TIME SKIP! Not-so-interesting stuff happens before this point.
Steve and Heather kept Leo off his legs and carried him to and from the bathroom, the living room, and his room. Heather had made sure he got exactly what he needed in his meals and Steve had entertained Leo when Heather would go out to get him some toys and another book. She kept it simple; a Captain Ryan action figure, a container of Legos, and a couple puzzles.
Leo was in an environment to promote his health until Dr. Cho's check up. When she came, she declared he was well enough to stand. But he should be watched at all times, in case he goes too far. Leo still insisted that he be carried around places, not wanting to have the close encounters with Heather's heartbeat to diminish. Of course, he never told Heather that. But she was happy he wanted to take it slow.
That was two days ago, and now it is early in the morning. Leo is looking up at the ceiling, thinking about his brothers. He talked to them more in the past days, all of which Splinter didn't bother. Leo knew he was better. So he felt like it was time.
He pushes the covers off and slowly slides his feet to the floor. After testing his legs he walks to the door without taking off the pj pants he had grown accustomed to. Leo walks into the kitchen and sees the time. Heather would wake up in a few hours.
He finds a stool and slides it to the counter. He climbs up and looks around. The stove is to his right. He turns it on so he can make some eggs. Then he reaches to his left to find a plate to put them on. He selects one on the top of a lower stack. By then, the stove is starting to get hot. Leo looks around for the pan and starts to feel a heaviness in his legs.
'No, I could make breakfast with a broken leg, I can make breakfast now.' He shrugs it off and remembers that Steve may want breakfast too. So he reaches for a bigger plate higher up. Then, after the warning he was previously given, his legs fall out from under him. He drops the plate and falls backwards. His elbow hits the stove and he falls to the floor. One of his hands scrapes a broken piece of plate. He dizzily looks at the wounds and the mess and begins to cry.
Heather wakes up immediately after the crash. She jumps out of bed and opens her door. Steve is awake too and they share a look. Heather goes first and starts down the hallway quickly. She enters the kitchen to see the scene of Leo's accident before her.
He was sitting on the floor, holding an elbow with a hand that had lines of red on it. Heather stoops over him. "Leo, let me see," she softly orders. Leo shakes his head, tears pouring out like rivers. "Leo," Heather says, a little more firm. Leo looks at her, pleading for something. Heather reaches for his elbow and pries the bloody hand away.
She finds only his hand is bloody, not his elbow. But why he was holding it was because there was a patch of red irritating his skin. She looks at the plate on the floor, shattered into a range of pieces. One of which is stuck on Leo's hand. It's a small piece, though, so it isn't deep.
"Steve, he's burned and bleeding. Get the first aid." Heather turns off the stove and gets a cloth soaked in cold water. She doesn't look to see if Steve listened, she knows he did. She kneels next to Leo again, who was starting to sob.
"I wanted to-" he chokes, "I wanted to.. make you- breakfast. Because you-" Heather looks up from the burn, "You were so, nice to me and-"
"Sh sh sh," Heather says, stroking his head, "I'm not mad."
"You- you aren't?" He asks.
"No, of course not. It's just a plate. You tried to do something for me and slipped up. Now this might hurt, but it will help." She slowly applies the cloth to his burn. He winces and hisses with pain. Heather holds it there with one hand as she rubs his carapace with the other. "But Leo," Leo looks at her, "Why did you come out this early? We could have made breakfast together."
"I haven't earned anything. Now that I'm better, I can do that."
"Oh buddy, you don't have to earn anything. You are a member of this house, not a slave like Splinter told you. You don't have to do something in order to be loved."
"You.. love, me?" Leo asks.
"Of course I do. Everyone needs love." Steve walks back into the room and looks at Leo's hand.
"I need to take this out, okay?" Steve asks. Leo nods and looks away as the piece of pottery is taken out of his palm and the blood is washed off and wrapped. Heather looks through the first aid until she finds a burn ointment. She carefully applies it to his elbow.
Heather picks him up and sets him on the couch. Then she picks up the pieces on the floor and disposes them in the trash. She washes the floor and comes to sit by Leo. Steve had turned on the tv for him so he could put away the first aid and get ready for the day. When Heather sits down, Leo looks like he's going to jump off to the floor.
"Want to sit on my lap?" Heather asks. The seven year old nods hesitantly, fearing it is a trap. He slides onto her lap and positions himself so he can hear her heartbeat.
"I'm sorry I broke the plate," he says. Heather chuckles.
"It's just a plate."
Leo smiles. "I like your laugh."
"Well, I like your smile."
"I.. I like how you carry me."
"I like how your face looks when you watch Space Heroes."
"I like.." Leo says, trying to think of a better one. "I like how you take care of me."
"I," Heather says, kissing the top of his head, "love to be the one to take care of you." Leo smiles wider and listens to her heart beat. Heather watches the documentary for a while, before finding Leo fast asleep.
Steve had mounted his motorcycle not long before Leo opened his eyes. He had been nudged by Heather, being aroused carefully. He is still on her lap and the tv is still on. "Leo, Space Heroes is on." Leo gasps and turns to the screen. But then he realizes that he's hungry.
"Um, I should probably.." he trails off, starting to get off. But Heather holds him there, setting a bowl on his lap.
"You can thank Steve later," Heather says, "You may be able to walk, but you are still healing, little lion."
".. Okay.." Leo turns back to his show, but Heather looks at him longer. He doesn't understand yet. He feels like he must do something to gain a place to stay, to gain her love. But he doesn't need to. He has already stole her heart.
Heather uses the spoon to help him eat, since one hand is hurt and it hurts to move his other arm. He fixes his eyes on the show, gasping during a space battle that takes much of the screen time. As the credits roll, Leo asks a surprising question.
"Heather, are you and Captain Steve family?" Heather looks at Leo.
"Well, we aren't related. But I guess we are like family, in a sense."
"Then.. why do you live together?"
"He's my mentor. He's my guardian. While my family is.. away, he takes care of me. I'm only sixteen so I can't live on my own."
"Oh, okay.. Heather?"
"Yes Leo?"
"Do you.. love, Captain Steve?" Heather is thrown off guard by his innocent question.
"Ahh.. yes. He's like a father/brother/uncle/grandpa to me. All rolled into one."
"That sounds weird.." Heather chuckles.
"Yeah, it does doesn't it?.. Hey! Why don't we call your brothers? They might want to know how you are doing."
"Do we have to show them my.." Leo holds up his arms.
Heather gently lowers them, "They are your family, Leo. You don't have to mention it, but if they ask about it, you shouldn't lie." Leo nods, understanding. "I'll get the computer."
The day had been a little shaky for Leo. He had talked to his brothers and almost got through the call without anyone noticing his new wounds. But due to Raph's protective eye, Donnie had almost gone above ground to treat him. This made Leo worry the rest of the day. He would keep trying to do something, only to turn around and see it is either already done or Heather was there to assist.
Leo was in his room at the end of the day. He barely did anything with his hands and Heather carried him. He sits up in bed and fingers the sheets. He looks at his toys, the Legos in a building shape and Captain Ryan proudly standing on top of the dresser. There is a full moon in the sky outside his window and a few stars can be seen despite the city lights.
"Look at all of this.." Leo freezes up as Splinter's voice echoes through his room. "Do you think you deserve this.. brat?"
"G-Go away.." Leo demands, shaking in his shell.
"I give the orders slave!" Splinter yells. Leo looks around the room, but doesn't see any sign of the rat. "You don't deserve a bed! You don't deserve a room. You are a slave! So you sleep outside the house in the sewer! Am I understood!?"
"Yes master!" Leo screams. He shoots out of bed and trips over an open book where Heather read to him before bed. He cringes after catching himself with his hand and opens the door. He goes straight to the laundry room and huddles in the corner. 'He found me.. I'm a slave. Don't you forget that Leo. You are a slave. You don't deserve anything in that room. You'll never go back there.. Toys are bad. Toys are not for slaves like you.' He continues to scold himself, unknowingly falling back asleep.
What do you think happened? Did Splinter find him? Was it a dream? Is everything about to get worse?