Chapter 7

Decisions

Sorry that's taken so long- my computer (which was renowned for being a useless piece of junk anyway- sold by a complete chancer who then went out of business, the $& and has since done the rounds of every flippin' repairshop in the city….Anywho) got the dreaded Premium Line virus and as I had no wish to pay E80 a minute, I couldn't connect. I now have a new computer (my prrreciousss…!) but had to write the whole chapter out again as I couldn't transfer stuff cos my old comp was so bad that even virus-checkers couldn't deal with it… etc etc. You get the point.

I will now get on with the story…

So:

Donnie was worried. He was being given a transfer to a top-secret project- something connected with the military. As a civilian, he didn't have to accept- and if he chose not to, that would be the end to it- he would never hear another word on the subject. If he did accept then he would be at a whole 'nother level in scientific endeavour. Of all the places that was advanced in science and invention, it was this secret base in Nevada. But he didn't know what it was they were involved in. If it was military weapons testing- or worse- biowarfare- then he couldn't- wouldn't do it! Apart from the moral implications, how could he be involved in creating something that might get his own brother killed? Karma had some nasty tricks up her sleeve.

He needed to talk to his brothers.

Raph was worried too. He'd been at several mutant strongholds and wasn't sure he liked what he saw and heard. People were nervous- more then nervous. In several places, people had resigned themselves to a war which they were certain was approaching. Their daily lives were lived in twanging tension. Others were gathering arms together and both sides were watching each other for the straw that would break the grim peace between the two factions. Even ordinary people -of both sides- were feeling the mood and the atmosphere of most big cities, where humans and previously unsuspected mutants lived close together, was tense. Rioting and levels of violence had gone up too- sudden attacks, mainly by humans on mutants- or suspected mutants, followed by revenge attacks, which could so easily get out of hand- leaving wounded and dead on both sides. He and Donnie had started going out on patrol again- when they were both in the city. But even those they rescued or helped were scared of them, especially if they were human. And they had to be very careful that they didn't get labelled as human-sympathisers or they could end up in big trouble. There had been a few cases of mutants being hurt or killed by other mutants for being collaborators with humans. People were scared. Things got out of hand. They needed to be very careful. Things were on the edge, and the slightest thing could set off civil war. He was beginning to wonder should they get out of the city before things erupted.

He needed to talk to his family.

Leo wasn't quite as worried; being at a further remove, he didn't quite know how serious it was. But he watched the American news and both he and Master Splinter worried about the others. He wasn't too scared about Donnie in his labs. He talked to Don every day or two and was reassured that the atmosphere in the labs wasn't bad and that he had human friends there too. He wasn't sure whether he should be worried about Mikey, in his training camp. On the one hand, they were the most high-profile mutants in America, though they didn't know it, and if anyone was going to be attacked- well, they would be a pretty noticeable target. On the other hand, what harm could come to them in an Army base. Surely by definition, it was one of the safer places to be in! No, it was Raph he was most worried about for the moment- Raph, who was closer to the danger and the streetfights then any of them. If there was anyone who was likely to end up in trouble, it was the hot-tempered red turtle. He wished they were together again- he hated being separated from his younger brothers. Talking it over with his Sensei he wondered if they should see if the others would come to Japan, where the fighting wasn't so fierce and people didn't seem to care as much whether someone was a mutant or not. Also, they were away from the cities where people tended to be the worst about a person's looks.

"I confess to wondering the same thing, Leonardo." The elderly rat answered after a minute. He stood up and walked to the window. Outside there was not a person to be seen. They were at a little known training grounds in Japan, near the sea. Only Ninja masters knew how to get here, and only they could bring people- pupils mainly- here. Splinter was respected in this place now- after he and his sons had won back honour by the death of the Shredder and the proof of the Shredder's evil trick on Splinter's master. The other people respected his age and his wisdom and Splinter was happier back in his native land, Leo was relieved to note. The other people there had accepted the presence of a rat and a turtle after a few days- they were all training together, and irrational hatred was not supposed to be the Ninja way. It was distracting for one thing. Also, Leo could beat most of the other pupils in a fair fight and give the rest a good battle. He was advanced for his age and the others were working to beat him. But there was no malice there- they just wanted to honourably beat one who was a better fighter.

"Should we go back and talk to the others?" asked Leo. Splinter paused again, warring with himself. His sons needed to find their own paths in life and they had chosen them. But…they were his children and could be in danger. He nodded finally.

"We will tell them what we suspect and ask if they will come back with us. I do not like them being back there- where I suspect the danger is increasing. But it is their choice and we cannot force them."

"What about Mikey?" asked Leo, frowning. The youngest turtle was uncontactable, except by snailmail, and it was hard to communicate this sort of thing by letter. Not that they'd not written to the orange turtle- they all had, even Raph occasionally. They had followed Mikey's example and written in Japanese, which did make it a lot easier to communicate without fear of giving away anything to outsiders.

"I received a letter from Michealangelo today. He is one of the recruits who are getting two days leave mid-training. It falls in four days time. We will talk to him then. But I fear he will not come- it his on his honour to fulfil his training at this camp, and I cannot encourage him to forsake that. Nor would I."

Leo nodded. Of course they couldn't try make him quit midway through. But, he privately acknowledged, he rather wished he could!

Mikey was worried as well, though for a completely different set of reasons- he didn't even know what was going on outside the insulated training camp. He wasn't sure that he wanted to be in the special branch known commonly as Black Ops, but he couldn't think of a proper reason why not, except for vague feelings of unease and his gut instinct. He was honoured and gobsmacked that he had been chosen leader and therein lay another set of problems. Could he lead this team? He was seventeen- younger then everyone with possible exceptions of Glacier and just maybe Electrode. Well, okay that placed him in the middle, but nevertheless, youngest was a role he had played for his whole life and he wasn't sure if he was either ready or suitable to suddenly be in charge of a team. After leaving Fields' office, they had all walked slightly apart as they considered the proposition and had separated in silence, each lost in their own thoughts. Mikey went, almost without thinking, to the hospital to see Electrode.

Electrode was asleep when he arrived, head and arm bandaged and Mikey sat down in the chair beside the bed with a sigh. He felt deeply guilty that Electrode was hurt even though he knew it wasn't his fault. He had been team-leader (how could he be team-leader –he couldn't even prevent something like this in a damn exercise!)- and as such was responsible for whatever happened to his team. He couldn't look at Electrode but instead stared at the wall at the base of the bed while he thought about it all.

"Hey." said someone behind him. He didn't need to look to recognise Siren's voice.

"Hi." He replied dully. He heard a sigh and the sound of scraping. She pulled a chair up and sat.

"Doc says he'll be fine tomorrow. They're keeping in tonight for observation but he's grand really. He's just sleeping the shock off."

"Oh..." Mikey felt his skin tinge red as he berated himself for not finding out before now. Dammit- he should have! He shouldn't need Siren telling him the condition of one his team. His team- oh hell. He rubbed his hand shakily across his forehead, where the bandanna was still plastered with the blood and grime of last night's training exercise. Electrode's blood. He pulled it off and looked at it with detached disgust.

"Hey, at least it wasn't your whole uniform," Siren put in dryly. He half-smiled and shook his head.

"What do you think about all this?" he asked, with a note of pleading in his voice. She shrugged.

"I…don't know. About any of this," she said with raw honesty and Mikey nodded in agreement. She looked around the room. They were alone but she lowered he voice anyway. "Why Black Ops? Why do they want us in particular? What are we going to be used for? I assume they want us because we're mutants. So they're going to use us for our special abilities. So if we join them, knowing this, then we're voluntarily signing away our… powers to be used at their whim. We won't own ourselves and we won't own our abilities. That's what I don't like about all this."

Mikey nodded slowly. "Yeah, I'd pretty much gotten that far too. But… we've already signed our lives away, haven't we? If our abilities are all that they want- then they're theirs already. What'd the point of this?"

Siren shrugged again.

"I don't like this either..." said Mikey suddenly. "I have a feeling that there is more to this then meets the eye- not that any of this meets the eye!" he added with a grimace.

"Another thing that I don't like about this is that they told us that if we joined we would be leader and 2IC. I think that sounds more in the nature of…"

"…a bribe." finished Mikey grimly. "Yeah, I was wondering about that too. Glacier and Electrode in particular listen to you. I reckon if you wanted to convince them then you could- either way."

"And as much as I hate to feed your ego, we all listen to you. I think we were chosen to convince the others as much as for any particular leadership abilities. They want us." She paused and ignored Mikey's hurt look about the jibe to his ego. "Glacier listens to me? I'd never noticed she had anything beyond general contempt for all of us." Mikey raised an eyebrow.

"You kidden' me? She looks up to you. Out of all of us, you have the best relationship with her. Whether it's because you're both women and had to face the womens' barracks together, or because of the fight with Martins, she looks up to you- and to you as…if not a friend yet, certainly a potential friend."

Siren looked shocked.

"Whoa…you've been thinking about this."

Mikey shrugged.

"We're a pretty odd team dudette. But I think we'll make it. But as for the Ops question, I think I'm comin' down on the no side."

Siren nodded slowly and stood up. "Even if it means giving up the leadership of the team over it?"

"Yes. I'm not risking the team if possible- and this sounds way too deep for a bunch of greenies." She smiled slightly and prepared to leave, glancing at Electrode.

"He's okay- and that whole thing wasn't your fault. You coming? It's dinner now." Mikey shook his head.

"Naah, I'll just stay here for a while. Till he wakes up- make sure he's ok." She nodded again and moved a few steps towards the door before hesitating and turning back.

"What I said before- about not being sure about any of this? I was wrong. I am sure about one thing. They picked the right person to lead. You'd be a good leader." She walked out quickly and Mikey was left staring at the swinging doors in shock.

Electrode was at breakfast the next morning. He was under orders not to be pushed too far for a day or two and the instructors had the same warning. Electrode wasn't sure whether to be glad or not. He settled on mildly disgruntled.

"Ah, cool it Electrode, it's shooting this morning you can take full part in that." Steel told the mutinous blond man cheerfully.

"Yeah, I guess. Was there any word as to why the thing went off anyway? It shouldn't have been there in the first place."

"Too right it shouldn't have been," scowled Glacier, looking up. "But because there's no way anyone could have predicted who would be where at any given time, it's being treated as an accident. Myers down in organising and supply got bawled out this morning over it." Mikey gave up wondering how the icy woman got all her information- she always seemed to know everything that was going on, although he never saw her speaking to anyone.

"You don't believe it was an accident, do you?" asked Siren shrewdly. Glacier didn't say anything but snorted with enough violence as to lose the cornflakes on her spoon.

Mikey was beginning to enjoy weapons-practice for all he still didn't like guns too much. He was relieved to note that he was now one of the faster in the group at putting the firearms together and the instructor tended to pass him with a mildly approving glare as opposed to his customary scowl. That pleasure was reserved for poor Fredericks who got the brunt of the shouting as well. The hapless recruit had no co-ordination whatsoever.

He was fourth to fire at the target placed 100m away down the field, and he concentrated at hitting it. They were all getting better at it. The first time round, one of the instructors, a surprisingly quiet man called Goulding, had looked like he would cry when only two out of the twenty had even come close to hitting the big round targets. The other Weapons Sergeant didn't look like he'd even cried in his life, and tended to shriek concentration into his students. It had mixed effects. For the more rebellious, it tended to focus them in their anger. For others, they found their hands shaking badly enough that they were luck to hit any target- let alone their own!

Mikey focussed and all sound and distractions around him dropped away. He aimed and fired three shots in quick succession. Once those firing at the same time were finished, they handed their firearm to the people behind them and were given the all-clear to go collect their scores. Mikey walked down the field confidently- he knew he had done well that time.

As he reached the half-way point, he caught a flash out of the corner of his eye and his instinct reacted to danger immediately.

"Get down!" he shouted, suiting action to words and pulling down the man walking next to him. He felt something wing his shell and he stayed down. He heard the report at the same time as he felt that pressure. The man whom he'd knocked had started to exclaim angrily before falling silent ad he realised the danger. Some had frozen on the spot when they heard the shot, other had dropped to the ground automatically to present less of a target.

"WHO THE HELL FIRED THAT?" screamed the Sergeant furiously as he recovered and strode out to Mikey and the other man- Roberts, Mikey recognised absently as he got over his own fright.

"EVERYONE TO ATTENTION!" People jumped up and in some cases fell over again as they struggled to obey.

"Not you two." He added as they tried to get up. "Roberts, were you hit? No- go on then." He turned to Mikey. "Hamato- stay as you are- the medics will check you out. It doesn't look bad." Even as he spoke, two meds were pushing through to make sure he wasn't injured. Mikey sat up and tried to look over his shoulder to examine the damage himself.

"It's scored, but it's not deep. It didn't penetrate your shell." one of the medics informed him- a Corporal Rodgers.

"Aw man…another mark…" he muttered. "Uh thank-you Sir." He added belatedly as he stood. Don't know why I bother polishing it- at this point I don't think it will even take a polish! he thought as he walked back to the lines where his team crowded around him. They were scowled back into line by Sarge who lined them the four malefactors up and shouted at them but he left it at shouting only- they'd been worried about their teammate and loyalty was not a trait he was there to stomp out.

"Who fired that?" asked Sarge calmly, expecting whoever it was to own up.

"Uh…Sir…?" Mikey remembered what he had seen. "Just before…I saw a flash from the treeline. That's why I ducked."

"Then why the hell didn't you…?" he shook his head angrily. "Everyone- back to the barracks. Hamato- report everything to Master-Sergeant Fields. Captain, Corporal, you're with me."

As they moved off quickly, Mikey saw the three men move like ninja towards the treeline, keeping low.

"So that's two definite attacks- the mine and today."

"I don't know, Steel, can we call the mine an attack on us?" replied Siren, stabbing her food with her fork as if it had been personally responsible.

"Not sure either. Unless whoever was in front of us dropped the mine behind them…?"

"Somebody sneaked live ordinance into a training exercise and then were crawling around with it?" asked Mikey sceptically. Steel swallowed before answering.

"Well, whoever shot at you certainly meant business. If you hadn't ducked…" He shrugged and Mikey shivered slightly. His previous estimation of guns was coming back full-force.

"Well, he did." put in Siren forcefully as a silence fell across the table. People were giving them a rather wide berth in the Mess. They were obviously dangerous to know. Malone and Henry joined them after a couple of minutes.

"Well, someone's got it in for you lot." said Malone uneasily. "Any ideas who it might be?"

"In here? Pick a direction." snorted Glacier. Mikey chuckled.

"What have you got to laugh about?" she demanded. "You were nearly one of the 'punctured in action'." He shrugged.

"What else is there to do?" he asked her. The deadlock was broken by Roberts coming up to them uneasily.

"Uh…hi." he said uncomfortably to the now-silent group. He had good reason to be unsure of his reception. He had been one of the purists from the start, even if not as extreme as some others. He swallowed as he took in the chilly atmosphere and turned to Mikey who at least didn't look like he would give him frostbite.

"Wanted to say thanks for pullin' me down." he said simply. "If you hadn't, from where it came from- it would've gone right through me. So…uh…thanks." He paused then went on. " And…uh…I'm sorry…if I helped make things harder for you all at the beginning- I guess I was wrong. So…eh…can we shake on it?" He held out his hand which Mikey took. He noticed absently that the whole room had gone silent with people either openly watching them with huge interest or pretending not to, but with ears pricked back so as not to miss a thing.

They shook on it and with that, a silent peace was finally declared between the purists and the non-purists.

They heard no more about the attack. Mikey hadn't bothered risk life and limb approaching Sarge about it. One look at the man's face had made him want to keep himself well out of radar. Electrode had been called away during hand-to-hand- in which he wasn't allowed participate for today anyway- to be briefed by Fields on the Special Ops request. Mikey was relieved- the sooner they all knew, the sooner they could discuss it and come to a decision.

He was paired with a large man whose powerful arms suggested he'd be a dangerous opponent. He found the unarmed combat classes exhilarating, as he was not allowing himself to use any of his ninja training. So far it had remained his own hidden ability- and with all the suspicious attacks going on he was keeping it under his shell. He fought like all the other recruits and like them, won some and lost some. But he was ever-improving at this type of combat and was regarded as a good opponent.

The man he was matched with put out a leg, both for balance and to try trip the turtle. Mikey evaded it and danced a half-step to the left, with a pulled punch giving him time to manouver. He was pulling all his punches, which made his matches harder, but at least he wasn't running the risk of harming another recruit. Kelly saw a weakness and stepped in to take advantage, catching Mikey's arm and twisting it into a half-nelson. Mikey had been caught by this particular trick before and was determined not to be so again. This time, he hooked his own leg around Kelly's, catching him behind the knee and pulling while at the same time, twisting out of the other man's grip. From his previously strong position, Kelly was now flat on the floor looking surprised.

"Ok- yield." he sighed, slapping the floor. Mikey helped him up and they both paused for a brief respite. Mikey had to force himself not to bow automatically, as he'd been taught.

They began again. This time Kelly was a lot more cautious, and they circled each other, each searching for a weakness that could be exploited. Neither combatant noticed the Sarge attracting that attention of the other recruits or the circle forming around them. Kelly struck first and Mikey had to duck a fast blow, catching his opponent around the waist. Kelly was expecting this however and reacted with a knee. There would be no point using fisticuffs against an enemy with a knife, or one who had sent his whole life learning dirty fighting on the streets. The point was to end the fight as quickly as possible, ideally without too many injuries on either side. Mikey's chin connected solidly with the knee and he rolled out of the fray with his head ringing. He recovered quickly, although he noticed Kelly hadn't pushed his advantage. He was an honourable fighter. Mikey acknowledged the courtesy with a nod and they started circling again. Kelly again struck first, aiming where the vulnerable stomach would be on a human. As was, he connected solidly with Mikey's plastron. Even so, it had been a powerful blow and winded the young turtle slightly. He followed up with a move he had learned watching the ninja, a leg behind his Mikey's knee, so he fell over backwards, the latter twisting to roll as he landed. But Kelly was in the way, with a boot against the turtles stomach, blocking the manouvre. The Sarge was about to call time but Mikey still had another trick up his sleeve. A Judo move, one leg hooking between his enemies, twisted up to catch him behind the thigh, pushing him forward as he tripped over the prone body of his not-quite-defeated adversary. The big man went over, leaving Mikey behind him. From there it was easy to immobilise him. The big man sighed and hit the floor again, signifying defeat. Mikey rolled away and offered him his hand to help him up which the other man took.

"Good match." Kelly congratulated him.

"Yeah- I thought you had me a few times there." grinned the turtle good-naturedly.

"Very good match." said the Sergeant. "Right you lot. Back to where you were and see if you can match that." He clapped his hands and the recruits scarpered.

"What was that move you used?" asked Kelly with interest. Mikey explained it and showed him how it worked. Kelly was a fast learner and picked it up quickly. Mikey wasn't surprised- he-d seen how fast Kelly perfected a move that he'd only seen once during battle- the one he'd turned on Mikey. He noticed later, with a certain amount of teacherly pride- Kelly performing the move flawlessly against another opponent. Afterwards the Sarge asked him to show the move to all of them and Mikey obliged with Kelly as his 'victim'. Mikey had certainly gone up a few notches in the estimation if his fellow recruits if the approving mutters were anything to go by!

In the Mess later, they were finally able to speak in low voices about the offer and it's consequences. The other recruits were surprised when Mikey came down strongly against, with Siren more tentatively so.

"You two are the ones with most to gain from this offer." said Glacier her eues narrowed in confusion. "Why are you against it?" Mikey explained his reasons and she nodded thoughtfully.

"Yeah, I see what you mean. It is a bit odd…" Her lips twisted as she admitted. "I don't know whether I'd've thought it through that much had I been in your places."

"I think that's what they were aiming at." replied Siren grimly. "I don't like this offer at all, and I like the third-rate psychology even less. I think we should leave Black Ops well alone until we've more experience at…at all of this." She flicked her hand to include her surroundings. "We're still way too easily lead for this- we're complete rookies."

"And I think we might find ourselves in over our heads too fast if we go with it." added Mikey before looking around at the others. "Well, that's or opinions heard. What do you all think?"

Glacier drew in breath slowly as she tried to get her thoughts together. "Just assuming for the moment that this is actually all on the level- no great conspiracies or anything…" She held up her hand as Siren opened her mouth. "Hear me out on this…it is a great opportunity- and not one I think we'll get again. After all, how many other raw recruits are targeted by Special Ops before even leaving training camp?"

"None. And that is the stat that's worrying me." said Electrode thoughtfully before shaking his head slowly. "I have to say, while I see your point Glacier, I'm inclined to go with Siren and Mikey here- there's too much about this that just doesn't hold up."

"Well, I think we're being too timid here," said Glacier obstinately. "This is some chance, and we need to take it now. If we feel we have to, well, we'll get out."

Siren shook her head impatiently. She felt the other woman was being far too naïve. This was the Armed Forces, and Special Ops at that, not a sandpit.

"So three against and one for?" asked Mikey looking around at the others. Siren nodded, followed by Electrode after a short pause. Glacier folded her arms and leaned back with a scowl.

"Steel?" Mikey turned to the one who so far hadn't said anything. He shrugged.

"I'll go with the majority vote on this one. But I'm not really strongly for or against. Yeah, there might be something fishy here. On the other hand it may be exactly what it appears to be. On the.. uh, first hand- I think we have a point in that we're way too inexperienced to deal with this for the moment. We need to get through Basic and get some proper time under our belts before we get involved with something like this."

Mikey nodded and glanced at the others. Glacier was redfaced and angry. The others looked at her in surprise as she burst out in a low, vicious voice.

"Oh, yes, you would, wouldn't you. Go with the easy side. You're being cowards, all of you! This is a once-in-a-lifetime offer and you're throwing it away because you're too timid…" she spat the word, "…too timid to take a chance! I…Ahh!" she spun on her heel and stormed off, fuming. Siren jumped to her feet, nettled, but Mikey grabbed her wrist. He was angry at the jibe to his honour too, but if he let Siren go after her in her present state, they might lose the blonde woman altogether.

"No Siren, leave her. She's so mad that nothing you say will get through. Leave her be." Siren sank back into her chair, still obviously infuriated, but controlled it. Electrode was staring at Glaciers wake.

"Whoa, that was weird. She's always so…calm and controlled. Never woulda expected it of her. And yet…" he chewed his lip, looking troubled. "…do you think she might have a point?" That we're just being too timid about the whole thing?"

"Maybe so, but I prefer to think of it a natural caution. If it's real, it will still be open in a year or too. If not…? I'm still against."

Mikey was meditating, trying to calm his troubled thoughts. He wished he could speak to his family. He opened his eyes and considered. Okay, so he couldn't directly… but it couldn't hurt. He took out his sketch pad, his only current source of paper and began to write.

He sat up again and reread it. After seeing it on paper, he was suddenly more certain then ever that they were right. Now to find Glacier. He hoped she was calmer then before.

He found her in the gym. Her hair was dishevelled and her face -what he could see of it anyway- was still red, but with exertion rather then anger. He hoped! She was beating the hell out of a punching bag, but that was the only outward manifestation of potential violence. She had her back to him and he took a deep breath and moved forward.

"I know." She spoke before he had even fully formulated his first sentence. Nonplussed he managed an "um…what?" She turned and faced him directly, not avoiding his eyes.

"I know what I said was wrong…and stupid. I don't know why I did, to tell you the truth. I made a fool of myself, blowing up like that. I guess the tension just got to me…"

Mikey nodded, he'd felt it too, and it shortened everyone's tempers.

"Thanks for restraining Siren back there." she added with a weak smile, sitting down on one of the benches. "She would have beaten me up but good had she come after me." She pulled down her hair and started gathering it up to be moulded into its customary neat plait. She ran her hand through it, a jerky movement that caused it to fall into her face, where she sat, head bowed. "Not that I wouldn't have deserved it…" he though he heard her mutter. He went over to her, his own kind nature not liking to see another in pain.

"Hey, you're perfectly entitled to your own opinion dudette. And I don't know, maybe you have a point. It's just that this time…" he wasn't sure how to finish off the sentence without getting attacked again.

"You're right." finished Glacier grimly. She put up a hand to forestall any questions. "No, I've been thinking about all this too. You're right, it's not innocent, whatever the ultimate idea behind it all is. I think it's unanimous then- Team X are staying in Basic."

"Team X?" asked Mikey with a grin. She shrugged. "It's as good a name as any!" He laughed. "Yeah, I like it!"

She sobered up again.

"I don't know how I'm going to apologise to the others. I called you all wusses! And Siren's pretty pissed."

"Forget about Siren for the moment." said Mikey while privately acknowledging that she had a point. "Are you absolutely sure? It's no bad thing to had a bit of healthy debate!" he added, chuckling a bit. She nodded.

"Sure and certain. But what about the others?"

"Do you want a hand? Siren will be okay- she gets mad but she doesn't hold a grudge. And for the others- Electrode didn't seem as much mad as confused. And Steel…" He shrugged. "Who can tell." She sighed, but twisted her hair back up quickly and stood up.

"No- it's my mess. But if I'm not back in two hours, send out a search-party. And look for the murder-weapon under Siren's bunk." She walked out, head up and shoulders back. She looked like she was going before a firing-squad. Mikey grimaced and waited for the screams.

It was three hours later. Glacier was still alive and looking happier. Siren hadn't held her outburst against her, knowing more then most the trouble an unguarded tongue and a temper could lead to in the way of things not meant slipping out. Steel had taken it all in his stride and told her not to worry about it. Electrode looked even more bemused then normal when she'd apologised to him and told her just to give him warning the next time so he could have the video-cam nearby for everyone's dumbstruck expressions. Siren's had been particularly priceless!

So she and all her team were standing outside Fields' office waiting nervously top be called in. Mikey was spokesperson again. It was his first, last, and only official duty as team-leader and he was determined to do it well.

"Come in"

They looked at one another with expressions ranging from nervous to fatalistic and entered, Electrode glancing up at the blue sky with the expression of one seeing something for the last time.

"Well, your decision on the offer?" asked Fields without preamble. He neither looked up nor stopped writing but Mikey noticed the small neat handwriting getting heavier and darker as he wrote.

"Yes Sir." Mikey paused but didn't look around again. "We thank them for their offer, but respectfully ref…decline, Sir" He substituted the less-offensive sounding word at the last second. Fields didn't pause but his pencil tip broke suddenly and pinged across the room. He stopped.

"Very well. You can go."

They trooped out, Mikey last.

"Hamato." It was an order. Mikey winced but turned back. The others paused but Fields waved them out impatiently. Siren gave him a sympathetic look as they went outside, the door swinging behind then.

"Was it unanimous?"

"Yes Sir."

"I'm interested. You threw this away, despite it being your chance at promotion. Yourself and Rhodes."

"Yessir." The office seemed too small and airless.

"Why?" Mikey gaped slightly. How could he explain to a superior officer that they didn't trust this seemingly perfect opportunity?

"We…It…" he drew in a breath. "Permission to speak freely Sir?"

"Granted. Go on." Fields was writing again and Mikey tried to find the words.

"We're not ready Sir. It's too soon. We're too… green. And…" Ah. This was where he couldn't go on.

"You didn't trust it." The other man put it into words perfectly and Mikey sighed quietly in relief.

"Not entirely Sir, no."

"Good." Now he looked at the turtle properly. "I'm glad about that. I thought it was too soon and I did everything in my power to prevent it. You've got the makings of a good team there, and I don't want to see that spoiled by misuse. And you and Rhodes both showed you were willing to put the good of the team ahead of personal gain. Good. Dismissed."

Mikey knew without needing to be told that this moment of candour was not to go outside the office. He saluted mechanically and walked out on legs that only shook when he was out of sight of the Sergeant's lair. He sat down on a rock for a second and the others joined him. They sat in silence for a second before Steel stood.

"Well, that's it. Come on, let's hit the showers. We're on leave for two days anyway?" The others nodded assent- they were all in the first group to be granted the two precious days freedom. Mikey was surprised- he had let the days slip by. Yup- Friday night- he was free! He had his train ticket and his duffel packed and everything- had done for the past day or two.

He was going home tomorrow!

"Hiya Leo! You're back early! Where's Sensei?" greeted Donnie happily, looking around his brother to find the elderly rat.

"I am here, Donatello." replied Splinter from behind the younger turtle. He grinned mischievously at Leo from over the the confused Don's shoulder.

"How was your flight, Sensei?" asked Donnie, bowing politely before hugging his father and brother, delighted that they were home.

Raph was next in -Mikey wouldn't be back until sometime the next day- and he too was delighted and relieved to see most of his family back together again. Her hadn't seen Master Splinter in almost seven weeks and had missed both him and his brothers more then he'd let on. He felt uncharacteristically nervous however, a nagging feeling that something was wrong- even if he couldn't quite put a finger on what it was. He just wished that his younger brother was back too. He hated being separated from his family. Something was wrong, he was sure.

They didn't speak of the various things that were bothering them that first evening, preferring to wait until they were all together for the family council. Instead they relaxed and chatted together and simply enjoyed each other's company. There was something missing though and Raph couldn't quite shake off his premonition of…something.

"You okay, Raph?" asked Leo at one point, looking at him closely.

"Yes, I'm fine!" snapped his brother waspishly and Donnie and Master Splinter exchanged looks. That hadn't taken long! But to their surprise Raph sighed and held up a hand.

"Sorry, Leo. I didn't mean to jump at ya. Just…dunno…a bit jumpy I guess. Wish Mikey was back. Doesn't seem right with one missing…"

Leo settled back.

"Yeah, I know. But he'll be home tomorrow."

"Yeah, and you'll be infuriated with him in no time at all." put in Donnie dryly.

Originally had a different ending but that's gonna be the next chapter. Please review. I live on them! The plot is thickening, and I promise there will be some proper action fairly soon- I know I'm being a bit long-winded at the moment but it's necessary!

Aries