Disclaimer: Uh…and yet I still don't own them…hmmm…

Chapter 12: Flickering Hope

The next time I manage to open my arms I find myself across from Leo and cuddled up with…ARIA! My daughter, my little girl. I start to move and then freeze as Leo whimpers and my aching body protests. Leo has his arms wrapped around me and I have my own around him, with Gaeh and Aria between us.

Our kids, my daughter and my nephew…they're…here…safe. Suddenly I feel drained of any strength again and feel my eyes flutter closed.

"Raph?" I hear as I stir, and drag my heavy eye lids open.

It's Leo…he looks so tired.

"Are…you ok?" I hear him whisper.

I struggle to nod and then feel myself slump again, exhausted.

"Yeah…I'm tired too. They said we were really sick," he murmurs and sags back against the pillows.

"You two should be resting," I hear…it's Yelgeh.

I struggle to turn to her and she presses me back into the pillows.

"Shhh, rest. You both had a rough couple weeks," she murmurs.

WEEKS?!?

I nearly sit bolt upright and I see Leo start to sit up to.

"REST!" she orders and I flop back onto the pillows, Leo beside me.

Wait…where's Aria? ARIA!!!! I try to scramble up and end up being pushed down again. Then I hear Leo laughing weakly.

"They're playing with the other kids," Leo whispers.

I relax and sag back, letting sleep take me.

Three days later I'm sitting up on the porch with Leo next to me, watching the kids playing in the yard.

"Raph?" he asks.

I glance his way and grunt.

"I…-" he whispers.

I look at him and notice that his hands are clutching his blanket. Then I understand as he starts crying.

"I…I'm so scared Raph…I just…not as strong as I used to be," Leo whimpers, "I can't do this…do…do you remember what we were raised to live by?"

I struggle for a minute and nod.

"Bushido, the Code of Honor," he murmurs, "Raph…I…have no honor…my son…has no honor…what they did to me…I-"

I drag him close realizing suddenly that my brother…can never go home. I press him against me and simply hug him. Because it all comes back…the Code we were raised by, the way we lived. Leo lost everything the first time they rapped him, took his right to come home, to be himself.

Leo I won't leave you alone…I promise.

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