A.N.: Disclaimer: I do not own anything except for Lenni & the story idea. Everyone in the fic owns themselves, and Nickelodeon owns TMNT.

Based on The Understanding Brother series that I have written.

Danceingfae, Hexadecimal, TMNTPunker, Machias, Splinter, & Arista - 7

TygeroftheWynd, Raphiella, Ziptango, Mily, & Daydream – 6

Lenni – 5, almost 6.

Master Splinter was on his feet immediately, when they entered the lair and sobbing was all that could be heard. "What has happened, my sons?"

"There was a slight accident, Sensei," Michelangelo told him.

"I wouldn't call it slight, Mikey," Raphael commented. "She could have died!"

Michelangelo shot his brother a Look, trying to get him to shut up. "She's fine, Raph."

"Lenni fell!" Daydream cried. "We was tryin' to get her to come back an' she was gone!"

"She almost went into the big swirly water!" Mily hiccuped, as her sister buried herself into their brother. "An' Zip almost fell too, tryin' to save her!"

"It was really scary, Sensei," Ziptango told him, as she wiped her eyes with the backs of her hands.

Master Splinter's tail swished, as he realized just where the four tots had gone. "So you went outside your boundaries, did you?"

Lenni shrunk in her brother's arms, almost hiding inside her shell, as tears still streamed down her small face. This was why their father was never supposed to know she'd broken the rules yet again; seeing his expression, she wasn't so sure she wanted him now.

"Maybe…" Mily admitted. "But we were just tryin' to get Lenni to come back, Sensei."

I see," he mused, his eyes darting to the smallest one, who was currently trying to sink into her shell. He reached for her, plucking her from his son's arms. "I will deal with you three later."

Feeling him press her against his chest, Lenni instinctively snuggled into his warmth, her whimpers increasing some, as she latched on. Right then, she didn't care how much trouble she was going to be in; she was just glad he was there and she was safe….

Master Splinter entered his room and sat in his rocking chair, hugging the distraught turtle tot close; he was wasn't happy she'd had intentionally run out of bounds, but he could also sense her fear. "Shh…. You are safe little one."

Lenni hiccupped as she attempted to calm down; she'd never been scared like this before, and she scared easily sometimes. "I didn't know the ground was not gonna be there…. The water was loud an' scary, Sensei…."

"The sewers outside our home possess many dangers, young one," he told her. "This is why I ask that you all stay within the boundaries I have set for you."

"I was scared…"

"As you have every right to be," he replied, rubbing her shell. "I can only imagine just how scared you were; but now you see why I have set forth the rules about playing in the sewers."

Taking a deep, shaky breath, she began to relax a little, enjoying the cuddles. She rubbed her eyes a little, before playing with the fabric of his soft robe. "I'm sorry…."

"I am sure you are," he agreed. "But now you know why the rules are important."

Lenni sat with him quietly for a little while, but soon grew bored and began to squirm a little. Glancing up at him, she gave him her most innocent look. "I goes play now, Sensei?"

"No, you may not," Master Splinter shook his head, partly in amusement of how much like her orange wearing brother she was. "We still have your punishment to discuss."

She scowled. She had hoped he would forget to punish her, since she had been so scared. "But I said sorry!"

"What you did was very dangerous, my child," he replied calmly. "So you must receive a consequence."

Huffing, she crossed her arms over her chest, starting to feel angry. She always seemed to be in trouble for something.

Master Splinter pondered a little more as to just what her punishment ought to be, since she had broken one of her big rules yet again. "What made you disobey the rules?"

"I was bein' ninja!"

"There is a difference between being ninja and being sneaky; it's about discipline, doing the right thing, not being reckless, and knowing when to turn back," he stated firmly. "To ensure you know the difference between the two, you will have extra practice for the next two weeks, while you are grounded."

Frowning more, she glared up at him wordlessly. So much for her cartoons tonight; really sucked too, since it was her turn to pick their show.

"You will also be doing flips for the next few days, until I have decided you have done enough," he added, wanting to be sure she learned her lesson. "Plus early bedtime."

"I don't wanna do flips!"

"You should have thought of that before you decided to disobey." He set her down and gave her bottom a firm pat. "Now to the dojo with you."

Grumbling, she headed for the door, not amused with her upcoming punishments at all; if only she had been a better ninja!

Master Splinter shook his head as he followed the little one out of the bedroom. He spotted the other three girls playing a board game quietly with Michelangelo. "Daydream, Mily, and Ziptango, come here please."

The three girls, who had been called, quietly went to him. "Yes, Master Splinter?"

"The next time your sister decides to run off out of bounds, please let someone know immediately," he instructed. "As you saw today, there are many dangerous you are not yet aware of."

"Yes, Sensei," they chorused.

"You three shall do some extra chores tomorrow and have an early bedtime the next couple of days."

"Hai…. We're sorry."

He leaned down to hug them, as he knew they were not at fault for their sister's defiance. "Go, finish your game."

"THAT'S NOT FAIR!" Lenni exploded, when she saw they weren't in very much trouble. "THEY WENT OUT OF BOUNDIES TOO!"

"That is quite enough, child! Unless you would like to add to your consequences, I suggest you get to the dojo immediately."

Lenni went to argue further, but upon seeing the look he wore and the way his tail swished, she very quickly turned and high tailed it into the dojo to begin her flips.