This was going to be chapter 12 of the Silent Partner. I didn't put it in because I thought it was just a little too…well…melodramatic. I don't know…I guess that's what I worry about most in my writing. I'm afraid that sometimes I make things way more emotional than they should be and then I psyche my self out thinking that it's not good.

Anyway…enough about me. So this is an outtake from the Silent Partner where we see Leo being an awesome guy. Because he is.

The Silent Partner Outtake 1: Denial

It was evening in the turtle lair. And for once, it was quiet. Absolutely quiet. Which it often was when the turtles were out patrol, which they were. Mona had been reluctant after what had happened last time, but she eventually let them go. Right now she was in her room, alone, hugging her pillow to her chest. Splinter was right: concern didn't help bring them home any faster, but that didn't mean she could just push her feelings off to the side.

Mona Lisa was worried, plain and simple. She was worried about all of them, of course she was but…she was particularly worried about Raphael. He hadn't been himself since Mikey had walked in on them the other day. He'd been strangely skittish and he shied away from her touch. And Mona Lisa wasn't certain, but it seemed to her like Raph had been avoiding her. It hurt. She wanted to know what she'd done wrong. Why he suddenly just…stopped. He'd stopped standing so close to her, stopped smiling at her, stopped…liking her.

Raph's behavior really had Mona Lisa feeling down-in-the-dumps. She missed him. Even when he was right there in the room with her she missed him. She…liked Raphael. And she wanted him to like her back. Oh, how she wanted him to like her back. But now it seemed like he wanted nothing to do with her…

A tear slid down Mona's cheek and she hugged the pillow tighter. A soft sob left her as she cried…alone.

Less than a minute after she'd begun sobbing the door burst open.

"Hey Mona I was wondering if you—" The eldest of the turtle siblings stopped halfway through the sentence, his voice dying away as he registered the scene before him.

Leonardo frowned sadly and took a seat on the bed beside her. He put a hand on her shoulder. "Mona…are you okay?"

The lizard mutant sat up a little and dried her eyes. For a long moment she stared silently at the eldest turtle before abruptly breaking into another chorus of sobs and throwing herself at him.

Leo caught her with ease and wrapped her in a loose embrace. "Sh. Its okay. You're safe here. Nothing from your past can harm you here."

Mona Lisa shook her head violently.

The ninja leader was confused. "Huh?"

As Mona gestured Leo's eyes followed very carefully as he tried to comprehend what she was saying. She went as slow as she could but eventually she got so upset that she threw her hands up in the air and surrendered with sigh.

Leonardo frowned. That wasn't like Mona. She didn't give up easily. She was stubborn. She hated it when she couldn't get her point across. Leo's bottom lip pushed out in a contemplative expression and he finally resolved to wrap a gentle arm around her shoulders.

The lizard mutant looked forlornly up into the eldest turtle's big blue eyes.

"Take your time." Leo stated.

Mona canted her head in confusion and Leo let out a light chuckle.

"I'm not going anywhere until I understand what's bothering you."

Mona Lisa sighed in relief and wrapped Leonardo in a grateful hug. Slowly she began to explain as best she could…

"Raph? Why? What happened?"

After a long period of silence, Mona attempted to describe, in great detail, what had occurred between Raphael and herself the day he threw the fork in the ceiling.

Leo's eyes widened and his cheeks flushed.

Mona sighed and her shoulders drooped. Her hair cascaded down in front of her eyes and shadowed her face.

Leo's embarrassed stare immediately melted into one of concern. "Mona Lisa, are you alright?"

'He doesn't like me.' She gestured, a single tear running down her cheek.

"What?! Mona, how can you say that? Of course Raph likes you!"

Mona Lisa shook her head.

The eldest turtle tilted the lizard mutant's chin up so that he could see into her eyes. "Mona, please believe me when I say that Raphael cares more about you than he's ever cared for anyone before. He's just too darn hardheaded to see that it's staring him right in the face."

Earth brown eyes were so hopeful that it made Leo's stomach twist.

"The only reason Raph's been avoiding you is because I'd wager that he thinks you don't realize what you're doing. He doesn't want to take advantage of you, Mona."

Her eyes widened. 'What do I do?'

Leonardo smiled. "I've got an idea. But we're gonna need Donnie and Mikey's help."

Review Please? How was it? Did you guys like it?