Hello, friends! So, I have to make this quick. I have an English paper to write for tomorrow, and the Super Bowl is on, so I figured that I would post this really quick. This chapter is kinda longer than a few, but it's not that long. Hope you enjoy it! Look for other stories coming soon!

Disclaimer: The TMNT and Co. are not mine.

TMNTTMNTTMNTTMNT

Love.

A profoundly tender, passionate, affection for another person.

Love is such a small, yet powerful word. And we all use it too much in everyday life. We love our car, our books, a movie, or a television program. We enjoy the way it sounds on our tongues, the way it seems to leave a sweet taste in our mouth after we utter the small word.

But it is also said not enough. We sometimes take for granted the things that we really love. We don't really say that word to the people who mean the most to us often. We always think that there will be another time we can tell him or her that we love them. And so, we put it off.

… Until it's too late, and that person is gone, or just won't hear you.

TMNT

Leo continued to shake with dry sobs in Raph's arms. Mikey had left a few minutes ago, heading to the kitchen to make a pot of tea, to help calm Leo down. Donnie had disappeared, going to Leo's room to grab a blanket off his brother's bed.

And Leo just sat there, letting his little brother hold him in his vulnerable state.

"Shh," Raph said quietly, rubbing his hand on the back of Leo's head, right under his bandana. "Everything's gonna be okay."

"No it… won't," Leo managed to choke out. "I've- I've failed you three."

Raph shook his head and managed to lift Leo's head up, looking into his wet and slightly terrified eyes.

"No, Leo. We've failed you."

Confusion crossed the blue-banded turtle's face, cheeks still wet with tears.

"You… you haven't failed me," he sniffed, eyes searching his brother's for an answer.

"Yeah, we have. You've helped us get through Master Splinter's death, but we haven't helped you. You helped Mikey learn to smile and laugh again. You taught Donnie to focus on the good things in life. And you've helped me realize that not letting anyone in can be the worst possible thing to do after a tragedy."

Leo seemed to be mulling this over in his mind, and, after a few seconds, shook his head.

"No, Raph," he said. "I didn't do any of that. You all knew how to do that already. I just reminded you guys. Plus, maybe if I was a better ninja, then Master Splinter would still be-"

"It wasn't your fault that he died, Leo," Raph interrupted. "He was old. His body just couldn't function anymore. It happens."

Leo lowered his face. "Then why do I still feel responsible?"

"It's your nature," Raph said, chuckling slightly. "You always take the blame for everything, even if it wasn't your fault. I never understand why, but you do."

Leo looked up into his eyes again, his brown orbs filling with tears again. Raph smiled and pushed his head back to his shoulder, wrapping his arms around him again.

"It's cause I'm the oldest," Leo sobbed. "I feel like I need to."

"Leo, not everything is your fault. You're only one turtle. You're not invincible."

A muffled sob.

"But… I want to be."

"No one is invincible. No one ever has been, and no one ever will be."

Leo began to shake with more sobs. Donnie's head poked around the door.

"Raph?" he said. "How's he doing?"

Raph looked down at the shaking form in his arms. "Better, I guess."

Donnie nodded and entered the dojo. He walked over to Leo and Raph and put his hand on Leo's shoulder.

"Leo, you want to go to the living room where it's more comfortable?" he asked gently.

Leo didn't respond. Raph looked down, then up at Donnie and nodded.

"Leo, we're gonna help ya' to the living room, kay?"

Once again, there was no response.

Carefully, Raph got to his feet, gently bringing his older brother with him. He began to move to the door, but Leo didn't do anything. He just clung to Raph, barely staying on his two feet. After one more try, Raph gave up and picked him up, one arm under his knees and the other under his neck. Leo draped his arms around Raph's neck, hugging him closer.

Donnie moved to help, but Raph shook his head.

Why is he so light? He thought, gently carrying him to the couch.

It was true. Raph was broader, with more muscle. Donnie was fit, and Mikey was just plain skinny, despite his vacuum-like mouth. But Leo had always been leaner. His muscles weren't as big as Raph's, but they were more toned; all those hours for practicing in the dojo.

But still, no one should be as light as he was now; even Mikey weighed more, and Mikey was a skinny thing.

Shaking off the feeling and filing the thought away for another time, Raph carefully laid his older brother on the couch. Leo was asleep before his limp body hit the cushions. Raph untangled his arms from around his neck and, very lovingly, draped a blanket over his body.

Raph looked up to see Donnie gazing at him. Mikey came striding out of the kitchen, a steaming mug in his green hands.

"Leo, I found your fav-"

He stopped mid stride when he saw Leo on the couch. He turned to his brothers.

"He asleep?"

They nodded.

Mikey sighed. "What am I supposed to do with this tea now?"

Raph chuckled slightly, but Donnie remained serious. He turned to Raph.

"Did Leo seem a bit light to you when you carried him over here?"

Raph nodded, his face turning to a frown. "Why do you think?"

Donnie motioned for them to follow and he headed upstairs, toward Leo's room. Carefully, he opened the door and stepped in. Raph and Mikey stopped at the doorway.

Leo's room was off limits. No one, not even Master Splinter, ever dared to enter his room. The only time they were allowed in was when Leo invited them in.

And he hadn't invited them.

Donnie turned and saw their hesitation. He rolled his eyes.

"Guys, I'm sure Leo won't mind just this once."

Raph and Mikey looked at one another, skeptical, but entered all the same.

Leo's room was filled with mugs. They were scattered everywhere; on the floor, on the bed, on the nightstand, on the small desk in the corner, on the stand he used to hold his swords.

Donnie turned to his brothers. "I looked at all of them when I got the blanket," he said. "Most of them are empty, but they had rings around the top, which means that the tea that was in there evaporated without being drunk,. The ones that aren't empty are the same way, and they have just a little tea at the bottom. I found some plates with really moldy food; they've been up here for a few weeks."

"So… that means…" Mikey said.

"That Leo hasn't been eating…" Raph finished.

Donnie nodded. "And he hasn't been sleeping either. His bed had a fine layer of dust on when I grabbed the blanket. Plus, he's been training for weeks on end."

"He's probably exhausted!" Mikey cried, eyes wandering around the room.

"And we really haven't been helping," Raph said, face grim.

Once again, Donnie nodded his head. "He's physically, emotionally, and mentally weak. No wonder he fell apart."

"Maybe we should try to help him more, and, you know, lay off him a bit," Mikey proposed.

Raph nodded. "That's a good idea."

Donnie smiled. "Okay. So, Mikey. I want you to help me clean up Leo's room. Raph, can you go watch him, make sure he's okay while he's sleeping? I don't think he'll wake up any time soon, but still. I want to be sure…"

Raph swiftly left the room, smiling slightly at Mikey's complaints of "But why do I have to help clean up?"

Raph went back to the living room and grabbed a chair, seating himself by Leo's head.

It was then that he finally got a good look at his brother.

Leo was the same age as the rest of them, but he acted so mature beyond his years. He always took the responsibilities that no one wanted, and the ones that he didn't think anyone else should have.

He was dedicated, loving, strict, and even fun to be around. Sometimes he could be funnier than Mikey, which was really saying something.

"I'm sorry, bro," Raph said, watching Leo's chest rise and fall slowly. "I didn't mean what I said. I know we fight a lot and everything, but… I don't hate you. I don't like what you do, but that doesn't mean I don't like you. You're my big brother; I look up to you. And sometimes I get angry when you don't live up to the expectations that I want you to."

Leo's breath was slow and steady.

"Leo, you're my hero. And… I love you."

A single, hot tear fell from Raph's eye and landed on his knee. Quickly, he wiped it away, ashamed that he was crying. A green hand suddenly rested gently where the tear had landed. Raph looked up.

Leo was looking at him with those tired, brown eyes of his. There was understanding in them, something he had always been good at.

"I love you too," he managed to get out, tiredly.

Raph smiled and took Leo's hand in his own. They looked into one another's eyes, and at that moment, both knew everything would be okay. They both said it at the same time.

"I love you, bro."

TMNTTMNTTMNTTMNT

I don't think that this is my best chapter, but it works into the story so nicely, I had to put it in. And I've always loved the idea that Leo is so grief-stricken that he doesn't eat and runs himself ragged, therefore making his condition so much worse.

Tell me what you think! Please? *puppy dog eyes*