1I woke very early that morning. It was only a little after seven. The lair oddly enough was still fairly silent. I think most of the guys were still asleep. I turned onto my side to see Melinda was still resting peacefully. I knew she had been through a lot in the last few days and wasn't surprised, she needed the rest.

I slipped out of the bed and pulling on a sweater grabbed my cell phone. I was as silent as possible, creeping through the door and shutting it very slowly, trying to make as little noise as possible. I wanted Melinda to sleep as long as her body would allow her to that day. I figured I would take the time alone to call my Grandparents. I hadn't spoken to them in a few days. I knew they would start to worry soon if I didn't check in. I had been so vague with them about my whereabouts thus far and I felt very guilty. I wasn't sure what to do. I knew they wanted me to come home, but now I was positive I couldn't leave Leonardo yet. The intense feelings between us just keep blooming; I desperately wanted to see where we would end up.

Descending the stairs to my disappointment, but not surprise, I saw Leonardo was already gone. The couch was empty and all the bedding he used was already cleaned up and away. I faintly heard someone in the kitchen and thought it might be Leo, or Sensei, they were both early risers. I decided to make my phone call before I went to check. I wanted to get speaking to my family over with. With the amount of complaints I got from them with each call, our communication had become more a burden than a pleasure. I sighed, entering the elevator and going up to the warehouse. I got perfect reception up there and it was fairly private at this time of the day to make my call.

I sat down at Don's worktable. I looked at all the plans for different inventions on it and shook my head. It was ALL way over my comprehension. I turned on my cell phone and noticed I had messages, but decided to just call my family first. I dialed their number and listened to the phone ring. I leaned over on the table, swinging my legs back and forth on the stool I was sitting on. The phone rang quiet a few times before the other end was finally picked up. My Grandmother said hello. I sighed bracing myself for her enviable interrogation.

"Hey, Gram! Calling to check up with things, how are you doing?" I tried hard to sound cheery and optimistic, like I wanted to be talking to her VERY much at that moment. She started right in.
"Nice of you to finally call." Her tone was abrasive. I sighed. "Are you FINALLY calling to say you are coming back?" I could hear the annoyance in her tone. My own patience with our antics was wearing thin. I was running out of excuses. I looked down at my hands hard for a few minutes. The thought of Leo's tight embraced the day before first and foremost on my mind. I came to a decision.

"No, I am NOT coming home anytime soon, Gram. Maybe it's time for you to realize that." My voice was strong unwavering. I had belief in my words.

"You're what? What are you doing, Lea? What are you involved with? Is it drugs?" I could hear fear creeping into her voice. I didn't want to worry her, just assert my needs to her. I knew I would have to tell her almost everything. I sighed wording what I said carefully.

"I met someone Grams. I've been spending time getting to know him. I just didn't know how to tell you." I could hear the feeling I have for Leo creeping into my tone and I didn't try to stop it. I wanted my Grandma to know how I felt for him.
"You what? This is about a guy? You have been acting so crazy because of some man, Lea that isn't like you!" The fear left her voice, and while she still sounded annoyed I also thought I now heard some understanding from her.

I picked up a pencil that was on Don's desk and started to fumble with it. "No it's not like me I know. But Gram…" I took a deep breath. "That's because I haven't felt this way about anyone for a long time." I paused. "I think I am falling in love with him." The confession. After I said the words, the truth of them made me feel better. A tightness in my chest grew looser. I ran my finger along the side of the pencil smiling softly thinking about him.

The other end of the line was silent for a few moments. I knew my Grandma was thinking about my words. Trying to figure out how to reply. "I don't even know him, Lea, what's his name?" I figured she would be curious, I wasn't surprised.

"Leonardo." I smiled as I spoke of him. I felt so warm inside and it was all because of him.

"Do you know his last name?" I blinked, faltering for a moment. I guess I should have expected this, but I wasn't sure what to say. Finally I smirked slightly.

"Kame…" I bit my lip trying not to giggle, knowing my Grandmother didn't know that was the Japanese word for turtle. Once again there was a pause of silence.

"That's an odd name. How old is he? What does he do… are you sure he's not married?" I finally giggled. It was all her usually questions. I crinkled up my nose grinning, leaning forward. Trying to quickly decide how old Leonardo must be.

"He's in his mid twenties. He teaches Ninjitsu and trust me he is NOT married." I leaned back, happy; for once my Grandma didn't seem AS negative about everything.

"And you're SURE about what you are doing? I mean you have given up a lot just to get to know this guy. Are you sure you're being practical?" She still sounded judgmental. I knew she was nervous about my actions. I rarely ever took very out on the limb chances like I was right now. I steeled myself once again thinking about Leonardo's strong passionate kiss from the night before.
"I am positive. I can't remember ever have anything happen to me that felt so right. I smiled thinking about Leo's words from a few nights before. "My heart has chosen a path Gram and now I must follow it to see where it will end up."

"Well if you are certain, just be careful. Where are you staying? Hopefully not with him?" Her tone became critical again. I know not with Susan because I called her and she didn't even know you were still in the city. I cringed, knowing I would have to lie about this one thing. I didn't want to, but I knew I couldn't tell her the truth.

"No, I am staying with one of Melinda's friends. Her place is bigger than Susan's so it made more sense for us to just bunk here." I bit my lip, I hated lying. There was silence on the other end again. My Grandma was thinking.

"What's the number there in case I need to reach you?" I cursed my luck, I thought quickly.

"I don't know it off the top of head and everyone else is asleep, but I can call you and give it to you later, okay?" At least that bought me time to think of a number to give her.
"Fine, just be careful, okay, Lea?" Her tone became soft. I didn't want her to worry about me.

"I will I promise, don't worry about me. I am SO happy. He's so perfect." I let out a happy sigh. My Grandmother actually laughed.

"They all are at first. Just keep in touch and come home soon. Bye Lea!" I giggled laughing along with her. Now that she knew what was going on, she seemed a lot better about the situation.

"I promise I will, bye, Gram!" I hung up the phone. I squealed sitting my phone down on the table. Both out of the joy of resolving my conflict with my family and out of the pleasure of my feelings for Leonardo. I heard something move behind me, curious I turned swiftly and froze. Leonardo was standing in the doorway of the warehouse from the outside. He was looking at me. I felt my face turn bright red. My eyes grew wide. I had NO idea how long he had been listening to me, or how much of my conversation with my Grandmother he had heard. I looked down, my heart racing now, I had said so much.

I heard his footsteps approach me. I swallowed hard wondering if maybe I had said too much, if maybe his feeling wouldn't precisely reflect mine. I found myself biting my lip. My eyes closed as he stepped in front of me his finger slipping under my chin. He lifted my face, my eyes peeked open and grew wide as he kissed me again. Pressing me hard back against the workbench. My hands slide up and behind his head, opening my mouth to except his. Desiring his touch, his nearness. After a time we pulled apart. He was still leaning on the table, balanced around me so I was between his arms. He nuzzled my hair with his beak.

"Did you really mean all of that?" I was surprised, his voice sounded so unsure. Leonardo was always so confident. It never occurred to me that he might be just as nervous about all of this as I was. I felt myself biting my lip again. Afraid to bare my soul to him, because I didn't want to say the wrong thing.

"Every word of it was true. Well at least all the parts about my feelings for you." I smirked shyly. "I've grown so fond of you, Leonardo, so devoted to you. I can't imagine starting my day without you now." I was shaking lightly, scared of my confession.

He sighed deeply; I was slightly shocked as he dropped down to one knee. I must have looked at him with surprise. His expression never faltered, it was so serious. "I have spent my entire life devoted to one cause: To serve my Master and my family. I had fought and spilled blood for their honor. I have sacrificed many things in order to keep my priority. I have given much of myself and my heart to serving them. I have never taken anything for myself solely, that goes against the teachings of Bushido. I live for them…" He paused. "At least up until a few weeks ago. I realized there was something I wanted. Something I jealously desired to have only for myself. Someone whom I wished to serve and protect as much as I do them. Lea…" He bowed his head. "I am at your mercy. My soul, my honor, my heart, my sword are all at your disposal. I am devotedly yours." He raised his head again to look at me. His expression so filled with compassion with desire, I felt myself sob without thought.

I fought off tears. Emotions rushing through me so swiftly I felt dizzy. I leaned forward falling from the stool and almost onto him, holding him tightly, and tears escaping my eyes. "No Leonardo…we are each others." I was breathing deeply to keep from crying. Pure undiluted joy was making my heart want to burst. Everything I had hoped about his feelings was true. I couldn't deny it when he said right to me. For the first time I kissed him. Both of us kneeling on the floor. Our passion was almost chaste, shy. Our kisses soft. We were trying to discover one another and we still weren't certain where we were going to end up, but at least now we were both certain we were on the journey together.

As much as I wanted nothing else than to stay close to him, I found over the coarse of the day Leo and I barely had time to even talk. Between meals and practice and his brothers always around, it was hard to do anything, but steal fleeting glances at one another. We weren't as shy with one another as we had been. Now when we looked at each other we openly smiled, instead of looking away. I never would have even hazarded to guess his feelings could be as strong for me as they were. I guess without even realizing it I had come to the point where I thought so much of Leonardo that I assumed it wasn't possible for him to think just as much of me. But his words earlier and the devoted look upon his face, left little question in my mind. I felt a shiver run down my spine, one of nervous energy. Yes what was happening with Leo was exactly what I wanted right now, but at the same time, everything was happening so quickly, so unexpectedly to me I wasn't sure what to make of all of it. I kept waiting for someone to jump out and tell me everything was a joke. It all seemed so surreal.

Later that evening I was sitting on the living room couch with Mike, Raph and Mel. Don had gone topside to look for parts and Sensei was meditating alone. Enjoying his students being distracted for a while. I could sense Melinda had been watching me during the day. I think she had seen the looks exchanged between Leonardo and myself. I flushed to think that she must know something was going on between us, but still it's not like there was anything wrong with it. I could also see the feeling developing between Donatello and herself and I was very grateful to see that. The two of them had, had a very rough start and it pained me to see them so needing each other, but too shy to admit it. Leo had told me Mel had snuck back into Don's room for a while the night before. I had smiled. It was very cute. Right now Melinda was fidgeting and kept looking at the clock. I knew she was waiting for Don to come back. I could sense she missed him, even without words, because when Leonardo left to patrol I missed him also, so I understood.

Melinda was trying to distract herself by watching a movie. She was bantering back and forth with Raphael about numerous plot devices. She also kept mentioning how attractive Jet Li was, sense he was starring in it. I think she kept mentioning it, mostly to bother Mikey, who made a face every time she did. Usually I would have been glued to the screen, because I had to agree with Melinda, Jet Li was very attractive and he was one of my favorite actors. It was odd, the more I found I tried to look at him, the less I could focus. Leonardo was off to the side of us doing his evening katas. He was training silently, diligently. I found I couldn't keep my eyes off of him. I would focus on the television for a few moments before I drifted back over to him. His grace and sheer power awed me. As I watched him move, his muscles tensing and straining with each stance and kick, I found myself thinking about things that maybe I shouldn't. I felt myself flush as my mind drifted into an impure nature. Leonardo paused, wiping his brow with a towel he had over by him and looked up at me. Our eyes locked. The look exchanged between us caused me to blush further. It was then I realized how primal he was when he fought. He was mastered and controlled; yet filled with a feral desire for power. I looked down and anyway for a moment. His eyes were too intense, before glancing back up at him. He was still looking at me, but turned a smirk on his face as he went back to his practice.

I went back to trying to watch the movie, before it was over Melinda drifted off to sleep. I smiled down at her, dozing lightly on a throw pillow. She had been through a very rough week and now with all of her emotions with Don so fresh and new and developing, I had a feeling this one was going to be just as stressful for her only in a different way.

I nearly jumped as something pressed against my shoulders, I turned and Leonardo was leaning against the top of the couch, sweat beaded on him from his exertion. I felt his fingers playfully and secretly tickle the back of my neck; he was looking at his brothers. "Are you two going to do your evening katas? Or are you just going to lay around here like sloths for the rest of the evening?" His eye ridge was raised, the tone of his voice was commanding, not questioning. Mike and Raph exchanged looks with one another.

"I vote sloths!" Mike smirked and raised his hand; Raphael chuckled and threw a pillow at his brother. Leonardo stood up from leaning and crossed his arms with authority, giving his brothers a light glare. "That's NOT funny, Mike…"

With groans the two turtles rose and glared at their older brother. "You really have NO life, Leo, you know that!" Raph rolled his eyes and pointed at me. "You…never take up Ninjitsu because HE will never leave you alone!" I giggled as Raphael walked past me. Mike lagging behind him whining. I could hear the two of them setting up off to the side, getting ready to spar. I nearly jumped again as Leonardo leaned back down his elbow pushing lightly into my back.

"She sleeping?" He asked looking down at Mel, I shivered; he was so close to me. I nodded, taking a deep breath and regaining control.

"And probably dreaming about Don." I smirked playfully, wondering if maybe that comment was true.

"You guys dream about us?" Leonardo looked up at me surprised, I grinned wickedly at him.

"I never said anything about me, Leo… I said MEL was dreaming about DON." I giggled watching him flush lightly realizing he had exposed his desire to hear that I was thinking about him. He playfully shoved me. It was very light, but still forced me to move a little. I squealed laughing.

"You want to watch these two practice? It might be good for a laugh?" He looked at me with question. I nodded looking back down at Melinda one more time.

"Yeah she could use the rest anyway." I stood and walked around the couch following Leo over to where they spar. Mike and Raph were already egging one another on. Circling, both looking for openings to attack. I felt my heart skip as Leo leaned down from where he was standing to whisper in my ear. He started to explain everything they were doing to me. Which moves were correct and which ones would have been better. I couldn't believe the skill he had. I moved a little closer to him, enjoying hearing his impassioned voice as he talked about what he so obviously loved.

Melinda woke up around 20 minutes later as Mike and Raph were getting close to finishing. I heard her stirring behind us and turned with a smile. The first words out of her mouth were worry for Donatello. Looking at the time on the clock I too had to admit I wondered where he was. I turned to Leo, he seemed calm still and that caused me to feel better. He suggested he call Don, I knew it was to make Mel feel better and I was happy he would do that for her.

It was after Leo tried to call that the mood changed quickly. He couldn't reach Don. I watched his expression become fearful, but he very quickly masked it. It was then I started to worry. He decided he would go to look for his brother. I knew Melinda would want to go to, and apparently so did Leo; he walked near me as he was going to leave.

"Make her go to bed. If something bad has happened, which I doubt, I don't want her in the middle of it." His hand lightly grasped mine, so quickly I doubt anyone saw. I nodded to him. Knowing he was right, but still my heart ached for Mel. I put myself in her place and knew I would be worried sick if the roles were reversed. Still as Leo left I ushered her up to bed and with Mike's help convinced her to sleep. I was fitful. Leonardo's worried expression kept flashing through my mind.

I heard movement in the lair below and rose in an instant. I grabbed a sweatshirt moving, slowly, quietly. Melinda appeared to still be asleep. I slipped out of the room and down the stairs, as I reached the bottom, I stopped a horrified expression crossing my face at the sight that met me. Leonardo was gently laying Donatello's prone body on the couch, I could see his arms were covered in Don's blood. I gasped and he raised his head, I couldn't read the expression on his face. He never hesitated, but simply pointed.

"Go wake Sensei and my brothers, Don needs immediate care and we are going to have to give him blood transfusions, he's lost a lot." I stood for one second, simply looking before my mind computed what Leo wanted. I ran across the lower level by where Sensei slept and nearly ran right into him. His expression was grave; somehow he already near what had happened.
"Go…" He told me, pushing me gently. "Wake my other sons…" I nodded and obeyed without question. I was on autopilot, I had never witnessed someone this close to me be hurt like this before, I was in mild shock. I pounded on Raph and Mike's doors and woke them both. I barely had to explain what happened just that Don was in trouble and they ran down for the main area.

I followed a little more slowly, standing on the outside, watching the grief as they ran to their brother's side. The rage as Raphael screamed out in fury when he saw his injuries. I felt Leonardo at my side within moments. I could smell the blood on him it was so strong. I looked up at him, tears in my eyes. "Why don't you go and boil some water in the kitchen. We will need it to treat Don." He was protecting me, I knew it, but I didn't protest. I nodded, still silent and walked towards the kitchen; I stopped mid-step as I heard a horrified gasp behind me.

I turned; somewhere in the midst of all the commotion Melinda has woken up and come downstairs. Now she was standing on the outskirts of the living room simply staring at Donatello's prone form. I could see tears running freely down her face. I couldn't even imagine what she felt. I stepped toward her but she took off running. She fell to her knees beside Don, staring at him, shaking violently.

"Donnie, what happened?" Her voice was small. "Who did this to you?" She spoke between sobs. Her pain was obvious and overwhelming. I went to move towards her and felt Leonardo grab my arm.

"The water, Lea… like I told you…" He never wavered, he pointed towards the kitchen. I looked at my friend and then at him confused, but he held his ground. "Now, please." I looked back at Melinda feeling trapped, but finally turned to walk back towards my appointed task. I could still hear Mel sobbing in the background.