An hour later, everyone came to the dojo, except Leo. That was weird. He was usually the first one in there, unless Raph would be in there, beating on his punching bag. Not this time though.

"Where's Leo?" Mikey asked.

"He said he was meditating before training." Splinter said.

"I'll go get him." Raph said.

….

When Raph got to Leo's room, he expected to find him on his meditation mat, as he said he would be, but he wasn't there. "Leo?" Raph said into the room. He stepped inside. He looked towards the bed.

He saw his blue masked brother laying on his left side, all curled up into himself. A whimper escaped his voice, but his mouth remained closed. Raph could see Leo's face was curled in pain. "Leo?"

Leo heard his name from a gruff voice, and knew it was Raph. He opened his eyes. 'Oh great.' He said to himself. Raph had seen him being in pain.

"You ok, Bro?" Raph asked.

Leo knew he had to get up now. Laying down had helped somewhat, but the pain was still lingering a good deal in his stomach. "I'll be ok, Raph." He now pushed himself up, ignoring that last roll of nausea.

"Thought you were meditating, not going to bed." Raph said sarcastically.

"Just a little digestive upset. I'll be fine." Leo said again. He got up off his bed. "Time for training, isn't it?"

"Yep. Splinter wants ya down there."

"Coming." Leo said, and he and Raph walked downstairs together.

"You'll be in so much pain, you won't be able to train, you killer!" Hotaru said lowly, from way behind them. She followed. She had to see him go down in his own practice.

Leo tried to walk normally on his way to the dojo, though it was proving difficult. Raph walked beside him, showing some concern, as he saw his big brother wasn't feeling well. But he had seemed fine at dinner and before that even.

"You sure you're ok?" Raph asked.

"I said I'll be fine Raph." Leo snapped. This was why he didn't like the others to know about his issues too much.

"Fine. Be like that." Raph growled, and walked ahead of him.

Leo walked slowly, but he soon came to be in the dojo, his family impatiently waiting on him. Raph was standing beside Don.

Leo came to stand beside Mikey. "What took you so long, Bro?" Mikey asked.

"I had to lay down for a little bit." Leo replied. "But I'm ok."

"Are you sure?" Don asked. Leo saying he had to lie down was saying something was wrong.

Leo knew he had had to say that because Raph would have said it if he hadn't. "Yes. I'm fine." Though Leo knew that was a fat lie. His stomach was throbbing with pain inside him. He just had to keep up this composure for an hour or two. He had to pull it off.

Hotaru just sat by and watched training begin.

They began with some warm ups to get their bodies ready for the real sparring. Every time he moved, Leo couldn't help but wince. It hurt to move, or stand. He began to sweat, and he wasn't even into the real match yet.

Finally, the real workouts began. Leo was teamed up with Don, as he had insisted, because Splinter was worried of what Leo had said. He didn't need to be teamed up with rambunctious Mikey, or rough Raph. Under normal circumstances, he wouldn't care who he had, but Leo was grateful being teamed with Don. He was more the gentle one.

Don tried to throw some hits with his Bo toward his legs, but Leo jumped over it, or blocked the Bo with his katanas. Leo managed to keep up his composure for a small while, but when Don launched himself at Leo directly, from having put his Bo on the ground and swinging himself at him, he ended up kicking Leo right in his stomach.

Leo cried out in pain and fell to the ground, not getting back up again. He dropped his swords from his hands.

After Don landed, he was ready to land another blow, but Leo wasn't getting up. "Leo?" Don stated. He went over to check on him.

He saw his oldest brother laying on the floor, clutching his stomach. "Leo, are you ok?" Don now rushed to his side.

"Leonardo!" Splinter was now there too.

Leo was trying hard to breath. With that kick, the pain had intensified even more. "It- hurts!" He choked out. He was now covered in sweat.

Raph and Mikey had even stopped sparring and come over to see what was wrong. Raph had known something was wrong, but he figured Leo could take care of himself.

"I'm sorry Leo. I didn't mean to hurt you." Don said.

"It's- alright. I know. Training-."

"Shh! You don't have to say anything." Don said. He took Leo into his arms, trying to comfort him. "We should get you to your room. You feel kind of warm."

"I'll help ya." Raph said, and came forward. Together, he and Don put Leo's arms over their shoulders, and heaved him to his feet. Leo groaned in pain.

They walked from the dojo, up the stairs, to his room. They helped him get into his bed. Leo went back to laying on his left side. That was the position that seemed to help most before training. Splinter had gone to make some tea for his son to help settle his stomach.

"What happened anyway, Leo?" Don asked.

"I was fine all day, up until after dinner. Then this nausea started. My last pizza before seconds tasted kind of strange. I wouldn't know why. Was it all cooked ok, Mikey?" Leo asked.

"Yes. It was all done just right. You know I wouldn't hurt you, Leo." Mikey said with tears in his eyes, thinking his brother was blaming him for his pain.

"I know." Leo winced. He held his aching belly.

Then Splinter came in with a cup of tea. "Here you go, my son. This should help settle your stomach."

"Thanks Master Splinter." Leo said, raising himself a little to take the cup. "I really think I'll be fine after some rest."

"You sure? You want some company?" Mikey asked.

"I'll be fine, Mikey. Thanks."

"You three will have to go on patrol without Leonardo tonight. He needs his rest." Splinter said.

"Ok, but if you need us back here, just call us." Don said.

"We will Donatello." Splinter said. "Go on now."

The three brothers reluctantly left Leo's room. Splinter now turned to his son. "Why didn't you say something sooner?"

"I… didn't want anyone to worry about me." Leo said. "I drank some tea over an hour ago, and it wasn't helping. I just need some rest and I'll be fine."

Hotaru knew how to stay out of the way. She waited until she saw Leo's brothers come downstairs before she went up. She heard Splinter and Leo talking.

"Well, drink the tea, my son. It will make you feel better." The wise rat said.

"Thanks." Leo said. He had sat up a bit, and his father watched him drink the tea until it was gone. Then he put it on his nightstand.

"Get some rest, Leonardo." Splinter said.

"I am." He said. He laid back down, and was already beginning to feel the effects of the sleeping drug in the tea. Hotaru had drugged it earlier.

Splinter left Leo's room, knowing his son was resting peacefully. Then he went down to the kitchen to get some tea for himself.

Hotaru had ducked into Don's room, while the rat had been coming toward the stairs. Now she was on her way to Leo's room.

When she got in there, she found him already asleep. She waited awhile. She had heard the lair door open and close, that signaled Leo's brothers were gone. Her plan was nearly complete to get started. Then she heard a crash downstairs. She went to see what it was.

She came into the kitchen, and Splinter had crashed to the floor, breaking the cup on the floor, tea everywhere. That sleeping drug really worked! She smiled. Now back to business. She went back up to Leo's room. He was now hers!