Chapter 15:

The next day Deidra was called into the office as another victim seemed to have been targeted and taken. They didn't have much information, but they all knew that time was coming to an end for Cherise Velmont, if it already hadn't. Raphael sat in the kitchen while he thought over a few things in his mind. Leonardo had asked Splinter to meditate deeply with him to help clear confusion and to help understand what to do next about Deidra. Donatello was locked in his room saying that he was on an edge of a break through. Analise and Michelangelo on the other hand had taken over a portion of the front room with boards of sketched out scenes and developments.

"How can he even be taken down by Dr. Dorkus? He's the Commander Titan!" Mikey asked and pointed to one board that had a picture of the hero in some kind of chains.

"His name is Professor Distro, and he is the arch nemesis of the hero," Analise crossed her arms over her chest, "Every story needs some kind of drama, Mikey. Otherwise it won't progress."

"Drama?" he chuckled, "Have him blow the guy up. That's action, really what all stories need."

"Too much action loses its affect," she sighed.

"But he's Commander Titan!" Michelangelo tried to make his point.

"And he will get out of the mess he's in next season," Analise patted him on the shoulder. She then went to the multiple boards and began to put them away, "I think you're getting a little too excited about this."

"Wait! How does he get out of it?" he yelled at her as she walked to her room and quickly put the story boards in her art portfolio bags.

"You'll learn next season," she yelled back.

"Meanie," he pouted and crossed his arms over his plastron until she came back out.

"So," she said quickly before she plopped herself back down next to him and then flung her legs over his lap, "What are we doing tonight, Turtle Titan?"

"Well, turtle avenger-"

"Wait… turtle avenger?" she asked with a bit of a chuckle.

"You call me Turtle Titan all the time, I wanted you to have a persona too," he said and patted her awkwardly on her legs.

"Thanks for the thought, but you really got to think it over," she paused for a minute and held up a finger toward him, "And I better not be a sidekick like Turtle Lass, or something like that."

"Nah, I wouldn't do that to you," he smiled, "Besides, Raph has that position filled as Turtle Lad."

They both began to laugh with one another. Analise suddenly stopped and began to look around.

"What's wrong, babe?" Michelangelo asked as she finally looked over the back of the couch.

"I felt another presence," she explained and tilted her head for him to look over the back of the couch, "And I was right."

Michelangelo leaned his head back and barely looked over the couch since Analise's legs were still over his lap. April and Casey walked into the lair with Shadow in April's arms. He looked back at her, "You're getting good."

"What can I say?" she shrugged and tapped the side of her head, "I have natural talent."

"Hey it's the Jones crew," Michelangelo greeted them, "How are you guys doing?"

"We're doing pretty good," April smiled at seeing the two of them.

Analise hopped up, off the couch and walked over to the two parents before she began to make faces at Shadow, "And how is the little princess doing?"

"Princess?" Casey asked with a confused look on his face.

"I used to work at Disney World," she shrugged, "Every little girl was princess there."

"You worked at Disney World!?" Michelangelo nearly squealed as Analise picked Shadow out of April's arms and began to spin her a little.

"Deidra did too at one point. I was a Jungle Cruise Skipper," she answered even though she was still holding Shadow, "Where did you think I got my lame jokes from?"

"I've always liked your jokes," he leaned over and played peek-a-boo with Shadow. She laughed every time he took his hands from his face and made a new funny face at her.

"You guys are good with her," April commented and smiled at the two of them with her daughter.

"I think we're both just big kids at heart, so kids relate," Analise explained and looked at Michelangelo who was matching Shadow's faces, "Especially him."

"So, we were wonderin'," Casey said as he scratched the back of his head, "April and I needed to get out on the town. Would you guys mind watchin' the rugrat?"

"Casey!" April poked him in the ribs, "That's our daughter you're talking about."

Analise laughed and took a breath to answer when Michelangelo jumped in before she could.

"Sorry, no can do," he shook his head even though he moved Shadow from Analise's arms into his own, "We already have plans."

"We do?" Analise asked and put her hands on her hips, "What are those, may I ask?"

"Eh heh," Michelangelo carefully placed Shadow back into Casey's arms and then took Analise's hands in his, "Well, I was thinking… We never did get out of the lair the night Raph came back injured."

"This is true," she nodded for him to continue.

"So, I was thinking…"

"We got that part, Mike," Casey said and made a motion with his arm to spit it out.

"It's hard to ask a girl out, dude," Michelangelo said in annoyance and turned back to Analise to see a big smile on her face.

"You're asking me out on a date?" she asked with a quirked eyebrow, "Like a 'date', date?"

"Well… Yeah," he said nervously.

She bit her lip as her cheeks turned a little red, "Do I need to get dressed up?"

"Why?" he looked in her eyes, "You're prefect just as you are."

"Aw," April cooed and clasped her hands together. Casey just slapped his forehead with the hand that wasn't holding Shadow as she clapped at her Uncle.

"Oh brother," Casey groaned and began to walk toward the kitchen, away from the sentimental garbage.

"Sappy," Analise finally said and then tapped him on the end of his beak, "But effective. I would love to."

Michelangelo smiled wide and flipped over to the coat rack where he had a large trench coat waiting for him, "Excellent, dudette! Let's get going."

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"Movie and a dinner, or vice versa," he held out an arm for her which she took and he looked back into the lair to catch sight of April, "Don't wait up."

"Have a good time, you two," she waved after them.

"I have a random question," Analise said before they exited the lair and Michelangelo stopped for her, "Why do you guys always flip every where?"

"Guess it just comes with the ninja territory," he shrugged and motioned for her to lead the way, "Ladies first."

"Thank you, sir."

April finally caught up with Casey in the kitchen. Raphael sat at the small kitchen table with a large cup of coffee in his hands. He was quietly talking with Casey when she came in. He stopped in mid sentence and smiled at the new addition.

"How's he treatin' you, April?" he asked and nodded toward Casey.

"Just fine," she smiled and hugged him around the neck.

"Did Mikey and Analise leave?" Raphael looked toward the front room.

"Yeah, finally got the courage to ask her out," Casey made a gagging noise which Shadow quickly copied.

"About time," Raphael got up and poured another cup for himself, "Been trying to ask me for advice on how to do it for the past week I've been laid up."

"How's the healing coming?" April asked and took a seat on the counter.

"It's done as far as I'm concerned," he shrugged and then took a sip of the dark liquid, "I just hope I can return the favor to Hun as soon as possible."

"I second that motion," Casey nodded and bounced Shadow a little in his arms. She struggled and reached out toward Raphael. She had never developed a fear of her strange uncles, just the opposite. Whenever one was in the room, she reached for them with earnest.

Raphael smirked a little at the action and put down his cup. He reached out and Casey handed her over. Raphael held her in one arm, "How's it going, smelly?"

"Raph!" April punched him in the opposite arm.

"What? She gets pretty rank sometimes," he chuckled and Shadow began to play with the ends of his bandana. April smiled warmly at the tough turtle holding the baby so tenderly. Casey caught the look and decided to try something.

"Where is everybody, anyway?" Casey asked and rummaged in the refrigerator for something to drink.

"Well, according to you Mike and Ana just left," Raphael began to think and picked up his coffee, careful to keep it out of Shadow's reach, "Deidra's at work- don't know when she's coming back. Donnie says he's on some kind of breakthrough, so he ain't comin' out of his room any time soon. And Leo is in deep meditation with Splinter. Has been most of the day."

"Is something up?" April looked concerned, "He doesn't do that unless there is something major going on."

"I think the whole serial killer thing is getting to everyone," Raphael shrugged in feigned innocence even though his brother already talked with Deidra that morning about asking her something that night. She did get called back into the department that morning and that never turned out to be good.

"I bet," April nodded and looked up at Casey.

"Raph, we was wonderin'…" Casey started and looked at Raphael and the baby before he shrugged as if that would accentuate his point.

"I ain't exactly the caregiver type, Case," Raphael said and shifted the infant in his arms as if he was about to give her back.

"Come on, buddy, I'm beggin' ya," Casey put his hands together as if in a prayer, "April and me got to get out and have a night to ourselves. Just for three hours for the two of us."

Raphael groaned and looked from Casey to April who had a hopeful look on her face. He groaned louder and then looked down at the little girl in his arms who looked almost scary innocent. He let out a breath and put down his coffee yet again before he held out an arm, "Where's her bag?"

"Thank you, Raph!" April handed the bag over and kissed him on the cheek.

"I am doing this for you and the kid," Raphael said to her and then pointed to Casey, "Get him out of here before his mug changes my mind."

"Hey!" Casey frowned as April grabbed his arm on the way out.

"Thanks a bunch again," she said as they walked out the front of the lair, "See you in about three hours."

Raphael heard the door shut and he held Shadow out from him with her diaper bag over one shoulder, "It looks like it's you and me for the rest of the night, kid."

Shadow gurgled in her nearly constant happy temperament and patted her hands on his forearms. He went to hug her to him, but then stopped when he got a whiff of something in her diaper.

"All right, smelly," he sighed, "Let's get that taken care of that first."

Three hours after Casey and April had left the lair, Deidra walked in with a less than happy attitude. Another girl was taken by their un-sub. No doubt about it, since the bastard didn't like it when he wasn't recognized for his work. He was working a whole new angle and M.O. She hoped that the abduction didn't mean that Cherise was already dead. There wasn't much hope, but the next few days would be telling. And to top the day off, Leonardo said he wanted to talk with her later that night. When? She wasn't sure, but she did know it was going to be one big cluster fuck.

She threw her jacket onto the couch, changed into some comfortable jeans and a tank top in her bedroom before stashing the files way for a brief with everyone later. She just needed something to eat and probably a stiff drink before she handled that monster again. Maybe she could grab some of the whiskey that Raphael had hoarded at the back of the cupboard.

Before she headed out to the main portion of the lair, she stopped by Analise's room to check on her day. She knocked on the door and didn't find anyone at home. It was strange, but seeing as the lair was so quiet where ever Analise ran off to, Michelangelo was probably with her. As she came out to the front room she didn't see anyone else around and began to worry just a little. She saw a faint light coming from both Donatello's room and Splinter's as well. At least she wasn't alone.

"What a day," she walked into the kitchen and reached for the cupboard door until her eyes caught something at the table. Or a someone.

Raphael was slumped backward on one of the chairs with his feet propped up on the table. One arm dropped at his side and his fingers barely brushed the floor. His other arm was cradling against the toddler curled up on his chest. The baby babbled contently in her sleep and Deidra noticed the slight movements of his hands to placate her even when they were both asleep. She smiled at the sight and leaned against the counter next to the refrigerator.

"Strangely, this picture is beyond cute," she said and crossed her arms over her chest. She didn't know if it was the baby or the way that Raphael was being so gentle with her, but she felt all the tension of the day seep out from her shoulders and back. It was something to come home to for sure.

Raphael groaned a little and opened his eyes to find her staring at him and the baby. He held up one finger to his beak to tell her to be quiet. She gave him a look back as if to tell him that she already knew that bit of information.

"Since you're over there…" he whispered and noticed that Shadow was beginning to wake up as well, "Can you grab a bottle from the fridge?"

"Sure," she whispered back and opened the fridge to see at least two other bottles ready to go. She grabbed one and began to heat it up. She nodded to the bottle she grabbed and then looked back at him, "You made three of them?"

"I didn't know for sure how many she needed, so I'd rather be prepared," he explained and sat straighter in the chair, completely waking Shadow.

Deidra smirked at the cranky girl and picked her out from Raphael's arms. She coddled the baby in her arms and began to talk softly to her, "What exactly was he doing to you, huh? That couldn't have been that comfortable on his chest like that."

"You'd be surprised," he smirked as he saw her pause in her movements for a few seconds.

"Just get the bottle, smartass," she sneered playfully and he did so. He handed the bottle over once she got settled in the chair he just vacated, "I thought you weren't the listening type."

"I have my moments," he shrugged.

"How did you get stuck with baby duty?" she asked and fed a decidedly hungry ten month old.

"Everyone else was busy," he shrugged and patted Shadow on the head, "Don't mind it too much, though. She's a good rug rat."

"She seems like it," Deidra agreed and sat Shadow up to burp her, "How long you been with her today?"

"Only going on three hours," he noted the wall clock above the doorway.

"Not too bad," she said towards Shadow as she heard the burp, "You're still living, huh?"

Shadow gurgled a little and reached out for Raphael.

"The girl knows a good thing when she sees it," he reached down for her.

"No, she knows her parents when she sees them," Deidra corrected and waved toward Casey and April who were right behind Raphael, "Hi guys."

"Hello Deidra," April greeted and took the baby from her arms, "And how's my little girl?"

"She's fine, all in one piece," Raphael crossed his arms.

"You even changed her diaper," Casey smiled and clapped Raphael on the back of his shoulder.

"You knew about it when you left didn't you?" Raphael asked and Casey nodded, "You little rat."

"Don't worry about it, she was just fed," Deidra said and tapped the little one on the nose, "So she'll be ready to leave a nice present for her daddy, huh?"

Shadow bounced in April's arms and giggled loudly.

"Just great," Casey groaned and picked up the diaper bag on the kitchen floor.

"Don't forget the ones in the fridge," Raphael reminded him. All three other adults looked at him a little surprised. He settled down and kicked at the cement under his feet, "I mean, we don't need the bad milk to stink up the fridge."

"Right, Raph," April rolled her eyes and looked at Deidra, "You going to handle him?"

"I can try," she shrugged.

"See you guys later," Casey waved them off and walked out with April and baby in tow.

"That was interesting," Deidra smirked, "I never knew of your soft side."

"Neither does the general population," he motioned his hand around the lair, "Keep it low, if you don't mind."

"Right, your secret is safe with me."

As she began to rummage through the refrigerator for something to eat, Raphael heard Splinter's words from the morning before trigger in his mind.

'Talk to her.'

Raphael rubbed the back of his neck and took a deep breath. He was never a great talker, or expressing himself in other ways besides fighting. Something clicked in his mind and he stalked toward the door of the refrigerator. Actions always did speak louder than words.

He pulled her from the refrigerator and pushed the door closed.

"Hey, what the-?"

He quickly pushed her back into the wall and put a hand on either side of her head to pin her in a way. She looked at both of his arms and then to his face which held an expression she definitely didn't know how to read.

"Um…" she started. She was surprised by the quick action, and even found herself a little turned on. She took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes, "What?"

"You wanna go for a ride?"

"On your Ducati?" she asked and began to get out from the fog he induced on her.

"What else?" he finally broke from his mask and smiled down at her.

"Do I get to drive?" she asked and leaned toward him.

He smirked a little and leaned toward her. Before he was even close to touching her he stopped and quickly turned away with a chuckle, "Not this time around."

"Worth a shot," she whispered a little and grabbed a jacket she had thrown down earlier and followed him to the garage.

He flipped onto his bike and revved up the engine. He tossed on a leather jacket and a large helmet that covered his whole head. Deidra looked back toward the lair and thought back to this talk she had with Leonardo earlier that day. He wanted to talk with her. She just didn't know where he was and riding always got her head clear. Raphael leaned toward one table and found a smaller helmet inside a box. He held it out toward her and shifted it back and forth.

"Hey!" he yelled through his helmet shield to get her attention, "So you comin' or not?"

She took a look at the black helmet, back to the lair before she zipped her jacket up and took his second helmet, "Let's get out of here."

She hopped on the back of his bike behind him and tightened the strap of the helmet. She felt the vibration of the engine under her. She gripped the seat and smirked under her helmet. God, she's missed this.

"You should hold on," he said back to her.

"I've been on a bike before."

"Suit yourself," he shrugged and cranked up the engine. The wheels screeched against the gravel of the garage as the bike spun in place and then launched out of the tunnel. Deidra screamed as they landed, but not in fear; in excitement. She felt the wind rush past her body and drank it in. Raphael smiled and chuckled at her excitement and pure enjoyment from the simplicity of bike and road.

Arms suddenly wrapped around him and she leaned over his shoulder. He saw the edge of her helmet in his peripheral vision.

"Come on, Raph," she yelled through her visor, "We both know she could do more. Hit it!"

He didn't need to be told twice. Raphael pushed her to the limit and Deidra just held on tighter and soaked in the adrenalin. She felt connected, powerful and above all she felt passion. She closed her eyes at one point in near complete ecstasy.

'This is what I needed,' she thought to herself and felt the hard beating of her heart against the back of his shell, 'This is what I was missing. Wasn't it?'

She felt the bike begin to slow down and Raphael turned into an alleyway. Deidra sat back and let out a huge breath and a wispy laugh, "Why'd we stop?"

"I'm being paged," he pulled out his shell cell and flipped up his visor, "What's up, Leo?"

"Have you seen Deidra? She's not answering her shell cell," Leonardo's voice asked through the speaker.

"Yeah, she's with me on a ride on the town," Raphael smirked a little as he saw his brother's face falter a little on the small screen. Raphael looked over his shoulder, "Where's your shell cell?"

"Back in my room," Deidra answered and leaned over Raphael's shoulder to look at the small screen to see Leonardo, "Sorry, Leo. Didn't mean to make you worry. Didn't know where you were and needed to clear my head."

"Are you ready for our talk, or did you want to ride around some more?" he asked and she could tell that he didn't really like the idea of out there longer than what she already had been.

"We will be back in a couple of minutes," Deidra placated him and put the shield of her helmet back down.

"Keep your shell on, Leo," Raphael sighed and cut off the com-link, "Looks like I owe you a second part of a ride."

"Looking forward to it," she said and held on again as they dodged traffic all the way back to the lair. She couldn't help the next thing that slipped from her lips, "Thank you."

Deidra walked back into the lair with new breath in her lungs and new thoughts rushing in her mind as fast as her heart was beating. She waved at Raphael and tossed him the helmet so she could find Leonardo in the lair. She stepped into the main room and saw the light from Splinter's room under his door. Leonardo wouldn't be there if he had made a call to find her.

"Leo?" she called out into the lair and turned her head when she heard shuffling from her side.

"Yeah, I'm here," he nodded and walked out, "Are you okay to talk?"

"Always," she nodded and looked back toward the garage where Raphael had just jumped out and was now heading toward his room.

"Maybe we should do this in a little more privacy," Leonardo led her toward the side room and she followed closely. They sat down on some floor cushions that they usually used for meditation and made themselves comfortable.

"What's this about, Leo?" she asked with a bit of a sigh, "When someone needs to talk it usually isn't a good thing."

"Not necessarily, no," he shook his head, "But some things need to be talked out."

"What do you have in mind?"

"I just need to know from your point of view, Deidra," he took a deep breath and looked her in the eyes, "Is there ever going to be anything between us, or should we be better off as friends?"

A/N: All right, my loyal readers, this is where you get to have some say. Laurel, aka Deidra, is a little torn between the two feuding brothers, and she would like some input from you. If you can go ahead and send me a message about who you think would be a better fit for our dear Deidra. Don't review the answer, because sadly I will not count it. I would like it to be a surprise. Have fun with it and tell me what you think. Can't wait to see who you guys chose and the winner shall be revealed in the next chapter or so. Happy reading as always!