sense.

"Lately, I dunno it just feels like maybe he's trying to tell me something. Something I need to remember, I just- I don't know what? I've tried meditating on it, time and time again and well- you've seen how well that turned out"

"You sure you're not just, I dunno, tired or something? You shouldn't strain the mind, trust me"

"Oh, and you're an expert?" Leo asked, not convinced and Raph, frankly, insulted.

"Okay, why don't you try getting a brain worm shoved through your eyeball, and then we'll talk" he said, though upon finishing his sentence realizing how absolutely mental that must've sounded, given he had no recollection of it whatsoever. The thought further stressed judging by the giant question marks floating around Leo's head like fairy lights.

"Don't ask"

Leo nodded, eager to change the subject as once again the not so sturdy van made the pair wonder of Kurtzman still bore his driver's license.

"There's also something else. This, girl who visited me some time ago. Name was Karai"

This made Raph nearly topple off his chair, "Wai- she talked to you? You've talked to her and you didn't tell us?!"

"Until a few minutes ago I wasn't even sure she was even real! Excuse me for trying to focus on the mission!" Leo fired back, him too getting out of his seat before aggressively shoving past a stack of newspapers about 'anger management', "I'm not even sure she's even alive! But Hopkins said that whoever the mutant was he wanted her alive. And since the bullets we found in the lair matched the holster of his gun, well… it's a possibility"

Raph chuckled. He couldn't help it- just the thought alone of Karai of all people getting to him first, and not even bothering to tell the others. Not even a sound and god- how must she have reacted to discover her partner in crime now looking like he could be on the cover of a marshal arts magazine? Raph could only imagine, halting himself from a long string of jokes as he saw the worry on Leo piling up. But if there was one thing he knew for absolute certain, it was that roaches are evil, and Hamato Miwa is not going to go down by a bullet any time soon.

"You're worrying over nothing. This is Karai we're talking about- girl's tough as nails. Whatever happened to her, she can handle herself and besides… we're going to need all the help we can get if we want to stop that Oni- freak and his goons"

Leo sighed more at ease- not to say the worry was completely gone from his mind but, at least numbed a bit down, he hoped. Raph had seen what Leo was like when he was stressed, and as much as he was tempted to slap him back to his senses, he figured that right now the best he could do, was simply trust that he knew what he was talking about.

"Guess you're right"

"What was that? I didn't quite hear that? Can you repeat it?" Raph continued, hand behind his ear to emphasis his douchebaggery- finally a good use for these things.

"You were RIGHT! Happy?!"

"Very"

And as Raph leaned back with his hands behind his head, Leo was just about to pick up a paper ball to draw at him when the van suddenly came to halt, the backdoors opening as the outside light shone through.

"Okay, here's your stop."

They'd parked just in the outskirts of an abandoned alleyway, courtesy of New York city, and a cover right at the center, waiting for them to enter.
"It was good seeing you, Kurtzman. Take care of yourself" Raph said, shaking the old journalist's hand in shared respect and gratitude.

"Whatever I can do to help. I told you two years ago; don't hesitate to call. "

"Eh, you're sure you're okay with the whole… policeman cuffed to your roof? Because I think they might frown on that" Mikey said, the thought of Hopkins still screaming at them from the roof of the building equally horrifying as it was hilarious.

Kurtzman shrugged, seemingly unbothered, and why would he be? The man had probably seen more crazy in his life than most people had in a lifetime.

"This isn't my first time going into hiding, and it certainly won't be my last. Just, be careful. I'm sure your father would be very proud of you boys" he said, smiling at each at them as if only for a moment, it was like the old days had returned. As they all said their goodbye's, the three made their way for the sewer when,

"Oh, almost forgot, you dropped this. Better keep it somewhere safe, don't you think?"
Kurtzman went over to Leo, handing him the blue mask he'd made it a habit at this point of losing. He hadn't even noticed it slip out of his pocket.

"Thanks" he said, as Kurtzman saluted the bunch before closing the car door and rejoined the road.

"That dude, is seriously awesome" Mikey cemented, before closing the lit.

…

When they made their way back to the lair, everything was normal. Same rubble scattered around the entry, same burn marks and cuts over furniture they were a decade behind in replacing. However, when they made their way throughout the lounge, past the dojo and down the hallway, something seemed… off. First and foremost, besides the three of them everything was essentially quiet. Alarmingly so, and as they'd learned the hard way last time, quiet was usually not a good thing when you were the turtles. But as soon as they made their way for the lab, door creaking open slowly and eerily, suddenly it started to make sense.

"Oh, you're back"

Everyone had to do a double take, not really sure how to respond. Donnie sat by the tube, fumbling with a set of different wires as he pulled back his protective googles and work gloves, to look up. No one said a word, the gears turning in their heads as while Donnie seemed relatively unphased, the others were still unable to take their eyes away from the table, where, as Raph so elegantly put it;

"Uh… Donnie? Mind tellin' us why there's a little girl in our secret lair sitting on your toaster?"