Chapter 4: Comfort

Leo jerked upright, instantly awake. He had sensed a disturbance from upstairs. He jumped off the couch and silently ran up the stairs. Leo checked all of his brothers' rooms, and nothing was wrong. He felt like his heart would come out of his chest it was beating so hard. Then he heard soft crying coming from his room. Slowly he opened the door and stepped in. It was pitch black inside except for a single lit candle by the bed.

"Maddy?" he whispered as he approached the bedside "What's wrong?"

"Nothing." Came the choked reply.

"Why are you crying?" he said, now kneeling next to her side of the bed.

"No reason." She said stubbornly. She rolled to the opposite side of the bed. Leo sighed then climbed onto the bed.

"I'm not gonna leave 'til you tell me." He said, locking himself into place next to her. She rolled over so that her head was resting against his arm. He lifted up his arm and she moved closer still. Her head ended up resting on the skin above the top of his plastron. She began to cry again and Leo held her close. When she was done she spoke.

"Thanks." She put her hand on his top chest plates. Leo made to get up and leave, but Maddy held on. "Will you stay?" she pleaded. As an answer Leo relaxed and pulled her body closer to his. She eagerly snuggled up to him so that their hips touched. Maddy fell into a blissful and dreamless sleep.

When Leo woke up Maddy was sprawled across his plastron in the exact same way, as she had been when they had fallen asleep. He blushed when he realized that his arm had wrapped itself around Maddy's waist. Still blushing slightly, he stroked her hair. She stirred and awoke. "Mornin'" she said lazily.

"Good Morning," he replied. "You wanna tell me what last night was about now?"

"I… had a nightmare. The Purple Dragons were chasing me again. They had guns, and when you jumped in to save me, they shot you down. You…you…you were dead." She answered, crying again.

"Shhh… Don't worry I'm not gonna leave you." He said, stroking her hair again. "Hey," he gently pulled her face to look at him, but she resisted. He tried again and she gave up. "Hey, don't worry. I'll always be there for you. No matter what." Leo said sincerely. Maddy smiled.

"Even if I eat all your breakfast?" she asked with a more mischievous smile.

"Huh?" Leo asked, confused. Then Maddy surprised him by jumping out of bed, and running out into the hallway. Leo pursued her playfully.

His brothers had come out of their rooms at the commotion Maddy was making. They were shocked to see their uptight brother fooling around with Maddy. They were even more surprised to see Leo jump over the railing and onto the ground floor, and take off after her.

Maddy had just about reached the kitchen when a pair of strong green arms wrapped around her waist and stopped her dead. She struggled, but she knew it was hopeless.

"Oh no you don't," Leo's baritone whispered in her ear. "We can't let you eat all the breakfast now can we?" Maddy giggled, and Leo chuckled. Suddenly Leo threw her over his shoulder in a fireman's carry. She lightly banged her fists against his shell. He chuckled, and kept on walking to the kitchen. His laugh shook his body and caused a vibration to go through Maddy's body. She loved the feel, and hung there in bliss. She was interrupted by Mikey.

"Hey dudette. How's it hangin'" he said as Maddy looked up. He had a goofy grin plastered his face.

"Ha-ha Mikey, very funny. I was wondering, what do you guys eat for breakfast, it's not pizza is it?"

"No, we eat all kinds of regular human foods." Mikey assured her.

"Oh good." Maddy said as they entered the kitchen, and Leo set her down in a chair.

"So, what do you want for breakfast?" he asked.

"Anything sounds good." Maddy said politely. She blushed slightly as her stomach growled loud enough for Leo to hear. He laughed, and got up to make her a plate. When the table was set, and everybody had their food, Donny talked with Maddy.

"That was amazing how you were able to run through the lair. Do you mind if I give you a checkup after breakfast?" he said.

"Uh, yeah sure." Maddy said dazedly as she gazed at Leo.

"Try your breakfast it's good." Leo said as he watched Maddy from the corner of his eye.

Maddy took a bite, and her taste buds exploded with flavor. It was really good. Anything is when you've been living off of scraps for a year. Sadly, Maddy couldn't finish due to her malnutrition.

After breakfast Maddy asked Leo to come with her to a checkup in Donny's lab. He was reluctant until she took his hand, and unknowingly sent him into a bliss spasm. They walked into the lab. Leo lifted Maddy up onto the table, even though it was unnecessary. Donny came in with gloves on.

Maddy removed her shirt, causing Leo to blush crimson, and gulp. A part of him wished to run his hands over her bare skin, but another held back only because Donny was there. Amazingly enough most of Maddy's bruises had faded overnight, although her larger ones had become more defined. When Donny brushed over it, she winced and pulled away.

Maddy didn't feel comfortable with anyone but Leo touching her, but she put up with it for her health's sake. She might have imagined it, but she thought she saw Leo take a step forward, and his face harden. "Well, it looks like you'll be out of commission for a couple days. You've got a nasty bruised rib there." Donny announced as he took his gloves off.

As Maddy donned her shirt, there was a ringing from deep within the lab. Donny ran to answer it, and Maddy and Leo left and went to the couch in the living room. This time Leo seemed more at ease with Maddy closer to him. Leo reached for the remote, and turned on the TV. Bored, the two of the surfed the channels until they found some old reruns of Full House. Maddy heard Donny's excited voice, and she shot a quizzical look at Leo. He shrugged, but got up and headed towards Donny's lab. Maddy peeked over the couch just as Donny came running out of his lab, and collided violently with Leo. They both fell to the floor, and Maddy was immediately out of her seat. She ran over as Donny was getting up. She helped Leo up. "You guys okay?" she asked, concerned.

"No time, we have to leave for the farmhouse right away." Donny said as he ran off to notify his brothers and master. Maddy and Leo, puzzled, headed up to Leo's room.

"Crap Leo, I don't have a bag!" Maddy said.

"Oh, maybe I have one you can use." Leo set to work looking for a bag for Maddy, as she set the clothes April had bought for her on the bed. Leo cleared his throat behind her, and Maddy turned to see him holding out a denim backpack. Not so gracefully, Maddy stuffed her clothes into it. Leo strapped on his gear and his weapons, and then the two of them went back down the stairs. The rest of the family was assembled at the bottom of the staircase.

"-Why the heck are ya draggin' us out to the farmhouse for?" Raph was saying.

"My son, I think we would all like to know why we must rush off to the farmhouse." Splinter said.

"Okay in short April called, and our invitations to her and Casey's wedding were lost. So we need to get over to the farmhouse 'cause the wedding is tomorrow." Donny said in a rush. "So lets go!"

Everybody hurried to the car, and loaded Maddy and Master Splinter's clothes into it. There weren't enough seats for everyone, so Maddy sat on Leo's lap. They were bright red during the majority of the drive. Mikey and Raph cracked up when they went over bumps, and Maddy and Leo were forced to hold onto each other so that Maddy wouldn't fall. They were a couple miles from the farmhouse when Maddy fell asleep against Leo. Leo smiled, and kept his arms around her waist.

Finally they arrived at a two-story, quaint farmhouse. As they got out, April ran out to greet them. Leo managed to get Maddy out of the BattleShell without waking her. She was cradled in his arms, and when he stepped out of the BattleShell, she cuddled closer to Leo's warmth. To Leo's embarrassment and immense happiness, she murmured his name as April hugged them.

"I got you guys tuxes, and a dress for Maddy, I just need you to try them on." April said as they walked inside.

It turned out that April had gotten the right size for the guys, and Maddy woke up long enough to confirm that the dress would fit. She refused to let the guys see Maddy in her dress, and vice versa. Maddy fell asleep in Leo's lap again, and he ended up carrying her to a room April had prepared for her.

What they didn't know was that a tall, blonde man in a navy blue suit was watching them. I cannot wait to be reunited with my love, my Maddy. He thought as he grinned maliciously. He once again resumed his surveillance.