It was early in the morning when Leonardo Homato woke up, he looked in on his brothers, Michelangelo was fast asleep in his bed snoring softly. Next he checked in on Donatello, he found his most intelligent brother asleep at his desk.

Walking into his brother's room he shook him lightly.

"Donnie. Hey Don."

Donnie looked up at his brother threw half closed eyes and said sleepily.

"Time for practice already?"

Leo smiled and told him.

"No, it's Saturday we don't have practice on Saturdays, you fell asleep at your desk again, why don't you go to bed."

Leo helped his younger brother up and into his bed, then turned out the desk lamp and left the room. He saw that Raph had his door shut again, lately it was not wise for any one to open Raph's door early in the morning. Not since he and Mona Lisa had gotten so serious in their relationship. He still remembers the split lip Mikey got from opening the door one morning a while back. So he left it well enough alone.

Splinter was off on a retreat again enjoying nature, so he wandered into the kitchen and looked around for something to eat.

Opening a cupboard near the sink he found a box of Pancake mix, he knew if Mikey caught him in here he would get his shell handed to him. He read the back of the box and it says to just add water.

How hard could that be?

He began to make some breakfast seeing as the others, minus Donatello would be up soon.

Getting out a mixing bowl he began to make breakfast, he followed the directions to a T and so far it was turning out alright.

But once he had the pan heated up he didn't see the part of the instructions where he needed to put oil in the pan to prevent sticking...

Putting some batter on the pan he waited the recommended time before attempting to flip it over. After nearly a minute he smelled something awful so he tried flip it early and found the bottom to be way too brown.

Not to give up on a challenge he tried again, only this time it burned completely and smoke started to come from the pan. He pulled it off the burner and let it cool down, then scraped off the burned pancake.

He didn't want to give up so he tried again, still not getting the hint to put oil in the pan. This time he sat at the table and read a book while he waited. This time the smoke alarm went off.

Michelangelo was ripped from his sleep to the sound of the kitchen smoke alarm going off, he ran to the kitchen to find Leonardo waving a towel at the smoke alarm trying to silence it.

"Leonardo! What are you doing?"

Leo jumped at the sound of an angry voice in the door way to find his youngest brother standing there.

Mikey helped Leo get the alarm shut off and he said to his oldest brother.

"What have I told you about this kitchen?"

Leo looked down in shame and said.

"Not to use the stove unless your in here or I am making tea..."

Mikey loved it when he was the one that got the chance to yell at his oldest brother. Before he could scold his brother any more Raphael, Mona Lisa and Donatello came into the kitchen as well.

Raph looked like he was ready to rip some one a new head but Mona Lisa put a hand on his arm to calm him as she said.

"What happened in here?"

Leo looked embarrassed and Mikey told them.

"Leo was trying to cook again."

Raph got in his older brothers face and told him.

"Leo! What the hell were you thinking! If you were hungry then you should have just made cereal! Or woken Mikey up! Splinter taught him how to cook for a reason! And that was so that there would be an extra helper! Guess what? He taught me and Donnie too, but Mikey is better."

Leo looked back up at his family and said.

"Sorry guys, I was just trying to make every one breakfast..."

Donnie looked over at the burned remains of the pancakes.

"I think I would take my chances with my own cooking before I eat that stuff."

Mikey started going about cleaning up the mess as the badgering of Leonardo ended.

After cleaning up Mikey mixed a fresh batch of pancake batter, he looked over at Leo who was watching him closely and said softly.

"If you wanna learn how to do this right, then come here."

Leo hesitantly got up from his seat and stood beside his little brother.

"Where you went wrong was you didnt put any oil in the pan."

After putting some oil in the pan and letting it get good and hot he put the batter in. Leo always did better at doing things hands on so Mikey reluctantly handed over the spatula and said.

"OK, now when the center starts to bubble flip it over."

After Leo saw the batter start bubbling he flipped it over and saw it was golden brown. Mikey smiled and told his brother.

"Perfect, now leave it on that side but mash it down lightly so it will cook in the center better."

After nearly two minutes Mikey told him.

"OK, you can take it off now."

Leo followed his brother's directions and had a perfect pancake.

Mikey patting his brother on the back and said.

"I may be able to make a chef out of you yet!"

Leo gave him a sideways look and said to him.

"Uh... I don't think so... I will never be as good as you are."

Mikey winked at him and said.

"Just remember, every one was a beginner at some point in time. I was too, Master Splinter was so patient with me no matter how many times I burned something or dropped it on the floor.

If you ever want to cook, just wake me up and we can cook together."

It took several months but Leonardo eventually was able to learn how to make simple things first, like Ramen Noodles and Spaghetti. But with a lot of help and a lot of encouragement Michelangelo taught his big brother how to make full on meals. Now they had one more helper in the kitchen.