~Hey everyone sorry for my tardiness I hope this makes up a bit for it and working on the next chapter as we speak.

Ch. 8

Leo being back this meant that the boys were out almost every night. Which meant no more night runs with Raph and he made is quite clear that if I went out by myself he would have my hide. So I tried to stay out of their way. Though Don still comes over on his first night off and would tell me how the brothers were. Raph and Leo from what I have heard have been at each others' throats, which to his surprise was worse than it was when they were younger. Tonight was quiet though; no Don watching tv on my couch, no Mikey raiding my fridge, and no Raph crawling through my window. On an ordinary day I would feel lonely but I wouldn't want them to see me like this, this was the anniversary of the fire.

Pacing slowly back and forth in my living room my eyes never left that cold card board box. which now sat on my coffee table and not hiding from the world at the bottom of my closet. The side of the box read Thompson in sloppy red sharpie. Biting my finger nail I tried to gain the courage to get close to it but noting.

"It's a box…just a box Cat you can open it," sitting down on the couch I felt my pulse pick up as anxiety and fear ate at the back of my brain. I knew if I opened it, I would be facing what happened. Ever since the fire and when the police gave me the possessions that weren't destroyed, I never had the heart to open it. Just looking at the box I all I could see was my brother's and my mother's face. Getting up I went to the fridge, I was ready for tonight. Taking the chilled wine out, I poured myself a glass and sat down again. Staring at the taunting pale box I took a gulp and flipped opened the box fast before I could change my mind.

Ever since Leo came back I saw less and less of Cat, she would come by here and there but the moment she would I swear The Fearless One and his great timing would make us go out for training. By the time we would finish she would be leaving and hugging everyone as Leo would gawk at her as she left. I could take his training and bossing us around but this was killing me. I couldn't go out anymore meaning no Cat and he would question where I would go every single day! I just about had enough when I finally got my way.

Sitting on the roof top across from Cat's house I tried her phone, finally a night to let off some steam and kick shell with my girl. Staring at her lit window I listened as it went to voice mail. Shaking my head I gave up till I saw someone coming out of her apartments stumbling in a light blue huddy. Looking closely the back caught my eye, written in big bold sharpie was "Mikey's" with stars all over the back. Rolling my eyes at my little brother and his jokes I shook my head. It was Cat alright but what was going on? Why was she out this late? …and why was she stumbling. Waving as she tried to keep her balance a cab rolled up and took her away.

"Oh no you don't," jumping down on my bike below and sped off after her.

Walking down the street of a shabby part of town, turning the next corner I came face to face with a rod iron gate. Pushing it open I walked in to be welcomed by the eternal silence and the hundreds of grave markers that gleamed in the moonlight. The cemetery was flat for the exception of the right corner where a hill sat over looking most of the small neighborhoods and home to a large willow tree that draped most of the hill top. Under its long swaying branches was a grave marker and next to it a kneeling angel holding her heart. Smiling from afar I made my way to the tree and knelt before them.

"Hey guys," I smiled thinking of what they would say to me. I went on to tell them how I was, my new friends and my job. "Don't worry mom I'm ok," I chuckled as I then felt a shadow come over me. I tensed up slightly till I saw the shadow take off their helmet and their mask's extra fabric dancing behind them in the wind.

"So this is what you meant," turning I saw Raph holding his helmet under his arm as he sat beside me. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"Why would you care, you don't even care that your brother is home and alive. Go home," I growled letting him have it. I heard a deep loud growl next to me as I was then pinned to the ground with a furious Raph on top of me.

"Listen here Cat, Leo maybe the hugest pain in my shell but doesn't mean I don't care! Plus it's up to me on what I care about and I care about you" he yelled as he closed his eyes and sighed. "Why didn't you tell me?" at this point I couldn't look at him I was out of line and my drunken grief didn't help. Trying to contain my tears I gave a rugged sigh before looking up at him as he helped me sit up.

"This is my family… mom and Josh, my baby brother," I hiccuped as I tried not to cry. Raph knelt next to me just listening as I continued to sob, "I remember the fire, and he was in it. I tried to drag him out but a support beam divided us and I was hauled out by a fireman… they made me leave him. I couldn't save him!" I then broke down and I couldn't stop. "He expected me to save him… I still remember him screaming my name. They never found him after that… I couldn't save him," I then felt him pulled me in to a hug as I hid my face in the nape of his neck. Wrapping my arms around him I could feel his leather glove holding the back of my head gently as he rubbed my back.

"Cat it wasn't your fault, you can't keep doing that to yourself. You were what twelve?"

"Thirteen, at that age you and your brothers were almost at the peak of your training…" he then cut me off before I could finish.

"Yeah by a mutant rat, stop it right now, we're not normal one look at us you could say that and our training was to protect us because we weren't normal. You were a normal girl with a normal life, no one blames you," he tried to comfort me as I choked on my sobs.

"But I did, I expected to save him" I admitted as he pushed me back and gave me the sternest stare I have seen in my life.

"Stop it; you have to let it go, if not for you then for Josh. I know he wouldn't want to see his big sis like this… I wouldn't want to see Leo like this…" he looked down as I looked back at Josh's grave and sighed as I wiped my eyes.

"Your right, I'm sorry," I tried to stand but even sobering up all my energy was drained from that and crying my eyes out.

"Alright time to get the crying drunk girl home," he teased as he picked me up in his arms. Before he turned to leave he stared down at my mother's grave and smiled "You have one hell of a daughter," all I could do was laugh, I knew what she would of said. My mom was always a good with words and always had a good comeback for everything… she would of loved him.

For the rest of the night we went through the box. She showed me pictures f her and Josh in ta-know-do and school he was a band geek as she was the schools jock. We were down the bottom of her bottle of wine when went to clean herself up as I looked through her mothers charred scrapbook. Cat always had a pretty face and talented; she was in almost all the sports and looked so good in spandex. Even better now that she filled out. Gawking at her old photos I could see her and Josh were so close just by the pictures, kinda reminded me of Mikey and I... So that why she why she was so sweet on him. Smirking I heard a few pings on her window to see Don giving me a weird look.

"What are you doing here, Leo is going nuts."

"Needed some air and this isn't a good time," I watched as he climbed through the window raising an eyebrow while crossing his arms.

"Is this a date kids?" He teased as I sighed.

"No I just found out about her family," he froze then lowered his head in thought and nodded.

"I'll go back and tell them I didn't see you and keep Leo at bay. Stay she trusts you the most," he explained opening the window again making me give a small smile.

"Thanks Don," he had to be the only older brother I had that was awesome more than half the time as he smirked at me.

"Don't do anything stupid bonehead."

"Please she would have my shell," he chuckled as he jumped from the fire escape to the screaming night life below as smooth jazz was echoing from Cat's room. Leaning against her door frame I watch as she glided across her hard wood floor and swayed to the rhythm. Taking a turn from her imaginary partner she was in a long black shirt that almost covered her light blue night shorts revealing her toned mocha legs.

"So other than this what do you do?" I teased making her put her hands on her hips giving me a small scowl before she smiled and let me in. Apparently she helped her friend in her dance studio now and then and would make home remedies for her small list of clients from home. She was really something. Sitting on her bed as she laid next to me giggling we were telling stories of the past as she sat up and wrapped her arms around mine and laid her head on my shoulder.

"Raph you're truly a good guy I hope you know," she was sobering up but the blush still lingered on her cheeks. "Nah just caught me on an off day," "I teased as I smirked down at her, "What would that boyfriend of yours say about me being in your bed?"

"Meh he can suck it up" we looked up at each other then busted out laughing as she snuggled into my side. It was just then I remembered how small she was next to me. Even with both her arms wrapped around mine she still seemed tiny. I was brought out of thought with her light snoring.

Chuckling I laid her down a bit but she clung to me more. "No stay," she gave a childish whine making me let out a light chuckle.

"Alright," lying next to her she smiled as she slept as I sighed. If she put me in the friend zone I think I'll die a little on the inside.