Chapter Two

The familiar, but rare sounds of an approaching car hit Leo's ears suddenly, and he quickly folded his newspaper. Standing, he walked over to the window and moved the blinds a fraction, just enough to see.

April's familiar car drove up the road, almost a mile away.

Leo squinted his eyes. He could make out another form in the car. He sighed.

Let the fun begin.

The door to the living room burst open with a flair, making its occupants jump.

"Hey, guys!" Casey walked in, arms spread out. He stopped suddenly as a sai wedged itself in the wall right below where his arm was.

He looked, wide eyed over at it's thrower.

A few seconds later, Raph smiled widely. "I knew it was you, ya goofball." He got up and moved over to Casey, clapping a hand on his back, and laughing heartily.

"I assume," April began, slipping past the two. "That it's now safe to come in?" She eyed the sai and jumped and Raph reached over and yanked it out of the wall.

"Guess we're doing a bit of home repair tomorrow." Mike laughed as he made his way to April. "Welcome home!" He cried, grabbing her and spinning her around.

She shrieked in laughter. "Mikey!"

Don walked to the doorway and leaned against it, crossing his arms.

She caught his eye and grinned slightly.

"Mikey!" Casey boomed, and Don winced.

"Can you keep it down, I don't want to wake up…"

"Ah, where is that little nymph." Casey grinned.

"She's sleeping, as it's late." Don said. "You weren't supposed to be here until tomorr-"

"Ah, we left a bit early." Casey grinned. "Now c'mon, she's a kid… she doesn't need that much sleep!"

Don opened his mouth then shut it as the floorboards creaked behind him.

"Stop hiding, Rosalind." He said without looking back. A moment later, she went tearing past him, and leapt onto April.

"Aun' Apwil!" She cried, burying her face into April's hair.

"Hey, sweet pea!" April put a hand on the child's head, smoothing her hair and kissing her cheek. "How's my favorite niece?"

"Let me see this little monster." Casey reached over and grabbed Lindy from April's grasp. Don noticed Lindy stiffen slightly. The last time she'd seen him she was two.

"Casey, maybe you better give her some space… She's awful tired yet, and…"

"Aw, no way." He lifted her up higher. "Lookit this… she likes me!"

Don wrinkled his nose. He felt a stab of…jealousy?… Run through him at the sight of Casey and Lindy together.

"She's fine, Don." Casey threw Don a look of… superiority?

Don cleared his throat, then looked to Leo.

"Let's go into the kitchen, shall we?" Leo suggested.

"Can I come?"

"No." Don said, at the same time that Casey said "Sure."

Don looked over at Casey despairingly.

"Oh, c'mon, Donnie-boy. I don't get to see her as much as I'd like. Let her stay up for once. C'mon. Be a fun 'daddy'." He looked pointedly at Don at that.

Lindy looked at Don, too, her eyes wide. "Pleeeaase, Daddy??"

Don moved his tongue in his mouth, thoroughly annoyed by this. Then he looked down, his shoulders sagging slightly. "I'm sorry, angel. It's too late for you."

Tears coursed down her face. She wriggled out of Casey's grasp and ran to April. "Aun' April… make him!"

April leaned down to her eye-level. "I'm sorry, sweetie. But what your daddy says, goes."

Lindy let out a wail. Don walked forward to pick her up. Se rubbed her eyes furiously as he walked out of the room, to her bedroom, Lindy's cries fading as they went.

"Is he always so harsh?" Casey broke in.

"It's late, Casey." Leo said. "She's tired. She'll be fine." He shifted; he'd said that more briskly than he'd wanted to.

Casey opened his mouth again, but a look from April quickly shut him up.

Lindy's cries quieted as Don lay her in her bed, and she rubbed her eyes sleepily again.

He leaned down, kissing her forehead, tucking the covers under her arms. Then he rose, and began walking to the door.

"Daddy?"

He stopped short, turning around. "Yes?" He asked quietly.

"Who is dat man?"

"That's…" Don stopped. "Casey."

She looked contemplative for a moment. "Is he my unca too?"

Don's heart seemed to speed up then. "Yes." He answered quietly.

Lindy nodded then, yawning, her hair falling into her eyes. "'Kay."

"Go to sleep, angel." Don whispered.

"I am, daddy." She whispered. "Goo'night.'

"Night." Don whispered back. Lindy blew him a kiss, which he caught and placed his hand on his plastron, above his heart.

Lindy grinned widely at this, then settled back into her bed, closing her eyes.

Don watched her for a moment longer, then shut the door most of the way, leaving it open a crack, just in case they needed to hear her.

Walking back to the kitchen, he heard the muffled sounds of talking.

Raph looked, his eyes wide, at his brothers. Mike looked surprised, to say the least. Leo looked… worried.

April looked down.

"I don't think that's a good idea." Leo said softly, finally. Raph looked over quickly at the tone of his brother's usually authoritative voice.

"Why not?" Casey asked. "It's not that far away, and…"

"What's not a good idea?" Don asked, stopping in the doorway.

All heads turned to look at him, except April, who slouched in her seat more.

"Taking Lindy to New York with us for the weekend." Casey said.

Don stopped, blinking. He could hardly believe his ears. "That's ludicrous." He grimaced, walking to the fridge.

"Ludicrous?" Case repeated, frowning. "We came early because we can't stay as long as we wanted. And we thought Lindy would like to see the city again, just for a few days."

"We?" Don turned, an eye-ridge raised.

"Casey." April said. "Maybe it's not such a good idea. Let it go."

"Why not?" Casey kept going. "It's not like we're 'irresponsible'." He looked over at Don. "Don't worry, Don, April will be there to baby-sit me."

"That's… that's not the point." Don started again.

Casey nodded. "Oh, I see the point here. And you know that you have no right to…"

"No right?!" Don started, but Leo stood.

"Stop." Leo said. "Now." He looked around. "We're not doing this tonight. It's late."

Casey stood up abruptly. "Fine." He said, looking at April. "I'll be in bed." He moved towards the door.

Don left the room soon after, and Raph followed. Leo looked at Mike and they exchanged glances. This weekend might turn out to be worse than they thought.

Leo walked into the living room, and saw Don picking up Lindy's toys, moving at an aggravated pace.

"Okay?" He asked.

Don made a grunting noise, not looking up. He continued picking up until the last toy was in the bin, then he sat down on the couch, putting his head in his hands.

Leo sat down next to him. "This is hard, I know."

"How can I tell them no?" Don asked quietly.

Leo blinked at that.

"Why does he wanna take her all of a sudden?" Don asked. "Why now? It's been years…"

"I… don't know." Leo said, truthfully.

"You know… darn well… that if he wanted to take her, I… I couldn't stop him." Don said softly, his voice barely heard.

Leo had no answer for that. He just squeezed his brothers shoulder lightly, and put his arm around his shoulder.

Author's Notes –

Wow! Two chapters in two days. I may be on a roll. ;)

One quick note I forgot to put in the first chapter. Heh, I can't believe that no one caught (or told me, at least)… the last chapter of What The Heart Wants, if anyone notice, but it began the same way as the first chapter did. On purpose, heh. ;)

Again, about the possible character death.I was gonna do it (if at all) as a surprise, but decided that the death threats just weren't worth it. ;)

Anyway, wow! So many thanks to give out here!! I'm honored. Thank you to all those who continue to support me, and are interested in Lindy and the guy's further adventures.

Doppleganger – Thanks!

LenniluvsBrian – Heh, they weren't in the last story. They're new. ;)

Reinbeauchaser – A big smile to you. Thanks.

Lioness-Goddess – Glad ya liked it.

KaliAnn – Lindy's obvious lack of noticing the difference in her and her family will be addressed.

Ramica – Oh, don't worry. She's been told no a few times before. ;)

FF Demon-Angel – Thanks!

Reluctant dragon – Heh, thanks! …Threatening gesture duly noted. ;)