Ch 5 Only One Gets the Prize.

"Wow, we really messed up," Donnie commented dejectedly as he, Leo and Raph walked together on the sidewalk while Mikey walked alongside his motorcycle just behind them. Each of them noticed the strange stares they were getting from people passing by but none of them cared. They each felt angry, tired and embarrassed for what had just happened and now they just wanted to get home.

"Big time," Leo responded, sounding clearly frustrated.

"Why the hell can't you guys just leave April alone?" Raph demanded balling his fist in anger, "She's not interested in any of you so…."

"Oh knock it off Raph," Mikey shouted from behind, "How do you know she's not interested in us?" Raph stopped walking and turned toward him, "Maybe she's not interested in you!"

"How bout we all just knock it off," Leo demanded, putting a hand on Raph before he could make his way over to the youngest turtle, "We've all made fools of ourselves and April probably wants nothing to do with any of us at this point," He sighed heavily, "Besides that, her old man probably won't let us have anything to do with her after all that's happened."

His brothers nodded and for the next few seconds they continued down the street in silence until Donnie started laughing.

"What's so funny Donnie?" Raph demanded tiredly.

"Oh, I was just wondering what life would be like dating April," He said with a chuckle, "Or if I...or any of us...married her," He said thoughtfully.

His brothers hummed at the thought and slowly, smiles began to form as each thought of the fun things they would do if April dated or possibly married them.

Leo pictured him and April opening up a gallery, painting people's portraits as well as painting masterpieces and selling them for hundreds of dollars.

Raph pictured him and April attending ballet shows as well as being part of a ballet group and going on tour as a dancing duo.

Donnie pictured himself on a fire escape playing the guitar while serenading April under her window then whisking her away from one country to another, playing concerts, touring and wowing the crowds together.

Mikey pictured both he and April on his motorcycle and riding across the country, stopping at all the major sights and having a wonderful time taking pictures and selfies.

The four sighed dreamily then glared angrily at each other as they finally arrived at their apartment building, but said nothing as they rode the elevator up to their floor.

xxxxxx

Splinter looked up from his evening paper and gasped in shock at the sight of his four sons. "Why are you dressed like that?" He demanded as they walked in, "Did you go to a costume party?"

The turtles shook their heads as they sat down with a heavy sigh, "Then why, Leonardo, are you dressed like a painter." He walked in front of them and looked them up and down, "And where did you get that guitar Donatello," his eyes wandered toward Mikey, "And why are you wearing a motorcycle jacket and helmet Michelangelo?" His eyes landed on Raphael and it was everything he could do to hold back his laughter, "And why, Raphael, are you dressed like Peter Pan?"

"It's just a ballet outfit Sensei," Raph responded suddenly feeling very silly.

"Just a ballet outfit?" Splinter repeated incredulously, "I don't care if it is just a ballet outfit; I want to know why you are dressed like this and…." A thought suddenly occurred to him, "And where did you get the money to buy all these things?" He asked as he leaned closer to them and stroked his long beard.

"Ah well…" Leo looked at his brothers who were all turning bright red and it dawned on all of them they all had done the same thing to purchase their gear and outfits, "You know those emergency credit cards you gave us?" Leo asked him in a voice filled with guilt and unease.

"You mean the ones I gave to you so you could use them only in case of an emergency," He asked, "The ones you are not supposed to use unless there is an emergency," His sons ducked their heads and nodded, "And only an emergency!" Splinter's voice rose in irritation as he spoke.

"I only rented my gear and motorcycle Sensei," Mikey stated, "Once I return all my stuff, I'll get a refund."

"Same here," Raph told him.

"And here," Donnie said in a low voice.

"We can return all our things Sensei," Leo said as he began to stand, "It's really no big deal."

"NO BIG DEAL!" Splinter was outraged and his sudden yell caused Leo to sit back down, "I have had enough of this foolishness," Splinter began to pace, "Look at you four, look at what you are doing," he threw his hands up in the air, "You are in constant battle against each other, you go behind my back and…." The ringing of the telephone interrupted Splinter's lecture.

Splinter glare angrily as he made his way to the phone, "Sit and do not move," He ordered as the four turtles attempted to stand and leave the room, "And hand me your credit cards!"

The brothers groaned as they removed the cards from their wallets while Splinter answered the phone, "Hamato residence," Splinter answered, "Oh yes, Mr. Kirby O'Neil, how may I help you…..I'm sorry, what?" Splinter stopped speaking and his four sons watched as the rat's eyes rose in surprise then quickly furrow in anger as he listened to what Mr. O'Neil had to say.

The turtles looked at each other in fear as they heard Splinter speaking with Kirby O'Neil, and, sensing they were about to be getting into more trouble, they started to stand and attempt to walk toward their bedrooms but was quickly intercepted by Splinter as he swung his walking stick directly in front of them while still speaking with Kirby.

"I see," Splinter was saying as he stared hard at his young sons, "Do not worry Mr. O'Neil, I will see to the matter." He hung up the phone and pointed toward the couch. The turtles knew not to disobey and they very quickly ran back to their seats.

Splinter stroked his beard and paced in front of them, "So who would like to explain all that is happening?" Splinter demanded in a very even tone.

Leo took a breath, "Sensei," He began but was quickly cut off.

"Enough!" Splinter slammed his stick hard on the floor causing the turtles to jump, "This has gone far enough!" He sighed heavily and shook his head, "My sons," His lowered his voice and looked at them with softened eyes, " I too know what it is like to be smitten with someone and I know how difficult it is to want to get her attention," His sons looked up at him with guilty eyes as he spoke, "But you four are going after the same girl without thinking at all about what you are doing to her," The four turtles looked at each other then back to Splinter, "Not to mention the havoc you are creating at the O'Neil establishment."

Donnie nodded, "You're right Sensei," He said, "It's just we all really like her and want her to choose one of us but I guess we've been going about all wrong."

Splinter nodded, "So it seems," He agreed. Splinter took a deep breath and walked over to his easy chair. He sat down and massaged his temples, "My sons, I think it is time you decided who should step aside and who should be the one to ask this April O'Neil person who she would like to go out with." He watched as the turtles looked at each other with narrowed eyes. "And if you cannot decide," He stood and walked over to the kitchen, "Then I will decide for you."

After a moment, Leo stood and nodded at his brothers, "Sensei's right," He agreed as he started toward the kitchen, "We do need to stop competing against each other and decide, once and for all, who should be the one to ask April out."

"Oh and let me guess," Raph stood and watched Leo with angry eyes, "You're going to be the one to do it because you're the oldest and the leader of this group?" He asked mockingly while waving his hands at the other two.

Leo came back from the kitchen shaking his head and gestured toward Splinter who was watching him with a puzzled look when he noticed two chopsticks in his hand, "No," Leo told him placing his hands behind his back, a moment later, the turtles and Splinter heard a soft cracking noise emanating from behind Leo's back, "We're going to do this democratically," He said as he brought his hands to the front of him and held one out in a closed fist so his brothers could each take a now broken chopstick, "We're going to draw straws."

Donnie and Mikey looked at each other in uncertainty before nodding back at Leo. The two younger turtles stood, walked over to Leo and, with a deep breath, picked a stick out of Leo's closed fist. The hid the stick in their hands then all turned to look at Raph who was watching everything unfold with suspicious eyes.

"Come one Raph," Mikey urged, "Sensei's right, this has to end."

After a few seconds, Raph sighed and finally took the last stick.