Traveling by rooftop holding the woman in his arm's tightly to him, Leo was getting close to the warehouse where he could finally venture underground and enter the lair. Lea had just been cuddling against him, her eyes closed; but he knew she was awake because she kept petting and reassuring her dog. His going was slower with his passenger, but away from the crowds now and knowing Lea was safe, he didn't mind the extra time his travels were taking him.
He paused having been about to leap to another building, a familiar presence moving towards him. Donatello appeared almost out of the darkness, his weapon on his back, his full ninja gear on. Leo couldn't stop the small half smile that graced his face, proud that even with all the craziness lately his brother had been staying in form with his training.
"Leo?" Don's quiet tone broke the silence in the air. Lea's eyes flutter open turning at the voice.
"Everything alright at home?" Leonardo got a sudden feeling of dread. Donatello was looking down at Lea in concern, but his gaze rose at his older brother's question and he quickly nodded.
"It's fine, actually I saw what happened on the news and I got worried and hurried out in case you needed help." Leonardo started walking again, knowing their destination was safe and in unison him and Donny leapt to the next rooftop. It was a few more buildings before they reached where they could go below and neither brother spoke until they finally came to the final fire escape where they would climb down.
Leonardo once again helped Lea to her feet, she shivered a little in the night air as she studied the area around her. "Are you okay Lea?" Don's voice broke the silent observation and the woman turned to look at the Turtle as she spoke.
"Yes and no, I suppose." Her forehead wrinkled in thought. "I'm happy to be here with you guys and safe, but I have no idea what I'm going to do next." She sighed and glanced back down at the mortar beneath their feet.
"Well you're welcome to stay with us until you figure it out." Leonardo wanted to hold her again, but felt maybe she needed the moment to stand on her own to regain her bearings.
"You're part of the team now, for better or worst I suppose." Don's reassuring words brought a genuine smile to Lea's face. She looked up and across to him. As good as Leo's promises made her feel knowing his brother was alright with her being there also made her feel like less of a burden and more a guest.
"I just need to start to get things into order; I'm not good at having these many unanswered questions hanging over my head." Lea was honest with the men with her, scratching Dean behind the ear as she spoke.
"Before you start to plan anything I think you need to get some sleep." Leonardo's tone had a definite quality to it. Lea would usually try to push his buttons a little because he was telling her what to do, but she could see the sense in his words and just nodded. The three companions climbed down and Lea looked at the Turtles a little surprised as she realized they were heading for the sewer.
Still Leo was pleased when except for an eyebrow raise Lea held her peace about their destination until they got there. Once in the lair he could clearly see her expression turn from doubt into a one of being impressed. "My home." Leo figured he could show her around everything later and simply pointed out places of interest that she might need such as the rest room, before steering her toward his bedroom and the rest he felt she needed. Lea grasped his arm lightly, stopping him before they disappeared from view.
Don had been shedding his Ninja gear and settling back in at his work table across the room when Lea paused to question him. "What were they saying on the news earlier Don about the fire? Did they have any leads as to which group might be responsible for it?"
Don glanced up at the woman, clearing his throat before he spoke to her. "Actually they weren't saying much about the fire. It appears terrorism is not as interesting as a young woman berating a crowd of people for the way they acted and siding with the alien minority in this controversial time." Don gave her a half grin and Lea colored realizing that he was blunting telling her she was the one the news story was about.
Lea and Leonardo exchanged looks. Neither stating out loud that whatever was happening between them was fairly public knowledge now. "I should also give you fair warning that the national new stations have also started to pick up the story." Don's tone was matter of fact as he settled back in behind his computer. "You seemed to have touched a chord with a lot of people by what you said Lea." Don's expression held respect for the woman. He wouldn't admit it out loud now, but he had been a little surprised by her words. How easily she defended her feelings for his brother and how defiant she was willing to be against the status quo.
"I just said what needed to be said. Tonight just keeps getting more and more insane." She smiled weakly at the Turtle across the room as she pulled lightly on Leonardo's arm silently telling him she was ready to retire from everything for a few hours now. "Goodnight Donatello! Thank you for being concerned enough about me to come make certain I was alright."
Across the room Don looked up and nodded. "I was happy to help." As Lea turned Don saw Leo stop and lock eyes with him. He gestured with his head and Don knew his Brother needed to talk to him. Don motioned he wasn't moving from the spot he was in so that Leonardo knew he would be there when he needed him and the Turtle and the woman then disappeared into Leonardo's room.
Lea folded up a blanket on the floor for Dean, the small dog curled up seemly as exhausted as her from everything that had happened this evening. She petted him for a moment before turning back to Leo who was silently watching her. So much had happened in the last few hours she hadn't even begun to actually process how she was going to handle it. Looking over at Leonardo, his claim demeanor so stoic she felt a little jealous. He handled himself with such grace, while she must look like a complete mess.
She allowed her bathrobe to drop to his floor feeling a little sweaty and dirty, but too tired to shower and looking down at the shorts and tank top she had been sleeping in realized she had no other clothing to change into. "So what now?" Her gaze drifted back up to the Turtle across the room and was a little surprised; the usually neutral expression on his face was gone and replaced by a muted hunger as he took in her form.
Usually Lea would be a little embarrassed to realize Leo hadn't seen her in quiet this state of undress before, but after what they had shared tonight. After he had saved her life like he had, she felt an even deeper connection to him then she had before. "What do you mean?" The deep rumble of his voice at his reply, she realized everything about him was the perfect distraction currently to the state of her life.
Lea carefully lowered herself to the mattress he had on the floor of his room. It was so soft and the comforter so warm and inviting she flopped back onto it, looking back up at the Turtle. "Do you want to stay here with me?" The invitation in her tone, she patted the bed next to her. She wasn't completely certain what she wanted except being close to Leo made her feel better.
His eyes widened, Leonardo was trying to focus on anything but the way her body looked sprawled across his bed. The incessant twitching in his tail caused him to need to take a deep breath. He wasn't certain he had even been hit by such a hard wave of sexual desire. It wasn't that he was chaste or pious, he had urges the same as everyone else. Up until this moment he had never thought he would have a genuine chance to quell them with someone he cared so deeply about and now he just felt inexperienced. Still her scent, rich and deep was sending shivers directly to his groin and before he could stop it a low growl left his throat.
Laying there he watched Lea fight to even keep her eyes open and he realized this was not the night or the time to even broach this subject yet between them. He wanted her mind sharp and clear because he knew it would hurt him greatly if they coupled and Lea then regretted it. "I should let you rest." His tone was strained and she tired to pout up at him.
"Thank you Leonardo." She reached out to him and he couldn't refuse her, falling to his knees in front of his bed he grasped her comparatively small hand in his, pulling her up to a sitting position once more they met in a kiss. It was hard for the Turtle to categorize just where his thoughts were at the moment. Everything was lost in the warmth and smell of the woman he was beginning to slowly think of as his. They broke apart and he nuzzled her shoulder saying the one thing that kept creeping at the outskirts of his thoughts.
"You shouldn't thank me. None of this would have happened to you if you weren't associated with me." He wanted to present the truth to her, to see how she reacted. She held the side of his face looking at him for quiet some time before finally replying.
"I won't say that all of this isn't and won't continue to be one of the most difficult life challenges I have had to face, but if my end result is getting to be with you; I would do it all one hundred more times without question." And she smiled at him, it was a sleepy, happy grin and he was pleased to see a little bit of the haunted look she had been carrying most of the evening had started to fade away.
"I need to go talk to my brother and you need to get some sleep." Leonardo knew if he didn't pull himself away from her now he wouldn't be able to. Lea nodded, leaning forward to kiss him lightly again before sliding back up the bed and maneuvering to crawl under the covers. Leo stood just watching her as she got relaxed. He enjoyed the fact there could be silence between them like now and it was comfortable.
"Good night Leo." Her voice was low and steady showing she was already nearing dozing. Leonardo smiled moving towards the door pausing before flipping off the lamp on his table.
"Goodnight Kumquat." It was a nickname he had often hated, but had put up with none-the-less from men he respected. He felt it fit her even better then him, little, maybe a bit silly, but so sweet and strong. Her eyes opened and she looked at him a bit confused like she might not have heard him correctly. With a grin, Leo flipped off the light and went to speak to his brother.
Donatello true to his word was still working diligently at his computer table just as Leo had left him. Don glanced up as his brother approached and slide something towards him. It was a steaming cup of tea, Leonardo grinned picking up the mug enjoying the heat between his hands.
"Figured you might need a little pick me up." Don pushed back in his chair turning to fully face his attention on the other Turtle.
"I honestly don't even want to know what time it is now. What a day." Leo pulled another chair over from Donny's work table across the way and flopped back in it.
"How's she holding up?" Don gestured towards Leo's room and Leonardo had to admit he was grateful to his brother for caring about her.
"She's doing alright. I think it's going to be a day by day type of thing. Right now she seems fairly stuck in the idea that what she has gained is worth what she has lost." Leonardo sipped his tea, his look thoughtful. Donatello smirked.
"Mainly you? Leo I honestly can't tell you how weird this is to me in a way. Out of all of us I never dreamed the first one in a relationship would be you." Eye ridges raised, Don was giving his brother a very matter of fact look.
"Thanks Don." Leo frowned at his brother but it was in a good natured way. "Anyway, I wanted to speak to you." Leonardo sat the tea down on the table, his expression and tone becoming serious. Don could sense the change in the attitude and nodded, all joking pushed aside.
"I assume you want to find the men who did this?" Don turned back towards his computer ready to work. Leonardo nodded.
"I know what one of them looks like; I was hoping maybe you could get some information on the different hate groups. Hopefully this guy is enough a trouble maker that someone else has noticed him previous to just us." Leonardo watched as Don's hands were already pounding away at his keyboard a look of concentration on his face.
"Well I don't really like to hack into the NYPD database, but sometimes a small sacrifice is needed for the greater good." Leo watched Don work, picking up his tea again and drinking it slowly. Hoping his brother can get him the information he requested his mind already formulating a plan of action beyond that point.
Don worked diligently making the odd noise or exasperated sound. Finally Leo had finished his tea and was contemplating meditating quietly for a while when Don turned to his brother. "Here are some mug shots for you." Don scooted his chair over as Leo moved closer, carefully studied each face on the screen.
"No it's none of them." Don clicked over to the next set for his brother and then the next, this went on for a small number of pages before Leo froze, staring at the screen a growl left his throat. "That's him!" Leo jabbed his finger at one picture of what would seem just an average looking young man. Justin Bartkowiak, Don clicked on his picture and it lead to more information about him.
Both Turtles scanned the page it was like a laundry list of stupidity, finally they came to the information Leonardo was looking for. "The Humanitarian Union or HU for short, I've heard about them Leo. They set an Ambassador on fire last year. They do terrible things in the name of preserving the human race, I'm pretty certain they're even wanted by the FBI." Don looked up at his older brother and saw the way his jaw was set. Leonardo was furious they had hurt someone he cared about and now he had an avenue in which to point that rage. "They are pretty underground though they might be more difficult to get information on."
Leonardo was silent for a moment a thoughtful look on his face. "What do you think about hitting the streets with me, seeing what we can find out about this group and its meeting places?" Leo's eyes rose to his brother. Don nodded.
"I would be happy to help Leo you know that." Don's mind was already buzzing with people he knew he could talk to that might be able to assist them.
"Well why don't we crash for a few hours and then we can hit the pavement?" Leo gave Donny a considering look.
"That sounds like a good idea. Let me check a few things on here and I'll go get some sleep." Don turned back to his monitor, as Leo stood up stretching.
"Try to get a little rest Don, I need you sharp." His tone was light but Leo was really commanding more then he was requesting. Don nodded half watching as his brother walked away until he noticed the direction he was heading in.
"Aren't you going to bed Leo?" The other Turtle turned and nodded.
"Yeah I'm just going to use Raph's room; I don't think he'll mind." Leo moved as if to leave, Don looked at him curiously.
"Why not just use your own Leo?" He watched his older brother turn a sheepish expression on his face.
"Honestly Don, it's probably better that I don't tempt fate." Leo laughed lightly, and with a small bow once again took his leave. Don blinked a few times shaking his head as he got back to typing in information.
"This whole situation just continues to get stranger and stranger."
Lea woke up the next day to Dean licking her face and jumping around. Twisting in the bed she sat up swiftly not certain for a few seconds just where she was until the night before came crashing down on her again. Sighing she slowly lowered herself back to the pillow just staring at the ceiling of Leonardo's room for a few moments. Trying to categorize everything she needed to accomplish that day and feeling herself growing a little overwhelmed.
Finally realizing she wasn't going to get anything done laying in bed Lea pulled herself up stretching. Across the room on one of Leo's tables Lea noticed a pile of clothes with a sheet of paper up top that looked out of place compared to how impeccably neat everything else was. Patting Dean she stood and strode across the room stopping to retrieve the paper. It was a note from Leo. His handwriting was as perfect and precise as his personality was. Smiling to herself Lea read the message left for her.
Leo wanted her to know him and Donatello had gone out earlier that morning. The clothes were some of his, they were used for cover from before when the guys were not able to walk freely above. He also informed her to feel free to use anything she wanted and that there was food in the kitchen she was welcome to. Lea wondered when Leo had left and when he would be back. She knew first thing, she needed to head to Mairead's house. She would need to get some new clothes and things she needed daily, like a new cell phone. She could also use Mairead's internet so start to figure out the process of getting new copies of all the important documents she lost like her license.
Mostly Lea wanted to keep moving so as not to allow herself to dwell on everything that had happened. She had faced difficult situations in life before and overcome those problems. She was lucky in a way, yes losing her shop and her home had been terrible but she still had a lot of people willing to support her. Knowing she had such good friends really was a driving force within herself to keep pushing on and Leo; he was possibly the best role model she could ask for.
Lea tied her bathrobe back on from where she had discarded it the night before and gathering up the clothes Leo had left her, ventured downstairs. First Lea took Dean out into the sewers a bit away from the guys home to allow him to relieve himself. Settling the dog into the living room Lea then went in to the bathroom to get herself cleaned up. Washing and changing Lea never heard the entrance of another Turtle.
Stopping and calling out a greeting Michelangelo looked around the lair. It had been about a month since he had last been home and on initial glance he was unsurprised to see that things hadn't changed, though considering Leo was one the one staying here full time that didn't surprise him that much. His eyes were draw to a blur of movement below him and Mikey's face lit up.
"When did we get a dog?" Michelangelo had always been an avid animal lover and seeing the tiny, bouncing canine brought a huge grin to his face. "Hey little guy! What's your name huh? I'm Mikey. This is my home too!" Dean ran around the Turtles feet, used to his brothers and unafraid. He licked at Mike's fingers as the Turtle lifted him into the air. Michelangelo's gentle nature already clicking with the small dog.
"Wow I seriously can't believe Leo was cool enough to get us a dog. I wonder what made him decide to do that." Mike was talking away to the Dean, patting the tiny dog and didn't hear Lea enter until she spoke to him.
"He's mine, his name's Dean." Lea was in the sweat suit Leo had let her borrow and felt like she was nearly swimming in the fabric. Having a shell really didn't allow the guys to have much a waist and she had, had to tie the draw string for the pants just about as tight as it would go in order to keep them on. Michelangelo blinked at the woman across from him, looking at her, then down at her attire, then back up at her face again.
"Did I walk into the wrong sewer lair, because Leo would never….. well….." Mike's voice trailed off into a pleasant laugh as he looked at Lea a little confused.
"I should probably properly introduce myself. My names Lea, bluntly some assholes burned down my house last night and Leonardo is letting me stay here with him… or all of you I guess until I figure out what I am going to do next. I hope you don't mind." Lea shuffled around. She wasn't certain which of Leo's missing brother's this was but she felt bad because here she was in his home and he seemed to be scrutinizing her every word. Mike for his part couldn't quiet believe what he was hearing, still petting Dean he gave Lea a considering look.
"So are you Leo's girlfriend?" And then he broke into a gigantic mischievous grin, hardly able to fathom he had just asked her that question. The inquiry had not been what Lea had been expecting first and she paused for a moment, not certain how to reply.
"We haven't really defined what we are in words yet." Lea cleared her throat a little at a lost to explain just what was happening between her and Leonardo.
"Does he almost appear out of nowhere at random times telling you what you should do and saying he is just trying to keep you safe?" Mike was still half grinning.
"I guess," Lea cocked her head to one side considering the Turtle as he spoke to her.
"You're his girlfriend then, Leo only does that bullshit if he really cares about you. I'm Michelangelo by the way, but you can just call me Mikey." Holding Dean in his left hand Mike extended his right to shake; Lea crossed the space between them and accepted it. Smiling softly at the obvious affection Mike already had for her dog. "Did you say someone burned down your house?" The smile fell from Mikey's face as everything she had just said actually computed for him.
"Yeah, it's a long story. If you turn on pretty much any news station and leave it on for a while you should see it. I kind of had a melt down in front of a TV camera afterwards, in my pajamas no less so I look like I'm in an episode of Cops." Lea sighed slightly embarrassed. Mike just grinned in a good natured way that Lea could already see was a natural part of his personality.
"Hey if some asshole had just burned down my house I would be doing a lot more then just yelling, actually I have, thought my house hasn't exactly burned down; but I have had my home destroyed before. And a friend of ours had her house burned down by a bunch of Ninjas." Mike watched Lea's eye getting larger as he went through each event. "I'm guessing Leo hasn't shared all of our awesome adventures with you yet?" Lea shook her head.
"No, him and Don were definitely not that descriptive." Hearing everything the Turtles had been through actually made Lea feel like her problem wasn't as humongous as she kept feeling like it was.
"Donny's home too? That's great news, are they here?" Mike didn't think they were because he couldn't imagine he could stand here for this long holding a conversation with Lea without one of them hearing his voice.
"No they went out, Leo didn't say where but I suspect they went looking for information about what happened last night." Lea sighed again and Mike could see a mildly guilty look cross her face, he assumed at the idea of his brothers going out just to help her. He smirked, because it reminded him so much of Leonardo when she did it.
"That sounds like Leo. He doesn't take kindly to people messing with anyone he cares about." He winked at the woman across from him, trying to make her smile again; she didn't need to look so burdened. Life was too short. Lea did break into a small grin and nodded.
"Are you hungry? I haven't eaten yet, we can go see what's in the kitchen and I'll make us some breakfast. It'll be an adventure." Mike's face lit up at her suggestion because he was starving.
"You know what?" He asked as they started to walk towards the other room, Lea looked at him curiously. "I think I'm going to like Leo having a girlfriend." Lea blinked at Mike a few times before they both started laughing.