A/N- Hey guys! I don't know if anyone still reads this but I was looking at the past comments and it inspired me to finish this story. It may take a long time but I want to finish it. I have a lot going on in my life. My said boyfriend is now my husband and I live in California! A lot of things have changed and I'm a better writer since I went off to college and began my journalism career :) But all of you don't care about that! You care about this story. I'll stop going on and let you continue :) Happy Reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT. I do however own this story and my original characters. I'm just borrowing the characters to make a plot of my own.

Suspicions

A couple of weeks have gone by since the night Leonardo showed Leolani what he looked like. Both teenagers have hit it off nicely. Almost every night Leonardo would come over and hang out with Leolani and he would leave late at night. Leolani didn't mind it and neither did Leo.

They were both bonding as friends and they liked the company that the other brought with them. They both felt safe, eased with the world, and they felt like they both could tell each other anything.

During the weeks the teenagers spent together, both of them shared their life story. They knew everything about each other and that scared both of them.

Leonardo didn't want to admit it. But he knew he had feelings for this girl. He knew since the first night he laid eyes on her. He never admitted it. But his little brother was right. He did like Leolani. She was pretty, smart, and had a sense of humor. She was just like him.

Leolani told the blue-masked turtle all her traits, hobbies, and pet peeves. There wasn't any judgment and that's what she liked about him. He actually listened to her, unlike her jerk of an ex-boyfriend.

The blue-eyed girl was also having strange feelings for the turtle. But she couldn't describe these feelings. She knew liking a turtle was wrong. But she also knew her heart was telling her something completely different.

When the leader was around Leolani, she couldn't help but feel a feeling she never consumed before and she liked it. She received butterflies in her stomach every time he was around and she would always catch herself smiling when thinking about him. But she couldn't tell him these feelings. She knew humans are not supposed to end up with turtles! That's not how things worked.

Leolani was thinking it was just a phase, a phase that would pass. She had guy friends before and she liked hanging around them like how she liked hanging around Leo. But something was different about him and she couldn't put her finger on it.

But besides the troubles of not telling each other how the other felt, there were more serious challenges along the way.

Leonardo's family, especially Raphael, was beginning to become suspicious of Leonardo's whereabouts during the night. Michelangelo and Donatello didn't really pay attention to it. They knew for the past couple of months their fearless leader was dealing with stress, so they figured he would patrol late at night and catch his breath among his problems.

Master Splinter had a suspicion as well. He knew his eldest was hiding something, but he couldn't put his paw on it. He wanted to ignore the fact that Leonardo was avoiding the subject, so Master Splinter figured if it was something the blue-masked turtle couldn't handle, he would tell him in time.

Raphael was a whole other subject. He knew his "perfect" brother was hiding something from his family and he wasn't going to stop until his older brother told him.

~*TMNT*~

"One... Two… Three... Four... Five... Six... Seven... Eight… Nine… Ten…," a whiny turtle huffed. "Am I done yet?"

Master Splinter gave stern eyes at the turtle who thought it was funny to mimic every hand gesture he made.

"No, do not stop until you learned your lesson Michelangelo," Master Splinter said.

Mikey's face hung low and continued out his punishment which was doing backflips until his brothers were done training.

The rest of the turtles were following their father's orders….sparing.

Since the jokester of the turtles was fulfilling out his punishment, Donatello was watching hothead versus leader.

"You know Leo, you look tired," Raphael said with his sais in his hand. "Maybe you should go take a nap."

Leonardo rolled his eyes and fixed his eyes on his hotheaded brother.

"You know Raph," Leonardo mimicked. "Maybe you should focus more about your skills rather than me."

Raphael charged at Leo and the dojo echoed with the sound of steel hitting against steel. The red-masked turtle lunged and attacked Leonardo with his sai, but the blue-masked turtle blocked it swiftly.

Leonardo spun around and kicked Raphael in the middle of his shell. The angry turtle stumbled but retaliated with him upper cutting the leader in the jaw.

Both brothers were going at it and it didn't seem like a normal sparing session between the two. Both were fighting with compassion and neither didn't want to lose. One brother would hit the other, and the other would retaliate, making it both impossible for one to win.

"I'm guessing you're not tired after all," Raph huffed. "You're fighting doesn't seem different."

Leonardo dodged a sai coming his way with his katana blade. "I…don't…know….why…it…would…" Leonardo said in between breathing and dodging of his brother's weapons.

"If I was sneaking out every night for the past couple of months," Raphael began to say while dodging his older brother's katana blades. "I would totally be tired and unfocused."

That got Leo's attention. Leonardo gazed at his brother, causing him to lose focus. Raphael sweeps his leg and Leonardo stumbled to the ground. The hot head pounces on his brother instantly and pins his arms down with his knees.

Leonardo struggled to get out of his grasp, but it was no use. Raphael had won

The eldest brother's fights were always entertaining to watch. The majority of the time Leonardo would win. Anyone who knows the turtles (a handful of people) could tell Leonardo was the most skilled out of his brothers. It wasn't because he was born with it, all this brothers were, but because he practiced every day, always focused.

When it came to Raphael and Leonardo sparing, majority of the time Leonardo would win. This time was different. It wasn't a fluke or luck. Raphael had sprung information on the leader that made him get caught off guard.

The pinned down turtle tried to wrap his mind around what Raph just told him. Questions were running through the leader's mind. He wanted answers, but he didn't want to seem susupicous.

"What did you just say?" Leonardo whisped to his hot headed brother.

Raphael smirked again not because he just won this match, but knowing he was in the lead of this unsaid battle between him and his oldest brother.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Raphael said in an innocent voice. The red masked turtle returned onto his feet, glaring at his leader on the ground.

Leonardo glared back and soon returned to his feet too. He had a gut feeling that his brother knew something that he wasn't supposed to know.

"Very good Raphael," Master Splinter praised. "Your skills are improving I see. You see what hard work can do for you?"

"I can master," Raphael bowed to his sensei. "Also getting a good nights rest and not patrolling the streets late at night really helps me focus."

Leonardo rolled his eyes and put his katana blades away. He knew Raphael was trying to push his buttons and it was working.

"And also not eating a lot of cheesy puffs!" Mikey yelled across the dojo. "Because we all know what those things can do to you."

Leo and Donnie muffled their laughs with their hands. Steam was coming out of hot headed turtle's ears. If any turtle knew how to push Raph's buttons, Mikey would be at the top of the list.

"That is enough Michelangelo," Master Splinter ordered. "You may come over here with the others."

"Thank goodness," the goofy turtle sighed in relief. "My head was getting dizzy from all those backflips."

"You thinking makes your head dizzy," Donnie remarked under his breath.

Mikey glared at this genuis brother and decided to ignore his rude comment.

"All of you are becoming stronger every day and I'm so proud of you all," Master Splinter began while pacing back and forth in front of his sons. "As your father it's my job to lift you up, but as your sensei it is also my job to be strict with each and every one with you."

Master Splinter stopped in front of his sons and smiled. "Since all of you are training really hard I have decided to give all of you a break. You all will not having training this weekend."

The turtles cheered and celebrated. They couldn't remember not training on a weekend.

"Now go!" Master Splinter ordered. "Before I change my mind."

"You don't have to tell me twice," Mikey said while being the first one out of the dojo. His brothers followed and began to discuss what they were going to do this weekend.

"Let's see, I'm going to play video games, eat pizza, play video games, and probably eat more pizza," Mikey smiled at his brothers. "Weekends are made to relax and enjoy life…..and pizza."

His brothers rolled their eyes and started to think of what they were going to do.

"This would give me extra time to work on my projects in the lab," Donnie said proudly.

"Lame!" Raphael coughed which received a glare from Donnie.

"I don't like to plan…I just like to do whatever comes into my head," Raph said while sitting on the couch next to his youngest brother.

"Which is why you can't follow orders," Leonardo remarked.

"Only your orders," Raphael said not skipping a beat.

Donnie and Mikey could feel the tension between the two eldest brothers. They hated when they fought which lately it seemed like it was all the time.

"Guys, guys!" Mikey stood up in front of his two brothers. "Fighting is not the answer. Now, I don't know what's going on but to easy the tension I think we should do something together!"

"That's actually not a bad idea," Donnie said. "That's weird. Usually anyone but Mikey comes up with good ideas."

Mikey's eyes twinkled like the stars in the sky. He liked taking compliments even though it wasn't a total compliment.

"Thanks Donnie," Mikey smiled. "We can work around our schedules. Leo, what do you plan on doing this weekend?"

"Oh, I'm going to go see…" Leonardo instantly paused and closed his mouth. He wasn't even paying attention to what he was saying. He was too busy thinking of Raphael knew about where he went at night. Fortunately for the leader he closed his mouth before it was too late.

He had to think on his feet though. His brothers, especially Raphael were listening to every word he was saying.

"I'm going to go see a movie," Leonardo said proudly. Since he's been sneaking out to see Leolani he has become a better liar than before.

"That's a great idea!" Mikey exclaimed. "Us going to the movies would be great. We haven't done that in a long time!"

"I'm sure that's exactly what you were going to say," Raphael said while examining the blue masked turtle.

Leonardo knew his brother was on to him. He just didn't know how much he knew. He knew he didn't know much because if that was the case then he would have told the others and Master Splinter. Until then, he was safe for now.

"Let's go tomorrow night," Donatello said. "I hear there is a new zombie movie coming out. It should be interesting to watch."

"I love zombie movies!" Mikey said excitingly. "All this exciement is making me hungry. Pizza sounds good."

Mikey walked into the kitchen getting ready to order pizza.

"Right behind you Mikey!" Donnie yelled and caught up to him.

Raphael was still staring at his lying leader. He knew that Leo was hiding something and he had a feeling he was getting close.

"Why are still staring at me?" Leonardo annoyingly asked.

"No reason," Raph smirked while walking towards the kitchen.

Both of the brothers were shoulder to shoulder and each one was eyeing the other.

"I don't know how you sleep at night…" Raphael began. "Trust me though. I'm going to find out what you're hiding. One way or another."

Leonardo looked straight ahead not showing any facial expressions. Raphael bumped his shoulder into his brothers and walked towards the kitchen.

Leonardo knew his brother wouldn't give up, meaning that he just had to outsmart him.

~*TMNT*~

"So you think your brother knows about you coming over here?" Leolani asked while sipping her coffee. "What did he say exactly?"

Leonardo took a sip of his hot tea. "I think he suspects, but that doesn't really mean much," Leonardo said bitterly. "I'm sure he's just talking out of his shell as usual."

Leolani asked Leo multiple times if he wanted coffee and he always refused. He didn't want her to know that he hated coffee and disappoint her. He knew Donnie drank coffee, so maybe it wasn't that bad.

Both of the teenagers were spread out on the sofa, taking in the atmosphere of Leolani's apartment. Leo would come over and tell Leolani about the problems he was facing at home and there was one problem that would always come up.

"I don't know what to do Leolani," Leonardo says as he paces back and forth in front of the teenage girl. "If Raph does know, he's bound to tell Splinter and my brothers to make me look bad. I just can't get myself to tell Master Splinter."

Leolani pressed her lips together in a thin line. She knew that what Leonardo was doing was a risk for his family and she didn't take it personal. She didn't want the fearless leader to get in trouble because of her, even if that meant not seeing him anymore.

"Leonardo…" Leolani says quietly. The blue-masked turtle looked into her blue eyes and finally sat down, trying to calm himself.

"I hate to suggest this but I don't want you getting in trouble because of me and…" Leolani began to tell Leonardo what she was thinking but he cut her off.

"No," he says sternly. "I'm not going to do that."

Leolani pouted and folded her hands in her lap. She wanted to help Leo but she didn't know how.

Leonardo grabbed her chin, making her look up at her. She blushed instantly looked into his eyes.

"But thank you," he simply said.

That was enough to make Leolani get chills down all the way down to her toes. She smiled like a stupid school girl and cleared her throat.

"But what about Raphael?" She asked.

Leonardo took his hand away from her soft skin and looked out towards the balcony.

Yeah, what about him? Leonardo thought to himself. He knew that Raph was a problem that wouldn't go away. He just needed to think of a plan to make his annoying brother get off his shell. But the plan couldn't involve not seeing Leolani. He grew fond of seeing her almost every night and if he wasn't mistaken, he knew that she liked his company as well.

"Let me deal with my annoying brother," Leonardo said annoyed. "He's my problem not yours. I just have to think of a plan."

Leolani walked over to the kitchen and put her cup in the sink. She didn't want to be a burden in his life. In fact, she didn't know how much she meant to Leo until he told her he wasn't going to stop seeing her. She liked that.

She liked that he wasn't going to give up that easily and she didn't want him too. Even though this life of seeing a ninja turtle wasn't the norm, she was beginning to get used to it. Apparently she wasn't alone. Leonardo told her about Casey and April. She knew some things about them, but Leo didn't go into detail with them.

She was glad she wasn't alone. She wished someday she would be accepted by his brothers and Master Splinter just like Casey and April.

"So how are your ninjitsu classes going?" Leonardo walked over to the kitchen island.

Leolani was on the other side of it. She smiled and turned around facing Leonardo.

"They are actually going pretty well," the teenage girl nodded her head. "My instructor wants me to practice more but as you know I don't know who else to practice with."

Leolani was mentally punching herself. That was a stupid statement. She knew exactly who to practice with but she didn't want to sound pushy. She desperatly wanted Leonardo to help her because she wanted to know if this was more than just a friendship.

On the other side of the island there were similar thoughts brewing into the turtle's mind. He knew Leolani knew that he was almost an expert in the ninja deparment. He just wasn't an expert on knowing if a girl was flirting with him.

He needed to take a chance. He needed to take that plunge that could lead him into the next step that he and Leolani needed to take.

"Why don't I spare with you?" Leonardo suggested calmly. Even though he was terrified of taking that plunge he did it anyway.

Leolani was screaming inside her head. She wanted this. She wanted him to ask. She wanted him to take that plunge and he most definitely.

"Are you sure?" Leolani asked quickly. "I don't want to tire you out. I know how hard you train."

"That's sweet that you care," Leonardo smiled at Leolani which delivered an instant blush from her. He pretended he didn't see it. "But it's no problem. Actually Master Splinter gave us the weekend off so I can come over tomorrow."

"I'm actually going to spare with a real ninja," Leolani said surprised. "I bet he's not that good."

Leolani was teasing Leonardo and he knew that. But what she didn't know was that this was a good opportunity to show off his skills to Leolani. She hasn't seen his skills when it's daylight outside. So tomorrow would be a great opportunity to impress her.

"Oh you just wait," Leonardo said. "Tomorrow it's going…" He paused for a second. He forgot that him and his brothers had plans tomorrow night.

"Is something wrong?" Leolani asked.

"It's nothing," Leonardo said while walking towards the balcony. "I just made plans with my brothers but I can cancel. It's no big deal."

"Are you sure?" Leolani asked while follwing him to the balcony. "I don't want to pull you away from your family."

Leonardo turned around and put his hand on her shoulder. He wanted to kiss her and tell her that she worried way too much and she always put everyone's feelings before hers. He wanted to act out on his dreams that he has had about Leolani. But he knew that wasn't the right decision.

"You worry way too much," Leonardo simply said. He smiled at her and opened the door to the balcony. "I'll see you tomorrow okay?"

Leolani just smiled because she was starstruck. She watched the turtle leave and she sighed to herself because she too wanted to act out on her dreams.