She was sick. Her stomach protested everything. The gray matter between her ears developed a heart beat of it's own and was banging away at the inside of her skull. Muscles weak and bones sore, Tabitha felt like DEATH had paid her a visit in the night.

She had texted Leo right after she'd texted her boss. She'd tried to tell him that it was probably best to stay away for the night and that she hadn't told Sophia yet so he wouldn't have to worry about her. His reply had been simple. Leave the window open and he would be there with some soup from Mikey. He didn't care that she was sick, only that he might be able to help her.

As she wallowed in bed nearly all day, she started to day dream. Maybe it was the fever doing her in. Yet, she had to wonder, just what was it like for Becca and Sara? She had yet to meet Sara. Still, if Donnie had chosen her, she knew that there was a high likely-hood that she'd like the woman as well. Not to mention that now that the secret was out, Becca never shut up about the babies and Sara.

Becca obviously wasn't as reclusive as Sara, who seemed to have been that way since before meeting the guys. It seemed a commonality in the group that Becca was the outgoing one while Sara was a homebody. So how did Becca stand it? Living underground, never seeing the sun. Having a boyfriend who was so different. Living with not only him, but all of his brothers, his father and what seemed to be a step mom, and his brother's wife and kids. There were so many people. They were all clearly close, but how could so many people tolerate each other on those kinds of levels? She didn't even like a quarter of the people she knew.

Again she asked herself what it would be like to live like that. As she hadn't been invited to the base yet she could only picture a cave. Inside she pictured trying to cook with all of those people standing about, in her way. No, that would not go well, she thought.

The day wore on and Sophia required her attention. Snack, homework, dinner, helping with a project, each task draining Tabitha more and more.

She could barely keep her eyes open when she heard a small knock at the window and then the nearly silent slide of it opening. Sophia, who had been oblivious to Tabitha's plight, bounded out of bean-bag chair that had been gifted to her from Mikey. Leo, who was cumbersomely trying to manuever inside was greeted by Sophia latching onto his leg. "Sophia, what did we say about stopping us when we're trying to come in?"

"Don't, cause if I do one of you are going to fall and break Mikey's shell."

"Close enough," Leo laughed. Sophia backed off until Leo, and a large bowl with an airtight seal, were through the window. Then there was no help for the large turtle. Sophia attatched herself to his leg and refused to let go. Not that it bothered Leo at all. He walked like there was nothing there. One small detour into the kitchen and he was back in the living room, by her side, with Sohpia still latched on.

A bowl of chicken noodle soup, homemade, was in his hands. Light broth, big chunks of soft carrots, tender chicken, and where those homemade noodles? A couple bits of celery floated around.

"Thanks," she murmured.

"Not a problem."

"Leo!" Sophia nearly yelled. "Where have you been? I missed you!" The little girl whined as she nearly crawled up Leo's leg, trying to get onto his shell. Usually Tabitha would scold her, let her know that behavior like that was rude. Right now, Tabitha barely had the energy to hold up the bowl as she sipped the broth.

Leo looked down at her niece and smiled softly. "Do you want me to pick you up?"

"Yes!"

"Then you should ask. People won't know what you want if you can't tell them."

"But you do," Sophia giggled as Leo hoisted her onto his shoulder like she weighed no more than a wet towel. Tabitha smiled at that.

The easy way Leo moved around them now, it was nice to see. He'd always been... She struggled to think of a word to define it. Graceful, maybe? But there was more to it than just grace. He was at ease, comfortable. It was something she felt when he was near. A massive difference to the way things had started out.

There was some playing, laughter, and eventually a tired young girl. Still, she stuck to Leo. They talked about his brothers. How they had been training. Then Sophia did something that even a sickly Tabitha couldn't believe. She started to act like she was sparring with Leo.

"I want to get big like you and Mikey and fight bad guys too!" Followed closely by a solid punch to the middle of his chest. Waving her hand about for a moment, but trying her best to stand in a martial art's pose, Sophia went in for a lighter attack to the same area again. "Sophia! We don't hit!" Tabitha nearly feel over herself trying to get to her. Just what was the girl thinking? Leo could easily hurt her!

"Oh, oh no. You've got me!" Leo exaggerated, falling to his side in an overly dramatic way."I've been defeated by a strong hero!" He let out as he gasped loudly and threw his arms out, 'dying'. The absurdity of it stopped Tabitha from trying to move. Leo hadn't once given her a reason to fear him being around Sophia. He'd been kind and gentle with her from the start.

Then what Sophia said hit Tabitha in her stomach so hard she felt sick all over again. "No, silly, you're not allowed to die, only bad guys die when they fight with heroes." If only that was how this world worked.

"Right, right, my bad." Leo laughs as he sits up. "Anyway, you're still a little young to be fighting bad guys. Leave that to me, for now, okay?"

"But I wanna be strong like you!"

"You already are." Leo smiled at her and patted her head. Tabitha just stared. Then her mouth started to move on it's own, pulling into a grin. "How did you get so good with kids anyway?"

Leo looked over to her and gave her a soft smile and then... He winked. It was quick, and she nearly missed it, but the sight stopped her heart. When it started beating again Sophia had Leo's attention again.

She shook her head. She was sick. That was why she felt like that. No other reason. It must have been some weird symptom. She put a hand on her chest where something that wasn't all just a cold pulled at her heart. Oh, shit... I like him.