Chapter 27 ~Dreams~
Sierra shifted, coming awake suddenly, chills washing over her as the nightmare faded from her conscious memory, leaving behind the cold like a bitter aftertaste. She blinked in the darkness, reaching instinctively for Leonardo, feeling the reassuring, familiar whorl of his shell under her hand before lying back down with a sigh.
He moved next to her, his arm coming around her middle and drawing her closer as he rolled to his side.
"You ok?" he murmured.
"Sorry. I didn't mean to wake you," she replied, though it was nearly impossible to move in the night without waking him.
"It's ok." He nuzzled her hair, pressing a kiss to her temple. "Nightmare?"
"No… yes… I'm not sure." She shivered. "I… I thought I heard a baby crying."
"Probably Kouki," Leo whispered. His hand moved against her hip, brushing in small, comforting circles.
"Or Skylar," She answered, snuggling down against his plastron so that the top of her head was tucked under his chin. He gathered her close, drawing in a deep breath. She could feel his heartbeat under her cheek and felt safe against the warm, pliable smoothness of his plastron, wrapped up in his arms.
"I love you," she whispered.
"Ai shiteru yo,"(I love you so much) answered Leonardo softly.
"Leo?"
"Mmm?"
"Do… do you think… do you want a baby? I mean… some day?"
"I haven't thought about it much."
"Ok." Her voice was small, muffled against his chest.
Leonardo shifted, tightening his hold around his wife and adjusting so that she lay more comfortably against him.
"Do you want a baby?" he whispered, suddenly sounding less languid and sleepy.
"I… I don't know," she whispered. Tears stung Sierra's eyes and she blinked.
"Sierra…" Leo shifted his arm, bringing it up to cup her cheek. "Do you want a baby?"
"I… only if you do," she answered, sniffing.
"Sai-ai no tsuma,"(beloved wife) he whispered, smoothing her hair back from her face.
"Leo… I just want you to be happy."
"You make me happy," he whispered. "Sierra, if you want a baby… we can try."
She shifted, finally lifting her head to gaze into his face. She could just see his eyes, glinting mysteriously in the dim light.
"But is it what you want?" she asked softly.
His arm tightened around her and he leaned close, pressing his mouth to hers. When he broke the kiss, she was breathless. "A baby would be amazing," he whispered. "Just like its mother."
Sierra snuggled closer to her husband, a faint smile tugging at her lips.
"I have to get up soon," murmured Leo into her hair. His hand moved against her back, warm, reassuring.
"Do you want to go down early to meditate?" she asked softly. "I will come with you if you want."
"Mmm," he nuzzled the top of her head. "We could stay here."
"We could." She leaned her head back, moving up so she could gaze into his dark eyes, and leaned in for a kiss.
When Leonardo finally rolled out of bed, he stretched, his muscles rippling. Sierra watched appreciatively for a moment, feeling warm and languorous, before she rose. She felt his eyes on her as she ran a comb through her dark curls and twisted her hair into a loose knot, securing it with a fastener made of a bit of leather and wood. She felt, rather than heard, the way he went still behind her.
"What?" she asked, turning to face him.
Leonardo was watching her with the intense look he sometimes got. Slowly, almost cautiously, he reached out, tugging the wooden stick away that held her hair in place. Ignoring Sierra's startled gasp, he ran his fingers through her ebony curls.
She smiled, tilting her head against his palm.
"Anata wa utsukushii desu," he said softly. "You are so beautiful."
Tears stung Sierra's eyes. "Leo…" she protested.
"You are," he said firmly. His hand rested against her cheek for a moment longer before he took it away. "I'll meet you in the dojo," he said gently, and just like that, he was gone.
Sierra stood smiling, with the tears still tracking down her cheeks. She was used to his vanishing act by now, and wasn't bothered by the sudden departure. Carefully, she tucked her hair back up before slipping into a soft tee-shirt and a pair of knit pants.
She worked through a few basic stretches in the bedroom, knowing Leonardo would be distracted if she did them in the dojo. Sometimes it was fun to tease him a bit, but she tried not to interfere with the morning training if she could help it. She understood his need to practice, and his need for self-control and discipline.
Her own nature was often far less controlled, to her occasional chagrin. She knew in her heart that Leonardo loved her, but she also sensed irritation from him at times when she was in a playful mood and he wasn't in the mood to be responsive. Raphael often said that Leonardo needed to "lighten up". Sierra preferred Splinter's admonishment that Leo should seek balance in all things.
Balance, she thought to herself. Lord, help me to be the support he needs so he can find the proper balance between leading and protecting his family and allowing himself to be led and protected at the same time. Go with us today, Father, and keep us all safe. Thank you, Lord, for my Sister Austin's return, and for little Skylar, that everyone came home safely. Keep your hand of protection over us, Lord, and keep us safe from any who might mean our family harm.
Dressed and relaxed, Sierra sat on the bed for a moment, opening her Bible to Proverbs.
"A wife of noble character who can find? She is worth far more than rubies. Her husband has full confidence in her, and lacks nothing of value. She brings him good, not harm, all the days of her life…"*
A sound outside the door startled Sierra out of her reading. She set the book aside, moving cautiously to the entryway. Another burst of tiny footsteps had her reaching for the door, sliding it open, careful to be silent.
The footsteps were unfamiliar and every sense was on high alert. Splinter and his sons made no sound when they walked along the narrow balcony, and even when they deliberately made noise, their steps were longer and louder than the soft patters she'd heard. Sierra's breathing hitched slightly, memories tugging at her heart. She deliberately ignored the sensation, peering into the shadowed space. A tiny figure was moving down the hall as if it'd just come from the bathroom tucked into a corner at the far end. With the additions to their family, Donatello had enlisted his brothers to help construct a second bathroom upstairs, above the old one so that the plumbing could be easily lined up with what was already there.
The child… Sierra was sure now that it was a child, was coming back from that direction, headed for Raphael's bedroom. She was about to call out when a muffled shout sounded from the room.
"He's gone! Annie, da kid's gone!"
"What? Raph are you sure?"
Ann's voice was quiet but Sierra could hear the panic clearly.
"He was here a minute ago. Isamu! Where are ya? Hey, Kid?"
Sierra could hear the muted sounds of a hasty search.
The boy apparently heard the sounds too. He froze, crouching against the wall, looking around nervously. He began edging along the wall, back toward the bathroom. Sierra stepped out into the hall, careful to move slowly.
"Hello there." Sierra knelt and held her hand out to the child.
He froze, staring at her with huge, dark eyes.
"My name is Sierra," she said softly, though her heart twisted at the fear in his gaze. "I think my brother Raphael is looking for you." How on earth did you find your way down here? Obviously Raph and Ann know you're here…
The boy's glance flicked past Sierra toward the door with the longing of someone lost and within sight of refuge.
"Raph-el," he whispered.
"So you do know Raph. Ok, let's go see him, all right? He sounds worried." Sierra gave the child a reassuring smile. She stood up, still moving slowly, and approached him. The child flinched when she took his hand, but allowed her to lead him back toward Raph and Ann's room. The door swung open, and a very worried looking Raphael stepped out into the hallway.
"I think I've found someone you know, Raph," said Sierra. The little boy moved so that he was half-hidden behind her legs. She could feel him trembling.
"Oh! Uh, hi Sierra," said Raph. "Yeah, t'anks." His nervous glance met her eyes for just a moment before he sank to one knee. "There ya are, Isamu. Where'd ya go, little Buddy? We was worried about ya."
Apparently reassured by the red-banded Turtle's gentle tone, Isamu came out from behind Sierra and held out his arms to him. Raphael reached out with one hand, scooping the child up. Isamu wrapped an arm confidently around his neck, laying his head on his shoulder.
"Potty," he murmured.
Raphael chuckled.
"I got 'im, Annie," he called over his shoulder. "Seems he needed ta use da facilities."
"Oh thank goodness. If Leo saw him…" Ann came out of the bedroom, freezing when she saw Sierra standing in the hall.
"Good morning, Ann," said Sierra with a faint smile.
Ann flushed. "Sierra… Oh dear."
"It's ok, Ann. Leonardo's in the dojo. But who is this? What's going on?"
"Sierra, nobody wanted ta upset Leo, ya gotta understand dat," pleaded Raphael. "Donny t'ought Fearless'd be ok wit' dis… It's jus' temporary…"
"Whoa, Raph, start from the beginning," said Sierra, shaking her head. "Who is this boy? Why can't Leo know he's here? What's going on?"
Raphael looked distinctly uncomfortable. He glanced over his shoulder at Ann.
"Raph, go down to practice," suggested Ann quietly. "I'll fill Sierra in. It's best this way. She can help you guys talk to your brother."
Raphael nodded, looking relieved. He turned, prying the boy off his plastron and handing him over to Ann. The child clung to him, whimpering a protest.
"It's ok, Isamu. Yer gonna sit up here wit' Ann an' my Sis, Sierra, ok?"
"Ann? See-ra?"
"Yep, that's right." Raphael gave the boy a wide smile.
Isamu glanced uncertainly at Sierra, but allowed Ann to take him. He waved as Raphael made his way past his sister-in-law toward the stairs.
"Bye, Raph-el," he called.
"Yeah, bye, Kid," answered Raph. "See ya in a little bit, ok?"
Ann gestured to Sierra, and she followed the other woman into her bedroom. Sierra was startled to see a narrow cot had been set up in Raph and Ann's room. The rumpled blankets and pillow showed the child had slept there.
Ann sat down on the bed. Isamu slid to the floor and scrambled up on the cot.
"Isamu bed," he announced with a grin.
"That's right, that's Isamu's bed," said Ann with the tired smile of someone who has listened to a child's chatter for just a little too long.
"Who is he, Ann? What on earth is going on?"
Ann looked at Sierra, searching her face. "Sierra… The man who… who hurt you, when you were taken by the Foot…"
Sierra winced, but forced herself to nod. "Yes?"
"He… well, it's kind of complicated. His name was Aiko."
I don't want to hear this… Sierra could feel her hands beginning to sweat.
"He… had a son. When he died, the boy's mother… she committed suicide."
"Oh, no," Sierra's hand went reflexively to her mouth.
Ann nodded. "There's more. It's… complicated. Masaru, that's Karai's second in command, apparently he was in love with the woman, and he hated Aiko. When the woman died… He took the boy to a run down old orphanage and abandoned him there. Don… Don found all this out while he was doing some surveillance Leo asked him for."
"What does all this have to do with…" Sierra trailed off, her eyes going wide as she pieced the puzzle together. "You mean, this is…"
Instinctively, she shrank away from the boy.
Ann shook her head. "Sierra, I'm sorry. I know this has to be hard for you," she said softly. "But Masaru was going to kill him. Donny took him from the orphanage to save his life. April was going to find him a home, but it didn't work out. She couldn't keep the boy at her place, he's terrified of her because she looks like the woman from the home. Don had to bring him here. It's temporary, I promise. Don, Raph and Mike are going to talk to Leo. He already knows about the boy. He just… doesn't know he's here."
Slowly, Sierra nodded. Her eyes were glued to the child, who was sitting on the cot, fingering the satin edging on one of the blankets. She noticed with a pang how thin his arms were, and the sunken quality of his cheeks.
She looked up, meeting Ann's eyes. "Don did the right thing," she said softly. "Don't worry, Ann. I'll… help however I can with Leo. He's not going to be happy." She glanced at the boy. "But I know he'll understand."
*Proverbs 31:10-12 NIV
