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A/N: Thank you so much to all of you who reviewed! It seems that I must be doing a little bit better on this story if I'm getting more, and positive reviews. I really appreciate it! Although don't be afraid to hammer me!

Chapter 10

The Warehouse

I'll admit that I let Raph do a fair amount of explaining. Once again I was glad that I left out the few facts that I did, just seeing their faces after telling them what I was willing to tell was torture enough.

Sensei sighed, dissappointment etched in his eyes, yet there was warmth and understanding shining in there as well. "Leonardo, I cannot say that I am not dissapointed that you did not tell me of this sooner, although I cannot hide the joy that you have finally confided in your family. I am pleased with this. Now, we must plan a course of action. We cannot let this go on, my son."

I bowed my head. "I understand, Sensei."

Don scratched his chin. "Well, from what you guys are telling me, it's obvious that the creatures, the warehouse, and whatever's happening with you are all interconnected somehow. My guess is that those creatures are acting as a Cerberus."

"Oooh ooh ooh! That's the doggie from Harry Potter! But you got his name wrong, it's really Fluffy." Mikey spouted. Immediately he hooked his fingers like claws and made snarling noises in his throat.

Don shook his head. "No, the three headed dog first appeared in writing in Greek mythology as the guardian of the underworld. That's what I'm trying to say. Maybe those creatures are guarding something, or at least trying to get you from finding something out. Or discovering something. Ah, you catch what I'm trying to say, right?"

I nodded. That's kinda what I figured, really, but it was different from hearing it said to you.

"So, my sons, I think that a trip topside is in order. From Raphael's and Leonardo's descriptions of the creatures, I want all of you to be extremely careful. Is that clear?" Splinter said.

We all nodded.

"First, Leo, I need to treat your wounds." Donny immediately headed back to get his medical kit. I grimaced at the thought. I really wasn't looking forward to this.

Splinter approached me, his eyes inviting. "My son, although you may feel uncomfortable with it, I want you to tell us if you ever feel inclined towards any violent tendencies. I assure you, we all understand that it is not your fault, but that does not mean that I wish for you to harm anyone else. On top of the injuries to your victims, I know that there would be an injury to your spirit. I do not wish for you to go through that kind of suffering. Please remember, my son, that we are your family and your family will always be with you."

I nodded, trying to swallow down a lump in my throat. Splinter continued as my brothers came back into the room.

"And one more thing, my sons, be sure to kick his a$$."

Immediately everyone started, astonished out of our minds to hear Sensei curse out loud in front of us. His tail thwapped hard on the floor, his fur bristled and his hands tightened so hard on his walking stick that we could hear the wood creak beneath his fingers. Through clenched teeth, he growled. "NO ONE impersonates my Master Yoshi in such a manner and gets away with it! It is blatant dishonor and disregard for everything that he stood for!" His hands shaking slightly in rage he stalked off, slamming his ricepaper doors.

We all stared after him for a moment in sheer disbelief at his anger. The only time we'd seen him this angry was when Shredder used a robotic copy of him to hurt us. And this time he was even more ticked off. Slowly we shook it off.

"Ya think he'll chop-suey us if we don't come back with a head on a platter?" Mikey elbowed Raph in the side. Raph just looked at him, glaring, before reaching up and yanking his bandana. "OW!"

Don, unusually quiet after Splinter's unconventional outburst, set to dealing with my wounds quickly. First he cleaned them both out with a saline solution, then swabbed each area with betadine. "Man, Leo. There's not much I can do about the burns to your abdoment right now. I can't put tape on them, because it'd either come off or get in the way during a fight. I'll try some of this liquid band-aid stuff for now. Then after it peels I can do more for it." Quickly he applied the cool liquid and m oved to my calf. He whistled. "You're missing a chunk of flesh right now. I can't stitch that up, then liquid would collect in the pocket that is left over and make it worse. Plus you don't have the skin or muscle tissue present for me to attempt such a thing. This will be a slow healer, maybe a month or two. I'm going to have to pack it wet-to-dry that way I can debride it at each dressing change."

I had no idea what debriding meant, or what wet-to-dry meant, but I stood still as he took care of it. He stuffed it with some guaze soaked in something. When he did that I had to struggle not to jump out of his way because that stuff hurt! Then he wrapped my calf in some dry guaze, covering it completely and encircling my lower leg. He secured it in place with some thick tape. "Once we get past this, I'll use gentler tape because this stuff is going to be rough on your skin. I'm just using it now because I don't want it to come off during a fight."

I nodded silently, still considering. No one had said anything yet, but I could see the looks. The ones that they didn't think that I saw, out of the corners of their eyes; peeking. They were probably wondering. Wondering what they'd do if I went berserk or something and they had to defend themselves from me. Probably wondering if I was still completely 'there' so they wouldn't have to worry.

I'm hating this right now. I have no honor. Only dishonor, dishonor in my actions and thoughts. Not only am I ninja, but I am a leader. Leader's shouldn't worry about wanting to harm his brothers. But I do. What does that make me?

I suppose that we'll find out.

We crawled down the fire escape, approaching the warehouse. I could have made it in one leap, but I didn't want to further alienate myself from my brothers. They already don't fully trust me, they already think I'm a monster.

They approached the warehouse with extreme caution, stepping quietly with weapons ready. I nodded in approval. At least they were taking it seriously.

But when we reached the warehouse nothing happened. For a moment we just stood there, waiting for something to at least snarl at us, but nothing did. Raph even kicked the damn wall, causing it to shiver and make unnecessary noise. Idiot!

"Looks like there's no one here but us turtles." Mikey whisperred exaggeratedly. "Are you sure that you saw them?"

Immediately Raph grabbed him by the shoulder, yanking him towards him with a pained yelp. Glaring in his face, he growled. "Of course we saw the damn things! Ya think that Leo did that to himself?"

For once Mikey said nothing, just looked sidelonged at me. I could tell what he was thinking: did he? I hate this.

We all started as we saw Donny slowly loosen one of the boards covering the window. It was the same one that I entered in originally. We said nothing, just slowly watched him work away the boards for some extra room. Then, looking at all of us and nodding, he slowly stepped in. Mikey followed suit, then Raph, each making little to no noise in the offset window.

I was last. For a moment I just stood there staring at it. My wounds burned with fresh intensity as I vividly recalled what had happened the last time that I went in there. Something was going on.

Suddenly my hands twitched. I looked at the boards. Then I saw the broken off end of a hammer, lying conveniently nearby. It would be so easy to merely hammer some of those boards in place, officially blocking the window once more. They could still get through, of course, but it would take longer. Maybe long enough for the hell hounds to do their work. Maybe...

I slapped myself, a stinging blow across the cheek. The thoughts that I was just having lingeredfor a moment longer, before finally sinking away. The loss of it was painful, and the absence mademe feel lost; incomplete. Snarling, I grappled for a sense of normalcy through this obvious evil.For another moment I stood there panting from unknown exertion, sweat already dappling on my skin. What was wrong with me!

Shaking my head so furiously that my head rattled, I approached the window and crept inside as well.

The second that my foot touched the cold floor my katanas were unsheathed, instantly ready for attack. But none came. My brothers, already halfway accross to the middle point, startled and stared at me with wide, untrusting eyes. I sighed. Not even bothering to explain, I slowly sheathed my swords.

Why weren't those things attacking?

"Hehehe! There's nothing here! If you ask me, Raph's crazy! Ya seeing things, Raph?" Mikey danced on his toes, elbowing Raph in the side.

He glared at his younger brother, a growl resonating in his throat. "Mikey..." he warned.

The orange banded turtle merely laughed again and poked him with an extended finger. Tensing up, Raph looked ready for the kill.

Immediately I stepped in. "Guys, this is not the time or the place. Cut it out!" I separated the two, forcing them apart. Raph glared at me, and Mikey twiddled his fingers at his angry older brother, further inciting him.

Don interrupted. "Well, Leo. I really don't see anything right now. Why don't you show us the door that leads to the room where you, uh, died in?" He shifted uncomfortably, handling his bostaff with light fingers.

I sighed and did a quick search of the floor. I spotted it in the direct center. Pointing, I said "Right there, Donny. Through that trap door on the floor."

Walking somewhat casually over to the thing, he squatted down and inspected it for several seconds, probably looking for a mechanical trap or something. Obviously finding none, he reached and started to try and unwork the chain.

The moment his fingertips touched the cold steel, however, I heard a growl come from above us. Frantically I looked up, but the ceiling was shrouded in heavy shadows. The growl grew to a snarl and immediately my heart froze. They were here. They were after...

"Donny!" With a sudden burst of energy I sprinted towards my brother, just as a large dark figure dropped itself from the shadows directly above him. Please don't let me be too late!

A/N: Hope that that ending was cliffie enough for you guys. Let me know what you think, ideas, predictions, flames, whatever!

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