A/N- Managed to squeeze an update in before I go back to Uni tomorrow! I had Martin Garrix 'In the Name of Love' playing on repeat while I edited this chapter (obsessed with that song atm) and thought it fit quite well. This chapter is a little angsty, very dramatic, and heavily focused on our blue-banded pair, which I think we needed after all the crap they've been through. Found it quite difficult to edit since my original draft was a little cheesey but I hope I've managed to make it a little more serious and not cliché :) Anyway, enjoy, and I'll hopefully see you next week xxx Happy reading!

14. Fleeting Reunion

Venus wasn't completely aware of when the fight started, only regaining her senses when she suddenly found herself lying back on the floor; she didn't have the strength to hold herself up. The icy scream of metal against metal pierced through her ears as she looked up, finding Leo surrounded but still fighting, seemingly in complete control. A new appreciation came upon her for the leader in blue; as a leader, he was completely in tune to his team, knowing everyone's strengths and weaknesses. But it was in moments like these that his own skills were truly demonstrated. His speed, agility, and strength perhaps on their own weren't as developed as his brothers, but Leonardo had the perfect combination of all three which created a formidable force of balance, especially when added to his incredibly high level of awareness. And in this moment in particular, Leo seemed to anticipate every single move the Foot made against him. He ducked as a blade swept across behind him while extending his leg to land a sharp kick into another's chest. He swept his other leg straight after to catch a soldier running at him before spinning to dodge a spear before leaping up and catching the soldier's wrist with his blade.

The fight was fast-paced and short, and Venus was enthralled by it. It distracted her from the pain still lancing through her body as she kept her hand tightly squeezed against the wound in her side. She was vaguely aware of a couple soldiers who attempted to reach her but a growl from Leo as he swiftly moved to strike them kept her focus on the turtle before her. She pondered on his previous words; 'You know why'. Did she? Could she dare hope? In this moment, the moral agreement she had made to appease Splinter and keep the family in peace seemed very difficult to keep. The skill before her caught something within her, something she hadn't realised previously; it made her feel warm and very much alive, far away from the reality of the situation she was currently in. She could almost smile at how effortless the conflict playing before her eyes seemed, but she would not get to witness the end of the fight. A prod of pain caused her to cry out involuntarily as her hand clenched tighter at her side. She grasped at her skin, breaking her focus on the battle before her to stare at the wound. She could see her hands trying to stop the bleeding, and she could feel the hot liquid seeping through her fingers, mingling with the tepid rainfall, but it was as if she was far away from the situation, looking upon it but not actually experiencing it.

A silence came upon the rooftop before hurried, splattering footfalls rushed towards her. Her shoulders were lifted up slightly from the ground and she felt something soft against the back of her shell. Venus blinked rapidly, returning to the present with gentle force, the movement seemingly relieving some of the pain she felt. Above her she found Leo's battle-weary face, droplets of rain managing to find his chin despite his mask. She realised she was now resting on his thighs and wanted nothing more than to curl up against his plastron and sleep. But necessity kept her awake. She kept her eyes locked on his and saw the fear flooding them. It was an emotion that didn't suit their leader.

"Why are you panicking so much?" she asked, a small smile accompanying the question. She needed him to remain calm. "I've been injured before."

"Not like this." 'Not without Donny or someone else being here to help. Not when it's just the two of us. Not when I can't do anything to help you.'

The severity in his voice caught Venus by surprise, and it seemed to have lowered an octave, sounding deeper than even Raphael's. She shifted herself slightly, trying to ease another wave of pain, trying to break from the comforting warmth that Leo's body was providing, urging her to go to sleep and escape the nightmare she was currently living.

"Well, there's a first time for everything."

She was rewarded with a fleeting smile before Leo looked away again. She lifted her head to see yet more ninjas standing above their fallen comrades. Immense pride welled in her chest as she realised Leonardo had managed to dispatch with the first group in very little time and with very little bloodshed; killing didn't suit him, and his ability to disarm and knockout his opponents with very little injury had only improved over the years. However, fear spiked through her as she realised she hadn't sensed the second group coming, a sign of her exhaustion, and in that moment she was glad she had continued to teach Leo Qigong.

Leo immediately moved, his need to get up contradicting with his need to be gentle with Venus, causing an unbearable tension in the air. Her head was gently lowered out of his lap as he stood, swords suddenly drawn before he charged. Venus managed to roll herself over a little so that she wasn't lying on her back. There were more soldiers this time, and she knew that the pair of them needed to leave. Now.

Gritting her teeth, Venus rolled over again to be on her stomach before beginning to push herself up off of the floor. She got to her knees when a solider charged towards her. She went to draw her sword when she remembered it was back April's, hidden under the couch she slept on. Helplessness gripped her when Leo suddenly stepped in front and swiped with his own sword, causing the assailants to fall back as he immediately went to attack another.

"Stay down, Venus." He stated between gritted teeth as he kept fighting. Venus ignored him, slowly rising to her feet. He turned and growled. "Stay down!"

Leo's growl only made Venus more determined, fuelling the anger she felt.

"No." She replied, and set her legs in a strong stance. She set her palms in front of her, willing the energy within herself to project from her body outwards. "Leonardo."

Her quiet call caught Leo's attention and he saw her stance. He frowned slightly until he felt an electricity in the air but not from the lightning. He used the hilt of his sword to knock out his opponent before rushing over to Venus. She jerked her head to signal that he should stand to the left, behind her slightly, and he complied, very aware of the soldiers now rushing towards them. He looked to see Venus' face screwed up in concentration and knew that he should trust her, but the Foot were just getting too close for his liking. He drew his swords ready when a flash lit up his vision. He blinked to find a translucent blue wall in front of them, stretching a few metres high, from side to side of the rooftop. It was beautiful, the lightning giving it the appearance of stained glass while it practically hummed with energy. Leonardo stood with wide eyes open; he could feel the warmth from the wall, the buzz of its energy, almost encouraging him to touch it. The soldiers had frozen before it on the other side, clueless and confused. One roared and ran at it, pointing his sword at the wall. Leo pointed his own but the solider merely knocked himself out, the collision of his head against the wall causing a faint knock against the shield as Venus flinched slightly. 'Did she feel that?' Leo wondered before realisation hit him. 'This is what she has been trying to master all these months. This is her shield, which means she was telling the truth. She has achieved Quintessence. She can come home!' Leo practically grinned as more of the soldiers attempted to break through the shield, their strikes useless against the power Venus was wielding. Pride and awe swelled in his chest, even as he saw her wince every time they hit the 'glass'. But what she did next completely blew him away.

Screwing her face up even more, Venus clenched her fists and Leo could see the muscles in her arms tensing. Curiosity gnawed at him until he felt a pulse thrum through the air that set his teeth on edge. He turned his head to see the soldiers before them be pushed back by an invisible force, practically flying across the roof and some off the edge. Leo simply stared ahead, stunned by what he had just seen. He turned to see Venus' face more relaxed and guessed she was now trying to release the shield when she suddenly pitched forward. The shield shattered, its fragments fading as soon as they hit the ground, falling around their creator. Venus twisted to find one last soldier who had obviously remained hidden behind her. He carried no weapon and went to charge again, a roar tearing through his throat. Venus raised her arm before Leo's katana reached the man first.

Her chest heaved as the kick to the back of her shell reignited the pain in her side. She winced as Leo helped her up, throwing her arm over his shoulder. They needed to get off the rooftop. The pair began running, Leo practically pulling Venus across the gap that lay between them and the next building. He then reached into his belt and called Donny, keeping Venus moving despite the burning in her legs from her practical marathon earlier that night.

"Leo? What is it? I'm kinda busy here!"

Leo snorted at his brother's impatient tone, hearing the clash of weapons in the background.

"No kidding. Patch the guys in will you Donny?"

He heard some indistinguishable muttering before two beeps sounded in his ear.

"DONNY, NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR A PHONE CALL!"

"Yeah bro, I'm tryna kick some Foot-butts."

Leo chuckled at Raph and Mikey's answers, the sound of battle in their backgrounds too.

"Sorry guys, I asked him to."

"Leo? This better be important."

"Everything I say is important Raph. I am your leader."

"Woah, he's lightened up a bit," Mikey commented, making Venus smile. "You get hit with some happy serum or something?"

"Not exactly-"

"Leo, no offense but I am currently trying to fight off about 10 Foot soldiers so do you think you could hurry up." Donny snapped, and Leo could hear the weariness in his voice.

"I found Venus."

"No wonder he's happy," Mikey mumbled. "Are you serious? Is she there with you?"

Leo tilted the phone slightly so that Venus could answer.

"I'm here Mikey."

"Woah, Shinobi are you okay? Your voice seems a little…raspy."

Venus chuckled slightly at his choice of words before a twinge in her side stopped her. "It's been a rough night, and we're currently sprinting across the eastern quarter."

"Let me guess, you and Leo found some of these Foot-bozos as well," Raphael grunted, obviously attacking another assailant.

"You could say that."

"Don't they just made wonderful party-hosts?" Mikey quipped.

Venus was about to laugh again when she let out a sharp wince; she was gaining a stitch from the sprint and it was beginning to severely aggravate her wound. Leo suddenly took full possession of the phone again, stopping for a moment to give the shinobi a little respite.

"Donny, Venus has got a nasty knife wound to her left side. It's going to bleed out very slowly if it doesn't get bandaged up."

"I've got the usual supplies on. But how am I going to get to you?"

"All three of you, listen: you can track me using your cells. We need to commune on one rooftop so that we can fight as a team. It's our best chance. It doesn't matter if your 'playmates' follow you. We just need to stand together and battle as a team. Okay?"

"Aye chief!"

His brother's hung up on him, their last remark causing yet another smile. Despite their disagreements, despite their messing around and goofing off, his brothers always managed to come through for him. Leo turned to smile at Venus, only to find her pale and silent. He immediately froze and grabbed her shoulders. She could barely stand and her eyelids were drooping.

"Venus? Venus!"

He shook her slightly before she dropped to the floor. Leo caught her in his lap, kneeling on the floor. He placed a palm on her cheek and tapped it slightly, willing her eyelids to stay open.

"Venus! Look at me Venus. I am not going to lose you. Look at me!"

Venus' eyes suddenly flew open, her chest heaving. 'Did she just have a fit?' Leo wondered, thankful she was awake and seemingly aware of her surroundings again. She suddenly caught his cheek with her hand.

"I see you!" She cried before softening her tone after seeing the complete and utter panic in Leo's eyes. "I see you."

"What happened?"

"I think the shield must have taken more out of me than I thought," she replied, a faint smile ghosting her lips.

Leo sighed, grabbing onto her hand.

"Listen, as amazing at that was, you can only do it in desperate circumstances. Do you understand me?"

"Leo, I will use my skills when I deem necessary-"

"Not if it means you have to sacrifice yourself to do it!" Leo cried, his sudden outburst catching Venus by surprise and causing her to drop her hand away. Suddenly in his face she saw emotion so raw and unguarded that she almost wanted to look away. In that moment, Leonardo bared all to her; his fear, his anger and stress, but also his compassion and love. All his weaknesses were laid exposed before her, stark and naked in front of her very eyes. And it was something she would never be able to un-see, something she could never forget. "I cannot lose you again. Not for a third time."

Venus frowned. "Leo, I was only taken tonight."

He looked directly into her eyes and she had to stifle a gasp; his were dark, the darkest she'd ever seen them, stormy yet glistening. She could sense regret washing over him but was unsure why.

"I lost you the night I let you leave our home and move in with April. I wasn't strong enough to speak against your decision, your…sacrifice. And I will never forgive myself for that weakness."

'He still thinks I left so that we could both train without distractions,' Venus realised, both thankful and bitter. Splinter would have a lot of explaining to do one day.

She lifted her hand again to his cheek and he pressed into it, appreciating its comfort.

"I'm not going anywhere, you hear me? I'm staying right here."

Leo closed his eyes against her palm, his emotions becoming covered again. He had a hand either side of her waist and for a moment the pair were still, simply holding each other. The pull of sleep ever tugged at Venus but she resisted; she couldn't relax until she was no longer a burden, and that meant at least waiting for the others.

The rainfall hadn't softened and now hammered down on the two terrapins, soaking their skin while lightning slashed across the sky, signalling the arrival of a growl of thunder. Both could feel the rumbling in their very bones, causing tiny goose-bumps on their skin. Venus tore her gaze from Leo's face to look just behind him when another flash of lightning illuminated the scene before her. Leo opened his eyes, feeling someone watching them before he heard Venus gasp. He twisted round to find Karai perched on the roof edge, her green eyes electric and alive with anticipation. Leo set Venus back down on the floor, allowing her to sit up as he drew his sword. Agreement or not, Karai had crossed the line.

"Still going Venus? I would have thought you would be long gone by now, since it took such a long time for any of your family to rescue you."

"Enough Karai. We both know it is not the plan to kill Venus." Leo thundered, his anger growing with every word this woman, a woman he had trusted and even considered a friend, spat from her lips.

"Not yet anyway."

Leo growled before charging, bringing his katana down hard, only to be met by Karai's tanto.

"What does Shredder want with Venus?" He roared, stepping back as Karai released from the lock-hold.

"And wouldn't you like to know Leonardo?" Karai retorted, bitterness tingeing the comment.

"Oh," Leo smirked, "so you don't know?" Karai flinched before raising her blade. "Your father doesn't trust his only child with his 'big plan'? You are yet again just doing the dirty work for him, are you?"

"My Master will do as he pleases," Karai defended, sending a series of kicks towards Leo before swinging the blade across his chest. He quickly flipped to dodge it. "It is not my place to ask about his business. Nothing demands that he tell me anything."

"And yet the path of Bushido dictates that you honour our contract," Leo spat, aware of Venus struggling to sit upright on her own. He pointed his sword towards his adversary. "I trusted you Karai. You promised you would not harm my family as long as we didn't directly try and hunt the Shredder."

Karai ran forward and caught the blade with her own, twisting Leo's arm behind his back. Her laugh struck him unawares.

"As I explained to your friend here earlier, you always said 'stay away from my brothers, stay away from my sensei'. But what about her?" She tightened her grip on his arm, holding him in place, resting her blade against his neck. The position forced him to look at a struggling Venus, her skin growing paler with each lightning strike that illuminated the scene. He could see the bags under eyes, the bruises lining her arms and plastron, the angry welts ringing her wrists. He felt anger surge through him again and he desperately tried to look away from the consequences of his failures. He had done this; out of fear he had allowed Venus to walk away all those months ago, allowing this to happen to her, someone who had done so much for his little family, and this was how he repaid her. He twisted his head again but Karai's hold locked him in place, forcing him to look at Venus. The fury he had felt in the warehouse bubbled in his chest. He may have allowed this suffering to happen to Venus, but the creature currently behind him had orchestrated it.

He gave a sharp tug, the blade nicking into his neck. He could feel the smirk on Karai's face while he struggled, desperate to turn away. Venus locked eyes with him before glaring at Karai, who let out a small laugh before questioning Leo, making sure Venus could hear every word she said:

"Where does she fit in, Leonardo? What is she to you?"

The fury spiked, and Leo twisted out of her grip, ignoring the searing pain in the side of his neck as he sent a kick into the kunoichi's stomach, pushing her back, impulse seizing him.

"EVERYTHING!"

The roar, although indistinguishable, was definitely Leo's, and it made his brothers pause in their individual sprints. It was a sound they rarely heard from their leader; he seemed unaccustomed to such rage. But Raphael quickly recognise the frustration and the pain in the shout; his brother had just been injured in some way, and was clearly desperate to finish the fight, whether for just his own sake, or for Venus' as well. Sensing the urgency of the situation, the hothead began sprinting again, seeing flashes of orange and purple whenever lightning struck as he got closer to their aimed for location. They each arrived on different buildings surrounding the roof top. They could see the pale form of Venus limply sat next to an air vent whilst their brother was embroiled in a vicious combat against a true 'frenemy' of theirs. They'd arrived just in time.

Venus sat stunned, not believing what she'd heard. 'It was just a spur of the moment. I am not everything. I cannot be everything. His brothers, his father…'

Her thought were suddenly cut off when a large form suddenly ploughed straight into Karai, causing her to fly across the rooftop before landing in a perfect crouch. Raphael stood next to his brother, glaring at the kunoichi, a slightly smaller form jumping down behind Karai, flailing his nunchuks to push her back towards the centre. A tap on Venus' shoulder made her jump and she turned to find a purple banded turtle with brown eyes next to her.

"It's alright Venus, we're here. Where are you wounded?"

Hearing the urgency in his voice, Venus twisted slightly to show Donatello the knife wound to her side. He frowned at it, placing a hand on her shoulder when she winced.

"You're looking pretty pale, so you've obviously lost a bit of blood, but being as you are still awake and seemingly sane I don't think it's enough to get so worried about." He smiled slightly, trying to quell the flashback surging through both their minds. Venus and blood loss didn't go well together. "I've got some bandages but they'll only do the job temporarily. You need to get to the lair."

Venus nodded, knowing that in this state she was useless and more importantly a burden. The sooner she was out of the way, the sooner the guys could focus on the fight and get out themselves.

Donny took a length of cloth out from his belt, managing to wrap it round Venus' middle twice before tying it tight

"Thank you Donny," Venus mumbled, aware of her painfully dry throat. She received a nod back.

"Mikey! Get Venus back to the lair! Splinter can help with her wound."

"Roger that!" Mikey cried, back-flipping all the way across the rooftop to get to the pair.

"Show-off," Donny mumbled before charging into the fray.

Venus smiled as Mikey winked at her as he helped her up and led her towards the fire-escape.

"Wait!"

Venus turned to find Leo running after them, leaving Donny and Raph to deal with Karai. He grabbed her hands when she gasped the gash on his neck.

"Leo-"

"It's fine. Don can patch me up in a bit once I know you're safe. I just-"

"Leo, I'll be fine."

"But-"

"You are needed here. No doubt more Foot Ninja will arrive soon."

"I don't want to leave you."

"You're not, I'm leaving you." Venus retorted, earning a snort from Mikey but a look of death from Leo. She shook her head before grabbing Leo's shoulders. "Leo, you are needed here. Mikey will drop me back at the lair and then come straight back, but you need to get back over there now. Don't worry about me; get your head in the game. Don't get distracted, stay focused on your mission here."

"Our mission was to find you."

"And you have. Now get over it and realize that right now your brothers need you, not me. I cannot distract you, Leo. You mustn't let me. Please."

Leo was taken aback by Venus' stern tone but as looked back to see Don and Raph completely unaware of the Foot now beginning to surround them, he realised that she was right; he needed to focus. He turned to nod at Venus before running back into the fray.

Mikey began to support Venus again, leading her away from the fight.

"Well that wasn't awkward at all," he snorted.