Splinter lit one of his candles and set it beside him. He took deep breaths finding his center. True, his sons' arguing was beginning to weigh him down. It seemed that not an hour passed without his having to mediate one argument or another.

Surprisingly, he was not angry. He understood all too well that they were restless and irritable. Such things tended to make even the most patient of people lose control.

Splinter considered this as he waited for his sons. He had intended on lecturing them in patience and perhaps a hint of warning that he was about to lose his soon enough. However, the more he considered things, the more he was thinking another approach might be more beneficial. Because he could understand his sons, he was better equipped to deal with them for such long periods of time.

The problem was…his sons did not really understand each other.

Splinter smiled slightly. Yes, perhaps an lesson in understanding would help more than a lecture. It would certainly be entertaining to him if nothing else.

He adopted a neutral and a bit stern visage when his sons knocked at the door. "Enter," he called quietly.

The door opened and he was not surprised that Leonardo was the first to enter. That was not so much an honor as it was a punishment, for Leo would be the first to see his Master's face and possibly anger. His oldest son approached cautiously, followed by his brothers. The lined up and knelt as one in front of their father.

Leonardo spoke for them all, as the bowed touching their heads to the floor. "Forgive us, Master. We know we have been very trying these last few days. We promise to do better and not bicker…so much."

Splinter hid a smile. "Do not make promises you cannot keep, My Son. While I have no doubt you have every intention of trying to get along, I fear that would will be hard pressed to do such a thing. I do, however, accept your apology and your good intentions. Please, rise all of you."

His sons sat back on their heels studying Splinter. They were still trying to get a feel for what awaited them. Just because Splinter forgave them, does not mean that some sort of punishment was not in their near future.

The sensei offered them all a small smile. "I have been doing much thinking in the last few minutes while I awaited your arrival. I must confess that I intended on banishing you all to your rooms for the remainder of the evening….and perhaps the remainder of the winter." He allowed himself a small chuckle at their expressions. "However, I think I have come up with something that will be more helpful."

Mike bit his lower lip. When Splinter got creative, things could get really ugly. Like that time when Raphael was just fourteen and Splinter caught him using his ninja stealth to sneak into a strip club. Michelangelo had listened in on the lecture, and heard Sensei tell Raph that he understood his curiosity even though they had all been taught the birds and the bees some years before.

However, such places were dangerous, not to mention demeaning to women. To help Raphael further understand, he made Raph research and give a report on human sexuality. His older brother was so mortified, not to mentioned horrified at the chapter on STD's, that to Mike's knowledge, Raph hadn't been back to that club.

Either that, or Raph just got more sneaky. The more he thought about it, the more Mike was convinced it was the latter. Either way, Mike sometimes preferred the straight out punishments to Splinter's life lessons and judging by his brothers' expressions, they were just as wary.

"It has occurred to me that the four of you really do not understand one another," Splinter continued, well aware of the nervousness of his sons. "Leonardo, you no more understand Michelangelo's love of comics, than he understands your desire to practice more than I require. Raphael, you do not understand Donatello…"

Raphael cut Splinter off a little defensively. "Sensei, no one understands Donnie."

Don straightened slightly but no one could tell if he was offended or proud of the observation.

"This is just my point, Raphael," Splinter sighed. "Perhaps if you understood each other better…than you would have more patience with each other. And it would only help your teamwork."

There was silence for a moment and then Leonardo bowed slightly. "Hai, Sensei. I see you are right. We know each other well, but we do not understand each other at times. We should strive to improve on this."

Splinter hid another smile. Ah, my dear Leonardo,he thought. If only I were to let you off that easily.

"Yes, you should Leonardo," Splinter said. "However, I think I have an exercise that will help you in the endeavor."

Now his sons were alert again. They should have known that Leonardo's smooth words would not placate their father.

"An exercise, Sensei?" Donatello asked. "What sort of exercise?"

"It is said, My Sons, that you cannot understand another person until you have walked a mile in their shoes. I believe this to be true. Therefore, beginning tomorrow and lasting for twenty four hours, you will all change places for the day." Splinter sat back to watch the melee.

"You mean…"Raphael began slowly. "That we get to take Leo's place for a day?" He started to smile at the idea.

Until Splinter quickly erased it. "Yes Raphael. I believe Michelangelo can take his place."

Stunned silence.

"Me?" Mike said and grinned. "I get to be leader for the day? I get to be the boss of everyone?"

Leonardo's eyes widened. Why did he feel like he just got demoted? "Sensei, no disrespect, but…Mike?"

The wise rat nodded. "Yes. And Leonardo, you can take Michelangelo's place."

Raph blinked. "But Mike doesn't DO anything all day."

"Hey!" Mike protested. But he was too busy thinking about what being leader will mean to carry his protest further.

I'll go insane, Leonardo thought desperately. Either that or Mike will drive us all insane.

Don was the only one who wasn't so much focused on Mike's being leader as he was focusing on what this would mean for him. "Sensei, you can't mean that Raphael and I….?"

Splinter now let his smile come through. "Yes Donatello. You and Raphael will change places and no, you cannot padlock your laboratory. But I will allow you to put away anything potentially dangerous."

"I can't do what Don does!" Raphael said angrily. "I can't even understand what he's saying most of the time!"

"Then it appears you can spend the twenty four hours reading books to understand what he is saying," Splinter's calm voice was in sharp contrast to his son's angry one. "You will all spend the rest of this evening making a list of things you were going to do tomorrow. And I will be reading them over, so do not try to make a false list."

Donatello's heart sunk. Not only could he not go into his lab, or on his computer, or work on his projects, but Raphael would have access to all of that. And what could Raphael's list possibly include? Wake up at 7 am and be pissed the rest of the day? Of course, this was in between times fighting with Leo, and going out with Casey. Oh god, did he have to spend the day with Casey?

Splinter studied his sons. Of all of them, the only one who seemed happy was Michelangelo. He thought his youngest would quickly realize that being the leader was not what he thought it would be.

"Sensei," Leonardo's voice was quiet and respectful. "We understand the lessons you are trying to teach, but…there must be some other way."

Though none half as entertaining, Splinter thought while pretending to consider Leonardo's protest. He nodded. "Perhaps, Leonardo. But I believe this to be the best way. I will expect your lists within the hour. You are all dismissed."