Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT

Please read Author's Notes at the end!

Tiger Claw did not trust the Kraang. Their quick success in invasion was made possible with Shredder's help, but Tiger Claw was sure a betrayal was inevitable. The Foot Clan leader was reluctant to heed his warning, his mind focused still on the lost Karai. As his second, Tiger Claw remained watchful, determined to not be caught off guard. He hated them.

The captive turtle was near death after his brave stand off. The youngling had impressed Tiger Claw with his skill and daring, but in the end, Leonardo still lost.

They could have delivered the broken body of their leader to the remaining turtles before finishing off the entire clan, or chasing them away for good. Master Shredder had other plans. If he passed, Leonardo would be useless as a bargaining chip, not that Tiger Claw believed Shredder would really let the turtle go anyway. Still, he followed his orders and brought the battered child to the Kraang to be treated. He stood by, wary of their actions. While they questioned the reason for keeping an enemy alive, it seemed as though they would comply. The Kraang, for now, were still willing to work with the Shredder.

One of them stepped toward him, his exosuit clanging and whirring with each movement. "The turtle known as 'Leonardo' is in a state known as 'critical'," the alien stated plainly. "Kraang is giving medical treatment as requested, but Kraang's efforts may be useless."

Tiger Claw did not shift his stance, standing before the Kraang droid with his arms folded over his chest. He held back a loathing snarl. "Just do what you must," he said evenly. "Master Shredder wants him alive."

Fog surrounded him, and he made no effort to shake it. He floated in it, and it coddled his numb mind. Distant sounds drifted through the haze, and to pass the time, he tried to name them. Whirring, buzzing, and clanging, like machinery, made him think he was in his brother's lab.

Maybe I fell asleep watching Donny work, he mused.

It was strange, because he didnt spend much time in the lab normally, but he'd been interested in the progress of Don's new project, even if they disagreed on strategies. With the inevitable invasion drawing near, he felt more and more that they wouldn't be ready for it. He wanted to utilize the Turtle Mech his brother had put countless hours of work into, but they needed somewhere else to go. Somewhere to stay safe, in case they couldn't be ready in time. Somewhere to run to….

Donny wouldn't mind him sleeping there, but Leo knew he would mind waking up sore from whatever position he was in. Already he could feel his aching muscles protesting. He focused finally, on surfacing from the fog.

The smell of blood hit him next. It was strong and bitter, and mixed with another scent of sterile environment. The whirring and clanking suddenly didn't seem so familiar, and he realized he was not in a safe place just before the pain hit.

It was fire around and inside of him. His head exploded and every muscle seemed to be wrenching themselves from his very bones. The smell of his own blood invaded his nostrils, and he wanted to retch. His chest and throat seized up in pain as he gasped, trying to scream. Something held him down. The stilted and ridiculous speech of the Kraang echoed around him, but he couldn't make out the words.

Leo didn't know if he was moving. He had no thoughts but to beg for everything to stop. After an eternity, it seemed to. The fog drifted in again, darker. It enveloped him, and finally took him away. The pain numbed slightly, but he could let his mind go. The Kraang had him; the invasion had started. Where were his brothers, friends, sensei?

And as suddenly as he had become aware, Leonardo was gone again.

A month passed before Tiger Claw saw the wounded turtle again after bringing him back from the Kraang's "hospital". He had quickly become uncomfortable in the alien surroundings, and when it became apparent the youngling would do no better or worse wherever he was, Tiger Claw took him back to the Foot Clan's hideout. He was glad to be back where it was more familiar, and after a couple days where Leonardos condition still made no change, he allowed himself to wander away.

Forty-three days in total, the young warrior had lain in a coma, and Tiger Claw was inexplicably frustrated at the lack of change.

Why keep something alive that is so near to death?

He wondered idly if his feelings were rooted in cruelty or mercy. After all, ,the boy was just a cub. Broken and battered. If he woke up at all, he would awaken fatherless. Perhaps by then, the last of his kind. And then he would be sent back to the world of the dead, all while the world he knew fell into chaos. As Tiger Cla looking on, the turtle still made no movement except for the steady rise and fall of his chest.

He will have nothing to live for.

The thought only numbed him, as he had long ago ceased to feel compassion. He was an onlooker only, biding his time, observing even as he carried out orders. Until his opportunity for revenge came. For the life that was taken from him, for his tail, for his eye and ear. He had waited years for the man who had his tail as a trophy, but the ones responsible for his perilous journey through the dimensions were within his grasp.

His eyes narrowed dangerously as he viewed the still sleeping turtle. He would wait until his brothers were now longer of any use to Master Shredder. The man had already completed his revenge, Tiger Claw could soon complete his own.

He glowered again as old memories filled his mind. He began to drift out of the room, as quietly as he came, but a soft tormented whine from the once-banded turtle made him pause. He glanced back, but Leonardo made no movement.

"This is none of my concern," he muttered to no one, striding out of the room.

A/N: *Wipes sweat from brow* Whew! I know this has been a LONG-awaited chapter guys! I'm really sorry it took so long to get out! The winter months were crazy for me at work. Things are finally starting to slow down now, which means you can expect to see much more frequent updates from me! Now this story, Hostage, isn't going to be a very long one, which is why the chapters themselves are fairly short, but I am so happy with the reception it's gotten (despite my long absence)!

I have a few, much longer stories that I've put a lot of work into that I hope to start posting soon. Please keep an eye out for them! In the meantime, please enjoy this update!

Thank you so much for your comments!