Regrets

Social Services

The next morning Yuki, Raph and Leo were still, in he hospital. While Leo was talking to the doctor Raph was playing with Yuki on the hospital bed.

"Good news, they're discharging her." Leo smiled as she walked over to them. "They said she should be fine but we need to keep an eye on her."

"Ya can't blame them, they gotta see a lot of kids bein' neglected and all that; they don't know yer a pampered little princess do they?" Raph chuckled as he hugged her.

"Hello." A woman suddenly said as she walked up to them. "My name's Kate Owens, I'm the social worker on the children's ward."

"Oh hi." Leo replied, slightly nervous.

"Are you taking her home today?" She asked at the teen nodded. "Great, that was quiet a nasty shock she got."

"Me too, I thought she was dead." Raph shuddered.

"That must of been really frightening, I was just wondering, have you had someone to take a look at the wiring?"

"No, we've been to busy here."

"I was gonna call my brother Donnie, he's qualified and all that."

"Well as long as you're onto it, I can let my colleagues know in the local child's and families team." She told them.

"What?" Raph asked.

"Don't panic, it's nothing heavy, we just need to know you're going to be safe."

"Yeah, but, it was an accident." He panicked but Leo wrapped her arm around him in a calming fashion.

"Is there a good time to catch you in tomorrow?"

"You?" Leo asked.

"No I'm based in hospital, this will be Vicky White, she's lovely."

"She a social worker?"

"It's a only routine visit, just a follow up, she's there to support you both and not to point any fingers." She reassured before leaving...

******

After Yukiko had been discharged Raph and Leo bundled her into Raph's truck so they could go back to the apartment.

"I don't know about this visit." Raph grumbled.

"Would you relax? Remember, it's nothing heavy." Leo sighed as they pulled up outside the apartment. When Leo got Yuki out the backseat she looked across the road and saw Alopex and Kitsune waiting for them.

"Round two?" Raph joked as the two ladies walked over to them.

"She's fine, no lasting damage." Leo told her mother.

"Yeah, I know." Alopex replied. "I rang the hospital to see how she was, I do care, and I've spoken to you're landlord and asked him to check the wiring in the apartment."

"We were gonna fix that." Raph said.

"Well that's one less thing for you to worry about." Kitsune smiled.

"And until you get the all clear there is always room at our house." Alopex added.

"For Yuki? Yeah you'd love that." Leo glared.

"No, for all of you, "

"Mom do you not listen? We're fine and we're on top of it; come Raph let's get inside." Leo sighed before entering the building.

Alopex was about to follow them when Kitsune stopped her.

"But Mother, she's not safe in that place."

"Alopex, she's your daughter, are you saying you don't trust her?"...

******

Not long after lunch Vicky White finally arrived to check on things. When she got there Donatello was working in the corner where Yuki got shocked.

"This is Yuki's father, Raphael." Leo introduced.

"Call me Raph." He smiled as they shook hands.

"I just wanted to ask you a few questions about the accident and the general setup here." She said as they sat down. "When a child comes into hospital with the injuries that your daughter had we do need to satisfy ourselves that everything is as it should be."

"It was an accident, faulty wirin', which is bein' fixed as ya can see." Raph told her

"Yes, and I'm sure he's doing the work to the highest standard."

"If I got a shock and went ta tha hospital ya wouldn't be sniffin' around would ya? But when ya heard Leo was a single mom, a teenager, livin' with her ex, ya thought 'Uh oh, somethin's gotta be wrong there." He glared.

Leo rolled her eyes and Donnie didn't look to convinced either.

"There are plenty of single mothers and young families doing terrific jobs and I'm sure you're one of them." Vicky told them calm with a smile.

"Do you hear that, so stop giving her the third degree." Leo warned him before turning to the social worker. "Absolutely we'd love a bigger place."

"Yeah, don't suppose ya of any three bedroom place fer sell?" He joked.

"I can certain put you in touch with people who can help you with that; have you got any other family nearby?" She asked them.

"Well my parents and grandmother don't live to far away, although, I'm not actually talking to my mother at the moment."

"Well I might go and talk to them."

"My Mom will probably slag me off."

"I just need to touch base with another family member, you know, as a formality."...

******

When Vicky White arrived at the Saiyo household it was just Alopex and Kitsune home as Tigerclaw was at work.

"It's Social Services." Alopex told her mother as she led Vicky into the living room.

"I just came over to say hello, I've just been to see you're daughter Leona and her little girl Yukiko." Vicky explained as she took a seat across from the older women.

"She doesn't know you've come here does she?" Alopex quickly asked.

"Well I wouldn't visit her without your permission." She replied.

"I don't understand, she doesn't think I've sent you there does she?"

"Why should she?" Vicky asked, slightly confused. "She knows the visit was routine, it's just that I asked if there were any other family members I could talk to."

"Um, should I get out the way and leave you too it?" Kitsune asked.

"Oh no, I won't be long." She promised. "I just came to tell you that everything seems fine with your daughter and your little girl."

"How can you say that?" Alopex asked in horror.

"Unless... there's something I've not been made aware of?"

"Well that apartment is not suitable for a small child for a start."

"It's not ideal but it's adequate and they all seem happy enought."

"What are you talking about? My granddaughter was electrocuted!"

"But not as a result of neglect on Leona's part."

"Well that depends what you mean by neglect." Alopex glared.

"Mrs. Saiyo, you may not approve of your daughter's lifestyle but that doesn't mean she's neglecting her duties as a mother."

"That apartment is a death trap, anyone can see that."

"I've seen a lot worse." Vicky smiled. "And under the circumstances, I think you're daughter's doing a very good job." She added before leaving...