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Chapter 4- Line ....

Since her encounter with the four turtles Lotus had chosen to lay low. Secreting herself away into a tiny bed sit in Lower Manhattan the thief took to studying her collection of artefacts. Each was a beautiful addition to a private collection that when completed would sell for millions. And with that money she could afford an escape from her self imposed exile in New York and return home. Entering into the small bathroom she began to pull a small bone comb through her hair, her mind invariably returning to her battle with the sword wielding turtle. What had she heard them call him again? Leroy ... Leon ... Shaking her head at her incorrect recollection she continued to work on the knots in her hair.

When she returned to the task at hand she would have to forget about him anyway. And with any luck she should be able to do so tonight.

--

Trapped in a state where he could neither fully wake nor sleep had been disturbing for Leonardo. He could not recall the long trek through the sewers home, nor his garbled messages admiring their mysterious thief. He held no conscious memory of many of Donny's techniques for rousing him, stretching from the mundane (smelling salts) to the utterlyridiculous (Raph's rock music at full blast). Though Donny assured him that it was Mikey's idea to try the latter. Smiling to himself Leonardo climbed from his bed, pleased to find that at least his ribs had healed, and entered into the lair proper to be greeted by his brothers.

"This is becomin' a bit of a habit" Raph started, breaking the curious silence.

Licking his lips he stared at his brother, unsure if Raph was making conversation or starting a fight. "I'm ..." Leo paused, knowing that if Raph was attempting sincerity any blatant refusal to engage could start the fight he was trying to avoid. "not entirely sure what you mean." he finished with a little flare. An awkward silence followed, in which all others gatheredseemed to be waiting for one of the two to say something.

"Goin' out, haulin' yo'ass in." Raph offered up, once again breaking the silence.

Force of habit tempted Leo to contradict Raph right there and then. Sure he had had a couple of bad breaks, but last night had definitely been the other way round. "If you say so." Seeking a change of topic Leonardo asked, "How are you liking the leading thing so far?"

"Been there, done that, got the t-shirt. Got it ready and waitin' for yo' to take right back." Relieved the game was over Raph made to head out.

"It's been two days Raph." Leo interrupted him, "And nothing serious has actually happened yet." There was something in the way that he said it that suggested that he was not prepared to take back the mantle that had been placed upon him. "You've always implied you can do better Raph ... " he continued quietly, unsure why it was so important to him to press the point home.

"I said no Leo ..." Raphael started to talk over him, "You're the "fearless leader" ..." he continued raising his voice to drown his brother out.

And here they were, at it again, closing his eyes to block out the visual sight of Raphael making big Leo finally cut off him off. "I'm not in the mood Raph!" Increasingly Leonardo had found himself not 'in the mood' when it came to dealing with Raphael. "You think it's that easy so I'm giving you a go. And I'm not ready to take it back yet. So until I say otherwise the responsibility is yours!" There he had said it. It had taken him two days to fully pass the baton on, not just in name but in action too. Wide eyed and open palmed he made as if to push the role away from him. "It's yours." he repeated coldly, quietly. The responsibility was his. Raphael stared at his brother, Mikey was getting righthisolder brother'simpression of him was getting good. Real good. Watching his brother physically shake whilst he battled with his emotionsbrought it home all the more. Letting out laboured breaths the stunned turtle watched his older brother walk towards the exit for the second time in as many days, pausing only to glance back in order to offer an apologetic shrug.

--

Donny found his brother sitting just outside the lair, his head bowed in his hands. "Hey…"

From his place Leo winced, staring down at the water that trickled along the base of the tunnel before answering quietly to acknowledge his brother. "Donny?"

"Uh-huh. Got room for another?" It bothered Donny to see his brother like this. So emotional.

"Sure."

Ambling over Donatello settled himself down, "So …"

Looking up at him Leo flashed a shallow smile. Exhaling slowly he shrugged slightly, dismissing the incident as he did so."Raph's in charge." Shaking his head a tiny chuckle slipped out, "It's going to be … different."

"Hmm …" that wasn't the answer that Donny had been hoping for. There was something troubling his brother and just like Einstein's theory of relativity he couldn't figure it out. "Leo, you know if you ever ne- …"

"DONNY! APRIL'S IN TROUBLE!" Raphael's call to arms reached the two before the turtle did. Surprised to see Leonardo just sitting there Raph hovered indecisively for a moment."C'mon …" turning on his heel he ran over to their van. Leo could figure out for himself if he was coming along.

Timing was everything, and April's was absolutely appaling. "Later?" Donny asked reluctantly.

Nodding Leonardo stood, "Maybe." Though what he would tell his brother he did not know. On the one hand he couldn't stop thinking about the strange girl from the museum; he had never met anyone like that. She had been so graceful, her sword play flawless. But on the other he couldn't reconcile with Raph's latest assessment of his character, and that was eating him up inside. Climbing onto the van lost in thought he tried to focus his mind to the task at hand.

--

Lotus was not one to be easily caught out, so to turn around having retrieved her mark to see twelve Foot soldiers patiently waiting for her caused more than an irritated surprise. Placing the carefully wrapped vase upon the floor she drew her sword and waited to see who was expected to make the first move. When the men did not immediately enter the premises she headed towards the back door and her forced entrance, it was upon opening the door that she understood why the men before her did not move. Brandishing weapons, more soldiers stood waiting.

The Foot had always been aware of April's store, they knew that from time to time the turtles frequented the building, but they had never come to the place in such great numbers before. In many ways April had been fortunate that she had been out when they had come to bother her. Turning the corner at the end of the street April had been shocked to see at least ten soldiers circling the outside of the building like hungry sharks did a boat. Ducking back into the street she had come from she waited for the turtles to come to get rid of them.

"No …" Lotus whispered softly, the Foot were not known for being honourable but perhaps ... beneath her mask the young girl bit down on her lip, there were so many present surely one would understand. Foolishly she resheathed her sword, raising her arms above her head she retreated back into front of the shop. Time stood still, and then with the sound of shattering glass the Foot were upon her. Spinning around sharply she watched the men outside the shop flood in, only turning back to feel the full force of a fist upon her jaw. Staggering backwards, the girl steadied herself before spinning on the ball of her foot to deliver a kick into the midriff of the first advancing man she saw. Reaching up she drew her sword in time to feel it snag the arms of waiting men. Ducking blow after blow as best she could the situation went from bad to worse as they managed to grab her, lift her up into the air and carry her successfullytowards, and then throughthe broken shop front.

"You have no honour!" she spat angrily through a blur of pain and terror. The response she received infuriated her further, lifted high into the air she felt each blow that haddelievered uponher torso strain. Gasping in pain she began to writhe, tears of frustration for her position creeping into her eyes. Dipping her low they raised her once again, gaining momentum they released her at the apex of their third drive upwards, screaming in surprise they moved out of the way to let her crash down onto the tarmac, the small knapsack of pollen she secreted upon her person splitting under her weight as she impacted.

"Now, is that really any way to treat a lady?" at this moment in time Raphael had no reason to actually do Lotus any favours. But he'd be damned if he'd let anyone get away with beating on a girl. Sai's drew his brothers spread out and waited; for once there were an unusual number of Foot present. Not that it mattered; they were all ready for a fight. And what a fight it was.

Having learnt from his first encounter with Lotus Raphael didn't issue his orders verbally, instead relying on eye contact and instinct. Twice Mikey was lost beneath a wave ofFoot, and twice he was pulled free. The first time by Donny, whom opted to sweep the legs out from under the approaching men, the second time Raphael did it himself, pushing his way through the wall of trained men, grabbing Mikey, and then punching, kicking and clawinghis way back out.

"Nice moves Slash Happy!" Mikey crowed, playing down the bruises that were beginning to show up on his limbs.

But it was Leo who caught Raphael's attention the most. Unlike his brothers he didn't move through the crowd to dispatch the soldiers. Instead he stayed still, dispatching the men that approached him with aneeriely detached efficiency. Slash Happy Raph shook his head, right now his brother was giving a whole new meaning to the word. As the men started to seperate out and retreat Raphael started out with his leadership innovation.

"Clear!"

"Yea baby!"

Slotting his bo away Donny contributed his bit "Here."

Which left Leo, turning inwards they watched their brother slot his katana's away, before turning to check on his prize. Laying at his feet was the decidedly lumpy, creepily still Lotus. Rubbing his hands together slowly he looked from the still woman to his siblings, "Do you think she's alright?" he finally asked, his sense of duty, and honour restored.

"I'm sure she will be fine." Donny reassured him, coming over to give his brother a small gesture of support.

"Really?"

"Really really."