While I really like the 2k3 season 5 story arc with the Ninja Tribunal, I always felt like there was a lot of the "in-between" stuff that got left out. So this is me getting that out of my system. :) Some of these one-shots will be shorter, some longer, and they'll focus both on April and the Turtles. Story title and the song lyrics in chapter 1 are from "Some Nights", by Fun.

Some nights I stay up cashing in my bad luck

Gone

The knock was quiet, but years of being friends with ninjas had turned April into a light sleeper. She opened her eyes and rolled out of bed, pulling her robe on over her pajamas. She shook her head ruefully as she saw the red numbers on her alarm clock: 1:33. The orange light from the street lamps provided enough illumination for her to move about, so she made her way to the front room cloaked in dim half-light. No familiar hard-shelled silhouette was lingering on the fire escape, though, and she frowned a little in confusion – but the gentle rap came again from the door to her apartment. She looked through the peep hole into the dim hallway, but saw no one.

"Is someone there?" she called softly.

The reply came at once, startling her: "Splinter."

She opened the door immediately, stepping back to allow him to enter. A jolt of surprise coursed through her as a very short, very round human followed the Rat inside. Both were wearing hooded cloaks and carrying rucksacks, and both had their arms full of boxes. The little man squinted and smirked up at her, but remained silent.

"What's going on?" she asked, hurrying to close the blinds and turn on the lamp by her couch. She blinked and rubbed her eyes in the sudden brightness as Splinter set down his burdens and pulled back his hood.

The fear and fury tangled in his eyes turned her insides to ice.

"What happened?" she asked breathlessly.

"My sons have been kidnapped." The little round man tutted a bit under his breath, and Splinter shot a knife-like glance in his direction. "There is no other word for it."

The air seemed to have been sucked out of the room. "How – how could this happen?" April stammered.

"It does not matter how," Splinter replied. "All that matters is that they are gone, taken without warning. And I am going after them."

She nodded firmly. "Okay. Give me two minutes to get dressed and call Casey."

"No, Miss O'Neil." He shook his head. "There is nothing you can do."

Her heart became heavy with dread. "What do you mean by that?" she forced out.

"I mean that where I am going, you cannot follow."

She bunched her fists in the lapels of her bathrobe. "You know where they are?"

"Yes," he said coldly.

"So you know who kidnapped them?"

"Yes."

"Then why can't I – "

"Miss O'Neil." He took a slow breath, and when he spoke again, the bitter frost was gone from his voice, leaving only a gentle sadness behind. "I must ask that you trust me on this. I know who has taken my sons and I know where I must go. Please understand that I would welcome your help if I could accept it, but I cannot."

April blinked back sudden tears and nodded.

"There is...one favor I would ask of you," Splinter said quietly. He stooped a bit and patted one of the boxes he had brought in. A plaintive, familiar mew came from inside, and April recognized Klunk's carrier. She was Klunk's designated human caretaker and transport to the vet when he needed his yearly checkups, and the friendly orange cat was used to visiting April's apartment. April was always happy to see him, but the implications of Splinter bringing him over like this sent a cold thrill of alarm skittering along her nerves. She glanced quickly at the contents of the other boxes: Cat food. Litter. The small collection of cat toys Mikey had made from string and old socks and dropped bird feathers.

"I need someone to care for Klunk," he continued, lowering his eyes. "I cannot simply leave him behind and he should not be turned out into the street."

A sharp pang of sadness made her chest hurt. "How long will you be gone?"

"I do not know."

The tears brimming in her eyes finally spilled over and she couldn't keep the tremor out of her voice. "Will you come back?"

He sighed. "I do not know." His eyes grew bright and tears left dark streaks in the fur on his cheeks. That more than anything frightened April. Never, not even in the darkest, most dangerous times they had lived through, had she seen Splinter cry.

A determined fire kindled in her green eyes. "I'll take care of Klunk until you get back," she said firmly.

The emphasis she placed on the word "until" did not escape him. "Thank you," he said with a sad smile. He fixed her with a deep, penetrating gaze. "You have been a joy to my sons, Miss O'Neil...and to myself. I wish you every happiness." And then, for the first time since she had known him, Splinter stepped forward and opened his arms to her. April knelt on the floor and leaned into his embrace. His arms were wiry, but solid and strong, and he smelled of incense and the night air. He held her tightly for a moment, then his whiskers tickled her ear as he whispered, "Farewell, Daughter."