I don't own TMNT.
Ok, leaving his little brothers at April's while he searched for Stockman was convenient, but, Leo had to admit, not really thought through. He taken the turtle tots to April's. The typical reaction occurred, April gushing over the little tots and said being scared out of their shells.
"Sorry, it didn't really work out April, but they can't remember anything. Not Master Splinter, not Leatherhead, not Casey, none of our past and not you either," Leo said where he was sitting with the red headed woman in her kitchen.
"Well, how did they remember you?" April asked curiously, taking a sip of her caramel and vanilla tea.
Leo brought his cup of green tea away from his mouth and answered, "I'm not sure, they know I'm their brother but that seems to be it. The bonds we held throughout life as brothers are still there, just the memories are gone."
April frowned and reached across the table to lay her hand on Leo's, "I called Leatherhead the other day and he said you were looking awfully run down lately, and I must say, I agree. You've been through a lot. How did this happen anyways? Leatherhead won't tell me a word."
Leo sighed, "I'm not really sure how it happened, that's why I'm trying to track down Stockman, he's the only one that can fix this."
The blue masked turtle sighed at the sound of a thud from the living room.
"I apologize in advance if anything gets broken," Leo said, standing up and bowing his head at April.
The blue clad turtle walked into the living room, finding his two youngest brothers trying to swat at each other and Raphael keeping them apart.
"Stop fighting you two," the young, red masked turtle tot said, "Do you want Aniki to be upset?"
"He stole my fish!" Mikey yelled, pointing an accusing finger at Donatello.
"It's a submarine," Donatello corrected with the air of a pride filled child.
"Fine give me back my sub-mean!"
"See! You can't even say it, stupid!"
Leo sighed at the irony. When growing up he and Raph fought the most, which wasn't very much to begin with, but still Mikey and Donny constantly fighting. What changed all this? Leo walked into the room, his shadow looming over his younger brothers. They all jumped back at the sight of him.
"So what's going on here?" Leo asked calmly, too calmly to the frightened turtle tots.
They all gulped, "Nothing," they all said in unison.
"What's with the broken submarine?" Leo asked, picking up the piece of painted and dented plastic.
"It's mine!" Mikey shouted.
"No it's mine!" Donny yelled.
Leo sighed, "What did I tell you three yesterday when you were fighting over that fire engine?"
"To not pour glue in the toilet?" Don said.
Leo frowned, "Well yes."
"To not stick our heads in those broken pipes near the lair?" Mikey suggested.
"Well ok I did say that too," Leo admitted.
"That we're brothers so it all belongs to all of us?" Raph said with a shy smile.
Leo smiled affectionately down at his younger brother before bending down and scooping him up into his arms, "Very good Raphael, you learning a lot."
"Dōmo arigatō, Aniki," Raph responded, smiling when his older brother and younger brothers just stared at him in shock.
Shaking off the surprise Leo smiled proudly at Raph before bending down and allowing the others to crawl into his arms as well, "Come on little ones, we better get home."
"Leo!" April called as she came out of the kitchen.
The young turtles jumped and tried to press themselves closer to Leo, their eyes showing their fear as April walked into the room. Leo sighed, why couldn't they remember April, although, he supposed it shouldn't be all that surprising since they couldn't remember their own father.
"Yes April?" Leo said, holding his little brothers closer to give them a sense of security.
"I wanted to give you these," she said, holding out a bag of groceries, "I know you probably can't get away from the lair to go shopping a lot."
"Thanks April," Leo said, managing to shift all three of his brothers onto one arm to grab the cloth bag, "I don't know where we'd be without you."
"Uh Leo, can I-" April said, trailing off at the end of her request.
Leo thought for a moment, then nodded his consent. The three younger turtles were still looking at April with fear. Their mutant crocodile friend they had accepted because he was like them, but this creature wasn't. April smiled softly and reached out with her hand towards Donatello. The purple clad turtle snuggled deeper into Leo's arms.
"Come on little ones," April whispered softly, "I won't hurt you."
When April moved her hand closer to Don the purple clad turtle whimpered so April stopped. She frowned and sighed, ready to give up.
"No," Leo protested quickly and quietly, "Just be patient. I'm sure he'll come around."
April looked skeptical but nevertheless, she reached out and stopped when Donatello whimpered again.
"Patience," Leo reminded her.
So, she waited until Donny turned his head and looked at her, curiosity and fear mixed inside his eyes. She moved her hand closer and she got within an inch of touching the young tot when he flinched and closed his eyes.
"Donatello," Leo said softly while noticing Raphael and Michelangelo staring at April, still frozen in fear, "Just reach out and touch her hand, she won't have to get any closer to you."
Hesitantly and taking a good two minutes to make the decision, Donny extracted his small, olive green hand from where he had tucked it against his plastron and reaching out, his hand shaking. Finally though, swallowing his fear, he reached up and felt his hand touch April's. Then he quickly extracted his hand and snuggled closer to his older brother again. When Leo glanced up at April again, he noticed that she had a small smile on her.
"They'll come around in time," Leo said, "So, we better be going."
"Sorry I couldn't be of much help tracking down Baxter Stockman," April said apologetically.
"That's ok," Leo said, walking to the window, stepping to the side so April could open it, "Maybe I'll have better luck with Casey."
With that, the four turtles disappeared into the night as Leo leapt from the open window and on to the next rooftop.
Poor April. T_T
Oh well that was chapter 4
Reviews please?
~Moonsetta