Author's Note: New chapter! And this has a teensy bit of violence, be warned!

If Leonardo had to curl one more cotton piece into another fat string he was going to dump the whole thing onto the floor- no, not onto the floor, that would ruin the perfectly good wool. Leo would dump it on Casey, yes, that's a better alternative.

If he saw Casey here that is…

Because the human boy had suddenly announced to take a bathroom break and it wasn't until an hour had passed that Leo accepted that he had been abandoned. By Casey of all people- just when he was beginning to get to know the guy better.

Leonardo rolled his eyes, "Talk about turtle luck,"

Nothing but himself answered of course, "But… at least it's better than being bored alone…"

Leo's attention drifted from his hands and to the house in the distance, "Better than insomnia in bed…"

And that thought put a bittersweet smile onto his face. Staring up at the ceilings wasn't as good as staring at the lantern here. Even if there were about a hundred little clay pots around him. Leo dusted his hands from the little strings insistent on clinging to him.

"There, a hundred rolls," he said aloud, "All neatly laid out,"

And it looked pretty too. There's something calming about looking at the work you've done, and Leo almost regretted wishing he had finished faster. Now there was nothing left to do. Except… lay out the hundred clay pots as well… and maybe put them together?

Leo picked up a roll of cotton, twirling it between his fingers and watching a certain pot. It would make sense to put the roll in… maybe twist it inside? Then the oil, and light it… right?

Leo blew a soft breath, "I should have asked Casey."

"Asked me what?"

Never before had the turtle spun so fast than in that moment- and it was almost natural instinct that sent the fist flying to a rather crunchable face. But it wasn't anything natural to see so much red on Leo's hand when it took him two seconds to realize who was now lying on the ground.

Leo's eyes grew to saucers, and he whispered in an unfortunately high voice, "Casey?"

No answer- and a sudden cold thought occurred to Leonardo that he would be placing flowers on his own grave if he had killed the boy. Because this much blood wasn't normal!

Leonardo dropped to his knees, and for a moment, he wondered where all his calm was in a moment like this- where Casey needed him. Leo ran his eyes over the boy's body, and it was a rather sad thing to see such a nice color stained with the red. Red that was coming from the boy's mouth- but at least he was breathing.

Leo dropped his head onto his plastron, and a few breaths were all it took for the calm-in-the-storm mode to kick in. Leo reached out to the boy, pulling the sticky hair away from the lips. The blood wasn't trickling anymore- the wound wasn't deep. Casey was going to be fine, he'll have a major ache tomorrow, but he'll be fine.

Leonardo hovered his hands over the boy's face, then stood to retrieve a handful of cotton. Blood sapped up and with Casey looking less like a horror movie victim, Leo found himself relaxed in the soothing action. Casey wasn't so troublesome when dead…

And that thought held put a dark humor twist to Leo's smile, "Heh."

Yet, it served him right. Who told him to sneak up on Leo like that- even though the fact that he managed to sneak up on the usually vigilant turtle was enough to convince Leo he needed to start training again. Although, these nights he was a bit more distracted. Perhaps Casey just got lucky.

The boy groaned, and Leo winced for him when he pulled yet another sticky strand away from his face, "Casey?"

Another moan that Leo was sure Casey was sure he had no idea where he was, "In a minute coach…"

Leo snickered, sitting up and opting to wave a hand over the boy's relatively clean face, "Take your time,"

"Mhm…" Casey turned, and he curled up into his side as though he was on the verge of falling asleep, "Can I sit the next game out?"

Leo arched an eye ridge, but he doubted it was good to let Casey continue to believe he was playing another hockey game, "No. Get up."

"Aww man…"

Leo chuckled, and it was then Casey jumped up with wide eyes, "Leo?"

The smile flew right off the turtle's face, but he nodded in response, "You're not playing hockey Casey,"

The boy scrunched his eyes, then rubbed the back of his head and winced when he opened his mouth to speak, "I knew that."

"Sure," Leo threw him a smile.

And Casey grimaced one back, "Sorry 'bout taking so long."

Leo reached for the bloodied wool scattered about Casey, "You don't have to apologize,"

Casey muttered, "Food took longer than I thought."

And at this, Leo froze, "Food?"

The boy nodded, "Yeah- was bringing some snacks out here for us,"

"Oh…"

Oh.

And Leo couldn't stop himself from admitting, "That's… nice."

Casey shrugged as though he weren't groggy and almost dead a few minutes ago, "It's the least I could do,"

Casey continued, "After all- you're helping me out here when you could have been asleep,"

"Actually Case," Leo lifted a finger, blinking away suddenly moist eyes, "I couldn't sleep,"

Casey turned, eyes strangely soft when he said, "Huh. Always took you for an insomniac."

Leo nodded once more, and turned to the clay pots they had earlier sorted, "When are we going to finish this?"

Casey leaped up, then wavered on his feet. Leo was by his side in a moment, hand steady on his elbow. Casey didn't shake him off- but did marvel at the fact that the cotton rolls were neatly done.

"Thanks," was Leo's soft reply, keeping a grip on the boy's elbow, "What do we do next?"

Casey turned, and looked down at the turtle with a brilliant grin that Leo realized he rather liked, "We eat,"

Casey gestured to the farmhouse, "Midnight snack?"

"Yes please,"

And Leo withdrew his hand in favor of folding it behind his shell. His hands were safer there anyways.

And it wasn't until they both stepped into the cold night air did Casey exclaim, "Did you just knock me out with a punch?"

Silence, then in synchrony, "Ninja reflexes,"

They were both chuckling in two seconds flat.

Promises of fluff in the next chapter!