With Mikey's relationship bombshell finally revealed to Master Splinter, their stunned father had ended their impromptu morning meeting and Raph watched as everyone else escaped the lab after him.

"What are ya doin?" he suddenly asked Leo as he watched the turtle begin to sit up.

"I want out of this lab," Leo murmured.

"But all the space heaters are in here," Raph said.

Leo smiled and met Raph's eyes. "I don't need them with you around."

Raph nodded. That was certainly true. And he wasn't in a rush to try to cram back on the small medical cot with Leo. So before Leo could stand, Raph stood and scooped Leo up to carry him out of the room.

Leo could've walked. And maybe he should've insisted. But he liked this, so his only response was to wrap his arms around Raph's neck and stay silent as Raph carried him off. They went unnoticed by those in the pit, mainly because it sounded like Casey was currently busy teasing Michelangelo.

Raphael used one of his feet to shut Leo's door behind them and then set Leo down on the bed.

"Thanks, Raph," Leo said as he happily settled his shell on his own comfortable mattress. He'd subtly shifted his legs as Raph made his way onto the bed so that Raph would fill the space between them, but didn't dare nudge his hips against Raph the way he wanted to. They may have reconciled, but the way Raph had jumped away from him the day before was still fresh in his mind. Plus, he could feel the sleepy side effects of the drugs Donnie had given him begin to set in.

"That wasn't what ya were expectin, was it?"

Leo shifted himself further beneath Raph's warm body. Between the meds Donnie had given him and Raph's heat, he was definitely having a hard time keeping his eyes open. But he managed to look up at Raph with a confused expression. "Expecting?"

"For Master Splinter to be so acceptin of us," Raph added, while trying not to focus on the way Leo's legs were wrapped around him. Leo hummed in response, which Raphael noted wasn't an answer either way. "I'm glad ya had decided to tell him before he basically called us out on it."

"I like this," Leo murmured, nuzzling his nose against Raph's jawline. "Like you on top of me."

Raphael resisted the sudden strong urge to rut against the turtle beneath him. "I like this too," he managed to say. He pulled his head back to try to eye Leo. "Were ya listenin to me before?"

"Don's drowsy drugs," Leo murmured.

Raph chuckled. "Fine. Go to sleep, Fearless."

"You'll stay?"

Raph nuzzled his face against Leo's. "Yeah."

Leo was asleep almost as soon as the word left Raph's mouth and Raphael was left to sit in the silence and watch Leo rest. He wasn't tired, but after almost losing Leo the night before, he didn't mind staying right here, even if Leo were to sleep all day.

An hour later, however, Raphael shook Leo by the shoulders to try to wake him up. Leo's previous peaceful-looking sleep was interrupted by Leo mumbling and twitching. Raph had only caught a few of the words, but immediately sat up and tried to wake him when he heard the Shredder's name mumbled.

Leo swung an arm out to lash out at whoever had their hands around his shoulders. Raph caught Leo's first fist in his palm and ducked backwards to avoid the second, which landed him on his tail on the ground beside Leo's bed. He stood slowly and watched as Leo sat up and stared at him, clearly confused.

"Raph?"

A knock at the door interrupted them and Raphael moved to the door to open it. Leo couldn't see who was at the door, and could only hear low murmurs. But a moment later, Raphael merely glanced back at him before he stepped out of the room and their father stepped in. He closed the door behind him and moved over to sit in a chair at Leo's bedside before extending his hand out to hand Leonardo the tea he'd brought him.

After Michelangelo's shocking news that morning about his secret human boyfriend, Master Splinter had excused himself from their family meeting in order to immediately meditate in the dojo. An activity Karai had joined him in and he'd been comforted by his daughter's nearby presence.

He was fairly certain now, after his meditation, that he understood the discord he'd witnessed between Michelangelo and his brothers upon their return from the farmhouse. He could see that the other three had had their feelings hurt by Michelangelo's year-long secrecy. However, for his part, the fact that his youngest had maintained a relationship like this for a whole year, and nothing adverse had come of it, had brought him a sense of relief and happiness. He was sure that if Michelangelo had told him about Woody when he first met him, his first reactions would have been anger and worry. Understanding and acceptance would certainly have taken a great deal longer.

There would still be some work to be done with Michelangelo, including meeting this new human. And he would need to keep a subtle eye on Donnie's new arrangement. Not to mention the amount of healing Karai still needed to endure. But he pushed those thoughts aside as he sat with his eldest. Right now, it was time to focus on what was troubling Leonardo.

"Sensei." Leo quickly straightened his shell as his father sat next to his bed. His bed that now smelled like Raphael as well, a scent he was sure his father's nose could pick up. He accepted the tea his father had brought him, but began speaking before even taking a sip. "I feel like I should apologize again for not telling you about all of our changes. It was foolish to think you wouldn't notice." He paused for a moment before continuing. "I told the others I thought it was too many changes for you all at once, but -,"

"But it was too many changes for you all at once," Master Splinter interjected.

Leo rubbed a hand down his face. "I'm not even sure why. It's not like any of it was bad news."

"Leonardo," Master Splinter said, resting a hand on his son's shoulder to squeeze for a moment. "I have never apologized to you."

"Apologized?" Leo asked. His face jerked up to meet his father's.

"You were still very young when you had to begin facing the Shredder. And Saki was here in New York because he was looking for me."

Leo frowned and finally lifted the tea cup to take a drink. "Shredder forced us to become involved by going after you. We're family."

"That's a very mature opinion, my son. But it doesn't change the fact that each of you were hurt in one way or another over several years because of a fight that began between me and my brother. Or that you were forced to behead him in order to end the fight."

Leo ducked his head and Master Splinter knew he'd finally pinpointed what was troubling the young leader. He wasn't accustomed to having Leonardo keep things from him, although he knew him well enough to know that there must be a good reason for the recent secrecy.

"The mere fact that you are troubled by the action, and by his death, reveal what a strong, compassionate leader you are, Leonardo. All of your hard work resulted in a victory for this entire family, although I understand the burden you now carry because of it. I wish I could remove that burden from you, but only time will be able to do that."

Leo sighed slowly and considered his father's words. In a way, the acknowledgment was nice, just the same way Raphael had acknowledged the same issue out at the farmhouse. And it was somewhat of a relief to know that his father understood why he was stuck still focusing on the memories of the event.

"Thanks, dad," he said, and received a nod in return. Then he thought about some of his father's earlier words. His father watched as his mouth opened and then shut.

"You want to know if I'm accepting of you and Raphael because I think it will prevent another generation of brothers fighting against brothers?"

Leo raised an eye ridge, no longer surprised when his father could voice his own thoughts out loud like that. After all, it was likely no coincidence that Master Splinter appeared directly after his nightmare about Shredder.

"I have never considered you and Raphael following in my and Saki's path as a possibility. The four of you are bonded in a way that Saki and I never were. And, besides, I do believe that you and Raphael are well matched. You carry a great deal on your shoulders for this entire family, Leonardo. And Raphael has always watched you very closely in this. When the burden becomes overwhelming, he has always stepped in with a distraction. Although, this distraction usually came in the form of him picking a fight with you, but perhaps the distraction technique will change now that you've decided to become closer."

Leo leaned back against his headboard and groaned with his free hand over his face. Being thankful that his father accepted their relationship didn't defer any level of embarrassment that came with his father actually discussing it. Master Splinter chuckled and stood from his chair.

"You are always free to consult with me, Leonardo, even as you become your own young man. And you may find that consulting with Raphael satisfies that need, which is also okay, as long as you remember that you do not have to do any of this alone. Just remember, it is okay to focus on an event in order to learn and recover from it. Just don't unpack and live there."

"Hai, sensei."

Master Splinter moved to the door. "I sent Raphael to put together your lunches. I'm sure he will be back in a few moments." He watched a smile spread across Leonardo's face, which he attempted to hide behind his tea cup, before he ducked out of the room.

A/N: I think I'm finished addressing the serious. Next chapter will hopefully be posted later today.