Hey! I'm back. Thank you to fireworksinthenight, BakaClara + Ellie for reviewing the last chapter. Ellie especially, your review brought the biggest smile to my face ever.

We now return to the turtles, where Leo is trying something new…

See chapter one for the disclaimer and let's crack on.

"C'mon, Donnie! You can do better than that!" Leo said, encouragingly.

His twin gave a huff. "Yeah, right."

"You can! Just believe in yourself!"

"Yeah!" Mikey chipped in, dodging his brothers blows. "Just stop thinking and start feeling."

Purple paused, clearly confused and Mikey took the opportunity to swiftly kick his feet from under him so Purple landed on his shell.

"…Ow."

"Agh! Sorry Don…here." Mikey held a hand out. "Didn't mean for you to land on your shell…"

"Agh!" That came from Leon. Honestly if he had hair he would be tearing it out by now. "No! Mikey he can get up on his own, he's not a complete invalid!"

"-But his shell-!"

"Will be fine if he gets up slowly. See?" Leo indicated his twin, who was slowly getting to his feet. "Now, let's try again-"

"Leon!"

Blue froze and closed his eyes. Ah man. Just what he needed.

"LEON!"

He sighed and turned round to face an angry Raph. "May I help you Raphael?" He said, twirling his swords around lazily.

Red's eyes narrowed and he indicated for Leo to come closer.

Leo sighed again and said. "…Okay take five, people."

"At last." Donnie muttered, rubbing the base of his shell.

Blotting out the background noise, Blue tried to focus on his elder brother, but found himself unable to meet his eyes. "Yes Raph?"

Said turtle snorted and hissed, under his breath. "What the shell do you think you're playing at? Where's Donnie's staff?"

"Over there, in the corner." Leo said, nodding towards said item. "What did you think I'd done with it? Thrown it in the sewer?"

Raph's eyes narrowed and he grabbed his younger brothers arms and gently pulled him into the living room. "You know what I mean, smart-arse. Why isn't he using it to defend himself?"

Leo, feeling pretty ticked off already folded his arms and said. "Er, because I want him to realise there's more to fighting than technology? Look, Raph, that staff is great, it's brilliant, but it does rather make itself a magnet for bad guys doesn't it? I mean, seriously, how long is it gonna be till one of the million of them has a brainwave and thinks 'ooh, maybe I'll try getting the flashing stick away from the purple-banded one and then see if I can win' and you know what, Raph? I have a horrible feeling they would win, because Donnie thinks he can't fight without that staff-"

"-He can't fight without that staff-"

"He can!" Leo said, resisting the urge to stamp his foot. "I know he can! He just needs a bit of practice and a bit of time-"

"-So you're pairing him with Michael?"

"Of course I'm pairing him with Michael, it might have escaped your notice Raphie, but we're not exactly spoiled for choice down here are we? And anyway Michael is extremely good at hand to hand combat, isn't he? Don could learn a lot."

Raph moved his mouth and struggled for words while Leo stood there, still with folded arms, staring him straight in the eyes. After a couple of seconds Red blurted out. "But his shell-!"

"-Is not going away!" Leo snapped. He caught himself, pinched the bridge of his nose and said, as patiently as he could. "He needs to learn to battle with it, not avoid it. Of course I'm not saying it's not a liberty, I'm not saying it's not something that shouldn't be taken into account, but it needs to be worked with, not against, do you understand me?"

Raph went silent, clearly mulling over what his brother was saying. "…What if he gets injured?"

"Then, depending on the situation we'll help him - protect him - and punch the other party into oblivion. Look, Raphael, I know you worry about him, but, and I know you're not going to like what I'm about to say, but I think your worry is hindering him. Look, I get it you don't want to hurt his feelings, like with the gadgets incident, but you can't protect him forever." During his speech, Leon had been watching Raph closely and saw his fists clench at the last part.

"I'll damn well try." Raph said, mulishly. "If anyone thinks I'm letting any of you guys…go through shell knows what without getting involved they've got another thing coming."

Blue internally sighed. Well, it would have to do for now. "…Shall we go back in then?"

There was a pause then Raph nodded.

As they opened the door they heard Donnie's voice.

"…Okay…okay…got it, we'll be there. Yes ASAP, yes I promise April."

Raph and Leo looked at each other. Then at the clock in the living room. It was 10:15. How had April managed to get into trouble before the end of first period, for shells sake?

"We're on our way. Yes, bye April." Purple hung up and shook his head.

There was a pause and then Mikey said what they were all thinking. "Well!?"

Donnie looked at the phone and said, in a voice that suggested he couldn't believe what he was saying. "You're not going to believe this…."