Note: For those of you who read the first part, thank you! I'm just going to go ahead with a story here. It feels right, so it's happening. Please, please review! Just looking for constructive criticism. I don't need a fan club, just honesty. FYI I'm going for the look of the 2k14 turtles, but pretty much living in the 2003 universe.

ALSO I've made some updates on title/description. I doubt it's thrown anyone off, but again I'm new so bear with me. AND I hope I'm giving due credit for the songs; I don't own them. You can listen to them all on youtube or whatever. I've listed the name/artist.

Ch. 2 "Queen of the Surface Streets" by Devotchka

Well this is one place where, your gods can't dwell,

It's like walkin' into the mouth of hell

Sweating our dignities out on the subway

At the beginning of another long, long day…

Johanna made her way through the turn styles, pushing past all the people—and geez, was there a lot of people. Each one was rushing to the next stop, the next work day. It was an odd feeling, euphoric, like the rest of the world buzzed around her as she walked through the fog. Donatello… his fingertips touched every part of me… those eyes took every part my soul; every moment I gave a piece of my heart.

She thought of the quiet, large sleeping form she left behind for work. He was so peaceful, so vulnerable. Johanna was energetic, often pushing her body past its capacity. He was calm, steady, a rock that balanced her perfectly. Those deep brown eyes that knew her so well, took in all of her last night, every bit she could give; she wanted him to have it.

As for my mortal remains,

I couldn't care,

'cause when the day is done

She'll be waiting here

That's when I love the accommodations,

In a urine smelling transit station

Everyone seemed to stare at her today, she noticed numbly, and she couldn't care less. As much as she loved her job, she couldn't wait until the day was gone, so she could step back into the familiar glow of the lab, her private projects and dirty little experiments with Don. She tried writing notes, tried figuring out how to leave a message that could possibly sum up how she felt, but in the end she scribbled 'went to work' on a post-it and left it on his pillow. Over thinking everything was curse, one he endured with her. She hoped he understood, and could read between the lines.

The train hummed under her feet as the crowded space hurled towards their destination. Some child was kicking his feet, knocking into her calf, but it didn't matter. Donatello…

I'll move these rocks

For you my love

I will tear them up out of the Earth

And I will bend my spine,

'Til it's quitting time,

'Cause I know what your time is worth…

Donatello… He woke with a start, sensing the empty bed before he felt it. The sheets were cold there, where she slept just an hour ago. It was nearly time for her to start work, he realized, and stretched in his bed. Her smell was everywhere… on his skin, the curve of his neck, under his shell. With a smile, Don shifted over, burying his face in her pillow and inhaling the sweet floral scent.

And I'll give my days to the Neanderthals,

With the classic rock

And the wrecking ball

I'll go swimming in the wet concrete

And I'll cast my pearls at the unpaved streets

He didn't want to get up, to answer questions from his family, or get a lecture from his father. The smell of toast and coffee wafted into his room, disturbing the fine layers of her scent. He sighed, knowing the smell would fade through the day. His fingers touched something papery until he saw a pink post-it on the covers. 'Went to work' was all it said, and he smiled, noting the quick scribble. She probably left late, he thought, trying not to be disappointed by the brief note. It wasn't like her to leave anything too detailed or personal. No one could keep secrets like Johanna; it was the primary reason Leo let her stay.

His mind started to drift somewhere dark, a time when she was working for Stockman. No, he thought, turning his thoughts to the image of her smiling from across the room as the bright lights cast shadows behind her, as if she were standing in a spotlight. In his mind, she was.

I don't mind the mental atrophy

'Cause when the lids come down, you're all I see

You're like a lovely hallucination

You get me through my current occupation

Johanna chewed on her fingernail, drifting far away as the train stopped, reloaded, then kept going. It didn't seem possible that more people piled in, but everyone stood nose to nose until she was swallowed into the crowd. Just two more stops, she reminded herself, and you'll get to the university. Almost there…

Her phone beeped, and she forced it out of her messenger bag, touching a stranger's butt in the process. After mumbling an apology and receiving a glare, she flipped it open.

'come back'

She smiled, feeling her skin flush—it was as if everyone noticed, though no one was looking at her. How could it be that just one night could shift her world so much?

'wish I could' she typed, after four other discarded possible responses. 'come to my place tonight'.

There was nothing for a while, and she thought perhaps he was going to refuse.

'unless you don't want to—' she added.

'Oh, he does babe' the next message said. Her brow furrowed, wondering what—oh. Mikey. Damn.

'Sorry-Mike. They know, of course.'

Johanna felt her ears burn, but she should have known. They would have smelled it—heard it, possibly, no matter how careful they were.

'And?'

'All is well,' he responded, swatting Mike's hand away. 'I'll meet you at your place tonight.'

I'll move these rocks

For you my love

I will tear them up out of the Earth

And I will bend my spine,

'Til it's quitting time,

'Cause I know what your time is worth…

Don sighed and slipped his phone into his pocket. Just ten more hours until he went to her place, a very nice little place in fact.

"Doesn't she live in some super swank condo?" Mike asked, eating yogurt over Don's keyboard.

"Yes, I suppose she does," he shrugged.

"How did you get a super cute, smart, rich girl, and I'm stuck daydreamin'?" Mike sighed. "She got a sister or somethin'?"

"No," Don groaned. "You are not meeting her sister. I haven't met her sister."

"So she does have a sister?" Mike smiled slyly, finishing the yogurt. "She will be mine… oh yes… she will be mine…"

"Mike—"

"What does her sister do?"

"I am not telling you that," Don replied tartly, closing his laptop.

"That's fine. I'll just let Leo know you gave Johanna private lessons without permission, and—"

"Damn," Don growled. "She's a baker, Mike. Ok? Now if you would—"

"Is she cute?"

"Seriously?"

"Yeah," Mike shrugged, not budging from his seat.

Don clicked on the keyboard for a moment and pulled up a picture of a creamy skinned, taller version of Johanna. Her hair was lighter, but not by much. Her eyes were the same weird gray color that Mike found unnerving, but these were softer, larger. He also noticed the apron she was wearing—June's Pies and Pastries. He had all the information he needed.

"You got a nudie pic?"

Don shut the laptop and rolled his eyes. He had to get out of the lair tonight, before he flipped out.

See I'm towering

Above mortal men

I'll emerge from the darkness

And there you stand

You're the Queen of all the Surface Streets

I'm a weiner boy, that you're here to meet

Johanna smiled, leaning back and closing her eyes for a moment to enjoy the ride. When she opened them, she looked up, realizing the tram was leaving the station she was supposed to get off in.

"Damn," she muttered, receiving a glare from the child's mother.

Now she would be late, and she'd have to backtrack six blocks. Still, she thought with a smile, the bots are so close. I could even test them tonight, if I can get Don to focus on the project for a few hours.

The issue was the constant recalibration. Something in the programming was off, in each tiny little bot. It was as if they needed a master, something just to guide them once one task was completed. They could, she thought, be powered to a central station—like the subway system. Sure, but what would be the range? It would have to be something mobile, something that could travel with a person. Then what happened if the battery died? The bots would drop and scatter, or worse, move without direction and that could be dangerous.

There had to be a way, she thought as she chewed on the next nail and stared at the empty seat in front of her. It must be a central station, something to bind them. She texted Don her dilemma, knowing he'd pick up on what she meant right away.

'what are you doing on the subway? You should take a cab. Subway is dangerous'

'just help me, please'

'The bots communicate through sensory motors, right? Maybe with the frequencies humans give off, they're getting confused. If you were to create a 'central station' you would need to find a specific frequency—something that was strong enough to block out other signals.'

Johanna chewed on her next finger. This information was good, but not new.

'I'm stuck on what to use as 'central station' and eliminating general frequencies.'

'I'll see what I can come up with. Just use that big beautiful brain of yours today and we'll discuss tonight ;) '

Johanna smiled and stood up as the train approached the station. The step off was big for her, but she was used to it; she'd been small her whole life. 'big beautiful brain'... ha!

Johanna stopped just before the stairs, much to the irritation of the crowd behind her. They shoved past as it hit her, sending a jolt of excitement to her toes. Of course… my brain. Specific frequencies located within the human brain—Don's a genius! Johanna ran up the stairs, shoving past the throngs of people as she dashed back the six blocks to her lab at the university.

I don't need the money

I couldn't care

'Cause everything I want is standing right here

I would live on the street in a cardboard shack

Just to worship the feet

And the curve of your back

You'll be my only preoccupation

On a permanent vacation

There was a shift in the air; something just barely palpable. Everything had been so perfect, so right before, but now Don felt a strange pull in his gut. It was as if he'd stepped off a cliff, falling, falling…

Splinter stood in the doorway, smiling softly to his son. Don looked up, meeting his father's eyes which filled with worry when he saw his son's expression.

"Donatello, what is wrong?"

"I—I don't know," he said, feeling the twinge fade. "Everything was good, and then—I don't know."

"Love is like that," Splinter said, sitting in the chair across from him.

"I suppose," he replied doubtfully.

"I shall meditate later, Donatello. Perhaps you should join me. The answer may be clear. Until then, I suggest you to relax, and enjoy your time with Johanna."

"I worry for her," he said suddenly, looking at the ground.

"We all worry for those whom we care."

"I won't let anything happen to her," Don said roughly, and Splinter raised a bushy brow.

"One often meets his destiny on the path he takes to avoid it," Splinter sighed. "Be careful, Donatello. There is much to lose, much at stake."

"Do you approve?" Don said, giving a soft smile.

"If you love each other, I approve," Splinter patted him on the shoulder and sauntered away, swishing his tail on the floor as he went.

The look in his son's eyes troubled Splinter. Should he warn him of the dangers? No, he decided. Donatello is cautious, intelligent… He was older now, more experienced with women, though Splinter couldn't remember another that captured his son's heart as this one did. She is kind, but delicate. What if… No, Donatello is cautious.

Splinter thought of the fierce intelligence in her eyes; she watched them all, absorbing everything much like Michelangelo. Intelligence and information were dangerous, but she had a good soul. Never once did she give him the impression she was anything other than herself. Splinter sighed softly and stepped into the dojo.

Don felt the feeling fade, replaced again by something warm, something wonderful.

"It's time," Leo said, giving a slight knowing smile.

I'll move these rocks

For you my love

I will tear them up out of the Earth

And I will bend my spine,

'Til it's quitting time,

'Cause I know what your love is worth…

Don sighed, moving toward the dojo as if walking through a dream; a dream… a dream you know deep in your heart will turn into a nightmare…

Don shook himself. He wouldn't let that little voice disturb him today: the one deep down he knew never lied. Everything he was willing to risk—well, she was worth it.