Personality Adjustment
Ch 3
"Reconsidering Leaving"
Don sighed and ran out to where Stacy sat by the lake in tears. He put his hand on her shoulder and asked.
"Stacy were you just crying? What just happened? I thought Leo was training you out here. It seemed like it was going well."
She turned to him and cried into his chest as he stroked her forehead gently. Then she held onto Don tighter as the tears rolled down her cheeks rapidly.
"He won't even talk to me. Obviously, he doesn't want to be my friend anymore. I don't understand what I did to him for him to acting like this toward me. I just don't know what to do anymore. Maybe I should just go back to New York and stay away from all of you, even though all I can think about is Leo. Don I've fallen in love with him and will never be able to tell him while he's like this. It's going to get worse when we get back to New York I guarantee. Especially when he finds out that they released Karai from custody and is running the foot again. Sometimes I wonder if there was something between him and her. No matter how many times she helped us out she always went back to Shredder and betrayed you 4. Yet Leo always believed her and saved her from danger too many times."
At that Don gulped and said.
"Don't be ridiculous Stacy. There is no way that my brother was involved in her like you think. They were just friends nothing else."
She looked at him and knew he was hiding something from her and said.
"Something happened on that ship that has made him act like this. I just wish I knew what it was. It's like he has turned into a carbon copy of Mr. Hot Head upstairs and doesn't care who he hurts while he's like that. The best thing for me to do is to just go home and leave you 4 alone. I can't take it anymore Don. First thing in the morning I'm driving back to New York when you 4 stay out here and heal. Come on April is calling us, dinner is ready."
He looked at her and said.
"No don't do that Stacy. You're more than welcome to stay out here with us. As soon as Raph and Mike heal we're heading home anyway. Stick out here with us."
She sighed and said.
"No Don I just can't deal with his attitude anymore. So what a friendship that lasted 16 years is now over I'll be fine. I am not going to stay out here and keep getting yelled at by a turtle with a bad ass attitude anymore. I am not the enemy here, and he's treating me like one. No I am leaving in the morning and that's final!"
He puts his head in shame and sighed.
"Ok fine, just let Casey drive you back to the city you'll be safer that way."
They all ate their dinner in silence and Don glared at Leo through dinner. Then he walked upstairs to Raph and Mike's room to get their plates. Raphael looked up and asked.
"What is wrong with you bro? Did you talk to her and calm her down like I asked you to?"
He shook his head and said.
"Yea I tried to calm her down, but it didn't work at all. Actually tomorrow morning she's going back to New York to get away from Leo, because she's tired of him treating her like an enemy. Besides she is very sensitive and can't deal with him yelling at her when she tries to talk to him. Man wait till I get my hands on that bitch Karai she'll regret stabbing him after he saved her sorry ass after he beat her in battle. I bet that her stabbing him is what caused him to become Mr. Personality!"
Raphael looked up and said.
"My ribs are healed now can you get off me so I can get up please? That's what I was trying to tell you earlier bro. Let me deal with Leo, I've had it with his damn attitude. That's my job not his. Now move!"
Don got off the bed and watched as Raphael removed the bandages from his ribs and stretched.
"Ooh that feels a lot better now. Go check on Mike to he's been healed since yesterday, but he's pretending to still be injured so he doesn't have to practice. I'll take my dish downstairs and try to talk Stacy out of going home tomorrow. She still needs to be trained so she can take on those loser foot clan members on her own. She'll listen to me since I'm her second best friend next to Mr. Personality ova there!"
Don just shrugged and caught Mike out of bed and stood with his arms crossed by his chest.
"Mike are you having fun pretending to still be injured hmm? Do you enjoy having people worried about you when you're fine; well?"
Mike gulped and smiled.
"Oh hey Don; wuz bro? I tried to tell you this morning but you ignored me so I decided to stay in my room. How's Leo?"
Don sighed and said.
"Oh just as different he was after we came off the ship. You'll love this one though; he's taking his anger out on Stacy and causing her to cry. Especially since she is in love with him and he won't even talk to her. So she said; she's had it and is leaving tomorrow nice huh!"
Mike looked up and shook his head.
"No Don that's just awful bro. Isn't Stacy his best friend or something? They used to be so close. Where is she now; if you don't mind me asking?"
Don looked at his youngest brother and said.
"No of course not. She's downstairs helping April with the dishes. Come on Mike let them know you are healed already. Dad will be relieved to know that you're back to normal now."
Mike followed Don downstairs and saw the tears in Stacy's eyes while she washed the dishes with Raphael helping her to dry them. Mike nudged him and said.
"Whoa bro check this out she's crying again. Speaking of Leo where is he?"
Raphael watched as he walked up the stairs and glared at him. Then he heard his door slam again and grit his teeth.
"Ooh if he does that one more time I'm going to hurt him. Stacy come on outside and talk to me. I know his behavior is hurting you. Believe me we all wish we knew what was with him, but that's no reason for you to head back to New York without us. Maybe it's a phase he's going through right now. Come on Stacy dad will help you train, and you don't have to be bothered with Leo either. Don't leave because of one stupid idiot."
She sighed and rested her head on his chest while he stroked her forehead gently. He smiled and sighed with relief that he changed her mind. Then he said.
"Are you ok now? I bet you're relieved that we're all healed and back to normal, except Leo. Come on inside April baked some brownies for everyone."
They got up and entered the house then Casey looked and said.
"Whoa you two make a good couple. I think you two are a better match then you and Leo, Stace."
She looked and said.
"Drop the subject already will you. I am in love with Leo and that's it. Raphael is more like an elder brother to me and he knows it. So stop trying to make me feel better!"
Raphael looked and said.
"She's right lamebrain. Now stop shoving it in her face already. She's been through enough with his attitude and doesn't need you to make it worse now knock it off! You don't know what happened on the ship so you have no right to say anything. Do I make myself clear? Now enough about Leo's personality right now. No one wants to hear about it right now."
Leo came down the stairs and asked.
"What about the ship; Raphael what were you just talking about? Didn't I tell you to stop bringing it up? I don't want to hear about the last confrontation with Shredder and his damn daughter on the ship understood! Bring it up again I swear I'll kick your shell in! That goes for all 3 of you!"
Stacy could see the pain in his eyes and just sighed. Then she just went into the kitchen and drank her coffee in silence while she ate the brownies that April baked. She looked up and said.
"April I wish he would stop this and talk to me already. I know something caused him to be like this and just can't figure it out. I mean it's just not Leo to threaten his brothers like that, I'm getting even more worried now! Is it going to get better or worse when we get back to New York? What is eating him like this? I can't help it, I'm worried about him because he's my best friend and I'm in love with him too! It's hopeless!"
Leo overheard her telling April about her being in love with him and buried his head in his hands shaking his head. Then he said to himself.
'I'm also in love with you Stacy, but just can't tell you anything right now. I am being rude to you because I don't want you to know what a failure I was on that ship! Fighting Karai and defeating her, then I saved her and she used my katana and stabbed me causing my brothers and father to be injured severely when all I got was a stab wound! You'll hate me if you ever find out the truth and I can't put you through it.'
Stacy looked up from her coffee and said.
"Leo do you want a cup of coffee? April baked some brownies and they're really good. I'll pour you a cup if you want one."
He looked up and nodded. Then he sat down at the table and sighed. Stacy got up from her chair and poured him a cup of coffee. Then she brought it to him and entered the living room.
"Come on boys and Casey the coffee is ready. Come and get some before it goes off. The brownies April made are delicious."
Everyone sat at the table and drank their coffee in silence as they enjoyed the brownies April made. Then April looked at Splinter and asked.
"Master Splinter would you like a cup of tea? I'll make it if you want some."
Splinter looked and nodded.
"Yes Ms. O'Neil that would be nice. Unlike my sons I don't like too much caffeine and can't stand the taste of coffee either. Remember boys back to training in the morning since your wounds are all healed."
They all grunted.
"Oh man do we have to? Can't we take a week off of training and just relax Sensei?"
He shook his head and they all sighed. Then they all went back to their coffee and brownies. When they all finished Stacy took the dishes to the sink and washed them leaving Leo sitting at the table having his 2nd cup of coffee. The others went in to the living room and asked.
"Yo bro are you going to join us? It's your favorite movie about Black Mamba?"
He sighed and said.
"I'll be in shortly. I'm just going to finish my coffee and brownies, and then I'll be in."
They all exit the kitchen and he sighed. Then he finished his coffee and brought it to the sink where Stacy was washing dishes. She looked to her side and saw him standing there and asked.
"Yes Leo can I help you? What do you want?"
He looked and said.
"Just wanted to know if I could help you with the dishes so we can join them and watch the movie? If you promise not to ask me anymore what's wrong with me, because I'm fine really. I just have a lot on my mind right now that's all nothing for you to worry about ok."
She knew he was lying but nodded her head in agreement. Then she handed him the dishes she washed and he dried them. Then he put them up in the cupboard after he dried them. Then she walked over to the coffee pot and cleaned it out with him watching her doing it. She saw him just standing there and staring into space. She looked up and gazed into his eyes through his bandanna and his eyes also met hers. Then he grabbed her waist and their lips met once. She was surprised and just froze, and then she felt his lips on hers once again and embraced him as he pushed her up against the kitchen door still kissing her smooth, soft lips. He heard one of his brothers coming and they broke apart. Then he went to the sink and wiped off his mouth. Stacy just stood and touched her lips when Raphael entered.
"Are you two coming or not? We're waiting for you two to come on so we can put the movie on? Leo why are you washing your mouth; did I miss something?"
He looked and said.
"I was only drinking a glass of purified water gee. Go back in there we're coming."
Raphael shrugged and exits the kitchen. Then Leo sighed and said.
"Whoa that was too close. Come on Stacy before they come and get us again."
She looked and said.
"Leo did we just kiss or was I imagining it? Did that just happen or is my mind playing tricks on me again?"
He exits without saying a word and sits on the couch across from April and Casey. Casey looked at him and asked.
"What were you doing in the kitchen with Stacy? Come on Leo it doesn't take 25 minutes to wash dishes. You better talk bro or I'll get it out of you."
Leo glared and said.
"Nothing happened in the kitchen lamebrain. I just helped Stacy with the dishes and took the garbage out. Now shut up and stop asking me before my fist goes in your mouth and I make you shut it! Understand!"
Stacy exits the kitchen still in a daze after they kissed and April looked at her and asked.
"Are you ok Stacy? Why were you two in the kitchen for 25 minutes; it doesn't take that long to wash dishes."
She looked and said.
"He helped me with the dishes and took the garbage out gee. What would happen in the kitchen between us? We're only friends April nothing else now stop bugging me."
Leo looked up and hit the play button on the DVD player after Stacy sat down next to him. Mike kept on staring at those two and Leo looked and asked.
"What do you want Mike? Why are you staring over here the screen is ova there now turn around."