Splinter's Bestie

Chapter 2

The boys return home to the sewers not noticing the figure from earlier watching them curiously from the roof tops.

"And so your inability to work together allowed them all to get away." Splinter said in a scolding tone.

Raph decides to pipe up, "Well, maybe if I didn't have to waste my time arguing with hero boy, I could've saved them."

Leo glares back at him raising a finger, "Hey, if you hadn't gotten in my way, I could've done it. " Leo turns to Donnie, "And you went flying off on your own. How smart is that?"
Donnie glares back at Leo, "Well, it would've worked out great if somebody hadn't hit me in the head with their num-chuks!" Donnie said turning to Mikey.

Mikey pouts, "Well, none of this would have happened if..." Mikey turns to see no one to the left of him to blame he looks back sheepishly at Donnie, "Somebody hadn't trusted us to go up there in the first place."

Splinter stops his pacing in front of the boys at the statement while his brothers gasp.

Mikey rubs his head sheepishly, "Oh geez. Sensei, I didn't mean to-"

"No, Michelangelo." Splinter turns to face his youngest, "You are right."

Mikey's eyes widen, "I am?"

"He is?" His brothers ask looking at Mikey.

Splinter continues his slow pacing, "You were not fully prepared for what was up there. I trained you to fight as individuals, not as a team, as your teacher, your father, the responsibility for that is mine." Splinter says in a apologetic tone. Splinter begins walking to the door of the dojo. "Perhaps in another year we can try again."

Donnie immediately sputters awake, "Another year? HA! Has everybody forgotten that people were kidnapped? They don't have a year sensei, we have to do something now!"

Splinter looks to him, "You weren't there, sensei. You didn't see the way that girl looked into my eyes. She was scared. And she was counting on me, us to save her." Donnie sputters looking at his father was worried maroon eyes.

Splinter looks to him before looking up in quick thought, he turns his back to them and looks at a picture of a teenage picture of him and Ruby, mentally wishing he had her wisdom at the moment.

The brothers had taken to Ruby very quickly despite never meeting her so they begged him to put another picture of her up.

He mentally sighs, "Yes, you must save her." He says finally. he turns around to look at them.

"I agree, sensei. But in that fight, we weren't exactly a well-oiled machine." Leo said not wanting them to immediately jump into things without thinking.

"Like that robot with the brain thingy." Mikey said in a scared tone.

Raph rolls his emerald eyes, "Give it a rest."

Splinter hums, "If you are to fight more effectively as a unit, you are going to need a leader." Splinter remembers that Ruby was the leader when they and Saki used to go on missions together.

Leo's blue eyes sparkle, "Can I be leader?"

Raph turns to him, "Why should you be the leader? I kicked your butt. I should be leader."

Donnie cuts in, "Hey. I'm smarter than all you guys put together. It should be me."

Mikey cuts in, "No way! It should be me!" His brothers look at him waiting for his reasoning. "I don't really have a reason. I just think it would be neat." Mikey if he was being honest didn't even want to be a leader he just wanted to be included.