A/N: So... Lots of things happened this last year. Including a death in the family, a scary night involving a way too close shooter, and my sister's wedding. These two bad and one good event all kept me from writing. Thing is, though... the vast majority of this chapter was already finished right before that first event. If only I had remembered that after I got my head back on. This could've been finished months ago...


The Lost

Malakai couldn't focus. Though the cursor blinked expectantly at him, he'd barely gotten through the first couple paragraphs of the student paper he was supposed to be reviewing. He was grateful to even still have his job after his prolonged absence. According to the college, he was on leave for a research project. If it wasn't for his tenure, he wouldn't have half as much freedom. Reviewing student coursework was the least he could do in exchange.

"Kat, please stay still," Kimberly's voice distracted him once again. The young woman seemed on the verge of irritation and Malakai couldn't help the twinge of guilt as he glanced at his daughter again.

"Sorry, I'm trying," Katarina squirmed. "How much longer?" Her voice pleaded.

Kimi sighed, moving around the blonde with measuring tape and pen as her weapon of choice. "If you stay put like I've told you, it won't take long at all. I only have a few more measurements to make. You want clothes that fit, don't you?"

"Can you really make clothes?" Kat asked not for the first time. "That's so amazing! It'd be so nice not to practically swim in your old stuff anymore. And Mel doesn't even have anything but the same clothes she always wears. I don't know how she lives like that."

Malakai cringed as he noticed the frown on Kimberly's face. It didn't take much to know the young lady had body image problems. It didn't help that Kat got her looks from her mother. A fact that bothered him every time his little girl went out into the world. No boy out there was good enough for his daughter. He was sure of that.

"Just a couple more…" Kimi went on like she wasn't bothered, but the way she glanced at the stairs betrayed her wish to disappear.

"Thank you for taking the time to do this, Kimberly," Malakai spoke up. "My daughter surely appreciates your effort."

Katarina's gaze found her father's and frowned. "Yeah, I really do, Kimi!" She exclaimed, turning to the redhead with a grin. "Thank you so much! You have such a talent!"

Kimberly ducked her head in modesty. "Oh, it's nothing, really. I know you can't exactly get your own clothes right now."

"We could if Trek just brought some over from Santa Monica." Kat looked eagerly at her father. "I like my summer clothes better, anyway."

"It's too dangerous for Troqrugkl to travel. You know that, Princess." Malakai sighed, wearily.

"I know, but I miss him." She paused, putting a finger to her chin in thought. "Or Nessie does. Maybe that's it."

"Has sayao gotten stronger?" He immediately sat up straighter a watched his daughter anxiously.

"I'm just going to get my fabrics," Kimi quietly excused herself as she retreated towards the stairs.

Kat barely acknowledged her as she thought. "I guess so. It's weird. She really wants help, daddy."

"You know it's Neshta you are feeling?"

"It's definitely her," she nodded. "Trek confirmed it. The monster is torturing her."

Malakai set his laptop on the coffee table and stood, unable to sit another second. He had innocently assumed that Troqrugkl's mate couldn't still be alive after all those years. He had never met the female qetho. He wasn't even sure what she looked like. Still, he felt distressed to think she was still suffering when he was celebrating his daughter's return. What kind of friend was he to Troqrugkl if he ignored his alien companion's own happiness?

"I'm worried Donatello's connection to sayao is also getting stronger. Or at least it's pulling him into it more frequently." Malakai voiced as he pace the room. "I can't know for sure until he's open with me about it, but he's resistant."

"He is. I know he is," Kat moved in front of her father, stopping his progress rather abruptly. "I can see him there. Daddy, it won't stop. Not until we do something about it. We have to."

"I told you, it's complicated." He sighed. "She could be anywhere. It's way too dangerous. I want to help her for Troqrugkl's sake, but it's just not that easy." The look of disappointment in his daughter's face hurt for him to see. "I'm sorry, princess. I'll talk to Troq at least, alright? Maybe his connection with Neshta can help somehow."

"Thank you!" Kat exclaimed as she hugged him. "I really hope he does!"


New York City's skyline was no match to Melody's small hometown in New Jersey. Everything was just so much grander. The height of the imposing skyscrapers made her feel so small in comparison. Even the height of her current rooftop didn't compare to the giants around her. It was all very suffocating. Even Newark couldn't compare. Still, it was better than the sewers below.

Her hands grasped her quiet companion, letting the chill of the glass bottle seep into her palms through the crunch of the paper bag. The chill wind buffeted her hood, the force threatening to blow it off her head. Melody pulled the hood down further, instinctual caution keeping her alert for cameras. Even now, she couldn't risk Coatl spying on her. Not yet, anyway.

It wasn't the first time she found herself looking down at the ant-sized people far below her. It was a ritual she had started when she was a child. Though back then, her vigil was out of a need to understand her grief. It was innocent. Nothing like it had become. There was a darkness there now. One she couldn't get away from no matter how hard she tried.

Her whole life, she fought to prove her strength. To prove she wasn't the scared little kid who lost her parents to a plane crash. That she wasn't a victim, but a survivor. It was the lie she told herself before falling asleep every night. In her heart, she knew better. She should've died with her parents all those years ago. Then she would be spared from the bad choices that wrecked her life. Then she wouldn't feel so unworthy compared to the one her heart ached for.

She heard the crunch of shoes against the loose gravel of her roof. The sound broke through her contemplation with a snap, her hand was on the end of one of her escrima sticks before the other figure even noticed her.

"Oh, didn't see ya there." The lumbering voice drew closer to her position along the edge. "Guess I can take tha next roof."

"Who are you? What are you doing here?" Melody's voice was tense with suspicion as she whirled to face the intruder.

"Hey, aren't you that Melody chick Leo was talkin' to?" The tall stranger scratched the side of his head as he searched for the memory. "Ya kinda look like her, but I couldn't see much a' ya as ya ran off."

"Who…?" She stared at him with no hope of recognition.

"Casey. I'm an old friend of the guys. In fact, this spot's seen Raph and I plenty after we'd hit the streets. It's kinda our thing. Or, it was 'fore some shit happened. I should be wit' my litta girl, but…" 'Casey' glanced off to the right, wistfully.

A vague recollection of breezing past the slightly taller man came to her. Determining he wasn't a threat, her hand eased off her weapon. "Casey Jones, ally to the turtles. You haven't been in town for a year," she rattled off out loud.

"I just got back, actually. For Raph's wedding." The way he fidgeted and glanced around told her he was uncomfortable.

"You gotta be somewhere?"

"Naw. That ain't…" He exhaled. "…You eva' lose someone b'fore?"

"Everyone has. That's how it goes." Melody folded her arms across her chest.

"No, I mean… I mean someone ya really care about. I didn't even know her that long, but it felt like I knew her forever."

"Oh," Mel shifted awkwardly, giving her cold inanimate companion a glance. "I guess… Maybe you could use a drink, too."

"I'd neva' say no to a good booze."

Melody returned to her vigil, tipping her nightly companion towards the man. Keeping her head down, facing the concrete far below, she watched through her dark hair as Casey chose a seat next to her. He took the bottle with a grateful nod and took a large swig of the drink.

"Ah, strong stuff ya got," he commented lightly with a nod of approval.

"It's the only way I drink," she shrugged. "Everything else doesn't get the job done."

"Got a past, huh?"

"They didn't tell ya?"

"We're still catching up. I missed a lot, which ain't a surprise. The turtles tend not ta have tha best a' luck at stayin' outta trouble."

"One of these days, they'll get themselves killed." Melody fisted her hands against her legs.

"Probably. But they wouldn't want it any otha' way. That's just how they are. They're born warriors. It kinda comes wit' tha territory." He passed the bottle back to her with a smirk.

"And you're okay with that?"

"'Course not. But there ain't nuthin' you can do ta stop 'em. If ya hold onta that thinkin', you won't last long."

Melody chugged the last of the bottle and slid it away from her. "They shouldn't have to risk themselves for my own damn mistakes. Snake Eyes is my problem. Not theirs. They don't understand the danger."

"The turtles have faced some real fucked up shit b'fore . I mean, those guys got themselves stranded in anotha' fuckin' galaxy and somehow fought their way back." Casey shook his head. "Nah, those guys got some crazy luck on their side. Ya don't gotta fret ova' them."

Mel gave him a dubious look before returning her gaze to the streets below. There was a moment of silence as she listened to the distant beat of music drifting up to them. "I shouldn't be here."

"It ain't a crime ta escape once in a while. Hell, I took a whole year 'fore I was ready ta come back. 'Course meeting Gabe kinda made that decision for me." He went silent for a weighted minute. "Dammit, I need anotha drink."

Melody twisted to reach her shoulder bag behind her and pulled out another bottle. She silently handed it over to him.

"How much of this are you hidin' in there?" Casey asked her in surprise.

"It's a bad night." She shook off his question.

"You're tellin' me." He took a quick swig before handing the bottle back. "Imagine becoming a single parent all in a coupa' months. Shadow deserves better than me. 'Specially afta' how that crackhead pa a' hers treated her ma. How'm'I supposed ta teach her how a real pa should be? How's she gonna turn out without a ma? It's a damn shame. I ain't cracked up fer this."

"I don't envy you. I'm not a kid person. Wouldn't know what to do with them." She shrugged before chugging most of the bottle. As she moved to set the bottle down, she swayed dangerously towards the edge of the roof.

Casey's firm grasp of her shoulder kept her upright. "How much of that have ya had already?" He asked.

She shrugged. "Does it matter? I should've been dead twenty years ago. I'm living on borrowed time as it is."

"Is there a story ta that?" Casey's voice took on a softer note that wasn't fooling even a drunk Melody. The man was obviously trying to distract her from noticing her booze was now missing.

"I'm not done with that, yet," she griped, trying to worm her way out of his grasp.

"I think you've had enough. Are you staying someplace? I'm takin' ya home."

"I don't wanna go back yet. Marcio will blind me if he sees me like this now."

"I don't even know who that is." Casey sighed. "Fine, I'm takin' ya b'low. It's tha closest anyway."

"No, no, no!" Melody's voice took on a whiney note. "Don't want Leo to see me like this…"

He stood, lifting her up with him with ease. Melody cringed from his closeness, her mind taking her to Marcio's unrelenting grasp.

"Don't be like that. Leo's seen Raph drunk off his ass enough times. You ain't even close ta being that bad. Once ya sleep it off, you'll be fine. Trust me."


A/N: Well, my need to write is back, so here's hoping I can keep this up. Feed that dying review box while I work on keeping this newfound drive!