I don't own TMNT or UY.

Xxxxx

I woke up feeling much better than I had in a while. Maybe that's not very fair considering what a rough time we were currently having. Leo had bullied me into going to bed last night and getting some sleep. I didn't really want to as I was busy working on a Trojan I wanted to implant in Bishop's network, so we could get a better idea of what exactly that loathsome man was doing with Jotaro, and what he possibly wished to accomplish by kidnapping him. Leo would hear none of it though and told me if I didn't go to bed he was going to get Raph to pick me up and carry me there. I decided to listen to him because the way things are at the moment I had a hunch he'd do it too. Besides, I've kinda been skipping sleep since we discovered the rather unpleasant fact that Bishop was the one who had Usagi's son.

Poor Usagi. Every fibre of my being was screaming at me to help him and I admit I was perhaps overworking myself because of it. I tended to have a bad habit of doing that to myself. Of course it was more than Usagi I wanted to try and help. There was Jotaro himself as well. It's been almost a week now. In fact I believe it was a week today exactly. That's a long time to be in captivity, especially for a little kid. I really hope he's ok. My one comfort was that he was Usagi's child and because of that I believed he had to be a strong character himself.

Sleep seems to have done me quite a bit of good. I sat up and stretched myself, ready to get right back at it after some breakfast. I got down from my bunk, got dressed (for lack of a better word) and went to get myself ready to face the day, making sure to not step on Leo as I did so.

After I'd brushed my teeth and washed my face I walked to the kitchen. I was rather surprised to find it had a severe lack of Mikey in it. Usually he got up first just so he would be the one to cook breakfast. I found it rather fascinating. Perhaps that's a little wrong of me to psychoanalyse my own brother but I mean what I said with a level of affection. I just fond it interesting that he got so much enjoyment out of something I usually considered to be a chore.

He wasn't in the kitchen today though. My guess is he was sleeping in. That wasn't really that strange of him either if he was feeling lazy. I noticed a glass on one of the counters. It was empty but it was also dirty with milk residue. I rolled my eyes and went to clean it. This was also not very strange of him.

Once I'd cleaned and put it away I started looking around in the cupboards to see what kind of food we had lying around. I didn't really feel like making something big and was glad when I found we still had a jumbo box of Cheerios left over. I put it on the table and went about getting some bowls and the milk. I hoped there was enough for 6 people but if we use it carefully we should be able to all get a share.

I turned and clicked on the kettle getting myself, Leo and Raph a coffee mug while getting Usagi and Master Splinter the traditional cups. I didn't bother getting Mikey either, knowing he wasn't fond of coffee which frankly, I really don't understand. I can't function without the stuff.

I searched around to see what kind of tea we had left over. There was still some ginseng left which was good. Sensei had tried to teach me some basic herbal skills and although I was no doctor, I knew ginseng was good for anxiety and stress. Heaven knows Usagi could use some of it. He was treating Leo rather coldly at the moment but I wasn't too worried about it. Yes it wasn't right of him to have blown up at Leo the way he did but he and my brother were such good friends I knew they wouldn't remain angry at each other for much longer.

I heard some-one come into the kitchen and turned to see who it was. Speaking of the devil, Leo walked in. I must've woken him up when I left the room. Leo was a good roommate. He was quiet, didn't snore and if he woke up before I did he was able to leave the room without waking me. Sadly he was a light sleeper and so if I got up first I usually woke him when I left. Oh dear, I make us sound like a married couple!

"Morning." he said, sitting down at the table.

I gave him a smile. "Good morning. Coffee?"

He nodded. "Please."

I poured him a mug, turning and handing it to him. He looked around the room.

"Any-one else up yet?"

I shook my head, pouring my own mug and sitting down at the table. "Doesn't look like it. I haven't seen any-one else."

Leo poured himself a bowl of cereal, lifting his eyes to give me a thoughtful look. "You didn't sneak out to work on that computer-thing last night did you?"

I couldn't help but laugh. "No Leo. I didn't get up and go work on my virus. Sheesh. You're worse than a mother!"

He managed a smile which I was happy to see. "Just making sure. You seem to be working in overdrive and I don't want you burning yourself out before we need you."

I wasn't sure whether to be insulted or flattered.

He handed me the cereal box and I handed him the milk.

"How'd you sleep Leo?" I asked, I wasn't able to hide my concern.

He gave me a reassuring smile and a nod.

"I slept." He answered my real question.

I sunk a little in relief, my smile growing slightly as I nodded.

He cocked a brow at me, sitting back and stirring his coffee. "Now who's being the mother?"

I laughed and kicked at his chair under the table, missing it by a few inches. "Sure just throw it back in my face like that."

He chuckled and took a sip from his mug.

I was really glad to see him finally relaxing. He had been acting really depressed for the past day or so after the roof incident. I don't know why but something Usagi said hit a very sensitive nerve in my brother. I wasn't sure what it was but it obvious hurt him very deeply. Him and Usagi still seemed a little tense over the issue but I was starting to notice the animosity between them was weakening. I'm sure they would patch things up soon.

"What's for breakfast?" Raph walked into the room, rubbing his own shoulder.

I tapped the cereal box in response.

He gave something between a groan and a growling noise. I knew Raph didn't like cold food so early in the morning. Too bad.

"Ain't we got toast or something?" He said, going to the counter.

"You're welcome to make some yourself Raph." I said, starting on my food.

He didn't say anything but I could hear him opening the plastic bag on the bread.

"Don." Leo said.

I turned to look at him, his tone sounded serious again.

"This program you're working on," he said. "What is it exactly? I know you tried to explain to me what you were hoping to do with it but you haven't filled me in on your progress yet."

I nodded and swallowed my mouthful, quickly going into an explanation.

"It's a Trojan Horse. That is it's a program that will mask itself as nothing but random data but once in Bishop's system it should give us access to his files and records, perhaps even a floor plan if we're lucky. I'm hoping we'll find out why on earth he would kidnap a child from another dimension which has never shown any malicious intent towards our world. Even more importantly if I can find the right file we can find out where exactly he's holding Jotaro and uhm.. how the little guy is doing."

"Ya mean we find out if he's still in one piece." a voice grumbled behind me.

"Raphael!" Leo stood up from his seat.

"Hey, don' whine at me bro you're thinkin' it just as much as the rest of us!" He snapped back, giving Leo a dark look.

"Yeah but I wouldn't be so callous to say it out loud!" Leo said angrily.

"Well maybe we oughta!" Raph said, slamming the switch on the toaster to turn it on. "It'll make things a hell of a lot easier when we get there and it turns out ta be the truth!"

"Raph how could you say that?" Leo said. He sounded horror-struck. "How can you say that?!"

"I'm just bein' honest!" He growled. "An' you know it."

There was silence. I realised I was holding my spoon half-way to my mouth and lowered it nervously. I hate it when they fight. But I had to admit that although Leo was right, Raph wasn't exactly lying either. There was the possibility that Jotaro was no longer in the land of the living. I had avoided thinking about this though. It was too terrible to comprehend. I also felt the pang of guilt hit me. We hadn't told Usagi exactly what Bishop tended to do with his... specimens. Heaven only knows how he'd react upon hearing the person who had his son is known for dissecting those he captured.

Leo was still glaring at Raph but he sat back down in his seat. "Fine. But if you're gonna bitch about it do me a favour and don't say anything in front of my friend if you don't mind. He's got enough to worry about as it is."

Raph glared right back but kept quiet.

Leo dropped his gaze and proceeded to eat his cereal again, perhaps more aggressively than necessary.

Raph made an irritable noise.

"He's my friend too ya know." He said, turning and marching out of the kitchen.

I watched him go, but Leo didn't look up.

The toast popped but they were now abandoned.

I turned to my eldest brother. "Leo... maybe you should talk to him."

"Why?" Leo snapped. "So he can dump all his issues on me too?!"

Wow. That was rather uncharacteristic of him. Then again Raph had a knack for getting under Leo's shell.

I shook my head gently. "No. Because he's just worried and he doesn't know how..."

"My God! Mikey!!"

We both twisted our heads to the kitchen door. Raph's voice had come from the main room.

We dropped our spoons and simultaneously got out of our chairs, pushing them recklessly aside and hurrying to see what had happened.

My pulse was speeding up though I didn't know what I was expecting. Certainly not what I saw.

Mikey was standing in the centre of the room, his gaze lowered and his fists clenched. Raph was standing in front of him, both hands on our little brother's shoulders and looking him over with that overly-worried expression he seemed to save only for when Mikey got hurt.

As for Mikey himself; he was a mess. He was covered in mud and grass stains and I noticed one of his wrist straps was missing. His knuckles were bloody and he seemed to have a cut along the side of his face but it didn't look too bad thank heavens. There were grass-burns on the underside of his arms and I could see one of his bandanna tails had been torn. But what really frightened me was the sight of blood. There was blood on his knee-guards, his right hand and soaking into the wood of his nunchucks. He looked like he'd just come home from a war.

I heard Leo beside me take a staggering breath and shoot forward.

"Michelangelo!"

Mikey didn't look at him. He was frowning hard at the floor, as if he was expecting to be yelled at.

When Leo got closer Raph moved aside for him to inspect our brother as well. Their fight from just a few seconds ago completely forgotten.

Leo reached out and carefully placed his hands on Mikey's jaw-line, turning Mike's head gently to inspect him closer. I saw him give a horrified shake of his head.

"You've got bruises all along your neck! Mikey what the hell happened to you?? Are you hurt??"

Mikey wasn't looking at Leo, answering with a simple; "No."

"Who did this to you?" Raph said with a very dangerous rumble in his voice.

Mikey shook his head again. "Just drop it Raph."

Leo was still looking him over, taking note of any other injuries he might have.

I came closer myself, I didn't know if I should get master Splinter or not or if I should get a first aid kit or something. I felt slightly panicky.

Raph bared his teeth. "Don't tell me ta drop it Mikey! Tell me who did this!"

"Raph cool it." Leo said with a demanding tone, not looking away from Mike.

I swallowed the lump in my throat. "Is he ok Leo?" I asked nervously.

"I said I was fine." Mikey said, trying to twist himself out of Leo's hands slightly.

Leo took the hint and let go of him but continued to stare with deep concern.

"Mikey what happened to you?"

Mikey wasn't looking at any-one. He seemed angry but I couldn't for the life of me figure out why. The expression didn't suit him at all.

"I was following that guy who's working for Bishop." he said to the floor.

I felt my blood run cold.

Raph's jaw dropped slightly and I could see the utter disbelief in his face.

"You WHAT?!" Leo practically exploded.

Mikey visibly flinched but still didn't look at him.

"Mikey what in God's name did you think you were doing?!" Leo continued.

Mikey shook his head and finally looked up to meet Leo's gaze.

"I wasn't gonna do anything! I just saw him and wanted to see where he was going! I didn't mean to get in a fight Leo I swear!"

"You could've been killed!!" Leo was furious. I almost found myself backing away from him.

"How could you be so irresponsible?! What were you thinking?! What?! You just thought it'd be a good idea to run after some-one who not only could've warped you to Kingdom Come but who also was skilled enough to get past Usagi whose a trained samurai and who works for Bishop of all people all by yourself without telling anybody?!"

Mikey shook his head violently. "No! It wasn't like that! I wanted to help! I just wanted to help!"

"Oh and putting your life in danger when we have so much going on already is helpful?! I can't believe you!!"

Mikey's shoulders were starting to heave and I could see his cheeks flushing. "Leo I'm sorry! I'm sorry!!"

Leo's hands flew up. "Look I can't even talk you right now ok?! In fact I don't even wanna see you!! Get yourself cleaned up and if you so much as set one foot out of this lair today you are gonna regret it for the rest of your life! I mean it!!"

"Hey come on Leo! He said he didn't mean to!" Raph spoke up.

"Of course you'd defend this kind of behaviour!!" Leo said, rounding on Raph instead.

Oh no. I can't listen to this. I put my hands over where my ears were, shutting my eyes.

"What's that suppose ta mean?!" Raph yelled.

"You know exactly what it means!!" Leo yelled back.

"Shut up!!"

They both went quiet and turned to Mikey.

He was glaring at them, his fists clenched so tightly they were going white. I could see his knees shaking as angry tears ran down his cheeks.

"Just shut up both of you!! I didn't mean for this to blow up in my face ok?! I screwed up! Fine! But don't use me as an excuse to start screaming at each other!!"

He reached up and wiped at his face with a hand angrily, still keeping his glare on Raph and Leo. The wipe caused an ugly red smear across his cheek.

"If you wanna be mad at me then fine!! I don't care!! But I'm sick of listening to the two of you!! So just shut up and leave me alone!!"

He shoved past the two of them and marched to his room. I tried to follow him but he gave me a look that froze me in my tracks. I watched the back of his shell enter his room and the door slam so loudly I heard something fall and break somewhere.

I heard Raph take a breath to lash out at Leo again but I spun around and interrupted.

"Leo is he hurt bad?? Did you see anything??"

Leo was glaring at Raph but broke his gaze to look at me. I stared at him pleadingly. I didn't want them to fight. They can't fight. Not now. Not on top of everything else.

Leo seemed to calm down slightly at my expression. Raph held his tongue but I was afraid to break gaze with Leo to see his face.

Leo shook his head tightly. "He's been in a nasty fight but he looks like he's ok. Worst I could see was some-one'd tried to choke him."

I heard Raph growl and I had to look at him. He wasn't growling at Leo thank heavens.

"Why? Why would he do such a stupid thing?! He could've been killed! He says he wanted ta help but the hell does he think he's been doin' so far?! Playin' checkers?! This ain't like him!"

"That's what I wanna know!" Leo yelled back, but since he was agreeing with Raph the argument wasn't going anywhere.

"Look please. Just please stop fighting guys." I begged. "We don't need this right now. At least Mikey's ok. He's ok and maybe he can tell us something about this guy we didn't know already. I know I'm grasping at straws here but just.. ..just don't fight any more."

There was silence. Leo and Raph were both avoiding my gaze as well as each other's.

Eventually Raph turned and marched away, heading for the dojo, most likely to beat the hell out of his punching bag. Leo made an aggravated noise and crossed his arms, still visibly worked up.

I merely stood there, feeling useless. I felt like I was fused to the spot. Unable to follow Raph and try to calm him, unable to say anything to Leo and unable to go and see if Mikey's alright.

There was a sound of weight on the metal floor and we both turned our heads to see what it was.

Usagi was standing in Leo's doorway, staring at both of us with a heartbroken expression.

He turned and looked in the direction of Mikey's door before he turned back to the two of us. We stood frozen, staring back at him.

He lowered his head slightly before lifting it again.

"Leonardo-san.... I am sorry... I am so sorry...."

Xxxxx

I have no idea how Leo and Raph started fighting in this chapter .___. they just... did.

I'm struggling with the next few chapters 8'( oh I know what's gonna happen and I haven't got writer's block or anything but I'm really worried they're not very strong as far as chapters go. I feel stupid for asking especially since you've been giving me such wonderful comments so far but please let me know what you think of them as they come. Thank you!