Ch 17 Turtle Love

"Hello?"

"Hi, Ms. Langinstein?"

"Yes?"

"This is Raphael Hamato,"

"Oh, good morning Raphael, how was the dance last night?"

"It was good, but um… I was wondering if you could give me Leo's address, I've been trying to get in touch with him but he's not answering my calls, so I was thinking I'd go visit him."

"Did something happen at the dance?"

"Well….His dad showed up and he didn't seem too happy."

"His father came to the school?"

"Yeah….so would you mind giving me his address?"

"Um…Hold on Raphael.…(long pause)…..Okay, I'll give you his address."

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Leo laid in his bed and watched the digital numbers on his alarm clock slowly turn to eight o'clock. He had been awake most of the night, his mind wandering back to the dance and what had taken place. But the look on Raph's face was the image that continued to haunt him.

He looked back down at his cell and sighed sadly as he placed his phone on his end table. He wanted to call him, he wanted to see him and tell him how sorry he was for all that had happened. He wanted….Leo looked at picture of Raph on his phone….to be so much more than just friends.

'Monday,' Leo told himself, 'I'll see him Monday and speak to him then,' He sat up and went to the bathroom, 'I'll speak to all of them.' He told himself as he walked back to his bed.

He laid back down in an attempt to try and go back to sleep but his mind was too occupied. After another half hour, he sat up and rubbed his tired face. He looked back at his door and huffed. "To leave or not to leave," He muttered in a mocking Shakespearian voice, "That is the question," he frowned. "No, the question is how to deal with him," Leo grumbled. He got up and, after getting dressed, finally opened the door. 'I can't stay in my room for the entire weekend,' He looked out of his room and searched the hallway. 'And I shouldn't be afraid of my own father,' He began to walk downstairs. 'Hopefully Edna has breakfast ready and after I eat, I'll go to the library….or….somewhere.'

Leo walked into the kitchen and looked around. His eyes narrowed in curiosity as he realized that not only was there no breakfast but there was also no Edna. He walked out of the kitchen and made his way to the dining room. He frowned when he saw; once again, no one was there.

"Looking for someone Leonardo?" Leo turned to see his father walking out of his study.

Leo took a breath and stood tall. "I was hoping Edna would've had breakfast on the table by now," He explained looking his father directly in the eyes. "But she doesn't so I was trying to find her."

Saki's mouth slowly curved into a smile that actually made a shiver run up and down Leo's spine. "I decided to let her go." He told him.

Leo's eyes widen. "Why would you do that?" He demanded. Leo had to admit, he had begun to think of Edna as the grandmother he never had and now once again he felt as though he had just lost someone he cared about.

Saki walked past Leo into the dining room, Leo followed and they sat at the table. "I decided she, along with our other servants, was no longer needed here."

Leo looked at Saki in disbelief. "But why?" Leo demanded as the anger within him once again began to rise. "I thought you liked you're 'comforts'." Leo sneered at him.

Saki looked at Leo with maliciousness in his eyes. "I thought about what you had said and decided you were right," He waved his hands in the air as Bradford walked into the room. "We do not need all this so I have decided to….downsize." He nodded to Bradford. "From now on, you can make your own meals."

Bradford leaned down and whispered something in Saki's ear. "Really?" Saki said as his eyes looked over at Leo. He nodded his head. "Of course Bradford," Saki replied, "Let him in."

Leo watched as Bradford walked away, he was just getting up when Saki stopped him. "There is someone to see you Leonardo," He said.

Leo stopped and looked at him suspiciously, "Who?"

Saki nodded toward the door, "Why don't you go find out."

Leo walked to the front door and opened it. His eyes widen in surprise as he saw Raph standing before him. "Raph?" Leo looked behind him to see if Saki was watching. "What are you doing here?" He asked as he stepped outside. "How did you know where I lived?"

"I called your Aunt," He explained, "She told me where you live."

Leo looked down by Raph's feet and saw his backpack. Raph picked it up and handed it to him. "I found it in the locker room," Raph told him, "I figured you could use it."

Leo nodded and took the bag. "Thanks Raph." He said as he started to walk back into the house.

"Leo, wait please." Raph insisted as he grabbed his arm but Leo refused to look at him.

"You shouldn't be here." Leo told him softly yet urgently as he attempted to walk inside.

"Leo, I…." Raph smiled sadly as Leo looked back at him shyly. "I was worried about you." He told him. "I keep calling you but you don't pick up or return my calls." He went to reach out and touch Leo's cheek but the turtle flinched away. "Leo…"

"I wasn't in the mood to speak to anyone Raph," Leo said quickly. "I figured we could talk on Monday at school." He again attempted to go back inside but Raph refused to let him leave.

"Leo please," Raph implored, "Come with me and we can talk."

But Leo shook his head. "I can't Raph." He told him. "And you should leave." He looked at him intently. "Please Raph; you'll only make it worse." He again looked back in the house. "I'll see you on Monday and we'll talk then, okay?" He watched as Raph hesitantly started to turn away but it was clear he wanted desperately to say something to him. "I promise Raph," Leo said, "We'll talk." Raph nodded and watched as Leo walked inside and shut the door. He let out a sigh of despair and walked back down the driveway.

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Meanwhile, in Saki's study, Bradford watched as Saki stared narrowed eyed at a monitor that showed the outside of the house, specifically the front door where the two turtles were currently talking. As the turtles talked, Saki reached over to a knob and turned the volume up. His forehead creased in anger as he heard every word that was being said.

"What do you wish to do Master?" Bradford asked as Saki clenched his fist.

"Nothing right now," Saki told him, "Wait till I return from Japan, then we will deal with my dear sister-in-law."

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Leo walked back inside and shut the door, he looked around and seeing his father was not in sight, placed his backpack by the stairs then went to the kitchen to get some food. He stared in the refrigerator for several minutes before finally he wasn't hungry and, after closing the door, went back to the stairs to get his backpack. He looked around and started toward the door but stopped when he heard the creaking of a door.

"Why didn't you invite your friend in Leonardo?" His father asked.

"He um…."Leo took a deep breath. "He was just returning my backpack." Leo explained. "He couldn't stay."

"Too bad," Saki said, "It would be nice to meet your friends….especially since you have so few," Saki watched Leo fidget under his gaze, "Where are you going?"

Leo huffed in frustration. "To the library," He told him.

"Not today," He said, "Today you will stay here and tell me all about this job you are doing after school." Leo turned his head slightly as Saki started toward him. "I'm anxious to hear all about it." Leo shuddered as Saki placed a firm hand on his shoulder. He looked up into Saki's eyes and saw nothing but a cold gaze looking back at him.

"But I…" Saki squeezed Leo's shoulder as Leo attempted to protest. "I have homework."

Saki leaned close to Leo. "Then let me help you." He said as he gently coaxed Leo away from the door and toward the library room.

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On Monday, Raph and the others hung out at their lockers as they waited for Leo to arrive. It was clear to all Raph was anxious to see him, especially after he had explained to them what had taken place at Leo's home.

"He was so scared," Raph told them. "His eyes were so filled with fear I almost wanted to call the police in or….or rush in there and drag him out."

"You shouldn't have gone by yourself Raph." Donnie told him. "You don't know what kind of man Leo's father is."

"Yeah dude," Casey said as he grabbed his books out of his locker. "If he's willing to slap his kid in a public place and not care who sees, who knows what he could do to someone else."

"I could take him." Raph muttered as his eyes continued to roam over to Leo's locker.

"So you say," Mikey said, "But remember Leo said his father's a master at ninjutsu too."

Raph scowled at his brothers and friends. "I don't care about his father," Raph almost yelled, "I just care about Leo."

"Well you don't have to worry about him any longer," April nodded to the hallway entrance, "There he is and he looks okay."

Raph breathed a sigh of relief and went over to him. "Leo, Thank goodness you're finally here." He said as Leo began to prepare for his first class.

Leo turned to look at him. "Why did you come to my house?" He demanded angrily.

Raph startled at Leo's outburst. "Leo…I…"

"You had no right Raphael." Leo told him. "Don't you think if I want to talk to you I would've called you?"

"Did he hit you again?" Raph asked forcefully.

"That's none of your concern," Leo told him as he started to walk away, "But please don't ever do that again!"

He walked to the others. "I'm sorry guys." Leo said in a shaky voice. "I didn't mean to ruin everyone's night." He turned and walked toward his first class.

"Leo, wait!" Mikey called running after him. Leo turned to Mikey and watched as the younger turtle stopped in front of him, his eyes looking at him with such compassion it made Leo's heart ache knowing his friend now knew how Leo's father treated him. But before Leo could say anything, Mikey flung his arms around him and gave him a big hug. "We're there for you bro." Mikey whispered. Leo smiled and nuzzled his cheek against the crook of Mikey's neck.

"Thank you Mikey." Leo said as they pulled apart. He smiled at the freckled faced turtle then went into the classroom.

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The days couldn't go by fast enough for Leo. While he was at school, Raph seemed to hover around him desperately wanting to speak with him. And although Leo was more than willing to be around him, he didn't want to discuss what he was certain was on Raph's mind.

And when he was home, his father continued to dictate what he was to do and when Saki was not home, Bradford took over. Leo began to feel as though he were suffocating and it was everything he could do to not just run away from all the craziness that now seemed to plague his life.

On Friday, Leo sat at the bus stop waiting for the bus to take him home. He was at least grateful his father was not insisting on Bradford driving him to and from school but it was frustrating to him that his father expected him to be home by a certain time.

'Basketball starts next week,' Leo thought to himself. 'How am I going to go to practice and games if dad is going to monitor my every step?'

As Leo sat waiting and thinking, a loud roaring motorcycle suddenly came up next to him. Leo looked up in surprise and watched as Raphael removed his helmet. The two stared at each other before Raph nodded to him. "Hop on." He said forcefully.

Leo rolled his eyes. "Raph I…."

"Leo," Raph said; holding out his extra helmet. "Hop on."

Leo looked down at his cell and smiled as he pulled up his father's number and quickly sent him a text. Doing extra at work, will be home late.

Leo smiled at Raph and took the helmet; he hopped on the back of the bike and wrapped his arms around Raph's middle. "Hold on tight Leo." Raph's voice suddenly sounded within Leo's helmet startling him. "I'm taking you on the ride of a lifetime."

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Thanks again to all who reviewed. Please keep them coming they are candy for my fingers. Peace :)