Here's the next chapter. It is shorter, but it's necessary to set up the next chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own the ninja turtles.

888

In the dojo, Leonardo closed his eyes and began to relax his mind, but something kept bothering him. Maybe he was too harsh on Raphael... Maybe he should have been more understanding as Mikey had suggested…

Leo shook his head. It was a little weird to think about heeding a suggestion that was brought forth by Mikey. Besides, he shouldn't worry about this right now. What he should really do is practice that new move Master Splinter showed him earlier.

Leo pulled his katana out and settled into his first stance. He slid his right foot forward into the next stance and fluidly swung his weapons out in front of him. Did Raph even do anything wrong? Leo wondered to himself. If he did not show himself, did he put their family in danger? Leo silently rebuked himself. He should be training, and besides, Raph did put their family in danger.

Once again, he started in the first stance, and then he closed his eyes. Leo opened his eyes and took off out the dojo. There was something he had to know.

888

A grim smile played his lips as he strutted down the sidewalk. His fingers caressed a shiny metal inside of his pocket. His gray eyes reflected cold light.

Sighing, Leo forced his eyes away from the side of the street and continued on his way. He was, against his better judgment, going to visit this girl.

Leo frowned as he crouched down to look into the alleyway. He wondered vaguely where the girl was, but when he saw her, he felt his heart soften slightly.

"It's going to be all right, honey…more than all right," Bliss whispered to her son. She picked Jack up and held him close. Jack snuggled closer to his mother.

Standing up, Leo turned around to go home, leaving behind what he just saw.

888

Bliss set Jack down and buttoned his coat up.

"D-d-d-d…" Jack stammered.

Bliss frowned. "What Jack?"

"Da-d-d-da-" Jack continued with an important look on his small face.

Bliss straightened his coat, puzzling over what he was tying to say. She usually could tell so much more easily.

"D-d-d-da-da…" Jack stopped trying to speak for a moment.

"What is it?"

Jack pointed to the mouth of the alley. "Da-da-da-ba-bad."

Bliss frowned. She turned around to look. It was bad, very bad indeed.