Chapter # 10 Choices

"… and on top of everything else, you've been disrespectful to everyone in this family," Raphael lectured Dalton back in their rooms. He really was at his wits end with his eldest son.

"If I ground you, you sneak out. If I make you do flips, you make jokes about it. If I take away your Nintendo, you take your brother's game. If I load you down with chores, you do a sloppy job and leave a bigger mess than what you started with." Raph shook his head. "I just don't know what I'm going to do with you, Dalton. The only time you ever seem to ever learn your lesson is when I spank you or Leo takes your weapons away, but even that's been happening too much as of late without having much effect."

Raph sighed in defeat. Now he knew how Master Splinter must have felt. Like his son, Raphael had been in trouble all the time, and he remembered that he had often been disciplined harshly.

Raph shut his eyes, regretfully remembering those days. His three son's behavior was haunting him, reminding his too much of what his was like.

What was he going to do? As the eldest son, Dalton was setting a terrible example for his two younger brothers. Dakota especially, was beginning to follow in his older brother's foot steps.

Then again, as the eldest ninja turtle, Leo had set only the best example for him and his brothers to follow and it didn't do any good. Up until the whole incident with Carson, everyone thought Leo was perfect. He still kind of was. Had he always been expected to be? Raphael didn't know. What he did know was that it was because of him that Leo ever got in trouble, and sometimes Mikey. They were the trouble makers.

At least Mikey respected Leo as a superior though, unlike Raph who was defiant and challenged Leo's authority. Leo really only had to get after Mikey because he goofed off too much, such as the time he skipped out on our early morning practice runs to watch cartoons, and other things that had caused him almost not to gain his ninja status title.

In that brief couple of seconds, Raphael opened his eyes. He now thought he knew how he was going to finally get through to his son, though it pained him so to have to do it.

Dalton was staring at the floor, waiting for his father to dish out his punishment for his misbehavior, though he wished his father would hurry up so they could get it over and done with.

"My son, I'm sorry to have to do this, but I don't think you've left me any choice," Raph began.

Dalton looked up at the red wearing turtle. Here it came. Dalton knew his father was very angry. He was going to get it good now.

"You refuse to take responsibility for your own actions, and at your age and rank you are more than capable of doing so," said Raphael. "Therefore, the next time everyone tests out for belt, you will not join them."

Dalton's eyes grew wide and angry. How dare his father not let him test out.

"No! Then Dakota can get ahead of me," Dalton gaped as the realization began to hit him. How awful would it be having a younger brother that was of higher ranking order than you were?

"Well you should have thought of that before you decided to act out," said Raphael.

"You can't do that!" Dalton exploded.

"I can do this, Dalton, and I am," Raph thundered

"You're not Sensei"

Raph back handed his son so fast the boy dropped to the floor. Afterwards, he felt bad for losing his temper again and taking it out on his son. Leo had warned him countless times that his anger would get the better of him one day, as had Master Splinter. "You must learn to control your anger, or it will control you," they had told him.

Raph pulled Dalton to his feet. Neither one of them knew what to say.

There was a nasty red gash were Raph had struck the boy. Rebecca was sure to notice that.

Leo chose that moment to enter their lodgings. He frowned at Raphael upon noticing Dalton's face.

"Uncle Leo, Dad said he won't let me test out at our next belt test. He can't do that can he?" Dalton asked as he looked up at Leonardo from where he was perched on his bed.

Leo nodded. "Yes, he can." Raph crossed his arms across his chest.

"But…but he's not Sensei," Dalton pointed out.

"Your father may have not been chosen to be the clan leader, but that doesn't mean he is any less of a ninja than I am," Leo corrected his eldest nephew.

"So…I can test out?" Dalton asked hopefully.

"Nope. Not until your father says otherwise you will not be allowed to test out for belt with the other kids," Leo confirmed.

"Can I have my sai back?"

Leo gave him a look. "Now you should know better than to ask me that," he said.

Dalton sighed. He knew Leo would say no, but he just had to try.

As predicted, Rebecca was furious with Raphael. Her muffled screams could be heard through the thick walls, all the way into Master Splinter's Office where the rat had told Leo and Carson they could discuss the issue of Carson coming to live with the family.

"Carson," Leo began as the two sat across from one another in Master Splinter's matching chair cushions. "I would be honored if you would come live with me and my family." Leo said.

Carson couldn't believe what he was hearing. The father he had never known up until a couple of days ago was now offering him a new home.

"It is I who would be honored," Carson replied. "I would love nothing more, Father."

"You do understand that you would be both living and training under my rule," Leo stated.

"Yes Sensei," Carson answered without a moment's hesitation as he stood up and bowed to his father.

"Come here," Leo said.

Carson obeyed immediately as Leo wrapped his arms around his son.

At first, Carson was startled by the new and strange action. Leo doubted that he had hardly ever received any affection at home in Japan. The boy would certainly have some new customs to get used to.

"Get used to it," Leonardo told Carson. "Hugs are something you will be getting a lot of from Nathan especially, and some of the other kids too."

Carson smiled. The hug was warm and loving. He missed his mother terribly, but coming to live with his father was looking more and more like the best thing that had ever happened to him.

Carson already had a younger brother that looked up to him.

"Yay! You're coming home with us," Nathan shouted happily after he heard the news when Carson and Leo had returned to the room that evening.

"Is everyone ready?" Leo asked as they entered.

"Yes."

"Yes Sensei."

"I'm ready."

"Me too," came the replies.

"Good," Leo said. "You'll have one more session with your grandfather tomorrow, and then we leave tomorrow night."

Leo then left to repeat his message to the girls. He wanted to make his plans especially clear to them that needed to have everything packed and ready to go or it would be left behind.

"Can Grandpa come visit us in New York?" asked Jane.

"I'm sure he will sometime," Emily told her daughter.

Now that Leo thought about it, having Splinter come stay a while with them didn't sound like a half bad idea. It might even be a real help with Dalton's bad attitude and getting Carson situated and all. Yeah, the more Leo thought about it, the more it sounded like a great idea.

"Why don't you ask him tomorrow?" Leo suggested to his niece.

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