Okay guys so this is the chapter where stuff starts happening. Hope you're enjoying it so far, I know I am! Good luck to anyone taking finals! Don't forget to read and review!

Lana runs through the sewers stripping clothes as she does. If she was late again Splinter said he'd make her do flips the entire practice. She rounds the corner and quickly pulls the lever. She runs inside while pulling on her shoes and taking her shirt off. Her shorts fit snug on her hips and her black sports bra keeps everything from moving. She throws her clothes into her bag before throwing it and running into the dojo. She starts to put up her hair and apologize

"Sorry Splinter! There was traff-"

She looks at the sight in front of her. The turtles all turn to look at her and Mikey's face drops and looks at Leo then leans over to Donnie.

"Uh did no one tell her he was back?"

"Did you want to be the messenger on that?"

Mikey shakes his head fervently and Donnie makes a noise before slightly getting out of the way. Lana looks from Raph to Leo before finishing her ponytail. Leo smiles at her but she doesn't react.

"…you're back?"

"Yes."

"When?"

"Last night."

Leo looks at Raph who just shakes his head.

"Are we gonna train or what?"

Splinter walks out of his room and they all bow. Lana pauses before bowing to him,

"Go warm up."

They nod and start to stretch. Lana goes into the corner to collect herself while also stretching out her legs and arms. She leans into a back bend and puts her hands on the mat while looking at Leo. He stretches like he used to. Starts with his neck then works his way down his body. Always so meticulous. She stands up and drops onto her splits and reaches for her toe.

"Glad ta see all that stretchin' helped ya."

She looks at Raph and nods. He comes over while stretching his arms and looks at her.

"…don't let him get ta ya."

Lana shakes her head and fake smiles at him. Raph looks at Leo before going back to his own warm-ups. When they've all stretched and done the simple exercises Master Splinter walks out and hands Lana a short katana. She flips it in her hand and looks up at him. He smiles and nods.

"We will be sparring today. Raphael and Michelangelo, Donatello and Lana."

Donnie spins his staff before smiling at her. She swings the sword getting used to the weight before walking out onto the mat. Raph and Mikey prepare on the other mat and wait for the signal. Leo walks over to his father and gets ready to watch the fight. His eyes roam over each of his brothers and sees they don't look much different. Lana on the other hand…she had easily lost 15 pounds. Not that she needed to, it was more of a large muscle gain.

"Begin!"

Lana spins her sword and smiles at Donnie who spins his staff and waits for her to move.

"Bring it on genius."

"Want to relive last weeks result."

She rolls her shoulder before looking at him seriously. He moves and she dive rolls before shooting her blade into the air. Donnie hits it with his staff and she stands up defensively. He charges her and attacks with a few hits and a foot sweep. She blocks with the katana and jumps up and lands flat onto her stomach when he tries to sweep her feet. He goes to hit her but she rolls and flips onto her feet behind him. She kicks his shell sending him stumbling forward.

"Watch your back Donnie."

He makes a face before spinning his staff. He charges again but instead tackles her to the ground. She struggles under his weight and groans when she realizes her hands are pinned. He smiles down at her but she gets an idea.

"Ow Donnie."

His eyes go wide and he leans down to make sure she's okay. Lana takes the chance and head-butts him sending him rolling off her in pain.

"Ow! Lana!"

Lana grabs the katana and flips up and points it at his neck. He looks at her annoyed before tapping the mat and standing up. Lana smiles and does a little victory dance before checking Donnie's forehead.

"Are you okay?'

He nods and rubs the sore spot.

"You have such a hard head."

She laughs and shrugs.

"That's what I'm told at least."

He watches her walk away and notices the bandage on her back.

"Hey do those stitches itch yet?"

Lana nods to him as she drinks her water.

"I'll take them out after practice."

She holds a thumb up and wipes off her sweat before returning the sword to Splinter.

"Good job my student."

She bows to him in thanks.

"You've gotten a lot better since the last time I saw you fight."

Lana looks at Leo coldly.

"That's what happens when you're gone for almost two years…things do change."

She glares at him briefly before walking off to join Donnie. Leo watches her walk away and looks at Splinter.

"…she may have taken your absence hard as well my son."

Leo sighs and nods.

"She has improved a lot."

"She trains every morning and night…much like you used to."

Leo nods and looks at her again. She's laughing with Raph as Mikey rubs his arm in pain.

"Guys! Not cool!"

She makes a face at him before tugging at the necklace around her neck. Leo watches her but when she sees him he looks away quickly.

"Again!"

They look at Splinter before walking back onto the mat.

"Lana stay back."

Lana nods and sits next to her sensei.

"Michelangelo and Leonardo. Raphael and Donatello."

"Why do I have to fight him? What if he got bit by a mutant spider and gained some sort of mutant-mutant spider abilities. Spider turtle!"

They all look at him and Raph's the one to finally break the silence.

"…do you even listen to yourself talk?"

Leo laughs and looks at his youngest brother.

"Scared Mikey?"

"Never dude."

He pulls out his chucks and spins them expertly before waving for his brother to come at him. Lana watches them fight and marvels at the way Leo gracefully lands and twists his body effortlessly. He was even quieter than before he left if that was possible.

"Oomph!"

Mikey flies into the wall and drops his chuck before looking up at the sword pointed at his throat.

"Whoa!"

Leo smiles and sheaths his swords before helping him up.

"That was awesome! You have to show me that move sometime!"

Leo nods and looks back at Splinter. He nods to them before watching the other fight. Raph charges Donnie forcefully but Donnie continues to dodge and jump out of the way.

"Stop runnin' Don. You know the end is inevitable."

"Big words coming from you shell for brains."

Raph growls and tightens his grip on his sai before charging him again. Donnie jumps but Raph grabs his foot and slams him onto the ground. The wind effectively being knocked out of him, Raph pins him and puts his sai to his neck. Donnie taps out and Raph backs off putting his sai back into his belt. Donnie sits up and takes a couple of breaths.

"Geez…didn't know you were so sensitive Raph."

Raph turns angrily and goes to say something but Lana looks at him as she walks past and helps the purple-banded turtle up. Raph grumbles something before walking away angrily. Donnie looks at him and shakes his head while walking away trying to get the oxygen back into his system.

"Good job my students. That is all for tonight."

They bow before going to collect their things. Raph walks out with Mikey but Lana stays back to take her shoes off and stretch. Donnie glances at her then Leo before walking out of the room. Lana sits down on the mat and carefully pulls her shoes off and rolls her ankles to relieve the pain there.

"You okay?"

She looks over her shoulder at Leo and nods curtly. She spreads her legs and starts to stretch each muscle enjoying the feeling of them pulling.

"Care if I join you?"

"It's your home."

"That wasn't an answer."

She sighs and looks up at him before motioning to the floor. He sits in a butterfly and watches her. She continues to stretch out her muscles before speaking.

"It's not polite to stare."

Leo looks away quickly and starts the same stretch as her.

"…how've you been?"

"Fine."

"That's good…how's the hospital?"

"Haven't gone back."

Leo frowns and looks up at her from his stretch.

"Why not?"

She gets up on one knee and leans back.

"Just haven't."

He takes the hint and drops it. He goes silent and Lana glances at him before sighing.

"How was South America?"

"Beautiful and hot."

She nods and switches stretches.

"See all the cool animals?"

"I tried to stay away from the ones who could kill me."

"So all of them?'

He laughs and nods.

"Basically."

She looks at him and smiles slightly.

"Everyone missed you."

"Well that makes me feel better."

She raises a brow before falling into a back bend again.

"Did you think we wouldn't?"

He goes back into the butterfly stretch and shrugs.

"I thought Mikey and Donnie would, but I wasn't sure about Raph…he finally got the freedom he wanted."

"You think he really needed you to leave to be free?"

Leo looks at her and she just shakes her head.

"He's always been free Leo. You were like a rock in a river. An obstacle, but you didn't stop anything."

"…that was definitely Splinter's metaphor."

She tries not to smile.

"…you can't help but to pick up a few of his sayings listening to him."

He smiles and nods in agreement.

"My favorite is 'ame futte chi katamaru'."

Lana thinks it over and makes a face.

"Something about the earth and rain?"

"After the rain, earth hardens. Basically, adversity builds character."

She nods and smiles.

"What's yours?"

Lana laughs as she thinks about it.

"'Hana yori dango'."

Leo makes a face before laughing.

"Dumplings over flowers?"

"Splinter says it means to value practical things over non-practical things, but I like to think it means food is the way to the heart."

Leo chuckles and shakes his head.

"You would like that one."

"I'm a fan of food, what can I say."

She smiles and looks at him. He really hadn't changed all that much…

He notices her looking at him and looks back but she looks away quickly and stands up.

"I have to go."

"You're not going to stay for dinner?"

She shakes her head and grabs her bag before heading to the door. She opens it but stops herself and turns back around.

"…I no naka no kawazu taikai wo shirazu."

Leo looks up at her before she disappears out the door. She had literally said 'a frog in a well does not know the great sea' which means people are satisfied to judge things by their own narrow experience. Leo makes a face and tries to decipher her words. Was she talking about him or herself? He groans and sits up to meditate.