Rating: T
Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and all related characters belong to Nickelodeon.
Warnings: Dark Story! Non-detailed Violence and Raph's mouth needs more soap.
Summary: "The weight that came from years of responsibility and dedication simply melted away, leaving Leo feeling good. Leaving him feeling light and free." After saving the life of a mysterious old man, Leo is given a reward that may not be as good as it sounds. AU universe with elements of 2k3 and IDW. Response to Sampsonknight's Madness challenge on Deviant Art. Thoughts, comments and concrit welcomed.
A/N: This story is completely written and will be a 3 parter. The cover artwork will not fit on this site but you can find a link to it on my profile.
About the Madness:
It's happening, a madness like no other... consuming, twisting our lovable turtles! Dragging them into the pits of darkness, changing their roles, giving them new meanings, not in a good way! The cause is truly unknown, other then this... this symbol!
What is it?
Where did it come from?
Why is it corrupting the turtles in every universe?
Freedom
Ch 1
The Fall
Leonardo blanched as loud, mocking laughter echoed throughout the lair. It was immediately followed by angry shouts and girlish screams. Leo closed his eyes in exasperation, took a deep breath and readjusted his stance.
"Leonardo, you must focus."
"Yes Sensei, I'm sorry." Leo opened his eyes and restarted the new kata he was practising under Master Splinter's watchful eye. He didn't usually have trouble blocking out the noise of his brothers but it had been a long, busy week, he was tired and he had so much to catch up on.
Splinter watched, not entirely unsympathetic but he knew how much Leonardo had wanted this in the first place. "Just another hour, my son, then you may go."
Leonardo didn't respond, just concentrated like his sensei expected.
"Get back here, you damned..."
"Nuh uh, gotta catch me first, Raphie," Michelangelo taunted laughing and Leo could almost hear the wink in his voice.
Leo suppressed a sigh, he really was just so tired. He loved training and spending time with his father but sometimes... sometimes he just wished he could join his brothers for some fun also.
But, he couldn't.
If he admitted what he occasionally wanted, he'd never hear the end of it from Michelangelo. Donatello would probably start trying to test him for signs of alien influence or something and Raphael... Raph would just use it against him. He'd take advantage and simply walk all over him, disrespecting his leadership all the more and even outright ignoring him. If Leo couldn't maintain control over himself, then how the shell could he ever hope to maintain control over his brothers, especially out in the field?
The laughter, shouts and teasing continued while Leo trained. He shunted the unruly sounds to the back of his mind, relegating it to mere background noise not unlike the creaking and burbling of liquid through the old pipes around their home as he concentrated on his lesson. Eventually, it stopped but only when a shout of joy from his usually quieter brother echoed instead.
Curiosity filled him and he heard Mikey yelling out to Donnie, asking what happened. Leo again pushed away the distracting sounds, ignoring his brother's excited reply. He needed to finish this extra lesson that he had asked for. He couldn't afford to play around like they could. He wasn't obsessed like for a time in the past but that still didn't mean he had time for fun and games like they so obviously did.
Leo swallowed back his traitorous thoughts and concentrated on his lesson, before Master Splinter could reprimand him once more.
-:-
Sometime later as Leo finished his rushed shower, he heard Mikey calling everyone for dinner.
"Hope you don't mind, bros but I just ordered take out tonight," Mikey announced cheerfully.
Leo raised his brow ridges as he slid into his seat, "I thought you were planning on actually cooking tonight? We've had take out for the last four nights running."
Mikey laughed nervously and stole a glance at Raph, "Uh, yeah, about that... I got caught up and didn't have time. I'll definitely cook tomorrow night."
Leo sighed, "Something healthy, okay? Much as I love pizza like the next turtle, I really feel we need to eat better more often."
Baulking slightly at the word 'healthy', Mikey regardless nodded his agreement.
Soon, dinner was over and Splinter and Raph stood, going their separate ways.
Mikey stared anxiously at Leo, "Dude, we still on for patrol tonight?"
"Of course we are, Mikey," Leo replied in surprise. "Why would you even ask such a thing?"
"Well dude, you're looking really exhausted so I thought... maybe you wanted some relaxation time instead?"
"He's right, Leo," Donnie spoke up, concern filling his features. "You've been pushing yourself extremely hard of late. You really could use some down time."
"And instead let Mikey expend his energy within the lair?" Leo asked with an amused dig.
"I see your point," Donnie chuckled lightly.
"Hey! I'm not that bad!" Mikey retorted good naturedly.
"If you say so, Mike." Leo's tone clearly suggested otherwise while Donnie pretended to choke on his coffee.
"I thought you dudes cared!" Mikey pouted playfully. "Anyway Leo, my point is you gotta learn to relax, have some fun for once!"
"Like you do?" Leo asked dryly, fiddling with the edge of his yet to be cleaned up plate.
Mikey grinned at Leo broadly, "Sure, why not!"
"I rather think I can antagonise Raph easily enough without resorting to teasing and tormenting him." Leo gave Mikey his patented unimpressed look.
"Ah but the difference is bro, you do it in anger, I do it in fun," Mikey explained with a laugh. "Raphie might try to kill or pummel me at the time but he comes away relaxed in the end, dude."
"Except for when you take things too far, Mikey," Donnie helpfully pointed out and Mikey sent him a mock glare.
"Dude, I thought you were on my side!"
"Only when it suits me," Donnie said mildly, smiling with light amusement. He then turned to look seriously at Leo. "Maybe you should stay home tonight? The three of us will be fine together. Raph might even invite Casey."
Leo shook his head firmly, the thought of such an idea twisting at his insides, "No, sorry but I have a feeling that we need to stick together tonight."
-:-
The night's patrol proved to be another busy one, which considering the full moon came as no surprise. The four ninja had just easily beaten back a group of drunk thugs who'd been trying to accost a helpless old man. Leonardo watched as his brothers bound energetically up the side of the nearby building. He was about to follow when a hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder, startling him. He turned, eyes wide, worried that maybe he really was too tired to be out here. After all, he hadn't sensed a thing!
Standing and smiling ominously behind Leo was the man they had saved just minutes ago. Leo had assumed he was long gone; he'd certainly disappeared fast enough once his attackers were distracted but no, here he was, calm, creepy smile fixed in place and seriously giving Leo the heebie-jeebies. He was immediately grateful Mikey was already halfway up the building; if this human creeped Leo out so badly, he definitely didn't want to know how his brother would react. Observing the man a moment more, Leonardo realised it was the eyes. There was an almost crazy glint shining within.
Leo nodded in polite acknowledgement and turned to leap up after his brothers but the man suddenly spoke, making the turtle pause and turn again, frowning in consternation.
"You saved me," the eerie human nodded, "a reward, I think."
Leo wasn't quite sure how to react, all he knew was he didn't want anything this person had to offer. His instincts started screaming at him to get away, that there was safety in numbers but for some bizarre reason, his legs didn't want to respond.
"Fearless?" Raph's voice bellowed from the rooftop.
That seemed to jolt Leo out of whatever it was as he glanced up above, "I'm coming, Raph!" he called. Leo tried to turn away and to his immense relief, found he was able. He quickly glanced back to the person who had grabbed his attention, "A reward is unnecessary, we were only doing what was right."
Smiling balefully, the disturbing man caught Leo's gaze once more and Leo swallowed, suddenly finding himself unable to move his feet again.
"You're so tired, Leonardo. I can grant you your innermost desire."
"My only desire is to keep my brothers safe," Leo quickly responded, disconcerted by the fact this disquieting person somehow knew his name. He tore his gaze away and looked back to the sky above before trying once more to leave. The off-putting voice stopped him again.
"Your desire is to be free, Leonardo. You can both keep them safe and be free. Freedom from your inhibitions will achieve that." The man paused, satisfied that he had Leo's attention anew.
Leo shook his head determinately, "I... no... I can't have both. I've got to..." Leonardo's voice fell away and his eyes widened. Unable to tear his eyes away, Leo stared in dread as the person in front of him seemed to draw a strange, glowing symbol into the air. Even though it was extremely dark in the alley and the symbol itself glowed blackly, it still shone like a blinding beacon to Leonardo and he was completely riveted to the spot.
The strange, chilling man seemed to blow upon it and Leo watched helplessly as the hideous symbol lurched drunkenly towards him before suddenly washing over him. Leonardo flinched but the only thing he felt was a kind of strange cleansing. He blinked. The person had vanished the moment the glow had hit him.
Leo closed his eyes and shook his head, trying desperately to shake the odd feeling that filled him. Strangely, it felt as though a heavy burden had been lifted from his soul. The pain, the fears and the years of always holding back just floated away. Life had been hard for his family for as long as Leo could remember, filled with cold, dark and hunger for many years, eased only when Donatello learnt to play with the ever dangerous electricity. The duty of keeping his brothers together and safe when they were too young, tired, hungry or sick to help Master Splinter scavenge for food and supplies; of missing out on his own childhood... The weight that came from years of responsibility simply melted away, leaving Leo feeling good. Leaving him feeling light and free.
Leonardo smiled contentedly and breathed deep.
"Leo?" a voice spoke from aside him and Leo turned, opening his eyes to see his brothers standing there, looking at him full of concern.
"Are you okay?"
"What were you doin'?"
"What happened?"
"Why didn't you follow us up?"
Leonardo laughed with abandon. He really couldn't remember ever feeling even half as good as he did right now. "It's okay, guys. I was just talking to..." He paused, looking around with slight confusion. There had just been someone here minutes ago, he was certain of it...
… But he couldn't visualise them. He couldn't remember them. Leo frowned. The last thing he clearly recalled was being about to follow his brothers back to the roof but he couldn't shake the impression something had happened. Something important.
Leo continued to look all around him, around the alley but he could see nothing and somehow, he knew he should be more concerned but he suddenly realised. He didn't care. He was free and whatever had just happened really did not even matter in the slightest.
He straightened and smiled gently at Raph, Donnie and Mikey. "Come on, let's go home."
"What?" Raph all but exploded. "We've only been out here about an hour or so Leo, an' it's been busy! There's too many whack bags needin' dealin' with and you just wanna go home?"
Leo blinked, surprised at the outburst. "Of course I do, Raph. It's not our responsibility to keep people safe. Let the police actually do their jobs for once."
"It's not our what?" Raph snapped in disbelief. "Since when does the great Leonardo not claim responsibility for everythin'?"
"Technically, Leo is right," Donnie said calmly, "it's not our responsibility but..."
"But helping people is right!" Mikey interjected stubbornly. "We can't just stand by, we're heroes!"
Raph snorted derisively, "You read way too many comic books. We ain't heroes, we're ninja and we do ugly things to protect people who can't protect themselves but that also means we can't just stand by on a night like this!" he added, turning back to Leonardo.
"Yes, we can. We're free to chose, Raph," Leo insisted. "We don't need to be out here risking our own lives and safety. I'm tired. I'm over working myself to exhaustion for people who will never care about us or be grateful. It's time for us to go home." With that, Leo practically ran up the side of the building and started towards home, gratified to hear his brothers following him, albeit with one grumbling bitterly all the way.
-:-
The next morning, Leo blinked away sleep when his bedroom door was all but thrown open from the outside.
"Leo?" Mikey tentatively called. "Are you okay, bro?"
He pushed himself to a seated position and smiled peacefully at his normally hyper brother, "I'm fine Mikey, why?"
"Well, normally you would have been up for at least two hours by now. It's time for training so Master Splinter sent me to get you." Mikey walked towards Leo's bed, concerned by the fact Leo was still in it, "If you're sick or something it's okay, I'll tell Sensei and send Donnie to check on you."
"Honestly Mikey, I'm fine, really." Leo reassured gently. "I just need a break from pushing myself so hard."
"Okay... I'll let Master Splinter know," Mikey said doubtfully. Leo couldn't understand why Michelangelo looked and sounded so worried, casting glances his way as he walked back out of the room. At the threshold, Mikey paused and spoke once more. "Do you need anything? I'll get it for you if you do, bro."
Leo shook his head with a relaxed smile. "Just turn the light back off when you shut the door.
-:-
Hunger driving him, Leo finally decided to get up several hours later. He walked out to the kitchen, finding his brothers already inside and talking about him. Silently, he stopped just outside the door to listen.
"Leo didn't seem sick, dudes but the way he was acting... that's just not normal! He was all happy and relaxed. He just didn't want to get up for training!" Mikey's voice rang out clearly. "If it was one of us, Master Splinter would have walloped us but good!"
"An' then there was last night. With all his talk about 'not our responsibility'. That's really not like Fearless."
"Leo has been working awfully hard lately, not taking time to even relax and wind down. Maybe everything is just finally catching up with him?" Donnie didn't sound entirely convinced. "If Leo doesn't bounce back within a day or two, I'll insist on giving him a check up."
"I dunno Donnie, he was like pod-Leo. Something's really not right, I can feel it!"
"Don, you really gotta block the horror channel already, I'll hide the dvds."
"Funny, Raph but seriously, you know I'm right! Something's just... not normal." Mikey insisted.
"You wouldn't know normal if it came up and bit ya on the arse," Raph retorted, "but you are right. I think you should check 'im over now, Donnie. He's not even up yet!"
Leo decided that was the moment to walk in and calmly speak up. He was amused by the looks of fright from being caught out that his brothers shot him. "Actually, I am up and there is no need to give me a check up. I feel better, freer, than I have at any time that I can remember."
"Leo!"
"How long have you been listenin'?"
"Long enough," Leo replied coolly. He sighed, "If it makes you all feel better, Don can check me over after I eat."
The three already seated brothers exchanged looks, varying from confusion to relief to concern. Donnie nodded slowly, "I'd appreciate that, Leo."
"Good!" Leo clapped his hands, beaming. "Now, what's to eat?" he asked looking at Mikey as he pulled out a chair and sat.
"I've got some left over pancake batter dude, or I can whip you up some french toast or something." Mikey spoke up eagerly.
Abruptly, Leo slammed both hands down on the table, making two of his brothers jump and fixed Michelangelo with a disapproving stare. "I thought we agreed you would be cooking healthy today, Michelangelo?"
Mikey gawked back in shock, mouth opening and closing like a goldfish gasping for water.
"Well?"
"We... we did, Leo but that was about dinner, not breakfast or lunch."
Leo didn't shift his gaze, watching as Mikey shrank back slightly.
"If you want something else, you only have to ask. No need to go all Raphie on me, dude." Mikey exclaimed, confused how Leo's mood had changed so fast from calm and acting like he didn't have a care in the world to like Raph after an argument with Leo. Raph kicked Mikey from under the table and Mikey ignored it, keeping his attention fixed on Leo.
Leo calmed again, his expression smoothing over instantly. "I want something healthy, Mikey. For all of us," he stressed.
"We've already eaten, Leo." Donnie spoke up in a calm voice that belied how he really felt.
Leo nodded, "That's fine. I mean from now on. No more junk food. No more unhealthy eating for everyone."
"What?" Mikey squawked unhappily. "You can't mean that dude! A turtle can't live without pizza and chips an..."
"I most certainly do mean it, Michelangelo. It's all part of keeping all of you safe and well but you need to start taking responsibility too," Leo stated sincerely. "Healthy body, healthy mind. Keep it all in balance and you will be helping yourselves."
Raph twitched, "I'm all for eatin' healthy too, Leo but there's gotta be some give. Ya just can't say no more altogether."
Donnie nodded, "Everything in moderation, Leo."
Leo turned his disconcerting gaze to look at both Raph and Donnie, "I'm the leader here. This is not a democracy and if I catch anyone consuming anything unhealthy, that includes coffee Don, from this point on there will be dire consequences. I expect everything that is not healthy to be thrown out by tonight." With that, Leo stood up from the table and left the room, hearing Michelangelo hiss when he closed the kitchen door.
"Dudes! He is being totally unreasonable!"
"You don't have to tell me..."
-:-
That night Leo decided since the moon was still almost full, there would be no patrol. Raph argued and then left anyway, stating that Leo didn't own him and neither could he stop him. Mikey and Donnie had watched silently as the fight raged but said nothing.
After Raph stormed out, Donnie finally spoke up, "How about that check up now, Leo?"
"Not now, Don," Leo replied with an eerily calm smile which sent shivers down the spines of the other two turtles.
"You did say you would cooperate," Donnie pressed, more concerned by the minute; Leonardo had been acting so oddly the entire day.
Leo waved his hand dismissively and headed for the garage, "Sorry, I have far more important matters to deal with right now."
Mikey glanced from Leo to Donnie and back again before asking, trepidation filling his voice, "Like what, Leo?"
"Like Raphael's insubordination. I am sick and tired of letting him get away with it. From now on, there will be consequences."
"Like... what kind of consequences?" Mikey swallowed.
Leo smiled widely and said in an easy tone, "The loss of his most prized possession."
"Dude!" Mikey breathed sharply, "he'll kill you!"
"Leo, think this through. You..."
"I have thought this through. Consider this the only warning either of you have." Leo stated coldly and left.
-:-
Hours later, Leo was jolted from his meditation by a bellow of pure fury.
"What the fuck happened to my bike? Mikey!"
"Wait, Raph! It wasn't me!" Mikey yelped back. "I promise!"
Leo stood and calmly walked to his door, opening it and gazing out with interest.
"Really and why the shell should I believe you?" Raph snarled viciously.
"Because..." Mikey began, backing up with hands held out placating.
"Because it was me, Raphael." Leo spoke with frightening calm. "I was the one who destroyed your tyres."
Fury blazed within the accusing golden eyes staring up at Leo, "Why the fucking shell would you do that, Leo?"
"You disobeyed a direct order. That was a warning. Next time it won't be something so easily replaced or fixed."
-:-
As the days went on, comics, games, movies, novels, all disappeared, Leo claiming them all 'unhealthy' for their survival, despite Donnie's insistence that relaxation was healthy. When Mikey complained bitterly, his skateboard was temporarily taken away as punishment and then his cat threatened. When Raph made a scene, Leo destroyed his bike's seat and sliced into the fuel tank. When Donnie spoke out, Leo ruined any projects in his lab that weren't directly related to lair security.
Soon enough, incensed, Leo's brothers were complaining to Master Splinter so Leo had to deal with him too.
He told his brothers that Splinter was called away suddenly, that he had to visit a very sick, old friend.
Leonardo no longer felt the need or desire to hold back from anything. Leo was willing to do whatever it took to keep his brothers safe.
-:-
After almost two full weeks with everyone miserable and morale becoming worse, Leo decided since the moon rose late and it was almost the new moon, that it was safe to allow his brothers a rooftop run. During this time, he had eliminated the threats posed by Karai and Hun. While there were still many other dangers, they weren't as prevalent and Leonardo had no qualms about dealing with those too when the need arose.
Besides, when he dealt with Karai, he had acquired a scientist willing to help him with the threat the rest of the humans posed his brothers. He smiled with satisfaction at the memory of Chaplin's fear and submissiveness. Leo would have loved nothing more than to ask his own genius brother for help instead but he feared Donnie wasn't quite ready to see things his way and the last thing he wanted was to harm his precious brothers.
Before the mutants left the sewer, Leo laid down the law, making it clear that being seen, drawing any kind of attention to themselves would not be tolerated and would meet with dire repercussions. The outing was for exercise and fresh air only.
Their run was mercifully silent and Leonardo smiled proudly, pleased with his achievement but failed to notice the sheer misery surrounding him. All of a sudden, even though things had been going so well, everything went wrong. A petrified scream rang out, filling the air and Raph growled, already turning towards it. Mikey immediately followed but not without a concerned glance at their leader in blue. Donnie hesitated, clearly worried.
"Leo," he said softly, "we have to help. It's not in our nature to simply stand by and allow someone to be hurt."
Leo scowled, his perfect night ruined, "And what happens when one of you winds up being the ones hurt? I know you do the best you can, Don but as you have said many times before, you are an engineer, not a doctor. Even worse, what if it were you that was hurt?" Leo paused, letting it sink in before adding coldly, "I cannot allow this risk to continue!"
He raced after Raph and Mikey with Donnie following closely behind. They slid silently down the building's fire escape and into the alley below. What they found was a group of assailants laid out cold at Raph and Mikey's feet and a young woman with torn clothing trembling in terror and shock against the wall.
Raph stood back, unsure what to do while Mikey walked slowly over to her, murmuring soft, soothing words and trying to calm her. Her eyes filled with further fear at the sight of the young mutant turtle but somehow she then began calming, responding to the kindness and empathy Mikey exuded. Leo stiffened, suddenly furious.
Not only had his brothers disobeyed by jumping into the fray, they had let themselves be seen! They had reached out to a human whose statements could cost them the secret of their existence. It would not do!
"Get away from the girl, Michelangelo."
Mikey shook his head, she was responding to him positively. He squatted down, continuing with his nonsense words of comfort and she tentatively reached out to him, sobbing.
"I said, get away from the human, Michelangelo."
Mikey didn't turn, though he spoke quietly but firmly, "No Leo, I won't. She's terrified and needs our help."
"Of course she is! Look at us! She'll probably tell everyone about us, turn on us as soon as our shells are turned. We cannot afford to trust someone like her!"
Mikey shook his head emphatically as Donnie spoke, "April didn't, neither did Casey, Sydney, Harold nor any number of others."
Leo stared in anger for a moment; unable to understand why his brothers weren't seeing the bigger picture. Then he stalked forward and gripped Mikey by the shell, yanking him back and away. In the same moment, a single katana flashed in the limited light and Raph yelled, already dashing forward but far too late as the helpless, young woman's head rolled, falling to the ground with a wet squelch.
Donnie grabbed Mikey, hauling him to his feet and holding him tightly as they stared in mute shock and horror at their brother.
"What the fuck, Leo?" Raph roared furiously. "She was innocent, you psycho whack job!"
Leo turned and stared impassively at his hot headed brother, "She saw you, Raphael. She saw you and Mikey both."
"She wasn't going to fuckin' tell anyone!" Raph was shaking in absolute fury, too shocked to actually step closer to Leo.
"You don't know that for certain, Raphael and she certainly will not be telling anyone now." Leo smiled coldly. He turned to survey the unconscious bodies littering the area. He strode with deadly purpose towards the nearest.
"They're scum Leo," Raph growled, "but it's one thing to kill in the heat of the moment and another to kill in cold blood. I shouldn't be the one needin' to tell you that!"
"We are cold blooded, Raphael."
"Walk away Leo, before I have to make you." Raph shifted his stance, sais at the ready and standing poised on the balls of his feet. After the last couple of weeks Raph was aching for an excuse to take Leo down and Leo knew it.
"You won't stop me, Raphael."
"Like fuck I won't, Leo! You've gone insane and you gotta be stopped!"
Leo shook his head, "Actually, I'm thinking clearer now than I ever have before. I'm no longer warring with myself between what we need to do and what is generally considered right."
"Are you listenin' to yourself? You know this is wrong!" Raphael cried out. "What happened to all your honour and bushido shit you always carry on about?"
"It was getting in the way. I'm free of it now. Free to do whatever is necessary to ensure our safety. Now either put your weapons away or help me finish them off," Leo nodded towards the helpless humans on the ground. "That's an order."
"Fuck you, Leo!" Raph snarled and rushed his brother.
"Don't you care what happens to Casey, Raphael?" Leo asked easily, canting his head questioningly as he lightly dodged the sloppy attack.
Raph paused, whipping his head around to stare in disbelief at Leonardo. "Now your beyond threatening cats and our belongin's? You're threatening our friends' safety too?"
Leo couldn't help the slow smile that spread across his face.
"Leo?" Donnie called, "Have you done something to Casey... and April? Is that why she has been incommunicado for nearly a week now?"
Leonardo laughed. He felt so proud of his brainy brother. "You always did catch on fast, Donatello. Yes, I have both April and Casey in a safe place. If any of you continue to disobey me, they will be the ones to suffer from now on." Leo turned back to the fuming Raph, "I highly suggest you rethink your position, dear brother. If anything were to happen to me, you won't find your friend in time to save him."
Mikey finally recovered enough to speak up. Though there were no tears in his eyes, his voice was shaky, like he was only just holding them back, "And what about Master Splinter, Leo?"
At that, Leo tilted his head skyward and gazed for several seconds. Having to deal with Splinter the way he did had hurt him a lot but it had needed to be done. "He's not coming back, Mikey," he said as emotionless as he was able, "ever."
"How could you?"
"He left me no choice! He wanted me to keep you all safe! My entire life has been about keeping the three of you, my brothers, safe! To be the perfect leader and big brother even though we're practically the same age!" Leo suddenly snapped. He viciously swung his katana, taking the head of the nearest prone human. "He wanted me to keep you all safe but then he wouldn't allow me the freedom to do whatever it takes!
"He had to go," Leo stated, suddenly calm now that he had released his pent up emotions. "He was simply too dangerous to let him be."
"How are we supposed to know you haven't done the same to our friends?" Donnie asked, still holding Mikey as tightly as Mikey was holding him.
"They're my friends too."
"And Master Splinter was our father!"
"As long as you all behave, you can talk to them very day," Leo offered, moving on to his next victim and removing their head with a detached grace as his brothers watched in helpless horror.
"Can we see them?"
Leo shook his head, "No, I cannot have you knowing where they are." He stopped beside another unconscious form and stared over at Donnie, "Nor will you be allowed anywhere near a computer when you do speak to them.
-:-
After Leo led his brothers home, he made them drink a tea which he laced with a potent sedative. He hadn't wanted his hand to be forced yet. Things weren't quite ready but now he had no further choice. Tenderly, he carried each drugged brother to their respective beds and tucked them in, though he stared distastefully at Raphael's hammock and instead placed Raph into his own bed. If he had time to sleep later, he would just take the couch or maybe Splinter's bed. Only then, did he feel it safe to leave them unattended in their home.
Leo left the lair and went to the former Foot headquarters. While there, he checked to make certain his friends were being well treated before going to speak with Doctor Chaplin. When he eventually left, he was bearing gifts for his brothers.
-:-
To be continued