He turned off the water and stood there for a moment, face dripping, into the little worn-out mirror. The bruises on his face stood out against the pale skin, particularly the nice purple one around his eye, which throbbed painfully. He ran a finger lightly over his neck, studying the deep crimson finger marks that were burned into his skin. Shuddering, he grabbed a towel, and dried off carefully, patting them lightly to avoid further injury.

He thought back to last night, back to the frightning ordeal he'd survived. Who were those green freaks, and how did they know Robyn? Most importantly, why did they care about the kid? His mind filled with visions of the one in particular, the dark, intense one, and a wave of panic spread through him. He'd had a tight grip, and a temper to match. He knew that the creature could have easily killed him had he squeezed just a little harder. He was lucky the other one had been a little more level-headed about the whole thing. That was probably the only reason he was still alive. And those eyes...the way they sparkled in the darkness, that evil, menacing, penetrating gaze that seemed to stare down into the depths of his very soul...that sadistic grimmace that had stretched the width of his face, showing off the rows of vicious white teeth...

He took a breath and stared into the mirror again, thinking about how lucky he was to still be alive. He thought about going to the kitchen to get some ice for his eye, but before he could move, he could sense something moving behind him, and a knot tightened in his chest.

Before he could speak, or even turn around, the creature's shadowed reflection appeared over his shoulder in the mirror. The expression was as he remembered it - angry, menacing, almost...evil. He could feel his heart begin to pound as the creature neared, never taking those piercing eyes off of him.

"It could've been worse..." the low voice stabbed into the darkness. "I could have skinned you alive...left your filthy, rotting corpse for the dogs. Then again, that's better than you deserve."

Collin forced a swallow and turned around very slowly, being sure not to make any sudden moves. He tried to stare the creature down, but that look was just too intense, and he found himself looking away into the darkness once again.

"Why are you here?" The sound of his own voice was weak and small.

"You know why."

"I...I gave you what you wanted."

"Oh, we found the kid, yeah...but now you've got some explaining to do."

Collin knew instantly what this was about. Fighting back the panic, he closed his eyes and took in a deep breath. He could feel his body start to sway with dizzying fear. As he fought the nausea, he wished he were anywhere but here, in this dark, lonely place with this gruesome creature, unable to escape its wrath.

"What...do you want from me?"

"I want some answers, dammit!"

He cringed as the creature's voice rose, echoing into the darkness.

"I wanna know what the hell a sick pervert like you was doing with a good kid like him. I wanna know just what the fuck possessed you to lock him up in an attic for two months straight with hardly any food or water. I want to know why in the hell you think I should let you live for what you've done."

Collin opened his eyes and gasped, feeling the fear spread through him. The creature's glare was upon him, filled with hatred and anger. He knew he had to at least try to justify his actions, though he knew that nothing he could say would be good enough. This...thing didn't look like the type to show mercy.

"I...I had to hide him."

The eyes still penetrating the darkness, the voice rumbled softly. "From what?"

"I...I can't...I can't explain..."

"Oh, you will explain if you want to keep that ugly head of yours."

Collin's voice continued to shake. "I...the police...I'm in trouble with the law, and I--"

"A crook, huh? Figures. You're probably on the run...a fugitive. And having them find Trevor with you after you kidnapped him would just add to the charges. So you think that gives you a right--"

"No, please. Let me explain! I--I wanted Trevor here with me, I really did. I know I shouldn't have taken him. You're right. I already have the state out looking for me. I was...I was worried they'd find him here with me and take him away."

"So you locked him up in an attic...in an old, stinky house, all by himself. I'm afraid that answer's just not gonna cut it.."

The creature started toward him, drawing something from his belt. As best he could tell in the dark, it was some sort of weapon. Not knowing what else to do, and fearing for his life, Collin scurried past him, out the door, and lunged for the telephone.

Raphael watched in sadistic amusement as the man's sillhouette scurried into the adjoining bedroom, blocking the moonlight from the open window. He stood in anticipation, listening to the three beeps as the number was dialed.

"Hello? Hello, yes, I have an emergency. I'm being held captive by a...a...well, a funny looking little green guy, and I...yes, that's what I said. No, look, this isn't a joke. No, I'm not mentally disturbed. Please, I--yes, it's 114 S. Broadway. Medication? No, no, please, I--"

Click

The sound of a dial tone rang in Collin's ears, and before he could even gasp, Raphael snatched the receiver from his hands and cracked him over the head with it, sending him into darkness.

Raphael grinned evily as he stared down at the man. "Now it's payback time."

"Does it hurt?"

"Yeah...a little..." Megan tried to shift her weight as best she could under the restraints. "I can feel it kicking again."

Amber grinned at her and gestured toward her belly. "May I?"

Megan forced a faint smile and nodded. As Amber carefully laid her hands on the round part of Megan's stomach, she let out a gasp. There was definately a life in there, and it was strong! It wouldn't be long now. This kid wanted out of there!

After a moment, she lowered her hands and smiled at Megan. "It must be neat...you know, to be a mother."

Megan didn't smile. In fact, her expression saddened a little. "I guess...don't really know what it's like yet."

Amber could sense the dread in her voice, could see it in her eyes. "What's wrong? Aren't you happy?"

"Of course I'm happy about the baby." she sighed. "I just...I just hope it's really going to be born."

Amber understood. "Look, everything will be okay. I don't think it's the baby they're after."

"Yeah...well, that's because they don't know--" She stopped herself. How much did she really know about this girl? How did she know she could really trust her with such a secret? No, now wasn't the time to confess the truth about her child. It would only put both of them in greater danger.

"Don't know...?"

"They don't know how much it means to me." She said quickly.

Amber laid a hand on her arm. "Yeah, well, I do, and I'm not going to let anything bad happen to it. You've got my word, okay?"

Megan swallowed and nodded, hoping she really meant her promise. That's because you don't know what's inside of me yet...

Amber gazed at the wall, her thoughts far away. "I really hate my father for doing this to me."

"You don't want to be here, do you?" Megan stared up at her empathetically.

"Do you know the kinds of things he's made me do? I can't--" it made her shudder just to think about it. "I have no choice. I can't break away. My father told me that Baxter thinks I know too much already. He's worried that I might go to the cops with all of this."

"What is going on here?"

"He...I really shouldn't be telling you this."

"Please." Megan stared at her pleadingly. "I have to know...if not for me, then at least for my baby."

Amber stared down at the full stomach again, remembering the strong kicking she'd felt. She glanced at the binds, realizing, perhaps for the first time, that Megan was even more a prisoner in this situation than she was.

"Okay." she sighed as she sat down on the edge of the bed. "I'll tell you what I know."

"What the--" Casey jarred his head up and stared, disoriented, at the dashboard. "Ohhh god..." he murmured and grabbed his head with his hands, trying to subdue some of the pain that pounded through his temples.

What the heck had happened, and where the hell was he? All he could remember was going home last night and drowning his sorrows in a couple of brewskies. That, and the cool movie he had started watching on tv...

He blinked his eyes a few times to clear his vision, and stared out the dashboard. All he could make out was the vibrant color of the grass that stared up at him from an akward angle. He ran a hand over his face. Maybe he was still drunk. Either that, or he had one hell of a hangover!

He looked out the driver's side window. Now this was odd. There was mainly grass out there too...with a little patch of sky that seemed to slope downward...

"Oh shit!" He glanced behind him. The rear window was nothing but sky and telephone wires, and he could hear the swooshing sound of passing cars from somewhere above. "Shit!"

He laid his head back on the headrest and took in a breath, trying to clear his mind. He had gone out driving drunk last night! How could he have been so stupid? Here April and Robyn needed him, and he was trying to join them in the hospital. Or worse, he could have put someone else there...

"Idiot..." he closed his eyes and took in a shallow breath. How could he have ever thought he could find Megan in such a big city without any leads? This was impossible. He knew he had to get help. The guys would be home any day now. Maybe with their aid...

But what would he tell Raph? And how to break the news to Donatello? And if they'd found Robyn's kid...but he couldn't worry himself with that at the moment. First he had to figure out how to get himself off this freeway embankment.

"Geeze, I thought he'd never get to sleep!"

"Yeah...he's been gettin' on my nerves all evening with that whole Collin thing." Raph kicked at a rock and watched as it bounced across the pavement. "I mean, come on, all I did was scare the guy a little. Hopefully it'll teach him a lesson."

"Did you really tie him up and threaten to kill him if he came near Robyn or Trevor again?"

"Of course. Scum like that doesn't belong in this world. We already have enough jerks to put up with. Besides, I high tailed it out of there as soon as I heard the sirens. That bastard's where he belongs now."

Mike smiled at Raph. "Well...I think you did a very noble thing. Poor Trevor. I hope he recovers."

Raph flashed his brother a sideways glance. "You're tellin' me. But I'm sure he'll snap out of it eventually. He seems like a tough kid."

They walked on for a few minutes in silence, the chill air barely noticable compared to the freezing temperatures back home. But still, Mike hiked the collar up a little higher. He may have lived in New York, but that didn't mean his reptilian blood would ever get used to the cold.

Raph thought about Megan. He couldn't get her out of his mind now. He was glad they'd be leaving for home in a few hours. Something seemed to be telling him it was time to go back. He wondered how the baby was doing, and how big her stomach was getting to be. The thought of being a father still hadn't hit him fully. It was like a distant dream, one which he had never bothered to consider before. But for some strange reason, the idea felt good.

"Hey, look! It's a tattoo parlor!" Mike grabbed his arm and directed him toward the shop. "It's still open too! Let's go check it out!"

Raph shot him a skeptical look. "Yeah, right. I can just see Leo's face when he notices the big yellow happy face on the middle of your forehead..."

Mike shot him a cheesy grin. "Aw, come on, I just wanna look."

"Mind control?" Megan gasped. "Are you serious?"

Amber nodded. "Afraid so. He uses some sort of neural implant that emits brainwaves or something. Pretty complicated stuff. He has some crazy notion about taking control of the world's political leaders or something. That's how my dad got inolved. I think Baxter's controlling his mind."

"He sounds like a total loonie to me..."

"He is. But the problem is, there's nothing I can do. If he finds out I'm resisting, I'm afraid he'll brainwash me too. Or worse."

Megan took a breath. "So, let me get this straight. Baxter Stockman can take control of people's minds, but he isn't even alive anymore?"

"Well, his body isn't, but his brain is still very much in tact. In fact, I've heard rumors that he transplanted it into another body..."

Megan shuddered. The mere thought of that was enough to make her sick for days. It was obvious this guy had serious mental issues to work out.

"He can connect himself...his brain with all sorts of electrical things too. Televisions, computers, faxes...it's bizarre."

"But...how does he do it?"

Amber looked at her gravely. "I wish I knew. Maybe then I could get my father back."

"This doesn't make sense. What do I have to do with all of this? What does he want with me and my baby?"

"All I know is that he was hoping for that April O'Neil woman. He seems to have some sort of vendetta against her. When he found out you were connected to her somehow...well, I guess he's holding you for ransom."

Megan stared up at her, that pleading look in her eyes returning. "What's he going to do to me?"

Amber sighed. "I wish I knew."

"Oooh! Look at that one! A butterfly! Cool!"

Raph pulled the hat lower over his eyes and glanced around the room. Luckily, the place was pretty empty. There were only two other customers. One was in the back, having god-knew-what done to him, and the other one, a short kid, only about sixteen years old from what he could tell, had his nose buried in a book of samples, totally oblivious to their presense.

"Oh, check it out! A cougar!" Mike pointed at the picture on the wall in awe. "Hey, can't you just picture that on my arm?"

Raph rolled his eyes. Mikey was having too much fun with this. "Yeah, right. More like that donkey right there, on yer ass."

Mike shot him a wounded look, but quickly recovered. "Yeah, well...atleast I have the guts to get one."

"Oh? And just what is that supposed to mean?"

Mike smiled to himself. He knew that would get Raph going. "Oh, nothing...just that I'm not afraid of needles.

Raph stepped up to Mike's challenge. "You think I'm afraid of needles?"

Mike grinned. "Remember that time when Splinter was giving us those vaccinations?"

"Hey!" Raph protested. "We were kids then! 'Sides...we didn't even know where that needle had been."

Mike began to giggle now, and the anger rose in Raphael. He grabbed the collar of his jacket, and scowled at him. "You think you're so smart? Go ahead then. Put that damn thing on your arm. I wanna see you, brave boy."

"Huh?" Mike hadn't expected that. "Yeah, right...I have nothing to prove." The smile on his face showed that he was having fun with this. "I'm not the one who's afraid of needles."

"I dare you." Raph said forcefully.

"Huh?" he hadn't expected that challenge.

"I said, I dare you. You think you're so funny, let's see you do it."

Mike stared into those firey eyes, and realized he was serious. "Fine." he smiled.

Raph grinned ferally. "You're gonna be puking your guts out", he mumbled.

"And I dare you to get one of those."

Raph turned around quickly to get a glimpse of what Mike was pointing at. The man noticed their attention and stuck out his tongue, showing off the new stud he'd just got pierced into it. He seemed totally oblivious to their strange appearance. Not like he really looked any more "normal" himself with that blue spiked hair and studded dog collar.

Raph narrowed his eyes and turned to Mike. "It's a deal."

Mike grinned. "Cool!"

"But...you ain't getting that cougar. And that tattoo is gonna be in a slightly more...appropriate place than your arm."

A warning signal went off in Mike's head, yet he grinned. "Heh...just what I was thinking about that piercing..."

The man wheeled a tray next to the table and stared at her with those alluring eyes. "Eat up. You're going to need your strength."

Megan wondered what on earth that could possibly mean, but she pushed the bad thoughts aside. She was starving and the food smelled great. She remembered for a brief moment, that ordeal with her and April at the fortress, and a wave of nausea swept through her. Yet, she knew she had to eat if she or her baby had any chance of surviving.

"I can't eat with no hands."

He glanced down at her wrists for a moment, and stood there in contemplation. "Okay, I'll unbind them, but if you even think of escaping..."

"Where would I go?"

He began loosening the leather strap that dug into her right arm, and motioned toward Amber to do the same with the left. As the bindings fell loose, a great sense of relief washed over her. Her skin burned from the release and she gripped her arms, rubbing them to ease the pain. A deep purple line encircled the tops of both wrists, where the leather had dug in and bruised the flesh.

"You have thirty minutes to eat." Without another word, the man turned and walked away.

Megan frowned as she watched him leave. "Not one for conversation. Who the heck is that guy?"

"I dunno. My dad calls him Phillipe."

"He sure gives me the creeps." She reached for the roll on her plate and began to eat hungrilly. It had been days since she'd eaten anything, and with the baby inside of her, she felt like she could eat for six right now.

"Yeah." Amber whispered. "He's bizzare. And when he looks at you..." she shuddered visibly.

"Do you think he's under Baxter's control too?" Megan swallowed.

"Yeah...it's a good possibility."

"Hey, have you ever even seen Baxter?"

Amber thought about this for a moment. "Now that you ask...no, I don't think I ever have."

He streched out his arm, fingers reaching, as the train sped along the tracks. "Come on Trevor, you can do it, just give me your hand..."

Don held the kid up higher as he ran, carefully estimating how many inches Leo would need to be able grab him and pull him inside. Leo knelt down and extended his arm a little further, finally making contact and successfully pulling Trevor to safety. He set him down as Mike reached out a hand for Donatello.

As his hand made contact with Don's arm, he could tell that his brother had been sweating rather profusely, and he knew that it wasn't only from the run. As he stared into his brother's eyes he could tell that their was nervousness, perhaps fear of the unknown, behind them.

He was worried about raising a kid. Who wouldn't be? It wasn't as if he'd had any prior experience. And delivering Christian really hadn't calmed many of his fears. His brothers he could deal with. They had grown up together, and were predictable by now. Besides, if one of them pissed him off, he could just go home to Robyn or shut himself up in his lab for a while to work off the steam. Even with Shadow it had been another matter. He could visit her, show her how things worked, teach her things, but when it was all over, he could give her back and be on his merry way. Raising a kid was different.

He was worried about her too. What if Trevor was scarred for life because of what Collin had done to him? How would she take the news about his exhile to the attic? A million thoughts rushed through his head all at once. What if she blames me for not finding him soon enough? Or what if she can never forgive me for bringing him back to her in such bad shape? What will she think when she sees how skinny he is? The last thing he'd ever wanted was to hurt her. He hoped to see that bright smile of hers when they walked through that door side by side - her loving boyfriend and her long lost son.

Raphael rubbed the bottom part of his carapace and glanced at Michaelangelo before gingerly lowering himself to the cabin floor. As his legs made contact with the metal, he sucked in a breath and mumbled some obsenities. Glancing up, he noticed that Leo was giving him a funny look. Don't ask...

Leo set down the katana he was polishing and began to approach him.

Please don't ask...

"Raph?"

He turned his attention out the door, and absent-mindedly studied the passing stars, hoping that Leo would just leave it alone. It's none of your business, Leo...don't ask me...

"You and Mikey have a fight last night or something?"

Raph glanced up at him, noticed the intricate way the creases in his brow net together as he frowned, a look of skeptical bewilderment on his face.

"Nope."

"The two of you seem a little stiff this morning. Everything all right?"

"We're fine..." he shot Mike a look for emphasis.

"Oh yeah." Mike's innocent smile betrayed his guilt. "We were just...uhhh...sparring last night. That's all."

Leo nodded, but he knew better. There was something the two of them weren't telling him.

Raph glanced over toward the far corner of the train car where Trevor sat huddled up. It was extra dark over there, which made it hard to see him clearly, but from what Raph could tell, he had his knees drawn up to his chest, and the scrawny little arms gripped his legs tightly.

Raph sighed. He's still afraid of us. Hell...who wouldn't be after what he's been through?

"Ouch. Shit..." A sudden spasm racked through his lower body. This ain't working... He repositioned himself so he was sitting more on his hip. Stupid thing digging in...

Leo was staring at him in that sort of wide-eyed bewilderment that was typical from him whenever Raph did something that was totally beyond his understanding. And that was often, so Raph knew what he was thinking all too well.

Mike noticed Raph's discomfort and giggled to himself as he took a seat next to Donatello. But altough he seemed to be having a good time with this, Raph noticed him mouth the word "Ouch" as he lowered into position.

"You're lucky, you know."

The girl stared at her in beweilderment. "What? I'm lucky? How?"

Megan set the fork down and stared at the spaghetti noodles, the way the red sauce stained the plate. "At least you still have a father."

Amber didn't say anything for a moment. There wasn't much she could say really. "Your father...left?"

"No" Megan shook her head. "He's dead. My mom too. Dad died when I was twenty. Mom died last year."

"Wow...I'm really...sorry..."

Megan forced a smile. "Yeah, well...that's life I guess. I mean, I still miss them, probably always will, but now I have a family of my own."

Amber glanced down at Megan's left hand, and for the first time, noticed the ring on her finger. It was small, simple, but beautifully designed, with a delicate solitare diamond which sparkled in the light.

"Your husband...he must be worried about you."

Megan swallowed hard, trying to force her sorrow back. Would she ever even see him again? She couldn't bear the thought of dying here, alone, without seeing his face at least one last time.

"Yeah..." she nodded. "I really need to get home. He needs me. I...I need him."

A pain flared up in Amber's heart as she studied her new friend. That hint of joy that had hidden behind her eyes just days ago was now totally burnt out. She could see her slowly sinking into hopelessness and despair. She desperately wished there was something she could do for her, some way to help her escape, but she knew it was impossible. This place had an intricate enough security system to keep the occupying ants from leaving. There was no way to get her out undetected. And even if that task could be accomplished, there was still the matter of the electric shock and the explosives to deal with.

Instead, she tried a different approach. "I'll bet he's out looking for you right now."

Megan lowered her eyes and nodded. "I have no doubt about that. That is, if he's even back in town yet."

"Back in town? Did he go on a business trip or something?"

Megan didn't mind talking about it. What bad could come out of it anyway? She didn't know these people, and it wasn't like any of this could be used against her. "He went with his brother to find his girlfriend's son. He had been taken out of state unlawfully by his father."

"So they went on their own to go get him?"

Megan could sense some of the surprise in Amber's voice. "Yeah. Them and their other two brothers."

"Do you really think they'll find him?"

"I have no doubt. They were trained for that sort of thing."

"Trained to find kids? Do they work for the FBI or something?"

"Let's just say...they're good at hide and seek."

Raph twisted his body to ease some of the discomfort and stared over at the scared figure huddled up in the corner. He was quiet, solitude, kind of reminded him of himself when he was in a funk.

"He's just a kid, for god sake, Leo."

Leo, who had been quietly studying Michaelangelo, finally broke the gaze. "I know..."

"I just...it makes me so mad--"

"I know Raph. It makes all of us angry. But right now, we've got to be here for Trevor. Put our hostility behind us."

"I know...you're right. I just can't help thinking, what if that would have been my kid? I mean...shit..."

An urgency ate at him now, and he longed to be home again. He couldn't wait to see Megan. Something told him it was about time he checked on her and the baby. The couple of times he'd actually had time to call, the answering machine had picked up, and since there was no real way for her to call back, he'd hung up. Besides, Donnie had asked him not to say anything about Trevor yet, and he knew they'd ask if he got a hold of anyone.

He spared a glance at the boy again. Mike was kneeling in front of him now, leaving a little distance between the two, so as not to frighten the poor kid any further.

"Remember me? I'm Michaelangelo, but you can call me Mike. All my friends do." He smiled at the child, and Raph could see that familiar happy flare behind Mike's brown eyes. These are my brothers." he gestured toward the others. "We're going to take you back to your mom. You'll see her real soon."

Don swallowed and fought with himself about what to say. He was, afterall, the closest to Trevor's mom, but how could he describe their relationship in a way he'd understand? "You see, your mom and me, a giant turtle, are...well...dating. I'm thinking of asking her to marry me, and then we might make some little turtles..." No, that definately wasn't the way to approach it.

Leo watched Mike and Raph with growing interest. There was definately something wrong with them, something they weren't telling him. With the way they fussed and moved around so much, he could have sworn they'd been injured.

"You're sure you're okay?" he asked Raph skeptically.

"Yes, daddy, I'm fine. Now will you just drop it?"

Leo backed off, but he could see the hint of pain behind his black eyes, and try as he might, he just couldn't shake the curiousity.

Megan dug her fingers into the leather, picking frantically at the lock. Just a little more and she'd be free. But where would she go? Amber had told her all about that security system. Sounded as though escape would be impossible, but she had to give it a try. She was desperate.

"Megan? What are--" Amber stepped into the room, a look of shock spreading across her face when she caught site of what Megan was doing.

"Shhhh! Come here and help me."

"Megan, I don't know if this is such a good idea..."

The conversation was halted as they caught site of Philipe. Finally, the lock slipped and the strap fell loose. Megan sighed as some of the pain and pressure slipped away. It felt so good to have air on her skin again.

Philipe was coming closer. Luckily for Megan, his eyes were down, focusing on his clipboard. She grabbed the loose strap and tucked it under her ankle, giving the illusion that it was still firmly secured. Then, casting a look at Amber, she laid back as if nothing had happened.

Philipe lowered the clipboard and stared at her with those icy, penetrating eyes. She could almost feel herself waver under his gaze. Without even so much as a greeting, he pinned her wrists down, and fastened them to the table once again.

Megan could feel her heart race as he glanced at the bindings around her ankles. Maybe she shouldn't have loosened them afterall. But after a couple of seconds, he returned his attention toward her, totally oblivious to what she had done.

"Your baby." he said coldly. "There's something wrong with it."

She felt a wave of nausea run through her. Did they know? How could they possibly? Then she thought about all the tests - the blood drawing, the monitors, the physical...

"What do you mean?"

"You know as well as I that this baby is more than human."

Amber frowned in confusion. More than human? Whatever could that possibly mean?

Megan swallowed hard. "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Which one is it?" he lowered his face dangerously close to hers. She could feel his breath on her cheek.

"I told you I don't know what you're talking about."

"Your ambiotic fluid tells me that this child is only three months along, yet it is as big as a full term pregnancy. There must be something very powerful causing it to grow so rapidly." His eyes narrowed into little slits as he stared at her. "Mutagen, perhaps?"

Megan felt her heart race. They knew! But she knew she had to keep her cool. She couldn't let them know how petrified she was. What would they do to the baby now? She couldn't bear it if they hurt it. It was a part of her now, even more so than Raphael.

"You can not lie to us any longer. Dr. Stockman knows that one of those turtles fathered this child. Now tell me...what's this freak's name?"

Turtle...? Amber stared in shock at Megan and the big, rounded belly. A turtle? But that couldn't be... She thought about Michealangelo, the mysterious turtle man that had appeared out of nowhere and saved her life. The same turtle that had proclaimed his interest in her and had tracked her to her home. But it couldn't be him...could it?

Megan spat in Philipe's face. "Don't you ever call him a freak!"

The anger was apparent in Philipe's eyes, yet he kept his cool. He pulled up on the hem of his lab coat and wiped his cheek dry, never taking his eyes off of her. "It doesn't matter what his name is. He will come for you here. And when he does, he will be destroyed.

"So you see, that's why we can walk and talk like you do. Understand?" Leo finished.

Yeah..., Raph thought. If the kid really does talk.

Trevor nodded slowly, never taking his eyes off of Leonardo. He was entranced with the story, and with their appearance, but it seemed that some of his fear of them was subsiding.

Don smiled at the kid, not quite sure what to say. "I...care about your mom. She means a lot to me. That's why we're bringing you back to her."

Mike grinned. "Yeah...she's gonna be so happy to see you!"

"I was an idiot, April."

She ran a hand along the side of his face, studying the deep lines of worry that framed his forehead. "But you're okay?"

He took her hand, gripping it. "Yeah."

April reached up and kissed him on the cheek. Some of her strength was returning. The doctors said she may even be able to go home by the end of the week. "Everything will be okay."

I wish I could believe you.

"April, Robyn's...still in a coma. The doctors said it's gonna take some time for her to wake up." If she ever does...

April swallowed and nodded. "I know." It was hard for her to think about her sister in that condition, but she knew she had to try to be strong. Her children and husband were counting on her.

"I just...I don't know what to tell them, April. I'm afraid of how they'll react. Don'll probably just clam up, but Raph...damn, he's gonna go berserk! Probably go for my jugular..."

April couldn't help but smile. She laid her hand over his. "Just break it to them easy. And...keep at least a good twenty feet away from Raphael."

For the first time in a while, they were both smiling, but soon, the mood changed back to a serious one again.

"Damn!" Casey moaned. "If only she would have stayed in the hospital one more night. If only I could have kept her safe."

Chapter Nine Coming Soon!

Lightning Crashes

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