Who wants to see Leo's first training session?
"Okay, Leo. Touch your toes," Heather directs, showing him what to do. Leo, sitting on the hardwood floor, reaches forward as far as he can and taps one of his toes. He pulls back and huffs. "Gotta keep it there, Leo. Try again."
"This hurts," the turtle moans. Heather looks at him.
"That's because your body isn't used to it. You'll need to get in shape. Now try it for two seconds. I'll count it off." Leo reaches again and strains to grab the tops of his toes. "one one thousand. Two one thousand. Stop." Leo stops stretching.
"It burns."
"That burn is good Leo. But we can stop it you want." Despite the pain, Leo immediately shakes his head.
"I can keep going. What's next."
"The pretzel. Like this." Heather keeps one leg straight and bends the other one over it, keeping her foot flat. Leo looks at his feet and tries to mimic Heather. "And lean the opposite way." Leo tries, but his shell doesn't let him twist like Heather can.
"Do we switch?" Leo asks.
"Yep." They repeat, except with the other leg. Steve walks into the room after training with the Avengers.
"What are you two doing?" He asks, setting the keys on the hook. Leo gets up and hugs his legs.
"Heather's showing me stretches. We are going to stretch every morning and evening until we go to train," he explains. Steve pats his head so he will let go and walks to the kitchen.
"Leo's doing really well. If only we could go running," Heather whispers the last part to Steve.
"Just wait. He can run all he wants when you're at the Ranch," Steve replies, "So, how are lessons coming along?"
"Heather is still looking for a website to use," Leo answers first, "I want to train, Heather. Can't I learn school after?"
"Leo, remember what I said?"
"'Training will take long and I need to school.' But we'll be mostly training right?"
"Everything will be balanced. And, think of school as part of your training."
"Will I have time to talk to my brothers?" Leo asks.
"Um, we can find time. But it may be only once a week."
"How long will we be at the Ranch?" Leo asks. Heather looks at Steve. She knew he'd want to know at sometime.
"We'll be there for a while Leo, longer than a year."
"Oh, so I won't get to visit them?" Leo asks. Heather shakes her head.
"No Leo. But, we'll have Skype." Steve had left to shower and Heather looks at the time. "Let's get supper ready." So they work together to finish dinner before Steve gets out.
Leo told his brothers about his future training, and Donnie is thrilled to hear it. Mikey, he's just happy to see Leo. Raph was busy in the dojo, so he couldn't talk, but Leo was okay with that. They'll talk later.
Donnie told Heather about Mikey's progress. He's been getting better since their visit and will be back on his feet in no time. Heather knew this would happen. Mikey wasn't sick, he was missing something. Leo. He didn't know how his brother was the week before he got sick, so it happened.
Mikey is very attached to things, Heather had realized before. Leo was hurt and Mikey wanted to run away. Leo doesn't talk to them for over a week and he gets sick. It was Leo Mikey needed, not medicine. But what she prescribed did help a little, but the boost was the visit.
"Well, we got to get off now," Heather says.
"We need to stretch!" Leo says.
"And I'm going to show you something else, Leo," Heather says. Leo nods, excited. They say goodbye and close the computer. "Now Leo, first we are going to stretch." So Leo sits on the floor and goes through a few stretches, listening to Heather count. Then she gets up and he follows.
"What's the new thing?" Leo asks.
"It's called a push up," Heather answers. She kneels on the floor. Leo follows her. "Now put your hands here," she instructs. Leo bends down so he's on all fours. "Lift your knees up." When he does so, he falls onto his plastron.
"Ow.." he mutters.
"It's okay, try again. Your feet and hands keep you up." Leo gets back into position and waits. "Now bend your elbows," Heather shows him, straightening afterwards. Leo tries on his own, but Heather kneels next to him as he tries again. "Good."
"This is hard."
"It will get easier. The push up strengthens your arms."
"Oh, so it is good for you?" Heather nods. "Then I'll try to do as many as I can!" Leo vows. Heather chuckles.
"Is Captain Ryan getting into your head again?" Heather teases. Leo blushes.
"He's a great leader," Leo says coyly.
Two and a half weeks passed and Heather and Leo had been stretching, doing push ups, and another new thing to Leo, sit ups. Those were a little difficult due to his shell, but he doesn't let that stop him. But now that he was going to the Ranch in a few days, they had to pack.
Leo wants his blanket with him, so that goes in his backpack. Also, Heather insists his pjs and one casual outfit, since it may be chilly still. Also, he wears his light jacket and shoes. He packs his Captain Ryan figurine and a few books. He leaves the Ugly Duckling behind. His pillow that he brought to Heather's room at night comes.
Heather packs a few things, since the Ranch is like another home to her and she has stuff there already. But she packs up her computer, her toiletries, long with Leo's, and the book she has been reading. She bought a Space Heroes DVD once it came out, so Leo can watch it at the Ranch when there is nothing to do.
When the day finally came, the quickly called the Lair to receive a proper send off, which Raph participated in briefly. Then all three packed up into the truck and it was off to the Ranch.
Awww! He's so cute! He vows to do his best and his best is what he'll do.
Off to the Ranch! (I finally got some of it's description in Country Lass)