Ugh, what year is it? Sorry for the wait, folks. College has been keeping me real busy. Priorities, though.

Anyhoo, without any further delays, I give you chapter 8.

Disclaimer: I got the term "ninja-ing" from a comic by Loolaa on deviantArt. Here's hoping she didn't put a copyright claim on it…

"I'm just saying," Mikey said nonchalantly, "maybe you left your towel on the floor to delay telling us."

J rolled his eyes. "Hey, I was going to hang it up before, but Desy over here kept me from doing so."

"Meep!" the girl chirped proudly.

"And then I legitimately forgot about it until I cleaned up my mess," J continued, "that you all no doubt saw."

Don elbowed Raph and quipped, "Are we that predictable?"

Before the red-banded turtle could utter his recent catchphrase, J replied, "That's part of it, but I could also hear you." The boy smirked. "Great ninja-ing, by the way. Especially when Leo hit the outside of my wall. That didn't tip me off that I had eavesdroppers on my hands."

Immediately, all three of the younger turtles set their sights on their leader, who wore a look of vexation.

"You need to work on your stealth, Leo," Mikey teased first.

"It ain't exactly a good idea to make noise when you're listenin' in secret." Raph's smirk was almost as big as his ego at the moment.

Leo glared at the three, then at J. "Why do you do this to me?"

The fanboy shrugged. "I do it to the others, too. You don't seem to protest to that."

"Come on, Leo," Donatello chuckled. "It's all in good fun."

Mikey leaned into the brainy turtle's personal space. "Not unlike you and J last night."

The brainiac glared at Mikey than looked for support from the others.

Unfortunately, the turtle most likely to help him was laughing along with the others.

"Okay, that one was good," Leo said.

J sighed and gave Donnie a sympathetic look. "I don't think they're going to let us forget that for a long time."

"Shell."

Raph leaned in, giving a menacing grin at Leonardo. "I'm sure Fearless would be happy if this made us forget about the time he trained J so hard he couldn't move."

Leonardo and J both glared at the dark turtle.

"Don't start that again!" Leo ordered.

"Yeah, that was awkward for both of us," J complained. "And you guys are exactly why."

"Ugh, fine, whatever," Raph conceded, surprising everyone. Unfortunately it was shortlived, since he smirked again. "So you like Donnie better than Leo, eh?"

Mikey's face nearly split into with the grin he was displaying. "Yeah! You don't think that was awkward. You were both smiling in your sleep!"

Both J and Donatello groaned.

Cherry rolled her eyes. "That's enough. Leave them alone, you guys."

Kellie nodded. "Yeah! J might threaten to wait another day if you keep this up."

It was J's turn to look menacing. "Now that's an idea."

Before the discussion went any further, Master Splinter entered the living room.

The rat carried a glass of ice water and set it next to J. "I figured you would need this in case your tale is extensive."

J took the glass eagerly. "Thanks, Master Splinter! You rock-eth." He took a small sip and set the glass aside. "Hmm," he hummed, "now… where to begin?" After a split second, he added, "If someone says 'at the beginning', this water is going on them."

Leo spoke up, "Well…"

J's hand hovered over his drink.

The oldest brother held his hands up. "Hey, I'm not going to say that!"

"All right. Continue."

"I was just thinking you could start by telling us what happened after you left the lair that night."

J thought for a moment on how to word it, and then began his tale, "Well…"

*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*

*two weeks ago*

"Well, it's back to the Warehouse with me," said J as he bid farewell to his new family. "Good night, guys!"

Mikey waved from his spot on the couch as he played a video game. "Good night, J! See you tomorrow!"

"J, wait!" Don called. "The dishwasher's not done yet! Don't you need your thermos?"

J shook his head. "I think I can do without it for one night. There's still running water at the Warehouse, remember? If I'm thirsty, I'll just go to one of the drinking fountains."

Leo poked his head out of the dojo. "Don't forget, J. Training tomorrow morning."

"Just like every morning," the boy pointed out. "Relax. I have an alarm clock in there. And I have one set on my Shell Cell." He pulled out the device from his pocket and waved it in front of himself. "You know I'm never late for practice. Because if—"

"'If you're early, you're on time,'" Raph drawled mockingly, "'If you're on time, you're late.' Yeah, we know, J."

"Because if you're late," Mikey joked, focusing on his game, "then Leonardo the Tardy Patrol Turtle will hunt you down."

"If I'm late," J retorted, "then something happened outside my control. Like a massive earthworm pileup in the sewer tunnel I take."

Donatello called from the kitchen again, "If that actually happens, send me a photo!"

"Will do, shutterbug!"

Leonardo rolled his eyes. "Okay, so you'll be here for practice. Just text me once you leave the Warehouse, okay? I want to at least know that you're awake and making the effort."

Raphael rolled his eyes in response to his older brother. "For cryin' out loud, Leo, just let the kid go get some shuteye already."

"Sorry."

J smiled pleasantly. "Thanks, Raph. See you guys in the morning! Bright and early, at practice." With a nod at Leo, J gave a final wave and left the lair.

After an uneventful trip through the familiar storm drain (J was slightly disappointed that he didn't see any earthworm pileups), J climbed up the manhole near his salvaged abode.

As he walked towards the blue building, J heard something behind him. He turned to look, but nothing was there.

"Mikey, if you're trying to sneak up on me…" he began. Oh wait. Mikey was playing a game. He'd never abandon a good run, even for a prank. J shrugged and continued walking.

Although he was wary when he felt something behind him. The boy whirled around and assumed a fighting position.

That's when they swarmed him. A horde of Foot ninja appeared from the shadows and surrounded him. The teen's eyes darted around, looking for a weak point.

"Bingo," J muttered as he spotted a ninja whose legs were placed a little too wide.

J ran at that particular ninja, who readied themselves with a defensive stance. What they didn't expect was J diving low and sliding between their legs. After his feat, J swung himself to his feet and ran.

It pays to be small, he congratulated himself as he darted into the nearest alley. Unfortunately, it was a dead end. "Oh crap." I need help. He pulled out his Shell Cell with the intent to dial the emergency code.

Before he could, however, he was tackled to the ground, which knocked the phone out of his hand and sent it clattering across the alley until it stopped beneath a dumpster.

J did a backwards headbutt and hit the Foot who pinned him square in the nose, stunning them. J used this moment to escape the grasp and turn around.

Now I can't call for help! Ugh, this is literally every fanfic I've ever read. His irritation at the overused situation was overshadowed by fear, due to the fact that, unlike the fics he'd read back in his world, this was real life. I have to fight. Maybe I can make a run for April's shop. J turned to fight.

He shot back when a Foot ninja swung at him with a sword, and very narrowly avoided getting his chest sliced open as the blade brushed against his shirt.

J instinctively reached for his thermos on his belt loop, only to realize it wasn't there. Dang it!

But before he could react, J felt something collide with his skull, and then everything went dark.

*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*J*

"So I didn't exactly get the shuteye I was hoping for," J finished with an attempt at a dark joke.

To his credit he was rewarded with at least a few uneasy chuckles, which was better than nothing.

Cherry looked horrified, though. "I can't believe they were able to take you so fast."

Leo wrapped an arm around her. "I know, but he's here now."

J unconsciously reached for his necklace again, only to remember that it wasn't there. "I guess that sword cut the string for my necklace."

Michelangelo suddenly jumped up from his seat. "Oh shell, I almost forgot!" He ran out of the room as the others looked on in confusion.

All except Donatello.

"I think I know where Mikey is going with this." The teen genius put a hand on J's shoulder. "Do you mind if we tell you what happened with us the next morning? I think you'll understand better."

J contemplated for a moment, then nodded. "I think that's fair."

Don smiled while sounds of rummaging came from Mikey's room. "Okay, so here's what happened the next morning, specifically when our morning training was about to start…"

Well, well, well! Looks like the story's just begun! Eight chapters in, that is. I'm so notorious for this… Just as the readers for my Mario fic. Although I think that one might be even worse in that regard. Then again, this whole fic is in the middle of a large, overarching storyline, while my Mario fic is intended to be a standalone story.

Well, whatever.

One two, read and review! Three four, tell me more! Five six, do you enjoy my fics? Seven eight, tell me what's great (and what's not)! Nine ten, wait for the next update again!