It was a good thing that stores never closed in New York. It was a cheap joy but it was the closest thing April had to an optimistic that night. And even though her eyes were stinging with tears and her head throbbed with dehydration from said tears. It was almost ironic considering the waterfall equivalent storm they were experiencing. Struggling to make its way past her yellow raincoat and Casey's arm wrapped tight around her shoulder. She knew his embrace had very little to do helping her walk then it did with helping her spirit.

Even if it was just a run to the local pharmacy for food it was better than the confides of their apartment. Where they could only sit and wait, stewing in the self-hatred that oozed from Raphael like a toxic fog. She had spent hours trying to comfort the angry red masked ninja but she couldn't get so much as a glance in her direction…

The familiar glow of Carla's Pharmacy came into view. Casey held the door open for her and helped her inside. It was one of the smaller Pharmacy's in the city that was still considered a small business. Actually it was the same Pharmacy she had gone to fill Don's inhaler many times. She took up the shopping basket and walked over to the food row. It wasn't' the healthiest food but it would do for three teenage turtles running on fumes. A familiar orange back on the shelf held the promise of spicy gummy worms…somehow Mikey's favorite candy. She took it and glanced at the orange lizard mascot with a large pointy rainbow smile.

For the first time all night a smile grew on April's face. Remembering the last time all four of them had been to the apartment. Don had actually forgotten to refill his inhaler again; she wasn't' a fan of Raphael's anger bursts but when it came from Leo instead it was funny. It held none of the same degradation that Leo's anger had after the final show down with the Shredder but rather a motherly like rage with his arms waving in the air. Using every mother cliché in the book, "What were you thinking?!" "Giving me a heart attack!" "I was never this reckless when I was young!" completely ignoring the fact they were all the same age. About the only thing Leo didn't' do was threaten to tan his tail, had he, April probably would of collapsed with laughter. Course April would save the poor smartest turtle from the LeoMomdo lecture by promising to refill it while they were there.

She could still see the relieved look on Donatello's face. Giving her that smile that spoke gratitude of someone who truly appreciated it. The smile in her memory sent a wave a new wave a tears through her eyes and her smile disappeared in small trembles. Her hand going up to pinch her eyes in a futile attempt to quail to tears. Her arm dropping to hold the spicy gummy bag loosely in her finger tips

"April?" thank god Casey was there. Otherwise she'd just look like a crazy lady struggling to hold it together in a bodega. Atleast now she was a crazy lady struggling to hold it together in a bodega with her fiance'.

"Tell me he's ok Casey." Her hand wiped her eyes as she looked into his, "Please tell me we'll find him."

For a moment April thought Casey was going to restore to his callus nature. Blunt, honest but cruel in the moment. But a soft smile grew on his face. His thick muscular arm wrapping around her shoulders, "Course we are babe, I don't doubt it for a moment."

Maybe she had truly believed for a moment that they wouldn't but she returned his smile, leaning into his hug. His chin resting on her scalp as the two stood together for a moment, "I love you babe." April whispered

"I love you to Ape." The hug tightening around her shoulders lightly before pulling away. Taking the reusable shopping bag, "I'll grab the food."

"Just don't get any energy drinks. You know Mikey can't handle that much caffeine."

"I know; I was the one how had to clean up his puke last time." Casey grinned back at her., "That kid cannot handle his caffeine."

"You're no different." April grinned up at him, putting his shoulder with hers. His arm wrapping around her shoulder again.

A woman's' voice came from behind them, "Now Arnie, you still don't know better than to stop picking on girls?"

It wasn't' a voice April didn't recognize but judging by the way Casey spun around he did. A woman stood behind them with a large grin on her face. Even though it felt shallow to say this, this woman was undoubtedly beautiful. Her dark skin that hinted at a African or Native American heritage perfectly complimenting her face and gorgeous thick black hair that, even soaked in rain, somehow didn't stick to her red leather jacket or black t-shirt that she could barely see. A thick knowing smirk on her face. Casey's' height still dwarfed the woman's size, as with everyone they ever met, her stature was still enough to be considered tall by woman standards.

"Elisa?!" wow Casey did know her, "Elisa Maza!?" definitely knew her. The arm around Aprils shoulders slipped down to hold her hand as he reached forward, wrapping his spare arm tightly around the new woman. Her arms coming up and giving him a loud pat on the back,, "Shit! I haven't seen you in years!"

"What can I say, it's easy to hide from a giant" Dark eyes turned and met Aprils with a smile. "Who's the poor woman you're harassing?"

"Hey! I'm not a creep!"

"Says the guy who used to always have a hockey mask on his head."

"I played Hockey! What do you expect?!"

"You didn't even take it off during mass. Or in swimming class."

"I-It was comforting ok?!" Casey's' face was heavily flushed in such a way that April had a hard time hiding her laugh behind her free hand. Maybe he just wanted a distraction from himself but he pulled her forward,' Elisa this is April O'Neil, my fiancé."

"This is her?" Elisa's eyes lit up," she's the one your mom told me about when I last saw her." Her hand came up, "It's nice to meet you April."

Oh! She was on Casey's invite list! How could she have forgotten? "It's nice to meet you too Elisa." She stepped forward and pulled her hand free to shake hers. She was surprised how rough Elisa's hand was against hers. Did she use solid stone as lotion or something? "How do you know Casey?"

"WE went to the same High School and Middle School." Elisa's hands were back in her pockets. Damn, did she not wear makeup? She was so damn pretty, "St. Laird. He was a year under me. He used to hang out with my little brother all the time." Her thumb come up and gestured to Casey," Poor Arnie here got his ass handed to him nearly every day."

"Did not!"

"OH really? Then who was always bailing out of the nurse's office? I'm surprised your nose wasn't permanently upside down." Her eyes turned back to Aprils, yup no makeup and she was still that gorgeous. Maybe she should rethinking her red lipstick, "Anytime he even thought someone was getting bullied he'd go Hulk and try to flatten the other person. I used to have to save his ass so many times."

"ANYWAY-" Casey interrupted loudly, April barely caught Elisa's eye as the other woman gave her a wide knowing grin that she couldn't help but share. There were definitely more stories in there and she wanted to hear them, "Elisa is a Second Grade Detective with the New York City 23rd precinct. She's the one I put on my guest list."

"Oh!'" she really needed to get through that list. Smiling to the new woman. Elisa met her smile before frowning lightly. Wait, what- "are you ok April? You look upset?"

It was only when Elisa's hand took her bicep did she remember she had been struggling not to cry a moment ago. Her hand came up and quickly strained her eyes, "Y-Yeah long day I lost my…..dog…." dog? She really hoped that the turtles didn't' hear her describing Don as a dog. But hey, Don. Dog. It was similar enough. Hopefully she didn't sound too crazy.

But thankfully Elisa smiled warmly. Well least she believed her, "I'm sorry. If I lost my cat I'd probably lose my mind." Thank God, "If you make some posters I can put some up at my precinct. Maybe one of the other officers will see him."

It was a nice offer, but she wasn't' sure how they'd react to a punch pictures with a humanoid turtle with a mask on them, 'Thanks, we already have a few posters up."

"Alright, if you change your mind tell me ok?" perfect teeth too? Shell she was nice, and apparently April had picked up the turtles cursing habits too. Casey's' arm returned around her, "I've been meaning to call actually, your brother told me you got shot. He said you needed surgery and everything."

"I did." Wow, with a half shrug and everything. Well she was a detective. She was probably used to it, "it's been a pretty crazy year, traveled a bit. Made some new friends. I went sky diving a few times" the corner of Elisa's mouth rose lightly as though laughing at her own personal joke

"Did they catch the guy who shot you?"

Elisa looked towards the Pharmacy's' ceiling for a moment as though wondering how to answer the question before smiling again," Let's just say he learned his lesson." But the smile suddenly went away," You talked to Derek? Have you been…. face to face?"

April looked back to see Casey frown lightly in confusion," How could I? He's been in Alaska with shitty internet. He can't even skype. We've been emailing though. Beth too, I tried emailing you but you never respond."

"Right. Alaska." If April didn't know any better, she would say Elisa looked relieved even," Sorry like I said I just got back from traveling. I promise to be more consistent. And I promise to be at your wedding."

"Better be, I'll tell Ma on you."

Elisa gave a small laugh that April couldn't help but share. Atleast they both knew the horrors of bringing Casey's mom into any fight.

"Ms. Maza! Your prescription is ready!"

"Thanks!" Elisa called towards the Pharmacy counter, before smiling back at them," Hey April, we should hang out sometime. I can give you all kinds of horror stories from when Casey was in school."

"I-"truth be Told April didn't really know what would happen with her life from one day to the next but the warm smile she was being given gave her a small sense of normalcy she never realized she wanted. "Sure, that sounds great. I'll email you my number."

"Cool. Nice to see you Arnie." Elisa gave them a small half wave before heading towards the counter.

April returned it before grinning up at Casey," Hey Arnie, how's your nose feeling?"

"Aw man…" if Casey hadn't been red before, he was now, "Let's just get the food and get back." Before turning back to the food aisle, shoulders hunched and shuffling lightly mumbling to himself. April covered her mouth to muffle her small laugh. It really did feel good to have something to enjoy for a bit. Especially seeing Casey shove handfuls of chips and candy into the overworked reusable shopping back. His eyes turning for a moment back towards the Pharmacy counter before frowning lightly. "Casey?" April took his arm," What is it?"

Her fiancé blinked for a moment before looking back to her, "Nothing, I just ' he looked back again as though checking something, "I guess Elisa has asthma now." Before turning back to his job of giving the turtles diabetes.

"Oh?" April looked where he had been looking in time to see Elisa at the pharmacy counter with a white paper medical bag, opening it long enough to pull out a small purple inhaler-

Wait

She had ot be seeing things. Her hand going up to rub her eyes for a member before looking again. Elisa had already put the inhaler back in the bag before turning to pay the Pharmacist. Even from this distance she was sure of what she had seen. Before she could rationalize her decision she was already moving, Elisa must of even her coming in time to raise her head with a smile, "Change your mind about putting posters up?"

"Um, no." What was she supposed to say? She had to think fast, she knew that inhaler, she just needed another look at it, "D-ide you get asthma after you were shot?"

"What?" Elisa's eyes filled with confusion before looking back to the bag in surprise as though remembering she had it, 'Um-"she almost looked flustered.

"SO-sorry." Last thing she needed to do was to look suspicious. April put on a smile, "I used to work at Stockman Enterprises sorry, I did some time in their biomedical branch."

"Oh!" Elisa didn't seem stupid, but she gave her that same warm smile, "No sorry I don't have asthma, one of my" the word hitched for a moment but just a second, "cousins is visiting and he has asthma."

"And an affinity for science" April let out a laugh, "Judging by those stickers."

"He really does." Elisa reached into the bag again, April's heart pounding in her chest as she drew out the small inhaler. light purple and covered in stickers from years of use. How could she not know it? How many times had she refilled that same prescription time and time again? Walking down the street looking at it in her hands with a small smile, "He's a bit of a genius."

"I bet." A part of her wanted to snatch her friend's inhaler out of her hands and demand answers. But she was a detective, she was trained in self-defense and accusing her would only succeed in sending her to the loony bin

"I guess I'll see you?" Elisa gave a small wave with an almost concerned look on her face as she put her hands back in her pockets, April noticed her pause only long enough to look outside. What was she looking for? But Elisa was already out of the Pharmacy before April could say anything. April ignored the Pharmacists inquiry as she ran back to Casey's side, "April?"

"She has Don's inhaler."

"What?" Casey looked back to where Elisa had left before looking to her again, "Why would she have it? Are you sure-"

"Yes I'm sure, I've refilled enough times to recognize it. It even has the Stockman Enterprises sticker I gave him when we first met. It was the last one in existence, it has to be his"

"Why would Elisa have it? IT don't make sense, she's' s a Detective. You think she has a giant turtle locked in her bathroom? It's not the kind of person she is-"

"I don't know why she has it, but she does. Which means she's seen Donnie or know where she is. She might even have something to do with those creatures who took him." April was already heading for the door, "I'm going to get a hold of Leo and tell him. You pay for the food and meet us back home." Her hands came up and flipped her hood back over her head as Casey called after her. His voice drowned by the torrential rain. But April was already in a dead run, she could barely see the red leather coat disappear around the corner as she took up her shell-cell and texted Leo through the waterproof screen with seven words that would bring the turtles to the apartment faster than the wind

I have a lead on Don's location

A/n

Yay! Two updates in the same 24 hour period, I'm sorry it took so long. I really love this story and I didn't realize how much time had passed before I updated it I'm sorry guys

If your gargoyles fans I hope you recognize all the references Honestly my five favorite series have to be: Harry Potter, Ninja Turtles/Usagi Yojimbo, Gargoyles, Teen Titans, and Doctor Who.