I am so sorry it took so long for a new chapter. I hit a complete wall on where I wanted to go and then my grandmother got sick. So please I hope this chapter makes up for the long wait. Anyways I don't own anything. Please give me some feedback, I really enjoy hearing your guy's thoughts.

-Raph's POV-
I sat on the merry-go-round, waiting for April to get done with her after-school clubs, reflecting on the day's events that took place. I learned many things today, things about April, Casey, humans, and the social lives of the shell-less. April was right when she said the first days the hardest, but the real tough part is getting through each and every day after that. Humans make so many things too complicated when they could so much easier when you take the straight forward approach.

-Earlier that Morning-

April opened the doors to the school and it was like Mikey had hit a beehive with a bat. People were going this way and that, I had never seen so many humans in one place. April waved her hand and took off down the hall. I watched as she walked towards a group of girls, one-of-which was a gothic chic with glasses. Casey had told me about her, I think he said her name was Irma. She's a walking encyclopedia, always wears the same black t-shirt, plaid skirt, and boots. Point is she's a weird, annoying girl. A blonde girl in a pink sweater showed something to April that made the whole group start squealing. I rolled my eyes, and headed towards Casey's locker, as soon as I spotted it I knew this was not going to be a good day. There were two guys leaning up against the wall next to Casey's locker. One was a tall, skinny guy with a face that could be used for the before picture of a Proactiv ad. The other kid looked like he never ran a day in his life. Casey didn't tell me of any friends that would be hanging around his locker other than April and Irma. As I got to the locker, Mr. Diabetes stepped forward, "Casey, how was your weekend? When you didn't come to school yesterday and no one from the group had heard from you this weekend... Well, we just wanted to make sure you were alright." As he was talking I took a chance to take a second look at this kid. Seem completely sincere about all this. The tall kid stayed back and just watched me. It was as if he was analyzing my every move. I mentally slapped myself for jumping to conclusions about this kid when I know completely how it feels to be judges by appearances.

The tall kid leaned forward, "Hey, Darian, we should probably get to class. Plus, you know how Casey feels about being seen with people from the group outside of group meetings." I started to get angry, dude, what was his problem. "But, it's okay Casey. I was the same when I finally joined the group and had a place to vent some of my feelings. You just have two, the group to vent out the feelings you don't let others see and then hockey where you vent your anger. If I had the physical capability I would join a violent sport, too." The tall kid clapped his hand on my shoulder and gave me a reasurring smile.

"Your right about the time, Luke, we'll see you at group this Saturday, right?" His face showed that he was hoping for a yes, but what was this group. Casey had a lot of explaining to do about this. I mean I'm his friend, I thought best friend, but clearly he has been hiding some things from me. "Yeah, of course I'll be there. This weekend just got really crazy busy." I put on a fake smile, but I could tell Luke saw straight through it. Luke and Darian walked away, I shook my head and finished getting my books and headed to class. Class was as boring as Baxter Stockman going through his little rants. Between classes girls avoided me like the plague, guys would move in my way just to shove past me, and teachers were really across the board some glared at me and some looked sorrowfully at me. It was just really weird. It turns out April was quiet the social bug at school. She is part of the French, Spanish, Book, Math, and Yearbook clubs. It's surprising she has any time to actualy hang out with my brothers and me. I thought she had said no one was hanging out with because her dad was weird and all that. Even though she smiles with her friends, it doesn't seem to be the same smile that she has when she's in the lair researching with Donnie, or playing video games with Mikey, or even when she is sparring with Leo or Master Splinter. For some reason her smile seemed forced like she really didn't want to be there. Maybe that's just my imagination running wild.

After school finished, I headed over to the hockey rink for practice. Practice wen well except I would have assumed Casey would have a couple guys from the team he actually hung out with, but not a single one. They were all gone before I could even blink. I was sitting on the bleachers just looking around, it was weird the hockey rink seemed peaceful almost hypnotic-like. I understand why Casey enjoys it here, he gets away and doesn't think about what else is taking place in his life. That's when I got a text from April saying to wait for her at the park.

-Back to Present-

I sat there on that darn merry-go-round so wrapped up processing everything I had seen, heard, and experienced that I didn't notice April walk up. So when she tapped me on my shoulder I jumped. If humans could fly, I would have been soaring. "Hey, I didn't mean to startle you. What were you thinking so hard about?" I glanced up at her, "Oh, nothing important. So how was our day?" We started heading towards April's house, as she started to talk about her day. After a bit I just stopped listening, drifting back to my earlier thoughts. All of a sudden she was just staring at me. Crud! Did she ask me a question what was it? April put her hand on her hip. "What?" I just watched as she rolled her eyes.

"I asked you how was your first day of being in the life of Casey Jones? Wow, was it that bad?" April started giggling, I just shrugged.

"It was definetly interesting." We continued walking until we got to April's door.

"Are we meeting at the regular spot to go see the guys tonight. I am sure they are going to want to hear everything." She smiled, this smile seemed heart-felt and real. What was wrong with me April didn't have fake and real smiles., but why does it feel that way. I am going to have to talk to Master Splinter about all of this, something is just sitting wrong.

"Yeah meet up regular time, regular place." April went inside her house and I headed for Casey's place. I had been to his place many times, correction I've been on top of his place many times. We usually just hang out on his roof, never actually been inside. I finally got to his house, it was a small brick house with little green shutters, that are always closed. Casey's dad must hate sunlight or something. I put the key on the lock and went inside. Immediately something seemed off, the house was a mess, but not someone broke in and ransacked the place mess. There were bottles everywhere, in the kitchen sink, on the furniture. Some had liquid i them and some were completely empty. Dirty dishes were stacked up on the counters and table. I walked past the front room when movement caught my attention. A large recliner rocked froward and released what looked to be a human boulder. I had never actually met Casey's dad, but I would bet that this was him. He looked like a really big, really older version of Casey. He looked sick and reeked of alcohol. Casey and Donnie are about the same height and their tall for their age, but in comparison to this guy... He had to be a good foot and a half taller than me. I had to tilt my head up to look at him. His black hair hung just to below his shouder and looked like it hadn't been washed in a good long time. His eyes were sunken in and he looked sleep deprived.

"Where the hell have you been today?" I told you yesterday to bring home my whiskey!" He was pretty much yelling, but kept slurring every other word or so. He staggered closer to me. "Where is it?" He waited for my response, but I didn't have one. I needed to get out of here before this got out of hand. I motioned towards the fridge, and started to tell him it's in the fridge. I didn't get a chance before he was yelling and had me by the front of my shirt.

-April's POV-

I tried texting Raph again, but I got no reply. Maybe he forgot we were meeting and heading to the lair without me. THat has to be it, what else could it be. It was a full hour after they were supposed to meet. By the time I got to the lair, I officially dedicated to a lecture I was going to give Raph whether he liked it or not. As I walked through the turn-stile, I saw Ra-well Casey pacing in Raph's body. That was not a good sign. Mikey was playing pinball as usually. Donnie was probably in his lab. Leo was watching his favorite show on the couch. MAster Splinter walked out of the kitchen right then with a steaming cup of tea and a cheese tray. "Hello, Miss O'Neill." Master Splinter glanced around me trying to see someone that isn't there. A huge knot formed in my stomach. "Where is Raphael?" Everyone's head turned at that question.

"I thought he came down without me. I waited an hour, but... He's not down here yet." Casey slid his hand across his bald head, he was acting very nervous. He pulled out his phone and tried calling. "Come on... Come on... Pick up!" Casey started muttering to the phone. The tension was getting so thick you cut it with a knife. Master Splinter walked up to Casey. "Is there something we need to know, Casey?" Casey glanced up and opened his mouth to speak.

"Casey!" Everyone's head turned to the opening of the lair, we could tell someone was i the opening, but they were hidden by the shadows. It had been Casey's voice, no doubt about it, but something wasn't right. It sounded choked out. "We need to talk. Now!" Raph turned and walked away out of sight. Casey glanced around and finally followed Raph out of sight.

-Casey's POV-

I followed Raph knowing exactly what he was going to want to talk about. My secret was out and there was no getting it back. When Raph finally stopped walking we were in a well-lit part of the sewer. Where I finally got a a good view at what Raph had kept so well hidden from his family not but moment before. When Raph turned around his right eye looked completely swollen shut, about the size of a baseball, his lip was cracked opened along with his eyebrow, his hsoulder looked dislocated. I glared down at his fists they were bloody from where the skin had broken. THe front of his shirt was ripped and it looked like he had a gash going from one shoulder to the ribs on the other side of his body. In all he looked like Hell used him as a pinata and then as a punching bag, I watched as he just stared at me waiting for something or maybe he was trying to find the words to say.

"Are we friends?" What! What is he talking about? He must have a concussion because it just sounded like he asked if we are friends.

"Of course, ma-" He cut me off before I could finish. "Then why didn't you tell. If we are such good friends, why couldn't you tell me what was going on?"

Raph had a mixture of rage and hurt on his face. "If we are such good friends then why didn't you feel you couldn't come to me about this. Is that what the group is for? You know the one wiht Luke and Darian." Oh crud! I forgot that was this weekend.

I slid my hand across my head, and just looked at the ground. I didn't have a good answer. "I don't know. I just didn't think that... I didn't know that..." I couldn't get it out. I just couldn't get myself to say those words.

"Man, you didn't know what?" Raph just stared at as I tried to put the words together without sounding like a complete chic.

"I have never had a friend that has been that close, to trust with such a thing as my dad. And so I didn't know how to come to you and tell you without... Well, I was worried you would see me as a wuss and just not want to hang out anymore. I really enjoy vigilanting with you because you let me vent, but you also get to vent. I just didn't want to be..." I looked down I couldn't say it.

"Alone?" I looked up. "I experienced a day in the life of Casey Jones. Remember? What about your sister? You said you had one. Where did she go?" He looked actually concerned. Well, as concernced as someone can look while their face looks like they went five rounds with The Undertaker.

"She moved in with our aunt in New Jersey. I stayed around because... Well, because I couldn't just leave the hockey team and I couldn't leave you guys to fight the thugs in this town alone. Criminals fear the name Casey Jones." I glared at him and gave my half-smile.

"Yeah, yeah, ah, it's Casey Jones! Watch out for his twig!" He started to laugh, but got choked up and spit some bloody salvia on the ground.

"Man, we gotta get you to Donnie. Master Splinter is gonna kill me for this." I wrapped my arm around Raph to help him take some of the wieght, but instead of saying some snide comment about being me being eaten alive by a rat. He gave me a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry I'll take care of Splinter."