Sorry for the delay. College exams. Gotta love 'em.
Disclaimer: I… still don't own the turtles.
Chapter 10: Salvaging Relationships
Don looked out his lab door. Raph had promised to make sure Leo was focused elsewhere, and Mike was deep asleep.
"Ah don' like't, Donnie," Raph said, growling. They were behind Don's shut lab door, arguing back and forth.
"Raph, I need to salvage parts for this. Mikey won't be able to speak until I do." That had been the defining argument. "I'll be careful; if I don't come back within an hour, you'll know something's wrong."
Raph had hesitated at that. They had just gotten free of Stockman's lab; he definitely didn't want to see any of them fall into his hands again, especially since Don was just beginning to put weight back on, his recovery being the slowest for the nights the genius spent awake, trying to fix Mike's voice problem.
Grumpily, Raph finally agreed to keep Leo occupied so Don could sneak out; when Don had told Leo he needed parts, the leader had firmly insisted that the braniac had to stay inside until all four could go together. With the promise of a new bike tune up, Don was good to go.
So now Don was taking over Raph's role and sneaking out; he could hear his older brothers arguing quietly in the hallway as he tiptoed to the door, opened it, and snuck out into the sewers. It was a quick run to the junkyard.
"Helloooo, precious," he muttered, shifting through the computer/technology piles. He had to be very careful about what he chose; he only had one pair of arms to carry stuff back with this time.
"Hellooo, busted," a voice smirked above him. Don whirled and had his Bo out, dropping his cargo, before realizing it was Raph.
"Raph, don't do that!" he almost yelled. "I nearly had a heart attack."
"Relax," Leo offered, emerging from the shadows. Don gaped at him and then made a sheepish noise and looked down. Leo's wings rustled gently. "Raph told me you needed to salvage. I was wondering when you were going to try sneaking out."
Don shot Raph a glare. "Raph was supposed to keep you occupied."
"Ah think 'e saw righ' through it," Raph admitted, opening his hands in a helpless gesture. "Ah can' helpit if Ah ain't a great liar."
"So, what are we looking for?" Leo interrupted as Don was about to retort. The purple-banded turtle took a minute to organize himself, slide his Bo away, and gather the fallen parts before answering.
"Anything that makes noise, really."
"Like a speakin' doll?" Raph snorted. Don blinked.
"That's a wonderful idea." Raph just snickered and headed towards the residential piles. Leo went to the opposite end of the technology pile from Don and began shifting through.
A few minutes later, Raph trotted back, holding a pile of dirty and broken dolls. A few looked to be in better shape than the others.
"How 'bout these, Don?"
Don chuckled at the sight of Raph eyeing his cargo of dolls. "Bring them all. I've got the vibration sensors, and a few extra bits and pieces. With the dolls' recordings, I should be able to see what I can do."
They swung by Leo, who was buried almost to his hips in computer parts when he shifted a piece of junk and the pile had collapsed on him. He was calmly swimming his way through it when Raph appeared to give him a hand.
They snuck back towards the lair, making sure they weren't seen.
Leo opened the door and let Raph and Don precede him into the room. When he joined them, they were confronted by Master Splinter, and a tired Mike.
"My sons, where have you been?" Master Splinter asked in a quiet voice.
"Sensei." Leo bowed. "Don, Raph, and I went salvaging. We disobeyed, but we came back unharmed and unfollowed. Don felt it was imperative we go searching; he has done all he can with his current equipment."
Mikey was staring at Raph, obviously trying to hold back a laugh. Consciously, Raph shifted his arm-ful of dolls.
"I see. I am disappointed you did not consult with me first, Leonardo."
"I'm very sorry, Father."
"Donatello, Raphael; you may begin working on your new project, Donatello. Raphael, you will assist him. Leonardo, I would like to speak to you." Master Splinter turned and walked serenely towards his room. Leo gave Don his armful of equipment and followed the rat; the other three turtles went into Don's lab.
"Master, I…"
Splinter waved a hand, cutting his eldest off as they knelt facing each other, the door closed behind Leo's shell.
"You have nothing to apologize for, my son. You did as you thought best, for the good of your brothers. I am proud you did not allow Donatello to leave by himself." Leo bowed his head humbly. "All I ask is that you inform me before you leave. Your brother Michelangelo was very distressed when he could not find you. He needs you, Leonardo; during your…" Splinter thought on how best to address this. The youngest had revealed to Splinter Stockman's plans for him, and had sworn his father to silence. He didn't want his brothers going after Stockman, and he didn't want them knowing what he'd seen. Splinter knew his orange-banded turtle's frivolity was mostly a mask.
"Master Splinter?" Leo inquired quietly when the rat was silent for a long moment.
"He saw too much for his young mind, Leonardo." Leo sighed quietly and rested his hands on his knees. "Michelangelo needs you all to be around for him. He is hiding it very well, but he is very frightened."
Leo nodded, and a plan began to form in his mind. "Master Splinter… I know it is nearly winter, but I feel that it would be most beneficial to all of us if we were to… take a vacation."
The rat's nose twitched. "The farmhouse is quite cold this time of year."
The eldest turtle nodded. "But what if we went somewhere else. Far from the Foot, or Stockman; towards warmer weather."
"What destination do you have in mind?"
Leo hesitated. He'd always wanted to visit the South American jungle… It would be warm this time of year, and they could hitch a ride on a boat. Don had warned them all not to try climbing into planes; the air when the plane was flying was cold enough to "crack their tails off" as Mike had put it.
"Brazil," he finally answered. Master Splinter's tail twitched slowly back and forth. "It would be warm, isolated; we could find a cave in a jungle and not see another human for weeks."
Slowly, Master Splinter nodded. "I agree with this plan, Leonardo. It would be very beneficial for your brothers to have some time to adjust. Especially Michelangelo. He needs to be reminded that not all of his world has been destroyed."
Leo nodded, warming to the idea even more. "I will arrange everything, Master Splinter."
"I will remain here, Leonardo." Leo froze, half-way off the floor. "You and your brothers must learn to do without my presence, and these bones are getting too old to sneak aboard a ship."
The leader frowned. "Sensei… We can't just leave you here."
"April has invited me to stay with her should the need arise. I believe I will take her up on that invitation. You will take your brothers to South America, my son; you will stay there until Michelangelo is free from his torments, Raphael has come to grips with his weaknesses, and Donatello understands that he cannot fix everything." And when you realize you are more than just a leader, my son, Splinter silently added.
Leo stood and bowed. "Hai, Sensei. As you command." He left silently, unconsciously taking in the few ambient noises and using them to cover the soft pad of his feet against the floor, moving to a rhythm he no longer sensed, but lived.
Master Splinter sighed proudly. Leonardo was, by far, the best student any Sensei could hope for. He was a strong leader, mentally and spiritually a true ninja. Physically, he moved with the grace of a tiger, soft but sure, swift and lethal.
Michelangelo had more the spirit of a monkey; socially-inclined, the turtle did best when surrounded by others. Deadly when provoked, yet deceivingly humorous, the youngest was a student of ninjitsu mostly so he could show off his moves. The orange-banded turtle practiced occasionally, preferring the art of computer gaming over that of defense.
Raphael, Master Splinter thought, embodied the spirit of a lion. He was quick to take offense, but even quicker to defend his family. His style of fighting was mixed ninjitsu and wrestling, combining a deadly combination of speed and strength.
Donatello was the least inclined towards violence; in him rested the curious and seeking aspect embodied by the cat. He sought both solitude and company; he was the first to ask "Why?" when something went wrong, and the last to take arms in a fight. The braniac was, if it came down to it, just as lethal as Leonardo himself, however; his skill with the Bo meant he could judge his hits and accuracy to injure an attacker in the least amount of effort and time.
The rat lit a candle, meditating. He knew he had made the right choice; his sons, especially Michelangelo, needed to be free of the confines of the lair. They needed to explore on their own. Splinter knew he wouldn't be around much longer; already his joints were stiffening. Donatello had given him a powder to mix with his tea to ease the pain, but he knew it would be soon that he would have to leave his sons to defend themselves.
Leo rapped on Don's lab door, which stood propped open anyway. "Guys," Leo said, calling their attention from the pile of electronics Don was shifting through. "Sensei has ordered that we take a vacation."
Mikey grinned widely and made as if to pack. "Yes, away from the lair, Mike," Leo chuckled.
"The farmhouse?" Don asked worriedly. "It's getting cold, Leo."
"I know. We're going somewhere else." Leo grinned. "You should pack for warmth."
Raph's eye ridge crinkled in confusion. "Where're we goin', Fearless?"
"Brazil."
There was a moment of stunned silence before Mikey hummed loudly in happiness. Don shook his head. "Brazil? And just how are we going to get there? How long are we staying? Where in Brazil?"
"I thought we all might want to decide. Master Splinter is staying here; he wants us to bond." Leo shot a glance at Mike. "We will leave in a week; that will give us time to tell our friends and prepare ourselves."
Don looked around. "I suppose we won't be living anywhere near electricity?" he asked hopefully.
"No. We'll be in the jungle."
Don sighed and glanced at the youngest, who was hopping up and down in excitement. "Mikey… I don't know if I can have a viable translator for you by then."
Mike looked around; Raph handed him a pad of paper and pencil from a table nearby. In his haste, Mikey's scrawl was nearly indecipherable. "Donnie, I wanna go! I don't care if I can't speak!"
Leo was impressed by this. Did Master Splinter know this? The leader had a sneaking suspicion that was why he had suggested a vacation. He knew he had been led into the conversation about taking a vacation.
"Well, if you're sure, Mikey…" Mike nodded enthusiastically and Don turned to Leo. "I'll be ready to go in a week, then."
"Me, too," Raph agreed. Mikey nodded and hugged Leo before zipping off to his room to pack. "Ah better go say bye to Case, then."
Leo shook his head. "Would you invite them over to dinner tomorrow instead, Raph?" he asked. "I'll get LH and Professory Honeycutt, and we'll have a going away party."
Raph mulled it over and finally nodded. "OK, 's long 's Mikey cooks."
Leo idly glowered at Raph. "I am improving."
"Ya… At the 'xpense of th' pots." Don sniggered. It was true; Leo had spent more time scrubbing burned messes off a pot than cooking the actual meal, it seemed like.
"Ingrates," Leo muttered, walking out; his brothers high-fived behind his back. "You two are in charge of travel arrangements."
He heard twin groans from the room and smiled triumphantly. Usually against a misuse of his leadership power, he did have other reasons; Don could make more sense of which ports would be easier to sneak into and out of than Leo, and Raph could help Don somehow, Leo was sure.
Navigating the way to LH's lair was easy – though he made sure to tell Mikey where he was going and ask if the youngest wanted to join him – and Leo tendered the invitation. Both their friends agreed to attend.
Raph reported back that he had called April and they agreed to attend, as well. Leo and Mike spent an hour picking the foods, and then – with Master Splinter's permission this time – disguised themselves and picked up the groceries themselves.
It wasn't a practice Leo enjoyed; he hated being surrounded by humans. However, he didn't want April to pick up the groceries; they wanted the menu to be a surprise. Each had chosen a dish they knew someone loved in the group, and were careful to avoid peanuts – which Mike was allergic to – and pepper, which made Leo sneeze. They went to an old Walmart just before it closed; when they got back to the lair, arms full of bulging plastic bags, it was nearly midnight.
Mikey went straight to the kitchen and started putting groceries away. Leo helped him and then checked in with Raph and Don. Don, despite his earlier misgivings, was trying to piece together a speaker through which Mikey could speak. He explained it was like what humans used if someone needed to have their voice box removed for various reasons; Mike would be able to put it to his throat and speak. Leo left him to it, checked in on Raph – who was listening to rock music in his room loudly – and then went to Mike again.
Mike indicated he wanted to watch a movie. Leo agreed; he wanted to train, but he remembered Master Splinter's insistence that he spend more time with the youngest. Leo didn't particularly mind, either; at least, not until Mike chose Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. The eldest groaned good-naturedly; they had watched this movie many times over the years.
Once the movie was finished, Leo tried to stand up to turn the TV off and retreat to bed, but Mikey was fast asleep, using Leo's shoulder as a pillow. Sighing fondly, Leo shifted to make himself comfortable, leaned his head back, and awaited the inevitable.
Click. There it was. Leo roused himself to see Raph just coming into his view. "Tha's jus' too cute," Raph sniggered, waving a camera. "Ah hadda get a pitcher."
Leo smiled slightly. "As you like. Could you help me get him into bed?" Raph sighed theatrically but nodded, putting the camera down and sliding strong arms under Mike's shell. Lifting his little brother with deceptive caution, he freed his big brother of the weight. Leo stood and took the lead, opening Mikey's door to his room.
Raph carefully navigated through the comics strewn on the floor and deposited the youngest into his bed. He went back to Leo, closed the door softly, and muttered, "Mikey's still too scrawny, Leo… Ah don' like it."
Leo sighed and nodded. "I'm hoping this vacation will see more meat on his bones," Leo admitted. "He needs to run again."
"Too scared to go up top," Raph grunted.
Leo just shook his head and walked away, his brother following. "I want him to be entirely secure when we go out again, Raph. He's fragile. Imagine if you couldn't lift your arms. That's how Mikey's feeling."
"Or if ya couldn' med'tate," Raph agreed. "Ah know. Jus'… Don' like this, Leo." He shook his head. They had their differences, but since Stockman's lair, Raph had come to realize no few things about his leader – the calm exterior wasn't fearlessness, it was courage. They'd had a few discussions since then, and come to something of a truce.
To his surprise, Leo disagreed. "I think it's what we need, Raph. Mike needs to get away from the memories here. Don needs to take a break. I could use a run, and I know you would love to see the jungle."
Quietly, Raph sank onto the couch. Leo sat in the chair nearby. "We foun' a boat. Goin' quiet. Prolly not legal, but we ain't either." Raph smirked slightly. "Shou' be jus' wha' we want."
"Excellent." Leo squirmed, trying to find a way to sit that would keep his wings from bending and the broken bone from hurting. Giving up, he lay on his plastron on the floor, legs kicking at the air and tail lazily coiled over the backs of his thighs.
Raph admitted he was jealous of Leo's wings – to fly sounded like a dream come true. However, as he looked at the fragile bones of Leo's wings, the cast still wrapped around one of them, he realized it was more of a vulnerability. One good smash to his back and Leo would be down, which was doubly threatening because they'd been trained to use their shell as a defensive weapon.
"We're gonna train there, right?" Raph asked after a few minutes of comfortable silence. Leo nodded.
"Of course. The jungle will be a good place to build our endurance. Perhaps…" Leo's wings shifted. Raph felt another stab of envy. "Perhaps I can truly test what I can do."
"Ya," Raph grunted.
Leo sat up slightly. "Raph, you can't be jealous of me," he insisted.
"Why not, Fearless?" The hothead growled. He was getting sick of Leo's comments about his wings. Why should Leo get all the good stuff?
Leo sat up further, rolling slightly to look at Raph. "I wouldn't wish these wings on anyone." He said it quietly. Raph frowned.
"Leo, you can fly," Raph pointed out. "You have a third weapon – a third leg, even."
"And it hurt," Leo interrupted quietly. Raph shut his mouth. "My wings, my tail – it hurt, Raph. I can't sit down normally any more. I can barely use the toilet properly…" Leo shut his mouth, eyes widening. Raph snorted in laughter.
Fearless can't take a dump without holding his tail, he laughed to himself. He kept quiet, though.
Leo sighed. "Raph, believe me, if you wanted wings, I would be glad to give them to you, but the pain I would wish on no one. Being stuck on my plastron for weeks, having to rebuild my strength… I felt so useless," the leader admitted quietly.
Raph shook his head. "It ain't yer fault."
"I should have avoided that dart," Leo pointed out. Raph snorted.
"Even you can' avoid everything, Leo." Leo was silent, brooding. "Well, whateva'. I'm goin' to bed. You should, too, 'cause Mikey's gonna wanna bake 'til ya drop."
"Always looking out for me," Leo chuckled quietly, heaving himself up carefully. Raph disappeared into his room; Leo went into his, turning off the light and taking his bandana off, to fall into his futon and fall almost instantly asleep.