Disclaimer: I don't own the Ninja Turtles.

A/N: I would like to dedicate this story to all those who have followed me along this journey. We've had our ups and downs, cried some tears and had some laughs. I want to thank all of you from the bottom of my heart. Now the final episode in the Bound series begins. Take a deep breath, because we are jumping in head first…

Jamie stepped into the dojo and frowned. They were at it again. She couldn't understand it. How were they keeping up this training for twelve hours a day? Leo looked pensive and Shinta looked exhausted. The teen now wore his own blue mask since taking his test and being granted the full rank of ninja. He'd been forced to fight weaponless against his formidable elders who were armed. But Shinta had wasted no time in collecting them from his family – a katana from Leo, Don's bo, one of Mikey's nunchakus. Raph had managed to keep his weapons from his nephew but he'd been disarmed using Leo's katana. It had been an amazing sight watching the teen twirl and spin keeping the older turtles at bay. And everyone had showered him with praise afterwards.

But that had been the last time Jamie had seen Leo smile and she knew why. Amaya's warning was stuck on a loop inside his mind, mixing with the memory of her death and creating horrible imaginings. His nightmares had started shortly after the family had returned to the city and they only seemed to be intensifying as time went on. Each time he'd wake in a cold sweat, she would try to comfort him. But he only seemed to become more distant. He'd even taken to sleeping on the couch the last few nights.

Well, she was not going to keep putting up with it. If she was anything, it was stubborn. She was not going to let Leo or Shinta live in fear. It was time to put an end to this. "Leo?" She moved closer to him, stopping just off the mats. "Leo? Don't you think that's enough for now?"

He didn't look at her. "No."

Her eyes narrowed and she slipped out of her shoes, before moving forward again. "Leo?" This time he looked down at her as she stepped up beside him. His eyes narrowed slightly. She knew she was interrupting but that was exactly what she needed to do. "He's exhausted. Let him rest for a little while. You could use some rest too."

"No, not yet." He said flatly, his eyes on Shinta again.

Jamie frowned. What had gotten into him? Why was he ignoring her? She felt her ire rise. "Leonardo! That is enough! You can't keep doing this to him or to yourself!"

"Yame!" Leo called and Shinta stopped his kata, going into an attention stance. He watched in puzzlement as his father turned to glare at Jamie. "I am sensei here. I say when enough is enough!"

Jamie set her jaw and returned the glare with just as much intensity. She pushed herself up on her toes, so she could be eye to eye with him. "You may be their sensei! But you are not mine! You are my husband!" Shinta was slightly amused when his father took a step back. "And he is just as much my son as he is yours! And I say enough is enough!"

Leo looked away. "You don't understand."

Jamie folded her arms. "You don't think I understand? I was there when she told us about the demon. I know what it feels like to lose someone you love." Her gaze shifted to Shinta. "And I know it's terrifying to think of losing someone else."

"That's not the same thing." Leo muttered, still not looking at her.

She frowned at him. "My spouse died. My child died. I don't see how this could not possibly be the same thing."

Leo finally turned back to her. "It's not! They were killed in an accident – a horrible accident but it was still an accident! Someone didn't break into your home with the very intention of killing someone you love! And now it's just a matter of time before it happens again!"

"No! It won't happen again! Things are different now! We know-"

"We know nothing!" Leo growled.

Jamie's eyes widened and then narrowed. "Fine." She strolled across the mat to Shinta, who shot Leo a worried look. She leaned up to whisper in his ear. "If it gets to be too much you'll tell me, won't you?" Shinta gave a small nod, his gaze never leaving his father's. "I love you." She kissed his cheek warmly and turned to leave the room, never looking at Leo.

When the door to the dojo shut, Leo dropped his face into his hand with a groan. Well, he'd royally screwed that up. She was more than ticked at him and he hadn't missed the look in her eye either. She was upset, but he had no idea how to fix it. What he'd said was true. The situations had been different and they still were. But he felt guilty about bringing her family into it.

Shinta's hand landed on his arm. "She's just as worried as we are, Father. She's just…handling it differently. Should we get back to training?"

Leo shook his head. "No." He needed to clear his head. "Go mediate and get some rest. We'll start again tomorrow."

Shinta frowned but did as his father asked, leaving him alone in the dojo. As he entered the lobby converted to living room, Sarah shot him a worried look. Her eyes darted to the door that led into the back of Jamie's shop. It was impossible for them to have not heard the fight his father and step-mother had just had. Sarah's brown eyes were filled with concern. "Shinta…"

He sighed. "It's okay. I'm fine."

"Yeah, well, it don't sound like Leo is." Raph leaned forward to look at his nephew. "Jamie seemed pretty mad too."

Sarah snorted. "Well, she has a right to be. Leo has been pushing him too hard lately."

Donnie pinched between his eyes. Leo's little boot camp was starting to affect them all. "He's just worried about what Amaya said."

Sarah gave him an annoyed look. "I know that. But he doesn't have to act the way he has." She got up and walked around to Shinta. "We're in this together." She pulled him into an embrace, which he had to lean down to accept. It was still strange that he was taller than her now. "So if he pushes you too hard, we're going to put a stop to it."

Shinta gave a small nod. "Thanks." He forgot sometime that he really had three mothers. Sarah had raised him most of his life until Jamie had come along. It was strange to think that had been a mere seven years ago, because it felt like so much longer. And then there was Amaya. Although she was not alive, he had met her recently and she had sworn to help him however she could. He released Sarah, giving her a small smile. "I think I'll take advantage of the down time to catch up on some of the books Uncle Don got me."

Donnie piped up. "Oh, yeah, that reminds me. I found another book on Shinto prayers and charms. I left it on your bed."

He smiled. "Thanks, I'll take a look at it. There are still a few things I didn't fully grasp from my little tutorial."

"You're lucky you got one at all." Cat pointed out from her place beside Raph. She was doing as he'd asked, trying to easy back into working and only doing so when she felt well enough. Donatello was still keeping a watchful eye on her condition, making sure that it didn't happen again. But his watchfulness was nothing compared to Raph, who barely let her out of his sight now.

Shinta gave a solemn nod. "Yeah, I am." He turned to trudge up the stairs, past Mikey who was playing ball with his great-nephew. Shinta mulled over the lessons he'd learned from his mother as he climbed the three flights. Donnie hadn't gotten around to installing an elevator yet, not that he was certain his uncle would be the one to put it in. He'd noticed that the brothers were slowly releasing some of the responsibilities to the younger generation. They didn't even patrol much anymore. So, it was possible that Mira or K-three would eventually put one in.

Raph and Cat were allowing K-three, Kaz, and Yoshi to manage the garage. Mira and Ona were often out there with them helping out. Cat still went out there sometimes but not on a regular basis and not without her escort. Shinta grinned at the thought. Raph shadowed his spouse most of the time and especially when she was in the garage. Sometimes he'd see his aunt roll her eyes when Raph became too overprotective.

He pushed open his door and crossed the room to look out at the garage below. It was already nearing dusk and the sky was turning pink. His cousins would be coming inside soon, which meant a lot more commotion. If he wanted to get any studying done, he'd have to do it now.

Leo stared at the door leading to the living room and frowned. He knew they were talking about him, even though he couldn't hear them. With a huff, he marched to the weapons wall and picked up one of the new holo-projectors. If he hung around here, he'd only get in a fight with one of them. He needed some space.

As he stepped out the back door, the group led by K-three approached him. The Turtleoid frowned. "Everything okay, Leo?"

"Yeah, I'm just going for a walk." Leo didn't meet his eyes as he turned and walked away.

Mira frowned, sensing her uncle's distress. "I don't think he's fine at all."

"He wouldn't be, not with all this talk about that demon." Kaz folded his arms, watching the receding figure of his uncle disappear into the growing darkness.

Yoshi snorted. "Yeah, well, I don't care about some stupid demon or whatever. He needs to back off Shinta. He's never worked any of us like he's doin' the kid."

K-three opened the door and they followed him inside. Kaz stopped to glare at Yoshi. "He has his reasons. You just don't remember Aunt Amaya, because you were still a baby when she died."

"I was not!" Yoshi snarled. "And I do remember her." He paused, his expression dropping a little. "Well, mostly."

Mira put up her hands. "Calm down, Kaz. It's not his fault he was still small when it happened. He was only six." She shuddered as memories flowed back to her. "He doesn't remember things like we do." And you don't have to remember what I do. The gruesome scene on the garage floor, all the blood, her mother's tears, and Leo's hysteria. They were memories she had desperately tried to bury.

K-three frowned at her and pulled her gently into his arms. Kaz dropped his chin. "Sorry." Ona laid her hand on his arm, dark eyes full of understanding.

Yoshi looked at the two couples and sighed inwardly. What he'd give for the comfort they afforded each other. "It's okay. I think I'll check on Shinta though." He left them, heading for the living room. His parents looked up as he entered.

"How'd it go?" Raph rumbled.

"Fine. All locked up." Yoshi turned without further comment and headed up the stairs. He didn't bother to stop on the second floor where his own bedroom was, instead climbing on up to the fourth. He knocked at Shinta's door and waited. A moment later the younger turtle opened it. He frowned at him. His cousin looked exhausted and something else was bothering him too. "Hey, you okay?"

Shinta sighed, turning and dropping his book on the nightstand. "I don't know. Dad and Jamie had a fight…about me."

Yoshi's frown intensified as he stepped inside and flopped into a beanbag in one corner. "What about?"

"She thinks he's working me too hard." Shinta looked out the window at the now dark city.

Yoshi snorted. "Well, she's right. He acts like he and you are the only ones in this thing. But you're not." Shinta turned to look into his cousin's intense green eyes. "We're in this together. And I for one, ain't lettin' nobody touch you."

The corners of Shinta's mouth lifted into a tiny smile. "I know. But what you don't realize is that I am the only one that will know this demon when it shows up. It can look and act like anyone. Demons can body jump. So, even if I find it once, I might not be able to find it again. And if that happens this will just go on and on, and we'll never have any peace."

"You sound like you got a plan."

"I'm working on one. I know I'll only have one shot at this. I've been looking through all the books that Dad and Uncle Don have gotten me. I think there is a way to trap it and then destroy it. But I'm still working on the last part. There are a lot of ways to trap an evil spirit but I haven't found much about destroying it entirely." He sighed. "I know my mother could do it though, so there has to be a way."

Yoshi suddenly stood. "Well, you want to know what I think?"

"Not really." Shinta teased with a smirk.

Yoshi snorted again and continued undeterred. "I think all this talk of demons needs to take a break for a while. Come on, we're goin' out."

Shinta raised an eye ridge. "You're kidding, right?" Yoshi folded his arms and Shinta groaned. "You're not. Yoshi, I can't go out. Dad barely lets me go on patrols. If he finds out I went out without telling him, I won't have to wait for the demon, because he'll kill me!"

Yoshi took hold of him and pushed him out the door. "Then he won't find out."

Shinta stared at the entrance with its flashing black lights and neon painted sign. The teens entering were just as colorfully decorated with bright colored hair and body paint. He frowned. "Please tell me you are not serious?"

Yoshi grinned, draping an arm across Shinta's shoulders. "It's just an arcade, little buddy. There ain't nothin' to be scared of."

Shinta squared his shoulders. "I didn't say anything about being scared." He narrowed his eyes and started for the door. "Come on."

Yoshi's grin widened as he followed after him. It was about time he got his cousin to loosen up. There was a bouncer near the door, but he wasn't really doing much just keeping out the kids that hadn't paid. Yoshi held up two fingers at the guy inside the booth. There was no way he could hear him speak over the blaring music. The man nodded and held up ten fingers in return. The turtle pulled a ten from his pocket and shoved it under the window. The man shoved two glowing bracelets back through.

Slipping on one, Yoshi leaned down to yell in Shinta's ear. "See? No big deal." He held the other out and the younger turtle put it on. The bouncer let them in and they stopped just inside the door. The place was more than just an arcade. It was more like a club with an open space near the center where teens were gyrating to the pounding music. And to one side was a bar that served nonalcoholic beverages.

As they walked further in, Shinta glared at his cousin in the strobing lights. "You've been here before." It wasn't a question but an accusation.

Yoshi chuckled. "Yeah, a few times. In a place like this if you get brushed up against, no one's gonna notice. Besides, these kids are just as weird as us."

Shinta laughed. "Speak for yourself. I'm not weird at all. I'm the coolest."

Yoshi chuckled and pointed to a pair of racing consoles that were open. "Tell me that after I whip your shell."

"You're on!"

They jumped into the racers, which Yoshi won the best out of three. Then the killed some zombies where Shinta got the highest score. They decided to play some air-hockey to break the tie. Shinta laughed while Yoshi smack talked. After the fourth game, Shinta moved to Yoshi's side as he was pulling out some more money. "Hey, I think that girl over there is checking you out."

"You mean checkin' out my holo." But Yoshi couldn't help but look. A girl that had to be close to his age was leaning against a console beside another girl who was playing the game. She had blonde hair but the tips were dyed black. The lights flickered across her face and he saw a pair of pale blue eyes watching him beneath long bangs. The look she gave him was both cool and challenging at the same time.

Shinta elbowed him. "Bro, you're staring."

Yoshi immediately looked back down at what he was doing. "How about after this round we get somethin' to drink?"

Shinta blinked at him. "Really, bro, you're just gonna ignore her?"

"Yep. She ain't interested in me. She's interested in this damn holo-projection." Yoshi pushed the last coin into the slot. "Now get your butt back over there, so I can whip it again."

Shinta looked from his cousin to the girl that was still watching him and sighed. Yoshi was right, when they were out like this, all the outside world saw was the false image. It was hard to meet anyone when you had to hide who and what you really were. He shuffled back over to the other end of the table and was soon engrossed in the game again. Shinta rubbed his win in Yoshi's face as they walked to the bar.

"Don't get to cocky, bro. I'm gonna tear you apart on that alien invaders game." Yoshi leaned against the bar. "Hey, man, can I get a Coke?"

"And a water." Shinta told the bartender, who was also a teenager.

"Can I have a Mountain Dew?" A female voice called from the other side of Yoshi. Both turned to see the blonde girl from earlier. She smiled at Yoshi. "Hey, big guy. I saw you get your butt kicked just now by your friend there."

Yoshi snorted and tried to look uninterested. "He's my cousin and I let him win."

"You did not!" Shinta protested, but couldn't help the small laugh.

She glanced at him and grinned. "I think I have to agree with the kid. Looked like you were trying to win to me."

Yoshi smirked. "I bet I could beat you. As a matter of fact, I think he could." He jabbed his thumb at Shinta.

The girl took the challenge without even a flinch, her pale blue eyes sparkling. "Oh, yeah, put your money where your mouth is, big guy."

"The name's Yoshi and you got a deal." He grinned at her, unable to remove his eyes from hers.

She smiled back. "Mine's Star."

Shinta rolled his eyes as the bartender brought over the three drinks. Star started to pull out her money, but Yoshi waved her away. "I got it." He handed over the money and took up his drink. He turned to look around. "Where'd your friend get to?"

Star popped open her can. "She had to go home. Something about curfew."

Yoshi glanced back down at her. "Do you have a curfew?"

It was her turn to snort. "Nope. I got no one to report to."

Yoshi grinned. "Good, now how about that match. Let's see what you've got."

"Yeah, let's see." She headed for the air-hockey table, which luckily was still unoccupied.

Yoshi swatted Shinta on the shoulder. "Come on."

Shinta smiled. "Nah, bro. I think this one is all yours. I'll stay here."

Yoshi frowned. It wasn't a good idea for them to split up. There were way too many humans around. "No way."

"Bro, you'll be less than twenty feet away. And I can see you from here." Shinta indicated the clear line of sight between them and the air-hockey table.

Yoshi continued to frown, but he had to admit Shinta was right. "You'll stay right here?"

Shinta nodded. "Yeah, bro. Go see if she's interested in more than that holo."

Yoshi couldn't help but smile. "Okay, holler if you need me."

A/N: Okay, everyone breathe now. I know what your thinking...that was a bad idea...

Review please!