pacphys – Ya think? He isn't that bad, I haven't made any changes to the last chapter (yet), but ya never know. Besides, if take into mind that in theory its been building ever since they started disagreeing it wasn't too bad? Was it? (laughs) On with the show!

Chapter 10 - Goodbye to You

"Rise and shine Sleeping Beauty!" Mikey had never got up this early before, but armed with breakfast and a morning newspaper he knocked readily on Lotus's door. Balancing the tray on his bent leg he reached for the door handle with his free arm, pulling it open and making his way into the bedroom with ease. "I got eggs, I got toast and I got bacon. The breakfast for a king!" Wincing at the slip he corrected himself with a half shrug "Or queen!"

Mikey's bright eyed happiness was met with stoic silence. Only yesterday the two had locked eyes and he had seen the icy fire that drove her. "What is the …" she paused, her mind seeking to translate the right word, "occasion?"

"Thought ya might liketa remember ya last day o'freedom toots!" Shrugging Mike put the tray down at the foot of the bed, "Ya got about 20 mins tops, then Raph's gonna come knockin'."

Shutting the door behind him, he gave the two an uneasy shrug, "Still say Leo aint gonna like wakin' up ta find her goin' …"

"Shuddup …" tired, Raph headed out into the lair proper, settling uncomfortably onto the sofa and flicking on the TV. With the early morning news blaring to make up the background noise, he waited for his brothers to join him. On the other side of the door Lotus' face twisted into a harsh scowl. Moving to stand before the mirror she studied the faded bruises on her face. Many were close to being fully healed, tilting her head upwards she looked at the ugly, dried scab that adorned her scalp. That had been quite a mess … gritting her teeth she tore at the edges of it, loosening it enough to let the blood seep down the back of her head. Waiting a few minutes she broke from her own morning routine to enter the lair with a breezy smile, and a cheery call for all to "Rise and shine." Turning to Mikey to ascertain whether or not she had said it correctly.

Carrying her breakfast across the room she settled down on the steps of the dojo, reserving a small smile to the others as Leo came out to join her a few seconds later.

Coming out of his lab Don went to join Raph on the sofa, "I told you I should have delivered breakfast …" he hissed quietly. Looking to his brother he gave him a tiny nudge, it was time to end this game. "Yo'do it Don!" he replied quietly, his aching jaw going into a minor spasm. "Might have better luck …"

--

"…. In short, I think I've done all that I can do for you." Don concluded quietly.

Lotus listened to his evaluation with a bowed head. Feeling the slimy treacle of blood continue to make its way down the nape of her neck she hissed slightly, turning her wide innocent eyes from the united front Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello presented to Leonardo who still sat by her side. "That is fine." She told all gathered quietly, her eyes casting down to her untouched breakfast she stood up slowly, holding the tray in hands that began to gently shake. Sucking her cheeks in slightly, the girl squinted, letting her body sway to and fro as she took a decidedly shaky step. Gripping the tray tighter she looked up towards Leo, her eyes wide and fearful, "Lee …" she whispered, her hands releasing the tray as she pitched sideways, her body descending with the same grace it often did during a fight.

"She's fakin'!" Raph yelled at his brother in desperation, but still like a puppet Leo moved to break her fall. With his right hand catching her head his other arm swept around her body to support her relaxed muscles. Relieved to have caught her, Leo began to lower her down towards the ground, his eyes widening in horror as he noted the droplets of red that were beginning to litter his hands. Pulling his hand back the large black scab came away, releasing with it a torrent of red that quickly spread through her hair and down onto the step of the dojo. "Don!" he cried fearfully, shaking away the dried scab and staring at his red hand, now sleek with her blood.

Initial reluctance to play a part in her charade gave way to the same genuine concern Leonardo felt, seeing his red hand he moved over, convincing his brother to move round whilst he cradled her so that he could get a better look. Pulling her hair away from the wound he studied it carefully, "It's alright Leo, it's only skin deep." Moving to her side he was stunned to see his brother reject his offer to take her with a steely, "I've got it." He stated sliding one arm under her frail torso, and the other into the crook at her knee. Lifting her fluidly Leonardo carried her smoothly and with grace into the dojo and to his make shift bed, sliding her down onto the blanket and pillow he used for his own bed. Stepping back he glanced at Donny, inviting him to come in and treat the wound.

Stemming her blood was not too difficult, nor was rewrapping the shallow cut. With the task completed Donny looked at his stationary brother, his dark eyes cold and drawn to something else. Following his gaze Don couldn't say he was surprised to see Raph's angry, ongoing onslaught upon the dummy. If he had not been otherwise engaged with Lotus he may well have joined him. There was something about the way she exhibited control over his brother that he found worrying, and Leo's blatant disregard to any warnings un-nerved him. "Right, I'm done." Trying to sound upbeat he offered his brother's distant expression a bright smile. "She's going to be fine."

"You said that before Don." Leo pointed out dryly, bringing his knees up to his chest and resting his head down upon the apex. His eyes never left Raph as he continued to pummel the mannequin's middle. A week ago such a violent attack would have elicited concern from him.

"Maybe you could apologise to him." Don suggested, "We all know it's going to be a cold day in Hell before he comes over here."

Sliding his eyes around to look at Lotus he shrugged, internally he was conflicted, and now it was over more than just leadership responsibilities and the sleeping girl. His head and his heart were in open disagreement, after all the crux of her stay hinged upon her eventual passage to the relevant authorities, and a large part of him no longer wanted that to be the outcome. "Then maybe Hell could freeze over."

Watching his brother nod his head, Leo scooted closer to the still girl. To his surprise her eyes flickered open in response to his gentle touch, and a small smile spread on her face. "There is something I must tell you." She whispered quietly, her voice low, but her tone determined.

Frowning, Leo leant in to help her sit up, and better hear her words. With her smoky breath tickling his neck, and her sweet intoxicating scent flooding the air he listened intently. "Your brother," her eyes moved fearfully to where Raph continued to strike the dummy. "He threatened me Leonardo." Again she paused, her face contorting slightly more than was necessary as she shifted. "He told me he would beat seven sorts of unko (1) out of me." Her tinny tone took on a fearful note before her eyes flickered back to the boys face. What she saw there made her smile.

"Come on," Leonardo whispered softly, his arms moving to haul her to her feet. "Let's get you out of here."

At his final comment Raphael's attack on the dummy stopped and he turned to stare suspiciously at the two through narrowed eyes. Flexing his fingers he met his brother's glare head on. "Yes?" Leo didn't know what else to say, but the arm he had put in place to help her stand remained protectively around her shoulders, drawing her close and holding her there.

Raph's eyes moved from the couple and to the bag of sand that was used to refill the dummy. Seeing them that close made his blood run cold, "Gonna pass that bag?" he growled quietly, his fists clenching then releasing whilst he waited for his response. To his relief Leo moved away from her with little complaint to grab the sack and move it nearer to him. Turning away he rejoined Lotus and escorted her from the room. From his vantage point in the dojo Raph watched his brother take her into the bedrooms, relieved that the whispered conversation he knew had taken place hadn't resulted in Leo doing anything stupid.

----

Inside the safety of his room Leonardo's mind quickly got to work. The window of opportunity would rapidly be closing and he needed to put as much space between Lotus and Raph as possible. With his shell leaning against the door, Lotus sat on his bed fingering her sword tentatively. Even in the half light with her hair falling down across her face, and over the dressing she was beautiful.

"Can you run?"

Breaking the silence with such an odd choice of words caused her to frown at his question, her leather bound blade left to lie across her lap. "I think I can." Pausing her confused look turned to one of barely contained joy, "Are you going to take me to a hospital to heal in safety?"

Turning his head to press against the door he listened for signs of movement from outside, hearing none he turned back to her. "I don't want Raph anywhere near you." Up until that moment Leonardo wasn't sure what he was going to do, but with the words now spoken he offered her a small smile of reassurance. "Everything is going to be fine."

----

"Apologise."

Hearing Donny's suggestion Raph turned to his brother incredulously. "What yo'been smokin'?"

"Say sorry." Mikey joined the conversation, his place on the sofa to the right of Donny feeling considerably safer than Donny sitting right next to him.

"No!" Raph looked from one brother to the other and then back again. "Why in th'world would I wanna do tha'?"

"Cuz Leo might ditch Catwoman if ya do …"

"But he most likely won't." Donny pointed out, "But saying sorry might be enough to get through to him, this is the new 'leading' Raph and sometimes leaders have to things that suck." Donny paused, the expectant punch that should have been coming late in its arrival. When Raph still didn't move from his place on the sofa Donny casually added, "Besides, if you don't Mikey will change the channel and we won't let you watch the game."

Running his hand through the tails of his bandanna Raphael stood and made his way towards the bedrooms, pausing outside Leo's door he knocked once before barging in when he wasn't answered after the third attempt. "Leo …" the room was dark, and for the most part appeared empty. Due to her stay in the room the air was thick with incense, intermingled with the intoxicating lotus oil, which he assumed was coming from her clothes and weapons left in the corner. Pushing the door fully open he looked around the room with the extra light afforded him by the hall. "Leo!" he snapped, though the sinking feeling that was wrapping its way around his heart wasn't doing his nerves any good. Even when he turned a full three hundred and sixty degrees in the room he knew his vain hope of finding his brother was nil. What the fking Hell did Leo think 'e was doin'? Storming out of the room he dialled his brother's ShellCell only to hear the metallic ringing echo back from the deserted room. The sound was mocking him just as Lotus had the day before.

"Splin'er!" Coming through to the main room, a muted television and three anxious faces greeted him. "Leo's gone …" stating what was blatantly obvious to Raph wasn't helping him or his nerves, sub consciously Raph's head shook from side to side in wonder at the sheer audacity of his older brother. He hadn't even had the balls to use the 'front' door. Deep breaths escaped from his heaving chest as he continued to stare blankly into space, so this was what it was to be in charge … licking his lips he finally admitted quietly "An' I got no clue how t'ged 'im back!"