Raphael kept his arms folded as he watched April and Leo get strapped into those awful chairs. The helmets made him uneasy. The way Leo held little regard for his own life made his stomach queasy. The low odds, the weird machine, April and Leo looking as if they were going through a public execution… it all made him sick. He knew he couldn't change their minds. If he was in Leo's place, if someone he loved so deeply was in Donnie's situation, he wouldn't stop at anything to get them back. It was the whole reason why he stood by. It was why he dug his fingers into his palm so tight that he could feel the sting of his nails digging into flesh. Silently he screamed. He cried inside of his head sounding like a scared little turtle that just wanted his big brother to make the monster under the bed go away. He had to stay strong though, so, for the first time in his life he prayed. Prayed to a god he didn't know was there, begging for his brothers to be returned to him alive. That prayer repeated in his mind as he watched Mikey give Leo a final word. He quietly waited for his baby brother to finish and come to his side where he belonged. He flinched when Mikey reached up a hand and rested it on his shell.

Mikey didn't say anything, only stood beside Raph, hand on his back in silent solidarity. They didn't know what was going to happen. They had no inkling as to how this was supposed to work. It was all up to some crazy machine, the head of a android, a monkey mutant with the ego the size of Manhattan, and two people they dearly loved.

Rockwell then began to count.

"3…"

Raph felt Mikey tense.

"...2…"

He unfolded his arms. Mikey's hand left his back. They fumbled their fingers together to hold hands.

"...1."

They squeezed in anticipation as the machine was started. There were no sparks like with half the stuff Donnie made. It was silent as the air. Raphael breathed twice. A funny thing to remember, his lungs expanding once, then again, before April shrieked. Her fingers spasmed as her body tried to jump against the restraints. Leonardo screamed along with her, his toes curled as his body locked as if he was being electrocuted.

Raph watched with large eyes as Mikey shouted for their brother. All he could do was hold onto Mikey's hand in a crushing grip. He could hear Casey shouting for April. The human went to rush forward. That was when Raph let go of his little brother in favor of grabbing Casey. His best friend struggled against him, shouting over the screams. No matter how much Casey yelled at him to release him, to go and help them, he couldn't. Something inside of him twisted harder than ever making him want to vomit as he realized that he was actually remembering a lesson from Donnie; "If someone is being electrocuted, don't grab them! You'll fry too!"

Then something happened. Something he didn't know how to describe. April stopped screaming, her eyes white as her hair floated freely around her as if she was in water. While Leo… he… It was as if Leo fell back, as he did a darkness was cut into sight. The slashed opening widened at least six feet. It seeped a glowing substance that coated the edge.

Was it… was it bleeding?

His grip on Casey loosened. The punk, having been using Raph's grip for support fell forward onto his knees. Everyone stared at what was there. It was like a Kraang Portal only black. Inside was Leo trying to gather himself.

"Leo?" Raph called out. Could his brother even hear him?

He went to take a step towards it only to be halted by a hand on his shoulder. He looked over and up to see his father. He turned his attention back. Leo was now sitting up, looking over his shoulder at them but he was sideways, almost as if he was stuck on a wall. Just as he was confused himself Leo displayed his own curiosity trying to figure out what had happened. It was a brief moment as the next he was struggling to get up and move. Once he was on his feet he ran away from them deeper into the darkness leaving on a faint trail of light behind.

"A physical breach. That was unexpected." Honeycutt broke the silence.

"What do you mean?!" Raph yelled.

"The machine was designed to help pull Donatello's molecules together from the surrounding environment while Leonardo simply ushered your brother's essence back to his physical body."

"MEANING?!" Raph stormed over to the head of the professor.

"Meaning you should have seen at most Donatello's body being reassembled and he would breathe or not." Rockwell grunted as he got close to the portal. "This wasn't even a possible outcome. Somehow, combining their two abilities made a portal."

"Then we should go in after him! Help get Donnie back." Raph reached for his sai.

"I don't believe that would be a good idea." Rockwell turned a sour expression to the young turtle.

"I'm afraid he is a right, Raphael." Honeycutt's soothing tone called for attention. "If you would observe the edges, the portal is slowly closing. Going into an unknown space, not knowing where you are to go, you could be lost forever."

"I wouldn't be alone! Leo'll be there, we could find Donnie together."

"What if that is not the outcome that you anticipate?"

"So what?! It beats waiting here and-"

"Raphael!" Splinter barked. "That is enough!"

"But-"

"I said, enough!"

Raph went quiet. All he could do was wait.

It felt longer than it actually took. The worry and anticipation warped his sense of time taking a few minutes and stretching them until it felt like he had been waiting for an hour. He couldn't look away as the portal slowly stitched itself back together. It looked as if it was pulling itself by little ropes of that strange glowing substance making it smaller each time it did. He wanted to go in there, find Leo, help him get back their brother. But, as he shifted his weight from foot to foot, his father watched him. Made him wait. Wait out the long distance of time with slim hopes. The less he did the more he felt time stretch. It wasn't boredom that ate at him, it was the feeling of uselessness. He was sidelined all because he couldn't do something to help. It made his skin itch and his heart feel heavy.

What broke him out of his lull and rocked him forward onto his toes was Mikey. His baby brother had been pacing but suddenly stopped. His wide eyes narrowed as he looked at the darkness inside the portal. Without a word he pulled out his chucks.

"What is it?" Raph looked into the darkness in the shrinking portal.

"Something big, bro. Something big and mean." He started to whirl his chucks.

Taking his lead Raphael unsheathed his sai. He felt his fingers slip into familiar chambering. His muscles bunched, coiling in anticipation to move at any moment. He felt his heart beat in his throat. It took a few seconds but then he could see it. Something coming quickly towards them. The speed was as fast as a racing truck, barrelling forward. He braced himself for whatever it was to be shot out at him only to witness Leonardo and Donatello coming out of the portal at an awkward side angle. The force they should have been shot out with instantly dissipated. They fell down onto the chair Leonardo had been strapped to, tumbling down to the ground.

Next there was an eruption of limbs, long and distorted like pulled shadows. A deep cut in the black body leaked light that screamed like a radio station of static turned up to impossible volume.

"Close it! CLOSE IT!" Mikey shouted as he and Raphael blindly launched themselves at the creature.

Claws flailed in every direction trying to gain purchase. It was only their rigorous training that kept the ninja from getting caught. Mikey's natural agility allowed him to dodge while striking out with his chucks. The hard impact of wood and metal on pitch black arms yielded little damage. He took the risk to glance over to his brother to see how he was fairing. It was a risk that he shouldn't have taken. It left him open for the thumb of one of the grotesque hands to pierce completely through his left shoulder. He screamed as the hand closed, lifting him up. His shout of pain created a domino effect. Raphael looked over to see the trouble his brother was in only to have claws rake over the right side of his face. They dug in deep, ripping down, easily opening the thin flesh of eyelid and lips. He reared back, a hand going to his injury. His shouting only got louder when the claw came down upon him again tearing into arm and shoulder. He barely noticed Slash and Leatherhead both feeling the claws lash against them like the spiked tongues of a cat o' nine tails.

Rockwell worked quickly turning the machine off. The eery glow of April's eyes died away to slowly allow her natural eyes to become visible before they rolled back and she fell unconscious. The portal quickly sealed itself closed severing the limbs. The arms continued to writhe as they dissipated into smoke.

Raph stared at the spot with his one good eye, blood running down his face and side. It seemed eerily quiet now despite the hastened voice of his father. "They're bleeding out! Help me! Hurry!" Everything seemed still even with Mr. O'Neil, Rockwell, Casey and Splinter rushing to aid the wounded. It was strange. The stillness he was experiencing was difficult to explain, but he could identify it. It was the feeling of a false ending. Something more was to come.

"I can use my ability to stanch Donatello and Leonardo." Rockwell quickly used his telekinesis to seal and put pressure on the large lacerations and gaping bloodied holes that revealed bone in places where shell used to be. He was careful to levitate them up, putting full concentration on his fellow mutants. "They need immediate medical attention."

Leo watched the water below. It pushed and pulled in quiet waves that washed in and out of shore. The sound of it lapping against the dock's legs was soft with the occasional loud plunk. Lights from the harbor reflected off the inky black sea. His mind was as listless as the water below. He felt as if there was nothing else he could do except participate in this endless push and pull of a life. Train, fight, few days of peace. Train, fight, few days of peace… all repeating like a broken record. He had thought going to the surface would be grand. That their lives would get better after discovering the wonders of the world. Instead they were constantly on the run, continuously fighting, fighting crime, fighting for their friends, fighting for their lives. The days when nothing happened he has found himself tense waiting for something to ruin the quiet. Recently, things had been slow. No alien invasion, no turf wars between gangs. His source of stress now was from home. He had found himself stealing glances at Donnie, watching him closely when April came over, calculating his reactions and… getting jealous of them. Seeing him laugh with her, put his arms around her; it cut deep. It ripped into him leaving a screaming void of despair. He had grown more depressed, seeking solitude in hopes to deal with his situation only… he would wallow in it. Feel it festering into a rot. He felt like an infected wound that was only getting worse, worse because he couldn't reach out to Donnie.

He was helpless!

Powerless!

He- How was he supposed to talk to Donnie about that moment in the barn? When Donnie gave him that little kiss. How was he supposed to tell his brother, his BROTHER, that he could still remember the feeling of surprisingly silken lips, of a tender touch while he was handed his crutches, of his stomach winding up with the beat of his heart.

How-

A strange sensation raked over his skin. He put a hand over his mouth as he started to feel sick.

"You know, sometimes… I like to come here and just look at the water. The lights from the ships out there… the harbor itself, it's like the water catches the lights making a star filled sky right below my feet."

The leader closed his eyes as he took in a deep breath as Donnie spoke, the sickness washing away leaving behind knowledge of things to come.

He never wanted to forget that voice, the precious sound, the feel it gave him that everything will be alright.

He could feel his brother taking a seat beside him on the old, flaking wood. "I wouldn't go swimming too far out though. I think this is the spot I threw that cursed dagger into the ocean from."

Leo stayed silent, looking over to his brother. Was this really happening again? Another moment in time he was reliving?

Donnie's gaze roamed over his face, brows pushed up in concern. "Are you feeling okay, Leo? You've been… well you've been acting funny recently."

"Funny?" He pushed it out in a breath. Why was this happening again? How many times would he have this happen? How many times would he be so close to his brother only to have him ripped away once more? How many times would he have to fix things until they were right? Until Donnie was safe… He felt his eyes prickle with tears, the wind brushed up behind him pulling the tails of his mask over his shoulder. All he wanted was for Donnie to be safe and sound.

"Leo…" Donatello hushed, leaning over. He raised a hand, his knuckle brushing over a forest green cheek. "...you're crying."

Leo's hand came up, fingers feeling the coarse fabric used to wrap wrist. Memories of Donatello's eyes begging for him to let go, to let it all end came flooding forward. Donnie had wanted to die. His brother wanted…. His Donnie...

His shoulders began to shake as the tears pearled down.

"Leo?" Donnie's touch left him, tender eyes filling with concern.

The leader wrapped his arms around the genius. He squeezed him tight as he gritted his teeth. His brother inquired after him once more even when he returned the embrace, his voice more worried than ever.

"Leo… you're starting to really worry me." He rubbed gently at Leonardo's shell. It felt good, reassuring.

Donatello was alive and warm in his arms. He had goals, desires, a passion for life. He slid a hand to the back of Donnie's head. His brother allowed him to guide his head to shoulder, he -himself- buried his beak into the crook of Donatello's neck.

His breath was as hot as his tears when he said, "Let me hold you, just let me hold you."

Donnie only tightened the embrace as he felt helpless. Then he whispered, "I'm here for you, Leo. I always will be… Don't forget it, okay?... I'm here… right here."

The warmth of his brother's arms, his breath, it dulled down into a numbness. He kept his eyes closed, his consciousness barely pulling forward out of a realm he still couldn't understand. Thoughts slowly picked themselves up to wander aimlessly. The sensation of feeling ebbed in waves giving him small bits of information as it came before washing away. It made him aware of something around his beak making breathing different, not difficult but different. Something put a spot of pressure in his arm making it feel stiff. He tried to move his arm only to find difficulty. It was as if his body did not want to respond to his commands. He decided to try something easier, twitch his fingers. It took a great deal of effort to move them even a little bit almost as if he was breaking off dried, caked on mud. Once they moved, he flexed his fingers with more ease creating a tingling sensation that ran up his arm. It was a feeling he was familiar with, he got it a lot when he didn't move during meditation for a long time. All he had to do was slowly work himself, limb by limb and he'd be able to get up off the dojo floor and see what his brothers were up to. Mikey would be in front of the TV no doubt, Raph probably would be punching the practice dumby or reading a comic, Donnie would-... Donnie would…

Memories came rushing forward swarming over him like thousands of crawling bugs. Panic stormed through him making his heart suddenly race and his breath pant.

He had gotten Donnie! But Donnie was hurt! He needed help! He-

"Calm down, calm down." A familiar voice soothed.

"D-" Leo tried to speak only to have his throat alight with pain. He tried to clasp at his throat but was stopped by a human hand. His eyes pried open a sliver, blurred light filtering in

"Shh, shh. You're fine Leonardo and so is your brother. Let's get you sitting up so you can drink some water, eh?"

Leo started to raise but not by the aid of a hand. He was unfamiliar with it. Leo's blurry vision made his eyes hurt. Everything was too bright. Now sitting up he could barely make out the humanoid shape in front of him.

"Kurtzmen?" His voice scratched so hard he was certain his throat was now bleeding. It was muffled too, why was he muffled?

"Yep." The journalist pulled an oxygen mask off of Leo's beak and brought a plastic cup up to Leonardo's lips. "Drink slowly. Slow… there we go."

The room temperature water felt like a cool fresh spring to him. It soothed the burning in his throat and satisfied a dry thirst he wasn't aware he had. Once the last drop was drank his oxygen mask was resituated.

"I'll give you some more in an hour. Don't need you getting sick off of it after just waking up."

Leo tried to look around the room. His neck felt stiff and all he could make out were large blobs of color that were mostly washed out due to the bright light.

"Donnie?" Leo raised a hand to shield his eyes.

"Right beside you… are the lights bothering you?"

"Y-yeah."

"Let me get them." Kurtzmen left Leo's side.

The turtle squinted and tried to see where Donatello was only to have his vision too compromised. When the light was turned off a pressure released in his eyes. He blinked several times in relief. In a hospital bed next to him, too far for him to reach was Donatello. He was laying on his plastron, a tube fed through his nose and taped down. He was hooked up to an IV and little wires that made a machine next to him beep. Leo didn't like the rail that was obscuring Donatello's face from his view.

"How is it now?" Kurtzmen asked from across the room.

"Better." Leo wasn't lying. He could see better even though things were still a little blurry but at least Donnie was clear. He was right there, breathing. He tried to move only to be lanced with pain. He winced, gritting his teeth. "W-Where are we?"

"Careful, careful." The human came up to his side. "Don't move just yet. You have a lot of stitches."

"I-I just want to be closer to him."

"I'll move the bed." He pressed a peddle at the base of the bed that unlocked its breaks. He pushed it closer, their beds now flush together. "As for where you are, it's an old part of Central Hospital. No one comes in here. I was able to pull a few strings and call in a lot of favors and I. to get the equipment and have this place to ourselves while you recover enough to move you back home."

"Thank you." The ninja really meant it. With this help he knew Donnie would be fine. Now all he had to do was get that pesky railing lowered.

Leo fumbled with the rail latch before he could lower it. He settled himself back down, his pain a dull throb as he took up his brother's hand. He was warm. Leo could feel the bones in Donnie's fingers. Now that he was closer he could see just how skinny he was. He was almost a skeleton. He could see the joints of his elbow and shoulder. His cheeks sunken in, even his eyes.

"He's um… he's not going to wake up for a while." Kurtzmen broke the quiet.

"Why?" Leo's thumb gently rubbed at the back of Donnie's hand.

"He's in a medically induced coma. We thought it the best considering his state. He has a higher rate of survival if he's kept asleep until the antibiotics do their job."

"Antibiotics?"

Kurtzmen pulled the chair he had once been sitting in closer. He pulled out his phone and sat down. He started typing on it. "I'm not the best person to answer all these questions. Journalism, I know. Uncovering conspiracies, right down my alley. Medical, not so much. But from what I understand, he had some infected injuries." He turned off his phone and set it to the side. "On top of that, the damage done to his shell, its too much for his system. Keeping him asleep while the medicine does its job and some time to heal, I believe he'll pull through."

"He will… He's always been the strongest out of all of us…" Leo didn't look away from his brother. He looked so small… "I'm guessing Rockwell is our physician?"

"He's doing the best he can. Donatello's surgery was hard on him, but as you can see, he did a good job in stopping the bleeding and closing him up."

Most of the olive turtle's features were bandaged or covered with a wire or tube. He would have to take the man's word for it.

Leo felt the siren song of sleep pull at him. He kept a hold of Donnie's hand as his eyes drifted close. He felt his bed lower and then a thin blanket pulled up to his chin.

"Get some sleep. You want me to wake you when your family comes? I had just texted them."

Leo nodded his answer but before he could answer verbally he was asleep.