Why?

Okay. Basically, I noticed that tmntlover2013 had started a premise for a story by the name of "The Chance of Love" that touched on the idea of an abusive Splinter. Her idea was very inspiring to me despite the fact that she had been unable to finish her story. I asked her permission to write a version of her story with a twist more towards the relationship of the brothers which she gave to me. Thank you, tmntlover 2013!

This is an AU story. Please note that I very much respect the character of Splinter and that this is just a retelling of the TMNT storyline with a twist. Please enjoy.

I own nothing.

Chapter Ten

Raph's point of view:

Leaving the lab was not something any of us wanted to do after Fearless finally responded to us and Donnie and I ended up bunking on the floor while Mikey slept beside our Leo. The next day we held all kinds of crazy conversations to try and get Leo to respond once again.

"So then I went up top without ya guys," I began as Mikey and Donnie froze at my new stage of teasing Leo out of his sleep, "I totally don't understand what Fearless is always goin' on about. Felt great with tha wind in my face and tha Foot at my back."

Mikey hid a chuckle as Leo's face twitched for a second.

"What happened?" Donnie asked as we eagerly eyed Fearless.

"Had about fifty Foot ta deal with," I bragged loudly as Leo twitched again, "I was all rage and slashin'. Then Karai showed up and began screamin' at me as my arm bled from tha throwin' star I took ta tha bicep."

"So that's why I had to give you stitches," Donnie exclaimed.

"Sounds intense," Mikey chirped as Leo grizzled his muzzle.

"That was nothin' compared ta when Daddy Dearest showed up," I announced before jumpin' when Leo grabbed my wrist and hauled me down with surprising strength to stare into my eyes, "Leo?"

"Better…be…lying," Leo breathed as he blinked up at me, "Hurt?"

"Nope," I grinned as I felt the tight hold on my wrist in all its glorious familiarity, "Had ta get your lazy butt up somehow. I haven't gone top side, Fearless."

Donnie and Mikey grinned as Leo blinked up at me some more.

"Not…hurt?" Leo asked again as I eased up to show him my arms, "Liar."

Those hazel eyes. Those wonderful, glorious, hazel eyes with real awareness showing within them.

"Welcome back, Bro," I said as I wiped at the tears on my cheeks, "Ya've been missed, Fearless."

Leo looked confused for a second before his eyes widened and he looked frantically for Mikey.

"I'm here, Big Brother," Mikey sniffled as Leo relaxed while our baby brother cuddled against him, "I'm safe and so are you."

"Nobody is ever going to hurt you again, Leo," Donnie assured as our older brother looked to him, "I've missed you so much, Bro."

"Missed," Leo nodded as he vaguely motioned to us, "Master?"

"He ain't ya master," I hissed angrily as Leo blinked at me, "That…Splinter is not here. He is with LH like ya asked him ta be. He ain't goin' ta hurt ya again, okay?"

Leo sighed as a tear fell down his cheek. Mushy or not, we all ended up in a four-way hug with Leo cradled in the middle. This was my family and nobody was ever hurting my family again. Ever.

"Safe?" Leo mumbled as his eyes drifted shut.

"Safe," I agreed as we eased our brother back down to his pillow, "Sleep, Fearless. Ya're safe."

T_T

Leo's point of view:

I don't remember very much of my early days of waking up. I know that my brothers were there and that I didn't have to go to the dojo yet, but I was in constant fear of Master showing up and yanking me out of bed. It was Mikey that figured out that I was tense and continued to reassure me that I was safe and that everything was okay. I had to be dreaming. Nothing was ever that easy for me. I was going to wake up or Master was going to show up and rip everything away again. I had to stay aware. I had to protect my brothers. This was just a test.

"Stop, Leo," Raph voiced as I looked up at him in surprise before seeing that I was wringing my blanket into a knot again, "Talk ta me, Fearless."

"I have to go to the dojo," I breathed as I shook in the infirmary bed, "Time for training. I have to go. Master will be angry. I don't want to dangle from the chains anymore. The manacles hurt. Let me up."

Donnie and Raph exchanged looks as I wrung the blanket in my hands again.

"Ya're never goin' ta have ta worry about those chains no more. Tha chains are melted inta scrap metal thanks ta Donnie. There ain't goin' ta be anymore late night trainin' sessions either," Raph informed me as my mouth dropped open, "Leo, those supposed sessions were an excuse ta hurt ya. Ya're safe now. No more abuse, Bro. No more manacles. No more pain."

Donnie gently took my hands and rubbed them soothingly as I let go of the blanket that was covering me.

"Leo, I know that it is hard to believe, but you are completely safe now," Donnie assured as I blinked at him, "Splinter is not your master. Mikey, Raphael, and I are not going to allow anyone to abuse you anymore just like we promised you. This is your home and you are finally going to be able to relax and enjoy your life."

Not true. Can't be true. Not for me.

"Leaders cannot have distractions. Master said so," I denied as I looked desperately at my brothers, "I have to keep you safe. I have to keep everyone safe."

"You already do," Mikey informed me as he walked into the room with a tray, "You saved all of us from Splinter's anger, remember? You kept us safe."

Each of my brothers were very careful in how they moved around me now. I had been a little jumpy and skittish since waking up. I know that it killed my brothers a little inside each time I flinched away from them when they moved too quickly around me. I was trying hard to work on controlling these involuntary reactions. I looked down at the tray that Mikey sat in my lap. The food smelled delicious, but I couldn't eat it. Rational thinking pushed forward and I swallowed as I began to feel more like myself again.

"He made me throw up after eating a real meal with you guys a lot this year," I admitted as my brothers startled, "I've been conditioned so much I can't keep regular food down. May…may I have some bread?"

Raph looked ready to burst, but he stomped out of the lab and returned a few minutes later with a plate. My eyes widened to see the butter and grape jelly on warm slices of toast. It looked like heaven.

"Good idea, Raph," Donnie acknowledged before turning to me, "We'll start small. Eat the toast and just a little of the soup Mikey made you, okay?"

I looked up at my brothers as they looked hopeful and nodded. Maybe…maybe it really was going to be alright. My hands trembled as I accepted the plate from Raph. I hesitantly picked up one of the toast slices and felt as Donnie gently took the hand and urged it closer to my face while he rubbed his thumb gently on my palm to soothe me.

"I'm sorry, Mikey," I apologized as I nibbled on the toast as Donnie withdrew to give me some space, "It all smells so good."

"At least it still smells good to you," Mikey chirped as he hopped up next to me on my bed, "We'll get you used to eating real food again soon. How's your toast?"

"So good," I breathed as I ate every bit of one slice and started on the other.

Raph calmed as I ate and I offered him a timid smile that he instantly returned. The anger that usually simmered in his eyes at me was gone. It left me confused. Things had changed and I didn't know my place anymore.

"That's it, Leo," Raph encouraged as I looked back up at him, "Ya just take your time and eat what ya can. I want ya ta tell us whenever ya get hungry. There is plenty more where that came from, Bro. It's time ta fatten ya up a little."

"I…I don't understand," I sighed as I looked down into the bowl of soup while I stirred it.

A hand reached and lifted my chin. I was shocked to see that it was Raph being so gentle.

"Leo, tell us what's botherin' ya," Raph said while Donnie and Mikey nodded at me, "Let us help, Bro."

"You aren't angry at me," I admitted before startling at Raph's bark of laughter.

"Thought ya would be happier about that," Raph chuckled as I frowned.

"I don't need pity," I whispered.

"And ya ain't got it," Raph stated as he sobered, "I have been a right ass for a long time, Leo. I was jealous because I thought Splinter loved ya more. I took that out on ya. I had ta come too damn close ta losin' ya to realize how much ya mean ta me, Big Brother. This has nothin' ta do with findin' out about what was happenin' ta ya over these years even though I hate that worse than anythin'. When I thought I was losin' ya, my world tilted inta chaos. I'm sure I speak for Donnie and Mikey as well."

"Absolutely," Donnie agreed as Mikey nodded.

"Leo, ya and I, we are opposites so we'll probably get inta it some more once ya're back on your feet," Raph smirked, "But I can't tell ya how glad I am that ya are still here ta get inta it with. We've all missed ya, Bro."

I flicked my eyes up and then looked back down.

"Things are changing," I blurted as I took a sip of my soup, "I don't know how to react. I…I stopped being Leo and became 'Leader' or 'Fearless' or even 'Useless' years ago. I'm scared that when Leader, Fearless, or Useless is gone that there will be nothing left."

I gasped when hands cupped my face gently and I found myself staring into baby-blue eyes.

"You are not 'Leader' or 'Fearless.' Those are just titles and not who you are," Mikey denied as I blinked at him, "You have never, ever been 'Useless!'"

"Damn, straight," Raph snarled, "Takin' my nickname and turnin' it inta an insult. Tha Bastard!"

"You are our big brother," Mikey continued, "Your name is Leonardo Hamato. You lead our team, but that is not who you are. My Leo is gentle and kind. He always spoils me and I love it."

"Leo takes care of everyone including me when I stay in my lab too long and get all grouchy," Donnie added, "Leo loves his family dearly; so much so, that he hid a lot of pain over the years to protect us. Our brother is calm and pretty quiet."

"Unless ya piss him off," Raph chuckled as I looked to him, "Our Leo is a force ta be reckoned with if he is angry or needs ta step up ta tha plate. Leo handles responsibility well and dedicates himself ta whatever he does. He loves Japan, readin', and soon he will get ta experience more that life offers and then he can make tha decision for himself what else he likes. My bro is tha strongest turtle I know and that's tha real reason why I call him 'Fearless.'"

I considered what was said as my brothers gazed with love at me.

"Do you…do you really think that I can be that turtle again?" I sniffled as the tears fell, "I feel so lost. He…Master always was there watching and judging. I was so scared all the time and my stomach hurt from hunger pains. I was tired, but I pushed and pushed through the pain and exhaustion. I was forced to hurt all of you when I was locked away all alone and it killed me a little bit more each day whenever I saw your unhappiness. I didn't want to hurt any of you."

"We know," Mikey soothed as Raph removed the tray from my lap and I ended up cuddled back in a hug with all of my brothers, "Remember what you promised me?"

"Um… that I would finish my training and that everything would be alright?" I offered as Mikey nodded and wiped the tears from my cheeks.

"The training is over, Leo," my baby brother assured, "You kept all of us safe from Splinter and have become a wonderful leader. Splinter is getting treated by LH for his issues because he realized that something was wrong, thanks to you. You have returned to us and now we are all going to start over again."

"We'll just take everything day by day, okay?" Donnie urged as I looked to him and back to my brothers.

"I really missed my skateboard," I offered as my brothers smiled at me, "I'm so tired of chains and hurting. I don't want to be locked back up in that room anymore."

I wasn't quite sure why my brothers were giving me the looks they had on their faces. Gasping, I found myself lifted bridal style in Raph's arms as Donnie made sure that a blanket was draped over my legs. My brothers beamed as our group headed to the stairs.

"Where are we going?" I demanded as I panicked at the sight of my bedroom door.

"Look, Leo," Donnie giggled as he opened the door and I saw wall to wall boxes, "This is the storage room now. There is nothing left of the cell you were forced to live in. We even have a different doorknob for this room now. Look. This can't be locked anymore."

I looked in confusion at the controlled chaos. Where would I sleep? I gasped when Mikey covered my eyes as I felt Raph turn a corner.

"Surprise!" my brothers all called out as my eyes were uncovered and I saw a set of Japanese, silk doors.

"What?" I asked as I studied the waterfall print, "What is that?"

"Welcome ta your new room, Bro," Raph chuckled as Donnie and Mikey slid the doors back to reveal the interior of the room, "No more pallets, or darkness, or chains, or fear of being locked in. Ya're safe, Leo."

I blinked as Raph set me on a bed and tucked the blanket around my legs tighter. A real bed with a mattress and sheets and pillows. I saw the blue walls and…books! Books that had been stolen from me by Master over the years.

"Those are the…the books that were given to me and those are the wall hangings you and Donnie gave me for Christmas, Mikey," I whispered and saw my swords in a new rack before looking down, "Oh! There is real carpet and there is so much light."

"And a television," Mikey chirped as he handed me a remote, "Look up."

"Clouds," I breathed as I looked at the ceiling, "Beautiful."

"Here is your meditation area," Raph grinned out as he pointed to the corner and I sighed at the tatami mat and then he pointed at the sliding doors, "No doorknobs, so no locks. Tha rest of tha things that were taken from ya over tha years are in your closet and dresser. Do ya want ta stay in this room?

"Oh, yes," I answered as I smiled joyfully, "This is mine? I don't have to go back in the darkness?"

"Never again," Donnie growled as I blinked in surprise at his fierce tone, "Do you like it, Leo?"

"I love it," I beamed, "Thank you. This is…thank you so much."

Everywhere I looked I saw something new to gaze at. This was mine? A real bedroom; just as if I was a real member of this family.

"You'll need to stay in the lab for a little more time, Bro," Donnie instructed before hurrying over to hug me when I whimpered, "This will be waiting for you when you are stronger, Leo. This is your room and a place to be safe."

"Mine," I sighed as Raph picked me back up, "Raph, this is my room. It's not dark."

"That's right, Bro," Raphael agreed as he laid his head atop mine, "All yours. I know what ya're thinkin', Leo."

I remained silent on the way back down to the lab as apprehension tugged at me.

"Ya think that Splinter will show back up and take all of this away because ya're not really like the rest of us, don't ya?" Raph continued as he eased me back down on the infirmary bed as I meekly nodded.

"Shell, no," Mikey denied as he tucked the blankets back over me, "You are just as important as any of us and a big, big part of our family. Splinter will never get in here again. Donnie has the security system set up to keep us safe, Leo. No more worrying. You've been protecting us and now we are going to protect you."

"I'm safe?" I asked as my brothers nodded, "Really?"

"Really, really," Donnie answered as I relaxed and shut my eyes, "Love you, Big Brother."

"Love you, all of you, more," I muttered as I drifted off feeling a kiss to my temple as each of my hands were grasped by a different pair of hands.

My brothers were watching over me. I had never felt so safe before.

To be continued…