IT IS ACTUALLY FUN TO BE BACK INTO THIS STORY! I HOPE YOU ALL ENJOY, AND LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU THINK!

GOD BLESS AND GOOD DAY!

~THE LUPINE SOJOURNER

Its been a few weeks since I came back to New York, broken and hurting. But now, thanks to Mikey's loving and caring personality and my own increasing sense of belonging, I think I can safely say I am healing. Oh, I still have a long way to go before I can say I am better, but at least things aren't as bad as they used to be. Mikey and I's relationship is the one steady rock in my crazy world right now. We share his bedroom, but for nothing more...intimate than sleeping. Mikey's far too innocent and...pure for that yet, and besides, the shell is kind of a roadblock, really. We just cuddle and he soothes my nightmares and I soothe his when he has them in return. It took a whole week before everyone stopped freaking out whenever I mentioned wanting to leave the Lair. I knew why; I had broken their trust.

They didn't know how much that hurt, even if i knew I deserved it. Mikey is usually my bodyguard/babysitter when I am allowed to leave, and we almost always end up making it a date. I had even gotten a job as a barista at a local Starbucks, to help keep good food in the fridge and on the table. I'd also gotten more cookbooks and cooking appliances, making it that much easier to make meals the way I am used to. Eventually, Mikey only comes because he wants to hang out, not because Leo and/or Asami is scared I'll up and leave again.

Then came the night Mikey and I were binging Lord of the Rings (Mikey had been shocked I hadn't seem them) and were just wrapping up Return of the King when I noticed the screen turning to fog, like when I breath on a window in winter. Then, as if he had never left, Aiden wrote 'still here' on the screen.

Words cannot describe how happy I'd been at that moment, but I kept silent. Beside me, Mikey was fast asleep amid our pizza boxes and chip bags, among other paraphernalia of 'true binge-watcher', according to Mikey.

Life has settled fairly well over the past few weeks and I can honestly say I love it here.

This is where I truly belong.

=#=#=#=#= (one month later)

I creep along with my family and boyfriend, stealthy as a shadow, though not as stealthy as the Hamatos.

We were finally going to do something I had wanted to do since that fateful night, almost five days ago, when our world fell apart.

We were gonna kill Shredder. If they don't, I will. As we race toward our destination, I can't help but remember that night.

It had all seemed so easy. Too easy, but we let ourselves believe that it was over. That Shredder, mutated though he was, would die and we'd be left in peace.

And then that a$$-hole had come back over the rooftop and ran Splinter through. The knives sprouting between Splinter's shoulders held a terrible reality to them that my mind had rebelled against vigorously. I then recall only a reddening tint to my vision and then when it cleared...

Shredder had been sent flying over the edge of the high rise by April's powers and Aiden's shoving. It felt right, but then came the moment we had all been so sure wouldn't come for a long time.

Splinter's funeral. He'd always been there, and though I knew deep down that nothing lasts forever, the sudden, brutal loss made me feel numb and achy all over. I'd stood there, arms around Mikey's shoulders, until he'd been able to think straight again. No one was much for talking, and we all moped around the farmhouse, wanting to leave, but unable to stand the thought of abandoning Splinter's grave so soon.

Now, we fight not only to end Shredder, but just to hang on to life itself. We'd known this battle would not be easy, but we were woefully unprepared for what we had to face.

Even so, here we are, Leo, Asami, and I, squaring off against our number one rival. There's no need to talk after Leo makes a demand to know why Shredder had killed a man Saki had called brother for so long. Shredder's voice has become so garbled, I barely understand his response. The sight of Asami and Leo hanging from Shredder's hands, throats tight in Saki's grip, sparks a rage in me I have never felt before. Or ever want to feel again. Red mist swirls once more before my eyes, this time more potent and fueled by pure, unadulterated rage. Once it recedes...I am left to view my handiwork.

God have mercy, I was sick at the sight! Literally. I'd done what we'd come here to do, but...what I'd done...how I accomplished our goal...

Aiden and I had simultaneously lost control and found ourselves in shock at what we had done. We'd torn Shredder's head and spine out of his body, mutilating what was left to nearly unidentifiable extents.

Mikey hugged me to him when Asami, Leo and I rejoined the others, gently leading me away from the grisly sight, but that hadn't helped; the horribly disfigured body was still in my live of vision, no matter what I did to try and be rid of it.

"I am so sorry." I'd mumbled. "I know you all are against killing, but...I just lost it and...I'm sorry." Mikey sighs.

"It was inevitable. To be honest, we should have done him in long ago, probably. We just kept...holding back." He'd said, then shrugged. "Besides, the entire reason we're here is to kill Shredder. I guess what's done is done." I remember nodding.

"Yeah. I'm sorry." Mikey squeezed me.

"It's alright. I've felt like doing that many times myself."

"Doesn't excuse me." I mumble in reply, looking anywhere but at Mikey just then.

It took explaining myself and asking for forgiveness for everyone but Mikey to stop acting like I would kill them at any moment. It's been a full day and Karai is out of the hospital. We were all on the rooftop, relaxing and watching the sunset.

That was when Asami approaches me.

"Hey, Jodie?"

"Yeah?"

"I...I know we are two vastly different people with vastly different backgrounds, but...that's no excuse for my behavior toward you. I am sorry. Can you forgive me?" It's such an open, vulnerable, honest moment, I stand there stunned for a moment.

"...Yeah, I can. I forgive you. Heck, I was you for a while after what happened. It's okay." Asami bites her lip.

"No, it isn't okay, but thanks."

"Hey, we're family, right?" It's Asami's turn to stand there shocked.

"Yeah...guess we are."