- STORY REVISION ALERT –

Chapter 14 revised. Important changes reflecting how Beth sees her relationship with Leonardo.

DISCLAIMER – Okay, sorry about the delay in updating. I've been besieged with Writers Block on this story. After writing a one-shot and then a short, multi-chaptered story, I think I've re-discovered my inspiration. At least, as far as chapter 15 is concerned. Anyway, I only own the story and Beth, too. Maybe that nosey neighbor in apartment Four-A, as well, but that remains to be seen – since none of us have seen her, yet. LOL

Also, for those of you unaware of this, we lost one of our own last week. LadyLuna78 passed away from complications due to leukemia. She battled this horrific disease for 5 years and passed away just a week ago this past Monday. She was only 15. Honestly, when I found this out, I cried almost the entire day, off and on.

Anyway, her friend, Nichole, has offered up the one TMNT story that Bethany (LL78) wrote to anyone willing to continue it. Please visit LadyLuna78's page, ID number 380170, for more information. I have offered to pick up the slack, but have not heard back from Nichole. If I do, I am willing to make this a round-robin story (Let Me Hear Your Voice), where anyone familiar with it may honor Bethany's memory. Here is Nichole's memorial for her good friend –

R.I.P
LadyLuna78 (Bethany)
1/18/90 - 6/20/05
A loving friend, big sister, daughter, and aspiring writer

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Chapter 15 – Normal Behavior

Much to Beth's relief, when Leonardo's brothers returned from their patrolling, they had brought back a few articles of clothing for her. Initially, when they first arrived, the girl had followed Leo into the kitchen to watch him finish up with making breakfast. Yet, the truth of the matter was, Raphael bothered her, and she wanted to avoid him all together. Just having him look at her, much less being in the same room with him, made Beth very uneasy. Therefore, she felt safer being in the kitchen with Leonardo.

At one point during the other turtles' report, however, Splinter called her back out to join him. Now, as she stood next to the rat, albeit nervously, one of his other sons gave the rest of their report.

"Fortunately, no one yet knows that Beth's missing. We found a sewer access in the alley behind her complex, so it was easy to slip back inside her apartment," Don explained to Splinter. He looked over at Beth and smiled, saying, "We cleaned up the blood, too, from when you fell on Leo's sword, just in case someone does get suspicious and has the superintendent check on things." Shrugging, he added, "I figured you wouldn't want that kind of attention anyway."

Beth nodded quietly, trying not to look at Raph, as she said, "No, I wouldn't. Fortunately, no one bothers with me, except for the woman in Four-A, and she only watches for me when I leave my apartment."

"Well, how often do you leave?" Mike asked in concern, "I mean, if it's a daily thing and all, she might get suspicious if you're not sticking to your routine."

"I manage about twice a week, if that much," Beth replied softly, and then she shrugged, "Although, lately I've been staying inside a lot."

"Well, there's somethin' in our favah," Raph deadpanned and then he added, "Yer othah neighbors had their winda shades down, othahwise, we would'a had to wait until nightfall to get yer things."

The moment Raph looked her way, however, Beth averted her eyes and refused to acknowledge his comment. In response, Raphael harrumphed and shook his head in mild irritation. He angrily folded his arms across his plastron in defiance of what he interpreted as disrespect, and scowled with a furrowed brow and narrowed eyes. He was about to say something to her, but, as if sensing or at least knowing what was to come, one stern look from Splinter quelled any of Raph's intentions.

Clearing his throat, Splinter then encouraged, "Well done, my sons. Nevertheless, I am sure that whatever clothing you did bring back, Beth will appreciate it."

As it was, whoever had the job of going through her dresser drawers and closet, they at least were sensitive enough to bag the items collected. For Beth, it would have been horrifically embarrassing for any of them to hand her a fist full of her underwear or one of her bras. As it was, Donatello was the one to deliver Beth her clothes. With the various items inconspicuously concealed within the plastic grocery bag, the girl eagerly received it from him as he handed it to her. "I hope I thought of everything," he remarked to her, almost apologetically.

Beth gratefully took the proffered bag and smiled sheepishly, "Thank you. At this point, anything will do."

Eyeing the girl and realizing that she seemed to be wearing just the green bathrobe, if only because of her exposed, bare legs, Raph smirked maliciously, his voice low and almost seductive, "Then, maybe we shud'a grabbed that red negligee' instead of th'jeans and sweatshirt, Don!"

Beth's eyes suddenly widened in shock, and then she glared angrily over at her antagonist. In one moment, she was no longer the shy, reticent girl. Hastily and indignantly, Beth replied, her voice sharp and piercing, "I don't own any such thing!"

"Rats," Raph deadpanned as he snapped his fingers and smiled, "an' I was so certain it was yer apartment we were in, too." He then commented sourly, "At least ya didn't dis me this time!" Raphael then abruptly walked off towards the living area, chuckling under his breath as he left a red-faced girl in his wake. He collapsed onto the sofa and slouched in against its backrest. As he grabbed up the T.V. remote, he smirked once again at the girl, and then focused on the television screen.

Beth stared after him, completely shocked and wishing that Leo had heard the comment, "That big galoot certainly needs a bop in the nose!" she grumped to herself. However, the very thought of the two brothers going at it again still would have been a bad idea all the way around. Anyone fighting, even if it meant putting a particular mutant turtle in his place, seemed horribly barbaric.

Splinter sighed and shook his head, remarking to Beth, "I must apologize for Raphael's comment, child. As hard as I have tried to influence him, his humor is sometimes crude."

"Sometimes?" Mike exclaimed, "I'd say, most times, Sensei," and then he announced as he changed the topic, "Well, I don't know about the rest of ya, but I'm starvin'!"

"We will wait until our guest takes full advantage of the clothes that Donatello brought back for her." Splinter announced.

Moaning, Mike replied, "But, Sensei, but we've been all through New York's sewers without even a snack! I'm STARVED!"

"We will wait, Michelangelo!" the rat insisted, his tail lashing once as it firmly slapped the ground next to him.

"Nuts," the orange-banded turtle grouched and then pouted. Grumbling under his breath about how 'a growing turtle need sustenance' and 'thin enough to blow away', he nearly stomped over to the couch. Flopping down next to Raphael, he sighed deeply as his brother switched on the television.

"And," Splinter said as he looked at Beth again with a sad expression, "it seems that I must also apologize for Michelangelo's rude impatience, as well."

"I'm not that offended – ah – Mr. - hmm…how exactly should I address you?" Beth asked, realizing she did not have a clue what to call her host.

"For now, child," the rat replied, smiling, "you may address me as Master Splinter."

"Um…okay, ah, Master Splinter." Beth then pointed back towards the bathroom, "I'll - only be a minute." She then quickly retreated towards the sub-car in question, soon disappearing inside. After a few minutes, she reappeared again, this time without her robe and dressed in a pair of her jeans and a yellow sweatshirt. Don actually had thought of everything, right down to her bra, underwear, socks, and shoes. At first, Beth was mildly embarrassed when she had emptied the grocery bag and saw how thorough he had been, yet she was also thankful. It was obvious that the mutant turtles had some knowledge of humans and their ways. She really couldn't fault him, then, for thinking of her needs. He had even brought back her hairbrush, her other hair products, and her deodorant, which actually made her smile. Yes, indeed, Beth was sure that she had made a rather 'strong' impression on her hosts.

Not long after exiting the bathroom, she joined the others as they gathered around the kitchen table for breakfast. They had pulled a chair in from the living room in order for her to join them, placing her between Leonardo and Donatello. Raphael sat on Don's opposite side from her, which, as far as Beth was concerned, was still too close for comfort. Yet, after Leo placed the steaming bowl of scrambled eggs and a small tower of toasted bread in the center of the table, her attention was gratefully distracted. Soon, each person took turns scooping helpings of eggs onto their plates, while three of the four turtles chattered on about how their patrol duty went.

After all had taken their share, however, it did not take long for one voice to declare suddenly and with pure disappointment edging his words, "Well, one thing hasn't changed,"

"What's that, Mikey?" Don asked as he took a bite of half-burnt scrambled eggs. He looked over at his brother as he chewed his food, a thoughtful expression on his face.

"Leo – still - can't - cook." Michelangelo griped, picking up his fork. He then started working through his mound of near-crispy breakfast in hopes of finding at least one part of it that wasn't fried.

Leo looked askance at Mike, apparently insulted and seemingly ready to defend himself. Nevertheless, Splinter laid a gentle hand on his son's arm, saying, "It is all right, Leonardo, coming from Michelangelo, this is normal."

Pursing his lips in frustrated silence, Leo went back to his own meal. Digging his fork into his pile of eggs, he did so with a little more gusto than before, as he eyed Mike questioningly. Then, seemingly in defeat, Leonardo sighed.

He definitely felt insulted.

Watching Leonardo's reaction, Raph just laughed and shook his head. He then shoveled portions of his own serving into his gaping maw. As he chewed, he remarked, spraying out bits of egg as he did, "Well, Mike, at least it's food. Better than be'n hungry." Raphael ate without hesitation, seemingly more ravenous than his out-spoken little brother. It was either that or he decided that downing his meal quickly would be less torturous for him.

"True," Mike agreed, shrugging in resignation, and then he glanced over at his father, "But – ah, Sensei?"

"Yes, my son?" the rat responded as he wiped his snout with his napkin, setting his hands in his lap as he met Michelangelo's gaze.

"No disrespect, but – next time we're out patrolling…" Mike whined, "Please keep Leo out of the kitchen and just wait until we get back, 'kay? I mean, how hard can eggs be to cook, right? They're easy enough to fix up."

Splinter sighed, commenting, "It was either him or me, my son. I figured that maybe Leonardo might have some hidden talent only his amnesia state would reveal." He looked at his own pile of eggs and then sighed again, "But, I guess - I was mistaken." As he caught the subtle frown on Leo's face, the rat tried not to make eye contact with him. Just the same, Splinter finally could not help but to look over and, smiling wryly, remark, "Do not despair, Leonardo; not everyone can find success in the kitchen."

Mike snorted derisively, "You can say that again, Sensei!" Michelangelo looked over at Beth and grinned proudly, as he jerked thumb in his direction, "I'm the resident cook, by the way." Then, pointing to his breakfast, he added, "Believe me, my eggs are way better than this!"

Beth smiled back at him, but said nothing in reply. As she partook of the meal, she sat silently, the soft scraping of her fork against her plate the only sound she made. When Leo had served up the food, she had found herself to be just as hungry, if not more so, than the others, since her last meal had been breakfast from the day before. Considering she had been in the turtle's lair since late the previous evening, the firm, dry eggs were a welcomed relief for her empty stomach. Although she disliked Raphael very much and was quite offended by his earlier remark, she had to agree with him that the overcooked eggs were 'better than be'n hungry'.

Just the same, while she ate, she couldn't help but watch Raph out of the corner of her eye. Where he sat next to Don, his position made it easy for her to do so and not be too obvious about it. At any rate, even though she was still quite intimidated with this seemingly more volatile member of the turtle clan, his sudden support of Leonardo surprised her. Considering how he had earlier behaved towards his brother, it was easy for Beth to assume that they did not get along very well, even before Leo's amnesia. As it was, the girl tried not to be conspicuous about looking at him. Unfortunately, despite her best attempts, Raphael easily noticed her observations.

"Why don'cha just take a pitcha, lady; it'll last longa," he snapped as he looked over at her, just before taking yet another bite of his scrambled eggs.

Beth cringed in embarrassment. She tried to melt into the back of her chair, ducking her head down so to avoid looking at him. Had she been able to, she would have crawled under the table in pure mortification. As it was, it was all she could to just sit there and blush.

Upon noticing her reaction to Raphael's caustic words, Leo snapped his head around to glare threateningly at him. His eyes blazed in irritation, yet in response the only thing that Raph did was to smirk and lightly chuckle. Before Leo or Raph could say anything or respond in any way, however, Splinter casually reached over and, as he had done before, laid a gentle but firm paw on his oldest son's shoulder. This caused Leonardo to turn and look at him, catching his father's gaze. The rat shook his head, then, and, ever so slightly, communicated in that way for Leo to 'stand down.

While Splinter calmed Leo, Raphael looked over at Beth and noticed her reddening face. Somewhat amused by it, he said derisively, "Good god, lady, ya think ya cun just look me like that an' not have me know yer look'n?" Chuckling as he glanced back down at his food and scooped up another fork-full, he remarked almost under his breath, "As if that was ev'n poss'ble." Continuing to eat and with his expression serious and steely, he said to her in a low, but warning voice as he looked back up at her, "Jus so's you know, I hate be'n stared at, 'kay?"

Satisfied that he had made his point perfectly clear, Raph went back to eating the rest of his eggs in silence and without challenge. He knew and could sense Leonardo's escalating ire, but he also knew that his father was monitoring his memory-afflicted sibling. For now, anyway, Raph was certain that he would escape another brawl with his older brother.

When Raphael had eaten the last bite of egg from his plate, he popped one whole slice of toast into his large mouth and chewed vigorously. When he was done, he then stood up, took the plate over to the sink, and rinsed it off. Leaving the plate in the sink, he turned back around to leave the kitchen and, as he walked by Leonardo, Raphael grinned and slapped his brother firmly on the back of his shell.

Remarking as he looked down at him, Raph said, "Good eggs, Bro…a bit too done, maybe, but my stomach ain't complain'n." He could still sense Leo's affront and anger, but what he noticed most was Beth's reaction. She stiffened a little, as if fearful, which only made him smirk more. Raphael considered making a comment to her, thought better of it, and then headed out into the greater part of the lair, boisterously declaring as he walked towards his room, "I'm catch'n some z's. Anyone call fer me, take a numbah." He then quickly disappeared into his sub-car bedroom, soon yanking the door closed behind him. Not long after, the audible creak of bedsprings sounded out and then, after that, silence.

Leo sighed, still sitting at the table, as he stared at his brother's bedroom door. He shook his head as he muttered under his breath, "Amnesia or not, I don't think I'll ever understand him."

Mike chuckled while Don grinned in understanding, yet neither of them offered a comment as they went back to their own meal. Except for the occasional sound of metal utensils scraping against ceramic plates, the remaining family members and their guest finished up with breakfast in relative peace.

A while later, and as Leo helped to clear the table, he paused beside his master. In obvious frustration, he whispered to him as he huffed a bit, "Father, why did you allow Raph to speak that way to Beth?" The turtle watched as the girl walked out of the kitchen and into the living area, oblivious to Leo's query. She went over to the couch to sit down, soon picking up the television remote.

As Splinter rose up out of his chair, he took his cane in-hand. Then as he looked over at his son, he replied, "If I were to challenge each and every comment that Raphael makes, whether to Miss Beth or to any of you," the rat's whiskers twitched just a little in mild irritation, "then he would be forced to act unlike himself."

"And that's bad, because?" Leo asked honestly, not at all pleased with his brother's behavior towards his friend – or, for that matter, the way his father had handled the situation. As he waited for his father's reply, Leonardo watched as Beth inspected the remote control, as if attempting to figure out how to work it. As he did, he sighed. He was glad that Raphael's comment had not caused the girl to have yet another episode. It had been his greatest concern as he watched her react to his brother's rude words. However, he considered Raph quite lucky for the moment. Had Beth succumbed to yet another attack, Leo was certain he would have ended up in his second fight that day with Raphael.

"Leonardo, Beth will need to understand, just as you will, that life is what it is. You can either 'roll with the punches', as the saying goes, or get knocked out." He shook his head, "To ask Raphael to be other than himself would be like asking a cat to bark like a dog. I have known your brother for twenty-two years, since before he mutated. As hard as I have tried to curb his tongue and his attitude, I had to realize that Raphael is as unique as any of you are. At some point, your friend is going to have to accept your brother for who he is."

"But, he was rude to her!" Leo complained in indignation, his voice rising just a little.

"He's always rude, Bro! Doesn't matter who it is, either." Mike replied glumly as he gathered up what remained of the breakfast plates. "One thing you're gonna have to understand," he remarked, looking at his blue-banded brother, "whether you remember or not, you're gonna have to accept that Raph does what he does because – well – because he's Raph." Mike then quickly rattled off his last comment, "He's an attitude in a half-shell, Bro!" He sighed deeply and then took up the empty serving bowl and dirty plates, carrying them back towards the sink.

As Mike deposited them noisily into the hot sudsy water, Don added his thoughts as he came up alongside of Leonardo, his hand gentle upon his brother's carapace, "You and Raph have always had a problem getting along – until you realized a few years ago that you fought only because you were always trying to change him. Once you realized that you couldn't change him and just let Raph be who he was, the two of you were able to get along better."

"So," Leo mused, "the bad feelings I'm having about him now, aren't new?" He turned a wry grin towards his purple-banded brother.

As his hands sank deep into the sink of hot, sudsy water, Mike turned towards Leo and chuckled as he said, "As new as the sun is to the moon, Bro. Your conflicts with Raph are almost legendary!"

As Donatello joined Michelangelo to help wash up the dirty dishes, Splinter and Leonardo joined Beth in the living room. Splinter sat down in the rocker, while Leo sat himself on the couch beside his friend, who had unfolded her legs and was now sitting formally on the sofa. He smiled at Beth and, as he did, Splinter noticed the expression on his son's face. Twitching his whiskers, the rat assessed the couple before him; his eyes alert as his ears swiveled suspiciously towards the two on the couch.

Quietly, Beth whispered to Leonardo, "I think the eggs were just fine, Leo. At least they weren't runny. I just hate runny eggs." She gave him a warm, yet shy smile, but quickly looked away when he returned the expression.

"Thanks!" Leo chirped, but then he sobered a little, "Even though Mike's comment offended me, I have to agree that they were a bit too done." Then, as his face became more somber, he looked down at his hands resting in his lap. Glancing back up at Beth again with saddening eyes, Leo said quietly, "He – I mean, Raphael, just grates on my nerves, is all. I wish he would be nicer to you." Shrugging, Leo then gave the girl a lopsided grin.

She sighed and then simply agreed, "Me, too."

Splinter cleared his throat, gently interrupted their conversation, and suddenly asked, "My child, what do you think of my son, Raphael?"

Beth looked up towards Splinter, her eyes slightly wide in surprise with his abrupt question, "I – I don't know what you mean?"

"Exactly what I asked. If you were to describe my son, how would you do so?"

Beth's eyebrows quirked a little in amusement and then she shrugged as she looked down at her lap, replying softly, "I – I don't think I'm qualified to describe him. I – really don't know that much about him…" She then looked up at Splinter with curious eyes, as if realizing something for the very first time, "Or you, for that matter…" and then she looked over at Leo sitting next to her, "or even you or your brothers."

"Excellent answer, my child." Splinter commented, "Considering Leonardo's amnesia, you know as much about Raphael as he does." The rat looked lovingly, yet sternly at his son, forcing Leo to bow his head in submission. Splinter then looked back at the girl, "Yet, I am glad, Miss Beth, that you chose to answer the way that you did."

Confused, Beth asked, "You are? Why?"

"Well," Splinter leaned back in his chair, folding his hands in his lap as he smiled, "you will be easier to teach if you have not yet formed an opinion about someone as – hmm, how should I say this?" Splinter raised his snout and looked away, as if thinking deeply, and then turned back to gaze at the girl on the couch, "Ah yes, as overwhelming as Raphael can be. Otherwise, the task of teaching you to control your attacks will be harder."

"What have my attacks to do with my opinion of Raphael?" Beth asked curiously. She felt Leo shift on the seat next to her, as if adjusting his position in order to get more comfortable and to face his father better. She felt him take up her hand in his and, though her first reaction was to resist, she allowed the touch. She soon relaxed within that small embrace, relishing his casual affection, even though she still questioned the 'rightness' of it.

Chuckling, Splinter replied, "My more aggressive son is a conundrum of emotions and he can quite easily incite a reaction with very little effort on his part. Yet, he is more than the sum total of his recent behavior towards you. For you to form an opinion regarding him, when you have not truly become acquainted with all of who Raphael is, would be premature and unwise. In order for you to gain control of your disorder, it will require you to trust me with something that may be as foreign to you as Raphael's personality. By not forming an opinion about him, tells me that you are open to what I am about to teach you."

Curiously, Beth asked, "What exactly are you going to teach me?" She felt Leo's hand give her own a gentle squeeze, as if trying to bolster her confidence and resolve. Beth smiled a little, her own feelings for him causing her to wonder a great deal.

Splinter replied, "I am going to show you how to control your mind through meditation."

A short brief silence followed, as Beth ran that thought through her head. Then, licking her lips and taking a bit of a deep breath, the girl asked, "Um, no disrespect, but – ah - how can that help?" Even though Leo had said as much to her, where she had never meditated before the very idea seemed like a deep mystery to her.

"It can help you focus yourself. But, before one can begin meditation," Splinter explained, "one has to do a breathing exercise first, in order to calm the heart and mind. I will begin with that, so that you will learn how to calm your body. If the body is in turmoil, it is very difficult to calm the anxious mind." He smiled, then, "You have already allowed your mind to control you for far too long, my child. Do you not agree?"

Sheepishly, Beth nodded, lowering her gaze down to her lap once again. The near catatonic episode in the bathroom seemed to be the catalyst for her and the incentive for Beth to come to terms with her problem. She then felt another gentle squeeze of her hand from Leo. Looking over at him, she found him smiling at her, the warmth in his face and eyes belying his cold-blooded species.

"My father has already shown me how to do this and, I have to say, it does do what he says it will. I'm certain that he can help you, Beth," Leo said encouragingly.

In a small, quiet voice, she replied and then swallowed, "I – I hope so."

Splinter repeated his question, "Miss Beth, do you not agree that you have suffered long enough from your disorder?"

Beth looked up at the rat and, although she felt a little anxious about it, she bowed her head and then replied softly, "Yes, I believe I have."

Splinter nodded his head once towards her and smiled as he remarked, "Then, let me now begin to teach you how to take back control!"

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