When they entered the lair, time seemed to stand still as the group consisting of Raph, Leo and their two human allies stood apart. April stared at the two human figures for what seemed like an eternity, she was frozen in place, lips parted but no words coming out. Casey, who had tagged along for moral support, did no such thing. Instead he marched forward and high fived the younger of the two beaming as he admired Michelangelo's new 'look'. Leonardo meanwhile stood stiffly to the side, his disapproval on display for all to see.

Donatello was watching April as she was distracted by Michelangelo's giddy behaviour. He noticed that his beautiful hogosha looked different, her hair was piled messily atop her head and the skin around her eyes appeared red and puffy almost as if she'd been crying. Donatello suddenly felt consumed by rage. If his brother had been harsh with her in any way at all he would break his face. The thoughts of violence shocked him - they were so Raphael and not like him at all. Usually Donatello was the quieter of the four, more reflective, he would take his time with things and think. This time, however, he felt actions would speak louder than words and taking a leaf out of Raphael's well used book, so he strode confidently over to Leonardo and punched him on the arm. The eldest flinched but stayed solid. The pain in Donatello's hand was instant.

"What the hell Donnie!"

"We did what we did to help April, you have no right to bully her" He knew his nostrils were flaring as he breathed heavily but he didn't care. The leader in blue stepped forward as if he was going to retaliate, instinctively Raphael stuck an arm between them. It was usually Donnie doing the arm block thing for him and Leo; it was quite amused him how the tables were turning.

"Whoa there!" he looked at Donatello with wide eyes "You crazy? You really think I would let him bully her? Besides, her man is here and he would never, ever let that happen, right Case?"

Casey's demeanour changed as he snapped an arm around his lady and pulled her close "Never ever ever". April forced a smile and she reached her hand out to Donatello.

"I'm fine, honestly Donnie. Leo would never bully me. And if he ever tried, I'd take him down myself" she smiled again, a bit broader this time.

"That's my girl" added Casey, his voice brimming with pride.

"I'm just a little tired is all"

Exhaling loudly Donatello squeezed her hand "You just look upset" he added softly "I'm sorry if all this has gotten to you"

"She's tougher than she looks" announced Casey as he pulled her closer. She leaned her head onto him and shut her eyes.

"How would you even think I would be angry at her?" began Leonardo "It's you I'm angry at. All I wanted from April was the truth - since you failed to share it. I didn't even know if I could trust what you told me!"

"You know why I didn't tell you when we started this whole thing" said Donatello firmly "You would have stopped us from running the operation"

"Or zapped all the fun out of it" mumbled Michelangelo. Leonardo glared at him.

"Mike's right" Donatello sat himself down at the table "You have gotten so serious brother it's like we aren't free to be ourselves anymore"

"And what? This is who you want to be? human?" The eldest rubbed his hands over his face "I thought we all agreed and that the purple ooze was at Police Headquarters safely locked away Casey"

"Hey don't bring me into this" Casey stuck up his hands.

"I told you it wasn't about that! I, we, were looking for the hybrid and being human when entering a human dwelling seemed like the best idea. It felt better than bursting through as a massive walking talking turtle and scaring it away"

"We managed that as humans" added the youngest as he edged towards the kitchen "And if we don't change back I want you to know I'm good with this human flow D. Beats looking like Raph" He dodged past the largest brother who went to grab him and disappeared into the kitchen laughing to himself.

"I'm glad someone finds this funny" Leonardo was shaking his head "I just cannot believe you would do this, let alone still be stuck like this and you don't have the 'whatever it was' you went for anyway. It's all so reckless. It's not like you at all Donnie"

Michelangelo re-emerged a large bag of chips in hand and several into his mouth "''ee 'ill ind er..." A shower of cheesy orange flew out as he talked and dropped on the floor.

"Anyone understand that?" Casey was frowning.

"Get a bowl and don't talk with your mouth full" scolded Leonardo.

Michelangelo grinned, showing that his teeth were caked in orange goo. Raphael couldn't help but chuckle. Mikey always bought the humour.

April looked directly at Donatello. "Thank you for trying" she said softly. Turning to look at Leonardo she sighed "Don't be too hard on him. His heart was in the right place"

A pained look was etched into Leonardo's features "Maybe" he replied firmly "It still doesn't make it the right thing to do"

"What was it like?" Her voice was tentative.

Donatello noticed Leonardo's jaw was clenching and that he was obviously grinding his teeth. It was almost like he was debating within himself whether he wanted to hear it or not. Donatello wished he would just relax, his brother's edginess was making him nervous.

"She was being treated in this unimaginable way. We just wanted to help" He glanced towards Michelangelo who was nodding enthusiastically whilst continuing to stuff chips into his mouth "We got her out but yes, then we lost her".

"Good job" muttered Leonardo sarcastically. April gave him a look of disapproval.

"She was so fast" explained the youngest excitedly "Like super speed fast"

"I can't believe they made a girl..it just doesn't fit...and now she's out there somewhere all on her own" April's pursed her lips "She must feel so scared"

"Sounds to me like she knows she's different" began Casey as he grabbed a chair and sat down "Otherwise why run?"

"Exactly" answered Donatello as Michelangelo nodded along. He offered April access into his snack bag. She smiled. "TCRI were running some sort of operation in there, it was no apartment block. There was science equipment everywhere"

"Those jack asses are still doing experiments" huffed Raphael who took a handful of chips from his brothers open bag and inspected them for Mikey saliva "You would have thought they had learnt from the first time after making those jokes for mutants Bebop and Rocksteady"

"Did you see anyone we know?" asked Casey, remembering the giant warthog and rhino, two of TCRIs most annoying creations.

"If by that you mean Stockman no, didn't see him. There was a lot of heavy armed guys and a lot of lab coats"

"Before you blew up the building" said Leonardo seriously. His face still set hard in disapproval. "Probably not as many after that"

"Yes I planted a couple of explosives so what? I gave them 10 minutes to get out Leo and these people, quite frankly, didn't even deserve that". He remembered the men surrounding the bed - he knew what they'd done to her whilst those lab coats had turned a blind eye.

"Shredder?" continued Casey

"Oh no. No Shredder either" That particular thorn in their side hadn't been seen for a long while "Thankfully".

"So, I wonder who is the brains behind this little operation?"

"Sacks started all this" April looked at Donatello, a new look in her eyes "Show Leo the books".

"You sure?" He didn't know if this was the right thing to do. Leonardo was sure to only get angrier when he saw what was written in there and an angry Leonardo was not a good way to move forward. He needed to get over the power trip and let it go.

"Yes. One hundred percent. He needs to see"

"O-kay" Donatello got up and with a heavy heart he headed over to the lab. The notebooks were safely stored away in a locked cupboard along with the samples of ooze. He didn't want Leonardo to see that he had those because knowing him it would just be used as an excuse to have another dig about how 'reckless' he was being. Donnie hoped that the eldest wouldn't follow him but as nobody else moved he allowed himself to relax a little.

Everything in the lab was exactly where he had left it. He loved his lab, it was a space where he could do his own thing and have some quiet time. The chair by his computer desk was set way too high for him now so he moved it down a few notches before using it to slide along the floor to a stack of drawers. Opening one he retrieved the cupboard key from a secret space at the back.

After Donatello left the room, April looked across at Casey "I need to speak with Sacks" she said simply.

"What?! No way" He stood up, rapidly shaking his head. Eric Sacks was currently serving life in an out of state prison with no chance of parole. Ever.

"Why? Because, it's the only way we are going to learn anything"

Casey looked gobsmacked, he flung his arms up in the air in an over dramatic fashion and turned to appeal to Leonardo "Tell her she can't do that! because I.. I can't even go there" The eldest remained quiet.

"I know what he did, I know what he is but Casey, Casey, hear me out...please" She stood up and grabbed hold of his arms to hold him in place and make him look at her "I also know he isn't going anywhere for a long long time. And I won't let his words hurt me. Because that is his only weapon and I know he will try to use it but guess what? I am like you said. I am tougher than I look" Her hands cradled his face "I can do this..I can.. I need to"

Donatello pushed open the lab door with his foot and with notebooks arms he re-joined the group. Michelangelo had moved onto the Orange Crush, the can making the inevitable fizz noise as he opened it. Leonardo and Raphael were still standing up, watching April and Casey. He was holding her close, resting his chin on her head "I'm a reporter, it's what I do. And you know what, he owes me answers".

"I know.."

Donatello knew too. Not about the conversation per se but what his brothers were thinking as they observed the couple: it'd be everything if someone cared for me like that. But, like him, they also knew it wouldn't ever happen. It was a lonely existence to be a mutant, maybe that's why Leo was so mad.. maybe part of him was jealous.

After putting the notebooks on the table Donatello wiped his hands on his trousers and looked at everyone: "So, what did I miss?"

"April wants to visit Sacks" began Raphael as he cracked his knuckles "What's say we all go?" he smirked devillishly "He may owe you April but I think I owe him a beatdown".

Casey grinned: "I second that buddy..All in favour say 'Aye'"

"Aye!" shouted Michelangelo raising his can before letting out a loud burp "Man this stuff is gassy".

Donatello didn't know how to respond. Visiting Sacks sounded like a really good idea but the man was a monster and really, would he even tell the truth?

"Is this all of them?" Leonardo's cool voice cut through his thoughts. He had suddenly appeared beside him eyes fixed on the notebooks. Donatello nodded.

"I'd better start catching up then" Collecting them he made a bee-line for his room and shut the door.

"And goodbye to you too" Casey sat down and encouraged April to perch on his knee and put her arms around his neck "He is so pissed at you"

"He hates missing out on anything because he thinks he's the boss boy" Raphael pulled a chair out, turned it the opposite way around before straddling it "Which he ain't"

Michelangelo sniggered before handing the empty chips pack to Raphael who after looking inside and realising it was empty, balled it up and threw it back with force.

"Ow! Don't break me!" he whined.

"Well don't provoke me!" snapped Raphael angrily "I never thought you could ever get more annoying and yet here we are"

Donatello scooted his chair closer to the table and lowered his voice "Suppose you go see Sacks - what would you say?"

April angled her body round so she could jump off Casey's knee and onto a chair of her own. Soon the five of them were bent in close together in a huddle. She tucked a piece of stray hair behind her ear and took a breath "I'd interview him" she said quietly "Just another day, just another interview. I would not let him touch me"

"I should think so. If you insist on doing this Miss O'Neil I'm coming with so there is no way he is touching you"

April rolled her eyes "Since when did you get so possessive.."

"Since my gorgeous girlfriend announced she wanted to go and grapple with a homicidal madman"

She smiled softly and took hold of his hand. In spite of being occasionally annoying (leaving dirty dishes in the sink and snoring if he drank too much) Casey Jones was a good man. Keeping her fingers intertwined with his own Casey glanced at Donatello: "Do you really think you will ever find this mutant girl? I mean in a City as big as New York I don't rate your chances"

"She may find us" answered Donatello. They all looked at him in silence.

"Hold on a sec...you actually think this girl will look for you after being cooked up in that place for how ever long - maybe her whole life, who knows? until last night when you two broke in and took her.."

"Technically rescued.."

"Technically nothing"

"You don't know Casey, you weren't there, they had her drugged, they were messing with her...it was disgusting"

Everyone was quiet after that and conversation dried up. April and Casey stayed for a little while longer before heading back home and Michelangelo fell into bed which left just Raphael and Donatello together in the lounge. Raphael was flicking through one of Mikey's discarded comics whilst Donatello pondered on the events of the past few hours.

"I swear I saw her on the rooftop after you and our fearless leader left"

"Seriously?" Raphael put down the comic and waited.

"Yup. Just for a couple of seconds. I didn't get the chance to say anything because when I looked back she'd gone"

"Was she really as fast as you say?"

"Oh she was fast. Whatever Leo thinks, I wouldn't lie"

Raphael rolled his eyes "I know that. Leo's just a dick. He's on a power-trip. You were spot on when you said he's changed since dad, like as if it's just affected him! I mean we all miss dad.. "

"I know brother, I know" Donatello felt a lump in his throat, he swallowed.

"I don't blame you wanting to help April and I forgive you for putting me with Fearless" Raphael rose to his feet "I'm all wrung out so.." He patted his brothers shoulder "Don't sit on this for too long". Donatello smiled weakly. He definitely did not plan to sit on it. She was out there and he felt sure she would come. It was just a matter of time.

Unbeknownst to him she had already been there. Watching, listening. Hidden with invisibility she had gone completely undetected. She decided they could wait. Their lives seemed full of complex relationships that she didn't understand. For now she would find the ones that got away from the hell she was kept in and she'd make them pay.