Hey guys! Sorry It seems like I never update. I don't have regular internet access at home. I read a lot of fanfiction on my cell phone, but never have access to my laptop. However a new internet provider has opened up to my rural area. Yay us! So hopefully next month I will have internet access at home and be able to update more often! So here we go. I put a bit of a new twist on this story. Its not as funny, I don't think, as my first few, but still awesome!
TMNT: GROWING PAINS, Chapter 4: SOILED SECRETS
Drip... drip... drip... The sounds of leaking pipes in the sewers interrupted the silence that filled the home of the four mutant turtles and their rat father. It was late in the night. Splinter had already gone to bed with his four sons tucked tightly into their own rooms. The sounds of slumber and snores could be heard behind there closed doors.
In one turtle's room there began a stir. The eldest of Splinter's sons woke with a gasp. Sitting up in his bed he quickly reached for his desk light. Rubbing his eyes he looked around the room bewildered. "How did I get in here?" The young tot sat up in his bed with a soft soggy "squish." His brow furred. Letting go of his comforter he placed his hand down to his side and felt his bed. It was wet. His blue eyes shot open and his cheeks turned red. Jumping down off of his old tattered mattress he placed his hand on it. The old ragged sheets that guarded it were drenched. Leonardo ripped his comforter from his bed and stared at his sheets. There it was... again. Dead center in the middle of his bed lay the evidence to his recent development.
For reasons, unsure to him and Splinter, Leonardo had begun bed wetting about six weeks ago. He would usually dream he was headed to the bathroom and to the toilet. After urinating he would continue his dream peacefully. Only after waking from his slumbers would Leo realize his mistaken actions. He would bed wet about three times a week. Thankfully, to him, his brothers had not yet found out. He would never live it down, especially if Raphael was to learn of his "problem."
Leo quickly gathered up his wet sheets and started out of his room with them. Peering through the door way he saw that the hall way was empty. He wanted to make it to the wash room without anyone noticing him. Leo quickly headed down the hall without being noticed. Reaching the washroom he let out a sigh of relief and placed his soiled linens into the wash tub. He knew Splinter would find them in the morning. For now he grabbed a clean towel from beneath the sink and headed back to his room. Once inside the safety of his bedroom Leo layed the towel on the cold sewer floor. Pulling his unsoiled pillow and comforter down with him he tried to settle down for the night.
Returning to sleep proved to be hard for the young turtle. "What's wrong with me?" he pouted. His face was drawn downward. No light in his eyes. His pride was plagued by his own body. "Why do I keep peeing my bed at night like some little baby?" With that last thought he grabbed his comforter and rolled harshly over onto his other side. "I just... I can't... Why won't it stop?"
Morning came on its own time. "Good morning my sons," Splinter greeted. All four of his son's were at the kitchen table. Michelangelo was eagerly trying to pry open a new box of Rainbow Crunch Cereal while Raphael glared at him impatiently. Donatello sat between the two with his eyes squinted almost shut. "Oh, man. Any second either that box is going to burst or Raph is," he thought to himself as he watched Mikey struggle. Leo sat at the end of the table next to Mikey. He stared solemnly at his empty cereal bowl as if he was able to see right through it. Splinter quickly took notice. "Hmm..." Walking behind his orange banded tot Splinter apprehended the cereal box and quickly opened the top. He poured the colorful contents of the box into each of his son's bowls and then filled it with milk. Raph, Don, and Mikey began to eat, but Leo never stopped staring at his bowl.
"Meo, mhat's mup?" Mikey managed to ask through his full mouth. "What?" Leo said blinking out of his trance. "You haven't said anything all morning. Are you alright?" his purple banded brother asked. "Ya, I'm fine. Just tired I guess." Raphael simply stared at his older brother with his mouth full and shrugged. He wasn't one to ask to many questions over such a thing as breakfast. If Leo was tired, then Leo was tired. Breakfast continued peacefully.
After breakfast Leo began to clear the table as his father approached him. "My son," he began. "I've been to the wash room." Leo closed his eyes and turned away from his father in shame. His cheeks turning red as he stared at the ground. Splinter's soul was a gentle one. He knelt down to his son, putting his paw to his chin. "My son. This is nothing to be ashamed of. All young children struggle with this." Leo only looked at his father for a moment. "Sensi I've been doing this for weeks now. When's it gunna stop," he choked out tears forming in his eyes. Splinter held his son tight. "Shhh... its alright. It won't last forever. I promise. We just need to figure out what is causing it. That is all." Leo nodded with his head still hung down in shame. "Hey. What's wrong with Leo?" questioned the resident family genius. Splinter turned around to meet Donatello's concerned gaze. "It is nothing my son. Come now. We must prepare for our lessons."
The sounds of metal and wood clashing together as Splinter's sons practiced in the dojo. His children were quickly learning their katas and weapon skills. Splinter stood along side very proud. "Watch this pip squeek!" Raph threatened Leo. Turning around to face his red banded brother Leo dodged to the left just making a narrow escape. In a red blurr Raph lunged past him stumbling to the ground. Rolling end over end he finally came to a stop face first into the hard sewer wall. "Oh, Raph are you ok?" Leo asked. Raphael lifted himself up onto his knees and palms. He glared at the ground with both sia in his hands. Shoulders arching as his breaths became more rapid and husky. Raph let out a growl and stood to face his older brother. "AAAHHHGGGG!" he charged. Leo was stunned at his brothers outburst. Dodging again in an attempt to miss his brothers assault he faulted and fell to his backside. Raph was on top of him quickly. A few good punches to the face and Leo began to thrash at his brother. Quickly he forced his back legs upward forcing Raphael forward. Raphael's entire body rushed forward over top of Leo's. Just as Raph's face was about to kiss the cement floor Splinter intervened grabbing his red banded tot by his under arm and forcing him upward. "RAPHAEL! Stop this at once!" Raphael came to a stand not sure of what just happened. He looked down at his older brother who was now scrambling to his feet. Tears ran over his blue bandanna soaking his face. Splinter still holding Raphael by his under arm turned to his eldest son. "Leonardo, are you alright?" Leo rubbed his eyes clear with a huff. "Yes, Sensi I'm fine." Leo was angry. He wasn't crying because of the pain. It was just the pure shock of what had just happened. He walked past Raph and Splinter headed to the bathroom to clean himself up when he heard Raph remark under his breath. "Cry baby." Leo stopped dead in his tracks. He just stood there for a moment staring in the opposite direction. Splinter tilted his head to one side, "Leona-" but was quickly cut off. "WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!" Leo screamed back at Raphael. "Say it! Say it again!" "OK! YOU. ARE. A. CRY. BABY." Raph remarked with a smirk. Immediately Splinter jerked upward on Raph's still restrained underarm causing the tot to wince a little and again stand at attention. Leo stood with his shoulders arching and both fists binding.
All the while Donatello and Michelangelo had been forgotten about in the commotion. They both stood on the other side of the dojo neither of them daring to say anything to further instigate the situation. Leo stood firm glaring at Raphael. "I. Am... not a cry baby Raph." He turned and left the dojo. At this point Raphael knew he was in deep sewer sludge. He turned looking up at his father as he still continued to withhold his under arm from him. "I think we need some time to meditate on this matter. Don't you Raphael?" Splinter glared at his son. Raph turned his head facing the floor. "Hi Sensi." Splinter released his son's arm and sent Raphael to his room. He then turned and left the dojo himself.
Michelangelo and Donatello now stood alone in the dojo. "Uh... well D... I guess the lesson is over for the day." "I'm not so sure about that Mikey. Something tells me Raph still has something to learn."
Leonardo stood in the bathroom staring himself in the mirror. His eyes began to well up with tears again. "I'm not a baby. I..." he stopped short of his thoughts as he eyes darted to the wash tub that held the evidence to the previous night. A frown quickly forming across his face he sighed. Turning his head downward and staring into the sink. "Maybe I am..." he said in a whisper. He meant it more as a statement of fact then a question. Suddenly Leo's eyes widened as he herd the bathroom door creek open. He whipped around to see an image slowly step in. "Hey Dude? Are you ok?" the image inquired. Leo let out a sigh of relief. It was Michalangelo. He gave his youngest brother a forced smile and replied, "Ya, Mikey. I'm fine." "You sure man? Donny could look you over?" "No. I'm, I'm good. I just really think I didn't get enough sleep last night." "Oh, ok bro. Well me and Don are gunna watch some Space Heros if you wanna join us." A genuine smile quickly took over Leo's face." Walking up to Mikey he put his arm around his brother's shoulder and they both stepped out of the wash room.
Passing the kitchen into the living areas Leo stopped for a moment. He could over hear Splinter shouting at Raphael. "He's pretty mad," Donny stated walking up to Leo and Mikey. Leo looked at Raph's closed bedroom door. "Ya, I guess he'd have to be to be that loud." Mikey put his fists up to his mouth. "Wow Dudes. You think Raph will be ok?" Donny crossed both his arms while raising an eye brow before replying to Michelangelo. "I think hes finally getting what he deserves. Raph's outbursts are sometimes very violent Mikey. Splinter needs to put an end to this now before it becomes a real issue." Leo looked at his two youngest brothers uncertainly. "I... I don't know guys. Raph just has so much pent up anger sometimes. If he could learn to channel that in a more positive direction then maybe his violent outbursts might actually be useful." Mikey grinned from ear to ear as he imagined Raphael with explosions all around him as he walked out of an inferno without a scratch on him. Donatello on the other hand frowned as he imagined Raph choking Leo until he passed out. Leo shrugged at his brothers. "Come on guys. Lets watch the movie."
(Later in the night)
"Aaugghh... not again," Leo wispered to himself in a rather frustrated tone. He crawled out of his bed slowly and grabbed his wet naps that he had begun to keep in his night stand. He quickly cleaned himself up a little and dried up with a small towel. For the third night this week he found himself bundling up his soiled lienens. With a sigh and a huff he started out of his room.
He only made it a few paces past his bedroom door before stopping dead in his tracks. "Whatcha do'n Leo?" he heard a voice call out to him. It was Michelangelo. He was sitting at the kitchen table with a glass of milk in his hand. Leo's heart pounded. "I.. um.. I..." he stuttered. "Well what are you doing out of bed?!" Leo quickly demanded hoping to take the attention of of himself. Mikey smiled, "Oh, well I was hungry and swiped a few of Raph's peanut butter cookies. I'm done though." Leo glared at his younger brother. He new his own aggravation wasn't Mikey's fault, but he could seem to re-channel his frustration at the moment. This bed wetting thing was starting to become more of an issue then just soiling linens at night. "Well Mikey you need to go back to bed. We've got training in a few hours." Hopping down from his chair Mikey replied, "Alright bro," as he rinsed his glass and placed it in the sink.
"Well goodnight then," Mikey said with a smile. He started past Leo but something stopped him. Leo held the secret bundle to one side so Mikey could not see the stains. Mikey was no fool though. "Leo... you ok man? What ya got there?" Leo's heart began to pound and his brow furred. "What do I say to him?!" his mind yelled. He couldn't think of an explanation. "Nothing Mikey, go to bed." Mikey stared at his brother intently. Being the youngest in his family Mikey often had less responsibility than his brothers. With all this extra time on his hands he had begun to develop a strong sense of when things just "weren't right." "Dude, its ok. You can tell me man. What's wrong?" Leo's face softened as he looked away. He was too ashamed to admit his "problem." When he first had to tell Splinter he thought for sure he would die on the spot. "Mikey..." he sighed. "Listen. Can you keep a secret for me?" Immediately Mikey's eyes lit up and a smile stretched across his face. His hands came up to both his cheeks. "OOOhhh! I love secrets! What is it?" Leo put his free hand up to his lips and with one finger made a shush noise. "Ok, Mike. Listen... I... um..." Leo held his head low, but allowed his gaze to find his brother's eyes. Mikey's expression had changed. His excitement had died down and his face now appeared concerned. "What is it Leo?" Leo took a deep breath to mentally prepare himself. He stood up straight up and exhaled. "Mike, I -"
"HEY WHAT'S THIS?!" Leo whipped around as he felt a tug on his shoulder. His face paled. Raphael let go of his older brother and glared at the linens in his hands. Mikey tensed and stared at Raph. "Stop it Raph!" Leo demanded. Raph only sneered. "Well, well Leo those are your sheets aren't they?" Leonardo didn't respond. He only darkened his glare at his brother. Raph had come up behind them and undoubtedly noticed the stains Leo had tried to tuck away from Mikey.
Suddenly Mikey realized what was happening. He had to think fast. His heart raced as his eyes darted from brother to brother. Raph stood back and began to laugh, pointing at Leo with one hand, as the other clutched his knee to keep him from falling over. Leo began to shake. An anger he never felt before was beginning to engulf him. "You're a bed wetter! I knew it! I knew you really WERE just a big baby!" "RAPHAEL SHUT UP! YO - " suddenly Leo was cut off by a horrid whailing sound. Both Leo and Raph turned to face there youngest brother. Michalangelo was in tears with both hands covering his face. "Mikey whats wrong?" Leo asked frantically. He reached out to Mikey and grabbed his shoulder. A concerned Raphael also was at his brother's side. Raph and Leo looked at each other as Mikey burried his face into Leo's shoulder. Raphael placed his hand on Mikey's shoulder, "Hey Mike wha -" was all he could get out before Mikey wailed out again. "NO! Raph! Don't touch me!" he cried out. "You're sucha jerk!" Raphael stood back a bit dumb founded. "What on earth was Mikey talking about?" he thought. This couldn't be because he was teasing Leo. Him and Leo went at it like this all the time. "Leo's not the one that wet his bed I did!" Leo looked on at Mikey with wide eyes. His orange banded brother now turned his head towards the red banded one. Raph's shoulders slumped to his sides and his mouth dropped open slightly. Mikey stared at him with tear filled eyes and continued. "I... *sniff* I had a nightmare... and so Leo said I could sleep with him. Then I wet his bed... and *sniff* you think I'm just a big cry baby!" Raph felt his heart turn to lead. He didn't mean those words to hurt Mikey. They were meant for Leo and Leo only. How was he suppose to know it was really Mikey. "Mike, I'm sorry bro I didn't know." Mikey only turned to Leo and sniffled more. Leo looked up at Raphael who now stared at the floor while rubbing his right arm with his left hand. Raph lifted his head and looked sorrowfully at his older brother. In one arm Leo held his soiled linens, in the other his youngest brother whose sobbing seemed to not have an ending anywhere in sight. Raph looked up at Leo. With silence in his lips Raph mouthed to Leo, "Dude, I'm sorry. I dunno what to do." Leo simply shrugged and rubbed Mike's shell. Raph now rubbed the back of his head with his left hand as he searched for the words to say to his youngest brother. "Uh... hey Mike. Look... I'm really, really sorry bro. I didn't mean it. You know I'm always giving Leo a hard time and well... since they were his sheets I thought it was him, but really... I didn't mean what I said." Mikey didn't respond to Raphael. Instead he looked up and Leo and said, "I wanna go back to bed." Leo nodded to him gently and began to head to the bathroom to drop off the linens. "Here Leo," Raph intervened. "I'll take those for him." A little stunned Leo replied, "Oh, uh, ya sure," then handed Raphael the bundle.
As the turtles went there separate ways Leo and Mikey went into Mikey's room. As soon as they entered Leo shut the door behind them and turned to face his brother. Mikey was frantically wiping the tears from his eyes. "Well whadya think?" he said with a smile on his face. Leo shook his head at the floor with both hands on his hip. "I think you should win an academy award. That was awesome. Thanks for taking the blame." Mikey smiled up at Leo, "Na... it was noth'n. You'd do the same for me. Raph can be a real jerk sometimes." Leo rolled his eyes as if to say, "Ya, tell me about it." Mikey laughed before replying. "Besides, obviously that lesson tonight from Sensi didn't really teach him anything or he wouldn't have just said all that." Leo looked at his youngest brother curiously. That was actually a pretty good observation to come from Michelangelo. "That's why I decided to take matters into my own hands." Leo raised and eye brow as his brother explained on. "Raph may be a jerk at times, but what really gets him. I mean really gets under his skin is if one of us is hurt. I mean truly hurt, not angry. He gets a kick out of us being angry, but when I started to cry and he saw the pain he caused I knew I had him right where I wanted him." Mikey punched a fist into the air before diving onto his bed in celebration. Leo stood stunned. For a moment he stood thinking on his youngest brother and how observant he must be to notice such things. All of his brothers knew each other, but Mikey really KNEW. Mikey took the time to notice the fine details about each other. Leo smiled and walked over to his brother's bed. "Ok, smarty pants scooch over. We still got training in the morning." Mikey smiled and slid over to the other side of his bed making room for Leo." Leo sat down and rubbed his eyes. Reaching for Mikey's skateboard lamp he pulled the switch and laid down in the dark room with a peaceful grimace on his face.
Down the hall Splinter grinned from ear to ear. He had overheard the entire ordeal. "Well done my sons," he said quietly to himself before heading to the dojo for some early meditation.
Well guys I'm a new writer. I'm totally obsessed with the TMNT. Believe it or not Raphael is my favorite turtle. Raph, Mikey, Leo, then Don. However, I believe Don is the most important. Without him everything else would literally fall apart. All his inventions and smarty pantsness! lol... Anyway... I'll start working on the next chapter next week!