I'd apologize for the delay but honestly I don't have any excuse other than laziness….two jobs…three kids…and school. But thanks for those of you sticking with me. And Ryan, here's your present. Better late than never huh? Please don't defame the name of Santa. LOL! And Cyn…just well…hugs

Michelangelo led his brothers from rooftop to rooftop. He was enjoying setting the pace of this outing. He could easily out run any of his brothers on a good day (sometimes even on a bad day) and he was making sure they were getting a good workout trying to keep up with him. The pseudo-leader would sometimes allow his brothers to get within swearing distance, only to race away before they could complete the threat. It probably wouldn't have bothered his brothers so much, but Mike couldn't resist "encouraging" them.

"Jeez Raph, all the muscles in your fat head slowing you down?!"

"Leo, Leo. A slow ninja is a dead ninja!"

"Hey Donny! We may be turtles, but we don't have to MOVE like'em!"

"C'mon Team! I'll hop on one foot if it'll help!" And he would for a few seconds before someone came into striking range and then he was off again.

Raphael cursed his youngest brother even as he ran. He imagined it took some kind of talent to mutter such a string of profanity while his legs had to be clocking 30 MPH. He would have yelled out to Mike to slow the hell down, but that would be breaking character. Not only that, he wouldn't give the little prick the satisfaction. This had always been a favorite game of Mike's. While not as strong as Raphael or as proficient as Leonardo, he could always manage to play keep away.

Raph sped up to at least catch up to Leonardo.

Leo was right on Mike's heels, but he had the feeling this was all part of his baby brother's game. He would let Leo get within a few feet before somehow darting away again and Leonardo had given up trying to tell him they were supposed to be patrolling, not playing tag. The eldest turtle consoled himself with the thought that Mike would have to slow down sometime; briefly he wondered how much sugar Michelangelo had ingested today to keep such a pace. Oh well, if nothing else, Mike would sleep well tonight.

If Michelangelo had not been having such a grand time taunting Leonardo and Raphael, he would have realized that Donatello had long ago abandoned his brothers. True to Raphael form, he ran with his brothers for all of a mile before stopping and going his own way. As it turned out, his own way took him straight to Casey Jones's apartment. The turtle knew he still owed the man an apology. Donatello never intended for their friend to get caught in the crossfire of the sewage attack.

He rapped on the window just outside the fire escape and peered inside. He saw a shadow moving closer to the window and stepped back as Casey opened it. Don hopped inside rubbing his hands together.

"Hey Casey," he smiled a little sheepishly.

The human didn't look too amused with him. He stood with his arms crossed over his chest and with an expression that could be one of irritation. Maybe Don interrupted something.

"Casey, I'll leave but..uh…wanted to apologize first," Don murmured. "I wasn't trying to get you. You just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time." He waited for a few seconds studying Casey's face for some clue as to his mood.

After about a minute, Casey shook his head. "It's good." He left it at that and headed for the kitchen. "Want a soda? Beer?"

Don blinked in surprise before following him cautiously. That was it? He was going to have to sell his soul to get his brothers to forgive him. "Uh, soda. No, wait. Beer." That's what Raph would have.

Casey tossed it to him without a second thought. "Alright, so what gives?"

Don opened the beer and took a tentative sip and he grimaced at the bitter taste. Soda would have been better. Not wanting to appear wussy (definitely not a Raph characteristic), he took a bigger drink and very nearly gagged. "What are you talking about?" He said, coughing.

Casey opened his own beer and took a long drink before answering. "Raph told me things were gonna be screwy today, but he wouldn't say why. So, what gives?"

"It's a long story," Don said with a sigh. He took another drink (ok so maybe the taste grows on you), before continuing. "It's a training exercise of Splinter's." He went on to explain the incidents of the day before and ended with ditching his brothers just now. "Personally, I think Splinter was just bored and needed some entertainment." He had finished the can over the course of his explanation and asked Casey for another.

Casey tossed it to him and chuckled. "So you guys are the comic relief of the day huh? And you get to be Raph?"

Don raised his beer in a mock salute. "In all his pissed off glory." He leaned back against the counter, feeling the day's stresses ebbing away. He glanced at the can wondering if this was how Raphael felt. Is this why his brother enjoyed alcohol? He personally never understood the desire and not that he was planning on taking up drinking, but he could kind of understand. It beat the hell outta coffee. Intellectually though, Donatello also understood the use of alcohol as a crutch. He didn't need a crutch. He took another drink.

Casey waved his hand in front of Don's face. "Earth to Don."

Don looked up and smiled. "Sorry, I was just thinking. You were saying?"

"Well, I was thinking. If you gotta be Raph for the day, it should have its advantages. I mean, you got to do what Raph'd do?" Casey tossed his empty can in the garbage.

"That's the idea," Don sighed. "I haven't done much. Aside from ticking everyone off, getting grounded, and ditching my brothers." He chuckled. "All in a day's work for Raph, I guess."

"Then you gonna take Raph's place tonight?" Casey headed for the living room.

Maybe it was the alcohol. Maybe it was exhaustion from the nightmares and housework all day. Or maybe Don just misheard, but that did not sound good. He set the can on the counter. "Well, whatever you and Raph do, Casey, I…well, I wouldn't want to, interfere or anything. I mean…" His face turned a bit red as he followed the human. He realized that he had no idea what Raph and Casey did together and he suddenly didn't want to know.

Casey grabbed his coat from the nearby rack. "We're goin out. It's a little bar me and Raph hang out at. Don't worry, it's dark and not crowded this time 'a night."

Don's eyes widened. "Casey, I can't." He knew that Raphael frequented clubs and bars with Casey. But he had never considered going himself. It was too risky. Splinter would kill him. But then again, Splinter never finds out about Raph going.

"Don't worry," Casey repeated. "I ain't gonna let you get into any trouble."

Don frowned at the idea of needing Casey to protect him. He was ninja for goodness sake! "It's not that. It's…" He sighed and pulled down the brim of his hat. "Fine. Just for a couple minutes. Half hour at the most." He headed for the fire escape. "I'll meet you down in the alley."