A/N: Greetings and salutations again at last! Just thought I'd make a quick note with the customary apology for time delay between this chapter and the last. However, counter-custom, I actually have a valid reason. (Pauses for gasps of shock and/or horror.)

For a long time now, my laptop was our primary computer. And being one of those people the world knows as klutzes, I was always very careful when eating or drinking near it. So I nearly laughed at the irony (nearly) when while walking past it with a coffee on the way to the couch I tripped over and managed to give my laptop a lovely fragrant bathing. And it died.

I won't get into the issues with the insurance company that followed, needless to say - urg!

At any rate, I have only just managed to get a new computer (that I've had to pay for) and have my old hard drive salvaged. Luckily it was undamaged. I only fried the motherboard. Only - ha!

But again, now I actually have all my files back, I can actually do some more writing. Like this. Look! Actual words! Take that writer's block! Avast ye scurvy dog! Taste ye the fires of damnation!

Sorry bout that. Became a pirate for a bit there. Happens to the best of us at times. And me too of course.

*Donatello*

"Now I know things are looking bad right now..."

Oh great. Give us a rousing speech mighty Leonardo.

I know I'm being petty. But who wouldn't in this kind of situation?

"But if we all keep our heads then I'm sure we can think of a way out of this." I don't know how he manages to be so optimistic, I really don't.

"Look Leo, y'can say all the pretty words ya like, it don't change that we're screwed here."

Yeah, nice one Raph. Start a fight. That's just what we need right now.

And then everything is dark.

"Whoa! Where'd all the lights go?" Mikey exclaims.

Thunk. Thu-thunk. Thunk thu-thunk.

You know, right now the state of illumination - or lack thereof - is less important than the fact that I can MOVE! Performing a very quick assessment of my physical condition, I note that I seem to be in a relatively good state. Especially for someone who was strapped on a table for an extended period of time. Not to mention the myriad shallow cuts.

As I carefully move about, testing various muscle groups, I can hear my brothers using their own methods to work out the kinks. From Leo's even, drawn out breathing, it's pretty obvious he's running through a set of stretches. Raph is cracking just about every joint he has. And Mike...

"Ow! Ow! Ow! Ah shell! My leg's gone to sleep!" Mike's hopping around and - what else - complaining.

With a low hum, the emergency lighting comes up, its dim red glow coming just in time for me to see Raph smacking Mikey upside the head.

"Ow! What was that for?" he complains, rubbing the back of his head.

Raph folds his arms, looking smug. "We got more important things ta think about than yer leg like, oh I dunno, gettin outta here? So stop yappin and start thinkin!"

"Aw, come on dude! My leg was all tingly and everything! It was really weird! C'mon Leo, aren't you meant to stop this kinda thing - dissention in the ranks - you bein' the leader and all?"

Leo palms his face, clearly exasperated. "Michaelangelo, right now I'd rather just hit you again. We really need to focus on how we're going to get out of here in one piece."

"Uh, technically," Mike cuts in, "We're already in four pieces." He grins, but upon seeing the look on Leonardo's face, the smile changes to a much more sheepish-looking version. "Shutting up."

Leo rolls his eyes. "Thank you," he sighs. "Now, I would wager that the alarm systems are probably deactivated, but we should still be cautious. Most likely there will be a lot of chaotic wandering going on out there and one slip up could end up being very costly." He begins to pace. "Of course, time is an issue too. Sooner or later someone is going to come and check on us, and then everybody is going to know that we're free. So although, it's not much of a plan, I say that we just try to get out as quickly and quietly as we can."

Wait just a minute. He doesn't mean?.. "You mean that we get out after we get Amy, right?"

He hesitates. Oh no. "I know this won't be easy for you to hear, but it would be too risky. For all we know, she would turn us in at the first opportunity at the moment."

"No way dude! We can't just leave her!" Mikey exclaims.

At least someone's on my side. I've known Leo to be cold before, but this is insane!

"Look Mike, I don't like this any more than you..."

Yeah, right. That's completely obvious.

"...but if we take that risk, we'll probably end up getting captured again."

Michelangelo shifts uneasily. "Maybe. But I really, really, really don't like the idea of leaving her here."

"Not to mention the fact that it's highly unlikely that it was just a coincidence that the power got shut off. It must have been Amy. Some part of her remembers m- us, so she's given us the chance to escape. Do you really think she would turn on us after that?" Wow, I'm amazed I managed to get that out in such a reasonable tone of voice. I didn't even shout.

Leo walks over to me, folding his arms as he comes. Mikey once dubbed that his 'big, bad, grumpy leader' pose. "We cannot take that risk! Right now Donatello, I don't care if you like it or not, but we have to leave her. But we won't leave you."

I snort. "What are you gonna do? Drag me? You know what Leo? You can go and f-"

Raph lays a hand on my shoulder. I didn't even hear him come up behind me. He leans in, and quietly tells me, "Thought I'd betta stop ya. You'd've regretted that later. We'll get 'er. And make 'em all pay fer it too."

I turn slowly, thinking that I often underestimate Raph, and he so often surprises me with his understanding. I don't reply with words, I only nod in recognition and thanks. "If you're so keen on going Leo, then let's go."

"I'm so sorry Amy. But like Raph said, we're going to get you back. I'll get you back."

I barely pay any attention as we make our way out, it's like my brain is running on automatic. Even when a group of foot ninjas come around a corner and nearly run straight into us. I fight, just like everyone else, using all the knowledge and skill our father taught us, but my mind is elsewhere. Some small, sarcastic part of me pipes up that I probably left gaping holes in my defences and didn't even notice, but even so, all I can think of is her.

*Michaelangelo*

Boy am I glad to be nearly home again. I was starting to wonder if we'd ever see it again. Not that we'll be here long o'course. As Leo has said - about fifty million, gazillion times - we're just stopping long enough to pack any supplies and weapons we can find, then we're off again.

Over the sound of the water splashing around our ankles, I hear Leo take a deep breath. What's the bet he says it again? "Now remember, we're only stopping to pick up what supplies we can find before we head off again."

Yup. Fifty million, gazillion and one.

Ah, home trashed home.

...Wait a minute, are those voices?

About half a second passes while I wonder, then apparently Leo hears it too and freezes. He signals for us to go quietly and moves off again, easing his feet into the water covering the ground so as to make as little noise as possible.

As we round the next corner I suddenly recognise one of the voices. Screw caution! That's Splinter! I dash off towards that fantastic sound, ignoring Leo's, "Damn it Mikey!" He probably hasn't realised who it is yet, but who cares - it's freakin Splinter! As I get closer, I start to hear actual words. Not just that - I also hear three surprised intakes of breath, all at nearly the same time, as my oh-so-slow brothers finally click.

"...but we must not linger, lest we are caught." It's him! It's him! It's really him!

"I know, I just feel like we're deserting them." ...And April too. Bonus! Didn't realise that she and Casey would have gotten back already. Not complaining a'course, just surprised.

I skid round the final corner and into our home. 'They're right there - uh-oh - gotta stop! Gotta stop!' I very nearly run right into them, only just managing to stop at the last second.

Splinter drops a piece of paper, then cries, "Michaelangelo!" He looks around behind me as the others run up. "My boys! I had feared the worst."

For a while we all just mess about, hugging one another and generally being glad to see one another. And then April happens to just casually open her mouth and shove both feet right in there..

"So Donny," she says. "Tell me more about this Amy person you told me about while I was away."

Donny's face falls like someone just kicked the worlds biggest puppy. He mumbles something about getting something from his lab he can't leave behind and storms off, slamming the door behind him so hard it shakes the wall.

To say that April's shocked by this would be the greatest understatement of all time. "What'd I say?" she asks.

While everyone else just stands around looking uncomfortable, Mikey the valiant white knight swoops in to rescue the damsel in distress. "It's a long story April. One I don't think Don can handle right now. I'll tell ya later on I promise, but you'd better leave it for now."

Besides, Donny-boy's not the only one smarting about all this right now. Wish we could've gotten her out.

*Amy*

"Kneel."

Oh crap oh crap oh crap oh crap I am in so much trouble.

I walk slowly towards my Master's seat and kneel, feeling like a condemned prisoner going to the headsman's block.

"Explain."

Okay, stay cool. He doesn't necessarily know what you did. Stay cool.

"Explain what Master Shredder?" I ask as calmly as I can.

Apparently that wasn't what he wanted to hear. He bolts to his feet and bellows, "Explain the power shortage that allowed my enemies to escape!"

Ah. Balls. Still he might not know that it was me. Worth a shot, anyway.

I can't help but flinch at his shout, he's a scary man sometimes, but then I shrug, still trying desperately to seem casual. "Shouldn't you be asking Stockman about that? I thought electrical maintenance was his department?"

Please work. Please please pretty please.

Mentally I cross my fingers and hope he believes me. I try to keep on looking normal while he's glaring at me. I feel like we've been sitting here like this for at least two ice ages, but finally he looks away and I breathe a silent sigh of relief.

Still not looking back at me, he says, "After much thought, I have decided that the Foot Clan should leave New York for a while to gain strength. Go and tell the squad leaders they only have forty-eight hours to prepare them and their squads to leave for Japan. Now get out of my sight."

Gratefully I get up and hurry out of the room.

Leaving New York? No wonder he's pissed. Better stay out from under his feet for a while. A million years might almost do it. I wonder what Japan is like?

*Donatello*

I lean against the door. I know I shouldn't have slammed it but…

I'm going to get her back.

No matter how long it takes, I'm never going to stop looking for her.

I'll never give up.

I'm going to get her back.

A/N: Well there you go. That's the final chapter. We're not done here o'course, I've got a sequel planned. Possibly a series, not sure yet - that would require some major re-working of thingies. That's a writer's professional term there - thingies. Bet you didn't know that, huh?

Anywhoosle, I'll toddle off now.

Love, peace and chicken grease

Cheese Monkey