Disclaimer: I do not own the TMNT. But the New Year is a time for resolutions, so this year I resolve to possess the TMNT by any lengths necessary. I will do anything it takes, and I mean anything, until they are mine! If that doesn't work, I will simply kidnap Don and enjoy what I can. Muhahaha!

So…I left you hanging, now didn't I? Sorry it was so short, but it didn't really fit in either chapter before or after, so it had to be on its own. Now, everything cloudy will become clear! (except of course your wonderings if I'm insane or not, which I think you will have to judge yourselves.)

Please enjoy! :D

Raph: What is it with you and smileys?

Me: I like smileys!

Raph: They're for losers.

Me: Smileys are NOT for LOSERS!!!!!!!!

Raph: Alright, alright! Smileys aren't for losers!

Me: Glad you agree.

Raph:…are you gonna put me down?

Me: Maybe. :D

PS—Last edited March 17, 2010

'God, what time is it? Let's see…where's that dumb clock…? Oh, here it is. 7:06 in the morning. Joy. That means another training session. I've missed, what, six? That's weird; Sensei usually gets me going before I've missed two.' Stretching, Mikey releases a huge yawn and opens his eyes fully. He grabs his mask off of the night stand and ties it on crookedly, moving toward the mirror mounted on the wall. It takes him a second to recognize his reflection: puffy red eyes, sickly pale green skin and a pathetic sort of expression on his face. He breathes in, clears his throat and straightens his mask. 'I'm ready to face the world.'

Upon Mikey's arrival to the ordinary kitchen, Raph is startled at the appearance of his brother. As Mikey is usually so lively and cheerful, Raph is almost frightened by the stiffness of Mikey's body as he plops himself unceremoniously into a chair. His attempt at a smile is more like a grimace, and he reaches for the newspaper sullenly, opening it with more rustling than necessary.

'Newspaper? Since when has Mikey read anything in the newspaper besides the comics?' Raph wonders, taking another mouthful of cereal. Aware of Sam's cruelty to Mikey after April told him and his brothers what Mikey said to her over the phone the night he came home in tears, Raph pities his brother. Mikey stayed in his room for six whole days. Raph feels a twinge of compassion for his heartbroken brother, having no other desire but to tear Sam's voice box from her throat and crush it in his fist. She hurt Mikey. She destroyed him.

Seeing Mikey reading the newspaper surprises Leo as he comes into the kitchen and he exchanges a worried glance with Raph whose amber eyes are swimming with unspoken anxiety. Leo's attention is on Mikey as he boils water in the kettle, a sweet aroma filling the air while he steeps the tea mechanically. Unable to bear Mikey so crestfallen, Leo shifts closer to Mikey gradually and gently places a hand on his shoulder, asking, "What can I get you for breakfast?"

"Nothing," Mikey croaks, concern shadowing Leo's face. Rubbing his shoulder, Leo says quietly, "Okay, Mike," backing down. He's not sure if Mikey will snap or not; this has never happened before, and it's not good to push limits.

Don's worry for Mikey's recent behavior is more than apparent, the scientist who believes in endless possibilities finding it hard to imagine that the chatterbox stayed in his room by himself for six days without saying a single word. He wouldn't have believed it if he hadn't witnessed the feat himself. Tentatively, Don asks in an attempt to be conversational, "What's in the news?"

"Robberies, murders, car jacking, rape, scandal…the usual," Mikey replies spitefully, his face hard as he glares at the newspaper. His teeth grind dangerously and Mikey crumples the pages as he tries to fold the newspaper neatly, only succeeding in making himself irrationally frustrated. Mikey throws the paper aside with an agitated growl and folds his arms over his chest crossly. Don picks up the mangled, tea moistened New York Times gingerly and folds it crisply, handing the journal to Leo who immediately shields himself with the business section. His smile almost too perky for the hour, Don enquires, "Hey Mike, you up for a video game."

"No," Mikey replies shortly, but Donatello insists and drags him to the couch, turning on one of Mikey's favorite games. Mikey picks up the remote control unenthusiastically, looking at the TV with a very bored expression. "You ready?" Don asks, a Mikey-like grin on his face.

"Whatever," Mikey mutters, the epic music not gaining a whoop from the usually energetic turtle.

12 games later, three of which Mikey won, his mood hasn't improved, and is quite possibly worse. Don can't understand how Mikey didn't beat him. He wasn't even trying! Sighing, Don runs a hand over his face and wonders what to do next to occupy his obviously sour brother. By this time, Mikey is almost at his bedroom door, ready to go back and sulk. His path is blocked by Leo who notifies him, "It's time for training."

'Wow, he says that as if I actually care,' Mikey says to himself. Grumbling in chagrin, Mikey obeys his brother and stalks into the dimly lit dojo with his three brothers following at a safe distance, careful not to get singed by their brother's infuriated aura.

A pair of padded knees hit the floor hard in front of Master Splinter, and he can tell it's his long awaited son, but chooses not to speak yet. His other sons follow soon after, the candlelight bouncing off his patient whiskered face. As an introduction, Splinter begins the lesson with a lecture on the connection between mind, body and spirit, ordering his sons to meditate. Obeying immediately, Mikey closes his eyes, inhaling a deep breath. 'Calm…serene…connection…focus, Mikey.'

He shifts uncomfortably at a soft, barely audible voice in his head, followed by a familiar face. Giving his head a jerk, he returns his concentration to the void, slipping into it easily. He sighs in relief. 'This may not be as hard as I thought –'

She flashes into his mind again. Mikey fumes, tortured by the fact that she occupies his every waking moment, along with all the dreams from his few fitful hours of sleep. She just won't leave him alone! 'Doesn't she have anyone better to bother?!'

Squeezing his eye lids more firmly shut, Mikey clears his head in vain as her pure singing voice resounds in his head seconds later. With a growl of impatience, he claps his hands over his ears, trying to avoid the sound of Sam's voice, to stop thinking about her. He squirms in aggravation and finally snaps his eyes open and removes his hands from his ears, only to see the rest of his family still in deep meditation, having not even heard him. Heaving a quiet sigh, he traces the cracks of the cement floor beneath him, trying to think of something other than her.

More than twenty minutes later, his Sensei finds him in the same position and asks delicately, "Michelangelo, what troubles you, my son?"

Mikey's brow furrows at the name 'Michelangelo', remembering how much anger had been behind it the last time it was used. Not ready to recall what happened to his Master, he continues following the crevices in the stone floor with his finger.

"Michelangelo," his Sensei repeats. His voice isn't impatient but urging, trying to get Mikey to say something. Mikey's finger pauses just as it is about to follow a crack in the floor travelling toward his Master and the turtle murmurs, "I can't believe she hates me, even though I lied to her."

By this time, Mikey's brothers are fully conscious. They're relieved to hear a full sentence from their brother, but Raph becomes furious, demanding, "What d'ya mean ya don't blame her? She's the one who acted like an idiot, tellin' you off, not lettin' you get a word in edgewise. Ya know what, Mikey? She doesn't deserve ya, she ain't good enough for ya. She's just a cold, frigid, heartless bi-"

Raph stops mid-insult at the sight of Sam in the doorway, having practically appeared out of nowhere. Leo wants to yell 'How the hell did you find our lair?' among other obscenities but refrains, contenting himself by glowering at her. Not in the least affected by Leo's glare, Sam insists, "Go on. Every word you just said is true, and I need someone besides myself to say what I am. So finish, Raph. I want to hear this."

Raph can't bring himself to say it; not with her right there. 'Stupid guilt.'

Sam's stiff body is barely visible in the little glow of candlelight that reaches the door, but as she timidly proceeds into the room, they see her clearly. Her usually bouncy, gold and mahogany locks are lanky, her skin pale with red splotches on her face and neck. Her eyes are framed by dark circles and her expression is one of shame. She kneels in front of Mikey to be eye to eye and explains slowly in a thick voice, "I didn't mean what I said, Mikey. I was a little freaked out, and then I began to get worried. If you were hiding something that big from me, then maybe I wasn't important. I worried that maybe you didn't trust me, or you were hiding more from me, keeping secrets. I don't which one I disliked more."

Mikey didn't yell, speak or even move during her explanation, so Sam continues with more courage, "I've wanted to talk to you for days, Mikey—"

"Then why didn't you?" he asks in a whisper, his hands clenched on his thighs. Giving an apologetic smile, Sam replies, "My pride…and quite possibly my stupidity."

Mikey's face turns hard again and she pleads, "Come on Mikey, don't tune me out! I'm trying to fix the emotional wounds I've inflicted on you and myself, and it will only work if you listen."

"Did you rehearse this?" he accuses coldly with his eyes narrowed. She presses her lips together for a moment as tears threaten to well up in her eyes, eventually regaining her calm before she answers, "No."

Shooting her a glare, he snarls to the surprise of his brothers and Sensei, "Impressive, you can grovel at will."

"I know I don't deserve to be forgiven," she agrees and stands up slowly with sobs caught in her throat. In a steady, firm tone she says, "I've wasted enough of your time. I'm sorry, Mike."

With that she leaves the room, able to feel the eyes on her back as she reenters the main part of the lair. "Blindfold me," Sam mumbles to April, not wanting anyone to see her cry. April ties the fabric firmly at the back of her head and Sam feels the burning of tears held deeply in her throat, clawing to be released. She lets out one silent sob before reaching out for April's shoulder, confused when she finds empty air where April was a moment ago. Her hand tenses as a three fingered hand takes hers, and is about to withdraw it when a gentle breath of air graces her ear and Mikey whispers, "That was the most dramatic exit I've ever seen."

Sam prays that Mikey won't take off her blindfold, but of course, Mikey lifts it from her tear filled eyes. Pretending to be exasperated, he exclaims, "Gosh, girls can be so emotional."

She smiles, the first real one that has spread over her face in almost a week, and she returns Mikey's warm hug. Raphael smirks at the pair, leaning on the door frame, and Leo's arms rest across his chest as he eyes Sam skeptically. Donatello smiles uncertainly from where he stands, head cocked to the side, but Master Splinter looks like he's never been happier. As Sam pulls away, Master Splinter says, "One lesson you will learn in life is that humility and forgiveness go hand in hand; they will always find each other in the end."

Sam bows her head to the old rodent and smiling at Leo she remarks, "If looks could kill, I would have died a thousand painful deaths back there, Leo, the way you were glaring at me."

Leo can't help but chuckle at her joke and Don's smile becomes more relaxed. Pushing himself off the doorframe with one shoulder, Raph sits on the couch next to where Leo's leans and adds, "For once that look wasn't used on me!"

Rolling his eyes, Don compliments sarcastically, "We know Raph, we're all proud of your amazing accomplishment."

Sam giggles and Mikey nods, identical grins on their faces and Sam turns to look into Mikey's sweet baby blue eyes. "I've always had a thing for ninjas," she murmurs in a sultry voice and kisses Mikey softly, her fingers playing with his bandana tails. He kisses her back and his grip on her tightens, the damp blindfold balled in his fist. Looking away, Raph begs, "Get a room, you two! Oi ve!"

Mikey pulls back from Sam and retorts, "Get a life, hypocrite!" Mikey is about to return to kissing Sam when his Sensei clears his throat and suggests, "We should get back to training. You may watch if you like, Miss Connahan, or wait until Michelangelo is finished."

"I'd love to. April, you don't have to stay. Mikey can walk me home." Sam replies, and April sends them a wave before heading to the nearest exit. The four brothers follow their father into the dojo and Sam smiles, trailing behind.

An hour later, they all come filing back out, an interesting conversation going on between Don and Raph about who knows what. Mikey makes his way to his room and slips in, relieved when the noise is cut off by the door closing until he realizes—

'Wait. I didn't close the door…"

He turns around and sees Sam right there, leaning on the door with a small smile on her face. Swallowing the nervous lump in his throat, he returns the gaze, surprised that she's so calm about being in his room. Mikey takes a deep breath through his nose and walks over to her, bracing one palm on the door so his face is just above hers. Sam closes the small space between their lips in one quick movement, kissing him fully. He's surprised by the intensity after only a week apart, and puts his free arm around her waist pushing her up against the door. She holds on for another long minute and then pulls back, whispering, "I guess Raph had a good idea for once."

"What?" he asks, confused to what sort of advice she could be talking about. Smiling, Sam murmurs, "This is nicer than kissing in front of your family."

Mikey lets the grin slowly spread across his face and he concurs, "Yeah. It means I can do whatever I want."

Sam squeals as Mikey sweeps her off of her feet and carries her to his bed, laying her down and propping himself up with one arm to be over her. Before he leans down, he asks, "Are you scared?"

"Terrified," she replies, giggling as her kisses her again. They kiss gently for a long time until a knock comes at the door and Mikey lifts his head. Sighing he plants one more kiss on Sam's forehead and sits up, turning on the CD player in the corner and turning the music to a low setting before he tugs her off the bed, twirling her around the room in a dance. The knock comes again, followed by, "Mikey?"

Winking at her, Mikey walks to the door and opens it up, pretending to be surprised when he sees Don there. He works an innocent expression over his face and apologizes, "Sorry we couldn't hear you, the music was on and we were dancing."

"Care to join us?" Sam asks, going along with Mikey's plan. Don shakes his head and replies, "No thanks. I was just going to tell you that Raph's accusing you of cutting the ropes of his hammock. All I know is that he started shouting and swearing and was on the ground when we came to see what was wrong, so I'm assuming that's what he meant."

"It wasn't me!" Mikey cries, holding up his hands innocently. Rolling his eyes, Don assures, "Relax. We pointed out that you were in your room for six days and just felt better less than two hours ago. He's not on the hunt…yet," and leaves with that. Once the door is closed, Mikey allows himself to laugh and raising her eyebrows in surprise, Sam asks, "So you actually did it?"

"Yeah, I half cut them about a week and a half ago, and was just waiting until they broke with his weight," Mikey confesses, sounding proud of himself. Sam giggles and puts her arms around his neck, murmuring, "That's my boy."

"Don't you forget it," he adds, kissing her quickly again before he pulls Sam to the kitchen for lunch. Being one of two decent cooks in the house, Mikey has to wonder how they all ate while he was in his room.

! Sam and Mikey sittin' in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G!

Aw, I thought it was cute. But GAH! Moody Mikey is so scary! O.O

That was an interesting chapter and yes Mikey's behavior was extreme, but this is his first girlfriend, so I say that it happened like this!

Thanks for reading and I'll keep y'all updated. Please review, and happy New Year!

Peace ,

The Light Of Reason

PS-Still need some interview questions for the TMNT, so think, think, think! Your help would be much appreciated, and I might even possibly put one of you in the story ;)

Very honorable position, don't you think?

Thanks again, and like I said: Please review! Reviews are like my oxygen, I need them to live!