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.

The next few days remained the same, one stubborn little turtle refusing to climb things during her lessons and running for her brother in purple during the night. It seemed her older sister had fared better in their little top side adventure, as she'd only suffered a couple nightmares and had started keeping watch on the younger ones more.

Currently the five-year-old turtle stood facing the one corner in the dojo; her meltdowns weren't being tolerated anymore, since she wouldn't tell them what was wrong. She was scowling at the wall, feeling very angry that no one seemed to understand.

"Lenni, are you ready to start listening?" Leonardo asked as he came to stand behind her. "Your sister has finished her lesson, are you ready to continue with yours?"

The blue and yellow bandana wearing turtle turned to glare up at him, the look on her face telling him she was definitely not ready to start listening. "You a…a…jerk!"

Frowning, he crouched down to her level. "Hey, you do not use words like that; especially not in the dojo. You need to respect the dojo and whoever is training you."

She crossed her arms over her plastron in response, her eyes narrowing more. "You nots under… understand!"

"What is it you want me to understand?" How did she expect him to help her, if she wouldn't explain what the problem was? Even his brother in orange was unsure what was going on with her, which was rare in itself. "I need you to talk to me."

"NO!" She stamped her foot.

"Do you want me to get Master Splinter?" He hated using their father as a threat, but sometimes it was the only thing that worked. "He won't be happy with you for disrespecting the dojo again."

Lenni's frustration bubbled over then, and she spit in his face angrily.

Wiping the spit off his face, he narrowed his eyes at his baby sister, his look showing his displeasure. Without a word he turned her around to face the wall once more, knowing if he didn't walk away he may do something he'd regret.

"Runt still in the corner?" Raphael asked as his brother came out of the dojo turtle tot less. "I thought for sure the Kid would have cracked by now."

"She's becoming you more and more every day," Leonardo muttered shaking his head. "My face was just greeted with spit."

Raphael's eye ridges shot up. "Now that is daring. She's never done that before."

"Has Mikey said anything?"

"Nah, he's at just as much of a loss as you are. He knows something's wrong, but the Squirt won't talk. Donnie's mentioned her running to him nightly with bad dreams, but otherwise, she hasn't said much."

Leonardo shook his head. "How did we go from a crazy little monkey, to an angry little rebel?"

Raphael shrugged. "You want me to talk to her, bro?"

"She's in time-out until further notice."

"The turtle who hates staying still is in the corner…. Yeah, that won't last long."

"I'm going to speak with Master Splinter. Make sure she doesn't disappear, will you?"

"I'll chase her back in here if she comes out."

Nodding, Leonardo turned and headed for where Master Splinter was in the kitchen, currently getting some snacks for a couple of the hungrier tots.

Lenni stood crying in the corner of the dojo, desperately just wanting to be held, but too angry to just voice this. She hadn't expected to spit at her brother, it had just happened; and now she was stuck here instead of being cuddled like she wanted.

"I's don't wants to climb…" She grumbled quietly, as she rubbed her eyes with the back of her hands. She glanced longingly over at the wooden ladder she had always enjoyed jumping off, and felt a small pang inside. "I's don't knows ifs I can…"

Looking around to ensure she was completely alone, she decided she may as well attempt it while no one was here. She'd been scared she would get in trouble for not being able to do it, so she had just flat out refused to even try instead. Making it to the ladder silently, she stared up at it, noticing for the first time just how high up it truly was in comparison to her small frame.

"I's can do it…. I's ninja…." She told herself, as she grabbed onto the ladder and pulled herself up onto the first rung. Feeling okay at the moment, and remembering how much she loved jumping off it, she climbed a little higher, taking her time. "I's show them…."

Climbing the ladder was taking longer than usual, and she was confused when her hands started shaking the higher she went. She felt her breathing hitch as the rest of her body joined in on the shaking, so much so, she couldn't move anymore. Panic suddenly hit her like never before, and her arms wrapped tightly around the side of the ladder, as terrified screams escaped her. "NO! NO! HELP! HELP! I'S DON'T WANTS TO! I'S DON'T WANTS TO! HELP!"

Raphael burst into the dojo moments before his brothers, since he had been the closest to it. His heart broke for the terrified turtle tot who stood atop the ladder shaking violently as she let her panic consume her. Quickly making his way to her, he climbed up to where she stood frozen, and placed himself behind her, so she could feel that she wasn't going to fall. "Hey, I've got you, Runt. You can let go."

Lenni hesitated, her breaths coming out in short, quick gasps. She could feel him right behind her, but she was scared to let go; though at the same time, she wanted down as quickly as possible. "R-R-Raphie…."

Ignoring his brothers who had now entered the dojo, he gently ran a hand over her head. "I'm right here Squirt. You're safe. You can let go. I won't let you fall."

"I's can't…." She whimpered softly.

Taking her small hands in his, he gently eased her fingers off the wooden structure, knowing he needed to get her down before her erratic breathing caused her to pass out. "Shh…. Deep breaths; I've got you."

Lenni felt him lift her from the structure, and immediately latched onto him, once he had pried her trembling fingers free. Her sobbing form shook as he carried her back down the ladder, holding her tight to his chest.

"There, see? You're safe," Raphael assured her once he was on the ground again. He rubbed her shell as he headed over towards his brothers. "I think we know what the problem is now…."

Leonardo sighed, a little sad for his sister. "An irrational, paralyzing fear of heights…."

"I guess we won't have to worry about her getting hurt jumping off things," Donatello mused. "Though, I admit, it was a little entertaining."

Lenni turned and reached for her most favourite brother, as she needed him most right then. "M-M-Mikey…"

"I'm here, Munchkin," Michelangelo assured as he took her from his brother in red. "What do ya say we go get us a big bowl of ice cream, huh?"

"With lots of sprinkles an' chocolates?" Lenni asked hopefully, as she clung to him as tight as she possibly could. "An' marshmallows?"

"Sure thing, Babe," he agreed easily.

Lenni glanced back at her brother in blue tearfully. "No more times out?"

Leonardo gave her a soft smile. "No, no more time out right now. Go enjoy your ice cream, okay?"

"Okay… I's still ninja?"

"Of course!" Michelangelo answered, as he left the dojo with her to go make the promised ice cream sundaes, in hopes of calming her down some more.

"She was right, I'm a jerk," Leonardo sighed. "I know this fear well and should have recognized the signs."

"Don't' beat yourself up over it bro," Raphael told him. "It's not like any of us expected the fearless little turtle to become terrified of what she loved doing most."

"I was worried her amygdala would cause her problems," Donatello sighed with a shake of his head. "With all the nightmares she's been having since she was tossed of the roof, this was pretty much inevitable."

"I better let Master Splinter know she was traumatized more than we thought," Leonardo said. "We may have to take a new course of action for her training."

The three of them left the dojo, pleased to hear her little voice ringing out to let their brother in orange know exactly what needed to go on her sundae. They hoped her journey with her fear wasn't a long one, as it would hinder her training in many ways.