Disclaimer:…OK, I don't own anything (EXCEPT for Centrice, Owen, and Aunt Lulu…and one of these characters aren't even in this story)!

Chapter Fourteen

Raph and Centrice watched in complete awe as the field exploded into fast movement. However, this time, it wasn't just Owen; Donatello easily matched his speed.

He was moving just as fast as the vampire himself.

Meanwhile, Don watched on in displaced amazement at how easily he moved. Effortlessly, it seemed. His limbs found their own way into blocks and such, as his feet maneuvered automatically. Meanwhile, his mind was in shock.

Was that him moving so fast?

Was that his arms moving in a blur before his eyes?

Over and over again, he blocked the attacking Owen, sidestepping or flipping out of the way. He "watched" his body move for a few moments before everything finally clicked.

This was him; it was his arms, his hands, his feet. All he had to do now was control it.

Owen attacked steadily, grinning wider with every block; wider with every well-placed dodge; wider with every maneuver.

Donny was in the Plane, now; his survival was now ensured.

However, that grin faltered when a green fist suddenly shot out at him, catching him completely off guard. All of a sudden, Donny attacked, putting the skill of ninjitsu to good use. He soon found that with it, it gave him a certain edge; a certain way of control that he soon found was what he needed to overpower the old vampire.

Shock went through him when he actually hit is target.

Owen was slammed back by the giant fist, the wind flowing from him with a giant whoosh. He hit the ground with a meager thud, his sword flying from his hand as he did. Owen blinked up at him, his eyes uncharacteristically wide in the shock of what had just happened.

A shadow came over him from above.

"Are you ok?" Don asked hesitantly, looking down at the fallen Owen in worry. Now that he was back out of the Plane his vision was back to normal. But now he looked down at the vampire in concern. Isn't that what Owen wanted? His mission all along was to successfully attack the vampire, which he did.

But did he go too far?

Centrice and Raph watched on in silence. Don looked up at them to give them a shrug before turning back down to the vampire.

However, just as he was beginning to worry, the vampire's stunned gaze went from surprised to a bright grin as he suddenly swung his legs up and around, knocking the turtle right off of his feet.

It was Donny's turn to hit the ground, the thud of impacted echoing in the small clearing. Meanwhile, Owen followed the wide arch his feet provided, swinging around until his feet touched solid ground again.

Donny moaned from the dirt.

He was growing more and more familiar with the dirt, it seemed, since he kept hitting it so damn often.

'So, I might as well just stay here.' He thought meekly, and did just that.

A shadow came over him after he had just succeeded in closing his eyes.

Well, actually, three shadows.

Donny opened his eyes only to look up into the faces of Raph, Centrice, and Owen.

"Donny, are you ok?" Raph's voice was low and light. He was amused.

Don smiled up at him, placing his hands behind his head as he did.

"Never been better…why?" He asked absently. At that, Raph smiled as Centrice laughed.

Meanwhile, Owen watched on, just as amused but there was other business to be taken care of first.

"Donatello, we are finished for today, and in this part of your study." Don's questionable gaze landed on Owen as well as the gazes of the two other listeners. Owen noticed all of their eyes and grew temporarily uncomfortable. However, Raph's voice soon interrupted the silence as well as Owen's self-consciousness.

"So, what is Donny gonna do tomorrow?"

Owen watched the turtle at the question, drawing a blank himself.

Tomorrow and for now on, lessons would be different. In that they would be more mind centered, teaching Donatello more about the Plane now that he had experienced it for himself.

But where would they hold these lessens?

They would need someplace quiet and secluded; someplace comfortable.

His apartment would have been the perfect place.

But now he had no apartment.

Where would they go?

Meanwhile, the other three grew uneasy at Owen sudden quietness. Donny blinked before sitting up.

"You do know what's supposed to happen now, right?" Donny eyed him cynically. Owen soon found himself under all three of their gazes again which only managed to make him more and more self-conscious. Years in seclusion was defiantly taking its toll.

He sighed, offended, at the turtle's intended accusation.

"Of course I know, I am teaching you, remember?" He knew he wouldn't have been able to keep the attitude from out of his voice as he talked, so he didn't even try to mask it. Both Don and Raph raised eye ridges at his tone, while Centrice just watched the vampire expectantly.

Don reached for a hand from his brother and got it. Raph hauled him up, just as Owen began to walk away, collecting his things.

"For the next phases of you lessons, we will have to be somewhere quiet, secluded, but…"

"But?" Raph couldn't help but join the conversation, his curiosity getting the better of him.

"But, I don't know anywhere we can go…" He stated, picking up the mock swords as he did. He tried to look detached, as if he really wasn't worrying about it, but his black eyes spoke volumes. It was Centrice's turn to join this conversation as the vampire's eyes all but told her too.

"Don't you have anywhere…you know…we can go?" She had a hunch about the vampire's anxiousness and defensiveness. He was hiding something, but she had a feeling about what that was. All she would have to do now was prove herself right. Owen blinked, surprised with her inquisitiveness, but he continued his game of detachment.

"No. I don't." His voice was definite, despite his uneasiness.

Centrice pressed further.

"What about your house, don't you have somewhere to stay? I bet it would be quiet enough to hold the lessons." She asked, picking up on the "game" at once.

She could play too.

Meanwhile, Donny and Raph watched the two of them as they chatted, but knew they should not get involved. There was more going on than just Donny's lessons in that conversation, so they did not butt in with there comments because of that.

Besides,

When Centrice started something, she usually finish it.

And it would be best judgment to stay out of her way when she did.

Meanwhile, Centrice watched Owen expectantly. There was more to this story than meets the eye. That was for sure. But what?

The hunch of what exactly it was kept nagging at her, picking at the back of her brain as the pieces fell into place. So finally, she said her thoughts out loud, earning a gasp from both turtles.

"You don't have a home, do you?" Her voice was full of measured compassion; the vampire tensed because of it, growing angry at the girl's prodding. Turning, he watched her as if seeing her for the first time. What business of hers was his living status? None, that's what, he contemplated throwing back a curt remark, or denying the entire thing, but he chose not to.

He never was a liar, and he would not begin today.

"No. I don't." His had an iciness to his voice that most people would have tried to avoid.

But Centrice was not most people as she watched him measurably, standing un-phased. "I don't have a home." He turned away, coldly, angered by the sudden analysis of his life by this simple-minded girl. She didn't even know him, and already she was stepping on his toes. "So, if you'll excuse me, I'll be leaving if you don't mind." Donatello frowned after watching the entire scene unfold before his eyes. Centrice's outspokenness sometimes got her in trouble, and in more times than one, she usually left someone ruffled by her words.

And this time, that person was Owen.

"Wait." His sudden voice shocked everyone, even himself. Surprisingly Owen did stop, but did not turn around. Donny couldn't help but feel a pull at his heart strings at his friend's misfortune.

Yes, his friend.

At the beginning it was just a teacher-student relationship, but now…Donny did consider Owen as a friend, having taught him only because of his original concerns for the turtle. A true heart, he was; just…misguided. It was probably the years of solitude that left him cold, but there was a warmth there that he knew would never die.

The warmth of compassion.

However…

He bet Owen had never had a friend, never knew that kind of companionship.

Again, Owen's behavior spoke volumes.

So when Donny made his next suggestion, it was more out of kindness and friendship then out of his own need for a new place for his lessons.

"What about the lair?"

Both turtle and human turned to him, eyes wide. Owen just watched him curiously.

"Lair?"

"Can I talk to you for a second, Donny?!" Raph immediately stepped in, keeping Donatello from continuing. He didn't even bother to wait for Don's response. He reached out and grabbed him roughly by the arm, leading him away from the group as he did.

Owen watched them leave, his brow furrowing into a very visible confusion. Leaning, he looked past the girl and to the turtles, but just as he did, Centrice made sure to block his view. She knew what they were talking about back there and likewise, it would be best if Owen didn't.

"You'll have to excuse them." She stated lightly, catching the vampire's attention.

"It's a turtle thing."

Meanwhile.

"Donny, You can't be serous?!" Raph whispered harshly, his hard gaze eyeing the turtle/vampire in disbelief. "Are you insane?!"

"Think about it, Raph!" Suddenly, Don spoke up, his own tone matching that of his brother's. "He's a friend, and he needs help." He stated simply, his own gaze reflecting the true seriousness and sincerity in his heart.

Raph, blink, still in disbelief. "He's a vampire, and he's dangerous! I can't believe you would offer our only place of security to a perfect strange-"

"He's not a stranger!" Don's voice was harsh and cold as he narrowed his eyes at Raph's protest. Owen was definitely not a stranger, not after this, not after all of this. If it wasn't for Owen he would be dead, buried right next to their beloved Master Splinter. "Do you know how much we owe him, how much I owe him?! He saved my life, damn it! Isn't that enough? Isn't that enough for you guys to trust him? He needs a place to stay, at least until he finds somewhere else." Don's voice went from serous to pleading in microseconds, his eyes softening. "Raph, please?"

Raph sighed, the fight leaving him at his brother's plea.

Don did have a point. Owen did save Donny's life, and for that they were all thankful. But…to have the guy in there home, that was different. He eyed Donatello once more; his face was etched with worry and compassion, compassion towards his fellow man, er, vampire. He had never seen Don look so pleading, and it only told him how important this was to his younger brother.

Well, then, if Donny felt it was best…

"We would have to ask Leo…"

Don grinned, his face instantly lighting up. Raph was with him.

But would Leo be?

There was only way to find out.

"Way ahead of you!" Donny removed his turtle com from his waist band and flipped it open. Raph blinked. He had forgotten all about those. They barely used them anymore, now they just carried them around from habit.

But now, Donatello seemed to be putting that habit to good use.

Raph watched as Donny operated the old device as if it had been made yesterday, and before long it was beeping, awaiting Leo's answer.

After several beeps, Raph looked up.

"Do you think Leo even has his any mo-?"

"Hello?"

Well, that answered his question.

Don threw Raph a measured look before breathing once in and once out. He was suddenly nervous.

"Hi Le-"

"What's wrong? Do I need to come out?" Leo's voice was instantly business. He thought that they were in battle, Don could tell. Well, that was what they used to use the turtle coms for before.

But, this time, that was not the case.

"No, nothing's wrong Leo. We're still in Central Park with Owen."

Leo seemed to sigh, but held it. Then what did they call for if nothing was wrong?

"Then…what's up?" Leo asked curiously from the other end of the walkie talkie.

This was where it would get tricky. They would have to persuade Leo to allow Owen to come home with them, but that was easier said than done. Leo was a tough cookie, stubborn if there ever was a definition for the word, and Don knew he had his work cut out for him.

"Well, Leo, it's kind of hard to explain…" Don hesitated, but a motion from Raph got him back on track. "But I need to ask you a question..."

Leo hesitated from the other line. Don was beating around the bush. He was nervous.

'But why? Why would he be so damn nervous?'

"Spill it Donny. What is it?"

Some times bluntness was the only way.

"Do we still have that spare room? You know, the one in the back that nobody uses?"

Leo blinked. Where was Donny going with this?

"Yeah, it's still there? Why do you ask?" Leo braced himself. However, all of the bracing in the world couldn't have prepared him for what Donny said next.

"Because, Owen might be bunking with us tonight."

Raph held his breath, awaiting Leo's answer. He knew his brother, and he knew him well. Leo would disagree at first, but then after some persuasions, he would begin to cave until he finally did, allowing Owen in their home.

"Like hell he is!"

Leo was so predictable sometimes.

Coool, more coming soon now that I got most of my AP exams out of the way. Home you enjoyed, oh and don't forget to review.