Saving the day

Liam was fascinated by all the words... the talking... the girl - reaching out when Don was doing something he didn't know was called writing to touch the softness he didn't know was hair. He was intrigued by Don, this much bigger them, and his small snout had touched against Don's shoulder, his neck shyly taking in his scent. It was not like grown male humans. Whose smells he didn't know where disinfectant, sweat, coffee, cigarettes and or car exhaust smells. Dons was sweat and leather and comforting to the little fellow.


Hanging onto Don, and eyes shifting as he spoke, then the big turtle spoke back to him and Liam watched the mouth, the eyes listening intently -


or as much as a small boy could in any case the look on his face serious beyond his years and his hands had slid off the holds they had on Don and mimicked what he just saw, holding an imaginary... something and moving his hand... imitating writing. He had seen big humans do this but didn't know what it meant.


But he knew what brother meant and he perks right up a beam and loud chirp as he points eagerly at them.


All three turn attention away from the female human whose hand they were sniffing and touching curiously to chirp back to Liam - and eagerly accepting him among them - and he was glad to be there too happy churring sounds all four tails wagging so hard their butts wagged too and nuzzling.


Liam now assured the soft human was not going to harm them moving closer to her, nuzzling her hand too - taking in her scent.


They were too young to note much about her smell. Only it was nice.


Duncan, skin like amethyst and shell like a purple sapphire, now reassured Liam was back among them and that the soft human wasn't going to grab them or hurt them was repeating words to himself he had heard, some new, some old. " t t uuu rrrtle… t ttuuuurrrtle. Shhh shhh eelllll. Ceee llll - k k k rrr aaaan " He liked the way those words felt saying them.



Malcolm was overtly affectionate, he craved it, all his brothers back he churred and chirped and happily chased more nuzzling... and the soft human blinking enormous gold eyes at her. He didn't know what singing was, he had never heard humans do that before, but he tried to copy her now, " ahhh llll aaa f aaaarrr."



Randall was the biggest of the boys, his red eyes still watching everyone of the bigger people warily, shrugging off his excitable golden brother after a few nuzzles and was content to sit back in the box.

" you'd think as a giant bipedal walkin' turtle I would have expected the kid to know somethin' too... but that... was -" He'd rejoined them, and was about to say weird, but all the boys where in the box and he instead goes with an uncharacteristic, " d'awwwwwwww - whoa neither of you heard that." he stopps the moment of cute eyes telling Don and Erica this last bit.


then chuckling and jogging don with an elbow. "Ya may be right about dad, he did take four of us in... and Mikey can be like twice that number sometimes." All innocence as if he and or that time Leo got really angry or Don had never been more than a handful on their own. He was tucking his shell cell back into his belt and adding. " April is on her way She'll toot the horn when she's close to the alley in her car and says when that happens , you Erica just to go up and get in, she left Casey cooking a late dinner and thinks it best not to linger. But we owe her pizza night and better story sometime." He warns his brother, fighting the goofy grin that wanted to come back watching the little ones in the box.

Erica beams, she was dirty, scraped and bruised from the fight with the round dragon guy and the abduction earlier and the travel, and was probably too shocked still to process the trauma of the day. she was supposed to be picking up a small charge of her own and going home.


Still she was glad for the moment she was not all traumatized, that Don said yes. She hadn't been much help getting out of the bots things or getting away and had only just really laid eyes on the small boys but... she did wish to see them again, and Don's encouragement it might happen, and giving her his number! she squees happily. " thanks Donatello, a lot, yes please lets arrange something sometime - I wont say anything, all of today has been far too stressing, this has been the coolest thing though, meeting you two, and these four, I promise not to share... they are very cute..." giggling at Raph's sound and attempt to hide it missing some of the next words after nodding and agreeing with Raph and another thanks to him that she would go once she heard the horn.


Focusing on the boys, staying still as they came closer, grinning and tickling the small snouts giggling again unawares they were taking her scent, gasping and eeeee ing lowly at the golden ones attempts to sing... awwwwwwwww. She was sure she melted into a puddle at that.

Don laughed softly at the babies in the box wagging their tails. They were awfully cute. They seemed to be imitating what was going on around them, and Don couldn't help but smile at that.

Oh, Don definitely did hear Raph's exclamation. And he shoots Raph a smirk. He will however, keep his mouth shut about it when they get home. But he knows and will not forget.

As far as Master Splinter's reaction, Don is fairly certain it will all be okay. What was he supposed to do, exactly? Leave baby turtles in the hands of the Purple Dragons and their Kraang buyers? No. Don is sure Master Splinter will be okay with them finding a way to make this all work.  Whatever 'this' may wind up being.  In fact, he is fairly certain that Master Splinter would have done the exact same thing had he been the one to encounter the situation.

"Thanks, Raph." Don replies, regarding April and Casey. "And I think pizza night can probably be arranged." Though he has a feeling they're going to be spending more time underground for awhile...

Somehow he had not expected the squealing from the girl, though he did an admirable job of hiding his reaction to the noise.

"They are that." He responds, to her saying the babies are cute. He then changes the subject. "April doesn't live far from here. She and Casey will be here soon." Though it is New York, and it is New York traffic.

"And let us know if you need anything. Or if you notice any of those Purple Dragons or Kraang snooping around."

He looks back down into the box and finds himself stroking the blue baby's forehead with one finger. The one that had curled up in his arms, and nuzzled against him.

Grinnin' and catching the smirk Raph gives up entirely fighting the fact he found the babies soooo cuuuute too - he kneels carefully and lowers his face closest to the side of the box the slightly larger red boy was in and smiles at him.

" Master splinter is going to luv ya guys, and probably think we just made whatever dreams he had of being a grandparent come true times four."" he grins and waits until the red eyed boy looks his way, " hellllo… Raaaaaphie." he says slowly touching his plastron. "Raaaapppphhhhieeeee." sounding the name out slowly. Delighted the kids had shown they can talk, somewhat.


A toot sounds overhead. "hurry Erica, Casey is dangerous in the kitchen." Smiiirrrrk their Casey was a clumsy lug of a man and definitely not the best cook despite April's efforts to teach him.

She grins at Don, at Raph and then focuses back on the little gold boy, she could just nom all their little cheeks! La la laaaa la," she sings just for him and then pouts, hugely... the beep.

Standing and chuckling at Raph's words, " I have to meet this Casey by the sounds of it... thank you both again so much..." leaning into the box and smooches four heads, Don's cheek and Raphs then reluctantly hurries away. Climbing up the fire escape.

"You're welcome...?" She's practically gone by the time the words are out of his mouth. Did that just happen? Looks over at Raph, confused. That... just happened, right?  What was that?  And... you know what? Babies are simpler... turns his focus there.

Looks down at the box. "We need to get home..." He frowns, remembering the way that the little blue one snuggled into his neck. "Part of me really wants the poor things out of the box." But at least they were together. And he wasn't sure they would all snuggle up like the blue one had.

All golden giggles Malcolm wags his tail and copies " la la laaaa la lala!" loudly and eagerly as toddlers do! still la laa laaaling when Erica kissed him... and then between las he made kissy faces.

Liam grins up at Don reaching up to catch the hand and nuzzle it, seeing Malcolms kissy face and.... making one himself.

Randall blinks round red eyes at the big turtle... "rrrr a aaaa iiiieeeeee?"

Duncan discovers whilst making a kissy face he could make bubbles!.

Raph was not paying attention he was grinning like a fool and nodding at the boy, tapping his plastron " that's right Raaaaphhhiiieee…" then he taps the boys plastron just as a smooch hits his cheek.


A different sound escapes his throat at the touch, a deep churr - and he coughs covering it and pretends it never happened trying to play it coole for Don at his glance, " nice to get thanked for a change - better den screamin and faintin and or stuff thrown at us..." yep so cool.


A grin at Don. "Well if you grab two I'll grab two and we can take em home."

Don 'coughs' to cover a laugh at the noise Raph just made. The attempt to play it cool is just amusing. And Don smiles and shakes his head, but says nothing. And he won't. He's not suicidal.

"True..."

Don the nods at the two and two idea. He lifts the blue child and the next closest one that isn't the red one that Raph is interacting with. He pauses a moment to make sure all the kiddos are okay with the arrangement. If all is well, he will head for home.

Liam saw the arms coming and this time his arms go up - golden brother eagerly bouncing after him and once up the two boys grin, both their tails wag and this time paired as they were and reasonably assured that the bigger turtles where not going to hurt them and they didn't need to be afraid they were more content to be parted.

In arms and easily a very affectionate little turtle Malcolm nuzzles and hugs and happy noises showing off to this big turtle what he'd learned... though he wasn't sure what it was, "Laaaa lll ll aaaaa la!"


Randall blushed shyly not sure what Raphie meant when the tap came against his plastron and sort of gazed at the big turtle as he and Duncan were picked up.


Duncan, got it though and he touches Raphie's plastron, " Rrrr aaa ffieeeee, then he presses a hand to his plastron. " Duuuun aaann," then touching Randall. " Rrrrr aaannn dallll."

Raph grins at Don, he knew his brother was being careful not to tease about his noise.

He picked up the remaining to and set of with Don, grinning at the small purple boy, " hah this one is a smarty pants like you Don. Thanks uuumm…" he was puzzling exactly what the child said. but ran the name through his head. Must be Duncan. " Duncan, thanks for that, know how old you are?" it was a long shot but maybe the little guy was as bright as he seemed and had the answer.

And so the other one didn't feel left out, " and hello Randall do yooou know how old you are?"

The little singer gets himself a hug as Don laughs softly at the little noise.

Don looked over at Raph and the two children he was holding. Duncan did seem to have impressive communication skills. At least compared to the others. Don laughs softly and looks down to the two in his arms.

"Do you guys know your names? My name is Don." He gave them some time between the two sentences. He decided to keep things simple. Though, with two children in his arms, he couldn't exactly gesture.

As he speaks to them, he begins the walk home. They should be able to make pretty good time, and Don is sure they're not being followed, so he's not terribly worried if the children make a little noise.

He anticipates a hubbub when they reach their destination.

Raph had been gone too long. Surely he'd had a chance to blow off steam by now! It was just chess! And, for the record, Raph had lost.  And Leo was perturbed to find that Don had taken off earlier in the evening too! What were they thinking? At least Raph had had the decency to let everyone know he was leaving. It had been hard to miss, of course, but at least everyone knew. Don just left!

Leo is pacing the lair, and has half a mind to go out and search for them. When he finds them, he is going to give them a piece of his mind. But for now, he is still home. He decides to give them five more minutes to return.

Duncan puffs out his plastron, though the next question takes him some time to work out. And then work on an answer. He had never been taught numbers, but he knew a few and had heard big humans say the word age followed by three sometimes... " reeeee?" entirely uncertain about that.


Randall grins but hides his face against his brothers shell not answering.


Liam goes to answer and manages a "Li aaaaaaaa-"


" Mmmm aaaa llll ooooommmm!' cutting across his blue brother and grinning widely. Snuggling cause he loved snuggles!

Raph grins and snugs the little red guy watching the purple one think, listening to the word and smiling, " three? wow that's a lot of years old." no it wasn't and he knew it but it seemed the thing to say to a small child.

Children. Amused by the eager beaver in Don's arms, surely he was heard all the way to the lair by now! That one certainly wasn't very shy no more.

And he wondered if he or Don was going to get a Leo lecture.

Though a bit of a smugness to his grin now. No way they would with these cute little additions, no doubt the sight of them would derail impending Leo lecturing, and with Mikey possibly still out skating somewhere... this was a great distraction.

As amused as Don is by the snuggling he's getting from the golden child, he is more amused by Raph. He's not even bothering to hide it at this point, but he might be able to pass it off as amusement at the babies. He nuzzles the children in his arms.

"Well, hello Liam, Malcom. It's nice to meet you." Don said softly as he turned the final corner leading to the lair. It took a little experimenting to figure out how to open the door with a child in each arm. Turns out, that's a bit of a trick.

Leo heard the door. It wasn't the smooth quiet opening his brothers usually managed. This was a little rough. At least Raph and Don were together. That soothed some of his worries.

"About time! Oh good, you found each other. Do you have any idea--" And as Raph suspected, the lecture was well and truly derailed.

"What-- Where..."  Leo stood there for a moment looking something like a fish, his mouth opened and closed a couple times.


"Okay... who wants to explain." He pinches the space between his eyes, mostly because he figures he must be hallucinating.

Liam tried to help with the door - mostly getting in the way of course. And then offer the new turtle a sort of small grin.

Malcolm beamed - yay! lots of huuuuugs! and Snuuuugs! - and tries out the new word he'd just learned, he was so proud to have conveyed his name right! Looking at this new big turtle - leaning outward on Don's arm and saying oh so cheerily " E lll oooo!" Tail gold tail going wiggy waggy.


Duncan nods eagerly, yes he'd said right and he was sure that was the answer. [color=#9932CC]" essss reeee - reeee! ellllo!"[/color he echoes his golden brother.


Randall was quiet content on the other hand to hide his face now against Raph's houlder, eyeing this other big turtle with one red eye, pretending not to peak!

YES!

As effective as a Mikey distraction!

And with a smirk playing over his lips, Raph adjusts the children a bit and goes for a completely fake and playful story, " Well here we were strolling back and just happened upon these guys in a box, it had 'To Leo your a dad now, good luck.' figured we'd better bring home the message."


If anything just to try flustering the big brother. and maybe enjoying the for once absolutely surprised look on his brothers face. Hey it was not often Leo was so taken aback!


Turning a little for Randall could see Leo batter amused by Malcolm and Duncan copying the hellos and yep having given up entirely on hiding the fact these barely known little hatchlings were exposing his soft goo-ness, he whispers to the slightly largest but apparently most shy boy, "say hiii….."

If Don was honest, he had enjoyed Leo's outright shock almost as much as Raph had. Don is carefully not laughing at Raph's 'explanation,' though his eyes probably are. He is quite sure that Leo is in a mood.  And he has no desire to add to it.

As Raph goes about trying to get Randall to say 'Hi' Don offers a cursory explanation. Though it's sure to spoil Raph's fun.

"We uh... 'interrupted' a transaction between the Purple Dragons and some Kraang." Don looks at Raph, not sure how to describe the Kraang. So for now he doesn't, though he's sure Leo will notice the omission. "The Purple Dragons were hauling some... interesting cargo."

"Raph, you are so full of-- Leo realizes what he had been about to say and checks himself, glancing at the babies. "it." He shoots a glare at his red masked brother.

When Don picks up the story Leo is pretty sure it's technically true, but Don is infuriatingly using euphemisms and Leo turns his glare on him next. He refrains from asking Donnie for English because he'd managed to figure out what he was saying on his own. Except for one thing.

"Who are the Kraang?" He can't even begin to guess who they are.  The name is completely foreign.

"And so... you brought the 'cargo' home? Leo states slowly. Obviously they did bring the children home. And yes, he understands that they couldn't leave something like this out in the world, but he's beyond flabbergasted.

Leo frowns in thought at the way Don and Raph are snuggling and playing with the children. They're clearly  attached already. Leo wants to tell them that this was a foolish thing to do and they can't just go bringing everything they meet home, but in this case it's clear they had no other option. Frankly, he doesn't want more explanation.

"I will go inform Master Splinter that we have... 'guests'."

And he turns to go do exactly that.

Raph has a definite smirk but he is hiding it nuzzling the now very shy little guy.

He shrugs as Leo says he will go tell Master Splinter. "It has been kinda the way tonight went... except these guys. And the Kraang… well I think their rogue utrom, at least their bubblegum looking blobs of brains with tentacles, they had no individual names, wore the same, fake human skin and spoke like they were robotic nerdy hippies. It was a headache to listen to."


Keeping that bit brief. Because he was trying to decide what you did with kids once you got them home.... feed them? or give them toys? and did he have to do either? could he hold more?

So far this new big turtle hadn't said hello back to the before enthused greeters.

But it was not that alone that quietened Malcolm's exuberance, or turned Liam's calm interest and patience protective, him slipping a blue arm around his brothers gold shell. Or male Duncan's immense wanting to know everything curiosity wary. They like Randal pressed faces into shoulder of neck and 'hid'. The red boy had hid his other eye away from Raph's gentle encouragements.

Because they'd worried they had perhaps angered the new big one. Not understanding much of what was said, but hearing the other big ones tone. Annoyed or angry tones that came from big humans was usually not good for them.

Liam turning big blue eyes up to Don, whispering worriedly, " … mmm ad?" bottom lip trembling a little, just a tiny bit, glancing at the other big turtles shell now facing them. " zzzzzs?" He cringed a little pronouncing that. His brothers do too.

Old rats needed naps.


Old rats also needed meditation.


And he had had the first after his stories, now was doing the other unconcerned for his sons for the moment surely they were all fine... mostly.


Siiiigh he hoped Michelangelo had kept his word and stuck to the sewers to skateboard. He had heard a Raphael storming out earlier and the lack of any sorts of tinkering sounds told him Donatello was most like out too.

Unawares his efforts to meditate were about to be interrupted.

Don frowns down at the children as their demeanor changes. He didn't quite follow what happened. Liam's soft words surprise him. He's not sure what the second word was, but it definitely bothered the child.

"What? No. Leo's not mad. He's... overwhelmed." Not that the child probably understands most of that. Don turns his frown at his brother's retreating back. The frown almost becomes a glare, but before it can, he softens his expression and turns back to Liam. "It's okay. Leo's nice. He just needs a minute to process things."

He looks around the lair, they're going to have some work to do making it safe for the kids... In the meantime he gives the two in his arms another cuddle before speaking to them. "Are you hungry?"

Leo shakes his head as he walks away from his brothers and the babies. He could feel Don's almost glare, but wasn't sure what it was about. He opted to ignore it for now. How were they going to do this? He had a million questions, but no real way to ask them all. He stands and looks at Master Splinter's door for a moment before bowing and entering his space. He is not wringing his hands by sheer force of will.

It was one of those moments when being the leader was grossly unfair. How come he got stuck with this stuff! He should have sent Don or Raph in, they would at least be better able to answer questions!  He could delegate, right? Leo sighed and turned back to the task at hand.

"Master Splinter, Raph and Don are back. While they were out, they encountered some sort of black market transaction that they put an end too. And... well... um... Apparently the Purple Dragons were selling baby turtles..." He pauses there in his report. Again, he has to stop some other nervous tic. "They brought them home..."

Leo does not know what to do with children! Though... curiously... Raph seemed to...

Raph - who angered and annoyed and often deliberately so - Leo most often and sometimes took some enjoyment out of getting under his brothers skin chuckled and nuzzled his two, he had wondered for a moment at the sudden quiet and the shyness the Randall seemed to spread among his brothers like a cough. Thanks to Liam and Don he knew, though he had no clue what 'zzzzs' meant any more than Don did.

" Dons right ya haven't made the Chief mad, he just worried and now has new faces to worry about... you guys... Leo's cool usually yas will like him. And probably go cuddling up to him when things feel scary." cause Leo had a reassuring presence about him.

He was glad Don seemed to know what to do next whilst they wait for their father and brother, looking about Mikey and his board were still out he could see. " yeah I could eat." knowing full well Don had asked the children not him! but grinning and heading for the dinning table set outside the kitchen space.

Liam felt reassured! And it showed, he sags in relief and he churrs at the cuddle giving one back and a small grin answers Raph from Don's shoulder.

Malcolm whoops softly and his smile comes back, he had a sweet innocent sort of beaming smile - as if butter wouldn't melt in his mouth - and it was plastered across his face as he snugs into Dons cuddling, then draws back as his belly answers the question for him. and good thing too cause he wasn't sure what it was, his belly made funny squishing and gurgling sounds, he looks down at it.

Liam sniggers beside him.

In Raph's arms Randall also now relaxed again but still half hiding his face giggles. Duncan chuckles and pats his belly too, he knew some of the words and the question asked this time" unnnn ryyyy yeeeep…. no zzzzs!" cheery again now reassured they were not to be punished.

Erica had made it home... finally! and relieved the elderly and sweet neighbour baby sitter from her duty of care of watching Elena.

She was still too shocked to process her ordeal. And so exhausted! But even as she curls up on the recliner in front of a Teen Titans Go quietly playing she texts the number Don gave her. She felt, after all that had been done for her tonight it was good manners to let the two know she got home safe.

Elena, five year old and with masses of golden curls slept on top of her, and she took comfort in the warm weight. Typing out the following text 'April was cool, I am home now, and safe -' the had hesitated but Don and Raph trusted her so she left her address, sides April knew it now. ' please visit some time, say night to the little ones for me. Thanx, Ee.'


Then placing her phone away n the coffee table she settles back. Asleep within minutes.

Splinter let himself come out of his pose slowly hearing Leonardo's approach, eyes opening and ears focused, taking in all Leonardo said.

Non plussed for a moment, and guessing turtles meant some exotic pet. " I see, it is heartening to hear your brothers are home perhaps if Donatello should be able to fix them up with a tank for now yous can go retrieve your way ward skater boy brother." Yep totally under the assumption baby turtles were actual hatchling some sort of rare and possibly endangered species of turtle hatchlings.


Standing slowly. " Your brothers have no injuries they need seeing to?" nodding for Leonardo to lead the way to where Donatello and Raphael were though he could hear for himself they had headed towards the kitchen.

Leonardo cringes, as he is pretty sure that he just led Master Splinter down a not quite correct path. Rare, yes. Endangered, certainly. But definitely off base.

"Uh... not that type of turtle, Sensei. Maybe you should come see for yourself..." He warns nervously as he leads Master Splinter through to the kitchen where Don and Raph seem to have taken the kids.

As far as injuries, Leo hadn't even thought to ask! And he mentally kicks himself for not doing so. That is how off guard his brothers' 'cargo' had him. He nods at the suggestion that he go find Mikey, and he will, as soon as Master Splinter understands what Leo is actually trying to say.

Don laughs softly as he sets Liam and Malcolm down on a chair, and realizes that that is probably not going to work. They're too short to really see over the table. "Hmm... We will have to come up with something else." He moves into the kitchen, grabs a couple frozen pizzas out of the freezer and starts preheating the oven. Pizzas are abandoned on the counter momentarily. Not the healthiest thing in the world, but much more than this exceeds Don's somewhat limited culinary abilities. There's a reason he's usually relegated to dish washing duty.

He then passes back through the dining area and grabs a blanket off the back of the couch and lays it out on the floor. That should work better. "Raph, want to put them down?"

His phone buzzes alerting him to a text message. It's from an unknown number, but he can see enough of the message on the lock screen to know it's from Erica, and that she arrived home safely. He sets the phone on the table and picks up the boys again, moving them to the blanket on the floor. He then sits down with them. Don will respond to the texts as soon as he gets a moment. In the meantime, the phone and the overly sensitive lock screen that activates any time someone walks by is in plain sight.

This made Splinter very curious he smiles at his designated 'eldest' son.

Absolutely intriqued really. He walks with Leo over to the kitchen and is so stunned he actually gets a little weak kneed, hanging onto his staff and Leonardo at the same time for support. " ooooooh myyyyy…." breathless.

This had not been what he was expecting. And in truth he had never given any thought to the idea of grand children before this. Though same days he did remember and miss a time his sons were so little. Like these brightly jewelled colored boys.


" Leonardo... I... their... babies!" bit of a squeak in his voice so shock, then he clears it and manages to speak again louder and only half a stern, " Raphael, Donatello... please explain." only half because he also had a feeling strange desire to scurry over and plonk himself among those little boys. He felt like asking Michelangelo's stock in trade question about keeping them moving to the edge of his tongue.

"Heh... Hi Master Splinter." Don said from his spot on the floor between two of the children. The only thing he can think of at the moment sounds very, very Michelangelo. The words are out of his mouth before he can stop himself.

"They, uh... followed us home?"

The oven bleeps, letting them know that it's done heating and ready for the next step. Don doesn't dare run off to check while Master Splinter is here looking for explanations though.

And like that Raph unfreezes and laughs! out loud!

slapping Don's shell and moving to turn off the oven.

He had followed Don and nodded - after chuckling about the shorties who couldn's see the table! hah! cute! and reluctantly deposited the children around Don, missing the phone screen for the moment as he now retrieves the pizza from the oven, cutting them and like a ninja juggling the pizza and little plates over tot he blanket.


" Hey Masta Splinter, I guess Leo has explained some of this, we - uh - broke into an attempt by Purple Dragons to sell these guys to things like Utrom but not utrom calling themselves the Kraang. And we though it was best to bring them home. We also saved a human girl, maybe our age, maybe a year younger from them at the same time but sent her home with April."


He was still a bit amused by Don's response and grins at Leo gesturing him and Splinter to join them. placing down plats and the pizza, saying tot he little ones, Duncan, Randall this is masta splinter, he's our dad, say hello..." winking at Don to get his two to say hello. And begin introductions between their rat dad and the new small turtles.

There is a slight audible 'oof' as Raph slaps Don in the shell before Don laughs softly in response.

Don then takes his cues from Raph. "Liam, Malcolm, this is Master Splinter." He replays the conversation from when they first arrived home, and doesn't remember actually introducing Leo. "And our brother Leo.  Can you say 'hello'?" He then looks pointedly at Leo before speaking to the children again. "And I promise he isn't mad. Isn't that right, Leo?"

Don is still mildly annoyed that Leo scared the babies earlier, but he understands what happened, and lets it go.

Raph might have missed the phone, but Leo sure didn't.

"So... is the girl Ee?" He asks after Raph's explanation. He tosses the phone to Donnie. He probably should respond soon.

He caught the pointed look that Don sent him and put on a smile as he sat down on the floor with the children, though he sat a little farther away than Don and Raph were. "Hello, I'm sorry if I scared you earlier."

Malcolm was more comfortable now and beams around at the big turtles. Hopping to his feet and scurrying to Leo -

Randall mumbles hello, shy - hiding his face against Liam's shell this time one eye on Leo again.

Duncan .... Had never felt a blanket before! He oooohs Nd with a distracted now hi to Leo practing names " masser swinner - Eeeeoooo... Doooonnn Raaaffffieee."


Malcolm bounced in front of Leo, " Lll Eeeeoooo! Ellllooo!" loud and exuberant and happy now dear of before forgotten beaming at Leo - and Master Splinter. And he heard Ee was that the soft human? " Don ... Ee hooomaaan? La la Lal Lal laaa hooomaaan?" stumbling over his own feet and catching himself on Leo's shoulder

Splinter feels himself melt, become soft and he smiles softly, " Is the human a threat to us?" He asks, not asking if the boys were, he could see they were not. And could tell they were eager for attention. Starved of it.



He moves closer and settles himself beside Leonardo watching the little gold one eagerly bound over. Listening to their speech, watching their movements," they can't be older than three - three for sure... did you learn much about them from either the Dragon or the Kraang. Whose presence is worrying perhaps we should alert guardians and Utrom about them. But did these Kraang say anything?" Looking between his sons Raphael and Dontello for answers nudging Leonardo gently, " help your brothers seat and feed the little ones Leonardo, little children need food. Then get them water."


He wanted to grab them and hug them but would be patient the little ones would come to him when they were ready.

And he noted they didn't immediately react to the food, so it was possible and sad to think perhaps they did not know pizza was food.

Raph placed down the plates and began sharing out the pizza, grinning a little at the thought Mikey would be so very upset to have missed this pizza with babies, a tad surprised himself that Splinter joined them on the floor and musing a little, " I do not think so Sensei, she honestly seemed glad just to be free and away... we may want to go back to the place Leo tomorrow night and free the others, there were more in there - or track down where they have gone." a blush he was not going to say he'd enjoyed the kiss.

But had.

Even if it was just a peck on the cheek in thanks.

He smiles and for the child he tore their pieces of pizza up a little more, in thirds. Not sure why but he thought it a good idea. Blowing on the pieces as he places them down glad Splinter told Leo to help him and Don settle the eager ones to eat.

The delicious smells made his belly rumble he was surprised the kids didn't fall on the plates at once! not occurring to him that they may not know this is food.


"As for what these Kraang said... uh Don did mention they called them... um? kame somethin'?"

Whoa there, Speedy. Leo smiled as a little golden body flopped practically in his lap. He glanced over at Master Splinter.

Okay, help settle and feed children. How hard could that be? He turned the child so it was sitting on his knee. Leo picked up a slice of pizza. ”Here, it’s pizza. You eat it.” Leo took a bite, then offered Malcolm another slice.

Leo looked startled when Raph said more. Please be referring to humans!

”More... what?

Almost blushes when Leo asks about the text message. "Uh... yeah." He then turns to Malcolm. "Yes, she's the one who sang for you, Malcolm." Don nods agreement with Raph's assessment of the girl. She's not a threat, and nods again that they should probably go back and free anyone else.  He shoots off a quick text message, even though he's paying attention to the conversation around him.

'good to hear.
will do.

"I'll send a message to the Utrom as soon as I get a chance." He volunteers.

"Doragonkame, Raph. They called them Doragonkame." Don is certain that Leo and Splinter should have no problem translating.

"There was something about super mutagen. If they said what they wanted it for, I didn't catch it. Though I can't imagine it could be good."  He pauses there for a moment.  "They were sort of hard to understand." Yes, this is Don admitting that something someone else said made little sense. "And I think they called me both scrawny and fat in the same phrase, so..." Honestly he's not sure how to interpret most of what the Kraang said.

"hmmmmmphhhh."

Splinter had his thought face on as he takes in all Donatello and Raphael told him. Though it was hard to think seriously whilst watching the little ones. " Dragon.... dragons are powerful myths no matter what culture they come from. But these little guys look ... mutant turtley not dragony."

Well he could see a couple of the boys sported ivory buds that would one day be spikes. the blue little fellow had them on shell edge behind his shoulders, the red boy on his face the corners of his jaw line. he looks at Donatello, "I am assuming the boys have this mutagen inside them, possibly in blood. Any way to test this?"


And looking to the little blue one, he had a Leo sort of face about him, " Liam do you know where you came from?" It was probably too big a question for a three year old but he put it gently, maybe the boy could say something illuminating, he or his purple brother who was investigating the blanket.

Amused Splinter smiles adding to his sons softly, "And... as we get to the bottom of this of course the toddlers will have to be made at home here. But it is a decision we all must make and agree to, including Michelangelo. Taking in children is life altering. Usually in a great way."

Raph gently encouraged the hiding his face boy away from Liam's shell and offers him a plate. chuckling at Don and shrugging a bit. " I could barely follow waht they were saying either it was a nightmare to listen to. So hopefully when we investigate maybe Mikey's crazy head would make sense of it."


He grins a little at Leo and Don, "they girl didn't scream at us... or call us names... or freak out... she actually asked to see the boys again sometime." and he gives up completely now eagerly stating almost on top of Splinters words, " Yes! they can stay! Come on say yes bros... know Mikey will say yes of course.'

Food!

Duncan was distracted from the blanket and stares at the pizza. Randall blinks at his. And Malcolm... who shifts from Leo's knee and makes himself happily at home on Leo's lap instead was ooooooohing at his piece his tail wagging and thumping against Leo's legs under him as he got told by don yes Ee was the soft hoooman! " Laaalllaaalaaa - iiiisss aaaa!" he cheers but at first like Duncan and Randall didn't bite into it, all of them look at Liam.

Liam took up his piece watching Leo and Don and Raph and Splinter... then tries his piece first - eyes widening - never before had he had such taste! and it was fun to chew! He makes a happy sound and takes another big bite huge blue eyes blinking at Splinter and his question.

Randall and Malcolm seeing their brothers reaction eagerly bit into theirs Malcolm showing Leo delightedly how big of a bite he took out of his piece. All glittering gold smiles.

Duncan had a bite and... chewing noticed... something he pulled a piece of ham off and held it up for Don mouth to full to ask wasss di? but he points at it and makes a sound that indicated he wanted to know what it was.


Liam tried to answer the brown... um he was not sure what Splinter was. " ummm... hooomans... biiig hooomans - noo sooof hooomans no Ee... um owies for red... um baff?" yes thats what he recalled about the lab and humans. None were soft like Ee. that they were poked and proded and never had yummy food like dis!

"Except for the colors and what looks like they might someday be spikes..." Don hesitantly agrees with Master Splinter's assessment. There's a lot that could change as the boys age, and he knows of other less dragon-y looking dragons. There's a Chinese one that looks like a dog as far as he's concerned.

"I suppose I could test... but I honestly don't really know what I would be looking for, and..." He doesn't want to draw blood from the small children. He doesn't say that, just frowns.

"Master Splinter, Where else would they go?" Don is after all, half of the team that brought them here in the first place. His vote is assured.

Don frowns, and as Liam speaks the look on his face gets darker, though he tries to hide it from the small boys.

"No, Master Splinter. I will not be testing anything." He states firmly as he gives Liam a hug and there's not anyone here who can make him.

Leo is mildly annoyed that no one answered his question. Though there’s a lot going on. While they talk, he listens quietly and sends Mikey a text.

’Where are you?’

He then turns to Raph since Don seems to be caught in conversation with Master Splinter.

”I agree with them staying. Raph, You said there are more victims. Humans or...?”

A small grin and wink at Donatello, "Agreed no more unless needed for medical reasons." he saw no reason to put the children through more.

He watches the interactions, amused, clearly this was the first time with pizza. He waits this time for an answer to Leo's question it was an important one and he felt a tad sheepish he had derailed the conversation briefly.

"On my way back with ice creaaaaaaaa-


"aaaaaaaaammmmmmm!!"


And the lair door bursts open and Mikey spills through thrilled from having had the half pipes of a lifetime! and exhilarated from showing up some twats on the rinks up town before the ice cream van rolled about and he got some.

Of course he kicks his board up into his bag free hand his street cloths hiding most of himself as he skips over having spotted Don and Leo and Raph and Master Splinter -

" - AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" he yells the ice cream bag falling from his hand and skateboard and he was dancing on the spot pointing, " ahhhhhhhhhhh!" pulling off the over sized hoodie beaming -

" Leo are you the lucky dad?!"