A/N Okay, this is just a short chapter. Still, I want to stop it here so that things flow better. In any case, this should answer a few questions. ;)

Leo looked at the figures standing before him in complete horror. They literally were the tormentors of his worst nightmares. Dropping his katanas, for he had reclaimed the one he had unceremoniously throw into Stockman's machine, Leo began to back away from the interlopers, horror filling his face as he shook his head in denial at what he was seeing.

"No, this can't be possible," he whispered, dismay coloring his tone. Suddenly, a comforting arm around his shoulders stopped his backward movement.

"Whoa, easy there," Donny told him. "It's all right. They can't hurt you. Not anymore."

That said, Donny turned to glare at the interlopers; the three interlopers. Instinctively, he placed his body protectively between his brother and the unwanted newcomers. Mikey, nunchucks out and at the ready, came to stand beside him. Raph, on the other hand, took a more direct approach. Sais clenched in his fists, he stalked up to the trio.

"Not that I can't guess from my bro's response, but I'll ask all the same," he growled. "Who the shell are you, and what are you doing here?"

But the red masked figure just ignored him. Instead, he turned stunned eyes on the trembling leader and said,

"Leo, is that you?"

Before Leo had the chance to respond, Raph's fist flew out and knocked the newcomer on his butt. Using the element of surprise to his advantage, Raph straddled the fallen figure and, using his knees to pin his arms to the ground, placed the point of one sai at his prisoner's throat.

"Attention on me, bucko," he hissed, applying just enough pressure to cause the other to wince slightly. A small movement out the corner of his eyes had him refocusing his attention on the two other individuals who had also come through the dimensional window. "Ah, ah, ah," he told them. "Stay put. I would have absolutely no compunction about putting a blade through this loser's throat, so I suggest you don't give me any more reason to." Turning his focus back to the pinned figure beneath him, Raph said, "Now, back to my questions. Who are you, and what are you doing here?"

"I'd think you'd know who I am, considering you see my face everyday in the mirror," Raph's prisoner growled. "As for what I'm doing here, well that's more my brother's specialty. Why don't you ask him?"

"Because," Raph said, pushing a littler hard with his sai, "I asked you."

Before the other turtle could say anything, the sound of sirens filled the air. Leo, snapping back into leader mode, said,

"Raph, let him go and let's get out of here." The three newcomers were shocked when the irate turtle immediately climbed to his feet and joined his brothers without argument. Looking at their three unwanted visitors, Leo said, "While I don't particularly want you here, I refuse to dishonor myself by refusing you shelter while you are a visitor here. Therefore, I offer the comfort of my home until we can send you back where you belong." And without waiting for a response, Leo turned and disappeared into the shadows, followed closely by his younger brothers. After another moment, the silent figures of Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo followed as well.

TMNTTMNT

As he followed his older brother into the familiar labyrinth of the sewers, Raphael found himself too stunned to speak. When he and his brothers and been sucked into that glowing dimensional portal, Raphael had been uncertain where they were going to end up. The last place he expected to land was in a warehouse in another version of New York, face-to-face with the older brother he had spent a year believing was dead. He had been even less prepared for the alternate versions of himself and his younger brothers that were doing an excellent job keeping themselves between the three newcomers and their brother.

When Raphael had first seen the other turtles, it had been a little difficult to differentiate between them, because of the identical brown leather masks they wore. It was only by looking at their weapons that he had been able to put a name with each of them. But when he had met the horrified gaze the sword wielding brother, Raphael knew immediately that somehow, by some impossible means, this was his Leonardo, his older brother. And then that shell-cursed alternate version of himself had the audacity to knock him down and treat him like he was the enemy.

"I can't believe it's him." Michelangelo's stunned voice broke through Raphael's rambling thoughts. "I…I thought he was dead."

"Don't go getting your shell in a wad," Raphael growled at him. "We don't know for sure that it's him."

Donatello scoffed at the comment. "After seeing the way he reacted when he saw us you still don't think he's our Leo," he asked a little scornfully. "If you didn't recognize that terrified expression on his face when he saw us then you're blinder than I thought."

"So what if he's our Leo," Raph huffed. "Seems he's made himself at home here. Looks like he's found some sycophants willing to kiss his butt; why should he leave?" The words were cold, but deep down inside, Raphael feared they were true. After all, given what Leo had done to get away from his true family, why would he choose to give up a place where he apparently fit in? Raphael wasn't sure, if he were in Leo's place, that he would make that choice either.

TMNTTMNT

From his position just a few yards ahead of them, Raph listened to his alternate's harsh words, and his blood began to boil once more. How dare these bastards come here and dare to destroy the peace and happiness they had managed to build for their family? As far as Raph was concerned, those bozos had their chance, and they'd blown it. Now here they were, once again interfering with his brother's life. Well, not if he had anything to say about it. Oh, no, he owed these jerks for the months of hard work he and Mikey and Donny had put in to save their big brother. But most of all, he figured he owed them for hurting Leo in the first place. He couldn't imagine what kind of individual it took to deliberately and repeatedly harm the amazing turtle that was his older brother. Raph let a small, malicious smile cross his face; no, he couldn't imagine deliberately harming Leo, but he sure had some pretty daydreams about kicking the shells of the ones who had.