Ch 20 A Proposition.

Leo walked into his one room apartment and peered through the darkness; He placed his right hand on the wall and attempted to feel for a light switch, 'Now how did Donnie get the lights to work?' He wondered as he moved cautiously further into the room, 'I remember that first night he ordered the computer to dim them into sleep mode,' He reminded himself as he looked up at the ceiling, 'And Splinter said they updated the computer system so…..' Leo cleared his throat, "Computer?" He called out, "Can you turn on the lights please?" Several beeps and mechanical noises sounded out as the room slowly brightened. Leo looked around and smiled in satisfaction, "Better," He muttered as he looked up at the ceiling. Feeling rather lonely, he called out again, "I don't suppose you can speak to me?" He asked. More computer noises followed and he shook his head in annoyance, "I don't suppose you can speak English to me?" He asked.

Once again computer noises sound out then suddenly, "I can speak any language you request of me, Captain."

Leo startled as the computer's voice sounded throughout the room, "Wow," He said in awe, "That's cool," He said then frowned, "But that voice of yours," He muttered, "Why do you sound like Michelangelo?"

"Because Capain, it was Michelangelo who uploaded the program," The computer responded.

"Oh, that makes sense," Leo chuckled then started toward the couch but along the way, his foot smacked into something hard, "Damn it!" He cursed as he reached out to grab the couch to keep himself from falling, "Maybe I would have done better without the lights on."

"Would you like the lights dimmed, Captain?" The computer asked him.

"Oh, no," Leo told it quickly as he looked down to see the metal suitcase he had placed his things in prior to going to the Futtokuran spaceship, "I just feel rather clumsy, that's all," He said, 'I wonder who brought this in here?' He looked around the room, 'Oh well, at least it's here.'

With a sigh, he bent down to pick up the case then walked over to the couch. He sat down, opened the case and pushed aside the few pieces of clothing he had placed inside to uncover the memory box. "Um…computer?" He looked up at the ceiling, "I don't suppose you could play some music for me? Something soft and relaxing," A moment later soft piano music could be heard throughout the room. Leo sat back and huffed as he opened the box and started going through the contents, looking sadly at the pictures and letters that took him back to a life that he would never be a part of.

As he sat deep in thought, listening to the music and staring longingly at the pictures, a strange noise suddenly sounded throughout the room, "What's that?" He called out.

"That would be what you would call a doorbell," The computer responded.

"Oh, ok," Leo looked toward the door, "Um, can you tell me who it is?"

"It is Colonel Raphael."

Leo startled in surprise, "Oh, um well…uh, please, let him in."

The door slid open and Raph stepped in. He looked around and nodded when he saw Leo stand and walk toward him, "Getting used to your new quarters?" He asked as the music reached his ears.

Leo shrugged, "Attempting to but I'm thinking it needs a few things" Leo replied jokingly, "Like maybe a few house plants here," He pointed around the room, "Maybe put some pictures on the walls, even some knick knacks could really make this place feel more homey," He pointed toward the sleeping area, "Maybe I'll paint my sleeping quarters a nice shade of sky blue to remind me of what the outside looks like and who knows, this place could really liven up," He turned back to Raph and laughed upon seeing Raph's bewildered look, "I guess you have no idea what I'm talking about?"

Raph smiled and shook his head at him, "My brothers were telling me about some of the terminology you use," He stated as they walked further into the room, "One of these days you'll have to show Mikey all this food you keep telling him about."

"Be happy to," Leo told him then pointed to his bandages, "How are you feeling?"

"Sore but I' getting better," Raph responded.

The two stared at each other rather awkwardly for a few seconds before Leo looked back at the eating area, "I…um… haven't programmed my eating console yet but can I get you anything to eat or drink?" Leo asked him.

Raph nodded, "Okay, so your console doesn't produce alcohol yet but do ya got any Salamandarian beer stashed around here?" He asked, seeing Leo's confused look, he chuckled, "How 'bout some Daagon wine?"

Leo shook his head, "Wine and beer I get, but what is Daagon or Sala…..mandarin what?"

"Now look whose feeling confused," Raph laughed, "But don't worry, you'll get used to everything around here pretty fast," He told him then walked over to the eating area, "How about some good old fashioned sake," He suggested then looked up to the ceiling, "Computer, if you would produce two glasses of sake please."

"As you request Colonel," The computer responded.

Raph laughed and waited for the panel to rise, "Mikey's voice, I should've known," he reached in and pulled out two small glasses of sake and handed one to Leo.

"Sake huh?" Leo looked at him impressed as he accepted the glass, "I didn't think anyone in this future would know about a drink like this."

"President Splinter likes to have sake around for celebrations and things like that."

Leo nodded as the two turtles clinked glasses, "My Master Yoshi loved the stuff," He responded as he brought the drink to his lips. As he took a sip, he looked over at Raph who quickly downed his, "So are we celebrating anything in particular?"

Raph put the glass back in the panel and pressed a button, "Not really," He said evasively, "Just figured I would come here," He started walking around the room, "See how you were doing," He saw Leo's memory box as he sat on the couch, "Say thank you for saving my life and maybe…. apologize for the way I've been acting toward you." He looked up at Leo contritely.

Leo smiled and finished his drink. He placed the glass inside the panel then made his way over to the couch, "Is that the only reason you're here and not out with the rest of your pilots celebrating?"

"Well I would be out with the others but…." Raph rubbed the back of his head, "My bros and President Splinter tell me you're uncertain about whether or not you want to stay on Earth."

"Wow," Leo looked at him in surprise, "Word does get around fast, doesn't it?"

"News of a five hundred year old turtle got around the compound within minutes so you shouldn't be that surprised," Raph looked at Leo in amusement, "Should you?"

Leo smiled wryly at him, "No I guess not," He agreed, "So what does my staying or leaving have to do with you?"

"Well, on behalf of my family, I thought I'd come here and see if there was something I could do to make you change your mind?"

"And why do you care?" Leo pressed, looking at him intently.

Raph huffed, "Let's face it, everyone here has taken a liking to you," He told him as he looked at the memory box curiously, "And the last thing I want is to hear Mikey or Donnie constantly whine about how you decided Earth was not the place for you after all you did to help defend it."

"Is that the only reason?" Leo asked, he sat next to Raph and placed his pictures back into the box.

"Well, no there's more," Raph looked away from him tentatively, "I kind of had a heart to heart with Casey and it seems he and April are looking to get married," Leo raised his eye ridges curiously, "Yeah I know," Raph chuckled, "That's a rarity here on Earth but it does happen, especially with humans if the council allows it and apparently, since the council has allowed it, once they get married, they maybe be looking to move to another planet and start a family."

"I thought all the humans were relocated to Futtorkuran," Leo said, narrowing his eyes, "With everything we just went through with them, they're not seriously thinking about moving there, are they?"

"Futtokuran was the first planet the Utroms located the humans to," Raph explained, "When it became apparent the King was going insane, went all dictatorship and wanted to eradicate mutants in order to take back Earth, the Utroms assisted getting any humans out of there that went against his plans," He shrugged, "So Casey and April are thinking of moving to the second planet the humans were placed on, planet Varanon," Raph cocked his head, "It's a pretty interesting planet with lots of shopping, great food and some interesting sights to see if you ever want to go there for shore leave or something like that."

Leo chuckled and nodded in understanding, "So explain something to me," He looked at him quizzically, "What does getting married have to do with Casey no longer being your wingman?" He looked down at the ring on his finger, "Can't they just stay here?"

"Our compounds on Earth have pretty much become military and government bases," Raph said, "And even though they could stay here if they wanted to, Casey...well, he pretty much just wants to be a family man, you know, settle down, have kids, that whole life there."

Leo nodded thoughtfully as he thought back on the plans he had made with Lotus, "Okay so," He furrowed his eye ridges thoughtfully then looked back at Raph, "What does all this have to do with me?" He finally asked.

"Well," Raph stood and started to pace, "I've seen how you are Leo," He looked at him nervously, "And I have to say you're pretty fearless, brave, decisive and very driven," He smiled ruefully at him, "Hell, you're almost as bad as I am when it comes to defying orders."

Leo laughed, "Well, I don't know if I'm everything you just said I am," He responded with reddening cheeks, "But I will say I'm not easily dissuaded from doing what I think is necessary to get the job done."

Raph nodded, "Which is why I would like you to consider staying here on Earth and being my new wingman," Leo looked at him in surprise, "I've already cleared it with Leatherhead and he's all for it," Raph added quickly.

Leo startled at Raph's proposition, "Wow, Raph, I'm honored, but uh..." Leo looked down at the floor pensively, "You do know The High Council will probably want to bring charges against me for everything I just did to the Futtokurans, right?"

Raph shrugged, "They'll probably speak with you about it but I highly doubt they'll bring formal charges against you and if they should do that, there is no way they'll have you terminated or even locked up," He looked at Leo thoughtfully, "After all, you saved not only their asses, but a multitude of alien asses too and I think all that is going to make them realize you have a future with us," He looked at Leo tenderly, "I hope you think that way too."

Leo nodded and looked down at the ring on his finger, "You know Raph," He sighed and began to fiddle with the ring, "Since I woke up from my five hundred year sleep, I've been thinking so much about the past that I almost forgotten there was still a future here on Earth," He removed his ring and placed it in the memory box, "But even so, I'm still not sure I want to settle down here just yet," He picked up the box and walked over to his sleeping area. Raph watched as he placed the box inside a small closet to the side of his bed and secure the panel shut.

"But Leo," Raph looked at him confused, "With everything you just did..."

"I know what you're thinking Raph," Leo turned back to him, "Why would I want to leave Earth if I just went out of my way to defend it," He laughed dryly, "After all, why would I defy orders, follow you and everyone else in fighting with the Kraang as well as try to prove the Futtokurans of treason only to abandon Earth afterwards?" He sat back down on the couch next to Raph, "But you have to understand Raph...I'm...I'm afraid that if I put down roots here," Leo looked away from him, "I may lose it all over again."

"I guess I can understand how you feel Leo but Earth..." He looked at Leo intently, "Earth needs you."

Leo shook his head, "Earth doesn't need me Raph," Leo insisted, "She already has some really great pilots defending her."

"She needs more then great pilots Leo," Raph told him adamantly, "Earth needs someone who's not afraid to stand up for it. Someone who's willing to fight our enemies and not back down just because someone tells him he's wrong."

Leo shook his head, "But Raph, I..."

"Look Leo, Earth still has many threats against it and you..." Raph stared hard at him, "Well, you're unique; being from a time most of our enemies don't know about gives us an advantage we could use to defeat those who still want to destroy us."

"But after everything the Kraang has done to Earth," Leo looked at Raph doubtfully, "Why would any other species want it?

"The Kraang, the Futtokurans, they're not the only ones who think the Earth has value Leo," Raph stood and started to pace, "And many of our enemies have documentations on us; they know how we work but you," He stopped pacing and turned to him, "They don't know about you or how you work," He looked at Leo with pleading eyes, "Please Leo, we do need you."

The two turtles stared at each for several seconds before Leo stood and nodded to him, "Let's see what the council has to say," He told him as he stuck his hand out, "And then I'll consider being your wingman."

Raph smiled and shook his hand, "That's all I can ask of you Leo…." A sudden beeping on Raph's collar interrupted him.

"Raph, are you with Leo?" Donnie's voice came over his communication link.

Raph smiled at Leo, "I think you're going to find out sooner rather than later about the High Council Leo," He said than pressed the button, "Yeah Don."

"The High Council is ready for him," Donnie advised.

"Be there in five," Raph responded as Leo looked at him curiously, "You know Leo, black does look good on you," He said, pointing to the Futtokuran uniform Leo was still wearing, "But the Foot Clan symbol won't exactly go over so well with the High Council so how bout you change back into the suit my bros gave you?"

Leo laughed as he picked up the pantsuit that was still laying in the suitcase. He walked into the relieving station and a few moments later, stepped out wearing the blue pantsuit. Raph nodded in satisfaction, "Black is nice, but blue is definitely the color that looks better on you," he said as they walked toward the door.

"Black was nice for a while," Leo admitted as he followed Raph out the door and toward the transporter room, "Maybe the Futtokurans will see the error of their ways and who knows," He looked at Raph mischievously, "Maybe I'll try it on again?"

Raph looked back at him in mock anger, "Don't go there Leo," He said with a twinkle in his eyes, "Regardless if you accept my job offer or not, I plan on keeping you around for several years."

As the two smiled at each other, Leo looked at Raph and a strange feeling of deja vu came over him, his smiled waned and he stared at Raph with narrowed eyes.

"Something wrong Leo?" Raph asked as they stepped into the transporter.

"I...I don't know," Leo responded slowly, "But for a moment there, you reminded of someone…." He looked down at his finger the ring had been on, "Someone I used to know."

Raph nodded, "I was told that happens a lot to you," He said.

"What floor Colonel?" The computer asked.

Raph looked up at the ceiling, "Deck ten," He stated, "The High Council Courtroom."

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Two more chapters and this story will be done, would love to see some reviews, thanks to all who do, :) Peace.