Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT. I own Lindy. If you want to post my story on your site, please just ask. (Not that I'm saying anyone does, but just in case…)

I've decided that my companion piece to this story, Reflections, really should go into this whole story as a chapter, so it should be after chapter three. As I said in that author's note, I had to lose the reviews I got for that when it was a separate story. Thanks to those who reviewed. I actually managed adding it without losing all my reviews or chapters. Yay!

If you haven't read Reflections, please do. I really think it adds to the story. It's after chapter 3.

A/N - This chapter takes place one month after the events in the last chapter. The sewer systems are huge, but, sooner or later, they'll be found out. They know this, and are getting antsy. Tensions are running at an all time high. And that tension is getting to them. And they react to that. It just goes to show that not everyone can get along all the time.

Chapter 7 - One of Those Days

Leonardo put a hand to his head. This was not going well.

"Jeez, Leo." Mike sat down heavily. "D'you think we can rest for a few minutes?" He lay forward on the ground. "We've been practicing all day."

"We need to practice all day. We've been slacking." Leo looked over at Mike. "Mike, please. Get up. I'm having enough trouble as it is, without you…"

He was cut off as Lindy let out a wail. Don immediately stopped sparring with Raph and went to go check on her. Raphael sighed heavily. Don came running back a moment later, retying his mask. "She's OK, just fell. She's not quite steady on her feet yet."

Raph looked over to Leo. "You know, it's kinda hard sparring with someone who keeps running off every two seconds."

Leo opened his mouth, but was cut off by Don.

"Hey." Donatello said. "What if she'd been hurt or something?" He sounded annoyed.

"And what if it was like the other three thousand times that she's not?" Raphael looked back to Leo. "I still say we should go after them."

"Raph, we are not going looking for the Foot." Leo said. "Look, you spar with Mike, OK?"

Raph grunted, and walked up to Mike, who was still laying on the ground. "And I still say, we shouldn't worry about it." Mike said. "They're probably not going to find us, and, if they do, we'll just kick their butts, like usual."

"Staying here, doing nothing is a big waste of time." Raph retorted. "I wanna go get this over with. I hate just sitting around."

"And, what do you mean, the 'three thousand times she's not'?" Don broke in. "Lindy does not cry that much."

Raph rolled his eyes, ignoring him. "So we're just gonna train twelve hours a day, and then sit around and wait? If we train like Mikey, here, then you're right. We'll get our butts kicked." He kicked him lightly in the side.

"Hey!" Michaelangelo sat up.

Leonardo put a finger to his temple. He was getting a headache. He looked back at the others. Mike had stood, and was arguing with Raph, and Don was standing next to Mike, arms crossed, injecting his own comments every so often. Lindy babbled happily in the background. It all sounded like a rush in his ears as he closed his eyes tightly, trying to regain his composure. He opened his eyes. Suddenly, he could hear everything crystal- clear again.

Raphael and Michaelangelo were face to face, Mike's face turning red. Don looked between the two, looking wary. Leo was surprised, too. Mike usually never stood up to Raph like this. Just what he needed. Leo took a few steps toward them. He could hear Don talking now.

"…agree with Leo. I think we should just lay low."

"And I don't think we should worry about it at all." Mikey broke in.

"Well, I never said that…" Don said.

"Guys." Leo said, trying to get their attention. It didn't work. "Guys…" He was getting angry now, and he hated to lose his cool during practice like this. But the arguing continued, along with the constant string of noise from Lindy in the back…

"GUYS!!" He shouted over the noise, actually sounding louder than he'd meant to. They all looked over at him, surprised.

He sighed, suddenly exhausted. "Raph, stop fighting with Mikey. Mike, please stop complaining. Don…" He broke off and sighed again.

"Who do you think you are?" Raph broke in angrily, his eyes flashing, already pumped from his argument with Mike. "Telling us what to and what not to do. You're not…"

"We're all tired." Don interjected. "Maybe a break's a good idea." He looked at Leonardo, then pointedly at Raph.

"OK." Leo said. "A short break. But then we practice again." Michaelangelo groaned in the background.

"We need this, guys." Leonardo continued. "We have to be ready for when, or if, they find us. Those symbols were too close for my comfort, and I want to be prepared. I don't want to lose anybody…"

"Hey," Don slung an arm around Leonardo's shoulders. "We're not going anywhere. None of us." He looked to Raphael and Michaelangelo, who both just nodded.

"I just… I just want to be prepared, you know." Leo said, looking at Raph and Mike. "That's the most important thing. I don't want to be caught by surprise. I can't handle something like that again. I really can't." He finished quietly. The others looked at each other. He'd never said anything like that before.

Don squeezed Leo's shoulder slightly again, then turned to look at Raph and Mike. "Just a little break, then we come back."

They both nodded. An uncomfortable silence filled the room. Mike broke the silence by walking forward suddenly. "I'll bet Lindy needs a diaper change by now." He grabbed her up. "I'll do it." He disappeared out the door. Raph turned to look at Leo and Don. "That is one weird turtle." He smiled, shaking his head. Then he, too, left to the other room. Don turned to Leo. "Are you OK?" He asked.

Leo opened his mouth once, then closed it. He looked at Donatello, then opened his mouth again. "I'm worried." He said simply, then left the room to join the others. A minute later, Donatello followed suit. He walked into the other room, and found Mike, who was sitting at the kitchen table, eating a bowl of ice cream.

"Secret food of all great ninjas, huh?" He asked, sitting down next to Mike.

Michaelangelo looked over at him and grinned. "Breakfast of champions, dude."

"Where's Lindy?" Don asked. Michaelangelo simply grinned and pointed down at the table. Don leaned back to get a look. He grinned. She was sitting in between Mike's feet, playing happily with a spoon and bowl that Mikey must have handed her.

"Tough practice, today, huh?" Don commented, his head still under the table.

"Maybe a little too tough." Mike muttered. Don heard him, and looked back up at Mike, who was suddenly very interested in his ice cream.

"Mikey, I…" He stopped. "Look, I think it's important that we practice… At least for today. I… Leo… It's important to him, you know. More important than it used to be. It's more than just practice now. It's different now, you know?"

"He thinks I don't get that." Mike said softly.

"No, no…" Don said hastily. "He knows you…"

"He thinks I don't understand why he's so adamant about us working together. About practicing for hours everyday." He looked to Don. "I get it. I really do, but, I do think there is such a thing as too much practice, too."

Don was shocked. Mikey'd never talked to him this seriously about practice before, if at all.

"Well," Don started. "I guess it would account for some of the things that have been going on."

"We practice so much…" Mike sighed. "It's not fun anymore. Everyone's fighting with everyone, and sooner or later, someone's gonna blow." He gave a small grin. "And I do mean sooner."

"You're right." Don said.

Mike looked at him, with surprise on his face.

"I agree. I do." Don said. "Leo and Raph have been sparring together for so long now, just the two of them, that someone's gonna end up getting hurt." He looked down. "Although, that is partly my fault, too. And I admit that." He looked back at Michaelangelo. "Look, we'll get through this practice, and then I'll talk to…"

"Leo!" They both jumped as Raphael's voice boomed from the other room. Don and Mike looked at each other, Mike's jaw slightly slack. Soon, Raphael barged through the room, Leo hot on his heels. "Look, you stay away from me for awhile, just stay away, and I won't hurt you!!" Raph growled before going into the practice room and slamming the door shut. Leo stood, looking at it for a moment before throwing the door open and following Raphael inside.

Mike and Don looked to each other again. "See?" Mike said, going back to his ice cream.

*************

Raphael turned back, surprised, when the door opened and shut behind him again. He looked back to see Leonardo standing there, fuming. Uh oh. He thought to himself. Maybe I pushed too far this time. I've really ticked him off… He grinned at this thought.

"You think this is funny?" Leo said from his spot by the door. He was angry now, angry enough to actually follow Raph from a fight. "You think this is a joke, is that it?"

Raphael looked at his brother. His jaw was set, his eyes flashed with deadly seriousness. He'd never seen him so angry at him before.

"Leo…" He began calmly.

"No!" Leo cried out. "You listen to me, just once, listen to me. Hear me out." Leonardo shut his eyes, taking a few deep, calming breaths. Raphael stood by silently, arms crossed, giving him a moment.

"I know you don't like this, Raph, I really do." Leo began, his voice less than calm. "Do you think I do? Do you honestly think that I like just sitting here, waiting, doing nothing?" He looked at Raphael. "I don't. But I also know, that to go out there, and look for them, not knowing how many of them there are, or what to expect, is stupid. We are out of practice and we have no idea what we're up against. Those don't show me too good of odds."

"Leo, we'd be fine…"

"You can't say that for sure, Raph."

"You never can." Raphael challenged.

Leo didn't answer. He just looked down, taking a few more deep breaths. "Just give me a little more time, Raph. Please." He said quietly. Raphael looked at him in shock. He'd never really asked him like that before. "Just a while longer…" Leo continued.

Raphael looked to the side. "A bit longer, Leo." He agreed, looking back at Leonardo. "Just a little, and then, I'm going after them. You can't always tell me what to do."

"Nor can I stop you." Leo said, and looked at Raphael. Raph was surprised to find his brother's eyes looking tired. "Look," Leo said, straightening up again, seeming to find more strength. "Go, cool off, and rest with the others. I expect you all back here in ten minutes. Let them know." He said briskly, then turned and walked over to the other side of the room, signaling that the conversation was over.

Raphael stared after his brother for a moment, then turned and left the room.

He went into the kitchen and plopped down next to Don. "This is ridiculous." He said, more to the table than to Mike or Don.

"I agree." Don said. "But probably not in the same way you do."

Raphael looked at his brother. "What are you talking…" He started, then stopped, as a pain went through his foot. "Ow!" He jumped up, then leaned down to look under the table. "Jeez, Lindy. That hurt, da-…"

"Hey!" Don broke in. "Don't say things like that in front of the baby."

"Then keep a better watch on her." Raphael shot back. "Don't let her go around stabbing people like that. Punish her once in a while. Maybe she needs…"

"Don't you take things out on her." Donatello said, as he felt anger bubble up inside of him. Raph usually didn't affect him like this, didn't get to him. But he'd had about enough of Raph's mouth for the day. "She could've learned it from you, you know. Maybe she's just had enough of your attitude today, and is as sick of it as we are."

"Hey!" Raph stood, knocking his chair over. He grabbed Donatello by the shoulder and jerked him out of his chair. Mike rose, too, and grabbed Lindy, looking between the two. He bit his lip, worried. Donatello never stood up to Raphael like this, much less started it with him. He hoped Lindy didn't witness her father being maimed before her eyes.

They stood eye to eye for a minute, just staring at each other, each breathing heavily. Raph's eyes flashed dangerously, but Don never broke his gaze. A door opened, and Mike turned, relieved, when Leonardo entered the room and looked at the scene. "Hey, what's going on?" He asked, walking partway into the room.

Raphael broke his gaze first, looking over to Leo. "What's going on," Raphael growled, "Is that I'm done wasting my time for the day. You guys go play ninja. I'm outta here." With that, he walked out of the lair, leaving the rest of them speechless.

Leo looked to Don, who was staring at the ground, breathing deeply, and Mike, who was holding Lindy. Leonardo questioned him with his eyes, and Mike shrugged, looking just as confused.

Finally, Don looked up and sighed. "I'm sorry." He said. "I just… Tensions are running a bit high around here, if you haven't noticed, Leo, and I gave into it. I shouldn't have. I'm sorry." He repeated, looking back down.

"No," Leo sighed, walking up to them. "I know they are. And I haven't really helped, have I?"

"Well, us getting mad at each other, then training with weapons isn't the best way to get rid of tension, but it sure does make it interesting." Mike said, grinning, trying to lighten the mood.

Don cracked a grin at that. "Yeah. Interesting." He ran a hand over his head. "OK. Anyone up for a little bit more stress- therapy?" He joked feebly.

"You guys go ahead. I'll be there in a second" Leo said. Mike and Don walked back to the practice room. Leo looked back at the door and sighed. He hoped Raph didn't do anything rash, like go looking for the Foot in his rage. Please, he silently prayed. Just don't get yourself killed. Then he turned and went into the training room, where Don and Mike were waiting.