This chapter doesn't really have much in it. I'm trying to spread out the time between each chapter and focus on some of the more important events that happen between now and when Leo comes home. So, sorry if this chapter is a little bit dull.

Kayla pulled her helmet off her head and flipped her hair back, running her hand threw her hair to smooth it out. She got off her motorcycle and jumped down into the manhole. It was Tuesday afternoon and she was glad she could get home before dark since she had practice before school, instead of after.

When she reached the entrance she pulled the pipe and the door opened. She tossed her bag and helmet onto the couch and noticed April and Don in the kitchen.

"Hey, April." she called as she headed towards the kitchen, "What's up?"

Don answered for her, "Oh, you know. April was just stopping by with our mail." Don spoke as if it were no big deal. He picked up one of the three or four letters on the tabletop, "I think there's one for you. I think it's from…" Don squinted exaggeratingly at the letter, "Central America?" a gust of wind and suddenly Don's hand was empty. April laughed as he turned and saw Kayla holding the letter in both hands; staring at it with her mouth open slightly as if it were the most important thing in the world.

Kayla didn't know what to think. The envelope was addressed to; Kayla Hamatto at 2nd Time Around on Bleeker Street: April's address. For obvious reasons all their mail had to be sent to April's since they didn't have a real address. Kayla breathed in before using her thumb to rip open the envelope.

She pulled the letter out, unfolded it, and began to read it in her mind:

Dear Kayla,

I just landed in Central America a couple hours ago. I'm writing to you in a tree where I'm hiding until I can look for a better place to stay. I also found a small home at the edge of the jungle and village near where I'm staying. I wrote the address for it down so you can send your letters there and I'll get them before the residents do. I know this whole thing is going to make things pretty complicated and all, but I want you to remember that I'm still your big brother. I'll always be there for you. And remember that you also have three other older brothers who are there for you, too. And if I know Alana and Katie I know they'll be there for you no matter what. Tell Master Splinter I got here safely and keep your brothers out of trouble, especially Mikey. Work hard in school and good luck at your meet this weekend, make sure Don or April tapes it because I want to watch it when I come home. See you in six months. Love you.

Love, Leonardo

Kayla bit her bottom lip and felt warm tears sliding slowly down her face. She looked away and wiped her face, trying to hide her reaction from her brother and April. She smiled sadly as she skimmed over the letter again. She wiped her eyes dry quick before going back into the kitchen.

"It's from Leo. He also sent an address that we can mail our letters to." she pulled a small sheet of paper out of the envelope and handed it to Don, who stuck it to the fridge with a small magnet. Kayla sighed. "I can't believe he wrote this soon. I mean, I know he said every week, but…wow. He actually wrote this as soon as he landed and found a place to hide out."

Don smiled and couldn't help but chuckle a little at his little sister. It was good to see her happy about something again. "What are you gonna do with the letters?" Don asked as Kayla skimmed over the letter for the fourth time.

Kayla looked up, thinking. "I don't know. I really want to keep all of them. But where could I keep them without loosing them?"

Don and April smiled knowingly at each other.

Kayla narrowed her eyes. "What?" she asked suspiciously.

"Well, why don't you go in your room and see?" Don asked innocently. Kayla glanced between him and April before slowly getting up from her seat. She left the letter on the table as she slowly walked to her room. When she reached the door she glanced back at her brainiac brother and April before cautiously opening the door.

At first everything seemed normal, nothing was missing or out of place. Then she looked to the left of her desk. Hanging on the wall next to her mirror was a huge bulletin board! Kayla gaped as she stepped in to get a closer look.

She heard a noise and turned to look up at Don, her mouth still open in shock. He held up Leo's letter and a single thumbtack. Kayla's mouth closed and turned into a smile as she took both from him and pinned the letter to the top corner of the bulletin board.

Kayla spun around and threw her arms around both April and Don. "Thank you!" she shouted at them. Don and April grinned at each other over the top of Kayla's head. After a few moments Kayla let go.

"I'm gonna go tell everyone that Leo wrote to us and then I'm going to write back to him!" Kayla was out the door before she even finished talking. April and Don watched her as she raced over to their large half pipe where Mikey was skateboarding; both shaking their heads with smiles on their faces.

Kayla raced across the den and stopped by the half pipe. "Hey, Mikey!" she called as he sped by her on the half pipe. Mikey landed and grabbed his board at the top.

"Yeah? What is it, dudette?" he asked as he leaned on his board to relax.

"Leo wrote. He got to Central America safely and he's hiding out in the jungle near a small village. He also said I have to keep you guys out of trouble…especially YOU." Kayla held her hands behind her back and smiled smugly up at her brother.

"Me?!" Mikey pretended to look shocked and offended. Kayla burst out laughing and Mikey couldn't help but smile. He always loved making his sister laugh, but hadn't been able to the last few days. It was nice to see her happy again. He hoped it would last.

Just then Raph walked in from the work-out area of the lair all covered in sweat. "What's up wit' you?" he asked as he approached.

Kayla smiled again. "Leo wrote to us." she wanted to say more but Raph's face hardened and he turned to walk away.

"Great. Congratulations." he muttered grumpily as he walked away and jumped up to the second floor to his room. Kayla's smile vanished and her shoulders slumped as she watched him leave.

Mikey put an arm around her shoulder. "Don't worry, Kay. Raph's just being a stubborn hot-head like usual. He'll come around." Mikey looked down at her, but she wasn't smiling anymore. "Hey, come on. Where's that smile?" Mikey poked her in the ribs under her shoulder where she was ticklish. Kayla smiled and laughed as she tried to pull away. "Aha! I knew I could get a laugh outta you!" Mikey laughed as she rushed away from him.

"I'm going to write a letter to Leo!" she yelled back before she raced into her room. Once in her room she grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil at her desk and sat down. She thought for a moment before beginning to write. After a while she ran back out of the room and placed the paper on the kitchen table.

"Hey, Don! You wanna say anything to Leo?" she called to her brother who was currently sitting at his computers.

Don leaned back in his computer chair to think for a moment. "Well, tell him I'm glad he got there safe…and that I'm making sure you're keeping up with your training." Don smirked over at her and Kayla rolled her eyes as she added his message to the letter. She looked around to see Mikey relaxing on the couch watching cartoons.

"What about you Mikey? You have anything you want to say to Leo?" she asked, shouting slightly to be heard over the cartoons. When he didn't hear her she grabbed one of Raph's old, crushed pop cans off the counter and chucked it at him, hitting him square on the head.

"Ow!" Mikey looked back at her. "What?"

Kayla held up the letter. "I'm writing to Leo. Do you want to say anything?"

"Oh! Um…tell him I finally beat my high score on Alien Hunters and…I bought the newest edition of Justice Force…oh yeah! And tell him I say hi!" Mikey smiled his usual goofy grin and Kayla rolled her eyes.

"I'll just tell him you say hi."

As she finished writing Mikey's message Raph jumped down from the second story and headed toward the TV area.

"Hey, Raph?" Kayla called nervously. "You got anything you wanna say to Leo?" Kayla was more than a little anxious about what her more temperamental brother was going to say.

Raph thought for a moment. "Yeah, I got something ta say." he answered. "Ya can tell him that I'm glad he's gone. And that he should stay there as long as he wants, cause no one 'round here misses him!" Raph shouted as he turned and stormed out of the lair.

Kayla's mouth opened slightly as he left, unsure how to react. After a while she looked down at the letter sadly, missing Leo more than ever. Mikey and Don glanced nervously at each other before Don left his computers and sat next to her at the kitchen table. He gently put his arm around her shoulder.

"You know Raph's just acting that way because he misses Leo, we all do. Raph's never really been the type to show off his emotions. That's just his way of coping is all." Don smiled gently at Kayla as she looked up at him. A small smile appeared on her face, but Don knew it was partially forced.

"I know. Well, I'd better finish this so I can send it as soon as possible." Kayla added as she continued to write. Don gave her a small side hug before going back to his computers.

When Kayla was finished writing she read through it to make sure it was good:

Dear Leo,

You have no idea how much I freaked out when I got your letter! I could seriously see my hands trembling as I held it. Before I forget Alana says hi, and I honestly think she's been spending too much time around you. You remember on Friday when I told you guys were spreading rumors about me being on drugs? Well, the one named Alex kinda yelled at me from down the hall after school Monday calling me 'a skater girl on meth'. Everyone in the hallway heard it and stared at me.

I know you're always telling me to be strong and I promised not to react, but when he said that and everyone stared at me I broke down. I didn't fight him, instead I ran into the bathroom and started crying. Alana followed me and said that you probably gave me some awesome advice before you left and that I should always remember what you said. And when I did it really helped.

Donny says that he's glad that you got there safe, and he also wants to let you know that he's making sure I'm keeping up with my training, yay for me. Mikey basically says hi. Master Splinter is very proud of you; I can tell he misses you, too. Raph, well, you know Raph. In his own way he basically said that he does miss you, it's just hard for him to come out and say it.

Love you, bro. Can't wait for you to come home, and don't worry I'll make sure Don tapes my meet. See you in about five months and three weeks.

Love, Kayla

When satisfied with the letter Kayla put it in an envelope, wrote out the address and everything on the front, stuck on a stamp, and slipped it into her school bag. She'd mail it on her way to school in the morning.

Kayla took a deep breath of the night air as she sat waiting on the front steps of April's apartment. A familiar car pulled up and stopped in front of the building and she stood up. Alana and her cousin Katie got out, each holding a small gym bag.

"Thanks, mom." Alana called through the front passenger window.

"Bye aunt Jodie." Katie called. Kayla waved as Alana's mom drove off.

"Hey, guys." Kayla waved her hand for them to follow her, but instead of going into April's apartment they went into the alley beside it. Kayla lifted off the manhole cover and jumped down, taking Alana and Katie's bags from them before they followed. Alana immediately covered her mouth and nose before she took her bag back.

"Ugh, I still don't know how you can live down here." she mumbled past her hand.

Kayla rolled her eyes. "You get used to it after about fifteen and a half years. And if you think this is bad you clearly haven't been in Michelangelo's room."

They were silent for a while as Kayla lead them through the sewers. It was Friday night. It had been about three weeks since Leo left and Kayla was doing a lot better than before, but she still missed him a lot. Don had told her she could invited her friends to sleep over since football season was over and Alana's Fridays were free from playing in the band at the home games.

As they turned a corner Alana cleared her throat slightly. "So…how've your brothers been doing?"

Kayla glanced behind her at her friends. "They've been doing pretty good, I guess. But don't be surprised if you don't see Raph at all while you're here. He's been spending a lot of extra time away from home."

"Where's he been going?" Katie asked curiously.

Kayla shrugged. "I've no clue. We haven't talked a lot lately. And when we do it always seems like we somehow end up on the topic of Leo. Then he gets all mad and storms off, and I usually don't see him again till the next morning." Kayla hugged her arms slightly, feeling a chill through her autumn jacket. It was the first week of October and you could feel a chill in the air, though she wasn't sure if that was the only reason for her shivering.

"So, how's training been going?" Alana asked to change the subject.

"Pretty good. Master Splinter's been pushing us even harder lately. He made me do seventy pushups with a five pound bag of flour on my back the other day." Kayla smirked with a small laugh, "I don't even know where he got that big of a bag of flour." Alana and Katie laughed with her.

Finally, Kayla pulled one of the pipes and the bricks slid open and she stepped in, followed by her two friends.

"We're here!" she yelled into the large, old subway station.

Don walked out of his room with another gadget in his hands and his 'dorky goggles' on top of his head. That was what Kayla and her other brothers called them. "Hey, Alana. Hi, Katie. How's it going?" he asked as he passed them to his lab.

Katie answered. "Good. Nice goggles." she giggled slightly and Kayla's face went red with embarrassment. Why did her brothers have to be so embarrassing?

At that moment Mikey slid down the steps from the second floor shouting, "Heeeerree's Mikey!" when he landed Alana and Katie clapped and he bowed at their applause. Kayla ducked her head down and held her hand over her eyes and forehead.

"Brothers." she muttered.

"I heard that." Don smirked at her from where he was sitting and Kayla stuck her tongue out at him.

"Come on." she gestured for her friends to follow her to her room to put their stuff away. As they entered the room Alana's eyes immediately went to the bulletin board on Kayla's wall.

"Is that the board April and Don got you for Leo's letters?" she asked, pointing to it.

Katie rolled her eyes. "No, Alana. It just looks like it." Alana narrowed her eyes at her cousin and Kayla tried not to laugh.

"Yeah, it is." she answered as Alana moved to get a closer look. There were now three letters on the board and one photograph of Leo that he took in the jungle. It was of him in this brown cloak-type thing he sometimes wore.

Alana and Katie read through the letters and Kayla waited patiently for them to be done. She had reread all of them at least five times and seemed to get teary-eyed nearly every time. When Alana was done she glanced back at Kayla.

"So, you told him about the locker incident from last week?"

"Wait," Katie interrupted, "what locker incident? Don't tell me it was Alex again." Katie clenched her fists. "I swear, one of these days I'm gonna knock him out for you!" Kayla and Alana both laughed a little.

"Well, last week Alex was saying crap about me and I got mad and made a comment about it. He got pissed off and threw me against the lockers."

Katie's jaw dropped. "And he didn't get suspended?"

Kayla shook her head. "You've seen how vacant our hallway is. There's like one classroom so there's hardly anyone down there after school."

"True, but you didn't fight back or anything?"

Kayla looked at the floor. "No." she answered quietly, "I promised Leo that I wouldn't."

It was awkwardly quiet for a moment so Alana made an attempt to lighten the mood. "Well, good thing for him. You'd probably hospitalize him." Kayla smiled and Katie laughed.

"True." Kayla agreed before laughing again.

"Pizza!" Mikey's voice called from the kitchen.

Kayla glanced mischievously at her friends.

"Race ya!" she shouted as she took off running out of the room.

As Katie caught up and passed her she asked, "Don't you guys ever get sick of pizza?" Kayla laughed.