Hey guys! Finally back home on my own computer. Feels really good. I hope I haven't made you wait too long. Mikey finally gets a girl in my next fic...

Mira sat up on the mat and looked through the open doorway, trying to determine exactly what was happening with her parents. When the confusing swirl of emotion finally settled on love, she let out a contented sigh. Spying the abandoned cot, she climbed up and snuggled down into it drawing in the scents of her mother and father.

Raph smiled at his niece as she fell back to sleep atop the cot. Both he and Cat had woken some time ago, but were content to lay awake and hold one another. They had watched the small scene between Donnie and Sarah, and suspected they wanted to be alone.

Raph nuzzled Cat's hair, where her head laid on his chest. Cat was basically laying on top of him. Not that he minded, the position made it easier to access her curves. Cat lifted her head, propping her chin on her hands. "Sleep well?" She asked softly. He smirked and she rolled her eyes, before brandishing a more serious expression. "You know, I was really worried something might have happened to you the other day."

Raph heaved a heavy sigh. "I know, darlin'. Things just got a little out of control."

"Promise me you'll call next time."

He nodded. "I will, but hopefully there won't be a next time."

"I hope so too, once was enough." Cat rose up to kiss him warmly. After a moment there came a groan from across the room.

They found the source staring at them with drowsy eyes. Mikey shook his head. "You guys are going to give me a cavity."

Raph shook a fist at him. "I'll give you a cavity all right!"

Leo sat up and yawned. "Give it a rest Raph. Mikey's been sick."

"He must be feeling better, 'cause he's got enough energy to make wisecracks." Raph grumbled as Cat began to climb out of the hammock.

Leo stood and stretched, before turning his attention back to Mikey. "So how are you feeling? Any better?" He rested a hand on his brother's head.

"Better than yesterday, but I'm still pretty tired."

"You've still got a slight temperature. You should probably stay in bed today and I bet Don will want to give you another shot of penicillin."

"I agree." Splinter sat up in his hammock. "You must rest and recover your strength, my son."

Leo moved toward the hammock. "Let me help you down, Master."

"Thank you, Leonardo." Splinter said as he touched the floor.

Leo glanced around the room. "Where is Donnie, anyways?"

Raph dismounted his hammock gracefully. "Um, I think they wanted to be alone."

Leo frowned. "But he should have checked on Mikey before taking off somewhere."

Cat turned back to the room with a smile. "I think he's taking care of Sarah at the moment." She had seen the small window to the office covered in steam and the blinds drawn.

Raph glanced over his wife's shoulder at the office door, wondering exactly what 'taking care of her' entailed. Cat caught the look and was about to comment, when the office door opened. Sarah emerged holding fast to Donnie. She was clean and back in her own clothes, a peaceful and refreshed expression pressed her lips.

Cat lit up. "You got a bath! I want one!"

Sarah chuckled. "You're more than welcome, but you'll need to get fresh water. It's pretty dirty."

Donnie handed Raph the large pot he'd carried out and leaned in close. He spoke so only Raph could hear him. "Have fun, bro. I know we did."

Raph couldn't stop the small blush. He cleared his throat and squared his shoulders. "One bath comin' up." Cat stifled a little squeal and took off to find her bag. Behind them Mira woke and wandered out into the main room.

Donnie patted his brother's shoulder as he stepped past him to set Sarah in a chair. Leo moved to stand next to them. "How's the head wound?"

"It's actually looking pretty good. I was worried it might get infected because it took so long for us to get it properly cleaned. But now that I've gotten a good look, I think we're in the clear." Donnie squeezed Sarah's hand and she smiled up at him.

Leo crossed his arms. "Well, Mikey isn't. He's still running a fever."

Donnie blinked at the harshness in his tone for a second and then frowned. "You're right. I'd better check on him."

Leo watched him go before turning back to Sarah. She was glaring daggers at him. "What?"

"That was completely unnecessary. Donnie knows what he needs to do, he doesn't need to have more pressure."

"What are you talking about?"

Sarah's glare intensified. "He's got enough on his plate without you making him feel guilty. All he wanted was a few minutes of peace, without worrying about repairing the garage and lair, and all of us. Why did you have to take that away from him?" She didn't let him answer as she struggled to her feet to follow her mate.

Leo frowned at her receding form. I didn't realize he was under so much stress. He sighed and turned to see that Mira had found Splinter and was climbing up into his lap.

Sarah found Donnie leaning over Mikey. "Your wound looks a lot better. How are you feeling?"

Mikey smiled a bit. "Just tired."

"I'll get you another dose of penicillin." Donnie stood to retrieve the medicine but Sarah caught him in the doorway. She cupped his face and there was a silent exchange of emotions before he drew her into a deep embrace.

Mikey watched the encounter with a pang in his heart. The scene had been so tender and intimate that it made him wonder if he'd ever experience something so deep. After they moved away he let out a deep sigh. As unlikely as it was, he wished it was possible.

Donnie returned with the penicillin. Mikey watched him for a long moment as he injected the medicine. "Anything wrong, bro?"

Donnie looked up with a small smile. "Nah, Leo's just being Leo is all." He motioned for Mikey to sit up. "You should probably get up and move around a bit, if you feel like it. How about some breakfast?"

Mikey nodded. "Yeah, I am getting a bit tired of just lying around." Donnie helped him up and Mikey put an arm around his shoulders. "Say, Donnie?"

"Hmm?"

"What's it like? I mean havin' someone?"

Donnie paused just outside the store room to look down at his brother. Mikey looked a little distraught and his eyes were sad as he looked across the room where Sarah sat, Mira clinging to her knee. "It's like nothing I've ever felt before. It's better than building inventions, better than late night kung-fu flicks, and even better than pizza." He gave his brother a smirk. "But seriously, bro. It's like...being completed. The other half of yourself."

Mikey looked up at him. "Other half?"

"The one who is calm when you're upset, the one that's strong when you're weak, the one who is compassionate when you're frustrated. They're the person that builds you up, makes you want to be more than what you are."

"Do you think someday I'll find someone like that?"

Donnie chuckled. "If Raph did, I'm sure you'll have no problem, little brother."

Mikey grinned and looked around. "Speaking of which where is ol' Raphie-boy?"

Donnie glanced at the widow to the office which was full of steam. "Having fun I'm sure."

Inside the office, Raph was kneeling beside the tub running a rag over Cat's back. She smiled and leaned against the arm that was wrapped around her. She ran her hands up his arm and Raph smirked. He let the rag fall and pushed aside a short wet blonde lock to place a kiss on her neck. "Comfy?"

"Mmm." She sighed contentedly. "It's been a while since we got to be alone like this."

He placed another kiss on her shoulder. "Yeah, and it still may be a while before we get time alone again."

She turned to face him. "How bad do you think the lair is?"

He stroked her check. "I don't know, but the way Donnie talks it may be at least a few days before we'll even be able to check it out."

She sighed. "I never thought I'd lose another home."

He lifted her chin. "Hey, you haven't lost anything. We're still together and nothin'll ever change that. I've learned the hard way that home is where we are all together as a family."

Cat wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him deeply. "Sometimes you amaze me, tough guy." She ran a hand over his unmasked face. "I guess that's why I love you so much."

He pulled her against him, kissing her just as deeply. "I love you too, darlin'." His eyes lit up and he smirked down at her. "Hey, didn't you mention something about rewards the other day?"

Cat chuckled. "I believe I did." He growled playfully as she pressed her body against his.

Leo was quiet through breakfast, while Donnie and Sarah discussed checking the water lines. Sarah was also tired of lying around and insisted she wanted to help him. Donnie had given in as long as all she did was hand him tools. Sarah seemed content with that and when breakfast was over they disappeared into the bathroom.

Raph and Cat were being extra cozy as they sat on the other side of the makeshift table, while Mira was pretending to examine Mikey. The youngest brother grinned as the tot pretended to look down his throat. He smiled at her. "What's the diagnosis, doc?"

"You got a horse in your throat. You better eat some hey so he doesn't get hungry." Mira said in a serious tone.

Mikey laughed. "Oh, I'll do that right away."

Leo sighed and got up to leave. "Where are you going, my son?" Splinter asked beside him.

"I think I'll go see how far the water's gone down in the basement."

Raph looked up. "I'll come with you."

Leo sighed. "Whatever."

Raph frowned and squeezed Cat's hand before following his brother out. Leo walked to the back staircase and opened the door. The basement was dark. Donnie had shut the breaker off for that part of the garage. Raph picked up a flashlight from one of the workbenches. He turned it on and shown it down the stairs.

Leo walked down to the bend in the staircase and waited for Raph to step down onto the platform with him. Here they both had to stop as the water still filled the basement about half way. Leo sighed. "Doesn't look like we're going home anytime today."

Raph turned the light so he could look at his brother. "What's wrong with you, Leo?"

"Nothing." Leo looked away, folding his arms.

"C'mon man, there obviously somethin' botherin' you."

Leo sighed. "I think I may have been a little hard on Donnie earlier."

Raph frowned. "About what?"

"Sometimes I wonder if he puts Sarah before the rest of us."

Raph went stiff. "Leo, you don't need to wonder. He does." Leo looked up at him in surprise. "But he should. She's his wife. And their bond is something that none of us could ever begin to understand."

"I know, but..."

"You may not want to hear this, but if it was me I'd do the same thing. Cat comes first." Leo stared at him as he continued. "But that doesn't mean either of us cares any less for you, Mikey, or Master Splinter. It just means that we have someone to protect and care for." He put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "You'll understand some day when you have someone to protect of your own."

Leo frowned again and looked away. "Yeah, I guess."

"Just cut him a break, bro. Sarah's hurt pretty bad too."

Leo sighed. "Yeah, you're right."

Raph gave him a small smile before heading back up to the garage. Leo remained on the platform for a few more minutes thinking over what his brother had said. At last he climbed the stairs and stepped into the doorway to the bathroom. Sarah was seated on the toilet while Donnie was fiddling with the water main beneath the sink.

"Um, hey guys. How's it going?"

The couple looked up and Donnie stood to turn on the faucet. There was a sputter and then the water began to flow. "Looks like the water's working. But it may be contaminated, so we should probably boil it before using it."

"Good." Leo rubbed his head nervously. "Don, I'm sorry about earlier. I wasn't thinking. I know you got a lot of things to do. I just get worried sometimes."

Donnie smiled at his brother. He had been hurt by the unnecessary admonishment but understood he hadn't said it to be mean. "It's okay, bro. I understand. We all get a little jumpy when it's Mikey."

Leo relaxed, his eyes meeting Sarah's. "Yeah, I guess we do."

She smiled. "Yeah, we all do." She stood and hugged him. "I didn't mean to be so hard on you earlier either."

He hugged her back. "You had a right to be. I was making assumptions. Wrong assumptions." He stepped back to give her a small smile. "Forgive me?"

Sarah's smile lit the room. "Of course!" Leo left the room and she took her seat again atop the toilet.

Donnie raised an eye ridge at her in curiosity, but decided it wasn't worth pursuing. He had come to understand that families had their disagreements, but Sarah had a way of resolving them as quickly as they rose.

Time passed and it took another two days before the water level dropped low enough that the guys could finally go check on the lair. Mikey was feeling better and Sarah was healing though her injuries would take a lot longer to mend. They packed up their things and loaded the slider. Donnie hooked it onto the van. And at last they piled inside.

"Time to go home, munchkin." Raph said as he picked up Mira. He placed her in his lap where he sat in the back near Cat.

The little turtle grinned."Yah!"

Leo glanced over his shoulder from the steering wheel. "Do you think the gate will open to the garage?"

"We'll just have to see. I designed the motor to be waterproof, but not submerged for four days." Donnie sat in the back cradling Sarah against him, trying his best to keep her from jostling too much.

In the front, Splinter sat between Leo and Mikey. "It is likely we will have much to clean up before we are able to rest."

They rode in silence for a while, until they came at last to the garage entrance the headlights illuminating the metal bars. They crossed their fingers hoping the gate would open. But unfortunately it didn't.

Donnie sighed as he released Sarah to sit on the floor of the van. "Come on, Ralph, give me a hand."

Raph sat Mira on the floor next to her mother and climbed out with his brother. The two turtles took hold of the gate in the darkness and pulled it out of the muck that was caked around the base. After the gate was freed, Donnie found the manual crank and used it to lift the gate.

Leo slowly pulled the van into the garage. The heavy toolboxes which were bolted to the floor remained though nothing else did. The family climbed out to inspect their home. Donnie helped Sarah out the back and took Mira from Cat while Raph offered her a hand down. The floor was slick with sludge as everyone made their way to where the door normally was. It wasn't there and neither was the false wall that they'd built to prevent the water from getting in.

"Well, the wall didn't do that much good." Raph stepped over the loose bricks that scattered the small passage that led into the lair.

As they stepped into the living room a collective gasp swept the group...

A/N: Poor things...it's miserable loosing everything. Don't forget to review. I'll post the next chapter pretty quick and then watch for Broken.