Disclaimer: I wish I did own them ;P

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Chapter 3

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The Foot ninja knocked on the door gently.

"Enter"

He made his way silently into the room closing the door quietly behind him. He moved to the center of the room and bowed to the person sitting with their back to him in the office chair behind the desk.

"Your report?"

The ninja remained in his position, "Our operative has immobilized one of the enemy Master he was almost discovered during his attack but has managed to maintain his anonymity"

"Excellent, our guest is restrained?"

The ninja nodded and straightened up, "He is confined in the lower cell block still unconscious, your spells are powerful Master"

"Good, tell our operative to continue, make the rat his top priority"

The office chair slowly spun around revealing an old man with thin graying hair and a scar running down his left cheek, he stood slowly and limped around the desk to the ninja smiling, "I want double security on the freak he is a risk all the time he is alive"

The ninja nodded, "Why keep him alive Master? Surely it would be safer to just kill him and eliminate the risk entirely?"

The old man raised his hand and slapped the ninja hard across the face, "Do not question my reasons," he snapped, "he has a purpose. Now go"

The ninja bowed once and left quickly.

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What's wrong with him Sensei?" Raph paced the small infirmary angrily, Mike stood next to the bed looking between his Sensei and the unconscious Donatello. 'Leo' was nowhere to be seen.

"I do not know, Raphael. I sense something mystical about all of this but I cannot be certain as to what is happening" Splinter studied Don intently frowning heavily, "Something is wrong"

Raph stopped pacing and turned to Splinter, "What sort of something?"

Splinter shook his head, "It is as if we are being attacked by magic"

Mike looked at Splinter, "But Leo said that Don just collapsed"

Splinter's head snapped up, "I am aware of Leonardo's explanations" he sighed and turned to Raph lowering his voice, "Raphael I need to speak to you alone my son"

Raph nodded and followed Splinter from the room into the empty living room.

"I must ask you to be cautious of Leonardo, I sense something about him" Splinter whispered

Raph straightened sharply, "Leo? Ha, that's a new one"

Splinter raised his walking stick and lifted Raph's chin, "Are you questioning me, Raphael?"

Raph pulled his head back away from the tip of Splinters walking stick, "No Master Splinter, I'm not. It's just that we are talking about Leo here"

"I cannot explain it but you must be cautious, of this I am certain" Splinter commanded

Raph snorted and turned tipping his head, "Okay so what can you explain"

Splinter sighed and looked away, "There are mystical forces at work. When Leonardo is present the feelings are stronger, I cannot fully explain it yet"

Raph looked about ensuring that there was no one listening, "What do you want me to do?"

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Don felt as if he had been walking in circles as he tried to get near to the central bright light that echoed his brother's voice, "Come on Don"

Don sighed in frustration and stopped, flapping his arms in the air, "Dammit Leo, don't you think I am trying"

"You have to try harder, you've got to get back" Leo's voice echoed as if he was in a large empty room.

Don slumped his shoulders and trudged forward once again, "Get back to where, Leo? I've been walking about for hours now and nothings changed"

"You're not trying, you have to want to go back"

"BACK WHERE" Don screamed then dropped to the floor and crossed his legs, "That's it I'm not moving until you tell me what's going on" he replied defiantly crossing his arms to finalize the statement. He closed his eyes briefly and breathed deeply trying to calm himself down and concentrated absently. As he opened his eyes he noticed that the scene around him had changed, he stood slowly and looked about. He was in a forest filled with trees that had squirrels absently running along branches and several rabbits jumped about playfully with one another. Don continued to turn and jumped from shock as his gaze stopped on his brother standing immediately to his right, "Leo, don't sneak up on me like that" he spat quickly, Leo's lips curled slightly into a small grin.

"See, I told you to try harder and look where you brought us" Leo replied as he held his hands out full at his sides and spinning around full circle.

Don frowned, "I didn't do anything"

Leo only let his smile grow bigger, "Yes you did. This place is your sub-conscious, your ki, your spirit whatever you want to call it, it's your mind you can do anything you want here"

Don shook his head in frustration, "This is crazy, you're talking crazy Leo"

Leo sighed then rested his hands onto Don's shoulders, "Donny, after everything that Master Splinter taught us about our minds and the potential that we, as ninjas, have you still doubt that this place exists even though you're here, now"

Don smiled slightly pulling his arms up to hold his brothers, "Always the perfect student huh, Leo?" they chuckled together for a moment breaking away then Don turned his gaze back to the forest, "One question"

"Shoot"

Don looked back to Leo, "Why a forest?"

Leo shrugged, "It's your head, you should know. If you want my opinion I think it reflects your intelligence, the forest is your mind and the trees are all the things that you have learned in your life. That's just me though"

Don chuckled, "That's very philosophical Leo"

"Hmm"

"I've got another question for you Leo, if this is my head then why have I never been here before and what has brought me here now and why are you here?" Don rattled off quickly.

Leo laughed out loud scaring away the playful rabbits, "That's three questions Don"

Don shrugged, "You are talking to me here Leo"

"True" Leo inhaled deeply then gestured for Don to sit at the base of a large oak tree as he slid down to the floor, "You haven't been here before Don. You've been brought here now because something has happened to you in reality that has taken you close to death"

Don's eyes widened in shock, "What?"

Leo lifted his arm and threw it over Don's shoulder, "Don't worry, you're not in anymore danger. Master Splinter has been helping you"

Don relaxed a little as Leo rubbed his shoulder. Don rubbed his eyes with his fingers, "Not that I don't appreciate it but why are you here Leo?"

Leo pulled away from Don and stood keeping his back to him, "If I'm here then that means that I'm unconscious as well. The unusual thing is that I am real close to the boundary between life and death"

Don jumped up quickly, "Tell me that you are not dying Leo please"

Leo's head dropped and he exhaled quickly, "No, I don't think I am but whatever is going on here there's magic involved, I'm sure of that"

Don turned his brother to face him, "How can you be so sure?"

Leo shrugged, "I'm not sure, it's like a bad feeling or a lingering smell that won't go away"

Don huffed, "That's one way to put it. So if we are being attacked by magic then it's a sure fire bet that Raph, Mike and Splinter are in danger too. We need to get out of here and fast, so how are we going to do that?"

"That's a good question"

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'Leo' walked back into the lair confidently, his Master was pleased with his mission so far. When he noticed Mike sitting on the couch watching TV he moved closer, "Hey Mike, anything good on TV?"

Mike glanced up and gave a small smile, "Nah, I've just left the infirmary for a break Splinter's orders"

'Leo' nodded and moved to sit next to Mike, "Where is Splinter?"

Mike pointed his thumb over his shoulder without turning, "Meditating, he said something about lending Donny his strength"

"And Raph?"

Mike chuckled, "He left in another funk, said he wouldn't be back for awhile"

'Leo' couldn't believe his luck his Master had told him to aim for the rat next and here it was the perfect situation, "Hey Mike, you hungry?"

Mike spun quickly in his seat, "Pizza? You read my mind"

'Leo' reached into his belt and pulled out some money and handed it to Mike, "My treat, anything you want"

Mike snatched the money up quickly and jumped up grabbing his trench coat and fedora, "Well if it's your treat I'll make it your favorite, how's that?"

'Leo' chuckled, "Sure, thanks Mike"

"No, thank you dear brother" Mike replied as he flew from their home.

'Leo' smiled, that should keep him away for a while. He stood up slowly and moved towards Splinter's room and reached into his belt pulling out a small syringe. Splinter's door was slightly ajar so 'Leo' peered inside and noticed Splinter sitting with his back to the door. He slowly moved inside and lifted the protective cap from the syringe moving closer to Splinter.

He paused when Splinter twitched slightly but relaxed when he stilled, as he was within reach of him he moved the syringe to his neck, closing in.

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AN: There you go another chapter, enjoy and if you feel like it R & R. Thanks ;)

Reviews:

SPOOTYCUP: Thanks. I hope this answers your questions. I promise to try and update quicker...honest ;P

RAPHAEL COLD: Apologies for the long delay, I did get there in the end ;)

LIONESS-GODDESS: Thanks. Is that a bad weird or a good weird? Let me know where you think this is going, I love to hear what people think is going to happen, you never know it just might ;P

LEO ONEAL: I hope I've changed the text properly for you, if not please let me know and I'll try again :)

RELUCTANT DRAGON: Thanks, I'll try to keep it up ;)

DORY'S HUMAN REPLICA: Yeah, that it is. Thanks for the confidence boost, it's appreciated ;P

RAMICA: I am pleased that you like the story so far. I have a tendency to write mysteries that even keep me guessing :) Thanks for the review ;P