Leo's POV

Ringing. Voices. Darkness.

I try to pry my eyes open and succeed after the third try. I blinked to get my eyes adjusted to the light. I try to sit up, but my arms shake too much. So, I lower myself back down on the cot- wait. Cot? I was on the floor last I remember. A-And people were near me. They were asking me things. I tried to push my thoughts away as I took deep breaths.

I realized that there were four figures trying to talk to me while crowding the cot. I flinched away and looked up at them. It was Raph, Donnie, Mikey, and the man with the familiar symbol on his kimono. They stopped talking and backed away when they saw I needed space. I looked at Raph, since I was most comfortable around him, and asked, "W-What happened? Where am I?"

My eyes moved from Raph and started around the room. There was a desk covered in papers, viles, and beakers, a large cabinet filled with what looked like medicines and first-aid, and a few other cots besides the one I'm on. There was also a coffee machine, with coffee made, on the desk as well. I flinched when I felt a hand land on my shoulder.

My head whipped around and I relaxed when I realized it was Raph. He helped me sit up and put a few pillows up to support my back. He was about to say something, but frowned when my stomach let out a loud growl. I winced in pain and wrapped my arms around my stomach, doubling over.

I stretched my arm across the room, grabbed the empty mug on the desk, filled it with coffee, and brought my arm back. Immediately, the coffee went down my throat, soothing my growling stomach for now. Everyone was shocked with the event that took place, but their expressions changed to concern with the fact I was in pain.

I saw Mikey's face light up with an idea. "What do you wanna eat, Leo?" I raised an eyebrow. Why is he offering me food? I give him a fake smile. "I'm not hungry, Mike," I told him. Right after I said that, my stomach let out a loud growl of protest. I blushed in embarrassment. "Yeah. Uh huh. Sure. I'm just gonna make some soup," Mikey doubtfully said. He skipped out of the room, whistling a tune.

I watched him walk out. I don't want him to waste his time and food on me. He could be using that soup to feed himself, Raph, and Donnie. I looked back at Raph. "What h-happened," I asked again, "b-before I woke up here?" Raph looked away from Donnie, who seemed to be having a silent conversation with him. His emerald green eyes stared at my sapphire blue eyes as he told me what happened when I passed out.

"Well, ya passed out and I caught ya before ya hit da floor. Mikey was freakin' out and askin' wha' happened. I held ya and," Raph patted my stomach and I flinched, "found out that ya were about sixty pounds unda' weight. So, Donnie brought ya in 'ere an' examined ya ta see if dere was anythin' else wrong with ya. He found nothin' besides yer malnourishment." When Raph was done explaining, I leaned back against the pillows, processing everything as I kept a hand on my stomach.

It's not my fault I haven't been eating. The only food I can get is from school or if someone I help is kind and gives me money in appreciation. The tension in the air seemed to disappear when Mikey came into the room. "One soup delivery for a Leonardo," Mikey exclaimed.

He grinned and walked over to me. I gave him a small smile and took the tray, carefully setting it on my lap. I stared into the bowl then picked up the spoon and slowly started eating. I gave Donnie his coffee mug back apologetically. He went to his desk, Mikey went into the living room to play video games, and Raph pulled up a seat next to the cot I was on. He's the only one I'm really comfortable around with minimal flinching.

As I was eating, I felt a pain in my stomach. I wrapped one arm around my stomach and kept my other hand holding the bowl. Raph noticed my change and frowned. "Ya ok?" He asked quietly. He knows I don't like attention all that well. I nodded then grunted quietly when another shot of pain went through my stomach. Raph put his hand on my shoulder and gently turned me towards him.

I was surprised that I didn't flinch. He lifted me up, sat down on the cot, then set me on his lap. He grabbed the half eaten bowl of soup and set it on the table next to the cot. He then started rubbing circles on my back while I rested my head on his chest. Raph's other hand was gently rubbing small circles on my stomach. The pain slowly lessened and I relaxed my tense shoulders.

"Thank you," I sincerely whispered to him. It felt nice to be cared for. My mind was, for once, not racing with the memories of the scientists and I was actually feeling happy instead of sad. "No problem," Raph whispered to me. He's being nice. I snuggle more into him and feel my eyes droop a little. "Go to sleep, Leo. You need it," Raph told me. I nodded and wrapped my arms around him.

I agree with him. I've only gotten about four hours of sleep the past three days because of hunger pains and the nightmares keeping me awake. The last thing I heard before I fell asleep was Raph. I think he thought I was sleeping because he whispered, "Night, bro," and I was out like a light.

Nightmare/Memory

I opened my eyes to find myself staring at a white ceiling. I blinked a few times to let my eyes adjust as I looked around the room. I shuddered when I saw syringes, viles, scalpels, and...scientists! My eyes widened in fear and, when I realized I was strapped to a lab table, I started struggling to escape. I thought I got away! I thought I escaped them!

My struggling ceased as I heard someone chuckling. I watched as a scientist walked over to me and ruffled my black hair with an evil grin. My sapphire blue eyes widened even more when I realized I couldn't teleport away from here. Why weren't my powers working?!

"Oh, your powers won't work here. I've designed this place to...let's say...block your powers and contain them within you. But don't worry. I'll find out eventually of what makes them exist," the scientist explained to me. My breathing increased as I started struggling again. I wanna go home! Back to dad, Raphie, Mikey, and Donnie. But I can't. I have to keep the scientists away. I'm only six years old! Who would do this to a child?!

I screamed in fear and pain as one of the scientists jabbed me with a syringe. My vision started fading. "Oh. Before you "sleep", just know that you won't leave here for a while," the main scientist said. The last thing I heard before I passed out was evil laughter.

End of Nightmare/Memory

"AH!!" I screamed as I jolted awake. Tears were streaming down my face as I panted. I hated that memory with every fiber of my being. Just like the rest of my memories. So much for being happy and having an empty mind. I felt arms tighten around me and looked up to find emerald green eyes staring at me concerned. Raph stayed with me the entire time I was asleep?

I watched his eyes widen as he saw the tears. He moved one of his hands and wiped my eyes. I wrapped my arms around him and squeezed my eyes shut. I hate my life. Running footsteps could be heard as Donnie, Mikey, and their dad came running into the infirmary.

They noticed me awake and crying, so they came to the side of the cot. I opened my eyes and looked at them with tears running in streams down my face. Why did I have to have a nightmare here? I don't want them to worry over someone like me. "What happened? Why is Leo crying?" Mikey asked. "He was movin' in his sleep and mutterin' things. I think he had a nightmare," Raph explained to his family.

I looked up at Raph and watched as he seemed to contemplate something. His emerald green eyes stared deeply into mine as if trying to read my thoughts. I quickly looked away. "Do ya wanna talk about yer nightmare?" Raph whispered so only I could hear. I can't let them know what happened to me. I shook my head and held onto Raph tighter, trying to will the memories away. Just for a little while, at least.

"W-What...What time is it?" I asked while looking around. There was no clock in here but I figured someone had a phone on them. "It's about 2:15 in the morning," Mikey answered. I looked at him as he told me this. I have to get my bag and head back to my abandoned apartment building. I have to take care of her. I haven't taken care of her all day. My eyes widened in alarm as these thoughts went through my head.

I jumped off Raph's lap and off the cot. I asked quickly, panicking, "Where's my bag?!" Everyone seemed shocked and alert at my panicky state. Donnie seemed to snap out of it as he retreaved my backpack from his cabinet next to his desk that I never noticed. It was smaller than the other one he had. He handed me my bag and, as soon as I grabbed it, I ran. I had to get to her and give her the apple and banana I managed to grab for her.

"LEO WAIT!!!" I heard them calling out to me, but I couldn't bring myself to stop. I ran as fast as I could out the door and down the streets. I tried to lose them through alleyways but they were too quick for me to out run them. Unless...I used my super speed and raced to my abandoned apartment building. They could never catch me because I was too fast for them. I made it to the building and rushed to open the door. I heard gentle sobs but they stopped in fright when I came into the room.

"Don't worry. It's just me," I said softly. I looked at the corner of the living space and watched as a shadow moved. She crawled towards me, then stood and ran. She hugged me and started crying. "W-Where have you b-been?! I w-was so w-worried when you didn't come home!" I felt guilt hit me like a bus.

"I'm so super sorry I didn't come home. I wasn't feeling well and a few friends took care of me," I watched her eyes look at me alarmed, but relaxed at the thought of me getting help, "but when I realized what time it was, I ran all the way back here to you. I didn't forget about you ok?" I explained to her. I left out the thought of the memories resurfacing and hugged her, squeezing her tiny body, trying to comfort her.

"I have something for you," I told her cheekily as we broke away from the hug. She looked excited as she said, "Is it food?" I hummed mischievously and smirked. But inside my mind, I was sad at the fact that her thought of a surprise was food. Me and her were extremely malnourished, and I try to take care of her and I, but it's hard considering that we were homeless with no parents.

I picked her up and set her down on the couch, then I reached into my bag. She squealed happily at the sight of the apple and the banana. I gave her the apple and saved the banana incase she was still hungry. I already ate but felt bad that Mike had to waste his food on me. I watched her eat happily. She abruptly stopped eating and got off the couch.

I watched in confusion but then smiled as she sat on my lap and layed her head on my chest. I wrapped an arm around her. "Thank you, big brother," she whispered to me. My smile grew as happy tears glistened in my eyes. We've been with each other for two years. I found her crying near a dumpster and wanted to help. She told me her parents didn't want her and threw her onto the streets. I offered to take care of her and she agreed gratuitously.

I've been sneaking food into my backpack from school and attempting to feed her. My heart pangs whenever she gets hunger pains, but I feed her as much as I can, which isn't often. She said I could name her. So I named her Shadow and she's only six, but I vowed to take care of her no matter what I had to do. So, I simply watched with a smile as she ate her apple happily, but what I didn't know was that someone was going to be here soon.

Raph's POV

Mike, Don, and I watched as Leo sped away from us faster than anything we've ever seen. We stopped running as we panted. He was so fast! But he does have super powers though. That might explain it. "Where did he go, Donnie?" Mikey asked, wanting to help Leo and wondering why he ran off scared. We all were wondering that.

Donnie seemed to process this information, but I knew exactly where he was. "Follow me," I told them sternly. I ran off before they could answer but I knew they were following. I ran all the way to a certain building that I knew Leo would be at. I stopped in front of the door and waited for my brothers to catch up. I watched as they stopped near me and panted with sweat rolling down their faces.

"Couldn't you...have just ran...slower?" I rolled my eyes at Donnie's question. As soon as they caught their breaths, they looked at the building in confusion as to why I brought them here. "Dude, why are we here? Shouldn't we be looking for Leo?" Mikey asked confusedly. They both looked at me for answers but I simply shrugged and said, "Dis was where I first met Leo. He was up on da rooftop and afta I told him ta come down, he was goin' ta open da door."

"Oh," they both said. I've been wondering why Leo seemed as if he was keeping things from us. Now I guess I'm about to figure something out. And I'm going to get answers as to why he was so scared when he ran here. I put my ear to the door and heard Leo talking to someone. I couldn't here the other voice that well but, when I knocked, the voices stopped other than one word uttered.

"Shit," I heard Leo say from the other side of the door. I heard rustling from the other side of the door, then padding feet headed in a direction inside the building. Then, the sound of shoes along the floor could be heard as they stopped in front of the other side of the door. The door was then unlocked and slowly opened. Leo's face showed shock and alarm from seeing me in the doorway. "Raph?!" Was all he shouted.

I frowned as I looked at the emotions showing in his eyes. He seemed to look away as if he knew I was searching for something within his gaze. "W-What are you guys doing here?" He asked while looking down. I was about to say something, but I was interrupted by Mikey. "We were wondering where you headed off to, dude. You just ran out without telling us where you were headed!"

I glared at Mikey and watched as he looked at me with wide eyes. I looked back at Leo, but then noticed that the door was only opened enough to see him in the doorway. "Whatcha got in dere?" I asked him. Leo's eyes widened and his breath hitched as he looked at us with wide eyes. We could tell that he didn't want to tell us. But that wasn't going to stop us from asking.

Leo's POV

I can't tell them about her. She'll get taken away from me. "U-Umm..." I stuttered. My enhanced hearing heard her whispering to me. She knew about my powers. She made sure I was the only one who could hear. "Leo, it's ok...Just tell them to go away and to leave you alone for the night. Tell them you're really tired and just wanna rest," She whispered super quietly. I was able to hear everything she said though.

I used my telepathy and told her that it was a good idea and told her I would try. She whispered back that she was going to be okay. I sighed and turned back to Raph, Donnie, and Mikey. I took a deep breath before answering Raph's question. "It's nothing. Just what I normally have in here. You know, a couch, my backpack, and all that. I'm really tired, so I'm going to go to sleep. But I'll see you three tomorrow at school, okay?" I told them.

It's half true, what I said. I really was tired, but I didn't just have a couch and my bag in here. I had her, too. "Good job," I heard her whisper to me. I telepathically said, "Thank you," and looked down at the ground again. I could tell they didn't believe me, but knew that they were going to drop the subject and leave me alone. For now.

"Fine. But we're gonna find out why yer not actin' like ya self, Leo," Raph told me. I closed my eyes and listened to them leave. When they were out of hearing range, I sighed in relief and closed the door. I locked it and turned to watch as Shadow left her corner of the living space and walked over to the couch. She patted the spot next to her, signaling for me to sit down.

I walked over to her and sat on the couch. Shadow crawls onto my lap and, like earlier, lays her head on my chest. She put one of her hands on my shoulder and wrapped the other one around me. "I love you, big brother," She whispered tiredly to me. I smiled down at her and wrapped my arms around her small, fragile body. I hugged her closer to me and rested my head on hers as she closed her eyes.

"I love you, too, little sister," I whispered back to her. I waited about ten minutes for her to fall asleep. I don't blame that she's up this late. She was worried sick about me and thought she was alone again. When she fell asleep, I closed my eyes and let the tears that I've been holding back run down my face. I'm sorry I left you alone, Shadow. I'm so sorry, I thought to myself. I layed my head on hers and silently cried myself to sleep.

TBC...

I told you guys that I'd make the chapter long. I hope you all enjoyed it. I'm sorry that I haven't been updating recently. But I made it up to you in this chapter. I guess. Anyway bye bye!!