A/N Not long now; I promise. Things are starting to look up. Oh, and just to relieve everyones' minds about Peter bathing Leo: there's no sexual molesting going on. Peter sees Leo as nothing more than an animals, so it would be like someone bathing their dog. After I went back and re-read that scene, I didn't want to leave anyone with the wrong impression. Anyway, on with the show.

The day after Raphael's stormy departure from the Lair was, for the most part, a quiet one. To his father's relief Raphael did take the time to call and report that he would, at least for the next several days, be staying with April and Casey. This news actually eased his father's mind. Splinter knew that spending time with the two humans would be cathartic for his son in several ways. First, his nightly excursions with Casey would permit his action-oriented son to burn off some of his excess stress and fears. Secondly, since Raphael was often more comfortable speaking to April about his feelings, hopefully she would be able to help him through his current emotional conflict; if not, it would at least be helpful for Raphael to have an ear to just listen when he needed it.

In an odd way, the day started off relatively normally, if you ignored the blaring hole Leo's absence created. The family got up and practiced, just like usual, though there was a distinct lack of enthusiasm. Following practice, Donny and Donatello dragged the Brats (an apt nickname by Splinter's reckoning) into their lab to further examine their previously damaged shells. They could no long inspect the bullet holes themselves, for they had vanished a few hours after appearing. Still, that didn't prevent Splinter's two scientifically inclined pupils from running every sort of test imaginable; at least, every sort of test they could get their excitable brothers to sit still for. As for Raph, he disappeared into his family's suit, though the sound of his hitting his punching bag continued to be heard for hours.

Around eleven, Donny and Donatello emerged from the lab, finally ready to seek breakfast now that their equipment was busy analyzing the test results from their brothers' shells. They had just joined Master Splinter in the kitchen, when suddenly they simultaneously collapsed, screaming. At once, Raph and the Brats came running.

"Donny," Mikey whimpered, sounding very young, as he watched as he older brother lay screaming on the floor. Raph wrapped an arm around Mikey, unable to do anything to help his next younger brother through this current torture.

"What's wrong with them, sensei," Michelangelo asked his father, his tone matching that of his double.

"I am not sure," Splinter told his son, "but I have forced to believe it must have something to do with Leonardo's disappearance."

The look on Michelangelo's face fell even further, if that were possible. Older brother instincts kicking in, Raph immediately dragged him into an embrace as well. Helpless, the family could only watch as two of its members spent several minutes in blazing agony. Eventually the spell passed, but neither Donny nor Donatello were capable of moving. With the Brats' help, Raph was able to assist the two hurt turtles off the kitchen floor and into the living room, where they were immediately settled on the couch.

Once he was recovered enough to talk, Donny told his family, "I understand now. I knew, without any explanation how or why, that I was feeling whatever Leo was. It was like he was right there." Donny's face clouded over at the thought that his beloved oldest brother had faced that pain first hand.

"Well, look on the bright side," Donatello told them. His family gave him a horrified look, so he hastened to explain. "Not that it's a good thing that Leo is being held and tortured somewhere, but it beats, at least marginally, the alternative. He could be—"

"Don't you dare finish that sentence," Raph snapped, his facing going as white as it is possible for a green turtle to go, and Donatello could have smacked himself; Raph's original brother had indeed been forced down that alternate route.

"Sorry," he apologized softly to Raph and the others.

"As horrible as it is, Donatello is correct," Master Splinter said. "Although I do not like knowing my son is in pain, at least we know he is still alive, which means there is still hope that we can find him." Splinter just hoped that they would do so soon; as bad as his sons were reacting to their brother's experience, what would happen to them if Leo were taken from them? It was a thought the old rat didn't want to think about too in depth.

TMNTTMNT

Unfortunately, no clues were forthcoming, and over the next several days the family settled into a pattern of half-existence. Donny and Donatello, between unfortunate and unpredictable bouts of empathic agony, continued to work in the lab, more as a means of keeping busy than doing any real work. The Brats kept each other company, finding a comfort in each other's presence that no one outside of Raph seemed able to provide for them. As for Raph, he was putting on a mother-hen act that would have made Leo proud. He made sure the family ate, got to bed at a decent hour, and pretty much took care of everyone. Splinter had the smile to himself at this difference between Raph and Raphael; although both very much preferred action over words, Raph channeled his energy into caring for him family rather than the acts of controlled violence that worked to relieve Raphael's worry and tension.

As for Raphael, he continued to stay with April and Casey, although he made it a point to call and check in everyday. Splinter did not blame his son for not coming home; the tension in the Lair would have been too much Raphael, and he would only have been tortured with watching his brothers in the grip of an agony he could do nothing to fight. Instead, he did what he could to help April and Casey around the shop and apartment, and then he and Casey spent their evenings on the town, chasing down thugs and over lowlifes.

It was during one such outing, that Raphael came across something that would finally force the turtle back home. It was going on the wee hours of the morning, and Raphael and Casey had chased a purse snatcher into a back alley, where he was quickly subdued. After tying the scoundrel up and putting in a call to the police, the pair headed out of the alley and down the street, the late hour and deep shadows making it unnecessary for Raphael to take to the rooftops. They were almost half a block down the road, when something in the front window of a store across the street caught Raphael's eye. Without a thought, Raphael immediately crossed over. There, proudly displayed, was a pair of sheathed katanas; very familiar katanas. Not stopping to consider his actions, Raph used the hilt of his sai to knock the glass out of the window.

"What—"Casey exclaimed as he watched Raphael completely shatter the window.

"Those are Leo's katanas," Raphael told him as he carefully removed the swords from the display.

"How can you tell," Casey asked.

"I have watched my brother use these weapons for over sixteen years," Raphael told him as he reverently removed the swords from their sheaths to examine the blades. "Trust me, I know."

Deciding to take his friend's word for it, Casey said, "Then I suggest we get moving. The cops are already going to be in the area, and I'm willing to bet there was an alarm on that window you busted."

"Let's head into the sewers," Raphael suggested as he tied the swords to his back. "I need to return these to my father. Besides, I think it's time I go home." With that, he led Casey to the closest manhole, and to the two quickly disappeared down it.

TMNTTMNT

About the same time that Raphael first spotted Leo's swords on display, back at the Lair Mikey was, once again, forced from sleep. This had been occurring almost nightly since Leo disappeared; Mikey would make it almost through the night, only to have nightmares chase him from his slumber in the early hours of the morning. Some mornings the youngest turtle was able to simply roll over and go back to sleep after a few minutes. Other times he was forced to seek out the comfort of one of his older brothers before he could relax enough to sleep once more. This morning, however, Mikey knew there would be no going back to sleep. And since Donny, and more recently Raph, had been vicariously experiencing Leo's torture sessions, he didn't want to wake them from their very necessary sleep. Instead, he decided to get drink of warm milk to see if that help him relax enough to once again go back to sleep.

Silently, Mikey crept from his room and across the family's common room. Quietly opening the door, he made his way into the main chamber of the Lair, only to be pulled up short by what he found. There, standing in the middle of the Lair was Leo; sort of. It was apparent this wasn't the real Leo, because he was kind of glowy and "see-through-y." But there was no denying who the apparition was. Mikey reacted without thinking.

"Leo," he whispered, making the Leo-figure jump with surprise. Not allowing the other turtle to say anything, Mikey demanded, "Bro, where the shell are you? We've been looking all over the city for you."

"I'm somewhere outside the city, in the hands of a loon by the name of Peter Babbot," Leo told him, but before he could say anything else, Leo was gone.

This newest disappearance was too much for the youngest turtle, and without thought or consideration for the time, he screamed, "Leo! No, Leo, come back!"

Within seconds, the distraught turtle was surrounded by his concerned family.

"Mikey," Raph said gruffly, shaking his younger brother lightly, "what's wrong?"

"Leo, I just saw Leo," Mikey babbled, just short of hysterics. "He…he was here and…and…"

"Mikey, calm down," Donny said. "It was just a dream."

"No," Mikey all but screamed. "He was here. I saw him and…"

"What the shell is going on," Raphael asked, concern making his voice harsh as he and Casey came in on the tumultuous scene.

"Apparently Mikey had some sort of nightmare," Donatello told his older brother.

"It was not a nightmare," Mikey yelled. "Why won't you listen to me? I saw a glowy, 'ghosty-Leo' standing right here," he pointed to a spot on the rug. "I asked him where he was, and he said he was being held someplace outside the city by Peter Rabbit."

The room went dead silent, before everyone burst into laughter. Mikey got a hurt look on his face, until he noticed that not everyone was laughing at him; Casey was the only one who seemed to be taking him seriously.

"Uh, guys," Casey said once the laughter had died down. "Now, I don't know anything about apparitions or anything, but there may be something to Mikey's story."

"What, that some fictional children's character somehow came to life and kidnapped our brother," Raphael smirked.

"No, but have you stopped to consider than maybe Mikey's just mangling the name," the human countered. Turning to Mikey, Casey asked, "Mikey, could that name possibly have been Peter Babbot?"

"That's it," Mikey exclaimed exultantly. "That's the name Leo told me."

The family turned to look at in surprise Casey. "How'd you know that name," Raphael asked. Casey motioned for them all to take a seat.

"When I was growing up, and I'd go spend time out at my grandparents' place, there was a family that owned a large track of land somewhere on the other side of town. The family, the Babbots, had money, but the townsfolk preferred to not have a whole lot to do with them; at least, not the two youngest boys. You see, there were three Babbot boys: Mark, James, and Peter. Mark, he was a good guy. You know, helpful, kind, well liked. But the other two boys were trouble. James loved to hunt, and more than one pet went missing when he was around. Peter, on the other hand, loved to collect things. He had the brains to be anything he wanted, but he was too lazy. Instead, if you had anything remotely unique or one-of-a-kind, Peter would find some way to buy, steal, or cheat it away from you. Not long after I turned twenty-one, I heard that Mark went missing. The local police suspected James had something to do with his disappearance, but they could never prove anything."

"And these are the bastards who have Leo," Raphael stated after a few minutes of pondering what Casey had just revealed.

"It makes a disgusting amount of sense," Donny said.

"So just where do these Babbot brothers live," Raph asked Casey, who just shrugged.

"I'm not exactly sure," he said. "I didn't have a whole lot to do with 'em. I just know it's someplace near the farm."

"Don't worry," Donatello said. "Now that we have a name, it won't take very long to get an address." And with that, he and Donny hurried to the lab; Mikey and the others were quick to follow them, leaving the "Evil Gemini's" alone together.

With the Genius twins busy getting Leo's location, and no one else around to distract him anymore, Raph was free to notice what exactly his double had across his back. Eyes going wide with a mixture of fear, disgust, and anger, he whispered, "Leo's katanas."

Raphael gave him a sympathetic look; he knew exactly what his double was feeling. "I found them in a storefront display while I was out hunting tonight," he explained. "I figured since they rightfully belong to Leo, it wouldn't be stealing, per se, to take them back."

Raph's face hardened. "You've got that right," he agreed. Silence fell for another moment, before Raph said, "I'm sorry I've given you such a hard time about this. More than anyone I know how hard this has been on you."

Raphael shrugged. "I'm the one who needs to apologize," he said. "I acted like an ass, and I'm sorry I treated you like I did."

"Forgiven," Raph said, and the two turtles shook hands, a hug being a little more bonding that either was comfortable with. Regaining his feet, Raphael removed one of the katanas from his back and handed it over to Raph.

"Here," he said. "I think it fitting that we use these to get our brother back."

Raph gave him a dark, understanding smile. "Oh, yeah," he agreed. "A little ninja-style justice."

Just then, Donny and Donatello came tearing back into the room, leading the pack, a sheet of paper waving in Donatello's hand.

"Got it," he exclaimed to his brothers. An almost visible wave of satisfaction rolled over the family. At long last, they had the means to affect their missing member's rescue. En masse, and without a word, the family made its way toward the elevator that would take them to the garage that housed the Battle Shell; everyone except Splinter and Casey that is.

"Sensei, Casey, aren't you two coming," Mikey asked.

"No, my student," the elderly rat told him. "My instincts are telling me this is something you six must do on your own."

"Yeah, and April would skin me alive," Casey said. "Besides, I'd only slow you guys down."

"Are you sure, sensei," Donatello asked.

"Yes," Splinter told him. "I have only this to tell you. Normally I would not advocate deadly violence. In this instance, however, these monsters have proven to be more than the law can or will take care of. That being the case, you have my blessing to do whatever you see fit to reclaim your brother. Bring him home, my sons; it's time he came back where he belongs."

As a group, the turtles bowed respectively to their teacher, and then they were gone. Their sensei was correct; it was time to bring Leo home.