A/N: I never thought that this small story would turn into a two shot. Thanks for your support and for all who said to keep going. So I hope you like this chapter. I just might have to drag this out to be three chapters instead of two. Also, I switched Within the Woods to my own version to fit the story. But I don't own the original. Period. Oh, and sorry it took so long to write it. My fault :)

Chapter 2

Leo's P.O.V.

You remember that crack. It's extremely big now. But the hole is like a portal. It allows me to come in and out of my body as if it's a house. I believe it's a type of freedom. A freedom that is scary and a freedom I don't want. I feel like I'm dying and I don't like it. Every time I leave my body, fear overwhelms me. What if I die? What if I pass on to the next life? I don't want to leave my family just yet. Maybe that's why I'm still in my coma.

My eyes are opening. I'm outside my body again. Every time I go out of my body, I end up next to the one I want to see the most. But that includes a certain distance, so if the one I want to see goes to the store, I can't see them. Lately, that's been Raph and Donnie. So I end up in a barn or in the bathroom of what my family calls the Farmhouse. I wander around while I can and watch my family from a far. April's a good drawer. Chickens don't like Mikey. Donnie and Casey argue a lot. Raph barley ever eats or sleeps. I'm worried for my family. But I'm mostly concerned for Sensei. Where is he? I can't find him. I want to know why we're all out in this place. But no one will give answers to a guy in a coma.

Today I wake up by a tree. I would have thought it odd if my brothers and friends weren't training in front of my eyes. Donnie and Casey are fighting while I laugh when Raph gets punched in the jaw by April. He's lacking in his skill.

April yells at Donnie and Casey. Raph tells her that turtles don't live in a farmhouse and Donnie corrects him. When I hear the words 'Master Splinter' come up, I really listen in.

"Yeah, and as Master Splinter would say," Mikey claims," We must accept the hand that the universe has dealt us."

"Whoa," Casey says in awe," that's deep, bro."

"Master Splinters gone, Mikey," Raph hisses, earning my attention. "And Leo may never wake up. The universe dealt us a terrible hand."

Raph marches back into the house, everyone watching him go. His words echo in my mind. Splinters gone, Leo may never wake up.

Splinters gone…

What happened?! Where is my father!? I need my father!

I can't breathe. It feels like there's a big bubble in my lungs, stopping me from breathing. I'm crying tearlessly but I know my body will be shedding a few salty drops. And on top of that, my brother has started to believe that I won't ever wake up again!

My spirit body slides down the tree to its roots. It feels like hours as I sit there, looking at stars filling the day sky. It's strange but a very beautiful sight. Eventually, I stand as night falls. I blink and I'm next to Raphael. He's asleep in his bed. I can tell he's having a nightmare again. I feel my heart hurt for him, so I put one hand on his shoulder and the other on his head and then whisper into his ear," Raphie, wake up."


Raph's P.O.V.

Leo's eyes abandon their gaze on mine as he turns away from me.

"Leo," I say, calling to him," Leo, where are you going?"

"You know where I'm going," Leo reply's," I'm going to see father."

"But…Fathers dead." I say.

"I know." Leo says," Why do you think I'm going to visit him? You didn't save us, Raph. What choice do we have but to abandon you?"

"No, Leo," I groan reaching out to him, but he won't look at me, he won't stop. "Leo, don't you dare leave me! Leo, don't go! Leo, please! LEO!"

But he ignores me. Leo keeps on walking as if I, as if any of us, didn't exist. As if we don't matter.

"Leo," I sob, "Don't leave me! Don't go!"

Raphie, wake up.

Leo!

I jerk up in my bed, my eyes straining to find Leo in the dark, my memory coming back, showing that it was just a nightmare. My head and shoulder are cold but not ice cold. Just…a cool warmth. Kinda the way Leo's skin feels in this coma of his. My heart jumps as I call softly, "Leo."

No answer.

"Leo," I call again, even though I already know there will be no answer. My heart has dropped once more. So I head for the bathroom.

I wish I could apologize to Leo, for everything I've done. I want to thank him yet yell at him for almost dying for us. But it's too late. Leo's gone. Leo save us, saved me, dozens of times. How many times have I saved him? It feels like none. I'm a killer. Murderer is the exact word for me.

I murdered my brother.

All I really wanted was to be enough for Leo. And as I now sit beside Leo, I realize that I always wanted him to need me as much as I need him. But…that can't be possible anymore.

I listen to Mikey's TV show blare downstairs, and I wonder if I'll ever be that happy again. Maybe I will be after I get rid of Shredder. After I avenge the ones I love most. After I can be sure they can rest in peace.

I look at Leo, ignoring the sting in the back of my eyes.

Just a word.

Just a twitch.

Just a flicker of an eyelid.

Anything.

Do anything.

If just for a moment, love me again.

I sigh and stand. I go to Leo's side and gently bring his head into my arms. I hug him to my chest and whisper," Miss you," my lips brushing his forehead.

I put his head gently back down. And that's when I see a twitch in the water.


Leo's P.O.V.

I can't get out of my body this time. It's like I'm glued in. I try to move but things are heavier. My mind is clearing up. Raph's voice is calling to me.

"Leo! Leo, can you hear me? Leo!"

My body feels like I was hit by two ginormous buses. Raph's voice echoes through my pounding head. He sounds excited yet…scared. Worried.

Wait…my heads pounding. My body hurts. I'm waking up!

"Leo, open your eyes. If you can hear me, do it. We've missed you, bro."

I try to open my eyes but all that comes out is a puff of air that forms Raph's name.

"LEO! Come on, wake up!" He grabs my shoulders and shakes me. My head spins, then my body stiffens and pain shocks me.

Slowly Raph comes into view. His face breaks into relief. "You're alive!" He cries, crushing me into an embrace. "You're okay. Thank you, God, thank you!"

As I try to pull away, Raph calls, "Guys! Guys, get up here!"

Then I hear the pounding of feet.


My head is still spinning but not form pain. I've learned so much in the past two hours that my brain feel like it's going to explode. Splinters gone, my leg is lame, I've been out for three months, Donnie's medicine sucks.

I gotta stop thinking. I need to meditate. I need to sleep because Donnie told me to. But I've been sleeping for the past three months. I don't want to sleep. I sigh and turn on my side, holding in a groan as my leg throbs.

I don't believe Sensei is gone. I really don't. He wouldn't leave. He can't-

An arm suddenly falls around me. I jump, the image of Shredders claws descending on me filling my brain. I let out a small yelp and the arm jerks back.

"Leo, what's wrong?"

I turn, ignoring the pain and stare at my little brother. His green eyes shine in the moon light. I say nothing, just stare at him.

"I thought you were asleep," Raph says.

I reply," You scared me. I thought you were the Shredder."

Raph's eyes flicker from worry to anger, "That monster will never hurt you again, Leo. Not while I'm alive. I'm sorry I scared you."

"You? Sorry?" I say. Raph nods slowly, keeping his eyes locked on mine. "Why are you here? Specifically in my bed."

I think Raph blushes but I don't point it out. "I…um…just wanted to be sure you were okay. I just wanted to…um…be close…to…um…you, you know. How are you?"

"Raph," I say slowly, turning painfully onto my other side so I can see him better. "I'm okay. Look…I know you don't think I'm doing well. I know you're worried but I'm good. You know, I'm glad I was in my coma."

Raph's eyes bulge out of his head. He struggles to say something but I stop him. "Trials change us for the better, Raph. There's' always a reason bad things happen to us. Raph, what's happened to our family has happened for a reason." Somehow I know Raph needs to know all that I am saying.

Raph scrunches up his mouth angrily," Then why were you put in a coma and Sensei killed. Tell me why everything I love was taken away from me!"

My gaze remains steady on him. I shrug. Raph's frown deepens, his gaze shaking. "This isn't fair. Life isn't fair to us."

I withhold a groan,"Bro, are you not listening to me? Life has never been fair. If it was, no good man would die young. No young child would get cancer and there would be no still-borns. But life isn't fair. It's cruel but worth living. It's…Raph, are you crying?"

Raph nods to my surprise, "You almost died young. Leo. I was so scared. I couldn't save you, help you. I failed you and-"

"But," I break in," Life gave me a second chance. It made things fair if only once."

Raph lays down next to me, curls into me, making us both warm. I whisper into his ear," I'm proud of you, you know that, right?"

Raph looks up at me, smiling, tears shining brighter than his eyes, "And you know I love you, right?"

I smile and chuckle," Of course I do, bro. Of course I do."

"Then I know you're proud of me, too."

After that, we just stare at each other. I am marveling over the features Raph has that resemble mine. I think he's memorizing me so if I disappear, he'll remember me. That's the last thing I remember before falling into a new oblivion. An oblivion where I know that I am truly and promisingly safe.


Raph's P.O.V.

My eyes open. The sunlight is glowing through the room. I try to stretch but my hand hits something hard. Then everything comes back to me from last night.

My big brother finally woke up! I almost scream in victory at the idea. My mouth hurts form smiling so much. If only Splinter were here to join in our joy…

Leo's breath reaches my ear. It sounds like he's hyperventilating. I sit up and stare at my big brother. My ani's hand is gripped around the pillow. He's shaking. Leos' having a nightmare. That is unacceptable!

"Leo!" I yell, shaking him," Leo, wake up! Nightmare are not for you! Only for me! Wake up, you dork!"

TWACK!

I'm one to hit people in my sleep. Leo isn't. But as Leo's eyes whip open, he sees me, and punches me square in the beak. I yelp and fall backwards off the bed. Leo is screaming his head off about Shredder and death. Seconds later, I hear him fall off the bed, too. It must knock him to his senses cause a few seconds later, he's saying," Raph, where are you? What happened?"

"Leo," I gulp, sounding nasality due to my holding my nose," for somebody who's' been I a coma for three months, you sure have one shell of a punch."

There's a pause, then he says,"…really?"

I laugh at the way he says it. It feels so good to laugh again. Now that Leo's wake, I feel like I can just be happy for the rest of forever.

I look up at the sun, then say," Leo, let's go train. Come on. I'll help you get ready."


That night…

I stand next to Donnie and Leo, watching as Donnie studies Leo for any sickness.

"You hurt him," I hiss under my breath, thinking back to how Leo collapsed at the river side, puking up his medicine.

Donnie looks up at me, then back at Leo," I didn't hurt him. Some people's bodies don't agree with certain medicines, Raph."

"You made the medicine, Donnie-"

"Raph, let it go." Leo suddenly says.

I just look at him for a moment, then say," But, Leo-"

"I said let. It. Go."

I'm starting to worry a lot now. Leo is acting funny. He's acting… hopeless. Like he was back at the river with that 'never gonna be the same again' talk. And he looks so sad. It's like he's having weird mood swings. One minute he's happy, the next he's' angry at the world.

"You're fine, Leo," Donnie says, "You just need to relax, train when you feel a little better."

"Thanks, Don, "Leo mumbles. Donnie nods, then leaves, going to the kitchen to probably argue with everybody else.

I look down at Leo, happy we're finally alone. I need to say something.

"Leo," I start slowly," are you sure you're okay?"

Leo looks up at me, "I don't think you're understanding that I'm not perfect anymore, Raph."

That pulls me up short, "Leo, what do you mean?"

"Raph, whatever was in me that made me quote 'perfect' is gone. I'm just…different now."

"I never said you were perfect."

"Yes you did."

"When?!"

"When I was first in my coma. I heard you. I heard every single thing you said."

I pale. Most of the things I said we're kind, we're good to us and the whole family. But, a few days after Leo first got into his coma, I started yelling and crying that Leo was the universes perfect son. That he was just so perfect and that I hated him for being that way. I thought the universe took Splinter way because Leo go himself in a coma. It was a punishment. Later, I realized it was a stupid idea.

"Leo, I didn't mean a thing then. I love you and know that you aren't perfect. You being gone for three months showed me that."

Leo shuffles a little. "I know that, Raph. It's just…I'm scared that I can't do things anymore. That I can't ever be your brother again. Not that I was good enough in the first place."

That take me, again, by surprise. "You were too good enough. You were the best brother a turtle could have. I'm the one who was never good enough."

"Raph, you were the greatest-"

"No, I wasn't! I treated all of you like crap and I deserve losing you! I just felt that nobody understands me!"

"I TRIED!" Leo suddenly yells. I pause. Leo's chest trembles as he breaths deeply. He sighs. "I tried with all my being, Raph. And…and I couldn't, I can't, live like this anymore."

Leo stands, wobbling till he gets his crutch, then starts to walk away from me…just like in my nightmare.

"Leo, I-"I reach for him, but he jerks way from my touch.

"Don't touch me! Don't talk to me! I'm tired of hearing how everything you have isn't good enough! Including me…I'm sorry, Raph. But…I need some air."

Leo limps his way out of the farmhouse. I watch him go before following him, "Leo…"

That's when Donnie appears. He must have been listening to us. He presses his palm to my chest, stopping me.

"Get out of my way, Donnie," I hiss.

"Raph, you've been suffocating him since he woke up. Give him a little time to think."

"You don't understand-"

"Maybe I don't, Raph. I know you and Leo, you're closer than brothers should be, but sometimes, you two need to have space for other things. Leo needs that space now. Give him time. He'll come back around, just like you did."

With that, Donnie leave me, just like Leo did.

All alone.


Leo's P.O.V.

None of this is Raph's fault. I guess now I know how he feels. Being frustrated all the time, but not being able to show how he really feels.

I really hate it. No wonder he's the way he is.

I wander my way back to that stream Raph took me to earlier. It feels good to breathe fresh air, to feel cold, to feel everything. I look up to the stars, and see the constellations of Orion. I twist around looking for the constellation Leo. Universes perfect child. Hm?

Leo the lion. Raphael the archangel. At least he's a person not a lump of stars. But I guess he sees it the opposite way I do. People see me. People only believe in him.

Shell, I wish I could climb. Then I'd climb these trees so I could hide and watch those stars till the sun is climbing the sky.

There's something behind me.

I twist around, careful not to twist so much that I hurt something.

The moonlight exposes nothing new. Except, maybe, that tree that's exactly across the stream.

I stare at it, waiting for something to happen. That thing knows that I won't give up soon either.

So it opens its eyes, then growls at me.


Raph's P.O.V.

I'm staring at the fire, listening to Mikeys' stupid show when it blows out. I blink, not fully comprehending what happened. Then the power goes out.

"No!" Mikey howls.
"Donnie," Casey shrieks, "You said you fixed the power!"

"I told you its weak! I'll have to go repair it again because people don't know how to turn off lights!"

"Guys," I call," I'm going to collect more firewood."

"Kay."

I start to leave when Donnie calls after me," Raph, don't bug Leo. Let him be."

I flinch. "Donnie, do me a favor and stop being Leo. I prefer him knowing my motive instead of you. It doesn't freak me out as much."

Donnie hmps, then I leave. I'm tired of it being cold. Leo's cold, the airs cold, I'm cold. I look around for Leo, but he's' nowhere that I can see.

"Leo…" I call out, feeling de ja vu by the word.

I near the hatchet and the blocks of wood, the n sigh. Leo would be great company right about now. But I continue anyway.

The hatchet is heavy in my hands as I put block after block on the stump. I'm going through these like lightning. My eyes linger up to the starts. Leo the lion. Son of the sky. Leo. Brother to me.

Shell, I'm depressed. What a way to live.

I remember something Leo told me about the constellations. In ancient Greece and Rome, the meteors, the Leonidas, were thought of as messengers or angels sent form the heaves, Angels…me the archangel, him the deliverer of celestial beings. I smile. Makes sense in my mind.

I pick up another log and get ready to split it.

"AAARRRGH!"

I drop the hatchet behind me, almost cutting my thighs. Even though Leo's voice is different, it doesn't mean I don't recognize his screams.

"LEO!" I yell, sprinting into the forest. As I near the steam Leo and I came to earlier today, I hear another yell and a splash.

"LEO!"

I break through the trees as I see Leo dragging himself out of the creek. Feet away is the ugliest monster I've ever seen. It's all green and leafy. A vine snaps out and wraps around Leo's injured leg. It pulls him up into the air, his yell following him all the way.

With his scream knocking around in my head, I let out a battle cry, jump high in the air, then stab my twin sai's into the monster shoulders.

It roars, dropping Leo back into the creek. I smile with victory. But it falters when the monsters head twists 180 degrees to look at me.

This ting is fat. The minute its sees me, it wraps its think vines around my neck. I gasp as it yanks me off it and holds me feet above the ground. The world is going fuzzy form the lack of air. The monster is about to throw me into the ground when it howls in pain once more.

I'm barley able to look down to see Leo stabbing his crutch into the monster.

He can't take both of us at the same time. Sweet.

Again, that idea falters when more vines wrap around Leo's wrists. It takes one of my Sia's form me, then pints it down at Leo's chest.

"No!" I howl, taking my other sai,then jabbing it in the creeps eye. He lets both of us go. I fall to the ground with a thud. I immediately jump up and shove Leo.

"Go! Get out of here, Leo! I can handle this!"

"No! I'm not leaving you!"

Instead of arguing, I puck Leo up off the ground, then use all my strength to throw him across the steam," Go, you dork!" I howl, then turn back to the creep.

It looks at me angrily, taking the crutch out of itself. It uses my Sai's as its weapons now. I'm empty handed, but won't back down.

I get into position, growling, "You'll never harm my family as long as I'm alive."

The monsters eyes flash, as if he understand what I'm saying. With a roar, he stretches out to kill me with my own weapons.

THUD!

Something hits me from the side, taking me to the ground. I look up right as my Sia hits Leos' shoulder. The monster cries out in surprise. But my yell is louder.

"WHAT THE SHELL ARE YOU DOING!?"

Leo ignores me and whatever pain he has, and lunges at the creep, Katana at the ready. The creep fights back with my Sai. When Leo twists I see a long cut on his shoulder. "LEO, STOP!" I yell, getting to my feet.

Leo glances at me, then says in a low voice," I could be just like you."

Just like me. "WHAT!?"

Leo jumps once more at the creep. Right as his katana cuts through the right arm, the left arm swings like a baseball bat. There's a loud crack and Leo fly's across the stream and into a tree head first. His body fall limp like a doll. Seeing him limp make me scream as loud as I can, and it makes the creep scream, too.

That's when back up finally shows up.