1On the way back to the lair, Leonardo and Raphael remained quiet. The turtles had walked over to a manhole near Casey's apartment and went down there instead of staying topside to go the warehouse entrance. I just followed them, wishing that they had kept topside, but I knew that they really couldn't. Raphael was leading the way, but he kept glancing behind him to make sure Leonardo was still back there. I guess he thought Leo would turn around and head back to Casey's. I was kind of baffled by this because according to Michelangelo, usually it was Raph who usually ran off. I walked kind of in between Leonardo and Raphael, I glanced back some too at Leo but tried to make it look like I was watching him also. Leonardo had his eyes on the ground as he was in deep thought about something. The whole situation baffled me, but at the same time made sense. Lea must have thought that Leonardo had feelings for Karai and that's why she ran off. I sighed hard. I had been in the same situation earlier about Don and April. I knew what she was feeling, but at the same time I could see the love and desperation in Leo's eyes as he was trying to talk to her. Don't get me wrong, I really liked Casey, but I just wish he stayed quiet for like 5 more minutes. I never realized how connected and alike the 4 turtles were with one another. Leonardo was like Donatello in a lot ways. I knew he was trying to tell Lea how he felt, but at the same time he couldn't get the words out of his mouth. I wanted to talk to Leonardo and comfort him, but I didn't know what to say to him and I really didn't want to bring up anything with Raph being present. There was a deadly silence between Raph and Leo as we approached the lair's door. All I could hear was the splashing of our feet in the water and distant squeaks of rats. Well everything WAS quiet till we reached the lair's entrance and that's when Raphael spoke up.

"You know what the hell is your problem lately, Leo? You have been such an ass. You know IF April was right about Lea and Casey, then maybe it's your OWN damn fault for her leaving you. You need to really lighten up with people especially if you want a girlfriend…if for that matter IF she was yours," Raph growled as he opened the lair's door.

There was like a 5 second pause after Raph finished, then I heard the loudest and deadliest growl come from Leonardo. Suddenly Leonardo pounced into Raphael, pushing him hard against the wall hard with his left arm pushing against him. "You TAKE that back right now, Raphael!" He screamed at him. My eyes went wide as I saw this. There was so much rage in Leo that it scared me. I kind of stepped away, feeling like I was unable to do anything. I heard Mike's voice coming from the lair.

"Hey, what's going on?" He asked as he started to run towards where we were.

"No, I am not! Because you KNOW it's true! Why the hell were you threatening Casey anyways! You're being stupid, Leo!" Raph yelled back, holding down Leo's glare. Then he pushed him away and started to walk into the lair.

"Why don't you shut up, Raphael! You don't even know what's going on!" Leonardo yelled out after his brother. He was breathing so heavy. "Oh, but that doesn't bother you does it? All you care about is fighting!"

"Bro, I am telling you to lay off…" Raph turned back around to glare back at Leo.

Suddenly Mikey ran and put himself in between Leonardo and Raphael. "Will you guys quit it already!"

There was some eye contact between Leonardo and Raphael for a moment. I knew they were waiting to see what the other would do. Both of them were tense as their hands curled into fists. Raphael turned his head. "Whatever…" He grumbled and walked off to his room. I let out a slight sight of relief as I watched Raphael. I didn't like to see people fight, friends or not. Mikey looked at Leonardo, then he looked at me then over to Don. Don was sitting at his computer desk, he had turned around in his chair to see what was going on the lair's entrance. He shrugged and shook his head, then turned back around to work on whatever he was working on prior to our arrival. Mikey sighed too and walked back over to the couch. I stood there and looked at Leo, finally I spoke. My words were so soft, I am surprised that Leonardo even heard me. "Leo, can I talk to you?"

Leonardo looked over at me, studying my face. He sighed and then motioned me up to his room. He took the lead and I followed him. I walked past Don, who turned his head to see what was going on, I gave him an encouraging smile and kept walking. Leo walked into his room first and kind of paused. I think him seeing Lea's stuff not there in his room really bothered him. I knew that Lea was wrong about Leonardo liking Karai. However, I knew it must be Leo to be the one to let her know and not me. I just wish Lea could see how bad it was tearing Leo up not for her not to be there. He stood there and motioned for me to sit first. I walked over and sat down on the floor where my blanket was, allowing him to sit on his bed. He sat down on the bed and his hand gently rested on the cover underneath him. I frowned some and looked up at him. "Leo, listen about this entire mess," I paused for a moment trying to gather my thoughts on what to say. "Lea is my friend…I honestly didn't know why she left at first, but I do think she is telling the truth on why she left to go to Casey's. I am not sure why she picked Casey instead of April, but you must understand, I highly doubt nothing is going on between them. I remember how I acted when I thought Don liked April…Leo she thinks you like Karai."

Leo looked at me with wide eyes and then he let out a sigh and held his head. "But I don't like her, Melinda," He said in protest as he looked up at me. "Why does she EVEN think that! She was injured and she's our friend, but I don't like her, not like that." He let out a small growl in frustration and rose up from the bed.

I sighed and looked up at him. "Leo, please." I paused again and thought about what Lea had said, trying my best to put two and two together to figure out exactly what was happening. "Leo, I think Lea thinks she's not good enough for you…I think she thinks that Karai is perfect for you…and I hate to say this because she would probably hurt me, but I know she's jealous." I gave a hopeful smile to Leonardo.

Leonardo looked over at me as if my words had just smacked him across the face. "What? She really thinks that?"

"Well she didn't really say those things, but trust me, Lea is my best friend, almost like a sister and I kind of know how she feels," I smiled sheepishly.

Leonardo let out another sigh. "Karai is a honorable woman, yes. She is a ninja yes. But just because she knows about honor and she is a ninja like me doesn't mean that I will automatically like her or even for that matter love her. I…" He stopped and sighed hard again as he walked over to a wall near his bed and placed his arm against it as if he was trying to rest his head against his arm. I watched him, it was as if he wanted to say something else, but something was stopping him subconsciously.

"You what?" I replied, trying to make him continue with his statement, I got up from my sitting position and watched him with great interest.

Leonardo's back stayed towards me. He lifted his head up some as if he was looking at the wall. He remained quiet for a moment. I didn't know what he was thinking, but I knew I had to give him some few moments to think so that way he would be more comfortable. "I was raised in Bushido," He sighed hard. "As a follower of Bushido, I am not allowed to have any physical attraction to cloud my mind or for that matter even love a woman. I have tried my best to serve the code and be a true warrior. But I…I…feel like I am failing that code and dishonoring myself." His voice was stuttering as if his voice was breaking up. I walked closer to Leonardo, kind of feeling bad for him, but I knew what he was trying to say and I wished that Lea were there. "Melinda…I…love…Lea. I am finally admitting to you…that I am attracted to her. Sometimes I can't even concentrate to meditate or do my katas. I have tried my best, but I can't…I won't…" He stopped for a moment as if something else had stopped him. "But now she has chosen Casey and I can't interfere…" He turned away as if he was about to walk out of the room in defeat.

"Leo, wait!" I called after him. He stopped and ran up to where he was. I stepped in front, trying to gather my courage to speak up. "Trust me, Lea does not like Casey! She loves you, Leo! I know this is true! Why else would she be hurt for?"

Leo blinked at me a few times as if he was trying to process what I had just said. When he spoke again, his voice was very soft, "Arigato, Melinda…" He bowed slightly and then left the room. I watched him walk away, hoping that everything would be okay between them two.

Once Leonardo had left, I walked back down to the main entrance to check to see how Don was doing. Leonardo was gone so I figured he must have been went somewhere for the moment to think, which I hoped was a good sign. Donatello was down at his computer desk, typing away at his computer. I had no clue what he was doing. "Hey, Don. Are you feeling better?" I asked. I was still nervous around him, I already felt butterflies to start to form in my stomach.

"Eh, kind of," He said as he turned around his chair to face me. "I am still hurting somewhat."

I giggled some and then lifted an eyebrow. "So you're hurting, but yet you're able to sit in front of the computer, Don?" I smirked.

He chuckled some at me and then replied, "Well I don't really like laying down and doing nothing. I have lots of work to do. I am going to attach more security cameras throughout the sewers just in case, plus I want to improve the security panel for the lair entrance."

I giggled again. "Whatever keeps you happy, geek boy." I smirked playfully at him.

"Aw, you sound like my brothers now. Don't be talking like them," He smirked back. I shrugged at him and grinned. Suddenly he pulled me closer with his hands on my hips to where his head was my stomach. He started to nuzzle my stomach with his head. "I was so afraid of losing you when the guys said that you left upset about what Tina did to me…"

My eyes went wide and I froze. I started to grow nervous with him that close to me. I looked around and noticed no one in the lair so I tried to untense somewhat. I finally started to gently stroke the top of his head with my fingertips. I was shaking at first, but then I stopped. "It's okay…I am sorry about leaving…" I looked down at him sadly. I never had anyone this close to me to care for me so much like the way Don did…well the opposite sex I mean! "I am doing better, Don. I was more worried about you than anything else." Which was true because my rib was not hurting as much so it must have not been as severe as I thought it was.

"I was just so afraid on losing you, Melinda…you mean so much to me," He held his grip tighter and continued to nuzzle me. I was kind of shocked by this. I didn't know what caused him to be this way. I felt shivers going up my body by his closeness. I held him to me and gently caressed the back of his neck. I am not sure how long we stayed like that.

Suddenly I heard Mikey say, "Oh, come on you two! Get a room!" He groaned playfully.

Don's eyes went very wide and he quickly moved away. "Aw, cut it out, Mikey!" I giggled and stood there, I felt that my cheeks on my face were hot as well. Don started to type again on his keyboard before speaking up again. "So what's going on between Raph and Leo?" He sighed some again. I could tell he didn't like to see or hear his family members fighting…kind of like me.

I sighed and replied in a soft voice so that way Leo wouldn't feel bad that I was telling about him. "Lea thought that Leo had a thing for Karai and I think that's why she left. I am not sure why she went to Casey's instead of April's. Well April claimed that something happen and that Casey and Lea were messing around, which I don't believe because I know Lea doesn't have a thing for Casey."

"Yeah I heard about that," Don said and then shook his head. "I don't know Lea that well, but I don't believe it either. Casey's not THAT good looking."

I giggled and softly bapped him on the shoulder. "Be nice, Don!" I warned teasingly, then continued, "Anyways well Leo's hurt now and at the apartment Casey must have thought that Leo was yelling at Lea so he got upset so now Leo and Casey are fighting. Also since Casey's Raph's friend now Raph and Leo are at it."

Don sighed and shook his head. "So now what?"

"I don't know," I sighed too. "I need to get Casey and Leo to talk to one another, but without Raph there or with more people there."

"Well maybe you can call Casey and invite him to come down here and talk? I mean all of us should be there. I am sure Sensei can calm down Leonardo," Don suggested as he turned back around to work on his stuff.

"Yeah, I'll try to see if Lea will come too. I need to talk to her…" I said as I walked towards the kitchen to use the phone. I walked into the kitchen and looked around. I kind of wanted this to be a surprise to Leonardo and maybe even Raphael so that way they wouldn't find an excuse not to be here. When I felt safe to call, I picked up the receiver and dialed Casey's number. I just prayed that Casey would pick up the phone. I waited there as the phone rang, I was counting the rings, hoping that Casey would pick up. Things were looking hopeless till finally after like the 5th ring, someone picked up.

"Yah, what is it?" The voice on the other side replied. I knew it was Casey.

"Casey…this is Melinda. I need to ask you a favor," I said quickly, looking around still.

"So what kind of a favor?" Casey asked.