I'm trying to get better at dialog and pacing. I have a problem with rushing through points and there might be a bit of that in this chapter. But I'm working on improving! Great thanks to Athena the wise girl for being my beta. She writes really good stories as well!

The next time Casey awoke the pain in his thigh was bearable and his body ached less. The lair was still quiet and everything seemed still. The light was on in the dojo but the familiar sounds of grunts and complaints were missing.

"Weird." Casey muttered to himself.

As he absentmindedly rubbed his hurt leg, his fingers brushed against the rubber of a cold, damp ice pack. Not that curious about how it got there, he tossed it aside and moved to stand up. He had just set his foot down on the cold sewer floor when something soft was thrown at his face.

"I thought I told you that you needed rest." Donnie's stern voice broke the silence that had descended over the lair.

Casey glanced at the turtle and then down at the object that was thrown at him. It was his jeans, freshly washed and cleared of all blood. He ignored Donnie to put on his pants, careful when it came to pulling the fabric up over his bandaged thigh. Once he was done, he stood up and strode over to Donnie.

"If I remember," Casey started, "You said that I shouldn't move for a while. It's been a while so your medical knowledge that came from WebMD is no longer needed."

"I'm serious Casey, you nearly cut an artery open last night. You need to lay down."

"A little cut isn't going to keep down Casey Jones, I'm nearly invincible. Now where is everybody? I wanna hang with Raph before we have to head out for patrol tonight." Casey tried to push past Donnie but the turtle stayed firmly put.

"They've already left, I stayed behind to keep a watch on you because you slept all day and we were getting worried. Now go lay back down right now or so help me I will force you back on that couch."

"I've been out all day and you still want me to rest? Sorry Stick Master, no go. I'm just gonna see if I can catch u-HEY!"

Like that night before, Donnie had picked Casey up. Unlike the night before, this time Donnie held Casey around the ribs, carelessly dumped him back on the couch, and sat down beside him in an effort to make sure the injured teen wouldn't get up again.

"What was that for?! Ya can't just go picking people up when they're talking. And how do you keep picking me up? Raph says you're the weak one."

"I've spent fifteen years vigorously training each day under a grand Master of martial arts. Plus, you're a ninety pound tooth pick. Now what did you do with that ice pack I put on your leg?" Donnie searched the ground for a second before he found the pack, slightly dusty after being tossed onto the floor. He whipped down the outside with his hands and then sat it gently onto Casey's leg.

"You're the one who put that on me?" Casey asked. He had lost his resolve to try and fight Donnie. After last night and what just happened, he could tell that it would be a fruitless battle.

"Of course I did. Ice packs don't just appear out of thin air. There's not some magical force that bestows ice packs upon those it deems worthy. Have any more questions Puck Head?" Donnie snapped.

"Yeah, I do actually. Just what is your damage?" Casey snapped back.

He was tired of Donnie always insulting him, finding a fault in everything he said. It was getting old and annoying and Casey wasn't going to have it, especially if he was stuck with Donnie while his leg healed.

The question seemed to take Donnie by surprise. He sat up a little straighter and avoided making eye contact with Casey.

"What do you mean by my damage exactly?" Donnie asked.

"I mean, what's your problem with me? You know, I get it. You like April, I like April. Whatever, liking the same chick isn't an excuse to be a total dick. All you ever do is snip at me, even when you're trying to help. Do you just hate me or something?"

There was a long moment of silence where Casey waited for Donnie's response. The silence stretched on longer and longer as Donnie refused to speak. Casey was about to give up and turn on the T.V to fill the silence when Donnie cleared his throat.

"I don't…I don't hate you-"

"Really? Because you could have fooled me."

"I don't. You were a jerk to me too so don't act like you're the only victim here!"

Casey wanted to argue back but it was the truth.

"Ok so we've both been jerks, although to be fair I'm pretty sure you started it. Whatever, can't we just be cool?" Casey held up his fist and after a brief hesitation, Donnie bumped it with his.

"Alright, we can…be cool."

"Sweet. So no more dirty fighting over April, right?" Casey asked.

At the mention of April, Donnie's face dropped and he nervously scratched the back of his head.

"Actually you don't have to worry about that anymore."

"What do you-aw man did she reject you?"

"Kind of, she had her reasons. Not that she really needed to give me a reason. We talked about it and she said that she was flattered but she didn't think it would work for…reasons." Donnie explained.

Casey wanted to be happy at this news, he really did. However, at the sight of Donnie's fallen face and sad eyes, he couldn't bring himself to. Awkwardly, he gave Donnie a sympathetic pat on the shoulder.

"That's tough man. Really sucks. I mean, I won't have to worry about competition anymore but I feel for ya." Casey thought that he made a wrong move, mentioning that he wouldn't have to worry about asking April out, but instead of seeming angry Donnie gave him a look of pity. It was a pitying look that made it seem that Donnie knew something that he didn't and was sorry for that fact.

"It's alright. It probably wouldn't have worked out anyways. Who wants to date a giant turtle anyways?"

No one said anything after that. Instead, Donnie grabbed the remote and clicked on the T.V.