On with the story!

Leo's POV

I awoke to the sound of screaming, and I dashed out of bed into the room next to mine. I found Raph holding a thrashing Dani, who had tears running down her cheeks and was screaming, "NO, STOP! DON'T TOUCH ME; JUST LET ME GO! RAPHIE, HELP!"

"Dani, I'm here, wake up!" Raph shouted, shaking her. He glanced at me, a plea for help. I jumped onto the other side of the hammock and held Dani, "Baby, it's okay, you're safe!"

Thankfully, Dani's eyes flew open, and she stared in a daze with wide, frantic eyes, her breathing labored and sweat coming down her face. By this time, Mikey, Don, and Master Splinter had all entered the room, and were watching Raph and I hold Dani.

Dani blinked in confusion, "Leo?"

I nodded, "I'm right here, sweetheart. You're okay now, I promise."

She turned to look at Raph, "Am I hallucinating…"

Raph shook his head firmly, "No, kiddo. We're really home; no one can hurt us now."

Dani took a deep shaky breath and turned to us, tears still in her eyes, "Uh… sorry, guys. I just… I'm not used to being home yet."

But Raph gently grabbed her chin and forced her to look him in the eye, "It was about Stockman wasn't it?"

My sister shuddered and nodded her head, the tears coming faster and harder. "It really hurt. It still kinda does…"

I couldn't stand it; I reached over and pulled my youngest sibling into my lap, cradling her and whispering, "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm so, so sorry."

Dani sobbed into my chest while the rest of our brothers and our master stood around us, watching our sister anxiously. Finally, after a few minutes, she peeked up at me, "Um, what exactly happened to them?"

I sighed, unsure if giving her details was wise, "Sweetie… I don't…"

Don and Mikey both said, "You don't wanna know."

Raph nodded, "Let's just say… he'll never hurt you ever again. I swear on Leo's honor."

I gave my brother a look, "You can't swear on someone else's honor, Raph."

Raph grinned, "I just did; you got more honor than me, so it gets the point across better."

Any other time I would have slapped Raph, but I was too glad to hear my hot-head teasing me again, and Dani was giggling at our banter.

I rubbed Dani's hair, "Sweetie, I won't go into detail, but Raph and I took out Stockman, so you're perfectly safe."

Donnie spoke up, "Yeah, and we'll make sure that no one ever touches or hurts you again, little sister."

Mikey nodded, "Nobody's gonna mess with our kid sis."

Dani smiled, "You're all nuts, but I love you guys."

We all laughed and Raph said, "And you are a smart alack pain in the ass, but we adore you, sis."

Dani cocked an eyebrow, "I AM pretty awesome."

I tickled her and scowled, "Don't you dare turn cocky like your second oldest brother. One Raph is plenty."

My family was all smiles and laughter as Master Splinter said, "Alright. It is late, and you all need rest. Goodnight, my children."

"Goodnight, Sensei." All five of us said as he exited the room. Dani turned to Raph, "I can still stay in here? Or do I have to go to my room?"

Raph looked at all of us and grimaced, "I have a feeling I know why everyone's still in here…"

It dawned on D, and she, Don, and Mikey all screamed, "SLUMBER PARTY!"

Raph and I rolled our eyes, but neither of us denied it. Right now, we needed to be together, and as it was, we were unwilling to be separated.

As we all settled around Raph's room, I glanced at Mikey, who had brought in blankets for us all, curling up into a ball next to Donnie. Don rubbed his baby brother's head as he lay next to him. Dani and Raph were in the hammock, Raph with his arm thrown over our sister. I smiled warmly and lay on my own blankets, right in the middle of all my siblings.

Dani, eyes closed peacefully, mumbled, "Good night, bros."

"Good night" we all responded. I closed my eyes, but before I fell asleep, I felt a small hand wrap around mine, and I slid open my eyes to see Dani asleep with a grin on her face. I squeezed her hand.

Welcome home, my baby and my brother.

Dani's POV

When I awoke the next morning, I was, at first, shocked to feel an arm over my chest and a hand in mine. I opened my eyes, and smiled at my sleeping brothers sprawled around Raphie's room. I admit, I was touched that Leo's hand was still firmly gripping mine, though I suppose that was to be expected.

If that turtle EVER let me out of his sight again, it would prob mean the apocalypse.

Mikey was the first to wake up, yawning loudly before shouting, "What time is it?"

As the others stirred around us, I snapped, "Time for you to SHUT UP, Mike. Way to wake all our bros, ding-dong."

Mikey chuckled, "Sorry, but I'm STARVING, sis. Haven't eaten much in the last few weeks, you know?"

I blinked, "YOU haven't eaten?! Raph and I ate one bowl of gruel every other day, IF we were lucky."

Leo snapped his head up, suddenly awake, "And you didn't say anything why?" Our oldest bro dragged me and a still sleepy Raph downstairs, sitting each of us at the table.

He reached to start making breakfast, but Raph protested, "You trying to kill us?!" I laughed, remembering the first time Leo ever tried cooking breakfast; he broke the toaster and lit the stove on fire with a spatula. (Don't ask, even Donnie doesn't know how he managed it.)

Leo turned red, "Fine. Mikey, get down here." Mikey bounced into the kitchen and began making eggs and bacon. Don walked in last, automatically walking to the coffee maker.

I rolled my eyes, "Don, I will never understand how you can stand the taste of that crap. Coffee is NASTY." I emphasized as Raph snorted.

Don rubbed my hair, "Never thought I'd be so happy to hear you complaining."

Mike nodded, but added, "Give it a week, it'll bug you again."

Raph got up and walked to the fridge, "You want choco milk, kiddo?"

"Like you even have to ask?" I squealed, excited because I hadn't had chocolate in forever, and it was driving me nuts. I'm kinda addicted to the stuff.

The boys laughed as I greedily took the milk from Raph's hands and began gulping it right out of the carton. Don snatched it, "GLASSES, Dani, heard of em?"

I cocked an eyebrow, "Nope."

My genius rolled his eyes as he poured a glass of milk for Mike and me. Raph had grabbed the orange juice, and Leo was making tea for himself and Sensei, who usually got up later than us kids.

As we sat around the table eating, Raph asked, "So, what did we miss while we were gone?"

Leo sighed, "A lot of searching and worrying. During the day, Don was always in the lab, Mike and I in the sewers, and every night we all searched the surface. But for ten days we never found anything."

My best friend and I looked at each other than at our bros. I said, "We're real sorry. We just were on the rooftops running, and Bishop and his goons came out of nowhere."

Leo shook his head and replied quietly, "It's my fault. I'm the worst leader, and an even worse big brother."

My eyes widened, "NO, you are NOT, Leonardo. Don't make me hit you."

Leo took a shaky breath as we all watched anxiously, "If I hadn't fought with Raph, or better yet, if I hadn't stood back and let my baby sister go out with him at one in the morning, then none of this would have happened."

Raph blinked and frowned, "But, I'm the one who was late. I knew how you'd react, but I still fought ya, when you were just protecting me. Then I let the kid drag me out of the lair, and instead of taking her home, I led her into a trap."

I stood up, fully pissed, "It's not either of your faults! It is Bishop's and Stockman's!" I winced at saying my assaulter's name, and all of my bros automatically tensed.

I sighed, "Leo, you were just protecting Raph; however, you provoke him a little too much. Raph, it's okay to hang with Case, just within a reasonable time, and you shouldn't worry Leo and me like that. The only reason I wasn't already asleep was because I never heard you come back."

"But that's not the main issue. If anything comes out of this whole thing, it should be that you both realize that you two fighting is pointless and dangerous. Whether you admit it or not, you two love each other, and out of all of us, are the most alike. So please just stop arguing."

There was a stunned silence, where my brothers sat looking dumbfounded. I've never voiced how much it hurts me when my family argues; maybe if I had than none of what happened would have happened. But I couldn't change the past; I could only hope for the future.

Mikey spoke up, "Thanks, D. You said the stuff I've never been able to say."

Don nodded, "Mike and I just kind of assumed that Raph and Leo were so sneaky with their fights that you were oblivious."

I snorted, "When these two go at it, the whole state of New York has to hear it."

Raph and Leo look each other in the eye and at the same time said, "She's right."

They grinned and high three-ed. I laughed, "I always am. And I'll always love you four."

All four boys said, "Always."

Happy Holidays! Whatever you celebrate, I hope you celebrate with joy and loved ones! I will finish this story by the end of the week, just the epilogue remains!