A/N: Hey, I hope you guys are liking this one!

Kaz crossed the garage and slammed his thumb against the alarm panel. It beeped as it gave a sixty second countdown before it reset. He flung open the heavy back door and scanned the yard. It was still early, so there were no humans about yet. Not that they'd easily spot him with the high wooden fence, but he'd learned to be cautious anyways. His gaze fell on his bike and for a moment he considered taking it. Then decided against it. It'd be easier to find shelter without it and it would draw less attention to travel on foot.

Frowning, he turned to the ladder that hung halfway down the side of the garage. It ended high enough off the ground that no normal person could reach it easily, but low enough that the ninjas in the family could effortlessly reach it with a single leap. He jumped snagging the third rung up and pulled himself the few feet to the roof. He stood there for a moment, a pang in his heart. If he went back now, they'd forgive him his outburst. That was something he knew for certain. There was no doubt his family loved him. But the problem was they weren't listening to him. His guts told him something big was happening. This gang, though it was new, seemed way too organized. He checked his watch for the time. It was only about three hours till sunrise. He'd need to find shelter soon. The holo-bands were great but their batteries only lasted six hours. That meant he'd have to lay low for at least part of the day. He ran a hand down his tired face. He'd need sleep at some point anyways.

But first things first. He began leaping across the rooftops, heading in the direction of where they'd had the scuffle earlier in the night. Maybe the thugs had left behind some type of clue. At last he landed on the roof overlooking the alley. The place was deserted. There were no cops and even the truck was gone. He silently descended into the darkness.

The dim street light beyond gave just enough light that he could see. At the end of the alley was a small dried puddle of blood, probably from the guy Yoshi'd got in the shoulder. The far wall was marred where the truck had scrapped along it. But beside that, the area seemed almost clean. Which was a word he never thought he'd associate with a New York City alley. Taking out his pin light, he began a thorough search of the area. He'd almost given up when something caught his light. He swung the light back and frowned at the sewer grate. Had the grate reflected his light? No, it was something in the grate.

Kneeling beside the grill, he could see the object more clearly. It was one of the eye-pieces the guys had worn. He pulled it out and turned it over in his hand, trying to find some type of marker on it. But unfortunately it had none. He noticed it wasn't glowing like he'd seen while the thugs were wearing it either. Locating a switch on the back, he flipped it. It blinked to life for an instant and went out. The device was obviously damaged. He flipped the switch off again. He didn't want to take any chance that thing could be tracked.

He tucked it into his bag. Maybe Uncle Don or Mira will know what it does. Standing he gave the alley another search but came up empty. There was nothing else there that even suggested there had been a struggle. Glancing at his watch again, he realized time was getting away from him. Ascending to the rooftop once again, he found the sky turning purple. He sprinted in the direction he knew there were several abandoned buildings.

He entered one cautiously. The homeless tended to use these structures despite the posted warnings that the building was unstable. Entering through the roof, he slipped along the dingy corridors trying to be as quiet as possible. The small apartment building was only four stories and Kaz carefully scouted each. Although there did appear to be signs that people had crashed here in the past, there didn't seem to be any recent activity. Figuring the upper floors would be safer and less likely for someone to stumble on him, he found a room on the fourth floor that was mostly clear of trash and debris.

Dropping his duffle on the floor, he stepped to the grimy window and looked out. This wasn't the safest part of town, but it was the best he could do. He watched three youths walk past on the street below. They looked grungy and unkempt, no doubt part of the forgotten runaways that liked to keep to the big cities. His gaze fixed on the only girl in the group. Her skin was tan and her face round. Her hair was black except for the pink highlights that framed her face. She was very cute. She grinned at something one of the boys said and he felt his heart jump. Her smile was amazing. Suddenly she stopped and glanced in his direction.

Kaz stepped quickly away from the window, keeping out of sight. When he finally moved back to look down again, she and the boys were more than halfway up the block. He sighed. He'd probably never see her again, and it was likely for the best considering what he was and his lifestyle. He turned away and cleared a spot on the floor with his foot. Sitting down, he pulled his blanket from his bag and draped it over him. His stomach growled, making him frown. He hadn't thought to grab anything to eat before storming out. Rolling to his side, he tucked an arm under his head. That would be a problem he'd have to solve tonight when he got up. He sighed again closing his eyes and trying to sleep.

Several hours later he woke, if one could call it that. He'd barely slept. The noises in the building were unnerving. They weren't the drip-drip of the sewers or the soft hum of voices. It creaked and swayed, and stank of rot and mold. He sat up, drawing his knees to his chest. He couldn't deny he missed his bed and the hot meals that always seemed ready. And although he hated to admit it, he missed knowing his family was nearby, just in the next room.

He exhaled heavily. "Well, this is a great spot you put yourself in Kaz. Can't go home now till I prove there really is something going down." He frowned. "If there really is something going down."

His stomach grumbled loudly, reminding him of his first priority. He needed to eat. He hadn't since yesterday afternoon. He didn't have any cash as they all shared what the garage and music shop provided. Normally if he needed cash or something, he simply had to ask and someone would pass him a few bucks. It was strange just how much he'd taken for granted.

He growled with frustration as he came to his feet. He wasn't going home! Not until he could prove he was right. Looking around he found a place where the floor boards were loose. Prying them up, he hid his duffle bag inside and put the boards back in place. He took some of the debris and scattered it on top. No one would know he left his belongs here even if someone did show up in the meantime. He glanced out the window, noting it was no more than an hour or two before dark. He slipped on the holo-band and made his way to the roof, taking the old fire-escape down to street level. He'd grown up using the holos and knew exactly how to maneuver the crowded streets with it. Even when someone brushed against him, they rarely gave him a second look.

So he made his way down the sidewalk headed for the restaurant district. It wasn't long before he found a dumpster behind one that contained some decent, if not cold, leftovers. He sat on the dirty alley floor and ate what he could find. It wasn't fabulous by any means. But thanks to inheriting his father's caster iron stomach, he was able to keep it down. He had just finished when a someone stepped into the alley entrance.

Kaz recognized him as one of the boys he'd seen early that morning. He lumbered towards him, flashing a set of yellow teeth. "Hey, man, find anything good in there?"

Kaz shrugged. The boy obviously assumed he was another runaway and in a way he guessed he was. "A bit."

"Anything left?" But he didn't wait for an answer as he cracked open the dumpster. His eyes lit up. "Oh, yeah! Pasta!" He opened the box and turned it around a few times. "Of the white sauce variety with just a touch of green." He turned to the end of the alley. "Hey, Sam! Soups on!" He spotted two more boxes of leftovers and pulled them out as Kaz turned to look at the newcomers.

The other boy and girl he'd seen earlier appeared at the end of the alley. "Alright!" The boy shuffled forward and snatched one box from his buddy. He gave Kaz a curious look. "Haven't seen you around here before."

Kaz looked away. "Haven't been around here before."

"Oh, you're new to this then." The first boy grinned while digging his dirty hands straight into the box of pasta. "We can show the ropes if you want. I'm Jack, this is Sam and that's Ona." He indicated the girl. She gave Kaz a wide berth as she slipped around to take third box of food.

"I'm Kaz. It's nice to meet you. And that's okay, I can look after myself. Thanks though." He stood and dusted his hands off. Ona moved around behind Jack, peeking suspiciously over his shoulder. Kaz must have looked a little hurt by the action, because Jack laughed.

"Don't mind her. She's suspicious of everyone, except me and Sam."

Kaz tried to smile reassuringly. "I wouldn't hurt you."

She didn't respond, instead digging her equally dirty hands into her box. Sam snorted. "If you're waitin' for her to respond, Hell will freeze over first. She don't talk."

"What?" Kaz was baffled. She seemed to understand everything that was being said. "Is she deaf or mute?"

"No, just won't talk." Jack said with his mouth full.

"Then how do you know?"

Sam frowned. "Sometimes at night, she screams in her sleep." He groaned. "Got us caught in our last flop too. Some idiot called the cops on us."

Jack glanced over his shoulder as Ona's head dropped. "Shut up, Sam. It ain't her fault."

"Just sayin'." Sam stuffed what was left in his box in his mouth.

Kaz frowned. "You mean you guys don't have anywhere to crash?"

Jack shrugged. "Nah, but it's okay. It's pretty warm out at night still. We'll find a place."

Kaz bit his lip. He knew he really shouldn't do it, but the thought of these three teenagers out on the streets at night bothered him. Especially someone as vulnerable looking as Ona. "I've got a place. You could stay there if you want. There's plenty of room."

Jack's eyes lit up. "Really? Where?"

"It's an abandon apartment building over on Charleston Street."

Sam tossed his box to the side. "Hey, we were over in that area this mornin'. That building's locked up so tight it wouldn't let a fart out."

Kaz cringed inwardly at the boy's crassness, but outwardly he smirked. "Maybe from street level it is, but not from the roof."

The three blinked at him. "Roof?" Jack and Sam said in unison.

Kaz's smirk grew. "Yep, the roof. Come on. I'll show you."

The three followed him back and he jumped up to grab the fire-escape ladder. The metal groaned as it came down. "You sure this thing's safe, man?" Jack scrutinized the rusted out ladder.

Kaz shrugged. "It held my weight earlier."

This seemed to satisfy them and they began to climb up to the roof. Kaz lead the way in through the roof access door he'd propped open that afternoon. "There's no electricity or running water but it's dry and no one should bother you here. I've already checked the place out. The floors rotten in places so just watch your step." He stopped when he reached the first landing. "Go ahead and pick a place to crash. I've got to go out. I've got some things to take care of."

Ona skirted around him, her dark eyes watching his every move. Sam shot him wary look. "You're not gonna bring the cops back here, are you?"

Kaz snorted. "No."

The three youths relaxed visibly. And Kaz took the opportunity to head back to the roof. He propped the door open again, just a crack, and moved to the edge of the building. Glancing over his shoulder to make sure he wasn't followed up, he turned off the holo and began to sprint across the buildings. The night was already growing dark and he had questions that needed answering.

Mikey sat on the side of the bed beside Kala. He stroked a hand through her hair. "Come on, babe, you should get up. Everyone's worried about you."

She shook her head. "No. I'm staying here until my baby is home."

"He's not a baby anymore, Kala. He's an adult. As much as that fact makes me really old, it's the truth."

She half buried her face in her pillow. "You should have made him stay."

Mikey sighed. "It's not like I just let him leave. I tried to stop him. But he had his mind made up."

"You should have tried harder."

He could feel the anger in her tone. "What did you want me to do, babe? Knock him out? He was going regardless." He touched her shoulder and she brushed his hand away.

When she finally turned her head to look at him, her normally bright blue eyes were dull and distant. "Why aren't you out there looking for him?"

Mikey's heart twisted at the coldness in her voice. He clenched his eyes shut, so she wouldn't see the pain it caused him. "That's what I came to tell you. We're all going to look for him. Everyone except Jamie and Shinta. Even Sarah and Cat are going." He understood her anger far better than most. She'd suffered so badly after her miscarriage with Kassic, and Kaz had filled that empty place the child she'd lost had left. He'd leave her alone for now, that was probably best. He started to get up but she caught his arm.

She came off the bed wrapping her arms around his neck. "I'm sorry, Mikey. I'm sorry. I'm just scared." She squeezed him tightly, her tears dampening his shoulder. "I know this hasn't been easy on you either. But that's our baby out there. He could be hurt or dying or…." She left the most horrible thoughts of torture and dissection unspoken.

He squeezed her just as tight. "We're going to find him. I promise I will bring him home."

In the living room, Leo was fretting. He knew this was the right thing to do. They had to find Kaz. He'd let him go because he thought he'd do like Raph had always done, take off-cool off- and come back with an apology on his lips. But that hadn't happened. It had been a full day and there had been no sign of him and no word from him. So, they had to go look for him.

The problem was with everyone gone that meant it left his wife and child alone and unprotected. Some rational part of his mind kept repeating that nothing would happen to them. There were way too many security precautions they'd taken. And yet he couldn't help but remember the last time they'd all left and what the terrible result had been.

Jamie caught his arm. "It's alright." She said softly. "We'll be fine."

He cupped her face, fear dancing in his blue eyes. "Promise me you won't go upstairs for any reason."

Her brown eyes were gentle and understanding. "I promise. We won't go anywhere."

His hands trembled slightly. "The sewer entrance is locked and we'll shut off the elevator. There won't be any way down here."

"I know. We'll be perfectly safe." She kissed him, trying her best to reassure him. "Just be careful. I love you."

He took a deep shuddering breath. "I love you too."

She pulled away from him as Shinta came out of his room. "Besides, I've got my own personal body guard." She grinned as she wrapped an arm around the boy's shoulders.

Shinta grinned as well. "I'll take care of her, Dad."

The edge of Leo's mouth twitched, wanting to smile at them. "I know you will."

"Are we ready to go?" Mikey and Kala came from their room.

"I am." Yoshi announced as he came from the dojo, his tekko-kagi tucked into his belt.

Raph had been watching Leo pace for the last ten minutes. He knew the torment his brother had to be going through at the thought of all of them leaving. And so Raph had come up with a solution that would make Leo feel better without making it appear as though he was doing so. "You're not goin'."

Yoshi's head snapped around. "What! I thought we were all going?"

"You're grounded, remember? It was you and Kaz takin' off in the first place that caused this mess. So, you're stayin' put." Raph moved to the elevator while his son stared at him, his mouth hanging open.

"Are you serious! I know most of the places he'd go. You need me!" Yoshi took a step in his direction.

"You're damn straight I'm serious. And you can just tell us where, you don't have to go." Raph hit the button to call the elevator as they were joined by Don and Sarah. He shot a quick glance at Leo, who looked at least ten times better than he had a few minutes earlier.

Yoshi caught the glance. He folded his arms with a snort. "Fine."

"Good. Now let's get this show on the road." Raph stomped into the elevator followed shortly by the rest of their party. The plan was that Sarah, Cat, and Kala would take the van and circle the neighborhoods while the rest would pair off and scout the rooftops in different directions. Their hope was that at least one group would find some sign of him before morning.

A/N: Don't forget to review. Thank you, thank you, thank you!