The Rings: Chapter 5

            When we got back from our runs through the sewer, we came home to find Don sound asleep with the kid curled up in his lap. It was an interesting picture, lemme tell ya. I walked over to the kid and picked her up, keeping her wrapped in the warm blanket.

"Where does she go?"

"In my room, I can take her if you want."

"Nah, I got her. You can get Donnie to bed."

Leo chuckled, and nodded, then walked over to the couch to get Don up. I held the girl close as I walked to Leo's room. She felt like nothing in my arms. Had to keep reminding myself there was a kid in my arms and not some studded animal. When I got to his room I gently laid her down on his bed, but she still woke up, damn it. She looked up at me with wide fear-filled eyes.

"Shhh...you're ok."

She blinked at me with her large eyes full of confusion.

"Where's Donnie-tello?"

Now that was the cutest and most humorous question I have ever been asked in my life. I had to bite my tongue to keep from laughing out loud.

"He uh…had to go to bed, kinda like how you need to. Donnie-tello was tired."

I snorted back another fit of laughter, causing the girl's ears to twitch. I cleared my throat and regained my composure. That's when I noticed the intense gaze she had locked on me. It was almost frightening, almost. Nerve-wracking is a better way of putting it.

"What're ya lookin' at kid?"

She blinked and her nose twitched as she continued to…study me. "

"Well?"

"Which Mr. Turtle are you?"

It was then my turn to blink and stare. Which I think made her feel slightly uneasy. Her ears flattened back a bit. It took me a moment to figure out a way to reply to that question, which led to much stuttering on my part. This seemed to amuse the kid.

"Well, uh…um…Mr. Turtle? Where in the heck did ya come up with that kid?"

"My name isn't kid Mr. Turtle. It's Brodie!"

"Ok…so where did ya come up with this Mr. Turtle business, Brodie?"

I smirked and watched as her tail began to twitch irritably.

"Well you're a turtle, a boy turtle, and I didn't know your name and I didn't know what to call you. So I came up with 'Mr. Turtle'. Your kinda a mean Mr. Turtle!"

She crossed her arms, and huffed a little, her fur puffing up just a tad bit. This was seriously killing me. She was cuter than hell when she got mad.

"Well then, seems like we got all that cleared up, doesn't it?"

"No!"

"No? Whaddya mean no?"

"You still haven't told me your name, Mr. Turtle!"

I chuckled softly, shaking my head a bit and sat down on the edge of the bed, near her.

"Why do you want ta know my name so badly, kid?"

She glared at me, her tail twitching even more.

"My name isn't kid! It's Brodie!"

By now her ears were completely flat and she was giving me a very annoyed glare. Which only made me laugh.

"Alright Brodie. Ya got me. But I'm still wantin' ta know why you're so intent on knowin' my name."

Suddenly she got this very smug look on her face, and a smirk that I'm sure could match my own. Her ears slowly began to rise up making it pretty apparent that she had something clever to say.

"Well if you don't want to tell me, I could always call you mean Mr. Turtle."

It was obvious she was very proud of this comment and that made me laugh even more. This kid had some wit about her and I know I'll be a good teacher when it comes to showing her how to use it in her benefit.

"Ok, ok, ya got me. You're a clever ki- erm…girl, ya know that?"

"Of course!"

She smiled, and laid back down resting her head on the worn out pillow. Her gaze never left my face.

"So what is it?"

I blinked and gave her a blank look, even though I knew what she was asking me.

"What's what?"

"Your name!"

She let out a dramatic exasperated sigh. Damn I have never laughed so hard.

"It's Raph. And don't even think of callin' me Raphy. Ya got that kid?"

She growled as I tousled her hair. I had a feeling this was the start if a very beautiful relationship. Full of obnoxious and cynical love.

"Now get some sleep. Ya have a long day ahead of you tomorrow."

I got up and started for the door, but before I could get very far she was latched to my arm. I turned to her with an arched eye-ride.

"Can you tuck me in and give me a goodnight kiss Raph?"

I sighed. You have got ta be kiddin' me. Was she for real?

"Ok, I'll tuck ya in, but no goodnight kisses."

I picked her back up and laid her down in the bed again, tucking the covers around her small frame.

"Please Raph?"

"No."

"Please."

"I said no Brodie, now get ta sleep."

I turned away and started for the door again and almost made it this time, till I heard the sniffling behind me. Great, now she's crying. With a grunt I turned around, marched back over to the bed, leaned down and kissed her forehead. Then gently wiped away a few of her tears.

"Now no more crying ok? Doesn't do ya any good. There are more important things to cry over."

She nodded and sniffled again, wiping at her damp fur.

"Get some sleep, k?"

I turned and finally got to the door this time, turned off the light and shut the door behind me, leaving just a small crack. Yeesh kids could be a pain. They really know how to pull on all your heartstrings. Damn.