Chapter 35 ~Regrets~

For goodnessakes, the way that boy talks to his father… I don't know why Splinter puts up with him, thought Luci as she dipped the rag into the dishwater. She scrubbed the dinner plate carefully and set it in the sink. I suppose, being the eldest, he thinks he has a right to do what he wants, but he seems a little big for his britches to me. If he were mine…She shook her head a bit ruefully. There you go again, Lucille Rose, sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. Splinter can handle his family. Now Austin needs me to handle ours.

She rinsed the dish and set it in the rack to dry, rubbing her hands on a dishtowel. The small chore had given her something to do. The Lair was too quiet. Michelangelo was with Austin and Skylar now, and Lucille hesitated to intrude on their space. The others all seemed to have their own activities to attend to. Ann and Raphael had disappeared upstairs with the two boys, the huge white dog at their heels. Beverly had gone back to the hospital, Donatello was in his laboratory, and even Sierra had disappeared upstairs. After what sounded like a heated discussion with Leonardo, Splinter had retreated to his room.

I should go back to the hotel, thought Luci absently. I'm only intruding here. Austin has her family to take care of her, and they have their own troubles. They don't need me hanging around like a fifth wheel.

The sound of shouting startled Lucille. Leonardo was coming down the metal staircase as she headed out into the main room. She saw the door to the sewers slide closed just as the Turtle reached the bottom of the stairs. He came out into the main room of the Lair looking around, anxious. Other figures rushed out onto the balcony. Raphael leaned out over the railing, scanning the room below before turning with a huff and heading back into the room he shared with Ann, shutting the door behind him with a snap.

"Austin, wait…" Michelangelo's voice carried, but Austin was already heading down the stairs.

"Leonardo, what's going on?" asked Lucille, surging forward.

"Oh! Lucille. I… it's nothing." The Turtle glanced at her, uneasy embarrassment flickering across his face.

"Nothing? Leo, what did you say to her? I saw her face when she ran by," snapped Austin, bearing down on the blue-banded Turtle.

"Nothing, Austin. Sierra and I had a bit of a… disagreement," said Leonardo coolly. "I've got it under control."

"It didn't look under control to me!" Austin was glaring at her brother in law, looking furious. "Sierra looked terrified. Leo, what'd you do?"

"I didn't do anything, Austin," growled Leonardo, glaring right back. "And it's really none of your business."

"If you've done something to hurt my sister, it is my business," Austin responded. "You've been stomping around here like a child for the past two days…"

"Stand down Austin," snapped Leonardo. "You're out of line."

Michelangelo landed on the floor several feet behind his brother with a thump. Lucille was startled to realize he'd just flipped down from the balcony.

"Step off, Bro," growled Michelangelo, grabbing Leo's arm and yanking him back. "It ain't Austin's fault you scared Sierra."

"I didn't scare Sierra," snarled Leonardo.

"Well why else would she have run out of here like that?" asked Austin.

"We had a disagreement," Leonardo seethed.

"Let me guess, Fearless, you told her we need to get rid of the kid," Michelangelo snorted. "Bet that went well."

Lucille watched the conversation as if it were a tennis match, shifting uncomfortably. She couldn't decide whether to retreat or simply head out into the sewers after Sierra.

"Hey!"

Lucille actually stepped back as Leonardo barked at his brother. He stepped closer to Michelangelo, poking him sharply in the plastron with a finger.

"None of this would've happened if you and Don had been honest with me from the beginning. Maybe instead of worrying about how my wife and I deal with each other, you should consider being a little more responsible for your own family!"

"Now wait just one minute! Are you implying the abduction was Michelangelo's fault?" Austin's hazel eyes snapped with fury.

Leonardo drew himself up straight. "Since he and Donatello were out on an unauthorized mission, putting themselves in danger instead of attending to his duty to his family... yes."

The word hung in the air, ugly, accusing.

"Then it was my fault too. I knew where they were going." Austin's voice was quiet and suddenly calm in the silence. "You might as well say it was my fault my daughter was kidnapped. My fault the family was put into danger retrieving us. You know what? Next time, don't bother."

She turned and stalked up stairs without so much as a glance back at the stunned Turtle.

Michelangelo shook his head. "You know, Fearless, sometimes you can be a real jerk." He followed his wife.

Leonardo stood, watching them retreat, poleaxed. "I… didn't mean it like that," he muttered.

Lucille cleared her throat, stepping forward. "I'm afraid in this case, Leonardo, I have to agree with your brother," she told him coolly.

"What?" His dark eyes narrowed as he turned to face her.

Luci stood her ground, refusing to be intimidated.

"You heard me. The way you spoke to Austin just now was incredibly insensitive. She told me she looks up to you as a big brother, the respected leader of your family. As of right now, I can't for the life of me figure out why." Lucille watched as his mouth opened and closed. "If you're looking for Sierra, I believe she went out." She nodded toward the door to the sewers. "I heard the door."

"You heard… I…" Leonardo half-turned.

"I wouldn't go after her just yet," advised Lucille quietly. "If you've had an argument, she'll need time to calm down."

"She was upset." His voice was suddenly so soft, Lucille wasn't certain whether he was even speaking to her. "She's confused. The way she looked at me…"

"Leonardo, what did you say to Sierra exactly?" Lucille went to him and reached out, laying a hand on his arm. He turned to look at her, the hard, proud expression returning.

"Judging by the way you responded to Michelangelo and Austin just now, I'd guess it wasn't a calm discussion. Sierra seems like a very sensible girl, Leonardo," said Lucille. "But you look…"

She stopped, cocking her head and looking at him critically. "Well, to be perfectly honest, you look a bit lost and I think you could use a cup of tea. Why don't you come into the kitchen and I'll fix a fresh brew?"

"I should…" he looked toward the door again.

"Not yet," said Lucille firmly. "Unless you're afraid she'll get lost or be attacked in the tunnels. Sometimes the best thing to do is give her a bit of space."

To Lucille's surprise, Leonardo nodded and let her lead him into the kitchen. He took a seat, resting his elbows on the table and laying his hands down as if he weren't quite sure what to do with them, and stared at the scarred tabletop.

Luci put the water on to heat and filled a small metal ball with tealeaves, setting it in the cracked teapot. She took her time, letting the silence slip into the room, calming, easing the tension. When the preparations were finished, she took a seat across from Leonardo. Still, she waited, letting the faint tick of the clock behind him on the wall take up the silence alone. Ten minutes. Twenty. Finally, Lucille drew a slow, calming breath.

"Do you want to talk about it?" she asked.

He raised his eyes to give her the beginnings of an ironic look.

"Do I have a choice?"

Lucille smiled. "Leonardo, I don't mean to move in here like the Gestapo and try to tell you how to do things," she told him. "It's not my place to interfere with your family."

One eyeridge rose and a smirk tugged at the corners of his mouth, but he didn't comment.

Luci tried a smile. "Well, when you take on my niece, you get me as part of the package. What you said to her was uncalled for. Especially since she was right. You have to admit, Leonardo, you've been pretty pig headed about Isamu."

The Turtle flinched at the name, his shoulders hunching. He looked away.

"You don't understand."

"You're right," she told him crisply. "I don't. I don't understand how a two-year-old child poses a threat to your family. I don't understand why you were being so disrespectful to your father earlier. I don't understand how you can treat your brothers so coldly, when it's obvious Donatello did what he felt he had to do to protect an innocent life. And I don't understand why you would risk alienating that lovely young wife of yours."

Leonardo sat back in his chair, staring at her as if she'd sprouted spots.

"Are you finished?" he asked, his voice arctic.

"I am," Lucille answered quietly. "And if you'd like me to leave now, I'll understand."

He stared at her, silent. When steam rose from the pot on the stove, Luci rose, moving to pour the water over the tealeaves.

"I'm leaving tonight anyway," she told him, forcing her voice into a casual tone she didn't feel. "Going back to the hotel. I've intruded upon Austin's family long enough."

"I don't want you to leave."

Lucille came back to the table, setting two steaming cups down. Leonardo wrapped his hands around his as if to warm his fingers against the ceramic.

"I… I apologize. For saying you don't understand. It's clear you do. Better than I have." His voice sounded strained, as if he were forcing the words forth. "Please, don't leave." He paused, drawing a deep breath before looking up to meet her gaze. "Austin needs all the support she can get right now."

"I'm not the one you should be apologizing to, Leonardo."

He flinched again, but squared his shoulders, nodding. "You're right. I shouldn't have said that to Mike… to Austin. I've got to talk to them. But first, I have to find Sierra…" He jerked as something buzzed at his side.

Lucille watched, interested, as he pulled a small, turtle-shell shaped object from his belt, sliding the parts open.

That looks like the cell phone Austin was using, she thought.

"April?" Leonardo's brow creased as he listened to the person on the line. "She did? Is she ok? Are you sure? I'll be right over…"

Leonardo started to stand up. He paused, listening, and Lucille saw him slump in the chair. "I… I understand, April. Can you… can you at least tell her… tell her I… tell her I said I'm sorry." He drew a deep, shuddering breath. "Thanks, April."

Clicking the phone closed, Leonardo tucked it back into his belt and laid his hands back on the table, looking more lost than ever.

"She called our friend April." his voice was strained. "She's… staying there tonight."

"So she's safe," Lucille remarked, nodding.

"Yes."

They sat in silence long enough that Lucille's tea was growing cold. Leonardo shifted, uneasy, but didn't drink his tea.

"Would you tell me what happened, Leonardo?"

The Turtle looked at her, wary. "What do you mean?"

"Well to begin with, why are you so threatened by a two year old boy?" Sierra watched his brown eyes go dark behind the mask. Finally he looked up.

"How much has Austin told you?" he asked.

Lucille shook her head. "Begin at the beginning."

"I…" He closed his eyes. "The boy is an orphan because… because two years ago, I… I killed his father."

She waited, hiding her shock.

After a moment, Leonardo continued. "I… I didn't know the boy existed until all the night Austin and Skylar were taken. Then Don… Don turns around and brings him here." Leonardo made a frustrated gesture with his hands.

"So he's a reminder of something you regret?" asked Luci.

"He's Foot," said Leonardo.

"You hate him because he's the son of your enemies?"

"I didn't say I hated him!"

"You certainly haven't embraced him with open arms," responded Lucille calmly, getting up to pour a fresh cup of tea. "Leonardo, is it possible you feel threatened by the boy, not because of who he is, but because of what he reminds you of?"

"I… I don't know." Leonardo shook his head. "Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do, Ms. Chesney, but… I think I'm going to go to bed now."

He stood up, setting his cup into the sink.

"Good night, Leonardo," said Lucille quietly.