I shook my head. Raining again. Another thunderstorom to boot. I sighed. Raph and Adalida still hadn't been accounted for. I swear, though, she's the best thing that's happened to him. I just can't help but hope he doesn't screw it up (again).
"Radio's saying theres a chance of flooding tonight," Don said, stopping next to me. "Maybe we ought to go find Addy and Raph."
"Adalida will bring him in," I said, absently.
"So?"
I glanced at him. "What?"
"Penny for your thoughts," he said.
"Just thinking. Been doing alot of that since you picked me up coming here."
"Leo, you can't tell me you're still sore at me for not letting you finish hitch-hiking?"
I turned to him. "Actually, Donnie, you did let me finish. You picked me up."
"Picky," Don said, then paused. "Are they still in the barn, do you think?"
"Far as I know."
Donnie frowned. "Hmm."
"Something wrong?"
"Last I checked, the roof on the barn needed some mending that I never got around to."
"They'll be in here soon, then," I concluded, turning back to the window
Sure enough, about ten minutes later, the kitchen door was flung open and Adalida and Raph came running in, soaking wet.
"Dammit, Donnie, the barn roof was leakin'," Raph complained, grabbing the hand towel off the counter.
"I know," Don said, turning a page in his magazine.
Raph glared at him. Adalida nudged him and the two shared a look... one I hadn't seen before.
"Go dry off," Adalida said. Raph turned and left.
My surprise must have shown because she gave me a look, then smiled. "How did you do that?" I asked.
She shrugged. "He listens, Leonardo, really," she paused. "All of you really should talk--maybe together--sometime. He's really changed."
Don snorted from behind his magazine. "What's your problem, Donnie?" I asked, glaring at him.
"Nothing, really," he said, then put the magazine down. "Just that Raph's emotional now like Mikey, you've been moping and brooding around like Raph, Mikey took up my role in putting this reunion together..."
"And you?" I asked.
He shrugged. "I'm just trying to keep us together, your old role."
Ouch. That made me wince, but Donnie was right, no matter how much it hurt. It seemed our personalities were starting to mesh. Without Sensei around, I know I've slipped quite a bit from being the "Fearless Leader" Raph always called me. Now, I either go along with the flow or on my own... usually the latter. "All right, I'll talk to him sometime."
"You could right now," Adalida suggested.
I sighed. "Fine." I got up and headed for the stairs. At the top, I turned for the room and saw the door still wide open. For a moment, I thought he hadn't gone in there.
Then he stepped out of the room and came to an abrupt halt when he saw me. "Followin' me, Leo?" he asked, a somewhat bemused look on his face.
"Adalida said we should 'talk'," I said, carefully.
He brushed past me, resuming what he was doing, heading for the bathroom. "Told me the same." He disappeared inside for a moment, then emerged with two towels. "Tried to tell her we have talked." He brushed past me again and went back into his room.
I followed, but stopped in the doorway, noting the pillows on the floor. I raised an eyeridge. "Something wrong with the bed?"
Raph came to a screaching halt, in mid-milling about. He had his back to me. Part of me wished I could see the look on his face, the other didn't.
I waited for him to say something... or move again, but he didn't. "All right, I didn't say that."
Moments later, I saw his shoulders slouch and he finally turned. his expression was unreadable... then he frowned. I think I'm losing my mind.
"I have no idea what I'm doin'," he said, somewhat absently.
"Excuse me?"
"With Addy," he supplied.
"You're okay around April and Shadow. Geez, with April you were the one that..." I started, but stopped when I saw him roll his eyes at the comparison.
"Not quite the same, Leo," he said. "Shadow's like a niece, April's a friend, or a sister. Addy... she's more."
"More?" I prodded, quickly becoming unsure if I really wanted to keep going in this direction or not.
"More," Raph replied, looking away. "Girlfriend more."
Well, I knew it. This quickly went where I thought it would. "I don't exactly have any experience in that department myself, Raph."
He sighed. "Great, then I'll be getting advice from Casey."
We shared a look, then burst out laughing.
The door across the hall opened. "Hey, ya oughtta check around first before ya talk about private matter," Casey complained. "An' I know what I'm doin'! April married me, didn't she?"
"Hey, Leo, recall someone passin' out before that ceremony?" Raph asked.
I grinned. "I do remember that." I looked at Casey, who scowled and slammed his door closed. "Was it something we said?"