I don't own TMNT only my characters and themes.

"Come on Leo, hurry up or we'll be late!" Leo looked to his youngest brother slightly speeding up. Lightning flashed in the distance, illumining the dark grey clouds. It wasn't the storm brewing that set Leo on edge, it was something else, something much more sinister. Thunder rumbled and the wind picked up.

"Hey!" Leo yelled as a man ran by him quickly disappearing into the night. He looked to what had been shoved into his hands. He looked at the file in his hands unsure what to think. His brothers and his father were far ahead now, his gaze fell back the file in his hands. He knew if he opened the file there was no going back and the inter-turmoil inside him was growing greater than the storm by the second. The lightning flashed illuminating the file and the writing written on the tab labeled MISSION COBRA.

Taking a deep shaky breath Leo opened the file and nearly dropped it. At first he didn't realize it was Shadow in the photos, dirty and beaten, hanging from chains. Bile rose in his throat.

TEAM SHIFT WAS SENT TO CLEAR AN AREA FOR INCOMING MARINES, BUT INCOUNTERED ENEMY FORCES.

The rest was blacked out. Leo quickly scanned the page looking for readable text.

FIVE CONFERMED DEAD AND ONE SURVIVER.

AGENT SHADOW KNIGHT WAS FOUND 6 DAYS LATER CHAINED IN THE CUSTIDY OF THE ENEMY WHEN THE SEALS SENT TO RESCUE AGENT SHADOW KNIGHT COMPLETED THEIR MISSION WITH MINAMAL INJURIES.

Leo didn't even realized he was crying as he looked at the pictures.

PROOF OF LIFE

Three pictures of Shadow hanging in that shed by chains, her feet not touching the ground were below.

WHEN RECOVERED, AGENT SHADOW KNIGHT WAS SEVERLY DEHYDRATED, SEVERLY BEATEN, AND WEAK FROM STSRVSTION.

The rest was blacked out, but many more pictures were left. Knowing if he didn't get going he would be late. He carefully placed the file inside his stealth suit and began run towards Shadows house where the surprise welcome home party was being held.

"Where were you Leo?" Mikey scolded him as he came in through the back door.

"I was-"

"Hush! She's coming!" everyone dove out of sight just as the door knob twisted.

"There are a few things I need to tell you-"

"Surprise!" Shadow was cut off, but her face was anything but shocked it was horrified and they quickly realized why. Another girl, blonde, and a little boy in her arms had followed Shadow in.

"You know if it weren't for the mission we just went on I might scream, but I'm gonna be chill and cool with it and guess these are Master Splinter's son you couldn't tell me about?" Shadow slumped her shoulders in defeat. None of them knew what to do. Master Splinter cleared his throat taking a step towards the new girl.

"I am Master Splinter, we were not expecting Shadow to have a guest." He glance to the brunette and seen the shame in her eyes. Sighing heavily he smiled. "What is your name?" he looked at the blonde and noticed the scar running across her face and the young child in her arms.

"I'm Shadow's new partner, Iris. I have orders to move in, she didn't have a choice in the matter. Neither of us did. She spoke a lot about you, but didn't tell me the obvious." Splinter thought over the information given to him.

"I suppose it would have been only a matter of time before you found out living here. You promise not to speak about my sons and I?" Iris gripped Gabe tighter in her arms.

"I would never." Splinter nodded with a smile and noticed Shadow stood straighter.

"Now tell us about your journey."

Leo barely listened his mind too busy mulling over the information in the file. He nearly jumped out of his shell when Gabe pulled on his hand. He looked down to the little boy who held his arms out to Leo. He looked to Iris unsure what the child wanted sense he's never been around children. The blonde smirked at him and his confusion.

"He wants you to pick him up." Carefully like he was made of glass, Leo picked little Gabe up. Suddenly thunder exploded and the power went out.

"Starting backup generator." A robotic voice said through the darkness. There was a buzz before a few lights came on, but it did little illuminate the darkness.

"Well this is a really sucky Halloween!" Carrie complained.

"Come on Leo my turn!" Mikey said taking Gabe from his arms and placing Gabe on his shoulders. The toddler let out a squeal of laughter.

"Leo is there something wrong?" he looked at Shadow and froze. Starring into her dark brown eyes in the dim light. He realized the pictures in the file were several years old, but he couldn't stop seeing the girl in the photographs in front of him now. He spoke before realizing what he had said. Shadows eyes widened and the lightning flashed and he realized what he had said. He realized that he might have just triggered another episode. He realized he had just accidentally brought up pain she was trying to forget.

"Leo…what are ya takin' 'bout?" Raph asked slowly seeing the reaction from both his brother and Shadow and neither were good.

"Shadow I…" it happened in a flash. The orange glow, the swift movements, the thud of Leo being slammed against the wall, the sharp inhale as one of her blades was pressed to his throat.

"How do you know about that!" Shadow yelled anger and fear, raging a war in her eyes, but ultimately fear won and she slowly back away from Leo. The lightning flashed and Leo seen the tears in her eyes. "How do you know about that Leo?" she asked her voice quiet and weak.

Leo again felt sick and didn't know what to say. He didn't know how to explain what he had seen without feeling like he had invaded her mind. Knowing there was no way out of this he pulled out the file he had been giving.

"I was given this by someone. I don't know who, they disappeared before I could get a good look." The whole time he spoke he avoided looking at her.

"That's why you were late. You were looking through that file." Donnie said quietly not sure what to think of the situation.

"I hope you're happy now Leo. Now you know everything!" she snapped glaring as deadly as she could. If Leo could have taken a step back from her he would have.

"I was going to get rid of the file!" he snapped back, but realized he didn't know where he was going with statement.

"Why did you read it in the first place!"

"I was curious! And who ever gave ME the file wanted me to read it! I wasn't going to say anything! It—it just slipped out!"

"You wanna know what happened? My whole team was killed, murdered! I was taken hostage for 6 days!"

"Wh-what….?" They both turned to look at Carrie. "Th-they told me you had the chickenpox!" tears spilled over and down her cheeks and sobs shook her body as she cried in to Raph's chest who was having trouble controlling his own emotions.

"And you know what they did after all that Leo? They gave me the medal of bravery." Her breath became ragged and more tear swelled in her eyes. "I was terrified! My feet didn't touch the ground for 6 days! I wasn't brave! I was 13 and scared out of my mind!" she cried. The thunder rumbled and lightning exploded, but it compared nothing to the amount of emotion in Shadow's voice.

"Then why do you insist on going through it alone?" Leo asked her.

"How many times do I have to tell you it is not your problem!"

Master Splinter looked at the two teenagers confused and sad. Unsure how to handle the situation he had hoped the two would work it out on their own, but it seemed the argument would end like it always did: with an unanswered question hanging in the air.

Well that was emotional. Review, follow and favorite! It means a lot to hear what you guys think.