Leo was spying on his brother.

Well, sort of. He was pretty sure his brother knew he was there; preoccupied though he was, he was still a ninja, and Leo hadn't been trying to be sneaky. He hadn't needed to. The person Don was helping now was either deaf or in another country. Or both. Either way, Don was practically shouting. And he was shouting the same few things over and over, to the point where Leo thought he could probably take over from Don without too much trouble.

"No, click the right button on the mouse. Yes, the—no, the one on your right. Yes, now select copy—no, wait—agh!"

Leo was relieved to notice that the shout had come after Don leaned forward and pressed the mute button. Then he pressed it again and went on, making faces and rude gestures, but keeping his voice calm and polite. And loud.

Finally he hung up, throwing himself back in his chair and making pathetic noises. Leo stepped out from behind a stack of monitors and towers and caught Don's eye. Don caught it for just a moment, and then went back to his computer, typing up the report of the call.

Leo, hesitated, and then just got to it. "When I was in the jungle I hunted a jaguar once."

Don's expression as he typed made him think that perhaps he had started about five minutes too early after all. He plunged ahead.

"It took a long time. I didn't know how to track things very well in the jungle yet, so I sat and waited at a spot I knew it visited on a regular basis. I waited for days before it showed up, but I was willing to wait for weeks if need be. It had killed a child, and you can't let an animal like that get a taste for human flesh. I got really tired of waiting motionless in the same spot, but it finally paid off when the jaguar came by. It came within a few feet of me. I could have reached out and touched it. I waited a few more moments until I had it timed perfectly, and then lunged, slicing its throat. I had killed it."

He paused, looking up at Don, who was actually staring at him with a slightly worried expression. He looked down again.

"Of the two of us, though, I think you're the more patient one."

Don's expression shifted into something more like amusement. He paused (Leo could see him hesitate) and then spoke.

"Thanks," he said, glancing up at Leo briefly, mouth quirking into an almost-smile. "Though you could have just said so."

Leo shrugged, secretly pleased that Don was speaking to him at all. Then he said,

"So, how are things? With your job. And the whole… money… thing."

Don turned back to his computer. Leo could tell he was just avoiding answering. After a moment, though, he shook himself slightly and said,

"It's fine. It's… well, money-wise we'll… we'll be okay. I mean, it's a lot tighter now that Mikey isn't working, but I can handle it."

Leo knew he wasn't being entirely truthful.

"So what you're saying is you could use another income."

Don looked slightly guilty at being caught in the half-truth. "Yeah," he said sheepishly. "I mean, it wouldn't be so bad if we didn't owe April so much…"

"We owe April?" This was the first he'd heard about it. Don nodded.

"Well, she would say we don't, but when Splinter got sick a few months ago she really went out of her way to help. I've been giving her what I can, but lately I've had to sneak it into her wallet through Casey."

Leo nodded, and took a deep breath.

"Don, I'd like to help out with the money situation if I can."

"Thanks Leo, but I don't really know what you could do."

Another breath, deeper.

"Well, I've been thinking. It's only been a few weeks since Mikey quit the Cowabunga Carl gig. Maybe it wouldn't be too hard to start it up again. We still have the head and everything, right?"

Don frowned in instant annoyance.

"Are you really suggesting Mikey start doing that again? You know how much it traumatized him."

Leo flushed. He hadn't wanted to come out and say it like this, but…

"No, not Mikey. I wouldn't want to push him back to that. I was thinking… another one of us. Like… me."

Don was just staring at him now.

"You?"

Leo felt his face heat up.

"Yes, Don. I'd really like to contribute around here, especially since I haven't been around to contribute for the last year and a half."

Don was still staring. Leo shifted.

"What?"

"You want to be Cowabunga Carl," Don said flatly. "You. Leo. You want to entertain little children at birthday parties."

"I… yes." Leo stood firm. He would not let his brother's disbelief shake his resolve.

"Mikey!" Though two brothers might be able to accomplish it. Leo cringed when Mikey popped up.

"What, Don? I was in the middle of something."

"Mikey. You won't believe this. Leo—you tell him, he'll never believe it coming from me."

Leo grit his teeth.

"I'd like to take over the Cowabunga Carl business from you Mike, if that's okay."

His little brother's mouth dropped open, and then worked like a fish for several seconds.

"Seriously?" His voice was much higher pitched than a grown turtle's had any right to be. "You? You want to don the head and face the hordes of screaming kids?"

"I want to contribute to this family in any way I can," Leo said, wondering if a retreat was in order. "I'd be happy to do anything, but this seemed the simplest way."

Mike was giggling now, and Don was starting to join in. Leo sighed.

"Look, do you think it's a good idea, or not?"

"Raph!"

Oh no. Leo turned to walk away, but Raph was already there.

"What is it, bonehead?" Raph demanded of his now helpless-with-laughter little brother. Mikey managed to sputter out,

"Cow-cow-cowabunga... Leo!"

Leo scowled. Raph looked at him incredulously.

"What?"

"I offered to help bring in some money by taking over the party thing," Leo muttered, looking away. This was all he needed: Raph joining in the fun. Said turtle leaned against the doorframe and crossed his arms over his chest, looking at Leo thoughtfully.

"I think it's a good idea," he said seriously. The two comedians stopped laughing and stared at him. Leo joined in.

"You do?" the three of them asked in unison. He nodded.

"Yeah. And I think I can help." Their expressions of shock were reaching epic proportions. Raph smirked "Yeah, Leo will go as Cowabunga Carl and entertain the kiddies, and I'll go as the Nightwatcher and service their lonely housewife mommies."

More shocked looks, different in nature, though it wasn't long before Mikey dissolved into giggles again. Leo frowned.

"Raph," he said in a warning voice. Raph straightened slightly in challenge. "Only if we get to switch off."

Mikey gave a huge guffaw, and this time Don and Raph joined in. Leo cracked a smile of his own. It had been a long time since he'd made his brothers laugh. It felt good. Even if he was the object of their amusement. Baby steps, he told himself. Baby steps.