Chapter 10

Weeks passed without so much as a twitch from the unresponsive brunette. During that time, Leo took to hiding in his room with the door locked. His worried family would leave food outside of the door at night before they went to bed, only to find the plate virtually untouched in the morning. No one could convince the leader to eat, much less come out of his bedroom. Even Master Splinter had no success.

On the Tuesday of the fourth week, Donnie was - as usual - hard at work in the lab. His fingers flew over his keyboard, making an incessant clacking noise. From time to time, he'd glance over at Kayla - as much to make sure that she was still breathing as it was to keep himself awake.

But then his ears picked up on a noise other than the clicking of the keys under his large fingertips. Donnie froze, waiting to see if he'd hear it again.

The low moan, barely audible, repeated itself, and the genius shot from his chair. He was across the room in seconds, going so fast that he almost slammed into the side of the table where Kayla lay.

It should've been impossible - she'd lost too much blood, and all the medical sites had stated that a victim unconscious that long probably wouldn't ever wake up.

But against all odds, Kayla's eyelids were fluttering and the color was returning to her face. The female turtle gasped and her eyes shot open. She looked up to see Donnie, haggard but smiling. Tears flowed down his face unrestrained.

"D-Donnie?" Kayla's voice was rusty from disuse. "Where...what-" She broke off into a coughing fit, her dry throat inhibiting her ability to talk.

The genius held a glass of water to her lips. The liquid was lukewarm and slightly stale, but it was the best thing that she'd ever tasted.

Donnie took a deep breath, trying to calm his raging emotions. "We didn't think..." Setting the glass down, he ran to the door of the lab. "Guys, get in here!"

Mikey and Raph appeared in the doorway almost instantly. Neither turtle noticed the girl sitting up on the table. "What is it, D?" Mikey asked, concerned.

"Kayla...she pulled through!" Donnie was almost shaking with relief. His knees gave out and he would've fallen if Raph hadn't caught him.

"Whoa, Brainiac," the hothead chastised. "We don't need another turtle passing out."

Mikey, meanwhile, was already hugging Kayla fiercely. "We thought we'd lost you for good!"

The brunette groaned in pain. "Easy there, Mike...I'm not sure where-"

As he regained his composure, Donnie joined the two. "You were out for almost a month, Kayla. We...we didn't think you'd make it."

Raph slugged Kayla on the arm and she winced. "Don't you ever do that again." He paused, rubbing his neck. "Good to have you back," he added gruffly.

"That's as close as he's gonna get to saying he missed you," Mikey whispered to her.

Kayla would've chuckled if a thought hadn't appeared in her mind. "Where's Leo?" All three brothers suddenly seemed to find the floor very interesting. "Guys?"

Mikey bit his lip. "He's...um...in his room."

She had a feeling that wasn't the whole truth. "Doing what?"

Raph sighed. "No one knows," he admitted. "He locks himself in there and doesn't talk to anybody. We don't even know if he's eating. I mean, we leave food for him but it's always the same as we left it."

Considering the fact that Kayla had been unconscious for about a month, it probably wasn't the best time to tell her. Nor was it the best time for her to try and stand up. The room spun around her and her vision darkened.

Mikey's strong arms were the only think keeping her from falling. "Whoa!" he cried.

"What are you doing?" Donnie asked, alarmed.

"I have to go see Leo," Kayla replied, squeezing her eyes shut against the pain.

"You have to rest," the genius said firmly.

Kayla shook off his hand, her eyes opening again. They were stormy with roiling emotions. "I'm going to see Leo," she growled.

Donnie backed away, his hands raised in defeat. "At least let Mikey help you out."

She sighed but let Mikey pick her up. On the way out of the lab, the youngest turtle glanced at her curiously. "How are you gonna get him to come out of his room?"

"I'm not. I'm going in."

This answer seemed to intrigue Mikey, who set her down in front of his eldest brother's door without a word. But when Kayla knocked, she got no answer.

Frowning to herself, the brunette jiggled the door handle. Locked, just as they'd said. Kayla turned to Mikey. "Pick the lock."

Mikey looked stricken. "What? But...that's Leo's room."

"I know."

"But...it's his. A shut door means he wants privacy, and that goes double for a locked door. We're not supposed to-"

The female mutant put a hand on his shoulder. "Mikey, listen to me. Whatever he's doing in there is harming him more than helping him. He needs to know that I'm back. And he won't come out. So we have to go in."

Mikey hesitated, but pulled the kit from his belt anyway. Two seconds later, the door was swinging open to pitch blackness.

Once Kayla's eyes adjusted to the darkness, she gaped at the scene before her. And before Mikey could see, she pushed him out of the room and slammed the door in his face.

"Hey!" the youngest turtle yelled. "What the shell?!"

"I need to do this alone," Kayla replied. "It's just between Leo and me, okay?"

"...okay..."

Breathing a sigh of relief, she turned back to the mess. And a mess it was. Books and papers were scattered across the usually-pristine room, and several candle-stubs littered the room as well. But that's not what shocked Kayla the most.

All of Leo's paintings lay on the floor, ripped and torn. Kayla knelt down, tracing a large hole in a painting of the Hamato Clan. Tears rose to her eyes.

A low muttering noise from the bed caught her attention, and as quietly as she could, she walked over. Her eyes widened yet again. "Leo?" she gasped.

The leader was huddled on the mattress, his arms wrapped around his legs and his face buried in his knees. And he was thin. So very, very thin.

"My fault," he murmured. "It's all my fault...I failed. I'm a failure..."

"No," Kayla replied, grabbing his hand. "You're not a failure, Leo. You're not. I'm here."

Leo glanced at her, but it was like he was looking right through her. "It's all my fault," he repeated. "All my fault."

Kayla touched his forehead, immediately yanking her hand back. He's burning up. But before she could finish her thought, Leo gripped her arms tight enough to hurt.

The blue-banded turtle grew louder, his eyes dilating. "It's my fault! I failed!" His mantra swelled in volume, and Kayla tried to pull away. But his hold was like steel.

"Kayla?" Mikey called frantically. "What's going on?"

"It's...it's okay," she tried to say, but Leo drowned her out.

The youngest turtle rattled the door handle. "The door is stuck! I'm gonna go get the others!"

"No, Mikey, don't-"

The brunette wrenched away from Leo, breathing hard. Her blood pounded in her ears, and darkness threatened to overwhelm her. Leo's voice was reaching fever pitch now, rushing over everything like a tidal wave. He climbed off of the bed and started towards Kayla, a maniacal look in his eyes.

"I FAILED! IT'S MY FAULT! MY FAULT!"

The leader reached Kayla, his hands outstretched. She backed up until her shell hit the wall, trying desperately to evade those hands. "Leo, stop!" she cried.

A moment of clarity overtook Leo and he froze, two inches away. "K-Kayla?" Then his eyes rolled up into his head and he collapsed.

Kayla screamed.

TMNT/TMNT/TMNT/TMNT

Author's Note:

Kayla can't just get healed and everyone live happily ever after? Noooo, it can't be that easy. I love my drama.

What did you guys think of Crazy Leo? I tried to make it kind of terrifying, but I don't know if I quite reached that level, haha.

So any guesses as to why Fearless is acting like he's insane? If you have one, leave a review and let me know! People who give me good reasons will get spoilers! :D (I know, I know. Bribery? Not really. I just want to know what you guys are thinking.)

The crazy train ain't derailed yet, folks. There's a lot more drama on the way. Obviously, I can't make it easy for the Hamato Clan. Blame their stupid Turtle Luck. ;)

COMING SOON:

Leo wakes up and gets a good talking-to from his family; Kayla remembers something that she really wishes she hadn't; A well-kept secret is revealed; and a lovable and well-known ally of the turtles makes an appearance.

So hang on to your shells, guys. Because this is about to get messy.

Raph: You mean 'messier.'

Donnie: I don't recall the original chapter being so...terrifying.

Me: Yes! It was terrifying!

Raph: You're always terrifying.

Me: ...shut up.

Until next time, guys...COWABUNGA!