Chapter ten.

Leo ran down the tunnel, looking and listening for any signs of his brother while calling out for him. After several minutes, he stopped and strained his hearing, certain he had heard someone calling back to him, pleading with him to stop. He slowly began to walk toward the sound of what he could only discern as crying. As he made his way closer, he could hear Mikey's voice, crying out to him and begging him for forgiveness. The sound his baby brother made caused an ache in Leo's heart and he quickly removed the pendant from his belt, rubbing it gently between his fingers as he came closer to Mikey.

"I'm sorry Leo." Mikey cried softly. "I didn't mean to be such a disappointment to you, please don't hate me." Leo watched as Mikey held the sharp edge of his kama against his wrist, slowly rocking it back and forth in an attempt to cut into his flesh. "I'll go away Leo." Mikey said, crying harder. "I'll go away and leave you alone just please….please don't hate me anymore."

"I've never hated you Mikey." Leo whispered, coming behind Mikey and placing the hand that held the pendant on Mikey's shoulder. "I could never hate you, I…I love you," He said swallowing a lump in his throat. "You're my little brother."

Mikey turned to look at Leo, sniffling and hiccupping; he wiped his eyes and looked at Leo in confusion. "You do Leo?" He asked. Leo smiled and brought Mikey into a hug. After a few moments, they stood up and Mikey looked around scratching his head in bewilderment. "Leo?"

"Yeah Mikey," Leo looked at Mikey with concern.

"What's going?" Mikey looked back at Leo with a puzzled expression then at his wrist which was starting to bleed lightly. "Why are we out here?" He grabbed his head and winced in pain. "And what was I doing to myself?"

Leo smiled in relief and maneuvered Mikey back toward the lair. "I'll explain everything later," He told him. "Right now, I've got to find Sensei and Raph. You get back to the lair with Donnie and Casey. Have Donnie take a look at your wrist and then get some rest. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Mikey nodded and turned toward the lair while Leo continued down the tunnel. A short time later, he again could hear soft sobbing and a voice pleading with him. He rounded a corner and saw Raph sitting in front of a sewer wall with his sai in hand. Leo's breath caught in his throat when he saw Raph slowly digging the tip of the prong into the flesh of his wrist.

"I'm sorry Leo." Raph whispered, wincing in pain as he pushed the tip into his wrist. "I didn't mean to hurt you." Leo could hear Raph's voice quake. "I'll come with you; I won't let you die alone." Leo slowly crept up to Raph, cringing as he saw Raph's wrist bleeding slightly from a small puncture wound he was trying to make bigger. "I'll always be with you."

"Then be with me Raph." Leo whispered softly. "Be with me in the here and now." Leo fingered the pendant as he reached out to Raph and placed his hand on his brother's shoulder. Raph stopped what he was doing and turned to look at Leo behind him. "I'm right here Raph." He told him. "I never want to leave you either."

Raph faced Leo and stared at him in confusion. Leo slowly brought Raph into a hug and Raph very slowly brought his arms up to wrap around Leo's shell. "Leo?" Raph whispered. "What's going on?" They pulled apart and Raph looked down at his wrist. "What…what happened to my wrist?"

"Long story," Leo said as they stood up. "Get back to the lair and have Donnie take care of your wrist. I'll explain everything after I find Splinter."

Raph nodded slowly, his eyes looking around and like the others, showing confusion. "Yeah right," He muttered as Leo led him to the tunnel that would lead him back to the lair. "I'll get back to the lair." He put his hand to his head and massaged his temples as he started walking toward the lair.

Leo watched as Raph began his trek back home. He let out a deep sigh and turned to go further into the tunnels to find his Sensei.

Meanwhile, Splinter was following 'Leo' through the sewers. Every now and then he would stop and look around in consternation. He furrowed his brow and more than once attempted to turn back. "Father?" 'Leo' watched him and held his hand toward him. "It's just a bit further."

Splinter looked at him and shook his head. "Something is not right." He muttered.

"Please father," 'Leo' slowly walked over to him. "Please don't abandon me now." Splinter's eyes widen and he reached out to touch him but once again his hand went through him. "I died for you." 'Leo' reminded him, pointing once again to the wounds on his plastron. "Please come with me." He turned and continued down the tunnel. "We'll be together and soon….there will be no more pain."

Splinter smiled and continued to follow. "No more pain." He repeated, his voice sounding far away.

"There will be no more fighting." Leo told him. "We'll be at peace."

"Yes, at peace." Splinter echoed, sounding mesmerized. Up ahead, the sound of rushing water could be heard and Splinter watched as 'Leo' pointed toward an opening.

"Just a few more feet father and we'll be together forever." 'Leo' smiled as Splinter walked past him toward a walkway where several feet below was a spill-off collection chamber that drained out to the ocean. Splinter looked down at the rushing water, his feet slowly moving toward the railing of the walkway. Beside him, 'Leo' watched intently. "Do it father," He urged. "Join me and we'll be together forever."

Splinter continued to look at the rushing water, hesitating to move toward the railing. "But…your brothers," He muttered as he once again felt a feeling of confusion come over him. "And Miwa."

"They will be with us soon." 'Leo' assured him. Splinter watched as 'Leo' stepped off the walkway and slowly began to descend toward the water. "Come with me father." He called bringing his hand to him. "Let's be together…forever."

Splinter reached his hand out to Leo in an attempt to grab onto him, but the 'apparition' continued to descend downward. Now filled with a strange longing, Splinter slowly reached out and grasped onto the top railing. He placed his foot on the bottom railing and began to hoist himself up. He slowly swung himself over to the outside of the railing and braced himself against it. He removed his right hand and took a deep breath. "I will join you my son." He yelled out over the water. "I love you."

"I love you too Sensei!" A voice said loudly behind him.

Splinter turned in confusion and looked over to see his son, completely unharmed but panting hard and sweating profusely, coming toward him, holding his hand out and beckoning him to come toward him. "Leonardo?" Splinter looked at him then turned back and stared down into the swirling water. "What….what is happening?" He took hold of the railing with both hands and looked between Leo and the water far beneath him in fear.

"Sensei," Leo began, taking in deep breaths. "Please come to me." He begged. "I'm right here and…and I want to go home." Leo's eyes darted to the long drop between the walkway and the basin. He didn't know how he knew to come this way but something in his gut told him this was the way to go and he was glad he listened.

As he had searched desperately for Splinter, his mind reeled with all that he had seen his brothers doing. Donnie and Casey were actually attempting to kill each other in a jealous rage; both Mikey and Raph attempting to kill themselves due to an overwhelming sense of guilt, and over him no less. Leo shook his head, he couldn't understand it but if his brothers had reacted that way, it made sense that his Sensei would also attempt to kill himself, possibly due to guilt as well.

It was only by chance he went the way he did and when he saw his Sensei climbing over the railing, his heart had skipped a beat. "I want to go home with you Sensei," He continued, licking his lips nervously. "Where everyone is waiting for us," He came upon the railing and placed his hand with the pendant in his palm on Splinter's hand. "So please….please come down from there and let's go home."

Splinter again looked from the swirling water far below him then back to Leo. He nodded slowly, his brow still furrowed in confusion as he began to once again climb over the railing and back onto the walkway with Leo holding tightly to his hand. Splinter placed both feet on the walkway, grasping Leo's shoulder with his other hand then slowly falling to the floor bringing his hand up to his head and groaning softly. Leo quickly flung his arms around his father and held him tight.

"Everything's alright now Sensei." Leo told him, trying to calm his own nerves as Splinter wrapped his arms around him. "Everyone's okay now."

Splinter nodded then pulled away slightly. "Yes my son." Splinter said, smiling at him. "Let us go home." He stood and the two slowly made their way back to the lair. "I am sure there is quite a story behind what has been happening."

"You have no idea Sensei." Leo stated with a slight chuckle. The two made their way back to the lair where they found everyone sitting on the couch, bandages adorned Casey and Donnie's head while Mikey and Raph had bandages on their wrist. They sat in silence, occasionally looking around; the confusion still clear in their eyes. They all looked up when Leo and Splinter walked in.

As soon as Splinter and Leo sat on the couch, the other turtles and Casey immediately demanded to know what had happened. Splinter held his hand up. "Although I too am curious as to what has been happening," He said while stroking his long whisker, "Perhaps we should first find April."

"That's right!" Donnie exclaimed jumping up. "We went looking for both of you." He said turning to Leo. "So what happened to her?"

"She was never here." Leo said as he too jumped off the couch with everyone looking at him in puzzlement. "But I think I know where she is." His brothers and Casey quickly followed him out while Splinter stayed behind. After they had gone, he made his way into the dojo to meditate and wait for his sons and their friends to return.

Ten minutes after they left, the turtles stood on the fire escape outside April's apartment, watching through the window as Casey walked into her bedroom. He turned on the light and all could see the small figure bundled up underneath her blankets, still sleeping peacefully. Casey walked over to the window and opened it allowing the turtles to enter.

"April?" Casey walked over to her and gently shook her shoulder. "April!" He called louder. He looked up at the turtles and shook his head. "She's not waking up." He told them.

Donnie could feel panic rising up from the bottom of his stomach. "We have to do something." He insisted rather angrily. He walked over to April and placed a finger on her neck feeling her pulse. "Her pulse is strong," He noted. "It's like she's in a deep sleep."

"Maybe someone should kiss her." Mikey suggested with a shrug. "You know, like in 'Sleeping Beauty'."

Both Donnie and Casey's eyes widen in anticipation but Leo quickly stepped forward. "She's under a spell alright but it's not a 'true love' spell." He said looking at the two of them rather disgustedly. He took out his pendant and placed it on April's shoulder.

"April," Leo said quietly as he shook her shoulder gently. "April?"

A few seconds later, everyone watched as April hummed sleepily and moved her head slightly back and forth. They all took a collective sigh of relief when April's eyes fluttered opened and she smiled up at them lazily. "Hey guys." She said as she slowly sat up. She looked at the five boys staring at her in bewilderment as she realized they were in her bedroom. "Wha…what's going on?" She asked rather nervously. "Why are you all here?" Her eyes suddenly widen. "OH NO!" She exclaimed jumping out of her bed. "Did I miss the party?!" She quickly ran to her closet and began pulling out clothes.

"It's okay April." Raph said, putting his hand on her shoulder to help calm her. "You weren't the only one who missed the party," He turned to Leo. "Apparently…we all did." She looked back at him in confusion.

"Maybe we should all leave so you can get dress," Casey suggested.

"Yeah and we'll all go back to the lair where Leo can explain exactly what has been going on." Donnie added.

Everyone nodded and several minutes later, the six teens made their way back to the lair. They entered and went directly to the kitchen where they found Master Splinter making tea. They all sat down and listened intently as Leo explained in great detail, what had taken place that night.

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Okay everyone, one more chapter and this story will be done. Sure would love to see some reviews and to those that you, thank you.