AN: I know, lots of updates! That's because things are heating up and I'm SO ready to get to the final battle! Enjoy the intensity, dreamers!

School during the next few days are less than happy. A few of Katie's friends make sure to shoot Dean dirty glares whenever he walks by, but he simply ignores them. Him and Elisabeth talk once or twice, but it's obvious that there's hurt between them. Neither of them likes that, especially when that hurt is caused because they care about one another too much.

Mitch bounces up to his family and friend group at lunch, looking incredibly happy. His blond curls are tousled and messy, his bright blue eyes sparkling above his dancing freckles.

"Okay, whatever the French are doing, they're doing it right," he says, sitting down and sighing dreamily.

Copeland snickers a little whilst Tiki arches an eyebrow. Dakota and Kelly also laugh, finding the boy's comment humorous. The guys at the table only smile in response.

Nixie joins the table, throwing Mitch a wink as she sits down next to him. The boy's face becomes pinkish around the cheeks, but he still flashes a dazzling grin her way.

"So, things have been going well for you two?" Lukas teases.

Nixie flips her short hair a little and nods curtly. "You know it. Mitch is a fast learner."

Asher chokes on his milk, covering his mouth with his hand as he squeezes his eyes shut. Dakota and Kelly gently pat his back as he forces himself to swallow the liquid, his heterochromic eyes watering noticeably.

"I'm...I'm trying to eat here," he gasps, removing his glasses as he wipes his eyes.

"Whoops...sorry," Nixie apologizes.

"That's something that can be shared in private, I think," Tiki comments softly. "But that's just my opinion."

"Aw, you're so cute," Copeland murmurs.

His cheeks heat up and he tugs at his hat nervously, a small smile on his lips. Dakota nudges Lukas, jerking her head towards her twin brother. The sandy-haired boy gets the idea and winks at her.

"Hey Ash, how's it going with Ruby?" he asks.

Asher tenses, trying to hide the faint blush the dusts his pale cheeks. "Uh...um...R-Ruby, she's...uh...great," he stammers.

"Have you asked her out yet?" Dakota inquires, wiggling her eyebrows.

"W-What? N-No! We're just friends!" Asher insists.

"Suuuurrrrreeeee," Dakota, Kelly, and Lukas all coo teasingly.

Copeland smirks, leaning back a bit as she fixes her ponytail. "Isn't she a bit young for you?"

"It's only by one year!" the disguised turtle points out.

"Aw, he's defensive too," Dakota jokes.

Dean and Elisabeth, who had remained silent through the entire conversation, glance at one another. They sigh and look away, not liking where the lunchtime chatting has gone. She picks up a carrot stick and chews on it absentmindedly.

"Hey, did anyone have that pop quiz in math today?" Dean interrupts.

The conversation switches stupidly fast, with Copeland perking up immediately.

"Oh, that was such a load of bull. We hadn't even covered that topic yet!" she groans, clenching her hands into fists.

"I didn't think it was too hard," Asher admits.

"Nothing is ever hard for you, brainiac," she returns.

"On the contrary, we find many things difficult," Dakota points out. "Just not simple math techniques."

Dean smirks a little as everyone launches into a discussion of math and the difficulty levels of other topics. His sapphire gaze flickers to Elisabeth, who smiles a little at him.

"Thank you," she mouths silently.

He winks at her, crossing his arms over his chest.

🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕🐢🍕

"It's so weird not having him around," Venus admits, talking about Keith. "We've been friends for so long, and now he's just gone. It sucks."

"It'll be alright, little dudette," Mitch says. "No pain lasts forever."

Copeland's face flickers with shock. "That didn't actually sound stupid."

He laughs and taps his forehead with one finger. "I've got more going on up here than you think."

Venus giggles, her face brightening. "I still have Blake too, so that's good."

Dean squeezes her hand. "That's right. Blake and you are still friends, and that's what matters right now."

As soon as they're back in the sewers, they go through the normal routine of getting their patches off and returning to normal. They stretch a little, continuing on their way home. Suddenly, Dean's t-phone rings loudly. He picks it up and answers easily.

"Hello, Dean speaking," he says.

"Dean, thank God," a tense voice whispers on the other side.

His eyes widen. "Elisabeth?"

"Listen, there isn't much time. Something grabbed me, and I'm in a dark room. There's people nearby, but I can't see them," she rambles, her voice trembling. "I need help...I need you to-"

"HEY! NO PHONES!" a rumbling voice shouts from the other end.

Elisabeth squeaks. "D-Dean-"

The line goes dead with a shrill scream. Dean listens to the dial tone, his body tensed and his hand shaking.

"Are you okay? What did Elisabeth need?" Asher asks.

"She's been kidnapped...I don't know where she is," he answers, his voice monotone. "Come on, we need to get back."

"What? Who would need Elisabeth?" Copeland arches an eye-ridge.

"Doesn't matter. She's scared, and I need to save her," the wolf-raven responds. "Move your shells! Let's go!"

They hurry up, racing down the tunnels as fast as they can go. Dean almost flies at one point, his heart beating far faster than normal.

They skid into the lair, gasping for breath. The adults look up at them as concern bubbles in their faces.

"What's wrong?" Sarina asks.

"Elisabeth's been taken," Dean pants, trying to catch his breath. "We need to save her, NOW!"

Leonardo moves forwards and places a hand on his son's shoulder, attempting to calm him down.

"Dean, I need you to repeat what happened...slowly," he says gently.

His son nods, but before he can open his mouth, his phone goes off again. He answers it with a shaky hand, licking his lips nervously.

"H-Hello?" he asks.

"Good afternoon, Dean. So nice to hear you," a new voice purrs from the other end.

His mouth goes dry. "Um...I...I don't think we've met."

"Oh, we did, but you were a lot smaller and I was knocking you out." A small chuckle sounds, sending shivers up his spine. "Now you listen to me, boy, if you want all of your precious little friends to live, I suggest you all join us over here for a little reunion."

"Reunion? Tell me who you are," he demands fiercely, making Mitch yelp a little in surprise.

"I'm just an old friend. There's no need to know my name," she says calmly. "Trust me, you don't want to mess this up. If your family doesn't show up soon...I'll have to start clawing some throats. Perhaps I'll start with the Jones boy...or the dog..."

He tenses. "You...you have Blake and Tiki too?"

Those words make Copeland growl like a feral beast. Raphael places a hand on her shoulder and gives her a warning look. Venus' eyes widen as her little green hands clench into fists.

"I have them all, Dean, and you know what else? I'll kill them all too," she threatens, not a hint of mercy in her tone. "Tell your parents to the old warehouse on Bleecker. We'll be waiting." There's a brief moment of silence, and it's like he can hear the devious smile in her voice when she speaks again, "Tick tock, wolf boy."

The line goes dead. The phone slips from Dean's hand, where Dakota catches it easily and returns it to his pocket. His family stares at him, wanting to know the other half of the conversation.

"Dean, who was that?" Leonardo demands.

"She didn't say...just that she's an old friend," the teen responds, his eyes wide and focused on the floor. "She has our friends, all of them."

Donatello turns away briefly, running a hand over his head. Michelangelo stiffens, his face looker far angrier than it ever has before.

"What else was there?" Destiny inquires, almost desperate.

"She wants you to go to the old warehouse on Bleecker and have a reunion," he says. "If you don't, our friends die."

"I'm gonna kill little Miss Mystery," Copeland growls. "Where's my mace?!"

"No, you aren't going," Raph says, grabbing her shell and stopping her from moving.

"What?! She has Tiki! I can't just sit back and wait for you guys to come back!" the pink-masked turtle shouts, struggling against her father's strong grip.

"It's for your own good," Taylor tells her gently.

"You can stay here with Master Splinter," Annalise adds in.

Dakota's mouth falls open. "You're sidelining us? That's not fair!"

"If it means keeping you safe, then we'll do it," Donnie says stiffly, crossing his arms. "We can't risk you getting hurt."

"What, and everything you guys did when you were our age means nothing?" Mitch demands. "You guys saved the planet multiple times and you were only fifteen! We're ready!"

"No, you're not. You're not experienced in fighting," Leo argues to his nephew.

"Like your situation was any different, dad," Dean snaps, angered by the exclusion.

Leo's sapphire eyes switch to his son, narrowing noticeably. "It was different."

Dean crosses his arms and arches an eyebrow. "Right! Because unlike us, you didn't have any parents breathing down your neck all the time and stopping you from reaching your potential!"

"Don't use that tone with me-"

"It's true, though!" the boy shouts, cutting his father off. "The six of you grew up in world where there wasn't peace, where there was a constant fight for survival, and because of that you got the experience you needed to become a better ninjutsu master. Now, with us, you shelter us so much that you don't even know what potential we have! If we fight, we can prove ourselves!"

"We do not shelter you. We simply keep you safe, the way a parent should!"

"You're scared! I know you are, and that's making you foolish and-"

"STOP IT!"

Dean and Leo stop arguing immediately, looking to the little turtle girl who just screamed. She looks up at her brother and father, green eyes narrowed in a rare kind of anger.

"Just stop! Please, you're not going to get anywhere with fighting! Just go and save Blake and everyone else. Please!" she begs, her eyes growing watery.

Leo's face softens as Dean looks away, ashamed. The other kids watch their leader and their uncle, completely on edge. The adults all watch Leo as well, wondering what his final choice will be.

"Stay here with Splinter. We'll see you soon," he says softly. He looks to his brothers, sisters, and wife, jerking his head towards the door. "Let's go. We don't have much time."

They follow the blue-masked turtle out of the lair in silence, Mikey bringing up the rear. As they leave, the orange-masked turtle looks back at his nieces, nephews, and sons, giving them a weak smile.

"Sorry guys," he whispers before turning and disappearing after his family.

There's silence for a moment. Dean cusses loudly and kicks the nearest item to his foot, which happens to be an old pizza box. He storms off to the dojo, leaving the others to sort out their own feelings on their own.