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Waiting For You	By : MysticMewtwo Category: Comics > Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Views: 7074 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, nor any of the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 10
- 11
- 12
Chapter Thirteen
Changes

This chapter took a little longer than I anticipated. There were days I didn’t have the time or the drive, but now it’s finally up. There’s a scene I’ve had in mind for close to a year that was written in this one and it’s my second favorite after chpt.7’s. I hope you enjoy it.

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Alisa adjusted well to her new home and before anyone knew it, a month passed. Over those weeks, the young woman thrived and her health had vastly begun to improve. She was feeling stronger and energetic. There was no more pain to cripple or slow her down.

Her head injury was completely healed, and the stitches removed a week ago by Donatello. They could not risk her going to the hospital for the procedure, but taking out stitches was a fairly simple practice anyway. Hed had enough experience in patching his brothers on numerous occasions. She was left with a thin scar along her hair line, but it wasn't easily noticeable.

Between Leonardo and Michelangelo's cooking, she'd gained a little weight and now she wasn't quite so gauntly. She was filling out nicely, and soft curves were starting to form where before her bones had stuck out sharply. Color was returning to her complexion and her once pale, pasty cheeks were replaced with a light rosy glow.

Her physical changes weren't the only ones happening. There were psychological changes as well. She seemed to smile a little more each day and even though Raphael still would not acknowledge her, pretending she wasn't there, she enjoyed being around the family.

Her independence and stubborn will had not changed, however, and with the fact she was now almost fully recuperated, it began to increase more. There were times she'd overexert herself as she would try to spend time with each of the other turtles in their activities. This often would result in one not so happy ninja and his patience with her was tried.

Leo had asked her to take it easy after the first time it happened, but as it had repeatedly occurred his frustration was starting to override his gentle manner. It was a mistake he wished he hadn't ever made. He couldn't find her now after the latest episode, and he was growing panicked. She'd never hid from them here.

"Smooth move, fearless," the red-masked turtle sneered.

Leo gave him a withering glance. He wondered why he'd even asked him in the first place, but he took a chance anyway to know if he'd seen her.

"Raph, just don't," he replied, almost wearily, "I'm not in the mood."

Raph shrugged, looking back at the televisions he was watching a movie on.

"I don't know where she is," he said, "She ain't my business, remember?"

"Forget it," Leo sighed.

He turned and walked out of the living room. At least Mikey and Donny were helping him to look. He felt the corners of his eyes start to sting and he rubbed at them hastily with a hand. He became angry with himself then. How could he have been so stupid? Why did have to lose his temper at her? She didn't deserve that.

As he approached the dojo, he suddenly heard a small sound coming from within, and it stopped him in his tracks. Could it be Alisa? It was apparent she was interested in martial arts with how everyday she would sit on the sidelines and watched in fascination as they practiced. She seemed to become more alive and exhilarated from it. She was often there when he practiced alone even. It was, however, not one of the places he expected he'd find her.

Silently, he stepped into the room, and he saw her standing in the middle of the tumbling mat. To his complete and utter amazement, he watched her as she executed a Mawashi geri; roundhouse kick. What was more astounding was it wasn't done from simple imitation either. It was from years' worth of professional training.

The move had pivoted her in the direction of the dojo entrance and she froze when she noticed the turtle in the doorway. He was staring at her, his eyes slightly widened. She felt her stomach twist into knots as memories of earlier flooded her mind and she knew she was once again in trouble. Though he didn't appear to be angry, she was still wary.

She bit her lip as her chest constricted and her breathing quickened. She didn't want him to be mad at her again. She hadn't meant to cause any problems, and now she was afraid he would start to see her as one.

The fear in her eyes as she looked him tore at his heart. She was fully expecting him to punish her further, and she had done nothing wrong. It was his fault he'd lost his cool. The last thing he ever wanted to do was hurt her, but yet he'd done just that.

Leo cautiously began to approach her. Involuntarily, she took a step back, but misstepped and her foot twisted from under her. She fell back and landed on her bottom before he could reach her. She sat there feeling humiliated, unable to meet his gaze. She stiffened when she felt him touch her shoulder.

"Are you alright?" he asked, softly.

She could only nod her head, not trusting herself to speak.

"Does anything hurt?" he inquired.

Again she answered with simply a shake of her head. He drew in a deep breath and sighed heavily.

"Alisa," he began, his voice low, "I'm... I'm sorry. I never should have lost my temper."

"No," she interrupted, finally finding her voice, "I deserved it. I became a problem to you."

"You are not a problem, Alisa," he countered, his voice firm, "You never were, and I will hope one day you will realize that."

"I was only worried about your health," he continued, more gently, "I didn't want you doing too much at one time because I was afraid you would risk a relapse. I understand though how good it feels to be able to return your life to normal, or as close as it can get. I don't want you to think I'm trying to stop that because I'm not. I only care for you, mai tomodachi. I don't wish to see you hurt, and I have hurt you."

She looked up then into his sapphire eyes and she could see the pain and sadness that emanated behind them. He was really beating himself up over this. She slid her small hand into his and squeezed it softly. She gave him a gentle smile and he responded in kind a moment later. The gesture was all he needed to know he had been forgiven.

After a few more moments, he stood up and helped her to her feet as he did. As they started to walk out of the dojo, he remembered the move she'd done earlier.

"Where did you learn martial arts?" he asked, "That was a pretty good roundhouse you did."

"My older brother started teaching me when I was eight," she replied, a little embarrassed at the attention, "Then he took me to the dojo where he was part of a secret ninja club. The Sensei there became very impressed with me and he started giving me private lessons with another girl. She was older than me, almost my brother's age, and was his daughter. He told me when I was of age he wanted me to consider joining the club too, but of course that never happened. Mom and dad were killed, my brother disappeared, and I'd been living on the streets ever since."

Leonardo could feel anxiety starting to grow in the pit of his stomach as he listened to her story. He knew beyond a shadow of a doubt she was speaking of the Foot, but she didn't know just who they were or even how closely she had been within their grasp. He decided then and there the story of their feud with the Foot couldn’t wait any longer to be told. She had a right to know. Saki had destroyed her family.

"Alisa, there's something I've been meaning to tell you," he said, quietly, "But I was waiting until the right time. I believe that time is now. You need to know because it will explain all that has happened to you and your family. It will give you the answers you've been seeking to your questions."

Alisa abruptly came to a halt and stared at him. How was it possible he knew about her family? And if he did possess such information, why had he chosen to hide it from her all this time?

"I-I don’t understand," she stammered, "How could you...?"

"It's a long story," he replied, "And I'd rather we talked about it somewhere else than here. Why don't we go sit in the kitchen? I'll make us some tea."

She agreed and they made their way across the lair. On the way to the kitchen, they bumped into Don and Mike, and both were relieved to know she'd been found.

"We were getting kind of worried there," Mikey remarked, ruffling the hair on the top of her head, "But I knew Leo'd find you. Say, how about we go play a game? We can just shove Raph out of the way. He won't mind."

"I'll shove you out the door, Mikey!" the temperamental turtle's voice called from the living room.

His outburst went largely ignored.

"Maybe later, Mike," Leo answered, "There's something Alisa and I need to talk about. It's very important that we do."

Mikey noticed now that the young woman appeared distraught and anxious, while his brother wore a rather grim expression on his face.

"Is everything okay?" he asked, a little concerned.

"I hope," was the blue-masked turtle's only reply.

He guided Alisa away then to continue their trek to the kitchen. Upon their arrival, she seated herself at the table and he began to make the tea. He took a seat opposite her as he waited for the water to boil. The room was silent until the whistle on the kettle blew. He got up and removed the pot from the burner as he turned it off.

He poured the hot water into a blue Japanese teapot and let the tea leaves in it steep for a minute before he began transferring the now rich pale green liquid into two cups. He placed a strainer over each to catch the leaves and then discarded them in the trash.

He carried the steaming mugs to the table and placed one in front of the young lady before he returned to his seat with his own. Leo met her gaze and read the range of emotions in her eyes; confusion and disbelief standing out clearest. He understood what she was feeling.

"I know the ninja who you speak of," he began, "My family and I have feuded with them for many years. They are called the Foot, and they were led by a cruel and evil man, who was actually an Utrom, named Oroku Saki. His adoptive daughter, Karai, is now leader of the clan. She has ascended the role of her father since he was committed to exile in another galaxy."

The slight bitterness in his voice did not go undetected as he spoke of her and Alisa wondered what history there was between them. Baffling enough was that these names seemed to trigger a distant memory deep in her mind. She was certain she’d heard them before; in what seemed a long time ago.

"The story goes back even before my time, when my master was just an ordinary pet rat," he continued, "He belonged to a man named Hamato Yoshi, his master, and my grandfather, I suppose you could say."

He wove a tale of love, betrayal, and murder. By the time he finished, she felt she had come to know Splinter better through his story. She thought him strong to survive all that had happened to him. She also learned of a great man she would never meet. At least, not in this world anyway.

The pieces of her puzzle were slowly starting to fall together. Her enemies and their enemies were one and the same. Her brother had associated with these people; had belonged to their evil organization. She had trained in ninjitsu with this Oroku Saki and his daughter Karai, and had nearly fallen into the same trap.

The only thing that had saved her was her even greater devotion to school and the after school clubs she belonged to like the Japanese Historical Society. She'd enjoyed taking classes on the language and was interested in other aspects of the culture as well. It'd been a natural choice for her since she spent many years in the dojo and learned quite a bit of Japanese by the time she entered high school. She'd decided to even further her knowledge.

There was one thing she still didn't understand, however, and supposed she never would.

"He didn't have to kill my family," she said, quietly, "If all he wanted was me to join the clan, I would've to protect them."

"I don't believe it would've made much difference," Leo informed, grimly, "The Shredder didn't need a reason other than his own selfish desires. You have something he wanted, and he was willing to go through anything to get it; including your parents. Had you even gone willingly, he would've killed them anyway so you would have had nothing to hold onto and be tempted to go back."

"Either way, I failed them," she replied, her voice dropping to nearly a whisper.

She breathed deeply then, trying to calm the storm of emotions raging within her. Her eyes burned from the saline of unshed tears and her chest was tightly constricted.

"You couldn't have done any more," he told her, quietly, "That doesn't mean you failed them."

He reached across the table then and gently laid his hand over hers.

"They sacrificed their lives to protect you," he continued, "And I'm certain they would not like to see you blaming yourself for their deaths when their intent was to save you; not create a burden of guilt on you. Would you agree?"

She simply nodded her head, unable to trust herself to speak. He squeezed her hand softly, and she gazed up in his eyes. He smiled at her, and her own lips quirked in a small smile. As he looked at her, a strange feeling washed over him suddenly, and it caused a fluttering, queasy sensation in the pit of his stomach. He wondered why he never noticed before how pretty she was; especially when she smiled.

He snapped out of it quickly, however, when he felt her trying to pull her hand away. He had unknowingly tightened his grip and it had gone from pleasant to uncomfortable for her. Feeling rather abashed, he immediately took his hand off hers. He saw the confusion and a little of fear written on her face. She didn't understand what happened, and neither did he for that matter.

"I'm sorry," he said, thoroughly contrite, "I didn't hurt you, did I?"

She shook her head. While she felt trapped, he hadn't hurt her, but it alarmed her. He acted like he didn't want to let go of her.

"What's wrong?" she asked, quietly.

"It's nothing,” he sighed, "Only bad memories."

It wasn't a total lie. The story of the Foot had dredged up pain in old wounds. As much as he tried to leave the past behind him, it always seemed to come back somehow. Whether it was his shoulder would sometimes ache in very cold or rainy weather, or every time he and his brothers ran into a Foot patrol and engaged in another battle in the endless war.

"You'll want to drink your tea while it's still warm," he reminded, gently, changing the subject.

She looked down at her untouched mug then. She'd forgotten about it in the midst of their talk. She lifted the cup to her lips and drank the green liquid. There was still some heat left to it, and it was quite soothing to her system; calming her nerves. Not to mention it was delicious.

"Thank you," she replied, softly.

He smiled faintly. After a moment, the pair fell silent, and each was lost in a world of their own thoughts. They soon finished their tea, and Leonardo collected the empty mugs to place in the sink. He then walked out of the kitchen as the young woman quickly followed behind him.

"I'm going to be in the dojo for awhile," he told her, "You can go find Mikey and play games with him if you'd like. I know how much he enjoys playing with you."

For a moment, she thought he might be trying to get rid of her, and felt a little hurt by the suggestion. However, she could sense he did not mean it in that way at all. He only wanted her to have fun and take her mind off her family. She realized too she couldn't spend all of her time with him, even if she did rather prefer to be in his company over the others.

That wouldn't be fair to Don and Mike as she enjoyed each of their company as equally. She was still trying to work at Raphael, but so far she'd had no luck. He wouldn't look at her, much less speak to her. Nevertheless, she was determined to prove herself to him. Somehow, someway, she'd break through to him and he would have to change his mind on her.

However, she really did not feel like playing video games at the moment. She wanted peace and calm, and she felt the most secure and relaxed when she was with Leonardo.

"I want to come with you," she said, quietly, "Please?"

Leo couldn't help but be surprised by her request. He honestly thought she'd much rather go off without him for awhile, if not stay away entirely for the rest of the evening. He wouldn't have blamed her in the slightest if she did. After all, he hadn't been very good company to her today. He was still kicking himself over losing his temper at her.

The fact she voiced otherwise and continued to willingly remain in his presence genuinely touched him. She had a strong sense of loyalty.

"If you wish," he replied, softly.

She smiled gently and a bit of that light was reflected in her eyes. It was beginning to occur more frequently now, and he was always glad to see the shine of her happiness in them. They walked then to the dojo and she went to take up her usual corner to sit when she watched him practice. This time, however, he stopped her.

"I want you to join me," he said, with a smile.

She looked so surprised, her eyes as wide as saucers, he had to chuckle a bit.

"I wish to know the extent of your knowledge," he added.

She seemed to become flustered then, and her cheeks turned a shade of light pink. She was obviously embarrassed.

"I'm not that good," she mumbled, bowing her head a bit.

He stepped towards her suddenly and gently grabbed hold of her chin to tip her head up to meet his eyes.

"If you trained with Oroku Saki, then you are the best," he declared, his voice low and serious, “He did not waste his time on the weak. He knew you were strong and capable, and he would have taught you thusly. And I know it to be true as well."

She shakily drew in a deep breath and exhaled it in a long sigh.

"It's been a long time, Leo," she answered, her own voice low, "I'm horribly out of practice, and I don't know if I could remember it all."

"It's like riding a bicycle," he replied, "You never truly forget because it's still here..." he gestured to her head, "And here."

He briefly placed his hand on her chest over her heart. It was long enough, however, he could feel it beating through his fingertips. Her skin was so warm. He felt that same sensation in his stomach earlier return. He didn't understand what was causing it, but it was a possibility it could be just nerves. He tried to dismiss it for now.

"And I'll help you should you get stuck," he offered.

"All right," she finally agreed.

He smiled as she began to remove her shoes and followed him onto the tumbling mats. She closed her for a moment, gathering her concentration. When she felt she was ready, she opened her eyes, sliding her feet slightly apart to start the first exercise she was most familiar with. It was a basic warm-up kata; nothing too difficult.

After that, she launched into a different kata and this was one a lot more intermediate. She performed it as flawlessly as the warm-up, as well as the third one she attempted. However, her memory started struggling to remember moves as she tried more of the advanced exercises she’d learned long ago. It was then Leo stepped in to help and guide her through by performing the kata himself to show her.

She'd mimic his moves and then attempt the exercise alone, often without any more hitches. He was impressed with her ability to learn quickly, but the training was already ingrained in her after all. She just needed a refresher course.

By the time Leo halted the practice, they were both hot, tired, and in Alisa's case, very sore from unused muscles. It was a good hurt, however. She'd not had a workout like that in so long, and she'd enjoyed it very much.

She accepted the towel that was offered to her gratefully as she sat on the floor recovering. She wiped at the moisture around her eyes and forehead. He knelt down then beside her with his own towel draped around his shoulders.

"You did very well," he praised.

"Thank you," she replied, quietly, a shy smile on her lips.

"And I think you'd benefit greatly if you were to train regularly again," he continued, "I have an idea and I want to talk with Master Splinter first about it, but I see no reason why he wouldn't approve for you to practice with my brothers and me."

She turned to stare at him with shock and disbelief. It was more than anything in the world that she wanted. She would love to train again, but she hadn’t been sure if she could. She always felt like she was trespassing the times when she entered the dojo without explicit permission, and she’d been hesitant to reveal her knowledge of ninjitsu to them.

"Really?" she asked, flabbergasted.

"Yes," he answered, smiling.

"That… that would mean so much to me," she said, her voice dropping to nearly a whisper.

She could feel the corner of her eyes start to burn with tears. She took a deep breath then, and tried to quell the storm of emotions that threatened to break her. She'd never before in her life had anyone be so kind to her as Leonardo was; so considerate. He was truly the best friend she could ever hope to ask for.

After a moment, she looked up and locked her eyes with his. He felt almost paralyzed by her intense gaze, but even if he'd had a choice, he would have never torn away. He wanted to stay in her eyes forever.

"You do so much for me," she said, softly, "And though I could never begin to repay you, I want you to know how special you've become to me. I've never known anyone like you."

Her words caused a strange stirring in his heart. He felt it almost skip a beat. There was a warm sensation that started in his stomach and then spread quickly all over his body. His skin seemed to burn and the blood in his veins was like liquid fire. He'd never felt heat quite like this before.

Leo swallowed thickly, but before he could open his mouth to tell her how he felt, they were interrupted as Donatello suddenly appeared in the doorway.

"Dinner's ready," he announced.

It was that late? Leo was a bit surprised so much time had passed. The whole afternoon was gone, but it really hadn't seemed that long.

"Thanks, Donny," he finally replied, "Alisa and I will be there in a few minutes."

The purple-masked turtle nodded and disappeared as quickly as he had appeared. Something was happening with those two, though he wasn't sure yet what. Lately, he'd noticed how Leo seemed to be paying her a little more attention or that his eyes would follow her a little more closely than usual. The actions were subtle and probably no one else but him had caught them.

Alisa was spending most of her time with him, but she'd had always from the beginning preferred to hang around Leo. So it didn’t appear anything had changed there. She probably wasn't aware either to what he was doing. In any case, Don hoped it wouldn't come to cause any friction between them.

A moment after Don had gone, Leonardo rose to his feet and Alisa followed a little more slowly and stiffly. She winced inwardly as sore muscles were pulled. She then started to limp slightly towards the dojo door. He frowned as he watched her, walking alongside.

"You overdid it," he stated, quietly.

"I know," she answered, "But it can't be helped. I have to retrain my body."

He chose not to reply for he did not want a repeat of this morning. Instead, he silently remained at her side and ready to help if needed. They made it to the kitchen where everyone was already seated waiting for them. Alisa slid into a chair and Leo took the other empty one, but it was on the opposite side of the table. It was one of only the few times they had not sat together.

Dinner consisted of the usual affair of lively conversation throughout, between bites of baked fish and rice. Tonight was movie night, and there was a bit of a debate on which movie they would watch. Every week, they took turns picking out the movie, but this week they weren’t sure whose turn it was, so an argument had broken out.

"No, we are not watchin' "Jumanji" again for the billionth time, Mikey!" Raph exclaimed, 'I'm gonna chuck that DVD in the Hudson if I see it one more time!"

"It's better than that dumb old "Hannibal" movie you like so much,” Mikey muttered.

""Hannibal" ain’t "dumb," Raph replied, "You just couldn't handle it, so it ain't my fault you stayed in the bathroom for half the movie."

""Hannibal" was rather violent, Raph," Leo pointed out.

"Who asked you?" Raph retorted.

"Am I not allowed take part in this discussion?" Leo asked, coolly.

Raph growled low under his breath, but did not answer. It was a family discussion after all and Leo was entitled to his opinion, but it didn't mean he had to like it. When his brother didn't try to fight back, Leo smiled and then spoke again.

"Thank you," he said, "And I think I have an idea we could all agree on. Since we don't know whose turn it is to pick the movie, why not let Alisa choose?"

He glanced across the table to the young woman who had raised her glass halfway to her lips and then abruptly halted upon hearing the blue-masked turtle's suggestion. She looked understandably surprised. She'd never been asked to pick their movie on any of the movie nights in the time she'd lived here. She'd been happy just to watch what the others put on.

"Me?" she managed to squeak.

"If you don't want to, it’s okay," he answered, "But I think it's only fair. You are a member of this clan after all."

Raphael nearly choked on the rice he was eating at those words. What in the hell was he saying?! She was no part of this family! He thought he was going to have an aneurysm with the rage that had started to boil through his body, but a look of warning from his Sensei quelled any explosion he may have had. At least for now, but it was far from over. He was going to have his say on the matter; one way or another.

"I... I don't know," she hesitated.

"You don't have to decide right now," Leonardo assured, "You may look over the collection in the living room when you're ready."

She nodded and then finally completed the glass's journey to her lips to take a drink of milk. The conversation turned to other things, and the rest of dinner continued more peacefully. As on every movie night, when dinner was over, everyone pitched in to help clean the kitchen and wash the dishes. This was so they could get to watch the movie sooner.

After the chores were done, Alisa excused herself to take a bath, and was promised they would wait for her. She was tired and her muscles were sore. Her whole body ached, and was grimy and sticky with sweat. It was an overall unpleasant feeling. The thought of soaking in the tub filled with hot water for awhile was wonderful.

She left the kitchen then and headed upstairs to her bedroom to grab her nightgown, robe, clean underwear and slippers. She carried the bundle of clothes to the bathroom, where she folded them neatly in an empty space on the towel shelf over the rack. A moment later, she began turning on the water to draw her bath. She tested and adjusted the temperature until she was satisfied. She waited until the tub was filled before she undressed.

She slipped one foot over the rim and then the other as she eased her body down into the steamy water. She sighed deeply as it caressed her skin and seem to seep in her bones. She groaned softly with content as she lay back against the tub and closed her eyes. She was tempted to forego watching the movie and go on to bed. She was so tired and she knew they would understand, but she had been chosen to pick their movie and she didn't want to lose that honor. She was still a little shocked that she was given that right, but she was happy that she was being allowed to take part in family decisions.

After soaking for nearly twenty minutes, she decided to finally wash up and get out. They would probably be getting worried about her soon and she didn't want keep them waiting any longer. She pulled the drain plug to let the water out and then stood up. She grabbed towel nearby and stepped out of the tub. She dried off her body and hair, discarding the towel in the hamper.

She quickly dressed and then brushed her teeth. A few moments later when she finished, she gathered her dirty laundry from the floor and walked out of the bathroom to head to her room. She heard voices coming from below as she neared the stairs, but she couldn't make out the words too clearly. They sounded angry, however, and she wondered what was happening.

She continued to her room and dropped her clothes neatly in the hamper before she returned to the stairs. The voices had risen now, and a fight seemed to be escalating very quickly. Silently, she crept down the stairs, crouching low to stay hidden out of their sight. She didn't want to let them know she was there.

She paused at halfway and peered over the top of the railing. She could see them directly below her. The entire family had gathered in the center of the lair just outside the kitchen. Leo and Raph angrily stood eye to eye to each other, while Don and Mikey was off to their sides with identical worried expressions. Splinter appeared poised to step in between the feuding siblings at a moment's notice.

"There ain't no way I'm callin' her family, Leo!" Raph was exclaiming, "You can forget it!"

"And why not?" came Leo's more calm, measured reply, "You still think she's out to get us?"

"There's somethin' I don't like about her," Raph answered, "I don't trust her."

"I don't get what the hell your problem is," Leo protested, "I thought by now you'd see to reason. She's not our enemy, she's our friend, and I don't see why she shouldn't become a member of the family as such as Casey and April."

"Casey and April ain't the ones leadin' us to the slaughter," Raph retorted, "For all we know, she could be a spy for the Foot despite claimin' she's bein' hunted by them and she's pullin' the wool over your eyes until she's good and ready to kill us."

"Alisa's not like that," Mikey interjected, frowning, "She's a good girl."

"That's just what she wants us to think, Mike," Raph told him, "But I ain't fallin' for her 'damsel in distress' bit."

"Alisa is hardly a "damsel in distress"," Leo replied, "She's more than capable of defending herself."

"And what would you know?" Raph demanded.

"She told and showed me," Leo said, quietly, "She knows ninjitsu. She trained with the Shredder and Karai as a child when her older brother was in the Foot."

There was a suffocating silence for a few moments after the proclamation. Then everything seemed to suddenly explode into chaos.

"Great!" Raph threw up in his arms in the air, "And when exactly were you plannin' on telling us about it?!"

"Will you give me a break, Raph?" Leo raised his voice once again, "I only found out myself about it this afternoon."

"Nice job, fearless," Raph snarled, "You might as well have extended an open invitation to the entire Foot to come live with us. Now I know the reason why I don't like her."

"Alisa isn't the Foot!" Leo retaliated, "She never joined, though she was offered when she reached of age. She was just a child when all this happened. She didn't understand that she was involved with something more than just a few martial arts lessons she was interested in. Her brother didn't exactly tell her the truth, but we can't condemn her because of his poor judgment."

"She's just as much the enemy even if she hadn't officially joined,” Raph insisted, "She's a threat to us. She has to go, Leo. She can't stay here anymore. There ain't no two ways about it. There's plenty of shelters in the city for her to go instead. And if you won't do it, I'll kick her out myself."

"You will do nothing of the sort," Leo seethed, "She is not going anywhere."

"Look, I'll go through you if I have to," Raph challenged, his temper reaching the boiling point, "I ain't goin' to continue to live with a Foot reject. This ain't her home and we ain't her family. I'm sorry, bro, but that's how it's gotta be."

Leo was so enraged, his vision had become blurry and his surroundings were out of focus. So this is what it felt like to be completely blinded by fury. He’d never been this angry in his life. It took a strength he didn’t know he had to control the urge to pummel his brother right then and there. His entire body quivered like a taut bow string from the strain of the effort.

From her hiding place on the stairs, Alisa struggled to control her own emotions. She was hurt by Raphael’s callous behavior towards her, but she was also angry. He was judging her unfairly based on those facts alone. He hadn't even bothered to get to know her like the others over the last month because he saw no point in it. He'd made no effort to try either. She thought him to be a rude, insensitive jerk.

"Touch her and I'll personally kick you out," she heard Leo then warn, in a dangerously low voice.

There was a moment of eerie silence. Suddenly, there came the sickening sound of bone striking bone. The blow caused the blue-masked turtle to stumble back a bit before regaining his balance. A collective chorus of stunned gasps arose, and Splinter's sharp cry of "Raphael, come back here at once!" echoed through the lair as the temperamental turtle abruptly began to flee. He didn't stop at the rat's order, however, and disappeared out the door into the sewers.

He growled low to himself, his tail lashing in extreme agitation, and then turned to his eldest. Leo was tenderly holding a hand to his face where Raph's right-hook connected. His bottom lip had busted and blood was seeping around the corner of his mouth, which trailed down his chin in a small trickle. When he caught his father's glance, his wince was not one of pain, but of shame. Leo knew what he had said was wrong, but he hadn't meant for it to come out like that. For that, he deserved the hit and he deserved whatever punishment Splinter would give him later.

"Clean yourself up and put on an ice pack, my son," Splinter directed, his voice gentle, but firm, "Then it would be best for you to apologize to Alisa in having witnessed this spectacle."

Leo's eyes began to widen with shock and disbelief. A wave of immense guilt washed over him and he realized it was entirely possible for him to feel even worse than he was. He was never so ashamed. Splinter decided this would be punishment enough for his son.

The young woman was startled that the rat had known all along she was there. It was no use now continuing to hide, and she was uncomfortable crouching in one position for so long besides. She rose to her full height on the staircase then and slowly descended the rest of the way to the main floor.

She gazed up at the turtle and they locked eyes. He tried to open his mouth to say something, but he immediately winced in pain. His jaw was swollen and would not comply with his brain's commands to work. Instead, he bowed his head and looked contrite.

She understood and accepted the apology, but from her standpoint, she could see very little that was his fault. He'd defended her; sought to protect her. Yes, he may have provoked his brother, but Raphael did not have to strike him down. In truth, however, they were both to blame.

She reached into her robe pocket and pulled out a tissue. She approached him, lifted her hand with the tissue to his chin, and began to gently dab at the blood there. He was taken aback by her gesture, and he was still as she tenderly and attentively cleaned his face.

Only the sudden sound of Donatello's voice snapped him out of his stupor. He had returned from fetching the first aid kit in his lab.

"I can take it from here, Alisa," Don said to her, with a smile, "But thanks for the help. We both appreciate it."

She nodded and stepped back to let him do his job. She dropped the bloody tissue in the Ziploc bag he offered in his outstretched hand. She then watched him as he examined Leo's battered face.

"You're lucky that lip doesn't need stitches," the brainy terrapin muttered.

He swabbed the remaining blood off with an alcohol-soaked wipe. Then he began to feel along his jaw-bone, applying gentle pressure at different points. Leo groaned quietly in pain, drawing his breath in sharply. Shit, that hurt. Was Donny trying to help him or kill him? His whole face throbbed.

"Well, it's not broken," Don finally announced, "But it's going to be swollen for a few days, and you won't be able to talk very well or chew. Which means you'll have to eat a soft food diet such as oatmeal and Jell-O until it heals."

Well, it could be worse. Leo was relieved the damage was relatively minor. Raph could punch through walls when he was angry enough. All the bones on that one side of his face could have been broken instead of just bruised. However, that thought did little to soothe his pain.

"Hey, Mikey!" Don suddenly called out, "Where's that ice pack I asked you for?!"

"It's coming!" was the shouted reply from the kitchen.

A moment later, the youngest turtle hurried out carrying a plastic Ziploc bag nearly filled to the brim with ice cubes. He handed the bag to Leonardo, whom accepted it gratefully. He pressed the ice to his face gingerly and shivered slightly as the cold came in contact with his skin.

"Does this mean no movie tonight?" Michelangelo asked, uncertainly.

Leo realized the fight had caused their fun to be delayed, and perhaps even ruined. He already had enough on his conscience for one night. He didn't need that too. The movie would go as planned.

"No," he managed to whisper, "Take Alisa and let her pick the movie she wants. Then you go make some popcorn."

"Awesome!" Mikey cheered.

He grabbed the young woman's hand and nearly dragged her to the living room. She had to double her speed to keep up with him so he wouldn't pull her arm out of its socket.

"We've got just about everything on DVD," he told her, "So I'm sure you'll find what you want"

She only smiled and nodded her head in acknowledgement. When they reached the living room, he led her to a pile of boxes near the entertainment center. They were all filled with DVDs and her eyes widened slightly at the sight. It would take her forever to go through them all.

"I'm going to go make the popcorn now," Mike announced, "I know you'll pick a good one."

He ran off then happily towards the kitchen. After a moment he'd gone, she looked hesitantly back at the boxes. She didn't know where to start.

"Don't let Mikey make you feel you have to choose something that agrees with him," she heard Don say suddenly.

She turned around to find the purple-masked ninja standing nearby. He gave her a friendly, assuring smile.

"We'll watch anything you pick," he added.

"Okay," she answered, softly, smiling a little in return.

She knelt at the first box and began to sift through the countless DVD cases. Half of the movies she'd never even heard of. Those she'd pause at to give a critical exam until she decided she didn't like the content or set aside for further thought while continuing to browse. So far, however, she'd not found anything that was really of merit to her.

Then, halfway into the box, she noticed a DVD that was different from the others she'd seen. For one, it was still in its factory shrink-wrap. That was odd considering how worn most of the DVD cases were where obviously they were frequently watched. This one seemed to have just been tossed in and promptly forgotten. That was disappointing since it was a good movie. She knew she'd found just what she wanted.

She stood and walked over to the couch where Don had sat down.

"Did you find what you wanted?" he asked.

She nodded and presented him with the DVD. He frowned as he studied it. This was obviously brand new, which was a rarity around here because Mike usually tore into a DVD the second he got it and it was a Disney movie too. As he read the title, however, he had an idea why Mike might have tossed it aside; "Atlantis: The Lost Empire". It may have sounded too much like a history lesson than a cartoon movie to him, but Don was mildly intrigued by it. He wondered what take Disney had on a subject that he'd actually experienced.

"I think you'll like it," Alisa spoke up, quietly, "It is really very good."

"I'm sure we will," he assured, smiling, handing the DVD back.

She smiled back and then sat down on the couch beside him to wait for Michelangelo and Leonardo. As she thought of the blue-masked turtle, her smile began to fade. She was worried about him. She knew the confrontation between Raphael had hurt him deeper than the physical injuries he'd suffered. She could sense it in his heart. She fervently hoped the two brothers could patch things again. She couldn't stand any one fighting over her.

It was Leo who rejoined them first. He wore only his bandana and his bright emerald green skin seemed to glisten in the dim light, suggesting he'd stepped out of the shower just moments before. He walked to the couch and sat down at the other end beside Alisa. He smiled at her, only for it to turn into a grimace. His jaw and face was starting to feel a little better as the aspirin kicked in, but it was still painful to even do something as simple as smile.

He focused instead on the DVD that rested on her lap, curious as to what she movie she'd chosen. He didn't remember ever seeing it before, but she might have and thought they'd enjoy it too. The cover appeared to be full of mystery and suspense, and he had to admit it enticed him despite that he and his family endured a nightmarish version of it years ago.

Nearly ten minutes later, Mikey returned carrying a huge bowl of hot buttered popcorn and a six pack of sodas. He spied the DVD the young woman held clasped in her hands.

"So what are we watching?" he asked, giving her a slight grin.

"It's called "Atlantis",” she replied, "It's a Disney movie."

He remembered the movie she spoke of and blanched inwardly. It really didn't seem the type of movie he’d be interested in. It sounded long and boring, and the fact he'd dealt enough on the real Atlantis in the past made him more reluctant. However, he'd never actually bothered to watch it. It was still sealed from when April gave it to him for Christmas a couple of years ago.

"It is a good movie, Mike," Alisa continued, quietly, as if sensing his reluctance, "I promise, you won't be disappointed."

Mikey blinked in surprise at her assessment and then smiled somewhat sheepishly.

"I'll take your word on it," he answered.

The corners of her mouth lifted into a bright smile. She gave him the DVD as he made a grab for it.

"So let's fire this up then," he said.

He tore the wrapping off and popped open the case. He removed the disc and then placed it in the DVD player; the same Don had fixed over a month ago. The tray slid inside and he hit "play" on the remote. He hurried to the lounge lawn chair where he'd chosen to sit and settled in with the bowl of popcorn balancing on his lap.

The beginning of the movie started off kind of slow, but as it progressed, it picked up a faster pace with the adventure and action. Alisa was pleased to see Mikey was enraptured with the film. The other two turtles were enjoying it as well, and Don was especially enthralled with the science and history aspects. She knew she'd made the right choice.

The movie was not quite over when she felt her eyelids began to grow heavy and she was struggling to keep them open. She was tired when she took her bath earlier, but between it and the fight after with the brothers that caused an emotional chaos had left her completely drained. The last image on the television screens she remembered was the main character and the Atlantean princess holding hands.

During a lull in the movie, Donatello's attention strayed a bit and he happened to glance to his right. What he saw made him stop and do a double take. Alisa was curled up asleep with her head resting in Leonardo's lap and his brother seemed to be completely unaware of this fact. He had to admit, however, it was cute and he smiled to himself.

"Leo," Don finally whispered to him.

The blue-masked turtle turned his head to look at him, a questioning frown on his face. He raised an eye-ridge in confusion when Don began to point down at the couch towards him until he followed the gesture and suddenly understood. He was amazed at what he found. Tucked closely to his side with her head in his lap fast asleep was Alisa. Her deep, soft breaths trailed delicate whispers across his skin.

The sensation caused a shiver to run up his spine and then spread all through his body like an electrical current. He felt his stomach lurch and there was an odd tightening in his chest. Strange emotions were starting to creep in and he fought internally to push them away. They seemed to be coming more and more frequently as of late and he was greatly disturbed by them.

He wasn't sure how they were being created, but it was beginning to frighten him. He didn't want them to hurt his friendship with Alisa, but she always appeared to be the source. She’d stir odd twinges in his soul when they were spending time together, or he'd sometimes catch himself just staring at her for no apparent reasons other than she captured his attention far more easily nowadays. He hoped this was a passing phase and these new, unfamiliar feelings about her would go away soon enough. He cared for her a great deal and never wanted to lose that special bond with her.

"Hey, Leo, are you okay?" he heard Don's voice penetrate his thoughts suddenly.

The world around him came in focus once more. Don had a worried frown on his face.

"Yes, I'm okay," Leo assured, working his jaw carefully so he would limit the pain.

"You looked like you were a million miles away," Donny replied, "Are you sure you're okay?"

He hoped his brother wasn't starting to regress again. He'd stopped when the young woman had come to live with them.

"I was just thinking about something is all," Leo said.

He gently gathered Alisa's sleeping form into his arms then and stood up. He cradled her head at his shoulder.

"I'm going to put her to bed now and then I'm going to bed myself,” he told him, "Say 'goodnight' to Mikey for me, will you?"

"I will," Don promised, "Goodnight, Leo."

"Goodnight."

Leo quietly slipped away, carrying Alisa to the stairs to take her to her room. She sighed softly suddenly and turned slightly in his arms, but did not awaken. However, she had repositioned herself to where she was pressed more firmly to his body. He felt his heart beat quicken then and he swallowed thickly.

He hurried up the stairs now, but carefully so he wouldn't disturb her. He soon reached the top and headed down the hall to his left. A few moments later, he stepped into her room and walked to the bed.

Guided by the dim light of the small lamp she kept on, he pulled away the covers and gently laid her in bed. He removed her slippers and set them on the side of the bed before bringing the sheet and blankets back over her. She snuggled down in them reflexively and a flutter of a smile crossed her lips in sleep.

He felt the corners of his mouth lift slightly in his own smile. He reached to gently brush a tendril of hair out of her face. She looked so sweet and peaceful. She appeared almost like a child, but she was very much a woman and a lovely one at that. It was a fact which was becoming more and more apparent to him with each day.

He suddenly began to feel his body grow hot again. His mouth seemed to be full of cotton, dry and thick. The palms of his hands were becoming clammy with a nervous perspiration. He found he could no longer remain in the room. He had to leave.

He turned nearly on his heel and quickly, but silently, walked out. He shut the door softly behind him. He exhaled a breath he hadn't realized he’d been holding. He made his way then up to his own room.

His mind was a complete jam of emotions, and he knew if he didn't do something to alleviate them it was to be a sleepless night for him. He shook his head as if to clear it. He didn't understand this... He could not figure why she was starting to affect him so strongly again. What was happening now? What had changed?

He arrived at his door a minute later, and entered the room. He did not bother with a light as he closed the door to pitch blackness and headed over to his bed. He untied his mask and laid it on the nightstand. He then pulled the covers back and climbed in, but he had to position his head carefully on the pillow and not put pressure on the swollen side of his face.

He was certain it would be even more painful in the morning and he might not be able to talk at all. He wondered how things would be between him and Raphael when they eventually faced each other again. There'd be tension at first he knew, but Leo hoped they could put this behind them. He'd only wanted to protect Alisa, and though he never imagined he'd have come up against his own brother, he knew he would do it again if he had to.

He lay staring up at the ceiling for some time until his thoughts were finally exhausted and he could no longer keep his eyes open. He felt his eyelids slide closed and despite his anxiety, he managed to fall into an easy sleep.

End Chapter Thirteen
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