TRAITOR

Plot: After your brother betrays you do you love him or hate him? Forgive him or leave him to rott? Or do you meat the choices half way and do a mix of both?

Chapter two: Why?

Raph's POV

I walked into the lair; it was quiet. Dare I say it, too quiet (I could hit myself for even thinking that). Not that it wasn't expected, it was getting late and Splinter left a few days ago but I still expected Don to poke his head out of the lab to great me as I walked in. As I heard a snore drift from it I shook my head, why did I come to expect anything less? I notice the house isn't up to Splinter's usual standards and wonder if Leo is feeling alright. Ever since the incident, he hasn't done anything to put himself further on Splinter's bad side, not even insisting on continuing his training. When I first learned what Leo had done, I probably would have felt he was in his rightfull place now but after five months of watching him beat himself to the ground and only Don deffending him I only wanted my older brother back. How had it gotten to the point where he wouldn't even argue back with me when I insulted him? I'm not proud of it, but at first I did it to genuinely hurt him, now I did it to try to get some of his spunk back. Ya know, tough love. Besides, I try to be nice but it never turns out that good and I usually end up getting lectures from Don of all people about bringing up the foot clan in front of a tensing family.

On further inspection of how dirty the place actually was with dishes pilled over in the sink, kitchen floor sticky and dirt floating around I wondered if Leo finally had enough of us and left... not that I entirly blame him. I woulda left months ago after I realized sensei was never gonna forgive me and my youngest brother started hating me and I'm sure I fit into that equation somehow.

You can say whatcha want about Leo but just by how patiently he waits for everyone to forgive him and how he works round the clock to keep us in a clean home and barely bats an eye to our abuse, I still think he's pretty damn fearless. I woulda quit by now. I walk up the stairs, fully intent on talking to Leo tonight. I don't care what he says, we're going to talk about this all like brothers and finally put it behind us. I've been having allot of bad dreams lately of finding him on that roof top soaked in his own blood and I don't want it to happen again...I want to know why most of all. If he was working for Saki at the time and loyal ta him like he said, why was he near death when I found him after fighting my way out of my own home? I needed to know. I paused at his door something didn't feel right. I turned the door nob to find it wouldn't open. Why was his door locked? Taking a deep breath I knocked. Nothing.

"Leo?" Nothing still..."Open the door, we need to talk." Nothing. My patience was slipping fast. My fist pounded against the door a few times.

"Open this damn door Leo! I want ta talk to ya!" Nothing. I looked up from pounding on the door to find a sleepy Mikey looking at me questioning from his door way. I said nothing just rattled the locked knob to indicate my distress. He didn't say anything but I could tell he was confussed and a tad bit scared as well...maybe he still cared after all.

"I'll go wake Don," he told me hurrying down the stairs. It hit me as I watched him disappear down the stairs, he thought Leo was contriving against us or somethin, that was the last thing I was thinkin. As I busted the door down I felt a chill go down my spine at the disaster area that was once Leo's room. By the looks a things, he was planning on going somewhere, maybe Mikey was right thinkin... I shook my head.

"Leo?" I said sternly taking him in he was too pail...my stomach dropped as I smelled blood and realized he wasn't snapping around to look at me. I immediatly shot into action as I heard him whimper and notice he's shaking badly. I bent over next to him to see what was wrong and what I could do to help when my blood boils slightly seeing the blood gushing from his arms. Keeping my anger in check I gently grab his right arm at his lack of reaction and eyes widen as I realize this wasn't normal cutting a teenage girl would do after being rejected or even a suicide attempt...it was a message. The letters were shaky and smeared with his own blood that contiued to gush out but the message was clear enough. FAILURE. The E was the only letter that I was certain would disappear and not forever shine on his arm. I almost vomited looking to the left arm which was much deeper and allot easier to read even with the smeared blood and a letter or two alittle too close togetha. TRAITOR.

"Why...how..." I fumble for the words,"What...did you do?"

"I'll clean it up in a moment..." he finally mumbles making me beyond furriose that was the only thing he was thinking about.

"No! Stupid!" I scold feeling him tense as I pull him into an embrace taking in the blood splashed across the floor and watched a drop drip evenly onto his thighs, where his arms were now rested, every few seconds but somehow he still managed to sit still with his eyes down cast,"Your arms..."

"I forgot..." he finally mumbles his head falling onto my shoulder as I pull him closer and he begins to black out,"So I reminded myself."

At this point I was offically freaking out. I screamed as many names as I could, later on Mikey would tell with that smirk on his face that in my state of panic I had actually called on Super man and Doctor House. I don't know if I can believe 'im or not, it is possible. I was sitting in a disaster area clinging to my brother who had moments before hand mulilated the shit out of his arms for some reason and was going into shock. So sue me for thinking I knew them at the time...all I knew was I was begining to feel like I was going to pass out from blood loss just by the sheer amount of it filling up my line of sight.

DON'S POV

I groaned as I began to wake up feeling as if I had been asleep for years yet feeling like I could go for another batch of sleep. I yawned streching wondering if I should go force some food onto Leo, I swear he has-LEO! My eyes shift towards the empty tea cup now knocked over where my head was moments ago. It felt ironic after all the times I drugged his tea so he would go to bed and not overwork himself, he would drug me...but why? What was his reason? I felt slightly betrayed but I didn't want to dwell on it every bone in my body was telling me he was up to something.

"Donny!" Mikey called dragging me from my line of thought and turning my head towards the door. I turned my head towards him asking him what was up when I heard something collapse upstairs I instantly got up.

"Never mind," he said looking up as well,"Looks like Raph knocked it down..."

"What down?" I asked looking back to him more confused then ever.

"Leo's door," I tilted my head and he shrugged,"I woke up to Raph freaking out about it being locked. Do you think Raph suspects he's been in contact with him again?"

I hoped not but I didn't voice it wanting to give Leo the benefit of the doudt. Drugging me and Raph busting his door down sounded suspiciose though. But I out of any one would know if he was so I shook my head. I tried not to smother him but I was always close by if he needed some one to listen to him for a change. I was the only one who was probably more concerned about Leo himself near the shredder again then him ratting us out or anything...I silently studder at the thought of him covered in blood and barely breathing.

I share the silence with Mikey for a few moments before Raph's screams break us into action. I'm out the door as my name's screamed followed by Mikey's then Sensei's ...I pause alongside Mikey as he yells for April then Casey then...Superman? I would have gone back to bed at that moment if it wasn't for the desperation in his voice.

"Doctor House?" Mikey mummbles chuckling to himself as we hurry up the stairs but it seemed like all laughter disappeared as we reached the top step and pause staring at Leo's broken down door. I step in without Mikey understanding...somewhat...the anger he still has for our older brother.

"Raph..." I say gently and watch his head snap back a look of panic across his face that I soon matched as he rose to greet me laying a pail Leo covered in blood gently on the floor.

I tense almost praying our brother had a mental break down and I don't know... killed a chicken. I couldn't stand the thought of waiting days on end once more for him to wake up and not know if he was going to live or not. My hand covers my mouth as Raph urges me forward with his panicked yet stern glare and I see the disguarded bloody shuriken on the floor and clamp my eyes shut as I realize he had carved something into his arm...shaking my stupidity aside I find the answer to why he drugged me as I look at the destroyed room realizing he was going somewhere before he descided he instead wanted to see how far he could go till he bled to death.

"Why?" I whisper walking forward more and kneeling beside Leo checking for a pulse. It was there but it was weaker then I would like it to be.

"He wanted to remind himself..." Raph snarls his anger rising once more. I couldn't help the tears as I read the deep gashes. TRAITOR. FAILURE.

...

Angst. Angst. Angst. -*hits head on wall in angsty fashion*- ANGST! -Harry Potter Puppet Pals- Wizard Angst. Yeah, I'm weird but I can't even think of angst without thinking of wizard angst...