Any references to TMNT or anything from popular media and culture is NOT MINE. I only own my OC's. Any references to "TMNT Out of the Shadows" DO NOT BELONG TO ME. Only my additions that I came up with myself belong to me. Anything from the films or other series ARE NOT MINE, only my OC's and my ideas that I have added onto the story FOR FUN.
Thank you.

Chapter #36

*Sunday June 7th, 2015. Hiding on the plane before the flight leaves at 5a.m.*

The group still had a few hours before their flight would be ready to leave for Brazil, so they each decided to sit back and relax for the time being, knowing that things would be active and intense once they all finally caught up with Bebop and Rocksteady.
Leo chose this time to meditate, though he could sense that this would eventually lead to sleep anyway since he hadn't slept in a while (in general all their sleep schedules were out of whack since they "worked" all throughout the night while also getting things done during the day). Raph, like usual, was working out to a certain extent as he scrunched his hand grip weights and rotated using it from one hand and then back to the other. Overall the group had to be silent so that no one checked the already packed plane, and these two handled this very well…the other three, not so much.
Donnie would have been fine on his own as he tinkered away with some of his devices in his pack, but Sam and Mikey who were hiding behind some boxes towards the other side of the space were purposefully hacking into Don's devices as he worked. Sam made sure they weren't doing anything extreme like erasing any of his work, but more so they were playfully interfering by sending funny pop-ups of memes, or they would somehow alter the screen some. The one time Sam hacked in and changed Donnie's words every time he went to type something. This eventually became a battle as Donatello tried hacking back when Sam and Mikey went to listen to music, watch videos, play games, things like that. None of this was a big deal except for the fact that whatever one side did, it made the other side grab their sides from laughing so hard. Like they were seriously struggling in keeping their voices low and prevent themselves from laughing out loud.

Raph had been the first one to fall asleep. He didn't even realize that he was tired, he just kept crunching the weight in his hand until he eventually slumped back against the wall some, falling asleep with the weight still in his hand.
Mikey was the next to fall asleep. He and Sam had been watching "My Love Story!" on Sam's tablet (because Sam knew how to get Mikey hooked on good shojo anime series) and he had slumped over without realizing he had been swaying side to side some. Sam helped get him propped into a comfy position as he leaned onto the wall and the box next to him. Sam then decided to get comfy and leaned on his side as she continued to watch the show.
Eventually Donnie needed to take a break from using his devices (more so his eyes needed a break) and so he walked over to where Mikey and Sam were sleeping. He leaned against a different set of boxes and sat in a position where he was sitting on the floor, but could also rest his legs on top of Sam's, literally just to mess with her. Once that got old, Donnie scooted over so that he was sitting next to Sam, and Sam also changed her position so that she was sitting next to Donnie as the two watched episodes of Bates Motel on her tablet. This went on for a little while until eventually the two fell asleep side by side and leaning on one another.
Leo was the last to fall asleep. He looked around the room, and once he determined his sleeping siblings were safe, he let sleep overcome him as well.

They all slept through until 5a.m. when the plan began to take off. Everyone woke up a bit and stirred when they felt the plane move, but once they realized what time it was and that it was just the plan taking off, each of them laid back down. Donnie had stated that on average it would take about 8 hours to travel from the United States to Brazil, which meant that their estimated time of arrival wouldn't be until closer to one in the afternoon, so everyone was taking advantage of this time to sleep and relax.
Leo was the first to wake back up around 8a.m. He was a bit groggy when waking back up, but his stomach woke him up quickly soon after. The noises coming from his stomach made him question when he had last eaten, and he honestly couldn't come up with an answer. He then saw a peanut butter bar and a pack of crackers appear in front of him. He looked up to see that Sam had woken up and was now slowly shimmy-ing away from Donnie.

Leo chuckled. "You would have food with you."
"I'd be insulted if you thought I didn't" Sam said as she stood up and stretched.
"Riiiiiight, you're the perfectionist who has to have everything prepared for any situation."
Sam nodded with a smile as she then tried to carefully open the back of Donnie's pack without making him move too much
"What are you doing?" Leo asked as he began eating the snacks he was given.
"Donnie and I were using our devices earlier, which means that they need to be charged back up. Knowing him, he'll be thrilled to see that his devices have a full charge when he wakes back up" Sam said as she removed a few wireless chargers from her friends back pack.
"Can you check real quick and see if anything has changed in regards to Bebop and Rocksteady's location?"
Sam nodded as she pulled out Donnie's tablet and checked the location of the signature from the ooze.
"They haven't really moved much yet, which means we're making good timing in catching up to them."
Leo nodded. He would have continued to eat his snacks in peace, if it weren't for the fact that he kept sensing Sam's eyes on him every few seconds.
"Can I help you with something?" he asked with playful sarcasm.
Sam grinned. "Just wondering what goes through your head."
Leo paused. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Sam chuckled. "Don't take it personally. I'm just wondering how the older brother mind works and why it makes its hosts do what they do."
Leo sighed as he looked off to the side, not really being in the mood for a lecture on his rather harsh behaviors as of late.
"You're not the only one you know" Sam stated.
Leo looked back over at the girl and noticed the genuine look on her face.
"I'm not the only what?"
"Older brother. I know you act like an ass at times because you're the oldest and that's just how you show you care, but you're not the only one who is an older brother. Raph has two younger brothers and Donnie has one and they both worry and freak out as much as you do. And I'm older than all of you, so in a sense I understand as well."
Leo chuckled. "You may be older, but you're always going to be the little sister" he said with a mocking smile.
Sam rolled her eyes.
"MY POINT, is that you have others who understand how you feel, so you don't always have to act as the one to save and protect everyone else. You have people who will work with you because they understand your view point."
Leo sighed. "It's not the same. Yes Raph and Donnie have someone younger than them, but I have everyone to look after. It's just…different. I want to keep all of them as safe as possible, but because they're all younger brothers they just think about what's in their head at the moment, they don't think about things in the long run. They don't think about future consequences and it's my job to protect them from ever experiencing those consequences, but man they make it difficult to do that" Leo groaned as he ran his hand down his face.
Sam laughed softly as she looked back over at Leo and away from the devices she had been charging.
"They're your younger brothers, that means they were created to be little shits. It's part of the younger sibling code."
Leo had to fight back a laugh after hearing that one.
"Please share what else is in this 'book of code'."
"That we are supposed to whine when we don't get our way, that we do the stupidest shit to piss you off, that we take your stuff without telling you about it, shall I continue?" Sam asked with a smirk.
Leo shook his head. "I think I've heard enough. So if younger siblings get a book of code, what about the older, no the oldest sibling? What do we get?"
"You get stuck with a contract."
"And the guidelines are?" Leo asked.
Sam's expression softened some as she sent Leo a gentle smile.
"That you'll love the hell out of your younger siblings and that you'll protect them in every way possible while also respecting who they are and including their thoughts and feelings when deciding on how you're going to protect them."
Leo's gaze shot down to the floor. He knew where she was going with this, though her description did describe what a good brother would be like.
Sam picked up on Leo's sudden change in reaction.
"You regret what you said to Raph yesterday, don't you?" Sam asked softly.
Leo continued to look at the floor while he spoke.
"He just wouldn't calm down, you know? I mean I get it because I react the same way he does when I get emotional about anything, ironically we have that in common, but I was trying to explain my reasoning to him. But he didn't want to listen, and I wanted him to understand that I was trying to protect him and then I just…blurted that out…"
"I could tell by your face that you regretted it immediately" Sam said, continuing to talk in a soft voice.
"*sigh* he just doesn't get it, none of them do. I wanted to prevent them from experiencing what we all did at police headquarters last night. Just, I knew something like that would happen as soon as Donnie told me about what the purple ooze could do, I knew it would lead to a dangerous and painfully realistic situation like that."
Sam nodded her head.
"Okay two things. One, I understand where you're coming from, because sometimes I played your role when watching over Chuck. I mean it when I say I know where your mindset is, but as the younger sibling I can also say that hiding things will never save your siblings from anything. Secrets lead to arguments that will eventually lead to more chaos, aka literally what happened yesterday. Two…well this is actually a question, but what do you mean you were trying to prevent them from painfully realistic situations?"
Now that everything had been set up and was charging, Sam now walked over and sat down next to Leo.
Leo displayed a saddened and worrisome expression as he spoke.
"I knew that people would react to seeing us the way those officers did. People can't handle seeing us. I know it's shocking to see us for the first time, but people don't even think before they speak. They just see something different and freak out" Leo said, his voice still low but now becoming more pained and intense as he spoke.
"Leo…"
"I told Master Splinter the same thing, about how I tried to warn them. I swear they think I find enjoyment in being the ass that I am, but in reality I hate being seen as the bad guy. I don't mean to act like a total jerk, but it's for their own good. I know them all better than they think, hell I'm their oldest brother, I know more about them than anyone. But they just don't listen. I knew that people would react harshly to seeing us and I know that's probably crushed all hopes and dreams they ever had about the surface-"
"Leo calm down" Sam said. She was now on her knees and shaking him a bit as she kneeled at his right side. Leo hadn't realized how much he was huffing as he spoke, but Sam shaking him helped him realize his actions.
"Sorry…" Leo muttered, looking down at the floor in embarrassment. He never went off like this, that or he usually contained himself until he was alone somewhere and then would rant to himself. If something truly upset him then he might rant things out to his father, but he never acted quite like this (huffing and puffing with shaky breaths and motions) in front of anyone, ever. Sam was the only one who had ever seen him like this before. He had had a few rough arguments with Raph where he went off to 'patrol alone' when really he just needed to get away for a bit, and Sam was the only one who saw through his act no matter how calm he made himself seem to be.
Back to current times, Sam was showing a small smile to Leo.
"I'm your sister, I'm the one you're supposed to go to when you feel this way" she said as she slumped back against the wall and next to her friend now that he had calmed down.
"Leo, I understand that you can't stand to see them get hurt in any way, but you need to be open with them as to why you do what you do. If you explain your reasoning to them then maybe they'll try to work with you and not against you…though I'll admit I may have played a part in the working against you recently…sorry…" Sam said. Now it was her eyes that were looking down at the ground.
Leo chuckled lightly.
"It's fine. I think we all have made decisions that weren't exactly our best lately, and I should have discussed what I was doing when I left abruptly with Donnie. We could have talked about important things like retrieving the mutagen and also inspecting the robbery at the museum, but I was pissed and just left with Donnie without an explanation."
"Basically, no one is working as a team. Everyone is just doing what they think is best. We're not communicating, and we're definitely not listening to each other" Sam said.
Leo nodded his head.
"When we get back, I'll have a team meeting and we can discuss everything that's happened. Maybe we can all try to find some middle ground about the ooze and what are next moves will be."
Sam smiled and looked up at Leo.
"Now that sounds like true leader talk right there" she said genuinely. Her expression then switched back over to a more serious one.
"But Leo, you also need to stop hiding your brothers from the world as well and HEAR ME OUT FIRST!" Sam said bluntly and in a relatively higher voice, but not so high as to wake the rest of the brothers.
Leo sat there with his mouth open, not expecting her to cut him off so fast. He pursed his lips together and just nodded his head.
"Leo, when I say you can't, well more so you shouldn't hide them from the world, I mean parts of it. I'm pissed at what went down at headquarters hence my alien power surprise attack that was unexpected and definitely not part of the plan. I'm disappointed at what happened between you guys and the officers, but I swear on my life that not all humans are like that, and don't interrupt and say that April and I and Jay don't count because we do!"
Again, Leo was caught off guard with his mouth open and a facial expression that showed he was about to fight against her statement, but once again he slumped back and closed his mouth, rolling his wrist for Sam to continue.
"Thank you. Gosh you have no patience" Sam mumbled to tease him.
"Get on with it" Leo groaned as he rolled his eyes.
"I know that me and April and Jay are different, but I swear we're not the only ones. Out of the thousands of people that were forced into the Foot clan, about a solid hundred actually saw you. The rest know you exist, but they have never seen you. Regardless, there's A LOT of people that send Jay emails about wanting to meet you guys to thank you or to help you in some way."
Leo's eyes widened some after hearing this.
"Really?" he asked, turning his head to face her.
Sam nodded with a huge smile. "Swear my life on it dude."
"Then, why haven't we ever heard about all this help?"
"Because whenever I even mention you meeting other humans you shut it down in mere seconds before I've even begun to explain. You make an on the spot decision to protect your family without thinking through all the options or hearing other people share their thoughts. Sound familiar?"
Leo inhaled and exhaled slowly, understanding that Sam was referencing all the events that had happened recently in regards to ignoring his brother's thoughts and feelings towards the purple ooze.
"So, back to the whole I'm trying to save my brothers but I'm actually doing the opposite…" Leo said in a low and pained voice.
Sam put her hands on Leo's right arm gently. He turned to her to see the sorrow in her eyes.
"Don't be like that. As harsh as your choices may be at times, every decision you ever make is to protect your brothers. It doesn't always come out nice, but you always mean well. Your brothers know that to, but of course they're not going to openly admit that to you. You're the older brother, they're the younger brothers, none of you are EVER going to admit when the others are right and that you were wrong. That's just all families ever" Sam said with a chuckle.
This lead to a chuckle escaping from Leo as well.
He put his right arm around the girl and gave her a light hug.
"Thanks Sam. I don't know how I got by for 16 years without you" he said sincerely with a genuine smile.
Sam leaned into his side as a way to continue the hug.
"Just be lucky I'm here now" she said playfully. "And know that I can help you guys too. We're a family, we all have each other's backs. I know people that can help you guys as well. You just need to be more open and not shut an idea down because the first thought in your head is how it can go horribly wrong, which you overly exaggerate sometimes" Sam teased.
"Yeah, yeah whatever" Leo said with a laugh. "I'll try to improve on my habit of not listening and going straight to overly overprotective mode, okay?"
"Setting goals for personal change and growth, also an excellent quality of a leader" Sam teased. "So, what did you mean earlier when you said you knew the guys better than they thought?"
"*sigh* they think I don't know what their secret hopes are in regards to living topside as a human. But I know, and I know that that's the great thing about hopes. Hopes you can continue to look forward to, you can picture them in your head for as long as you want…but once something proves that a hope can't happen, it goes from a blissful dream to a crushed nightmare" Leo said glumly.
Sam nodded her head. "So you were afraid that a bad experience would ruin their dreams of what life would be like as humans?"
Leo nodded slowly.
"I know Donnie wants to work with human scientists because he thinks he can truly make a difference when it comes to tech and medicine, and I know he would make incredible accomplishments. I also know that he lies when he says he doesn't think about romance. He thinks about it, but he knows the probability of it happening are low, so he has an 'it will never happen so why think about it anyway?' type mindset. But I know it's fake and that he wants a family and a career on the surface. And I know Raph is the same way. Heh, one time Raph got stuck knitting while balancing one foot on a tricycle for hours, and Sensei said the only thing he would do to make the punishment a little better was to let him watch t.v. He got stuck watching 60's and 70's sitcoms which actually made the routine worse for Raph, but then some show came on and there were a bunch of little kids on it. He'll never admit it, but you could tell by his face that something changed when he saw that show. He used to be the same as Donnie, why think of it when it will never happen, but ever since then he's always wondered what it would be like to have a wife and kids, but he'd take that info with him to his grave. I'd share about Mikey butttttt I think his story is most obvious" Leo chuckled.
He turned to Sam and saw that she had a sincere and heartfelt expression on her face as she stared up at him.
"It's sad that your brothers don't hear you talk like this more often, I feel like they would understand what goes on in your head better and they might even understand why you act the way you do."
Leo was honestly confused. "What are you talking about?"
"You notice things about them, things they probably think only they know about. You watch over your brothers and try to protect them in ways they don't understand. You literally fight so hard to protect them from cruel realities that you end up going overboard, and because of that they end up fighting back against you, but that's only because they don't understand your intentions. You have nothing but heartfelt intentions for all of them and yet they always lead to arguments because of the lack of communication."
"Heh, welcome to Being the Oldest Sibling 101" Leo joked.
"Are you ever going to tell them any of this?" Sam asked gently.
Leo pursed his lips together.
"Eventually. It probably won't be as in depth as our conversation though. The only time the four of us talk like that is when we're truly hurting emotionally, and this isn't that serious."
"Typical boys" Sam said as she rolled her eyes.
Leo laughed at her reaction, and then switched back to a more calm and serious tone.
"I regret acting the way I did, I really do. They'd go overboard in making me realize that though so I'll never say it in front of them, but if I could go back and redo things, I would do it all differently. I wouldn't have had Donnie hide the news from the others, I wouldn't have benched Raph and Mikey, and I definitely wouldn't have said-"
"There's only one vote that counts in this family, MINE" Sam mocked as she quickly sat up and voiced a horribly hilarious rough and tough impression of Leo. He couldn't help but laugh at the way his friend just acted.
"That. I never would have said that" he said covering his mouth to quiet the volume of his laughter.
"Well, if you're not going to apologize, then do your best to think things out carefully and communicate with your brothers next time. Sometimes actions are a better apology than just words that could mean nothing."
Leo now had a huge smile on his face.
"I'm glad."
Sam smiled at him but furrowed her brow in confusion.
"About what?"
"That you're my sister."
Now it was Sam's turn to smile.
"Not bad for the thief you kicked out of your home the first night we met, huh?"
"Ughhhh we have moved past that. Leave it alone" Leo groaned teasingly.
Sam then flicked him on the side of the head.
"Ow. What was that for?"
"Who cares because it's in the past" Sam said in a mocking tone.
Leo bit his lip and nodded.
"Alright, touché" he said with a chuckle. "Hey, is your tablet all charged up yet?"
"Ummmm at least one of them should be by now, why?"
Leo then displayed one of his extremely rare childish expressions.
"Wanna watch Space Heroes?"
Sam mockingly shook her head with a smile.
"Give me a second. I'll pull up Netflix."

It was now close to 9a.m. as Sam sat next to Leo as the two watched Space Heroes together (Sam being the only person who would happily watch the show alongside the out of character fanboy). What these two didn't know is that they weren't alone the whole time they were talking. Donnie had been falling in and out of sleep ever since Sam shimmied away from him almost an hour earlier, and Raph had gained consciousness not long after. Both of them kept their eyes closed the entire time and secretly had heard every part of the conversation. Since there was nothing that signaled danger, Mikey had slept through the whole thing, but Raph and Donnie heard all they needed to hear. They both always knew that Leo cared for them as much as they did for him, but they also knew Sam was right in saying that they had never tried to understand their oldest brother's mindset as well. Deciding to follow through with the concept of actions being a better apology than words, the two mentally decided that they would try to work with their oldest brother and hear him out before blowing up at him every time they didn't agree with his decisions.

For now, the two decided they would just lay low and continue to pretend that they were still asleep…until their stomachs also started making noises and they had to ask Sam for food.