Author's Note: I really appreciate the feedback on the last chapter, guys. Hope you enjoy this one. Thanks for reading!

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Chapter Ten: Thwarted

As the Foot's message had demanded, only one of the brothers waited on the designated rooftop, to hand over the missing ingredient for the creation of retro-mutagen. Leo stood at attention, eyes white, with the canister they had prepared earlier that day sitting in front of him on the roof.

Raphael, Michelangelo, and even Splinter were there as well, all strategically placed on other rooftops. April and Casey would remain in contact by T-Phone down on the street, in the Shell Raiser, if a high speed chase became necessary.

Rahzar and Fishface were spotted, jumping from rooftop to rooftop, five minutes to midnight. They both came to a halt about fifteen paces away from Leo, as several Foot ninja fanned out behind them.

Rahzar greeted him in neutral tones. "Leonardo. Do you have what we requested?"

"Yes." Leo nodded to the metal container sitting half a dozen feet in front of him.

"Smart turtle. You've done your brother a favor."

Leo's eyes narrowed.

Rahzar nodded behind him, and a kunoichi, one of the few Leo had ever seen aside from Karai, stepped forward to pick up the vial. As she came closer, it seemed as if she was smirking at him, but a mask covered the bottom half of her face, making it difficult to be sure. Her hair was exposed, showcasing streaks of red running through the spiky black.

Leonardo noticed, with quiet dismay, that she had another container with her. She crouched and began unscrewing both containers, clearly meaning to transfer the liquid.

"I wouldn't do that. It's volatile."

The kunoichi glanced up, and this time he couldn't miss the darkly playful look in them. She spoke in a Japanese accent. "I know how to handle dangerous things." She raised an eyebrow, running her eyes briefly down and up his form.

As she began to pour the liquid from one container to the other, Leonardo recognized her.

And it was like a chain snapped. The thing holding him back; self control, logic, pragmatism; whatever it was that normally kept him rational, it was suddenly gone.

Leo hurtled forward, snarling, both katana extended, furious and hurting and outraged.

She was going to pay...ten times over, she would pay...!

Rahzar was there in an instant, blocking him. The kunoichi, obviously skilled in her own right, quickly retreated, finishing the transfer from one vial to the other, and began making her way across the rooftops. Leo, meanwhile, was forced to engage with Rahzar and Fishface, silently cursing himself.

The canister had been plan A, and that had been tossed aside, along with the GPS tracker in it. If the others couldn't track that kunoichi back...

Leo didn't have time to think about it, as both Rahzar and Fishface pressed forward.

They lost her in the mall. Splinter had had to physically restrain Mikey, who had been about to throw caution to the wind, and follow anyway.

"They'll think I'm wearing a costume! It doesn't matter!"

Splinter had known the mall included police, armed with guns. He hadn't let go.

April had been the last one to return to the lair, well after sunrise, head down and arms folded around herself. She and Casey, being the only humans, had been able to go in after the kunoichi, but at least a minute or so had passed before they had reached the mall. April shook her head sadly, having already texted ahead before coming over.

"It's a twenty-four hour mall. They must have chosen the location with it in mind. It's huge."

Raphael was the first to reply.

"I cannot believe this!" He stalked back and forth, burning through what had to be the last dregs of adrenaline, given the hour. "Leo, what happened out there? Mr. Leader, Mr. Plan, why did you attack?!"

Leo looked off to the side, head bowed. "I lost my cool. I'm not...excusing it." He shook his head at himself, as Raph continued to pace, like something caged. The others remained quiet, fatigued and not having anything positive to say.

Raphael bit his lip, hands going to his head, then thrust both hands out in a furious gesture. "And what happens when they find out it's fake? What happens to Donnie then?! Leo!"

Leonardo finally met Raphael's angry gaze, mouth drawn into a line. "What do think would happen if we gave them what they need, Raph? You think they'll just hand Donnie back to us? Shredder hates us! Once he's done with him, we'll be lucky to get parts of him mailed to us in a box!"

"Leo!" April hugged herself tighter, eyes wide in shock, glaring at the blue banded ninja from where she sat on the couch. She bit her lip, trying not to cry.

Leo lowered his voice, chagrined. "I just mean that...the only way we'll get Donnie back is by taking him back."

Raphael only got angrier, stepping into Leonardo's space, and pushed at him. "Yeah? And what we did tonight accomplished that, right?!" Raph pushed again, forcing Leo to take a step back. "Maybe we could've trailed her, if you hadn't freaked out, and spooked them all! Think of that, genius!? Why the HELL did you attack, Leo?!"

"Raphael!" Splinter stood up, eyes flashing, and Raphael, arms trembling in fury, slowly backed down, then turned around abruptly, still glaring daggers.

Leo stood, not responding, fists clenched by his sides, head bowed, as Raphael went back to pacing.

A nearly silent sniffle escaped.

Raphael paused. He turned back around, as if against his will, to look at Leonardo again, with teeth clenched.

Leo gaze was still on the floor. Standing tears were in his eyes.

Raphael shook his head, feeling overwhelmed, not wanting to cry, not wanting to accept how the night had played out. He finally spoke, voice strangled sounding.

"I don't believe this..."

Splinter reached a hand out to him, but Raphael ducked past it, breaking into a run, and disappeared into his bedroom.

After a few moments, Splinter slowly walked to Leo, and placed his hands on his shoulders. Leo looked up, eyes wet with tears. He spoke, voice a croak.

"She was in the video..."

He looked down at his feet again, and Splinter gently pulled him into a hug. Leo broke down further, shoulders shaking, sobs muffled by his father's chest.

Mikey, who sat on the couch by April, inched closer to her. She accepted his hug, crying too, while Casey stood between the two scenes, jaw clenched.

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AN: Did I make Leo too wimpy? Be honest! :) Your feedback is sough and appreciated, as always. Sorry about how short this is- some of these sections I struggle on how to split up into chapters. Until next time!