A/N: This is entirely new for me. I've never tried anything in this style before. It's very dark and I'm rather concerned if my gamble is going to pay off. This kind of story is very much a first for me, so any feedback would be very much appreciated. As always I would like to extend my biggest hugs and thanks to my two (yes I have two for this fic) betas, Mikell and Polaris, you girls are absolutely amazing. Thanks for all your help in tweaking, editing and most of all encouraging me to go ahead and post this fic. Drea thanks also to you for helping me out of my sticky situation with planes vs choppers, as you can see I went with yours ;-) Fellow writers and readers on FF, I would just like to say, before everyone marches in with pitch forks ready for revenge, have faith guys. Now sit back and enjoy and keep a box of tissues handy.

Disclaimer: I don't own anything TMNT related nor do I make any profit out of this fic.

"Raph! Raph, NO!"

Leo's voice didn't sound like his own. It was raw, animalistic. He watched in terror, time moving in slow motion as he grabbed for Raphael. Raph's hand flailed to grab Leo's. His fingertips brushed against the eldest turtle's as his eyes widened.

Raph fell backwards, his mouth opening in astonishment as he fell down faster and faster until Leo could no longer see him.

"Raph, NO!" Leo yelled panic stricken, straining through the night. He needed just a glimpse. It was Raph. He knew his brother must have grabbed hold of something, jammed his sai into something to stop himself from falling.

His ears strained to catch a sound, any sound that would tell him where Raphael was.

From somewhere far away, Leonardo felt his other two brothers crowd round him, felt Donatello clutch his arm shaking him. The purple-banded turtle's voice echoed faintly over the rush of blood in Leo's ears.

"Leo, snap out of it! What the shell happened? Where's Raph?"

Leo tried to answer but found his throat had closed up completely. His eyes searched wildly for his youngest brother. Michelangelo was crouched by the end of the helicopter, peering down into the dark night that seemed to have swallowed Raphael.

Leonardo could see his youngest brother's mouth moving, but couldn't make out what he was saying. All he could focus on as he stared at the open end of the helicopter was Raphael's face looming in his mind. The wide eyed astonishment as the helicopter tipped and he lost his balance, his arms flailing, one hand reaching to grab Leo's. His thoughts blocked out everything around him.

Night, a fierce battle. A never-ending struggle to defeat their enemies. Always the same routine. Tonight should have been no exception. Leonardo had led his brothers to this spot. He had led his brothers to face Hun. With the Shredder gone for good, Hun was leading his Purple Dragons to the top, creating a new rising of darkness that the four brothers had to fight every single night.

Leonardo faced Hun. The light of the moon had reflected off his drawn katana. The wind had billowed round them as the helicopter soared through the night.

Hun growled, charging forward. Just a simple, routine night. Nothing should have gone wrong.

Leonardo had readied his stance for the attack. He'd heard a shout behind him, felt the chopper tilt once, seen the box slip and fall toward him, crashing into his plastron and knocking him toward the edge of the chopper.

The edge had loomed closer, the open end of the chopper coming alarmingly close, then a hand had clasped his wrist tightly throwing him back with strength that Leonardo didn't even know his brother possessed. He'd gotten too close to the back of the chopper.

Hun had made a grab for the controls, tilting the chopper again. Raphael's grip had loosened, his feet sliding out from under him. His arms flailing as he struggled to regain his balance. The wind whipped fiercely round him.

Leonardo had moved instantly, rushing forward, but too late. Raphael had disappeared.

Raph! He gave his life for me. This can't be happening. Leo found himself thinking as Donatello hauled him to his feet. He felt anger rise fast and furiously in his chest. Of all the irresponsible, hotheaded things! How dare he give his life for me! I'm the leader, it's my responsibility to protect this family! Even as Leo knew that none of them would ever hesitate to die for the others, he still never thought the day would actually come when it would happen. Raphael, his angry, impetuous brother. Loyal to a fault, driven by emotion and passion, had been the first, always the first to jump in front of the others.

Many times Leo had reprimanded him for his rash actions, but deep down, Leo knew this rash action had saved his life and cost Raphael his.

He barely registered the parachute that was clasped onto his shell, barely even noticed Michelangelo grabbing his arm tightly. All he could think was the long lecture he was going to give Raph once again for his actions, if by some miracle, the red banded turtle had survived the fall.

Leonardo was thrown out into the night along with his brothers. He saw the flash of light, then felt himself hit the ground hard.

Looking up dazedly, he saw Donatello and Michelangelo sitting on the ground, their heads in their hands.

"Leonardo."

Leo heard the voice, felt the hand on his shoulder. He raised his head, feeling numb and froze in shock.