He screamed as the metal turtle in front of him scooped up a tiny, three-year old sized Michelangelo and began to run off with his baby brother.
"He's just a child! Leave him alone!"
His feet flew as he raced after the larger turtle. He'd already watched the turtle take Donatello and he was going to find out where he was trying to hide his little brothers.
They turned a corner and the metal turtle heaved Mikey into the air where Leo watched him vanish into nothing.
"You fail little turtle."
Leo was still staring into the air where Mikey had been a moment ago but his head snapped to the metal turtle at his snarled words. Suddenly, Leo had the feeling that he'd already had this battle. But in past dreams, the metal turtle had never before spoken.
"I only fail if I quit," Leo said, speaking the words that had been echoing around in his head since Raphael had said them to him. Unsheathing his katana, he charged the metal beast.
Raph had been dragged into the kitchen by Mike and Woody earlier for food. He allowed it only because Master Splinter took over his post by Leo and only because he wanted to avoid the lecture Leo would give him if Raph was malnourished and dehydrated when he awoke.
He returned to Leo's room, the room he was beginning to think of as his room as well, and found a still thrashing Leonardo and a frustrated Master Splinter.
"I am unable to reach him via meditation," Master Splinter said, speaking before Raphael could even ask what was wrong. "There is a wall preventing access. I can't break through it."
Raph thought about this. He had been trained in meditation, but his skill level was nowhere near that of Leo's or Master Splinter's. Still, if it meant reaching Leo, he'd try anything.
"Do you think I could?" he asked.
Master Splinter's first reaction was doubt. But then he turned and considered his red-clad son. He saw the determination in his eyes. He thought about not only the fierce devotion Raphael had shown since Leo fell into this coma-state, but the closeness the two had always shared, especially as children. He suddenly realized that if anyone could reach Leonardo, it would certainly be Raphael.
He stood and placed a hand on Raphael's shoulder, pleased that it didn't garner a flinch from his son.
"I'll help you get started," he said. "It'll be up to you to get through the wall."
Raphael nodded.
The metal turtle fell to his knees and collapsed to the ground after Leo's last blow.
Leo stared down at his defeated enemy. He recognized the turtle now. He'd been plaguing his nightmares since he was a child. Leo was stuck in a nightmare. He was sure of it. He couldn't put together why he would be stuck here, but he didn't give it much thought. He just wanted to know how to get out.
He turned, looking around the tunnel he stood in. He froze when he heard mechanical pings and beeps followed by a familiar battlecry.
"BOOYAKASHAAAAA!"
Leo raced around a corner and found Mikey and Donnie battling a growing number of Kraang droids. He forgot entirely that he was dreaming and his only focus became protecting his little brothers.
He was about to leap forward when a strong hand grabbed his shoulder and swung him around, crashing his shell against the wall behind him. Raphael's lips crashed on his and emerald hands slid down the skin on his sensitive sides. Raph yanked him forward and crushed their plastrons together.
"Do you feel that?" Raphael asked, moving his mouth away from Leo's mouth only to trail down to his neck.
"Yes," Leo breathed out, tilting his head to the side to give Raphael more access.
"So I have your attention?" Raph asked, alternating between biting Leo's neck and licking the sore spots.
"Yes," Leo rasped out, squirming beneath him.
Raph pulled his head back and his green eyes bore into Leo's.
"You realize yer stuck here?"
Leo nodded back solemnly.
"Are you ok?"
Leo's head jerked back in the direction of the battle going on between Donnie, Mikey and the Kraang.
Raph gripped his chin and turned it back towards his own face. "I thought I had your attention," he said, a smug smile forming on his face as he kissed Leo again, pushing his tongue into Leo's mouth, searching out Leo's tongue. He pulled back again, reluctantly. "They're not there, Leo. They're at home. They're both safe."
Leo stared into Raph's eyes. He felt the truth in Raph's words. Because they were Raph's words. He felt his body relax against Raphael.
Raph smiled at him, a silent thanks for trusting him.
"We're coming for you," he whispered to Leo. "No more fighting. Just be calm for me and wait it out."
"Raph," Leo said, trying to cling to him as he could sense Raph leaving.
"Let us fight the demons for you this time," Raph said. "And then I need you to wake up."
Leo's eyes flew open. Normally when he awoke from a nightmare, his heart would be rapidly beating and he'd be on the verge of hyperventilation with his breathing. But his heartbeats and breaths were normal. He felt calm.
He slowly turned his head and realized he was on the cot in Donnie's lab. Donnie and Sadie stood beside him, both grinning like idiots. Donnie was holding a machine that looked a lot like a weapon, which got Leo's narrow-eyed attention until Donnie gently set it down the on the lab table.
He scanned the room further and found his father, Mikey and Woody, all looking relieved, standing in the doorway of the lab.
He heard a small sigh and his eyes quickly shifted down towards the floor.
"Raph," he whispered.
There. Sitting on Leo's own tatami mat on the lab floor. There was his Raphael.