Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness- Book 1: Life

Chapter 1: Reunions

Life-

1. the condition that distinguishes organisms from inorganic objects and dead organisms, being manifested by growth through metabolism, reproduction, and the power of adaptation to environment through changes originating internally.

2.a characteristic state or mode of existence. 3. a source of strength, animation, or vitality.

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It had been four years since Mutants had become known to the people of the Earth. Civil unrest exploded as shaky citizenship was granted to the Mutants. Riots erupted in the streets, lynching, beatings, as well as kidnappings became common. Supporters for the Mutant cause were murdered in the streets, in their homes, and their work places. Mutant families were split apart as they were subjugated to attempts to place them in safe areas. Among those that were separated was the Hamato family…but now after six years of civil unrest families were finally able to be reunited as Mutants gained full rights as citizens…

Leonardo was the first to return home.

April hastily opened the door when she heard the knock and fought sobs as she caught sight of a tall green figure she hadn't seen in six years.

She looked him up and down, smiling slightly as she recognized him.

"Leo," she choked out.

He smiled weakly before nodding.

"Hey," he managed softly.

April froze as she saw him more clearly after motioning him inside.

Don had managed to make a name for himself in the engineering market, Raph had become a voluntary fireman, Mikey had helped out at a local café in the town where he had been moved to, and Splinter had been staying with Don, but Leo…he'd vanished off the face of the planet.

He was skinny, ragged, tired, he looked ill and he seemed to be struggling to stay upright. He was wearing a black jacket, slacks, and a grey over shirt. They looked just as tattered as he did.

"What happened to you?" April whispered softly, gently cupping his cheek as he flinched slightly.

"It's a long story…I…is there a way you could help me get settled into an apartment?" he whispered softly, "I…have some money and I got a job today but…I…I don't know where to start on finding a place."

"You can stay here-"April started.

"No, I…please April…I can't face my family knowing I…I have nothing…" Leo whispered.

His golden-brown gaze flickered down to meet her green, if only for a moment.

April frowned slightly.

"Leo…I took you all in when you were still living in the sewers…you can stay here tonight. Get some rest, eat a good dinner, tomorrow I'll help look for something ok?" she insisted.

"April I-" he started.

"Enough with your pride Hamato Leonardo, you're staying tonight got it?" she ordered, lightly poking his nose in a teasing gesture.

The corners of his mouth quirked upward in a hint of a smile.

"Thank-you," he mumbled, but even so he seemed reluctant to oblige.

After dinner that night he curled up on the couch and slept soundly.

Like he hadn't slept in days.

Casey got home late, paused at the sight of the ragged looking turtle on the couch.

"Is that?" he managed.

"Leo? Yeah, he's in bad shape Case…" April whispered, "I gave him a pair of your sweatpants and a sweatshirt after I insisted on washing his clothes…he was very against not wearing something…"

"After the last six years of protests and everything I'm not surprised…that was one of the rules that was agreed on.." Casey sighed, "otherwise?"

"He…seems haunted Casey…he's so skinny…and he refused to stay with us...he said he needed to get his own place…I figured they'd all end up living together again…or stay here for a bit at least," April sighed, lightly stroking Leo's forehead as she pulled the blanket up around him better.

Leo twitched, muttering softly.

He suddenly bolted upright, chest heaving, April's hand caught in an iron grip.

April cried out as the bones cracked.

Leo jerked back and scrambled away.

"April I…I…I'm sorry…" he sputtered, struggling to get words out as Casey gathered April's crushed hand and soothed her.

"I'm sorry," it sounded like he was pleading, then the window was thrown open and he was gone before they could speak.

"Leo!" April cried as he vanished.

Casey scrambled to the window and watched the darkness, searching for any sign of the turtle.

"He's gone," Casey sputtered, "April we better get you to a doctor."

"Casey we have to find him!" April protested wincing as her hand twinged painfully.

"We will but we need to get that hand looked at first," Casey ordered as he grabbed her coat.

~O~O~O~

Raphael was the second to return home, with Donatello, Michaelangelo, and Splinter in tow only two weeks later.

Neither April nor Casey had heard from Leo since he vanished into the night two weeks earlier.

Don was standing next to the couch, fumbling with the tattered jacket Leo had left behind.

"He was here," Don mumbled, "he didn't mean to hurt you right?"

Don's brown gaze met her green worriedly.

She shook her head.

"He…he was having a nightmare and I scared him when I went to comfort him. He just reacted," she replied.

They all frowned sadly.

"Oh my son…what have you gone through?" Splinter murmured softly.

It would be another four years before they made contact with him again.

A/N: Totally can't get this story to go away…so since I can't work on my other stories due to this I'll post this and hope it'll let me type the others. Next up the guys' stories.