Splinter looked up when Leonardo entered, the old rat was kneeling on his tatami mat,in front of him was a chess board,the pieces had gotten worn and chiped over the years but they were still good...often he would challenge his sons to a game,each had their own style...

Raphael was wreckless and let his frustration get the better of him...

Donatello created so many strategies he entangled himself and forgot to pay attention to splinters move...

Michaelangalo played for fun,and thought so differently from splinter and moved with such randomness he proved a real challenge for his father to beat...

However the only one of his sons who had ever gotten him in a stale mate,was Leonardo...

Hamato yoshi looked at his son as he knelt down at the opposite side of the board...in this light he almost appeared solid...

"Im sorry I'm late father..."

Splinter shook his head "no ,do not apologize my son,you have good reason to linger above ground..I heard about the young girl on the news today...you returned her to the hospital...you were not seen...and...the two men that stole her away,you left alive...the police found them a few hours ago..."

The old rat leaned towards his son "you did well..I am proud of you..."

Leonardo looked down at his hands,he still was not used to them being see through...he wondered how he must look to his brothers..."I didn't see Raph or Mikey when I came in..."

"I beleive they are making decorations for your surprise party...Michaelangelo baked your cake himself..."

Leo smiled sadly..."you shouldn't have said anything if it was supposed to be a surprise..."

Splinter chuckled and moved one of the pawns on the chess board..."you know I can't keep secrets..."

For a few moments father and son knelt their in the dojo,silently playing chess...twice splinter almost got Leonardo in check ,but each time Leo blocked him and launched a counter attack...his bishop killed both of Yoshi's rooks and 3 of his pawns...splinter said nothing ,but he registered with some surprise that his sons technique had changed...to test this ,splinter moved his queen out in the open in a move that appeared foolish,but if Leo fell for it he would be in checkmate within another 3 moves...splinter waited...and watched as Leonardo moved his own queen down ,taking his fathers knight and traping his king...check mate...

Splinter leaned back and stroked his chin surveying his son over the chess board ...Leonardo had sacrificed every player he had except the queen in order to win the game...something he had never done before...

"This game is yours..." The old rat said quietly,by now the candle beside them was beginning to burn out,in the dim light he could barely see Leonardo...

"Why do you think you won?"

"Because I was not afraid to make sacrifices..."

"Do you think that was wise?"

"Strategically yes...but in real life ,if this had been a battle ,I would have lost... I would have withdrawn from the enemy, and called for a retreat..." Leonardo looked up suddenly and his eyes glinted white in the darkness,splinter noticed that he never blinked ,he didn't need to...he was dead...

"Are you afraid of me father?"

The question caught him completely off guard ,but he answered honestly without a moments hesitation..."no ,I am not ...what has happened to you is not to be feared,you are still my son,Leonardo ...nothing could ever change that ...or tarnish my love for you..."

Leo watched him carefully ,and then seeing he spoke the truth nodded and stared into the dying flame of the candle...

Splinter sighed "your brother does not understand...I believe he is feeling a great deal of guilt ...he blames himself for your death ...he trusted the human and she betrayed him...he just needs time to heal..."

"Father...I don't think I will be here much longer...its not fair to the rest of you for me to stay...you can't live if death is so close...but before I leave I have to make sure you are all safe..." Leo looked up at splinter...not as student to teacher...or as son to father ...but as man to man...

What he said next made splinters furr stand on end...

"Father..I have seen the demons..."