Ch 22. Studying Biology.

Leo watched as Stockman once again withdrew his blood then gave him more vitamin shots. After they were done, Leo got up from his seat and walked out into the hallway to see his father walking out with a briefcase.

"You're leaving now?" He asked.

Saki placed the case on a small table, he opened it and began going through his papers. "Is there something you need?" He asked.

"Just wanted to say goodbye," Leo told him.

Saki looked at him and nodded. "I will see you when I return sometime after the first of the year." He closed his briefcase and locked it. He looked at Leo and nodded to him. "Enjoy your Christmas," He said as he walked out the door with Stockman trailing behind him.

Leo sighed dejectedly and went upstairs to his room. He picked up his cell and pressed the number one button.

"Hey Leo!" Raph said excitedly. "How's it going?"

"It's going good Raph," Leo replied attempting to sound cheerful. "How was your Thanksgiving?"

"Great, got a lot of leftovers." Raph said laughing.

Leo smiled at the sound of Raph's laughter. "Yeah, so do we," He said. "So, um….what are you doing right now?"

"Catching up on some homework," Raph replied, "You?"

"Uh, nothing," Leo said. "Just relaxing."

As Leo spoke, Raph noted a touch of sadness in his voice. "Hey Leo, I got an idea." He said excitedly. "How bout you come on over and hang with me and my bros?" He asked. "I need a break from studying and we're about to practice our ninjutsu so how bout you join us?"

Leo perked up at the idea of spending the day with Raph and his brothers. "I'll be right over," He told him.

"Great, I'll meet you at the bus stop by the park."

Leo eagerly walked down stairs and quickly put his shoes on. He looked around and noted Bradford was nowhere to be seen so he would not be asking questions. Without hesitation, Leo grabbed his coat and walked out into the cold early afternoon.

Bradford opened the door to the study and peaked out. He smiled knowingly as he watched the young turtle quickly leave the house. "Well Xever," He looked down at his cell phone, "Looks like Saki's son," He spat the word out as he spoke, "Is off on another excursion to his boyfriend's house."

"Tell me again why you want Moore to come out to New York?" The smooth talking Mexican voice asked.

"Saki doesn't like Leonardo having friends…." He stated, "Of any kind."

"And do you think Moore will be able to break up Leonardo and this other turtle?" Xever asked.

"I think Moore will be able to persuade Leonardo that it would be better for everyone that he does break up with this….Raphael."

"Very well Bradford," Xever responded. "He'll be there on the twenty-first," He let out a small hum. "And I think I will join him."

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Splinter stroked his long beard as he, along with Donnie, Mikey and April, watched Raphael and Leonardo take their stance. "Hajime!" He called out as the two prepared their weapons.

The two turtles ran toward each other and swung their weapons, Leo blocked Raph's sai with his katana while Raph blocked a blow from the hilt of Leo's sword. As Raph pushed Leo back, Leo swung his leg out and caught Raph in the stomach. Raph doubled over but quickly recovered and grabbed Leo around the waist bringing him to the floor. Raph attempted to jump on Leo but the older turtle quickly rolled out of the way and jumped up. He grabbed his sword and swung it around to the back of Raph's shell, smacking him in the back with the hilt and causing Raph to fall forward. Raph stumbled slightly but turned in time to see Leo coming toward him. He turned quickly and grabbed Leo's arm and threw him once again down to the floor forcing Leo on his plastron. Leo grunted in surprise as Raph put his foot on top of his shell and brought his hand behind him.

"You give Leo?" Raph demanded as he gently tightened his hold.

Leo smirked, "Sure Raph," He said through gritted teeth, "I give."

Raph relaxed his hold on Leo's hand and stepped back as Leo rolled over. Raph smiled down at Leo and started to bend down to help Leo up. But the green-eyed turtle was taken by surprise when Leo's foot suddenly came up and caught him on the jaw hard forcing him backward. Leo jumped up and ran to Raph before he could upright himself and pushed him to the floor. Leo jumped on top of Raph and grabbed his wrist.

"Never trust your enemy." Leo told Raph as he kept him down. Leo smirked down at him as Raph attempted to get up. "You give Raph?" Leo mocked moving his face closer.

"If they start playing kissy face," Mikey said from across the room, "I'm outta here!" The two turtles blushed and Leo got up and assisted Raph off the floor.

"Sensei," Donnie raised his hand, "That wasn't fair, Leo attacked Raph after the fight was completed." He watched as Splinter stroked his beard. "Technically, Raph won."

"Tell me Donatello," Splinter looked down at his tallest son, "Do you think your enemy would care if you brought them down?" Splinter asked him.

Donnie opened his mouth to say something but thought better of it, "Good point." He said.

Splinter nodded and turned toward Raph and Leo. "When you are in battle, you never turn back on your enemy and you never just assume your enemy will back away once you have brought them down."

"Hai Sensei," The four turtles, along with April, chorused.

Splinter nodded then turned to the other two turtles. "Donatello and Michelangelo," He said sweeping his hand toward the middle of the dojo, "It is your turn." He then looked at April, "April, let us practice your katas."

"Hai Sensei." She said as she stood and went through a series of katas with Splinter coaching her.

Raph and Leo walked over to the corner and sat down. They watched as Donnie and Mikey spared heatedly with Donnie finally bringing Mikey down by using his bo on the back of the smaller turtle's knees. Mikey fell to the ground as Donnie smiled widely.

"Ha!" Donnie cried out. "I did it!" He yelled as he looked around proudly. "April did you see?" He asked excitedly as April and Splinter looked over at the others. "I finally….whoa!" Donnie cried out as Mikey jumped up and roundhouse kicked him in the shell.

"Psych!" Mikey yelled as he loomed over Donnie. "You just got psyched son!" Mikey crowed. "Ah yeah, that's what you get for not listening to the master." He told him as he helped Donnie up. "Never turn your back on your enemy, ha!"

Raph and Leo looked at each other and shook their heads at the younger turtles. "They'll never learn." Raph said while Leo and April laughed at Mikey's antics.

After practice, the group went to the kitchen for a snack. "So how was your Thanksgiving Leo?" April asked.

"It was okay," He responded. "How bout yours?"

"We spent it with my aunt," She said, "Your aunt spent it with you as well, right?"

"Yeah," Leo said as he looked down at his sandwich. Raph creased his forehead at Leo's down cast look. After April left, the turtles went off to do their own thing.

"Hey Leo," Raph looked over at him, "How bout, instead of you going home, you help me with my homework?"

"What are you studying?" Leo asked as he followed Raph up the stairs and toward his room.

"I have to learn a bunch of biology terms," Raph sighed, "It's not the easiest thing to learn especially when you have to do it by yourself." He said as they walked into his room.

"Won't your brothers help you study?" Leo asked as he sat on the bed.

Raph shrugged. "They got their own things to do," He said then smiled at him. "But if you got some homework to do, after you help me I can help you."

"I have no homework Raph," Leo told him as he picked up Raph's biology book. He looked over the words Raph had to learn, "But I don't mind helping you," He said with his eye ridges wiggling. "In fact," he said slyly, "I have a fun game we can play that may help you remember all these words."

Raph looked at Leo quizzically. "Oh really?" He asked as he sat on the bed next to him. "What do you have in mind?"

"With every question you get right," Leo said as he high-kneeled on the bed, "I'll give you a kiss…." He began to run his tongue along Raph's neck. "Somewhere on your body," Leo smiled as he felt Raph shiver. "Ready?"

"I don't know if that's going to help me remember my words but I'm always willing to try a new way to learn." Raph said with a chuckle. "So go for it." Raph said.

"Okay," Leo said as he began to remove Raph's clothes, he coaxed him to lay down then began to remove his own clothes while looking over the paper. "Here's your first question,"

A half hour later Mikey was walking up the stairs and headed toward his room, he stopped however when he heard loud moaning coming from Raph's room. He slowly walked closer to his brother's door and put his ear against it.

"Mikey!" Donnie hissed quietly as he walked over toward him. "What are you doing?"

"Damn D…" Mikey said looking over at him, "These two are really going at it."

"I thought Raph was studying," Donnie muttered as he frowned at Mikey but put his ear to the door nonetheless. His eyes widen in shock as he heard Raph moan and churr loudly while calling out Leo's name.

"Say it Raph," They heard Leo demand. "Tell me what it means."

They heard Raph pant hard, "Synovial cavities are found inside the joint capsules that surround freely moving joints like the hip, knee, elbow and shoulder….Oh God Leo!"

Donnie and Mikey eyes widen at Raph's outburst, "They're having sex while studying?" Donnie said as he leaned away from the door.

Mikey's forehead narrowed as he rubbed his chin. "I think I need to call Renet." He said and quickly went to his room. Donnie watched him leave then went to his own room to call Angel.

Meanwhile, back in Raph's room, Raph and Leo laid wrapped in each other's arms and were kissing each other tenderly.

"You really know how to help someone study Leo." Raph said with a chuckle.

""I think you'll ace your test now," Leo said with a smile.

Raph wrapped his arms around Leo and pressed him hard against him. "Leo," He said with a serious voice as he looked down at him. "Tell me the truth," Leo looked up at him. "Did something happen at your house yesterday?" Leo pulled himself out of Raph's arms and sat up. Raph looked at him in concern. "Did your father hurt you again?"

Leo shook his head, "No Raph," Leo told him, "He didn't hurt me." He looked down at Raph with tired eyes, "But he made it clear that he knew Aunt Irma was the one who gave you our address and it was obvious he wasn't happy you had showed up at our house,"

"I'm sorry Leo," Raph told him, "I was just so worried about you," He placed a finger under Leo's chin and made him look at him. "When I saw him slap you at the dance I just wanted to smack the black off him." Leo smiled at Raph's use of words. "That night still haunts me." Raph sighed heavily and brought Leo into a hug. "I just wish I could take you away from him."

"Well I am eighteen and technically I could move out of my dad's home but…." Leo bit his lower lip as he thought about all he was going through.

"But what Leo?" Raph urged.

"If my dad is telling me the truth and I am…..dying." Leo choked out. "Then leaving home would be a mistake." Leo looked at Raph intently. "I can't leave there yet Raph," Leo told him. "I just have to wait a little longer till I graduate, then I can leave and do whatever I want to." He told him with a teary smile.

Raph looked back at him and nodded. "And do you know what it is you want to do?" He asked. "Are you thinking of maybe becoming an astronaut?

Leo shrugged. "I really don't know." He said. "It has been a dream of mine but I think I've only thought that way because I was really into Captain Ryan growing up." He let out a small laugh then looked at Raph in bemusement. "Do you know what you want to do after you graduate?"

Raph laid back on the bed and put his arms underneath his head. "I've thought about it but actually, I have no idea." He told him. "Both my brothers know what they want to do and my dad's encouraged them right from the start but since I've never really figured out where I want to go after I'm done with school my dad was hoping I would help him out with his business." Leo nodded as he listened. "As much as I like the thought of bashing heads and beating up on scum, I really don't want to teach martial arts to a bunch a people," He added.

"Anything else you're interested in?" Leo asked.

Again Raph shrugged. "I like animals," He said. "I can see myself becoming a vet but…."

"But what?" Leo asked, "I think that would be a great career for you."

"Well, I don't know if I'd want to spend over four more years of school for that." Raph responded. He looked over at the clock and noted it was almost six in the evening. "Do you have to go home?" He asked Leo, "I don't want you to get in trouble with your dad." Raph startled as Leo suddenly let out a loud laugh, "Did I say something funny?"

"My dad's not even home." Leo said ruefully.

Raph looked at Leo in surprise, "He working late tonight?"

"Not exactly," Leo told him. "He's on his way to Japan," Leo looked over at Raph's clock radio, "Probably half way there by now,"

"Really?" Raph's eyes opened wide with excitement. "When's he due back?"

"Sometime after the first of the year," He answered. Raph watched as Leo pulled his legs up against his chest and angrily put his chin in his hand. "He didn't even want to take me," He shook his head. "I asked if I could spend time with him in Japan during our two week Christmas vacation but he said he couldn't bring me because it costs too much," Leo let out a huff then laughed dryly. "But I guess I should be happy about that," He said as he looked over at Raph, "I get to spend time with you."

"Hey yeah," Raph looked at Leo thoughtfully, "You do don't you,"

"What are you thinking Raph?"

Raph smiled widely at him. "I'm thinking," He said with a hint of mischief in his voice, "If your dad's not home then maybe you could stay here with me tonight," He wiggled his eyes at him, "And possibly stay here over Christmas vacation?"

Leo smiled at him. "I can't stay here tonight but I'm sure I could stick around for a few days over the two weeks there's no school."

Raph wrapped his arms around Leo and laid him back on the bed, "Sounds good to me." He said as they started giggling and kissing.

A few moments later, Leo's cell began to vibrate. "Damn it!" Leo yelled as he quickly grabbed his phone off Raph's nightstand. "I forgot to turn my cell off."

"What's wrong with that?"

"I don't want Bradford to know where I am," Leo said as he took a quick look at the text message then turned the phone off. "Wants to know why I'm not home yet," Leo huffed, "Like I'm going to tell him."

"Bradford?" Raph looked at Leo quizzically, "Bradford who?"

"Chris Bradford, an associate of my dad's and someone I can't stand." Leo looked at Raph and noticed his face scowling. "Do you know him?"

""Hell yeah I know him," Raph angrily stated. "Ever since he moved here to New York and opened up all those dojos, he's been attempting to put my dad out of business." He jumped off the bed and began to pace, "I can't believe your dad works with that guy!" He growled loudly.

"He works for my dad." Leo corrected. Raph looked over at him. "My dad's job at TCRI is transporting drugs of all kinds from here to medical research facilities all over the world," He explained, "So my dad hired Bradford as a bodyguard."

"A bodyguard?" Raph repeated, "So why is he here and not in Japan with your dad?"

"My dad has another guy in Japan so he prefers Bradford to stay here and watch me," Leo groused, "Even though I keep telling him I don't need a babysitter," He said in exasperation, "But my dad thinks some person out there might try to get to him through me so..."He threw his hands in the air. "He insists that Bradford keep tabs on me." Leo got off the bed and went to the window. "Probably puts a tail on me whenever I leave," He muttered, "Could be having someone watching me right now." He looked back at Raph and shook his head. "Sorry, I don't mean to act so paranoid." He sat back on the bed.

"Well, I know why I hate the guy but why do you hate him?" Raph queried, "Especially since he's trying to keep you safe."

Leo got a faraway look in his eyes. "My mom never admitted it to my dad but I know what happened." He started. "One night while my dad was in Japan," Leo swallowed hard. "I saw Bradford try to force himself on her." Raph put his arms around Leo as he began to shake. "I was about eight years old, I was in bed trying to sleep when I heard all this yelling," Leo swallowed hard and wiped his eyes. "I came down stairs and watched as Bradford grabbed my mom, she was screaming at him to let her go, that she didn't want to do…." Leo let out choked sob, "That with him," He leaned into Raph's hug, "But when he wouldn't stop she punched him and then he….he slapped her," Leo took a breath. "Slapped her so hard she fell against a kitchen counter." Raph rocked Leo back and forth as he listened to Leo's story

"Did he…?" Raph hesitated to ask his question but Leo shook his head anyway.

"No, thank God," He said quickly. "She was able to grab a knife from the drawer and hold him off, she told him to get out of our house and not come back." Leo suddenly smiled. "My mom knew how to handle herself so Bradford left but when my dad came back, my mom refused to tell him what happened since he and Bradford were friends," Leo shook his head, "But I also think she was reluctant to tell my dad because she was certain he wouldn't believe her." He sighed tiredly, "Even though my dad says he loved her, they didn't seem to have the best relationship."

"Well, you got me now so if Bradford continues to bug you," Raph smiled deviously, "You let me deal with him," He clenched his hand into a fist, "I got a few scores to settle with him anyway."

The two turtles looked over at Raph's clock, it was a few minutes before seven. "Do you have to leave now?" Raph asked.

Leo shrugged. "Bradford can go jump off a bridge for all I care," He said as he pulled Raph back down the bed, "I'll leave when you get tired of me."

"That won't be for a long time," Raph told him as they pressed lips and began to kiss deeply.

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Thanks again to Turtlecrazy714 and Guest for those reviews, please keep them coming. :) Peace.