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This time though, Donatello was left in the middle of a difficult situation - trying to play peacekeeper.", "count": "8", "submission_left_submission_id": "2487471", "submission_left_file_name": "3654016_hummerhouse_at_odds_part_5.doc", "submission_right_submission_id": "2632226", "submission_right_file_name": "3889728_hummerhouse_at_odds_part_7.doc" } ], "description": "Disclaimer: The TMNT are not mine. No money being made.\nType: TMNT 2k3 multi-chapter\nRated: E\nSummary: As a family, as siblings, they were often at odds with each other over something. Usually it was minor and didn't affect their lives all that much. This time though, three of the brothers were being aloof, leaving Donatello in the middle of a difficult situation - trying to play peacekeeper.", "description_bbcode_parsed": "Disclaimer: The TMNT are not mine. No money being made.
Type: TMNT 2k3 multi-chapter
Rated: E
Summary: As a family, as siblings, they were often at odds with each other over something. Usually it was minor and didn't affect their lives all that much. This time though, three of the brothers were being aloof, leaving Donatello in the middle of a difficult situation - trying to play peacekeeper.", "writing": "\tLeonardo was not in the dojo, which was the first place that Donatello checked. He knew he wouldn't find his brother in Master Splinter's room either, because Don had just come from there.\n\n\tAfter taking a quick look in his older brother's room and finding it empty, Don remembered that the chore list had just been updated and Leo was assigned bathroom duty.\n\n\tUnlike Michelangelo, Leo was not one to procrastinate. Sure enough, Don found the turtle team leader on his knees next to the tub, industriously scrubbing away.\n\n\tThough Don hadn't said a word, Leo sensed his presence and paused to look over his shoulder. ``Were you in need of the facilities?''\n\n\tDon shook his head. ``No, what I needed was you.''\n\n\tLeo indicated the toilet. ``Have a seat.''\n\n\tDropping the lid on the toilet, Don sat down. ``Rats built a nest around a portion of our cable and chewed through it. Raph helped me clear them out and then splice the cable. Mike's cutting some onions for me to scatter around the area so that the rats don't return.''\n\n\t``Mike should also be the one to place the sliced onions where you need them. You've done enough,'' Leo said.\n\n\tHe'd gone back to his scrubbing and didn't see the look Don was giving him. ``Mikey's making dinner. As you know from experience, that isn't the easiest thing in the world to do.''\n\n\tHe expected some derogatory retort about how Mike made every chore sound extremely difficult, and was surprised when Leo chuckled. ``No matter what, you'll always come to our defense, won't you, Donny?''\n\n\t``Of course.'' An idea struck him. ``I know that you guys will always come to mine, too. But needs must, Leo. Sometimes we have to separate to get a job done. I'm hoping I got Raph to understand that when we were talking earlier.''\n\n\tThe scrub brush banged against the inside of the tub, indicating a touch of agitation on Leo's part regarding that topic. ``And sometimes separating, especially under certain conditions, is the worst thing we can do.''\n\n\tThose words verified the information Don had gotten from Mikey. The split between his brothers had begun when all four of them had gotten separated from one another.\n\n\t``We can't always know that right away,'' Don said, using his gentlest tone. ``That's why we've learned to adjust to circumstances.''\n\n\tThis time Leo did turn around. ``And to follow my lead. Certain members of our so-called team forget that whenever it's convenient for them.''\n\n\t``I make the same mistakes, Leo. If there's tech . . . .''\n\n\tLeo interrupted him. ``Tech is your job. All three of us know that, and we know that to work your magic, you have concentrate on the task at hand. Our job in those circumstances is to . . . you know what? Never mind. You came in here to discuss the gasoline situation, didn't you?''\n\n\tTrying to push for more at this juncture would have been a dead giveaway to what he was trying to accomplish, so Don shifted gears. ``We do need to go out tonight, Leo. All six of our gasoline drums are either empty or close to it. If something happens, we'll be in trouble because there isn't enough gas to power the generator or any of our vehicles.''\n\n\t``We'll have a short practice session, eat dinner, spend some time in meditation, and then go out,'' Leo said, making a quick decision. ``Father mentioned that he wants to lead our meditation. He's noticed that some of us have been slacking off in that area of our training.''\n\n\tIt was a dig at Mikey and they both knew it. Refusing to take the bait, Don replied, ``I actually wouldn't mind a nice, quiet period of reflection.''\n\n\tLeo stood up and reached for the tub sprayer attachment. As he began rinsing the tub, he said, ``Please tell Mikey and Raph that practice begins in ten minutes.''\n\n\t``Will do,'' Don said, realizing that this was yet another way for Leo to avoid talking to his brothers any more than he had to.\n\n\tDon got up and headed for the door, but then something clicked, some small notion that was starting to come together from the information he'd picked up so far. He wanted to test it.\n\n\tTurning in the doorway, Don said, ``Leo, we've been through an awful lot together, the four of us. We've experienced situations that have been life threatening and we've made it through. By now you should know not to beat yourself up for things that aren't possible to anticipate. We can't know everything there is to know about an enemy or what it is they might be after.''\n\n\t``If they can know us well enough to lay a trap, then we should know them at least well enough to foresee one,'' Leo snapped.\n\n\t``But our training teaches us to react to the unforeseen, doesn't it?'' Don asked. ``Recriminations aren't going to help us learn anything. Especially when it comes to that particular antagonist. It's not as though we don't know what Bishop wants.''\n\n\t``Nor should we be doing things that allow him to achieve his goals,'' Leo said. He started to add something and then stopped himself, his eyes narrowing.\n\n\tIt was a warning sign that Don was close to overplaying his hand. ``I'd better go deliver your message about practice before it gets much later.''\n\n\t``Donatello.''\n\n\t``It's okay, Leo. Bishop is a touchy subject for all of us,'' Don said. He departed quickly.\n\n\tHe sought out each of his other brothers and stopped only long enough to give them Leo's message, not wanting to engage in small talk. His mind was too busy taking what he'd learned and fitting it all together like pieces in a puzzle.\n\n\tThey hadn't encountered Bishop by chance. If Don guessed correctly from what Leo had said, Bishop had studied their habits and understood them well enough to know where they'd be and to set a trap for them.\n\n\tHow Leo came to have that knowledge was another matter. He must have learned it while separated from the others. But if that was the case and he didn't want Don to know that, then he wouldn't want Mike and Raph to know it either.\n\n\tIf Leo had kept that fact to himself, then they wouldn't still be angry with each other. Raph and Mike had to also know that it was a trap set especially for them.\n\n\tThe only way to know that was to have learned it when Leo did. So those three couldn't have been separated from each other for very long.\n\n\t[i]``There's never gonna be a time when I ain't watching your shell, ya' know that, right?''[/i]\n\n\tThose were Raph's words that instantly played through his thoughts. He'd said that to Don before, but this last time the words had a special significance to them.\n\n\tBecause Raph [i]hadn't [/i]been there to watch his shell. All three of his brothers had been off having some sort of encounter with Bishop, which meant that Don had been left alone.\n\n\tAnd while his brothers were off running around, Don had been isolated in a small room full of electronics and high-tech machinery. Trapped in that room by a thick metal door that had slid shut and locked on its own several minutes after Don entered.\n\n\tHe felt a hand on his arm and jumped.\n\n\t``Whoa, Donny. You were doing a great impression of a statue, bro','' Mikey said. ``It's time for practice, remember? You were the one who came to tell me that.''\n\n\t``Oh right,'' Don said with an embarrassed chuckle. ``Sorry, I was just reviewing my to-do list.''\n\n\tThey walked towards the dojo together. ``You should write that stuff down,'' Mikey said. ``Then you don't have to try to remember everything.''\n\n\t``Thank you. That's good advice,'' Don remarked, even though it was something that he already did.\n\n\tAs Leo had promised, their practice session didn't last long. They worked on blocking techniques and then their split-kicks, something that only Leonardo had yet to master. Raph and Mikey were so intent on giving their older brother nothing to criticize that they both managed the feat in only a couple of tries.\n\n\tIt was a little harder for Donatello. The night before, having taken all three of his brothers' cocks in quick succession, had left him very sore. Leo appeared to understand and was very patient with him.\n\n\tThere was no talk, no banter, no good-natured challenges tossed back and forth. Leo was strictly business and so too were his brothers.\n\n\tDinner was just as tense. Raphael's chore for the week was to set and clear the table, and to wash up afterwards. He knew what his job was, but that didn't prevent Leo from reminding him when they'd finished eating.\n\n\t``I remembered to put the damn dishes down, I think I can remember to pick up the fucking dishes too,'' Raph growled at him.\n\n\t``Raphael, language,'' Master Splinter admonished.\n\n\t``Sorry, Sensei,'' Raph said, though he didn't sound in the least contrite. On his way past where Mikey was seated, he managed to elbow his younger brother.\n\n\t``Hey, watch where you're going, you clumsy oaf.''\n\n\t``That's for using every fu. . . friggin' dish in the kitchen,'' Raph snarled. ``Ya' knew damn well I was gonna have to wash all of them.''\n\n\t``The thought never entered my mind,'' Mikey retorted, though there was a slight smirk curving the corner of his mouth. ``I was focused on making Donny a great dinner.''\n\n\t``The meal was superb, Michelangelo,'' Master Splinter said.\n\n\t``You can take those onions you cut up for Donny out to the tunnel, too, as you're feeling so magnanimous,'' Leo said.\n\n\tMikey glared at him. ``Why don't you do it, since it seems to be bothering you so much?''\n\n\tDon pushed back his chair and stood up. ``Mikey and I will go together. I'll have to guide him anyway, since he doesn't know where the nest was located.''\n\n\t``Sounds great,'' Mikey said, suddenly sounding enthusiastic as he sprang out of his seat.\n\n\t``Forget it,'' Leo said, standing as well. ``You can stay here and read comic books. I'll go with Donny.''\n\n\t``Hell, I'll go,'' Raph said as he returned to the table. ``I went with Don to fix that cable in the first place.''\n\n\tMaster Splinter stood up and tapped with floor with his walking stick, drawing his sons' attention. ``Michelangelo will accompany Donatello. Leonardo and I will begin our meditation, and as each of you complete your chores, you will join us.''\n\n\t``Yes, Father,'' Leonardo said.\n\n\t``Sure thing, Master Splinter,'' Mikey chirped eagerly.\n\n\t``Whatever,'' Raph mumbled.\n\n\t``Of course, Sensei,'' Don said.\n\n\tHe waited for Mikey to return from the kitchen with two large baggies filled with chopped onions and then the two of them set out for the tunnel in question. Don was actually glad for the company, since it gave him another opportunity to gather information.\n\n\t``You know, I could easily have done this by myself,'' Don said as an opener. It drew the expected response.\n\n\t``No way, dude. You don't go anywhere by yourself. That's final.''\n\n\t``Mikey, we all leave the lair by ourselves for one reason or another,'' Don said. ``Just because Bishop's taken to setting traps doesn't mean that a little applied caution and common sense won't help us avoid them.''\n\n\tMikey came to a quick stop and gawked at him. ``How did you . . . who told you it was a trap?''\n\n\tDon patted him on the shoulder and started walking again, forcing Mikey to do the same. ``Just because you don't want to talk about that night doesn't mean that Leo wasn't going to share some things with me.''\n\n\t``We agreed that you didn't . . . Leo was the one who said we should keep that to ourselves,'' Mikey said, his thoughts skipping around as they were prone to do when he was perturbed.\n\n\t``Keeping things like that from me doesn't help me at all, Mikey,'' Don told him. ``I don't know why you guys would think it would.''\n\n\t``It's for your own good, bro','' Mikey said.\n\n\t``How? How is that for my own good?''\n\n\tDon immediately knew he'd made a mistake by asking a direct question. Mikey stared at him without blinking as they walked, and Don could almost see the wheels turning in his head.\n\n\tRather than press the matter, Don quickly changed the subject. ``We're here.'' He shone his light around and spooked a couple of rats. ``Persistent little buggers. They're already trying to move back in.''\n\n\t``You sure these onions will do the trick?'' Mikey asked.\n\n\t``That's the idea.'' Don accepted a bag from his brother and then pointed a little ways down the tunnel. ``Scatter your onions in a line in that direction, I'll go the other way. That should discourage them from coming back into this area.''\n\n\tIt didn't take long to toss the onions around the tunnel. Don took the empty bag from his brother, folded it with his, and tucked them into his belt. Humans might be able to afford to throw them out after one use, but the small mutant family didn't have that luxury.\n\n\tThey had gone only a few paces back towards the lair when Mikey suddenly spun around, wrapped his arms around Don, and kissed him.\n\n\tIt was a deep kiss, not some small show of affection. Stunned by the suddenness of it, Don allowed himself to be lost in the moment, and then remembered the action he'd resolved to take.\n\n\tBreaking the kiss, he looked into Mikey's bright blue eyes. ``What was that for?''\n\n\t``You know, there's one good thing about not going places alone,'' Mikey said in his most cajoling tone. ``We can fool around once our job is done.''\n\n\t``Not today we can't,'' Don said. ``We are expected back at the lair for meditation.''\n\n\t``Aw, we've got plenty of time for a quickie. Nobody will care if we're a little late,'' Mikey said, reaching down to gently squeeze one of Don's butt cheeks for emphasis.\n\n\tDon managed to slip out of Mikey's embrace and then step back. ``But they will care. Maybe you want to push your luck by continuing to aggravate Leo, but I don't want any part of that. Besides, it's not only Leo we'd keep waiting. Master Splinter will be waiting too, and he won't be pleased that we stopped for, as you call it, a `quickie'.''\n\n\tHe began to stride purposefully back in the direction of the lair, leaving Michelangelo no choice but to follow.\n\n\t``Yeah, I guess you have a point,'' Mikey said, bouncing up next to him. ``We can save it for later when we won't have to rush.''\n\n\tDon was careful not to make any sort of verbal commitment to Mikey's plan. He'd just overcome the first hurdle in avoiding intimate relations with his brothers until their disagreement was resolved.\n\n\tThis one had been easy to circumvent and he hadn't needed to be obvious about what he was doing.\n\n\tHe was fairly certain he wouldn't be quite as lucky the next time one of his brothers asked for sex. Or when one of them simply prepared to take what they needed as a matter of course.\n\nTBC...........\n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "\tLeonardo was not in the dojo, which was the first place that Donatello checked.  He knew he wouldn't find his brother in Master Splinter's room either, because Don had just come from there.

\tAfter taking a quick look in his older brother's room and finding it empty, Don remembered that the chore list had just been updated and Leo was assigned bathroom duty.

\tUnlike Michelangelo, Leo was not one to procrastinate.  Sure enough, Don found the turtle team leader on his knees next to the tub, industriously scrubbing away.

\tThough Don hadn't said a word, Leo sensed his presence and paused to look over his shoulder.  ``Were you in need of the facilities?''

\tDon shook his head.  ``No, what I needed was you.''

\tLeo indicated the toilet.  ``Have a seat.''

\tDropping the lid on the toilet, Don sat down.  ``Rats built a nest around a portion of our cable and chewed through it.  Raph helped me clear them out and then splice the cable.  Mike's cutting some onions for me to scatter around the area so that the rats don't return.''

\t``Mike should also be the one to place the sliced onions  where you need them.  You've done enough,'' Leo said.

\tHe'd gone back to his scrubbing and didn't see the look Don was giving him.  ``Mikey's making dinner.  As you know from experience, that isn't the easiest thing in the world to do.''

\tHe expected some derogatory retort about how Mike made every chore sound extremely difficult, and was surprised when Leo chuckled.  ``No matter what, you'll always come to our defense, won't you, Donny?''

\t``Of course.''  An idea struck him.  ``I know that you guys will always come to mine, too.  But needs must, Leo.  Sometimes we have to separate to get a job done.  I'm hoping I got Raph to understand that when we were talking earlier.''

\tThe scrub brush banged against the inside of the tub, indicating a touch of agitation on Leo's part regarding that topic.  ``And sometimes separating, especially under certain conditions, is the worst thing we can do.''

\tThose words verified the information Don had gotten from Mikey.  The split between his brothers had begun when all four of them had gotten separated from one another.

\t``We can't always know that right away,'' Don said, using his gentlest tone.  ``That's why we've learned to adjust to circumstances.''

\tThis time Leo did turn around.  ``And to follow my lead.  Certain members of our so-called team forget that whenever it's convenient for them.''

\t``I make the same mistakes, Leo.  If there's tech . . . .''

\tLeo interrupted him.  ``Tech is your job.  All three of us know that, and we know that to work your magic, you have concentrate on the task at hand.  Our job in those circumstances is to . . . you know what?  Never mind.  You came in here to discuss the gasoline situation, didn't you?''

\tTrying to push for more at this juncture would have been a dead giveaway to what he was trying to accomplish, so Don shifted gears.  ``We do need to go out tonight, Leo.  All six of our gasoline drums are either empty or close to it.  If something happens, we'll be in trouble because there isn't enough gas to power the generator or any of our vehicles.''

\t``We'll have a short practice session, eat dinner, spend some time in meditation, and then go out,'' Leo said, making a quick decision.  ``Father mentioned that he wants to lead our meditation.  He's noticed that some of us have been slacking off in that area of our training.''

\tIt was a dig at Mikey and they both knew it.  Refusing to take the bait, Don replied, ``I actually wouldn't mind a nice, quiet period of reflection.''

\tLeo stood up and reached for the tub sprayer attachment.  As he began rinsing the tub, he said, ``Please tell Mikey and Raph that practice begins in ten minutes.''

\t``Will do,'' Don said, realizing that this was yet another way for Leo to avoid talking to his brothers any more than he had to.

\tDon got up and headed for the door, but then something clicked, some small notion that was starting to come together from the information he'd picked up so far.  He wanted to test it.

\tTurning in the doorway, Don said, ``Leo, we've been through an awful lot together, the four of us.  We've experienced situations that have been life threatening and we've made it through.  By now you should know not to beat yourself up for things that aren't possible to anticipate.  We can't know everything there is to know about an enemy or what it is they might be after.''

\t``If they can know us well enough to lay a trap, then we should know them at least well enough to foresee one,'' Leo snapped.

\t``But our training teaches us to react to the unforeseen, doesn't it?'' Don asked.  ``Recriminations aren't going to help us learn anything.  Especially when it comes to that particular antagonist.  It's not as though we don't know what Bishop wants.''

\t``Nor should we be doing things that allow him to achieve his goals,'' Leo said.  He started to add something and then stopped himself, his eyes narrowing.

\tIt was a warning sign that Don was close to overplaying his hand.  ``I'd better go deliver your message about practice before it gets much later.''

\t``Donatello.''

\t``It's okay, Leo.  Bishop is a touchy subject for all of us,'' Don said.  He departed quickly.

\tHe sought out each of his other brothers and stopped only long enough to give them Leo's message, not wanting to engage in small talk.  His mind was too busy taking what he'd learned and fitting it all together like pieces in a puzzle.

\tThey hadn't encountered Bishop by chance.  If Don guessed correctly from what Leo had said, Bishop had studied their habits and understood them well enough to know where they'd be and to set a trap for them.

\tHow Leo came to have that knowledge was another matter.  He must have learned it while separated from the others.  But if that was the case and he didn't want Don to know that, then he wouldn't want Mike and Raph to know it either.

\tIf Leo had kept that fact to himself, then they wouldn't still be angry with each other.  Raph and Mike had to also know that it was a trap set especially for them.

\tThe only way to know that was to have learned it when Leo did.  So those three couldn't have been separated from each other for very long.

\t``There's never gonna be a time when I ain't watching your shell, ya' know that, right?''

\tThose were Raph's words that instantly played through his thoughts.  He'd said that to Don before, but this last time the words had a special significance to them.

\tBecause Raph hadn't been there to watch his shell.  All three of his brothers had been off having some sort of encounter with Bishop, which meant that Don had been left alone.

\tAnd while his brothers were off running around, Don had been isolated in a small room full of electronics and high-tech machinery.  Trapped in that room by a thick metal door that had slid shut and locked on its own several minutes after Don entered.

\tHe felt a hand on his arm and jumped.

\t``Whoa, Donny.  You were doing a great impression of a statue, bro','' Mikey said.  ``It's time for practice, remember?  You were the one who came to tell me that.''

\t``Oh right,'' Don said with an embarrassed chuckle.  ``Sorry, I was just reviewing my to-do list.''

\tThey walked towards the dojo together.  ``You should write that stuff down,'' Mikey said.  ``Then you don't have to try to remember everything.''

\t``Thank you.  That's good advice,'' Don remarked, even though it was something that he already did.

\tAs Leo had promised, their practice session didn't last long.  They worked on blocking techniques and then their split-kicks, something that only Leonardo had yet to master.  Raph and Mikey were so intent on giving their older brother nothing to criticize that they both managed the feat in only a couple of tries.

\tIt was a little harder for Donatello.  The night before, having taken all three of his brothers' cocks in quick succession, had left him very sore.  Leo appeared to understand and was very patient with him.

\tThere was no talk, no banter, no good-natured challenges tossed back and forth.  Leo was strictly business and so too were his brothers.

\tDinner was just as tense.  Raphael's chore for the week was to set and clear the table, and to wash up afterwards.  He knew what his job was, but that didn't prevent Leo from reminding him when they'd finished eating.

\t``I remembered to put the damn dishes down, I think I can remember to pick up the fucking dishes too,'' Raph growled at him.

\t``Raphael, language,'' Master Splinter admonished.

\t``Sorry, Sensei,'' Raph said, though he didn't sound in the least contrite.  On his way past where Mikey was seated, he managed to elbow his younger brother.

\t``Hey, watch where you're going, you clumsy oaf.''

\t``That's for using every fu. . . friggin' dish in the kitchen,'' Raph snarled.  ``Ya' knew damn well I was gonna have to wash all of them.''

\t``The thought never entered my mind,'' Mikey retorted, though there was a slight smirk curving the corner of his mouth.  ``I was focused on making Donny a great dinner.''

\t``The meal was superb, Michelangelo,'' Master Splinter said.

\t``You can take those onions you cut up for Donny out to the tunnel, too, as you're feeling so magnanimous,'' Leo said.

\tMikey glared at him.  ``Why don't you do it, since it seems to be bothering you so much?''

\tDon pushed back his chair and stood up.  ``Mikey and I will go together.  I'll have to guide him anyway, since he doesn't know where the nest was located.''

\t``Sounds great,'' Mikey said, suddenly sounding enthusiastic as he sprang out of his seat.

\t``Forget it,'' Leo said, standing as well.  ``You can stay here and read comic books.  I'll go with Donny.''

\t``Hell, I'll go,'' Raph said as he returned to the table.  ``I went with Don to fix that cable in the first place.''

\tMaster Splinter stood up and tapped with floor with his walking stick, drawing his sons' attention.  ``Michelangelo will accompany Donatello.  Leonardo and I will begin our meditation, and as each of you complete your chores, you will join us.''

\t``Yes, Father,'' Leonardo said.

\t``Sure thing, Master Splinter,'' Mikey chirped eagerly.

\t``Whatever,'' Raph mumbled.

\t``Of course, Sensei,'' Don said.

\tHe waited for Mikey to return from the kitchen with two large baggies filled with chopped onions and then the two of them set out for the tunnel in question.  Don was actually glad for the company, since it gave him another opportunity to gather information.

\t``You know, I could easily have done this by myself,'' Don said as an opener.  It drew the expected response.

\t``No way, dude.  You don't go anywhere by yourself.  That's final.''

\t``Mikey, we all leave the lair by ourselves for one reason or another,'' Don said.  ``Just because Bishop's taken to setting traps doesn't mean that a little applied caution and common sense won't help us avoid them.''

\tMikey came to a quick stop and gawked at him.  ``How did you . . . who told you it was a trap?''

\tDon patted him on the shoulder and started walking again, forcing Mikey to do the same.  ``Just because you don't want to talk about that night doesn't mean that Leo wasn't going to share some things with me.''

\t``We agreed that you didn't . . . Leo was the one who said we should keep that to ourselves,'' Mikey said, his thoughts skipping around as they were prone to do when he was perturbed.

\t``Keeping things like that from me doesn't help me at all, Mikey,'' Don told him.  ``I don't know why you guys would think it would.''

\t``It's for your own good, bro','' Mikey said.

\t``How?  How is that for my own good?''

\tDon immediately knew he'd made a mistake by asking a direct question.  Mikey stared at him without blinking as they walked, and Don could almost see the wheels turning in his head.

\tRather than press the matter, Don quickly changed the subject.  ``We're here.''  He shone his light around and spooked a couple of rats.  ``Persistent little buggers.  They're already trying to move back in.''

\t``You sure these onions will do the trick?'' Mikey asked.

\t``That's the idea.'' Don accepted a bag from his brother and then pointed a little ways down the tunnel.  ``Scatter your onions in a line in that direction, I'll go the other way.  That should discourage them from coming back into this area.''

\tIt didn't take long to toss the onions around the tunnel.  Don took the empty bag from his brother, folded it with his, and tucked them into his belt.  Humans might be able to afford to throw them out after one use, but the small mutant family didn't have that luxury.

\tThey had gone only a few paces back towards the lair when Mikey suddenly spun around, wrapped his arms around Don, and kissed him.

\tIt was a deep kiss, not some small show of affection.  Stunned by the suddenness of it, Don allowed himself to be lost in the moment, and then remembered the action he'd resolved to take.

\tBreaking the kiss, he looked into Mikey's bright blue eyes.  ``What was that for?''

\t``You know, there's one good thing about not going places alone,'' Mikey said in his most cajoling tone.  ``We can fool around once our job is done.''

\t``Not today we can't,'' Don said.  ``We are expected back at the lair for meditation.''

\t``Aw, we've got plenty of time for a quickie. Nobody will care if we're a little late,'' Mikey said, reaching down to gently squeeze one of Don's butt cheeks for emphasis.

\tDon managed to slip out of Mikey's embrace and then step back.  ``But they will care.  Maybe you want to push your luck by continuing to aggravate Leo, but I don't want any part of that.  Besides, it's not only Leo we'd keep waiting.  Master Splinter will be waiting too, and he won't be pleased that we stopped for, as you call it, a `quickie'.''

\tHe began to stride purposefully back in the direction of the lair, leaving Michelangelo no choice but to follow.

\t``Yeah, I guess you have a point,'' Mikey said, bouncing up next to him.  ``We can save it for later when we won't have to rush.''

\tDon was careful not to make any sort of verbal commitment to Mikey's plan.  He'd just overcome the first hurdle in avoiding intimate relations with his brothers until their disagreement was resolved.

\tThis one had been easy to circumvent and he hadn't needed to be obvious about what he was doing.

\tHe was fairly certain he wouldn't be quite as lucky the next time one of his brothers asked for sex.  Or when one of them simply prepared to take what they needed as a matter of course.

TBC...........

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