Personality Adjustment
Ch 5
"Out of Options"
A month after they arrived back in New York Master Splinter sat and worried while his eldest son's attitude began to get worse. He looked at the way his son was acting and sighed. Then he knew something was definitely wrong with Leo, but just couldn't put his finger on it. Leo continued to disappear in the middle of the night while his brothers and his father were fast asleep. One night Stacy told Splinter.
"Master Splinter you go to sleep and I'll wait up for Leo. You haven't been sleeping and you really need your sleep. Don't worry about me I'll sleep on the couch tonight and see what time he comes in. Goodnight Sensei."
He looked and said.
"My child I don't think that would be wise. As you can see my son is not himself and maybe closer to losing it than we are aware of. I don't want you to put yourself in danger trying to figure out what is eating him. We have all tried to ask him and he just ignores us and slams his bedroom door. Then he disappears in the middle of the night and we have no idea where he goes. I'm afraid that I can no longer get through to him. Tomorrow Usagi and Gen are coming to our world. Maybe he'll listen to them; if he doesn't then I'm afraid all hope is lost for Leonardo. Please Stacy just go to bed and let it be; I understand that you are his best friend but he won't even talk to us his family. Unless there is something that you are hiding as well."
She looked and said.
"No Sensei I'm not hiding anything. I'm just as worried about him as you and his brothers are. I'll go to bed and take your advice. Goodnight Sensei."
She watched as Splinter entered his room and sighed. Then she sat on the couch and watched as the hours passed. Raphael decided to go downstairs and check on Stacy. He headed downstairs and entered the living room. Then he sat on the couch by her and said.
"Get some sleep Stacy. Please you're worn out from worrying about him. He is stubborn and will never tell us what is going on with him so stop trying to make him open up. One thing you need to know about our elder brother is he doesn't talk to anyone about his feelings. He's been like that since we were turtle tots and isn't about to change. You're wasting your time trying to make him talk; he'll just upset you more if you try again and won't care either. Now get some sleep we have to practice at the break of dawn. Goodnight Stacy."
She sighed and said.
"Ok you win; goodnight Raph."
She watched as he went up the stairs and entered his room. Then she stared at the picture April took at her birthday party and tears came to her eyes when she saw his smile in the picture. She held the picture close to her and buried her head in her arms as she cried.
Leo arrived back at the lair and heard her crying then he entered the kitchen and put his hand on her shoulder. She felt a hand on her shoulder and dried her tears before she looked up.
"I'm going to bed Raph I just can't stop worrying about him even though I try so hard to I just can't stop loving him. I know he's going through a hard time now; but it's not fair that he can't just talk to me about it. I'm his best friend and he never hid anything from me. Even after he was ambushed by the foot I stayed by his side till he came to, and he talked to me, then again after you 4 nearly lost your father even though he blamed himself; we talked about it and he felt better. We've been through so much together and I can't see him like this it kills me inside!"
He looked and sighed. Then he stroked her cheek and said.
"Stacy look up its me Leo. I know we've been through a lot together, but this is something I rather keep you out of. If I tell you what I'm feeling now you might just hate me. Now you know if I can't talk to my family about it then it's serious; come on wipe those tears and bear with me please."
She looked up and cried into his plastron as he stroked her forehead gently.
"I can never hate you Leo; because I'm in love with you. Please just talk to me that's all I ask. You've changed and it scares me. Leo please stop doing this to yourself; what has made you like this? I can't sleep at night because I'm always worried about you because you disappear and never tell us where you've been. I can't concentrate at work because you're acting so different. You're just not the Leonardo I've known since we were 10 years old."
He ran his fingers through her thick, wavy, dark brown hair and said.
"No I'm not because we have both become teenagers Stacy. I don't see you as my best friend ; I actually see you more than just my best friend; but what I'm going through right now is preventing me from showing you how much you mean to me and for that I'm sorry. Just try to understand what my role is in the family, and I failed to carry it out on that ship. I allowed them to get injured severely while I was fooled by someone I once trusted and actually loved before they decided to side with the threat. Come on it's late and you really should get some sleep. When I figure it all out the truth will be revealed, but right now it's just not possible. Trust me Stacy, and stop worrying it doesn't concern you! Goodnight."
He sighed and went up the stairs to his room and closed the door behind him. Raph stopped him in the hallway and said.
"What do you mean it doesn't concern her? You know what bro you've really lost it and besides that you're so blind it's pathetic. Were you even listening to a word she said to you? Well Leo did you or did you just ignore her because you're so damn busy feeling sorry for yourself and breaking her heart in the process!!! What is there to figure out? We all suffered a defeat on that ship not just you!! Why can't you just learn from the defeat instead of letting it take you over!! I know why you're acting like this even though you may think I'm stupid, but I'm not! Don't make me say it Leo; and don't make me kick your shell in to make you realize it either! I will and you know it! I'm tired of this and so is everyone else around you! After what you did to my punching bag you're lucky I didn't replace it with you! Besides the way you treated Stacy at Casey's grandma's farmhouse I still haven't forgiven you for making her cry!"
Leo looked and laughed.
"You kick my shell in? That'll be the day. Whatever Raph you know you have no chance against me and you're just too stubborn to admit it. Now move out of my way so I can go to bed; before you see how sorry I'm feeling about myself! I mean it now move!"
He looked at him and said.
"Oh really if I don't then what are you going to do about it? Well Leo I'm waiting. What's the matter chicken or are you afraid that you may just get hurt this time?"
Stacy overheard those two fighting and said.
"Raph stop it. Stop teasing him he's getting pissed and I can't control him. Raph please don't say another word he'll hurt you!"
Leo's eyes slanted and he said.
"Shut it Raph. Don't make me lose my temper, mine is deadlier than yours now just move away from my bedroom door and let me go to sleep. I've been having a hard time controlling my temper and nearly killed Casey don't try my patience, because I will snap and hurt you!"
Raphael looked and said.
"You have no temper! So don't even say yours is deadlier than mine bro! Remember I'm the hothead not you! So I'd like to see you try to hurt me and watch your shell end up on that floor! What's the matter your girlfriend Karai proved you wrong well Leo!"
Leo's eyes glared and Stacy saw the flames in them. Then she screamed as Leo picked Raphael up from the shell and threw him down the stairs. She watched as he held the katana to Raphael's neck saying.
"Karai is not my girlfriend! Take it back before I slit your throat!"
Stacy ran and struggled with Leo grabbing his fighting arm and screamed.
"Leo don't that's your brother Raphael not Karai! Leo please snap out of it! LEO!!!"
He slashed her arm accidentally and he looked and shook his head. Then he realized her blood was on his blade and saw Raph's eyes looking up at him.
Leo dropped his blade and backed up shaking his head as Raphael got up holding his throat and ran into his room scared. He also saw Stacy on the floor holding her arm and ran to her. She looked and said.
"Stay away from me Leo! I hate you! You've lost it and need help! I'm going home! Don't ever talk to me again either!"
She ran out of the lair and into April and her apartment. April saw blood and asked.
"Stacy what happened? How did you get that gash on your arm? Come into the bathroom and let me clean it out and dress it before it gets infected."
Stacy stared into the mirror and held back the tears as they began to sting her eyes when April cleaned out the wound with peroxide. Then April dressed it and Stacy said.
"I don't want to talk about it. I'm going to bed; goodnight April."
In the meantime back at the lair Leo lay flat on his shell and stared up at the ceiling.
'What is wrong with me? Now I'm going after people I love and care about? Why is this happening to me?'
Leo got out his bed and entered Raphael's room. Then he looked and asked.
"Raph are you ok? I'm sorry about that. I don't know what has gotten into me. Please forgive me I didn't mean it."
He looked up and stared into his brother's eyes.
"Don't worry about me bro. I'm fine it's Stacy that has a gash on her arm from your damn blade not me! If you need to apologize to anyone it should be her; I deserved what I got but she only tried to snap you out of that rage and got cut by your katana! You need help and I mean serious help! Goodnight Leo."
The next morning everyone woke up and ate breakfast in the kitchen. Then they all practiced for 4 hours. When they were done practicing a portal opened and Usagi and Gen came through it. Leo looked and asked.
"What are you two doing in our world? I thought the only portal capable of bringing people from other worlds was the Daimyo's?"
Usagi looked and said.
"Yes that's true Leonardo son, but I have connections that made it possible. It's good to see you again. So when are we going to get a taste of the City that never sleeps?"
Raphael laughed and said.
"As soon as the sun goes down. You'll get to experience life in our city!"
The sun sets and they take Gen and Usagi on a tour showing them all the sights. Michelangelo even snagged some hot dogs for them to sample and said.
"You can never experience our city without one of our best snacks."
When the tour ended they all headed back to the lair and Leo tried to call Stacy on her shell cell. Usagi looked and asked.
"Leonardo son what is that contraption in your hand?"
Leo looked up and sighed as he hung it up and placed it back in his belt.
"It's a shell cell. We use them to communicate with each other and our closest friends."
Then he entered the dojo and practiced again. Usagi entered and looked as he wielded his blades. Then he asked.
"Isn't it better when you have an opponent to practice with?"
Leo looked up and said.
"Yes it is; why are you up for a friendly spar Usagi?"
He unsheathes his katana and their blades crossed. Then they continued to fight and Leo won. He gave his hand to Usagi and helped him up. Then Usagi said.
"Leonardo son whatever you're going through doesn't have to be faced alone. Why do you choose to face it alone?"
He looked and said.
"I appreciate your concern Usagi san but this is something I must face alone to protect my family. Thank you for your time."
Then Leo walked away and entered the kitchen while Usagi and Splinter talked. When the portal opened again he said.
"Sorry Master Splinter but I can't even get through to him. He rather face whatever it is by himself. Farewell my friends."
The portal closed and Leo entered his room once again silent. Then everyone else also turned in for the night. Again he tried to call Stacy and was ignored. He threw his shell cell against his wall and stared at the picture from Stacy's birthday party and sighed. Then he fell asleep immediately.