Disclaimer – Poor as a church mouse, and just as hungry to write more, I own only the keyboard, the PC, my chair, home, and whatever dust-bunnies abound. The TMNT's belong to others. Thanks go to Kellie Fay, BubblyShell22, Mewfew, Mikaela's Spade, Katana-Babe, Reluctant Dragon, Leo Oneal, Ramica, Lunar-Ninja, and Jessiey Landroz, for reviewingHugs, guys for pushing me with your great comments to write more. :0) I have to say that I did add some things to chapter 20 that made things more consistent. Such as, Beth cooking rather than Leo cooking. I mean, the guy failed miserably with breakfast, why would he cook lunner (lunch/dinner). When one is away from a story for two long, its easy to forget little things like that.

Also, Raph wouldn't just toss Elvis, not after all he went through emotionally at April's. There were other changes, too, but they were small. Between Leo Oneal and Reluctant Dragon beta reading it AFTER I uploaded it, I think it's a tad tighter. Oh, and the first part of 20 is longer, too, more on Casey and when he disappeared.

Anyway, thanks for your readership and for any reviews you feel led to pass my way. Be blessed.

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Chapter 21 – Feelings

Beth huddled into Leo, startled to immobility from Raph's explosive outburst. The red-banded turtle's bellowing shook the very foundation of what control she had learned earlier from Splinter.

In response, Leo held on to her protectively, his arms firm around her, "It's okay, Beth, you must know by now that Raphael has a temper." However, he could not help but scowl at the closed door of his brother's bedroom, as he worked his jaw muscles in irritation.

"I – I don't understand, why did he yell like that?" Beth wondered aloud, her voice small and whispery, as she trembled in Leo's arms.

Leo knew why, and he bristled. Still, his attention was more for Beth, and his sensei, who now stood disapprovingly a few feet away. Leonardo realized that he had deliberately disobeyed his father. Yet, he recognized, all too well, that what he felt for Beth was real. Now, after kissing her, Leo also concluded that he did not regret it.

Sensing his oldest son's rising rebellion, Splinter sighed, shook his head as he watched the two in the kitchen, and then asked, "Leonardo, I would like to see you please – alone, and in my quarters!" Next, he turned to Donatello, "Make sure the oven is not ruined, and keep the fire from spreading to the rest of the kitchen." Then to Michelangelo, "Please fix some tea for Miss Beth…." The rat suddenly hesitated as he gave one frustrated glance at the smoke-belching stove. He then sighed as he said, "Or, maybe offer her a cold drink from the refrigerator, instead."

As Don hurried over to the oven to see to the burning mass inside, Mike turned to his father and remarked, "Ah, Sensei, all we have in the frig is beer."

Closing his eyes in frustration, Splinter nodded and changed his order, "Then ice water will have to do, my son, but please get Miss Beth away from the kitchen and into the living room."

"Alrighty," Mike replied, hurrying over to the kitchen in Don's wake, to grab a glass from one of the cupboards. He noticed the food collected along the counter and the table as he went over the refrigerator. He then called out to his father as he fished some ice cubes from the freezer, "Maybe we should to eat in the living room, Sensei? Otherwise, this food's gonna get ruined with all th'smoke."

Seeing an opportunity to get the girl's mind off Raphael's rude behavior, Splinter concurred, "That would be good, Michelangelo; see if Miss Beth would like to help you."

Mike went to the girl, mindful of her obviously fearful expression, and fearful himself that she would – once again – succumb to another 'episode'. Yet, the moment she looked at him, the orange-banded turtle noticed her lucid, determined expression. At least, whatever she had gleaned from his master's tutoring, it had been enough to help her retain control of her mind. Smiling, Michelangelo offered his hand to her, "Would ya mind helping me move this party into the living room, Beth?" he asked, giving her a cheerful chuckle. He almost breathed a sigh of relief when she nodded compliance, thankful that she seemed to be improving somewhat.

Across the room, the aged ninja master watched as Leo released the girl into Mike's custody. The orange-banded turtle then encouraged her to take up a plate or two and transfer them into the living area. As Leo left them and began making his way obediently over to his father, Splinter turned heel and retreated once again into his room.

The incense still burned from when Mike and Don had been in there. Now, thin, fragrant clouds of smoke ghosted along the ceiling of Splinter's room in varying shades of gray. As the rat, and then his son, stepped into the compartment, the ninja master went to his bed and eased onto the mattress. He quickly worked himself into his familiar lotus position to face his advancing son.

Although his impaired memory limited his knowledge of familial customs of his clan, Leo had already learned that, when his father called for an audience, the one called was to sit on the floor and in a similar fashion as the rat. As he eased himself down on the tatami mat, crossing his legs in the same way his father had done, Leonardo then looked up at Splinter. He had half-expected his father to give him a stern expression, that in and of itself rebuking his behavior from moments before.

However, and he could not explain why it did, what he saw stilled his heart.

Taking slow even breaths, the rat had his eyes closed and he seemed to be meditating. Consequently, Leonardo sat there, waiting and wondering what kind of 'punishment' his father was thinking of that would warrant a need to reflect. That, alone, worried him for some reason. Still, as Leo thought about his misdeed, what punishment could change how he felt? As far as Leo was concerned, it was a 'done deal'. There wasn't much that anyone could do about it. Not even Raphael. Leonard was convinced that he loved Beth and he was more certain than before that she felt the same way about him. Soon, and as his mind wandered a bit, a small pleased and contented smile formed along his face, easing away some of the anxiety that he had been feeling a moment before.

Then, just as he was becoming comfortable with where his thoughts were taking him, he heard his father clear his throat Leo snapped his eyes and his attention back to Splinter and realized that his mind had wandered – as had his gaze. The rat now looked intently into his son's face, searching for something that would help him utter his first words. Finally, and after a long painful moment of having his master stare at him, Leonardo heard his father say, "I can safely assume that Miss Beth was in compliance with your kiss?"

At first, Leonardo stared back, more in surprise where he was unable to comprehend or believe what his father was asking. He half-expected a verbal rebuke, a lecture about the differences between his species and Beth's, about not paying attention to the now-burnt hamburger buns that could have engulfed the entire kitchen in flames.

Instead, the rat seemed interested in finding out if Beth was a willing participant in the affectionate gesture.

Leonardo answered very simply, "Yes, Master."

Another long moment passed between him and his son, the rat closing his eyes once again as if to resume his meditation. Then, slowly, he looked once more upon Leo and sighed, "I cannot control what you feel, my son, or how Beth responds to you. I can, however, control what goes on in this lair and what will not go on, with anything other than a kiss, that is. You understand, do you not?"

Gulping, the turtle in blue replied sheepishly, blushing ever so slightly, "I…would never take advantage of her, Master; she's already been through too much as it is."

"Even so, there are standards that I have taught to you, whether you remember them or not, or whether Beth has been traumatized or not. Your honor involves more than yourself, it also involves those around you and, most importantly, the purity of anyone that you find yourself in love with," Splinter commented, "So, trauma aside, you will conduct yourself in a respectable manner and – show the same consideration for your 'friend'."

Leo seemed speechless. It seemed as if his father had accepted the kiss rather well, although reluctantly at best. Nevertheless, he watched once more as his father slipped again into another short-term meditation. Deciding that maybe, by example, it was a good thing to do, the turtle found himself meditating as well, closing his eyes and forcing his breathing to slow a little. Yet, before he could get any deeper than just the thought of doing it, Splinter's voice broke through his calming consciousness, "I will deal with Raphael on this matter, however. I forbid you to approach him. Do you understand, Leonardo?"

Leo opened his eyes and saw that his father now looked upon him, a more serious and stricter expression on the rat's face than before. "Yes, father, I – understand." Leo reluctantly complied.

Splinter could sense the rising irritation in his son at the very mention of Raphael's name, but he realized that Leonardo was too memory-challenged in ninjitsu to confront his angry brother. It was obvious to the master that two hearts seemed affected because of Beth's presence. Given the news that Mike and Don had brought back with them concerning Raph's behavior in April's apartment, it was quite possible that Splinter's second oldest was ready to move on. Beth would be the obvious choice for him, if only because of her proximity in the lair. Yet, where she had too many issues to overcome, Raphael needed a stronger-willed mate than Beth could provide him. He needed someone that could be opposite to him, someone longsuffering, with as much patience and understanding as Raphael had in temper. Beth appeared too much like a fragile flower, and would wilt terribly from the acerbic outbursts that Raphael seemed fond of delivering. Even though the ninja master preferred that his sons forego all relationships, he also knew that nature would eventually win out. He only hoped that whoever it was that his sons fell in love with, that they would not end up betraying the clan

As the two spent a few more minutes in relative silence, a bit of light conversation between Mike and Beth transpired in the other room, as they transferred the food from the kitchen to the living area. A comment from Don filtered into Splinter's compartment, about the oven getting a 'good dose of scorching', but nothing so loud that interrupted the pair's meditating peace.

Later and as the family was preparing to sit down around the coffee table to eat dinner, Raphael had refused to come out of his room. Instead, he said he would eat later, so long as Leo hadn't burned the refrigerator, too, thereby making it difficult to store leftovers. Mikey corrected him, saying that Leo hadn't been the one cooking, which earned a round of disapproving and chastised grunts and shoves from his other two brothers. After all, Beth was the one who had prepared the meal. It was obvious to everyone that Raph's comment, and then Mike's ill-timed rebuttal, had embarrassed the girl quite a bit.

Nevertheless, despite Splinter's attempts to get his son to eat with them, the rat eventually had to abandon his efforts. Consequently, the rest of the lair's residents partook of the hamburgers, sans buns, and other entrees without him.

Once they finished with the meal, and after a round of watching a few programs on the television, Beth finally asked the all-important question, "Where am I to sleep tonight?" It was obvious that the rat had only temporarily given her the use of his room, so she felt it important to give him the opportunity to assign her different quarters.

Mike and Don looked over at Leo, who blushed, but then the familiar sound of the walking stick rang through the lair as Splinter struck the side of the coffee table. Once he had everyone's attention, he said, "She will stay in Leonardo's room," he stated, and then looked at Leonardo, ignoring the sudden snigger from Mike, "And you, my son, will bunk with Michelangelo." The rat smiled inwardly when he heard his orange-banded son grown, continuing to say, "This sleeping arrangement will remain until I believe Beth's injuries are healed well enough to avoid infection. Then," Splinter looked to Leo, "she can return to her own apartment." He then glanced over at Donatello, "You will make sure that Beth is healing, Donatello."

Don bowed his head in compliance, "Yes, Master Splinter," but then he glanced towards Beth and remarked, "Only if Beth allows me to, though."

The rat looked over at the girl, who sat next to Leo, and who had an obvious blush to her face. He offered, "Whatever you will allow, child, my son will comply with."

Beth suddenly realized that in her brief stay in the lair and with all the times Don had checked on her, he did so discretely and as quickly as he could. In every sense of the word, he behaved in the way any professional doctor would have. In short, she could not help but be impressed with his manners and capabilities. Finally, she looked over at him and said, "I…trust you, Don," which resulted in a faint, pleased smile from both the turtle as well as from the others.

Splinter nodded her way, "You are making great strides, Miss Beth, in trust. As opportunities increase, I know that your trust will grow."

"I can only hope, Master Splinter," the girl said softly, although a bit insecurely. The rat smiled at her warmly, causing the girl to smile in return.

Leonardo, however, allowed that thought to work once more in his mind. Trust was important, but he also knew where that trust would lead her. Again, he wondered how much longer Beth would be staying with them. From what his father had stated and implied, the sooner she returned to her world, the better it would be for her. Falling in love with Beth had complicated things a great deal.

Nevertheless, as the time came for Don to check on Beth's wounds, and in doing so, he checked on Leo's as well, an undercurrent of fearful anxiety began to settle in the blue-masked turtle's stomach. It was becoming an all too familiar, if not annoying, feeling, and for reasons that he could not explain, Leonardo began to dislike it very, very much.

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