A/N: Sorry this one is late. Had a bit o' family fun (NOT) myself last week, so have knocked this chapter together over the past couple of days. This one is a little gooshy, a bit of quiet before the storm, so to speak. Anyway, apologies if it is not up to par. Feel free to let me know if it's not.

Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT, or any related characters (much to their relief, I'm sure!) If there is anything else in this story you recognise from somewhere else, then I don't own that either.

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Something had changed, and Splinter wasn't sure what. Silence in the lair was always a warning that something was amiss, at least when his sons were conscious and in residence, and especially during meals. Breakfast was no exception. Not for the first time he found himself missing the close quarters of their old lair. There his sensitive hearing had alerted him not only to arguments behind closed doors, but often the details of the altercation.

At first he had been grateful for the extra space this new home afforded, and the relative privacy. His sons were maturing and deserved the opportunity to keep some things to themselves and to sort out their differences on their own, in Splinter's opinion. However, at times like this, being privy to what had occurred did make sorting out the mess a whole lot simpler!

Donatello, sat to his left, didn't seem to be involved. He kept his eyes downcast for the main part, as he usually did when there was tension. But apart from that he wasn't obviously uncomfortable, and conversation wasn't always his strength. Raphael, to his right, was desperately trying to appear engrossed with his cereal. That just made the frequent glances he gave to the far end of the table all the more obvious. Some were directed at Leo, angry glowers. Most, however, were for Tausha; similar to the furtive, searching queries she had been sending Raphaels' way during most of her stay.

Michelangelo was eating at a normal pace, for anyone else. He didn't appear upset with anybody in particular, more depressed. Usually able to win a smile from almost any situation, he seemed to have taken his inability to cheer up Tausha after Caseys' attack as a personal blow. It was Splinters' guess he was still recovering from it. Leonardo was busy ignoring the evil looks from his brother, whilst making a point of issuing a disapproving glare in response to each of the looks he caught Raphael giving to the girl.

As for Tausha, she was the only one that appeared completely relaxed, if a little tired. Whilst she hadn't gone out of her way to interact with anyone that morning, she clearly wasn't making an effort to ignore anybody either. She seemed almost oblivious to the silent messages flitting about the table, or too at peace with herself to care.
"Yes." Splinter thought "'At peace with herself' seems to describe her attitude most accurately. Though it makes one wonder what has prompted the change?"

To Splinters' surprise Donatello was the first to speak.
"Hey Tau, can I ask a favour? Could you help me put together a device I've been working on this afternoon? It shouldn't take long, but with your fingers to help it'll be even quicker."
"Sure." Tausha agreed with a friendly smile, before turning back to her rice.
"Um, I could use a bit of help from one of you guys as well, if anyone is free…?" Donatello asked of his brothers. Raphael opened his mouth to speak, only to be cut off.
"Mikey? How about you?" queried Tausha with a hopeful look.
"Me? Oh, um… I dunno Tau." Michelangelo shuffled bashfully in his seat "I was kinda planning on getting that poster finished today…"

"Oh." said Tausha, disappointed. Then, with an apologetic smile she reached across the table to gently grip Michelangelos' hand resting above his plate.
"I was hoping to get a chance to make amends for last night. I know I didn't exactly respond very well, but I do appreciate what you tried to do."
"Really? Heh, guess I just had an off night. Cheering up is usually what I do best!"
"No. It's no fault of yours. But if I promise to laugh at all your jokes today will you forgive me?"
"Hey babe." Michelangelo returned her grip with a grin "There's nothing to forgive."
"How's this for a plan then? We help out Don first and then you can show me how you create your art. I'd really love to see it done, if you don't mind me watching."
"Not at all! What's a great artist without his adoring audience, huh?" His grin fell a notch, but he gave an understanding nod none the less as she withdrew her fingers with a small apologetic shake of her own head, before he could flamboyantly kiss them. With interest Splinter noticed that both Leonardo and Raphael looked relieved at the course of events.

As the boys started to clear the table, Splinter approached to rest a light paw on Taushas' arm.
"May we speak for a moment?" he asked gently.
"Oh… Of course." she replied, following as he led the way to his room. The turtles watched in uneasy silence as their Masters' door slid shut.
"You don't think she's in trouble, do you?" whispered Mike.
"Nah." murmured Don, as much to break the stretched hush as give an assurance before they all continued with their task.

"Please, be seated. I merely wish to ask you a few questions." Splinter invited, kneeling on the opposite side of a small, low table set in the middle of the room. Feeling a little nervous Tausha managed to peel her eyes from the simple beauty of her surrounds, secretly hoping she'd get a chance to look closer at the prints and scripts that graced the walls, and the folding screen that was set between his futon and the rest of the room.

The wooden frames surrounding the three panels of the screen were ornately carved with Asian symbols down each side and in a plait design across the top and bottom. The image painted across the frosted panels was an odd mix of the simple brush-strokes reminiscent of Chinese paintings, depicting a pond and willow tree, and more detailed images of four small turtles swimming in the water whilst a rat relaxed on a stone at the water's edge.

"I see you like my divide." Splinter stated as Tausha knelt at the table.
"I've never seen anything like it." she replied, sounding a little awed.
"It is beautiful. It is also a reminder to me of what my sons can accomplish when they work together."
"They made that?" Tausha took another look at the screen in disbelief.
"Yes. They all found the materials and built it. Donatello and Raphael undertook the carving. Each strut features one of our names in kanji, the final one reads 'family'. Leonardo painted the surrounds and Michelangelo the figures."
"Wow." Splinter gave a broad smile of pride before fixing the girl with a serious look.
"In a way it is also a reminder of what we truly are. I do not think of my sons as different to me, or necessarily anyone else. But that can be a very dangerous trap if we forget our place in this world. I am interested though, as to how you see them."

"Oh." Tausha thought for a moment "I guess I see them as good friends. I don't mean any offence, but I'll admit I thought they looked a little weird at first. I don't think anyone can expect to see walking, talking turtles, or rats for that matter, and not be surprised." she decided to continue, despite Splinter giving a small chuckle.
"I can see how it would be easy for you to forget that they are… 'different' though. Sometimes I have to remind myself that they're not just cool guys to hang out with."
"Hmmm, indeed." Splinter took a minute to consider her answer, and his next query as Tausha sat in polite silence.
"You appear to be very serene today. I am glad if you have found some inner-peace, but I'm also a little curious as to the cause after the events of last night."

After a deep breath Tausha met his level gaze.
"I'm ready to go home. I wasn't too sure before, I know it's going to be dangerous and a lot of hard work. But I'm ready for it now. I don't belong here." After contemplating her answer Splinter queried gently,
"You have come to this decision on your own? If you feel you have been harried into it by the actions of Leonardo or Casey…"
"No. I know Leo doesn't trust me. I don't think I'd ever be able to change his mind on that. And I actually expected more reactions like Caseys'. I certainly don't enjoy it, but I can understand where they are both coming from. I realise what I represent to your family."
"So what has settled your mind on this?" Splinter waited patiently as she chewed her lip in thought.
"It's hard to explain… Something happened a few days ago that I wasn't expecting. It threw me a little and I leapt to an assumption about it. But I realised last night I… misinterpreted the meaning. I know exactly where I stand now. On top of that, I've been so homesick since I came to New York. All I want to do now is get home and get my life back on track. I feel that's where I need to be."

Splinter mused for a moment, almost tempted to ask what it was that had occurred a few days ago. Given she wasn't keen to go into detail, and that she had expected more hostile reactions, he decided she was referring to Raphaels' outburst upon discovering her fathers' identity.
"So you have made amends with Raphael. You are friends once more?" he guessed at the reason for her calm.
"Yes. I think we are back to being friends again, and I'm… grateful for that." Splinter succumbed to a relieved smile.
"Yet you still wish to leave?"
"Yes. The sooner the better really. It's gonna take a while to get the money together for a ticket home, so the earlier I get started…"

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"Cool!" enthused Mike with a welcoming grin as Tausha took the spot next to him at the end of the line.
"This arrangement will only be for the next few days." Splinter warned "I have decided that Tausha will join us for at least part of our training each day, to ensure she is as fit as possible before we take her to Northampton on Tuesday."
"Huh? Why Tuesday, Master?" Raph asked, trying not to make it sound like a demand.
"That gives Tausha four days to regain some of her confidence and tone in the dojo. It also allows time for April to gather the supplies she has requested, plus an extra day to finalise our preparations or source anything that may have been forgotten."
"Are we going to stay at the farm Sensei?" asked Don.
"That, I will leave up to you, and Casey to decide. I do not see why Casey would have concerns with us staying there, if you wish, since Tausha will not. However it is his property; see that you gain his permission first."

Leo nodded in staunch agreement, Don hesitantly so. Raph crossed his arms with a dark look. Mike leaned over to whisper quickly in Taushas' ear.
"Bummer dudette. We're gonna miss ya." Tausha didn't get a chance to respond with anything more than a smile, Splinter immediately starting the session with stretches and warm-up exercises. She was no stranger to the dojo, thanks to her fathers' insistence she be trained in Jujitsu as a kid. However, after the first two hours she wasn't sure if she were disappointed or relieved when Splinter sat her out before the real sparring began.

She tried to assure herself she was just a little out of shape after missing over a week of training, but an annoying little voice in her head pointed out the obvious fact she just wasn't up to par with these guys. Splinter didn't let her rest on her laurels for too long either… soon setting her up to practice with a punch-bag.

In the end she was immensely proud of the fact she could drag herself back up to stand after giving her finishing bow. Though she didn't fend Mike off as he wrapped a friendly arm about her shoulders to help her totter up the ramp, the step just wasn't gonna happen.
"Hey babe, you ready for a busy afternoon helping out in the lab?" Mike half-teased.
"Yeah." Tausha gave a weak laugh "Just don't ask me to lift anything, like my arms, OK?"

"Master?" Raph tentatively stopped Splinter before he left the mats "Can I skip my chores for today?"
"Raphael. You were the one who suggested this punishment to make amends. Do you feel you have done so already?"
"Uh… no. It's just that…" Splinter followed his sons' gaze to where Tausha was sitting at the table, getting self-massage tips from Don and Leo.
"She is leaving soon?" Splinter finished for his son.
"Um… yeah." Raph admitted sheepishly, trying not to fidget as Splinter seemed to take an interminable amount of time to ponder his request.
"I believe you have learnt some valuable lessons this week. Tausha informed me that you are friends once more."
"She did!"
"Yes. It did take you a few days, but you managed to overcome your anger to do this, and that is a positive step. So I propose a compromise. If you finish all of the laundry this afternoon, I will consider your punishment complete and allow you tomorrow afternoon to yourself. Since Tausha already has plans I doubt you would be able to spend much time with her today regardless."

Splinter tried to keep a straight face as Raph gurned a range of emotions, mainly revulsion at having to agree to the most hated chore in the lair. Everyone tried to avoid the rigmarole of having to hand-wash the towels; Splinter had always insisted the exercise was worth the trouble. However, he finally settled for a begrudging "Yeah…, Master."

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At lunch the next day Tausha was amazed she felt so good. She was tired and sore as heck, but another round of Splinters' recuperative tea and salve overnight had meant she was capable of movement in the morning, just. Splinter had shown no quarter during her second training session. Again she had been sat out of the sparring, more to her disappointment this time. But getting back into the rigorous exercise had quickly worked out the worst of the stiff twinges in her muscles.

The table top conversation had been dominated by a debate between Mike and Don regarding the value of using accurate scientific facts in movies. Tausha had found herself mediating, though she did favour Dons' arguments a little. As the meal finished they all agreed to a deep abiding hatred of 'Jimmy Neutron' and left it at that.

"So, speaking of movies, I was thinking the plan for this afternoon could be to see how many 'Jackie Chan' classics we can cram in before dinner. What d'ya think?" Mike invited Tausha with a sweep of his arm towards the couch and a huge grin. She was about to agree when she noticed Raphs' crestfallen look behind Mikes' shoulder. Stepping past her friend with an apologetic smile for his confused look she managed to grab Raph by the arm before he turned away.
"Hey! What's wrong?"
"Nuthin'"
"Bull."

Raph shot her a glare at that, to which she merely raised an inquisitive eyebrow. Deciding to bite the bullet Raph gave the speech he had been mentally rehearsing as coolly and calmly as he could.
"It was just that… I, uh… I kinda saw ya seemed… um, disappointed at bein' left out of the sparrin', and I was just wonderin' if ya'd… uh, like to, um… maybe… wanna…, spar with me?" He actually kicked himself in the back of the leg as Mike burst out in hysterics.
"You can't be serious, dude! Don'cha think the poor girl's been through enough torture for today?"
"Well, actually…" Tausha interceded quietly "it might not be such a bad idea. I suppose I do have to make the most of the next few days, and I have missed going one-on-one with… someone." Mike watched in astonishment as the two shared a hesitant smile. Throwing his arms up in resignation, a broad grin ruining the act, he admonished,
"Alright! If that's the way ya want it, I'll be waiting for ya on the couch when you get sick of taking punishment and just wanna watch it instead. You can usually pick up the plot even if ya miss the first five minutes anyway!"

Thirty minutes later Tausha hit the mats heavily, again.
"I'm OK." she breathlessly assured as Raph hauled her up with a worried look.
"You right for another go?" he asked cautiously, keeping hold of her arm. She started to nod and then clutched her back as it protested strongly.
"Oh…, maybe not. Sorry."
"It's OK, you did good. Though next time I might not listen to ya when you tell me not to hold back…" He grinned at the sardonic grimace she responded with. He kept his grip on her arm to help her over to sit on the step, as far from where Leo was practicing his kata as possible.

"Man, I'm a mess." she complained as they relaxed.
"Don't sweat it. You're still recovering, and I know the training we do is a bit more full-on than you're used to. Besides, I did used to pull my punches a bit when we were just sparring before, every now 'n' then anyway." Tausha rolled her eyes.
"No dah! I figured that out weeks ago."
"Yeah?" he queried in mock-disbelief.
"Yeah." she grudgingly admitted before joining in his conspiratorial smile; though Raph was a little taken aback when she quickly broke their eye contact to inspect the floor.

"Can I ask ya something?" Raph leaned forward to murmur in her ear.
"Sure." Tausha shrugged.
"D'ya think Leo talked Master Splinter into booting you so soon? 'Cos if that's the case I can have a go at talking to Sensei; maybe get him to change his mind…"
"Nah. I asked to go actually."
"Why?" Raph asked with a little apprehension. Tausha sighed.
"Despite all the craziness we've been through I still think you're one of the best friends I've ever had, and I… I'm gonna miss you when I go. But, there's more to life than friendship, and I'm not gonna get very far just hiding out here. You know I've been home-sick for months. The sooner I can get my butt into gear earning some money, the sooner I can get back home, to school, something akin to normal again." She shrugged a second time.
"Why put off the inevitable, huh? I'd like to keep in touch, though. Dunno, maybe we can be pen pals or something…" she trailed off with an awkward grin, Raphs' look confirming the ridiculousness of the notion.

Leo kept a surreptitious eye on the pair, whilst trying to appear absorbed in perfecting his moves. He'd been curious when they joined him in the dojo, albeit at the far end from where he was practicing. Then surprised at the vigour with which Raph had attacked, and the resilience Tausha had shown. She was obviously no match for his brother at the moment, but she didn't complain and lasted a lot longer than Leo had first expected.

Leo knew Raph could talk seriously when he wanted to, though it was usually to Splinter or Mike, and kept relatively private. But watching him chat quietly and earnestly, sat out in the open, it seemed natural in an odd sort of way. They both just looked almost… comfortable. Leo couldn't think of a better way to describe it; though he wasn't too surprised when they made their way over to the living room after a couple of minutes.
"Hehe. Thought you were nuts, but I didn't pick you for a masochist!" teased Mike.
"Yeah, well me hangin' out with you shoulda been your first clue!" Tausha shot back with a cheeky grin as she collapsed between the two brothers on the couch. Leo shook his head as he noticed Raph's scowl brighten to a smile during the exchange.

Mike managed to convince everyone that Tausha had to try out Vinnie's Pizza at least once before she left. With the Saturday movie marathon showing the Terminator Saga they were all set for a lazy evening in front of the tube. Tausha relinquished her spot on the couch to Don, claiming the cool of the floor was soothing to her aches; she sat with her back against the arm of the sofa.

Hopping up after the first movie to grab more drinks Leo noticed Tausha had dozed off already, her head resting on Raphs' knee. Hidden between his leg and the arm of the couch Raph held a thick loop of hair pulled from her ponytail. Absently he was stroking the strands between thumb and fore-finger. Unsure for a moment what to do, Leo opted for grabbing the drinks first. By the time he got back he'd decided to let it slide. They were friends after-all, and the evening was too peaceful to wreck it with another argument.