Ch. 4

After my first night back with Raph on the streets and getting to know everyone more I felt some what complete. I went back to work and showed off my battle scar, I loved the crept out looks, they made my day. At night I would go home and find Mikey or Don there either raiding my fridge or sleeping on my couch. Donnie's job has gotten so bad that he can't sleep without the sounds of his phone ringing in his head. So to get away I happily made him a spare key and kept my window unlocked. Raph and I have become closer and even more competitive then before. Even though they seemed happy to have me around the pain of missing their brother would always come back. It hurt Raph and Splinter the most no matter how much they tried to hide it.

"Danny girl," a voice sang. Turning instantly I smiled squealing in glea seeing my number one friend and customer.

"If it isn't April O'Neil," I laughed as we hugged each other.

"I heard you were shot are you ok?"

"I'm here aren't I?" I teased as she laughed shaking her head and started to take off her shirt. Lying on the table I coated my hands in warm oil as she brushed her hair away from her shoulders to let it fall. "So how's Casey?"

"Oh don't start, he's still going out and playing vigilantly. I mean we moved in together and I thought he would settle down a bit but…" she groaned as I worked on the knots in her lower back. Smiling I sighed as I gave a loving rub shoulders to relax her.

"Well from what I have seen is that guys like him take longer to mature, but they bring out that side of us that makes us smile wider and dance a bit more. Let him grow a bit and be crazy with him or find something to exhaust that urge of his," I explained as I rubbed out her knot causing her to moan.

"Guess your… wait you're dating?" she yelped shocked leaning up from the table covering herself with the towel. My face was on fire, even though I was sassy but when it came to guys and dating, I was more timid and shy. Then I thought of the one thing that sent my blush over the edge…Raph and I together. Shaking my head I tried to cover up my pause hoping she would believe me.

"No, no it's not like that. It's just a guy friend of mine… he's very…well," trying to find a word for Raph was difficult. He was definitely a character but he acted differently with me, that bothered me but not in a bad way. It was just different since he found out about me. "He's a character like Casey just my age," I laughed as April nudged me playfully.

"What's that suppose to mean, that I'm old?" laughing we finished our session and went out to lunch like we would. Shopping for my organic herbs she hung out and chatted up the afternoon till I had to go back to work. She's been my only friend that was a girl since I came here, and we were close even though we were some years apart.

Looking up from my book on the bean bag chair Raph was muttering under his breath and rubbing his shoulder as he circle his arm. Smiling I watched as he stalked to his room. Shaking my head I looked to see Mikey was asleep on the couch and Don at his chair nodding off. Covering up Mikey and tucking him in, I kissed the side of his head. After getting to know him better he reminded me of my brother… sighing I smiled down at him and took a blanket from a chair and wrapped it around Donnie.

"Donnie do yourself a favor and please go to bed," I rubbed the sides of his arms lovingly as he lazily nodded and wrapped the blanket around him shuffling up stairs. Sighing I looked at the lair and started to pick up the empty coke cans and random trash from Mikey's little rat hole he made himself on the couch. Washing the dishes and putting them away I walked up the stairs and knocked on Raph's door.

"May I enter the premises?" I smiled as he opened the door and lay in the hammock. "Need a hand?" I asked as he leaned up giving me a questionable look. "I meant a message hothead, how bad is your shoulder?" I asked walking over to him sitting on the end corner of the bed he left in there for me.

"Yeah think I strained a muscle laying out a few guys earlier," he grunted as I smiled and gently laid my hands on his shoulder.

"Get on the bed so I can help get it out".

"Get on the bed… get it out? What kind of massage therapist are you? Wouldn't that boyfriend of yours be mad talking to another guy like that?" He commented giving his trade mark smirk. Laughing I slapped his shoulder and gave a playful glare.

"Oh shut up, do you want that knot out or not?"

"Whatever floats your boat".

"Then get on the bed," seeing him smirk and open his mouth I stopped him, "Don't even make another joke hothead or I'll let you suffer," I threatened as I walked to the door hearing him snicker behind me. Walking in to the kitchen I shuffled through my bag and found the bottle of oil I had bought for myself and went back up to his room and sat on my knees behind him.

"Just tell me if I'm hurting you alright," I smiled as he chuckled.

"You hurting me?"

"I warned you," I sighed as I started to rub his shoulders. I didn't know if it was the oil just heating up like it was meant to or the tempeture in the room, what ever it was it was my cheeks were on fire. Stroking his thick muscular shoulders and upper arms I could feel his tense anxiety. "Raph try to relax, your stress and anxiety is one of the main reasons of your knots. Has something been bothering you?" I asked as he paused for a moment trying to decide on whether to tell me or not. Shaking his head he sighed as he looked at the wall in front of us.

"Nothing just you know our friend that comes out once in a while, well, his girlfriend keeps him from coming out is all…its aggravating," laughing I continued to rub his shoulders.

"That almost sounds like a problem I ran in to earlier today. Raph, he might want to be with her and he's dating her for a reason. Try to look at it in his shoes. He loves her doesn't he?" he nodded making me smile as I rubbed his lower neck, "Wouldn't you want to spend time with that cherished one in your life?"

"Yeah, do you see any green women running around here?" laughing I sighed and thought of the last time I saw April and Casey together. I wasn't much of a person to be gushy or anything, but having someone that loves you even with your flaws, sounds almost like a dream come true. Sighing I knew he … hell, even if it turns out to be a she I knew they weren't out there. Sighing I wrapped one arm around his shoulders and smiled

"I may not be green, but through thick or thin you still have me, alright?"

"Yeah I know…couldn't get rid of you if I tried," he teased as I continued to rub his shoulders.

Feeling Cat's small hands rubbing my shoulders made my mind go in a haze. Almost forgetting why I was mad earlier. Listening to her, I knew she had a point it's just…he's my best bud. When she wrapped her arm around me I felt my whole body just relax all at once, the pain in my knuckles and even the throbbing of my shoulder was gone. When she let go I almost want to find a reason for her to touch me again, but her massage was good enough for now. Feeling my knots being rubbed out I sighed, thank god she was a massage therapist. Then a thought came to me.

"Hey Cat?"

"Yeah Raph?"

"Why didn't you freak out when you saw my brothers and me?" she was silent for a moment.

"You think I would huh, well to be honest I was more dead set on looking for you. When I saw everyone and you I thought you were an illusion till I figured out you weren't… I was also worried about you, you know passing out in all knowing there was a guy with a gun. If any of that makes sense," her rubbing became faster as she babbled. She would do this when she was nervous; fidget. It was kinda cute though I'd never admit it. Her face will get pink; her eyes would get big as she tried to find something to look at or she would fiddle with something to try and settle her nerves. Letting a small smile leak out I shook my head.

"I get cha, just curious is all, whenever we met our other friends they would freak out when they first met us or called us freaks…"

"Well you're definitely a freak of nature," she teased giggling then gave a gentle squeeze on my shoulders "Though I hope you will never truly believe that," she whispered as she then let go of me and got off the bed and head for the door. She was a passionate person it was just, she was scared to show too much around me. I never understood that. "Good night Raph tell me when ever you shoulders hurt. It's much easier on you muscles if you do and want to continue you're vigilantly runs," she teased making me smirk.

"Sure what girl wouldn't want to rub these guns?" I raised my arms and flexed. Holding her gut she laughed even in the dim light I could see a small blush when she saw me. Stopping as she held the door knob we stared at the other, something about her made me different, made me soft. Looking away I looked back at her.

"Night Cat, is anyone walking you up?"

"No I'm going to read a bit longer and sleep in Mikey's room since he's knocked out on the couch," she smiled as she silently left my room, "Sleep well Raphael," listening to my name roll off her tongue made me shiver. Not in a bad way, just something in her voice, what ever this urge was I needed to get rid of it fast.