Chapter 33

It was closer to the time everyone went to bed except patrol and the Vampires. Rae and Raph had successfully made it through the rest of the day in company of others, and Matt and Sam were very slowly tipping up their game. Only Electric and the lead Vamp family seemed to know, but didn't quite show it; instead just went with the flow.

First to bed was the Birthday Girl, eager to continue her reading, and Andrew. Next off were Raphael and Rachel, their nerves both on the fringes where they wanted to be alone. After that, Ellie and Jacob followed by Electric, Donatello and Lily. Soon after Sammy and Matt disappeared, it was just Michelangelo and Nao as well as Leonardo and Brianna.

Mikey had watched everyone disappear, couple by couple by single by couple again. It was an interesting pattern, and he had to wonder. "Do you think Eletric is ever going to bring his girl here or do you think she's not allowed inside the territory? Like...a rival gang-girl or something."

"Mikey." Leo scowled at the younger brother, "It's possible she doesn't want to be involved."

Mikey sighed, "Life without adventure, how dull."

Nao stretched as she laughed before she let out her seal-sounding cough that had become familiar for the past week or so. "Some prefer that life, Angelo, not wanting to leave their safe zones, but I do agree with you. However, I'd think just being with Electric makes it adventure enough," she smiled.

Mikey looked her, still slightly worried about her fever and her coughing, but he knew and she knew that it was just the flu. Time could only heal it as well as Lese's excellent cures. "Getting stunned all the time, pranks, I feel for her now."

"That's because you're on the receiving end. I'm just going to be hoping that there won't come a day when you and Eletric go off with a prank war. I mean, he can accidentally hurt you," Leo lectured lightly.

"Yeah," Mikey nodded, "Accidents happen, getting shocked on the other hand I'm sure would just be like static, can't hurt." He looked over at Nao, "At least, I hope not…" Shocks, different kinds of them, could hurt or could heal.

"Even if it did, I would be right there to heal him, Leo," Nao smiled.

Bria chuckled at the exchanged, "Hey, minna, I don't remember whose turn it was to do patrol...was it you guys or us? Maybe the Vampires, I don't know……"

"It was Ian and Nicky." Leo said, "Lese's in the den alone." Controlling Earth was a benefit; he knew who was in the warehouse, where they were and how safe they were. He was sure Raphael was more attuned to Fire than Earth himself.

"I wanted to go on patrol, honestly," Nao nibbled at her bottom lip, "Though if they're already off doing it, I'll stay here." She added a bit sullenly.

"I don't think I would have let you." Mikey said, worriedly. "Winter's are bad when you're sick…especially equipped with a fever that's gone down a bit."

"You hate sitting around even though you're sick, don't you? Gee, sounds like several others I used to or do know…" Bria asked going around Mikey's statement and rested her chin in her hand.

"I like it when I'm sick. Comic books, video games galore," Mikey grinned lightly.

Leo just glared, "If you would stop with so much of them you would have more katas under your belt."

"Says the one that Donny literally has to tie down," Mikey snickered.

Bria laughed, "Whom I've helped do just that," she grinned.

Leo glared at Bria but amusement played, "Yes, but you're not good yourself."

Bria looked off to the other side, a fake innocent look on her face, "You mean me?"

"Don't try the innocence face!" Mikey cried, "I perfected that to an art!"

Nao laughed again, earning another cough, but she ignored it, "It appears that you're the only lazy one in this room, Angelo," she grinned.

"Yeah, in this room," Mikey snickered, "but I'm sure that you'd get used to being lazy too during your sick days."

"Bad habits, Mikey," Leo sighed, "Very bad. We already have trouble trying to get you to focus, we don't need to lose Nao."

"Oh come on," Mikey pouted, "She's right there."

"You're right in front of us, but your mind must be millions of miles away." Leo pointed out to him.

Nao shook her head, "Leo has a point, Mikesters." She leaned back against the couch, "Anyway…I've only been sick a total of 3 times now. First were a few weeks after I met Kimiko and the next little after I met Atsushi and Daisuke. Last is now."

Nao folded her arms, "But thankfully this one seems to be the lightest one. But I guess that's because I'm in a better place with more family and better equipment."

"That doesn't mean I'm letting you go off to find Nicky and beg him for his shift." Mikey warned, "I'm on to you."

Leo snorted and lightly started playing with the necklace that Bria gave him; Mikey would be on to Nao……he would have done the same to Casey if he had patrol.

Bria smiled as she watched Leo fiddle with the cross necklace she had put around his neck before his change, pleading to god to let him live. Cradle Catholic she may be, but that didn't mean she really completely followed the Christian ways. She just followed what she knew and believed in herself, but she did believe there was definitely a gracious power out there that had granted her wish.

She remembered even though they were both weak, Donatello still had to force Leo down, and she even had to be told several times to sit. That lasted about a day or two, honestly, because they were both extremely stubborn. She laughed lightly at the memory.

Leo knew the memory Bria was thinking of since some of it flashed into his mind, the connection they had together was strong. He smiled lightly and leaned back against the couch and looked over at the clock. Eleven. "You both should get some rest." Leo pointed out to the sickly woman and his baby brother. "Especially you, since you're so sick…"

"She's not that bad…she's recovering…" Mikey was uncertain. Lese had started keeping a closer eye on the woman, but he was sure it was just because Lese was old and still liked being a mother to everyone; at least…that's how the Fireside gang treated her as, from time to time.

Nao, however, understood the look Leonardo was giving, telling them he wanted to be alone with Bria. She placed an amused hand on Mikey's shoulder, "It's fine, Michel," she soothed, "I am a bit tired, so I will read before I fall into the dream world."

"Alright," Mikey said standing up, "Are you going to be okay walking alone?"

Nao nodded, "I believe so," she told him with a smile and went to the stairs.

Mikey followed after her, making sure that she was really okay and ready to be her support.

Leo watched them for a while before turning back to Bria, "We haven't been alone like this for a while…"

She smiled, "I know. Something always happens," she chuckled and rubbed her collar bone absent-mindedly. She hadn't had much time to realize that she no longer had something necklace-wise around her neck. Now after seeing Leo fiddle with the cross it made her feel a bit bare, but she would never take it back. It was his now.

He watched her for a while before bringing an arm over her shoulder and started playing with her hair. Feeling the soft texture of it through his fingers… He was thinking, "Don't jinx it." He murmured, "Moments like these don't always come around this often. I sort of want to just soak it in. Being alone with you, I mean." He shot her a small smile, "What are your thoughts? Just…randomly…"

Bria giggled and kissed the bottom of his jaw, "I just sort of miss having a necklace, that's all. Unless meditating, I'm sure you've seem me always moving or fidgeting with something. That necklace helped me think most of the time as I'm sure it does for you now."

"Do you wish to have it back?" Leo asked, "It was yours to begin with."

"Iie!" Bria's eyes widened at the thought, "I won't take it back," she said stubbornly, "It's yours now, I gave it to you because you need it." He didn't know it, and hopefully never would, but it acted as a shield for defense like Ember and Shiori were her offensive magic weapons.

Leo laughed, "Calm down, it was just a question." He murmured, lightly. "I need it?" He raised an eyebrow. "I'm supposing it was from that little prayer of yours right?" He knew that right before she slipped it on, she had prayed that he would be alright.

That he would live.

Bria blushed a bit, but pursed her lips and nodded, "Hai, that's right…"

He gently made her hands let go and kissed her mouth lightly, just a brush with a firm press. He pulled away and brought her closer to him, close enough to be practically on his lap. "I'll treasure it." He promised softly.

Bria shifted so she would be on his lap and cuddled close against his chest, fitting into most of his frame, but not all of it because of the position she was in, "You know what, Lionheart?"

"What?" Leo murmured, catching her scent as she moved to fit better against him.

"I love you," Bria told him, "You're the greatest, Leo. I'll follow you everywhere if you let me, 'Kay?"

He chuckled, "I love you too, you're the best I have in my life and I'd hope you would follow me, since I would follow you."

"Deal," Bria stated simply before she snuggled closer and proceeded to drift off to sleep, nestled comfortably in Leo's arms.