((Whoot! Almost done with this baby. Another three or four chapters, I'm guessing. I hope. Some more family bonding time. The action will be coming up in the next couple of chapters. LOL, especially for Donnie. Shhhhhhh, Cyn!))
Dinner was even more solemn than lunch. Splinter regarded the table thoughtfully as he ate. Three sons were upset with the fourth, and the fourth was upset with him. The rat sighed inwardly. Such was life with teenagers. Donatello was angry now, but he would be over it by morning, as would his brothers.
True to his word, Leonardo added meat to the dinner plate. His intention had been to cook spaghetti with meat sauce. The spaghetti, while a bit chewy, came out ok. The sauce was easy to heat. The hamburger…well…there was a problem with that and it ended up in the garbage. However, Leo was determined to put meat on the table. Therefore, dinner became spaghetti and bologna sandwiches. The combination was odd to be sure, but Michelangelo was enjoying it if no one else was.
Casey had gone home at his first opportunity. He discarded his gunked up clothing and wore an old trench coat over his underclothes. Mike joked that Casey was going to be a flasher (a joke that no one but Mike found amusing).
Donatello actually felt a little guilty about catching Casey in the crossfire. The man hadn't done anything to him. Not really, anyway. He couldn't be considered competition because he never told her…WHOA! Don stopped that line of thought in a hurry and he could feel his face heat up just a bit. Clearing his throat self-consciously, he told himself he would apologize to Casey at the first opportunity.
Dinner conversation was muted to the point of being almost non-existent. The turtles did however remember their manners and mutters of, "pass the salt" or "can I have the ketchup?" echoed around the table.
Unable to bear the silence any longer, Michelangelo spoke up, "So, how 'bout we go patrolling tonight? Or maybe a training run?"
Splinter nodded and smiled at his youngest son's efforts. "I think that is a good idea, Michelangelo."
He heard both Leonardo and Donatello mutter something under their breath about being "allowed" to go. Splinter smiled inwardly. Ah, yes…Leonardo learned an important thing about being Michelangelo. His youngest son very rarely went anywhere alone. It was not that Splinter did not trust Michelangelo. All right, maybe a little.
However, Splinter mused as he twirled the spaghetti on his fork. I am justified in my fears. Any time Michelangelo is out on his own, he becomes sidetracked and gets in to some trouble. The last time he was out alone, he came home with women's underclothing on his head.
When Leonardo announced that he had to go pick up something from April's house, Splinter insisted Raphael accompany him. It was a fact that angered Leo and delighted Raph. So it could very well be, that Leonardo was angry with his father as well.
Mike looked at Splinter excitedly. "Sensei, please let Donnie go. I know he's been a pain in the shell. Arguing. Kinda being defiant. Misbehaving. I mean that joke was uncalled for. And…"
"Jeez, Mike," Raph interrupted. "You ain't helpin' ya know?"
Leo shook his head. As oldest, he quite frequently had to plead for his younger brothers, to help them out of trouble. It seemed like Mike was trying his hand at it. Or maybe he was just trying to get Don in more trouble.
Don looked at the pseudo-leader. "Don't help me, Mike. Ok?"
Mike sighed. "What I meant to say, Sensei…"
Splinter held up a hand for Michelangelo to stop. His brothers were correct. He was not helping. In all honesty, he had not intended on carrying Donatello's restriction past that day. He would have a talk with his son about the lessons he had learned and give him an early parole. Provided Donatello did not cause any more trouble that day. "I understand, Michelangelo. As it is an exercise run and we only had one training session today, then I will allow Donatello to go despite his punishment."
Don's head snapped up in surprise. He couldn't remember a time that Splinter didn't strictly enforce a punishment. But then again…he was very rarely grounded.
"Sweet!" Mike grinned. "We'll head over to the warehouse district and…"
Leo broke in. "Mike, there's been some trouble over on the lower-east side lately. Maybe we should…"
"No!" Mike's fist came down onto the table lightly, but his eyes had a spark in them. A spark that clearly told everyone this was his decision and he had made it.
Raph and Leo blinked at each other before looking back to Mike. Leo tried again. "Then maybe you and Don can take the warehouse district and Raph and I…."
Mike shook his head stubbornly. "I am leader, right?"
Leo stared at him. Refusing to answer that question. Don hid a smile behind his napkin. As much as Mike's leadership status was going to his youngest brother's head, he loved seeing Mike swat Leo down.
Mike persisted. "And YOU are the little brother, right?" He had to drive this point home. For one, if they were going out patrolling his brothers had to understand that he is the leader. It was a matter of respect. And secondly, he wanted to go to the warehouse district and Leo couldn't stop him! So There!
Leo glared at him. He didn't act like this. He listened to everyone's opinion before making a decision. He wasn't a…a…tyrant. He exhaled quietly and tried to explain this to Mike. "Mikey, the point of being a good leader is to get the input of everyone on your team. Gather all the facts possible and then make a decision. It's not about being a dictator." He glanced to Splinter hoping for a little support, but the ninja master was quiet.
Leonardo recognized the look in his eye. As long as there was not bloodshed, he was willing to let them resolve this on their own.
Mike studied Leo for a second before glancing to his brothers. "Raph, where do you want to go?"
Raph stuffed the rest of his sandwich into his mouth. Around his mouth full, "I don't care long as I get to bust a few…." He hesitated and swallowed before making a face. "I mean, long as I get to try out some kinda gadget thing I got."
He didn't know what gadget thing he was talking about and he didn't really care. He just needed to get out of the lair. He needed some air. And he needed some action. Being a nerd didn't suit him. It was too boring. You never got to do your own thing; always fixing things for other people. It was annoying as hell. How Donnie didn't have a drinking problem with all this pressure he'd never know.
"How 'bout you, Donnie?" Mike asked.
Don took a sip of water and paused for a moment. He smirked. "Long as there's a fight, I'm there." He cringed inwardly at how that sounded. It definitely wasn't him and he wasn't sure he could live up to the statement of looking for a fight. But seeing Splinter's face when he said it made it worthwhile. There was a bit of revenge to be had on his mean old Father.
Mike nodded. "And you, Leo?"
Leo sighed. "I already told you. There is some trouble on the lower-east side worth investigating. I think we should at least start there."
Mike nodded again thoughtfully. He took a bite of spaghetti and chewed slowly. He appeared to be taking everyone's input to heart before making his decision. After about two full minutes of silence he put his fork down. "It's settled. We go to the warehouse district."
Leo banged his head lightly on the edge of the table. WHY wasn't Mike taking anything he said seriously? A little voice in the back of Leo's mind reminded him that he very rarely took anything MIKE said seriously.
But that's different, Leo argued with himself. Mike never tries to be serious. And even if he was, how can you tell with him?
Mike bounced to his feet with his empty plate, taking it to the sink. "Hey, Don-San, you got dishes again right?"
Don grimaced taking his plate over. "I'd like to know when I became the house-boy around here."
"Right about the time you switched places with me," Raph chuckled. "Oh and by the way." He walked over with his plate and said quietly so as not to disturb those still eating. "I think the toilet is clogged again thanks to Mike."
Don made a face starting the water. "I am not doing that. You can do it since you're the handy man. I've done enough around here for one day."
Raph shrugged. "Ok." He started to walk away and took the bo staff from Don's back.
Don spun. "Hey! What are you doing with that?" He knew that Splinter suggested some cross training, but there were plenty of spare weapons in the dojo. Raph didn't have to use his bo.
Raph smirked over his shoulder. "Every job requires a tool. This should work on that toilet."
Don's eyes widened and he raced after Raph.
