A/N: Alright I don't know if I like this chapter. It's kinda short. Anyways, please R and R!
Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT
After everyone, including Mikey, had a good laugh, Leo and Raph helped Melanie to her feet and they made their way back home. Donnie gave her some sedatives and Raph ended up carrying her to her room and gently laying her in her bed. She started to shiver, so he found some extra blankets and covered her as best he could.
"Leo," The blue clad turtle came out of his trance as Raph walked past him and out of Melanie's room.
"Raph," Leo answered. He looked back into the room once more and made sure she was asleep.
"Can we talk?" his brother said gruffly.
"Sure," Leo responded and followed his red banded brother into the kitchen. Leo pulled out a pot to make some tea as his brother pulled a soda from the fridge and sat down at the table. "What did you want to talk about?"
Raphael was quiet for a moment and Leo turned to make sure he was still there. Raph had always had a hard time voicing his thoughts, but Leo knew if he waited long enough, Raph would open up.
"You told 'er didn't ya?" He asked softly. When Leo nodded, he continued. "She didn't take it well I'm guessin'?"
Leo nodded again. "She'll be okay, though. She's tough." Leo pulled out a mug, poured his tea and sat down across from his brother. The lair was dark and quiet except for them.
"I know. Sometimes dat girl is tougher 'en all of us." They both smiled. "Anyways, I wanted to talk to you bout 'er birthday next week."
"Yeah, I've been thinking about that too." Leo said. "It's on Friday, right? The 7th?"
Raph nodded. "Our little girl's gonna be da big 18 and I got no clue what to get her. She deserves so much more than we can get her."
"I know. If it weren't for her, we'd still have to scavenge for supplies. She goes to school for herself, but at the same time for us too so she can get a better job. And everything else she does is for the good of this family. She works her butt off and barely gets anything in return." Leo said sadly. "I can't believe her some days. Why would she work forty-plus hours on top of school every week for us?"
"Cuz she loves us bro, just like we love her."
"She's incredible. No offense, but even April didn't do this much for us."
"I know how you feel bro. She's a hero."
"And what do you get a hero for her birthday?" Leo asked. "Has she talked to you about her birthday at all?"
"Nope, the selfless brat hasn't even mentioned it. I wouldn't be surprised if she's completely forgotten that she even has one."
Leo sighed. "She's a tough one. Casey wasn't kiddin' when he said that girls are almost too complicated to keep around. Almost."
Raph laughed. "It's true. She is more complicated and harder to shop for than us guys. It don't help dat she's the only girl in the family."
"What are you boys doing up at this late hour?" a stern, raspy voice said from the doorway. Leo and Raph both jumped and landed on the table, weapons drawn, only to see their father enter the kitchen.
"Sensei, you scared us!" Raph said, his heart still pounding in his ears.
"What are you doing up, Father?" Leo asked as his rat teacher poured himself a cup of tea and sat down at the head of the table.
"I overheard your conversation, my sons, and I too have been wondering what to get your sister for her birthday." He took a sip of his steaming tea. "I agree that Melanie has done so much for this family. I have confronted her many times and asked her to take it easy and do things for herself, but she always refuses."
"Stubborn, selfless little…." Raph muttered.
"She is like her oldest brothers." Splinter smiled.
"But what do we get her, Sensei?" Leo asked.
"What does she enjoy, my son?"
Leo and Raph pondered for a moment. "She loves music." Raph offered.
"She already has that Ipod Donnie fixed for her, though."
"Your sister enjoys nature as well." Splinter said.
"Master Splinter, that's it!"
"What Leo?"
"It's perfect!" Leo said excitedly.
"What is Leo?" Raph huffed. Leo bent in and whispered in his ear. Both he and Splinter smiled as he revealed his idea. The next hour was spent making arrangements. Master Splinter went to bed as soon as the general idea was finalized, and Leo and Raph stayed up to work out the details. By the time they were done, the clock on the kitchen wall read quarter to two. Raph stumbled to his room and crawled into his hammock. His body ached and the fresh scratch on his arm itched, but he fell asleep with a smile on his face.