AN: sorry for the late update, work, school, and college finals are cruel task masters! Hope you enjoy even though it is short! *************************************************************************************************************************************************

Chapter 7

The first thing he was aware of was the relief from the pain he'd been feeling for several days now. The second was how weak he felt, never in his fifteen years had he felt this helpless. Keeping his eyes shut Leo tried to moved his limbs, this brought on sharp aches that he did not want to feel. He did not even try to fight back a groan of pain.

"Leo?" a voice asked. Ok that was not something he had expected to hear for a long time, and if he did it would have been a lot angrier than that, "Leo, can you hear me Bro?" his original plan would have been to just lay there but the pleading tone in that voice was tugging at his heart and making his big brother instincts scream with need to reassure.

Struggling against the lead weights on his eye lids Leo forced his eyes to open just a little. Everything was blurred together in a mass of green and red, Leo forced himself to blink a couple of times to clear his vision. What he saw next nearly made his heart stop. Raphael's wide green eyes staring back at him with a mix of anxiety and hope. A grin started on the red masked turtles face when he noticed that Leo was staring back at him.

"Leo! Oh man you're awake!" Raph exclaimed. He was practically shaking with excitement.

"Wh-" Leo tried to respond but instead broke into a painful coughing fit. A strong arm eased his head and shoulders up a bit and a cup of blessedly cold water was held to his lips. Leo drank in grateful small sips, the water soothed his dry throat.

"Easy there big brother, you've been out of it for a couple of weeks now. Don't go pushing yourself." Raph chided gently, still smiling at Leo.

"Why?" Leo asked before he could stop himself.

"Huh? Why what?" Raph asked as he settled Leo back against a few pillows.

"Why are you helping me? I am foot clan now, remember?" Leo asked in a whisper. Raph stared at his brother, stunned. Was he really this shocked that they were helping him? That they wanted him back? Had he really believed that they hated him?

"What kind of idiot do you take me for Leo? We both know that you are about as far from being a foot clan member or even loyal to the shredder as Mikey is from becoming the next president of the USA." Raph said sitting next to Leo's bed. He had hoped this would get his big brother to smile but Leo still looked confused and depressed.

"Look Leo, I'll admit that you had us fooled at first. I never knew you were such a good actor considering you can't lie to save your life. Then again that might be why you were able to pull this off for so long. It was not your life you were saving, it was us. It took us a while to realize it but you were just doing what you always do. Protect us no matter what. "

"Well you did a good job, we all got out alive. But there was just one thing missing, and that was you. There was no one for me to try and beat during a spar, no one to drag Donnie's shell to bed at two in the morning, and no who was willing to try and train Mikey by holding his comics hostage. What I am trying to say is that you've done your part, you kept us safe. Now let us do ours to help you heal." Raph said laying a hand on Leo's shoulder.

The elder turtle let a few silent tears slip down his cheeks, how could Raph be saying that? They should hate him! He had turned his back on them, on their sensei, their family, he'd even attacked and wounded Mikey! They should be leaving his body in some abandoned sewer tunnel but no, they were taking care of him. Ecstatic that he was home, Leo just did not get it. It must have showed on his face because the next thing he knew he was being wrapped in a strong yet gentle hug by his red masked brother.

"Stop beating yourself up Leo, yeah I know you were doing that because I know you. No matter what happens, you are still our big brother." Raph said softly. Leo was stiff at first but after hearing those words he went slack in his brothers hold, leaning into the comforting embrace.

"Feel better?" Raph asked, he felt Leo nod, "Good, now just sit tight for a second. I need to go get Donnie and Master Splinter, they would want to know that you are up and give you a checkup." Raph said pulling back. Leo nodded in acceptance and gave Raph a small, tired smile. Raph grinned back then raced off to tell his brother and father.

"Donnie! Master Splinter!" Raph yelled as he raced into the dojo. Donnie was going over some new Bo techniques with the rat master while Miwa kept Mikey off his leg and entertained.

"Raphael, what is the matter?" Splinter asked halting the lesson.

"It's Leo! He woke up!" Raph exclaimed, practically bouncing on spot with excitement. Donnie and Master Splinter stood frozen for a second before racing out of the dojo with Raph. They quickly reigned in their excitement once outside the door to the infirmary before stepping inside. Still propped up on his pillows lay Leo, who greeted his family with a shy smile. Suddenly a purple blur attached itself to Leo, still being mindful of his injuries but determined not to let go.

"Don't you ever do something like that to us again!" Donnie growled around tears, his face buried in Leo's shoulder. Leo leaned his head against Donnie's and patted his arm in promise, "Good, because if you do I will personally drug you then lock you up in a nice padded cell where I know you won't get hurt." Raph chuckled at the threat from his younger brother while Leo rolled his eyes good naturedly. Splinter walked up to stand beside his oldest, Leo looked up at him with trepidation and swallowed heavily. Splinter smiled warmly before wrapping his oldest in a tender embrace while Donnie left long enough to get new bandages for Leo, Raph followed his younger brother.

"Welcome home my son, I am so very proud of you." Splinter said stroking Leo's damaged shell. Feeling the cracks and ridges from training with the Shredder, "Know that I am not angry with you, I understand what you did and I forgive your actions. Now we must focus on making you whole again, and know that for a while I am not letting out of my sight." Splinter said with a pointed look at Leo who raised a questioning brow at his father, "I just got my oldest son back, you think I am just going to relax that easily? Not likely my son." Splinter chuckled and hugged Leo to his chest again. Leo smiled and leaned into his father's embrace, sighing with content, part of him still felt like they should be mad at him but he was starting to ignore that.

"Ok Leo, time to change your bandages. After that its back to bed with you, if you sleep well tonight we might be able to move you back to your own room." Donnie said as he started unwrapping the old bandages. All four were happy to see that the wounds were healing nicely with no new infections.

Fifteen minutes and several more hugs later Leo was swathed in new bandages. Splinter had also helped to wipe him down with warm water, making him feel clean for the first time in a long time. Donnie and Splinter left the room after bidding Leo a goodnight and promising to bring in Mikey and Miwa tomorrow. Raph was the last to leave, he was going to make sure that Leo was sleeping well before he left. Leo smiled sleepily at his brother before drifting off. In a matter of minutes the oldest was sleeping peacefully and deeply. Raph smiled before standing up and leaving his brother to rest. He after all had some work to get done, more specifically setting up Leo's room.