… (peeks around corner) Uh - hi, everyone. Now that I have Rex protecting me I can get on with this chapter. Don't murder me, or you will not see how this ends. (more confidently) This is the second-last chapter, people. Get ready for a SHOWDOWN! WOO-HOO! GO TURTLES! GO TURTLES! GO, GO, GO TURTLES!

(turtles stare at dancing Sergeant)

… What?

Remember I don't own any of these wonderful characters. Besides Knife, Ophidian, and Reaper. MINE! MY OWN! MY PRECIOUS!

The Broken Bubble: Part Three

Raph's head began to pound as the adrenaline surge returned. 'We have to find Blue. We have to stop Reaper. We have to get out of here. And we have to do it all before Leo gets hurt bad or worse. Mikey, help Don.' Slinging the limp body of Knife over his shoulder in a fireman's carry, he began to run.

'We're comin', Leo,' he whispered fervently. 'Hang on, bro.'

Please hang on…

… pain…

… searing pain… chest hurts… my heart…

… where am i…?

… it's all dark… voices…

Please hang on…

… who was that…?

… raph…?

'LEO!'

April snapped awake at Casey's yell and heard the shrill sound of a flatline. Oh, no. No no no. She jumped out of her seat and flew across the room, frantically starting CPR. 'Don't - you - dare - Leo,' she ground out, pressing hard on his chest, 'don't - you - dare!'

It's not working. What do I do? … Don said that because their physiology is different, sometimes they need a jump-start. 'Casey, find the adrenaline. It should be somewhere in that blue cupboard. And hurry!' she yelled as he ran for it, while she continued trying desperately to revive her friend. Come on, Leo, don't you dare die on me!

… hurts… why can't i breathe…?

Come on, Leo, don't you dare die on me!

… april…?

… what - AH!

… that hurt…

… but… pain's going away… i can breathe…

… thank you…

… just want to sleep…

April withdrew the adrenaline syringe and held her breath.

Leo didn't.

The two humans let out a relieved sigh as the monitor returned to a rhythmic beep and the blue-masked turtle's chest began to slowly rise and fall. Leo was alive. His heartbeat was shaky and faint and his breathing was still a little erratic. He was too pale and too cold.

But he was alive.

Knife stirred feebly, alerting Raph, who carefully set the boy down, steadying him as he staggered slightly. 'Careful, kid. Take it slowly. You okay?' Knife nodded uncertainly, then jerked upright, staring down the corridor. 'Blue is close. I can feel his presence.'

Raph didn't have to say a word before they were all running madly down the hall after Knife.

Of course, when they crashed through a door into a large cave and found Blue, they didn't expect to run into Reaper as well. 'Hi there, bros. What'cha looking for, hey? Leo, perhaps? He's kinda preoccupied right now.'

… preoccupied is one way to describe it…

… being held a foot off the ground by the throat…

... tried to kill me before…

… tried to stop my heart… april brought me back…

… can't breathe… help…

… donnie…

'Let go of my brother!' yelled Mikey, as furious as they'd ever seen him, 'Or I'll 'chuck you into next century!'

'You can't fight me without hurting him,' grinned the malevolent doppelgänger. 'Are you willing to take the risk?' He gave a chuckle and clenched his hand tighter around Leo's neck. The blue-masked turtle choked out a strangled gasp, his face reddening slightly.

'Let him GO!' shouted Don, claws baring themselves with a snick.

… help… donnie…

Don's breath left his lungs as the cry rang through his mind. He felt like his brain had been hit by a truck. Kuso! What the - Leo?

don! you can hear me!

Um… working on your grammar may help with understanding, though.

Sorry. it's hard right now when I'm trying to breathe

It's okay, Leo, we're going to help you. Hang on, okay?

… kay… Donnie… um… raph's yelling at you… better… stop…

'Don? Donnie? Einstein! We need a plan, genius!'

'We have to weaken him so that Leo can regain control and lock him up again,' muttered Don, turning to his younger brothers.

'Distract him,' whispered Knife. 'I must get to Blue. He needs power. Hurry!' And with that he began to run toward the fallen blue-masked ninja, prompting the other three to leap and attack Reaper, diverting his attention.

They succeeded in forcing him back to the centre of the cave, surrounding him and carefully timing their attacks to strike when he wasn't looking. But he brushed them off as if their weapons were no more than tattered fly-swatters, all the while smiling that maniacal smirk. 'Do you really think this will hurt me? Children. You don't have the strength to land any real punches on me!' And he laughed at them, tossing them to the ground with apparent ease.

Then another voice rang out, two sets of tone in one. One young and bell-toned – Knife's voice; the other older, stronger… familiar…

Mikey knew it. It was the voice that cut through nightmares.

Raph knew it. It was the voice that could calm the most savage anger.

Don knew it. It was the voice that offered comfort from doubt and fear.

'They may not. But we do!'

Everyone turned, and Raph was certain he heard an actual gulp of fear coming from Reaper's direction. Knife was nowhere to be seen, but Leo was now standing, no longer weak and helpless.

His eyes were no longer brown, but glaring, sorcerous silver.

And boy did he look furious.

Reaper's eyes widened. 'Oh, bugger.'

Yowza! Reaper is in BIG trouble! Am I forgiven now?

Oh, and whoever figures out the chapter names before the final chapter is up will get a virtual turtle-tot of their choice. Have fun!