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.

Leonardo stood waiting for his brothers at their designated meeting place, hoping they hadn't run into any trouble rescuing the other turtle tot. He wanted to lecture the little one clung tightly to him, but with her so distraught, he knew it would be fruitless at the moment.

Lenni had a death grip upon him, her tiny body still shaking from fear. This had definitely been so much scarier than almost falling into the swirly water. "I's sorry…." She whimpered softly. "Thank-you for savin' me…."

"Don't do it again," he replied firmly, glancing down at her.

"I's won't…." Her lower lip trembled seeing his angry gaze.

"Leo! Did you get her?" Raphael's voice rang out as the others reached the meeting spot. "Is the Runt okay?"

"I've got her," Leonardo answered, stepping out of the shadows. Spotting Danceingfae with Michelangelo, he shook his head and went to speak, but was cut off.

"Mike's already given the lecture," Raphael stated.

"LENNI!" Danceingfae exclaimed as mixed emotions displayed on her face. "You're okay!"

"FAE!" Lenni practically dove out of Leonardo's arms and into Michelangelo's as she reached for her sister. Latching onto her sister tightly once she'd been caught, she began crying all over again. "I's sorry…."

Danceingfae hugged her sister tightly in return, beginning to cry as well. "I was so scared! I thought you were gone!"

Donatello briefly checked Lenni over, noticing her ankle had been wrapped in some cloth. "Hmm. I'll have to take a better look at your ankle, once home."

"We'll discuss this at home," Leonardo stated. "We need to move before anyone comes looking."

Lenni glanced up at her favourite orange wearing turtle hoping to see his smiling face; instead she was met with a furious gaze, that had her turning and reaching back for her brother in blue. "Leo…."

Taking her, Leonardo shook his head. "Let's go."

Quickly heading for home, though being careful to ensure they weren't followed, the turtles made it to the sewers and trudged through them to the lair; the only sounds being the girls' quiet crying and sniffles. Entering their home, they were met with a few surprised gazes from the tots still awake, and their father who immediately looked worried.

"There you two are! My daughters, where have you been?" Master Splinter asked, relieved they had been found. He had searched the entire lair and was getting ready to go further out into the sewers to look for them. "My sons, where did you find them?"

Leonardo eyed the other turtle tots in the room, not wanting to scare them any. "Master, I don't believe little ears should be hearing this before bed."

"Hmm…." Master Splinter replied, then turned to the few girls still awake. "My daughters, I believe it is time you all turned in for the night. We shall resume our movie tomorrow."

Looking between their brothers, sisters, and father, the ones he had spoken to nodded and quickly vacated the living room. They didn't know what was going on, but they knew when to vacate the area before things erupted.

Master Splinter looked back at them expectantly, needing to know just exactly what had happened. "My sons, what happened?"

"We were patrolling, when we heard a scream and Mikey insisted it was Lenni, and took off running. We found one being dangled off a rooftop by Hun and the other being held back by the Foot."

Master Splinter's expression was one of pure shock. How had they managed to sneak out so far without him knowing? Why were they even top side to begin with? So many questions swirled through his head at once.

"I's fell…." Lenni wailed, still very upset by the situation. "The big man made me fly! I didn't wanna fly!"

"He just tossed Lenni off the roof!" Danceingfae exclaimed tearfully. "I was so scared!"

"An' then Leo….Leo…." Lenni turned and buried herself back into her brother, as sobs overcame her once more.

Leonardo rubbed her shell, greatly relieved they had been there and he had gotten to her in time. They had already lost one sister to the Foot years ago; he did not plan to lose another! "Shh. You're safe Lenni. I've got you."

"Come to me, my daughters," Master Splinter said as he reached for each of them. Danceingfae came to him easily, though Lenni just clung tighter to her brother. He ran a hand over her head affectionately, letting her decide who she was going to be with.

Seeing that her father wasn't as angry looking as her brothers, she eventually reached for him, finally letting Leonardo go. Snuggling into his warm embrace, she gave a small sigh despite her relentless tears.

Master Splinter hugged them both close as he turned and headed for his study, knowing they would need severe consequences, but also knowing they needed to be comforted first and foremost.

"So did she say why they were top side?" Michelangelo asked his oldest brother once their father had left the room with the girls. "Fae wouldn't crack, and was too worried about her sister to give any details."

"She was trying to be a better ninja, apparently," Leonardo sighed with a shake of his head. "That girl is going to keep us on our toes, that's for sure."

"She's too much like you and Raph," Donatello told his brother in orange. "She mostly has your personality, but she also has a temper and is impulsive. She's the two of you all rolled into one."

"Let's hope she stays more like Mikey," Raphael commented. "Otherwise, we're gonna be in for one hell of a ride."

Master Splinter rocked the two turtle tots in his rocking chair, humming softly in order to help them calm down from their scary ordeal. He wasn't too surprised by the fact the youngest had her thumb in her mouth, and the oldest was sniffling quietly while holding tight to his robe. "I am very glad you are both safe. I was very worried when I could not find you."

"I'm sorry, Sensei…" Danceingfae whispered softly.

"I know that you are," he replied. "I am very disappointed in you both though. You know the rules and yet chose to disobey them anyway."

Danceingfae hung her head low, feeling awful. She should have done a better job at protecting her baby sister. Though, her sister was quite determined at times to do whatever her heart desired. "I should have done a better job…."

"Job at what?" Lenni asked around her thumb, looking confused.

"Keeping you safe…."

Lenni shook her head. "Nuh-uh. That's Leo's job. Your job's to play with me."

Master Splinter had to urge down the chuckle that wanted to escape him. "It is everyone's job to ensure our family stays safe. We are all responsible for one another; we must work as a team."

"I's too little," Lenni insisted with a pout.

"Nuh-uh," Danceingfae argued. "You kicked the bad man and you yelled at the bad ninjas. You were brave, Lenni."

"Freak is a bad word an' he needed to be punishes!" Lenni declared. "I wish Raphie got him."

"Raphie did get him!" Danceingfae told her. "He got him good!"

Lenni gave a small smile then, happy to hear this. "You don'ts mess with Raphie."

Master Splinter cleared his throat. "As I was saying, we must work as a team to protect one another. Running off and breaking important rules, such as the top side rule, are not helping our family to stay safe. As you discovered tonight, there are very bad ninjas that wish to do our family great harm."

"I sorry…" Lenni apologized. "I just wanted to be a good ninja…"

"Lenore, we have discussed what being a good ninja entails," he sighed heavily. "Being ninja is not all about being sneaky. It is about finding balance and having honour and doing the right thing."

"I'm sorry I didn't do the right thing…." Danceingfae spoke softly, as her sister crossed her arms over her plastron. "I should have come and told you that Lenni had left, instead of going with her…"

"I am glad you understand what your mistake was, my daughter. Please do not let it happen again."

"I won't Sensei…."

"Lenore, your punishment shall be double what it already was," Master Splinter stated. "Danceingfae, you shall share the same punishment, plus extra morning practice with Leonardo."

"Yes, Master Splinter," Danceingfae sighed softly. She knew she deserved this, since she had not done a good job of looking after her sister.

Lenni scowled, her arms still crossed angrily. "I's not happy…"

"Neither am I, child," he agreed. "Let's get you both to bed."

The littlest tot was silent for a long moment, before speaking softly, "Sensei?"

"Yes, my daughter?"

"C'n I's sleep in here with you?" She asked hopefully, giving him her best puppy dog eyes. She may be angry about doubling her punishment, but she had been super scared and was still a little afraid.

Master Splinter eyed the earnest little face staring up at him hopefully; he couldn't find it in his heart to deny the child's small request. "Yes, you both may sleep in here with me, if you so wish."

Lenni's face broke out into a smile, as she hugged him tightly. "I's gotta gets Teddy."

"We shall get him together, so that you do not wake your sleeping sister," Master Splinter chuckled, knowing her all too well. He helped the girls prepare for bed, guiding them back to his room once they were ready. Tucking them into his bed, his kissed their foreheads gently. "I love you, my daughters."

"Loves you, Sensei…."