I'll be totally honest, I nearly forgot to update today. lol. But, I DID remember to in the end, so it's all good. Anyway, here is another chapter of Amy's latest, uh, issue, I guess we'll say.

Three days later, Amy was working in April's antique shop, repairing an old radio that had been brought in an hour earlier. It was a relatively simple fix, only made difficult by the tiny parts she needed to work around. If she knocked anything loose, it would make the repair even more time consuming. While she loved working with antique radios like this, she hated how long they took sometimes. She needed to get this done so she and Gage could go out to dinner.

"Looking good, Amy," Don said over the intercom system they had hooked up from the shop to the lair. He was watching her work via a security camera positioned just behind her. With a little zooming, he could see everything as though he were really there looking over her shoulder.

"This one's easy, compared to that monstrosity we got last month. I didn't know a computer could be that close to frying without being busted for good," she answered with a chuckle. Amy placed the final piece in place and withdrew her tweezers from the wooden box. After closing it back up, she turned the radio on and grinned proudly when a station came in clearly through the speakers.

"A perfect fix. Go ahead and call them back for pickup tomorrow. I know you and Gage have plans."

Amy checked her watch. "That we'll be late for if I don't get home now. See ya later, Donny!"

She ran out of the shop, making sure to lock the door behind her, and rounded the corner. The sun was setting in the sky, though that didn't matter much as far as the light around her was concerned. The artificial light from the nearby buildings offered more than enough illumination. Amy felt perfectly safe walking home alone, even given the situations she'd found herself in the midst of in the past. As she saw it, the people who could actually do harm to her would find her day or night. No need to be concerned more in the evening than the morning. Besides, she always kept her tessen on hand, as well as occasionally carrying the blades that Chris had left behind for her.

"I don't need to see you to know you're strong and beautiful."

Amy stopped dead in her tracks, the voice of her gone brother echoing in her mind again. It was what he had said the last time she'd encountered him, when he'd saved her from Bishop and Stockman. She knew she wasn't really hearing him, but she wondered why she'd remembered those words at that moment. Why did they haunt her? Why did he haunt her? She quickly ducked into the alley beside her apartment and climbed up the fire escape, stopping when she got to the window to her living room. She didn't enter the apartment just yet. She needed to sit and think.

Mind racing, Amelia sat on the edge of the fire escape and rested her head in her hands. The last thing she needed to be doing was thinking about that encounter now. She and Gage had plans for dinner, something normal for once in her life. Was it really so wrong to want a little normalcy? She couldn't have him worrying about her the whole evening like he and her family had been.

"What happened to the Amelia I knew, huh? She'd never just give up."

"Shut up," she growled at no one in particular. She was the only one there. God, why did she have to start falling apart now?

"Stand up, Ame," Chris' voice commanded. But it was different now, so much clearer than just a moment before. No longer were the words reverberating within her skull, but the walls around her. Amy's head snapped up and she glanced frantically around where she was sitting, seeing nothing but the bricks and wires that hung between her building and the next.

"Amy? What are you doing out here?" Gage asked from behind and the young woman turned her head to see him leaning out the open window.

"Just… thinking," she answered softly. She didn't waste any time in getting up and climbing into the living room through the window, stealing a kiss from her fiancée before heading for the bedroom to change her clothes.

"What were you thinking about?" Gage asked through the door.

Amy figured he was probably leaning against the wall next to the entryway; he was casual like that. She also knew he wasn't expecting her to answer and wouldn't pick a fight if she didn't. Gage knew how Amy was, how she didn't always like talking about her feelings. Sure, there were moments when she would be all sweet and emotional, but she typically liked to be like Raph. But she knew their relationship could only work if she was willing to talk to him every once in a while. Now was as good a time as any.

"Chris."

"Oh."

"You don't need to worry, Gage. I was just working through some conflictions I've been having for two years. About time, right?" Amy's tone was light, to keep Gage from becoming overly concerned, even though what she'd just said was nothing more than a lie to comfort him. Note to self, she thought, lying is bad for relationship skills. Pushing the thought into the back of her mind for the time being, Amy opened the bedroom door, revealing herself in a lovely black dress that reached her knees. It was simple, but elegant; exactly the kind of thing Gage loved to see her in. She enjoyed wearing it on nights like this, too, so it worked out well. "Ready to go?"

Sitting in the restaurant where they had their first date, Amy couldn't help but feel a bit nostalgic. It was only about a year and a half ago, but that was the start of some of the happiest times she'd had, especially after Chris' disappearance. She quickly pushed that thought aside for the time being, though. Not the time or place.

"I hope you know I'm still never going to let you order for me ever again," she said with a chuckle, recalling the turtle soup she accidentally eaten—and subsequently rejected—on their first date. Gage laughed along with her.

"I'm just thankful you gave me another chance after that incident," he answered.

"Only because I hadn't known you were leading those Foot ninjas that nearly severed Raph's arm. If I'd known that, I probably would've killed you the first chance I got."

"And I don't think I'd be able to blame you. I know how you are with them."

"Really close?"

"Try overprotective. Which is kind of funny, since you're the youngest. But they're all overprotective of you, so it balances out pretty well."

"Of course we're insanely protective over each other. I have to make sure nobody ever finds out about them, at least, not anybody that can bring them any harm… or try to dissect them. Same difference. And they've always taken care of me because I'm their little sister. Chris was the same way. He wouldn't let anything happen to me, and would die for me."

"Amy, can I ask you something without you getting angry at me?"

Amelia's brow furrowed slightly. "I can't guarantee I won't get mad, but I'll try. Go ahead."

"You didn't talk about Chris much for the past year and a half. You told me about him when you brought me to his memorial stone, and you mentioned him every once in a while after that thing with Stockman and Bishop, but that was it. Now, he seems to always be on your mind. I'm just wondering why?" Gage asked and Amy bit her tongue to hold back a defensive retort. After a moment, she found words for his answer.

"Honestly, I'm not sure why he's on my mind so much lately. He's just… there. I mean, Chris has always been in the back of my mind. Now, he's just come to the forefront. I don't know why."

"Is that what you were thinking about earlier?"

"A bit," Amy answered simply as she speared her fork into a piece of grilled chicken on her plate. As she glanced up at Gage, she noticed something over his shoulder and her brow furrowed again. There, through the window of the restaurant, Amy could swear she saw Chris walking by, locking eyes with her as he did. Noticing her stare, Gage checked over his shoulder, but turned back around when he saw nothing.

"Amy?" he asked.

"It's nothing."

"You saw him again, didn't you?" His tone was more accusing than Amy would've liked.

"Don't worry about it, Gage." Her voice was colder than it should have been.

"Why do you keep looking for him, Amy? I know he's the one you wish would appear, but he's not here. I'm here."

"You think I don't know that?" Amy hissed.

"Why won't you talk to me? Or your brothers? Or Mona Lisa? Or April? Hell, even Casey would be better than nothing."

"There's nothing to talk about."

"Like hell there's not," Gage retorted. Amelia glared at him.

"I think is a conversation better suited elsewhere. Like a training ground."

Gage clearly read the threat as the frown on his lips deepened. Regardless, he pulled out his wallet and left to pay for their meal at the hostess' podium. When he returned, he wordlessly handed Amy her coat and escorted her out. Ever the gentleman, he didn't allow his frustration with her get the best of his actions. Amy had to commend him on that, and respected him for it.

"We're not finished talking," Gage growled under his breath as the two of them walked out the front door of the restaurant. That was something Amy could agree with him on. This was far from over.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Please R&R.