Disclaimer: See Chapter 1
Chapter 7
Awakening.
Raph sat on the old couch flicking through the channels on the TV, his left arm slung over the back of it, he looked as though he was focused on it but he wasn't, he listened to Mike annoying Don.
"Donny's got a girlfriend, Donny's got a girlfriend" Mike chanted.
Don sat in the armchair slouching slightly, a hand covering his eyes, "Mike, will you shut up, please?"
Mike bent over the back of the couch and playfully rubbed the top of Don's head, "Why? I thought you'd be happy that you've got a girlfriend" he replied, emphasizing the 'girlfriend' part.
Don batted Mike away and stayed quiet so Mike continued, "Donny's got a girlfriend, Donny's got a girlfriend"
Don jumped up and dived over the chair, tackling Mike to the ground, Mike laughed as he blocked his brother's attempted headlock and rolled over, forcing Don onto his shell, he sat across his brother's plastron, pinning his arms and continued chanting. Don sighed and brought his legs up and around Mike's neck then pulled back, forcing Mike to the floor, effectively pinning him down.
"You wouldn't be this annoying if Bella was here now. Do you want me to get her in here?" Don chuckled, it wasn't so annoying now, it was getting entertaining and turning into a pleasing distraction from the boredom.
"You could," Mike replied, "but she's busy with Leo. Hey, maybe you should be getting worried, she's spending a lot of time with him at the moment" he teased.
Don wasn't fazed, "She's training. Leo's teaching her how to defend herself," he pulled off of Mike and sat down on the floor, brushing his arms down, "she was really shaken up by the Foot and Leo offered to teach her so that she'd feel a little safer"
Mike sat up and they both turned when Raph spoke, he had turned around to watch them, the TV wasn't as interesting as his brawling brothers.
"She stopped having the nightmares now?" he asked.
Don nodded and pulled himself up, "Yeah, I still feel bad about that, I should have been there, or kept her with me. I shouldn't have left her alone" he held his hand out for Mike and he took it then stood.
"If she stayed with you then it would have made it harder for you to fight, defending yourself is one thing but having to defend someone who can't defend themselves puts both of you at risk, you did the right thing" Raph responded, his brothers gave him an odd look and he raised an eye ridge at them.
"What?"
"Dude, you sounded like Leo" Mike said.
Raph launched himself at Mike.
Bella ducked and rolled away as Leo swung his arm towards her, she pulled herself up quickly and shoved Leo as hard as she could whilst his back was turned. Leo pivoted and crouched moving into a sweeping kick and Bella jumped to avoid it, as she landed Leo leaped over her to stand behind her and wrapped his arms around her neck. Bella panicked and grabbed at his arms frantically.
"No. You know how to get out of this and this isn't it" Leo said softly, Bella stopped struggling.
"I'm sorry" she whispered defeated.
"Don't be sorry, be quick. You're reactions to a given situation is what's important. There's no time to be sorry when someone is trying to hurt you, all that matters is that you defend yourself and escape. Don't let the enemy see your weaknesses by showing fear" he scolded gently.
Bella nodded then stiffened, she reached up and grabbed Leo's wrists and pressed at the pressure points that Leo had showed her, his grip loosened and she ducked out of his hold then stepped forward and kicked him in the plastron. Bella realized a second later that her kick was too close and too low. Leo doubled over and yelped, clutching at the lower plates of his plastron. Bella stood in shock with her hands covering her mouth then turned to the sound of clapping.
Charity stood next to Splinter smiling, "Great girly kick, Bella" she chuckled. Splinter allowed a small grin to creep across his face and nodded his approval.
"Yeah, it was" Leo mumbled as he straightened and moved towards Bella.
"Leo, I'm really sorry" Bella said.
"What did I just say about being sorry? You did really well, had I been human that would have definitely put me down for a good while. Well done" he smiled with a small grimace.
"Yes, well done Miss James, I applaud you, you have learnt much in such a short space of time and I believe both student and teacher have learnt a great deal today but lessons must now make way for dinner" Splinter rose slowly and stood still, awaiting formalities. Leo tapped Bella on the shoulder gently and she turned, Leo bowed to her and she returned the gesture then they both turned to Splinter and bowed. He acknowledged them and moved away towards the door, as he opened it he sighed.
"Raphael, Michelangelo stop fighting" he ordered then moved out of the room.
Charity chuckled and stepped onto the mat as Don entered the room, "Hey, how's it going in here?"
Charity smiled at him, "Well all I can say is don't ever upset Bella"
Don smiled, "It went well I take it?"
Bella sighed, "I kicked Leo too low"
Don noticed Leo glance down to his lower plates and up again, Don's eyes widened, "Ouch"
Leo opened his eyes slowly, his meditation disturbed by a feeling he couldn't quite pinpoint, his curiosity getting the better of him he picked himself up and headed out of his room. Leo walked slowly through the lair, allowing his senses to guide him. He frowned slightly as he made his way to the infirmary and pushed the door open, that feeling was stronger here. Before he was even fully in the room he felt a blow to the back of his head and fell to his hands and knees, he was kicked in the plastron and rolled onto his shell, he felt a weight land on top of him and looked at his attacker then lifted his chin instinctively as the cold metal of a dagger was placed at his throat. Faith stared down at him and he stared back, for a moment it was silent. Leo remained calm with the best comforting expression he could manage.
"You don't need to do this. No one is going to hurt you here" Leo said softly. Faith pushed the blade further forward and Leo felt it bite into his skin, a small trickle of blood ran down his neck.
"You're safe here, we're not a threat to you" Leo continued but Faith still didn't speak.
"I'm unarmed Faith" he whispered, she pulled back slightly with a shocked look on her face.
"How do you know my name?" she replied hoarsely.
"Your sister told me, Charity's here with us at our home, she's been worried about you" he said soothingly, he made no move to free himself, he could do it easily but he could sympathize with her current situation and he wanted to her to trust him. Faith was confused, partly from her awakening and partly due to her history. If she was raised by the Foot then she was also raised to believe that he and his brothers were the enemy. An enemy whose home she now considered herself a prisoner in.
Don sat at his desk idly tinkering with an invention, he couldn't sleep and had left Bella to continue hers. He felt an odd feeling that something was wrong, he realized that it was close and that it involved one of his brothers, he pulled himself up to investigate. As he left his lab he found Splinter leaving his room and silently crossing the living room floor to the infirmary, Splinter didn't stop or turn as he spoke.
"Donatello, please wake Miss Charity and bring her to the infirmary"
Don nodded and moved quickly away.
Splinter heard his son move off and stopped at the half open door of the infirmary, he peered inside to see Leo pinned rather sloppily to the floor by Faith with a knife in her hand at his throat. Leo spoke quietly and calmly to her then she spoke.
"So you've taken my sister prisoner as well?"
"Neither of you are prisoners here, you can leave whenever you choose" Leo replied.
She remained quiet as she pondered his words then spoke again, "What do you want?" she asked weakly.
"To help. That's all," Leo answered, "please take the knife away Faith"
"Faith?" Charity whispered, "Faith please don't hurt him, he's my friend, he....they have done so much for us," she slowly approached them, "I owe them so much, they saved your life, please Faith move away"
Faith stared wide-eyed at the sleepy form of her sister, unable to take in everything that was happening, it all seemed so fast.
"Faith?" Leo whispered, she turned back to him.
"You and your sister don't owe us anything, we don't do things for favors. We only want to help those who need it. I know that you are scared right now but I promise you that everything will become clearer if you give us a chance. Will you do that? Will you give us that chance?" Leo's expression softened considerably.
Faith relaxed and slowly and hesitantly pulled the knife away, she backed off of him and slumped to her knees on the floor, dropping the knife at her side. Leo sat up and gingerly touched his neck where the knife had recently been, his hand came back slightly bloody.
"Charity?" Faith said as she stared at the floor, her voice wavering through tears. Charity said nothing as she moved quickly to her sister and embraced her, Faith grabbed her and held her tight.
Leo stood quietly and moved towards Splinter and Don where Splinter placed his hand onto Leo's shoulder, "Well done my son, now go with your brother to the kitchen and tend to that wound"
Leo bowed slightly and followed Don out of the room, Splinter glanced at the two girls before following and silently closing the door.
That's it! Another chapter complete, sorry about the long delay, I have no excuses! :)
Reinbeauchaser:: Sarah Brightman was fantastic! Was it the Harem tour that you saw? I loved every minute of it and I'd love to see it all over again! She certainly spares no expense on her shows! Truly fantastic! I must stop before I start rambling and get back to responding to reviews ;) Thanks for reviewing, your compliments are always appreciated! :)
S.H.M.J: Not much in the way of romance this chapter but a little teasing instead! :) Thanks for reviewing :)
Lioness-Goddess: You held a party? Am I that bad at updating this fic? LOL Thanks for reviewing :)
In The Clouds: First I put Don in danger and now Leo? Am I mad? They'll probably hunt me down for all the suffering I'm putting them through in all of my fics! :) Thanks for reviewing :)
