Okay all, we are nearing the end, can you feel it? LOL actually this is the final chapter and then there will be an epilogue. (at least I am pretty sure. I am still trying to figure out the ending;)

Anyway as always a giant shout out of love and appreciation to my lovely and talented beta Amonraphoenix for beta reading this chapter, you are beyond awesome!

Also a giant thank you to my amazing reviewers Bring it, Kimmie98, Flamedragon242 and SleepingSeeker! Your support is very much appreciated!

And to Bring it, hopefully you can forgive Leo for his actions.

Chapter 21

Leonardo drove as if all the furies of a Greek tragedy were clawing at his back. His heart pounded painfully in his chest as dread sat like lead in the pit of his stomach.

The bike skidded to a stop as he looked at Raphael and Donatello's bikes sitting side by side, the house dimly lit from within like a beacon of doom beckoning against the darkness.

His phone rang and Leonardo nearly jumped out of his shell. He quickly answered his baby brother's call.

"Leo, where are you? Did you find Raph, and where is Donny? I can't get a hold of him" he asked in a rush of words.

"I'm at Katherine's, Donny and Raph are both here," he answered in a hushed voice.

There was terrified silence before a shaking word. "Leo..." Michelangelo's voice trailed off uncertainly.

"I'm going to try to see what I can do here. You head back to the lair."

"Are you sure?" Michelangelo asked in a small, worried voice which was followed by a faint noise. "Holly's calling on my other line," Michelangelo said suddenly.

"I've got this, Mikey," Leonardo lied. "They are fine and Raph and I need to talk..."

"Positive?" Michelangelo asked hesitantly.

"Yes. Don't worry, Mikey, everything's going to be fine," Leonardo said with false positivity.

"Okay then, if you're sure..." Michelangelo's voice trailed off again.

"Yeah, I am. Show Holly around the lair." Leonardo said coaxingly. "I've got to go." Leonardo hung up the phone and looked back at the house, swallowing roughly in trepidation. It was better that Michelangelo wasn't here, because he had no idea what he would find once inside. Best case scenario would be his brothers both badly beaten but alive, the worst case…his mind would not even allow himself to think such dark, horrific thoughts.

He leap from his bike and threw his helmet to the ground. Panic was riding along his skin like an icy charge of electricity. He didn't bother knocking as he stormed through the front door his breath catching in his throat as his eyes took in the horror of the foyer. Blood was smeared and splattered across the walls, the floor and even upon the ceiling. Donatello's broken bo was pinned to the wall with one of Raphael's sais. Raphael's other sai lay upon the stairs, it's prongs splattered in blood; the other half of Donatello's bo lay nearby, the broken end still dripping with crimson gore.

"Oh, God." He whispered in horror as the edges of Leonardo's vision grew dark as he realized that if his brothers were dead -if even one of them had been killed- then it would be all his fault.

He wanted to call out his brother's names, but his words stuck in his throat as his eyes fell upon a scrap of clothing. Leonardo bent down and picked up the blood soaked material. It was a scrap of the white dress that Katherine had been wearing earlier that day.

He couldn't breathe.

Katherine was obviously injured or maybe even dead, caught between Donatello and Raphael's violent fight.

He unsheathed both of his swords, not knowing what he would find beyond the foyer. He didn't want to know, but he knew that he had no choice.

The scrape of a chair from the kitchen caught his attention. He slowly made down the hallway, following the trail of splattered and smeared blood.

There was a muffled groan that had Leonardo running down the hall in panic. He skidded to a halt in the doorway of the kitchen his mind trying to process the scene set before him and failed.

"Damn it!" Raphael yelled, slamming down a hand of cards.

"Come on, Raphael, pay up." Katherine crowed grinning like a Cheshire cat as Raphael bent over and pulled off a sock, throwing it onto the table and leaving him only clothed in his underwear and one more sock. Rahael then reached out and poured a shot of some sort of liquor.

"You too, Donatello." Katherine encouraged as Donatello, who was bare-chested and only had a pair of pants on, stood a little unsteadily, pulling off his pants and throwing them into the center of the table, leaving him to slump back into his chair in only his underwear as well. Donatello reached over and took the shot that Raphael offered him, downing it in one gulp and grimacing in disgust.

"You too Kitten, you won, you get double the fun," Raphael said as he poured two shot glasses full of a light reddish pink liquid.

Katherine threw back both shots and smiled mischievously. "Your deal, Raphael. You boys had better pick up your game because I am winning." Katherine said with a grin. Katherine wore only her bra, but the rest of her body was obscured by the table.

Leonardo blinked a few times trying to process what was going on. The card players didn't acknowledge him or even seem to notice that he had just charged into the room.

Leonardo couldn't seem to get enough air into his lungs. His mind was obviously shielding itself from whatever atrocity had been committed in the kitchen and had instead imagined a playful scene rather than whatever horror was actually being displayed before his eyes.

His vision darkened around the edges as he took another step into the room. His foot slid a little and he looked down at the pool of blood he had stepped in. His eyes darted back to the table; Raphael grinning broadly, Katherine frowning in concentration while Donatello studied his two companions thoughtfully.

Leonardo's mind couldn't take it anymore and he felt his vision go black as he slumped to the floor.

He felt himself being hauled upright, voices talking around him.

"You owe me twenty bucks, Donny." Raphael's voice became clear.

"I can't believe he fainted!" Donatello said in disbelief. "It's Leo! And we're lucky he didn't smash his head into the floor."

Raphael chuckled. "He's fine, and I told you I could make him faint," Raphael said smugly as Leonardo felt himself placed into a hard wooden chair. "Wakey, wakey, Leo." Raphael said as Leonardo felt something strike his cheek.

Leonardo's eyes snapped open looking into the faces of his two brothers. "Here, drink this," Katherine gently prodded as she placed a crystal tumbler filled with an inch of golden brown liquid in his hands. Leonardo threw back the drink and nearly spit it out in disgust, only just managing to swallow the vile drink down. It burned its way down his throat before settling into a fiery ball in his stomach.

He panted slightly as he looked at his brothers and Katherine again. Donatello appeared unharmed but for a bruised and slightly swollen jaw. Raphael appeared fine as well with the exception of the injuries that Leonardo had inflicted earlier. Katherine appeared unharmed as well and wore a look on her face that he was unable to interpret. Irritation mixed with concern and humour maybe?

Leonardo closed his eyes. He was still dreaming, that was the only explanation for what was going on.

"Do I get forty bucks if he faints again?" Raphael asked as Katherine snorted and Donatello firmly stated 'No.'

"What...what's going on?" Leonardo managed to ask in a shaky voice.

"We're playing poker." Raphael stated simply. "Strip drinking poker. Don't know if it's a thing, but it was the best way we could think of to fight for Kitten's honour," Raphael informed him as Leonardo opened his eyes, looking back at Raphael who walked over and fell back into the chair he had been occupying only moments earlier.

"Kitten's honour?" Leonardo asked faintly, his mind struggling make sense of what was going on and failed to do so.

"Leo needs another drink," Raphael announced as he poured more of the vile golden brown liquid into the glass that was still clasped in his shaking hand. Leonardo tossed back the drink, needing the biting clarity the drink seemed to bring to his mind.

"I don't understand," Leonardo breathed softly.

"We needed to fight for Kitten's honour, sho it was pistols at dawn," Raphael said, his words becoming a little slurred. "Whoever wins gets Kitten."

"But we didn't have any pistols," Donatello put in helpfully. "Or swords."

"Hey, Leo has swords," Raphael said straightening slightly in his chair.

"Not dawn yet." Donatello pointed out as he slumped forward in his seat.

"Right," Raphael said in agreement. "So we are playing poker. An' Kitten is playing for herself, which doesn't make sense to me. Didn't really seem right...but whatever."

Leonardo looked at the three occupants of the room and came to the conclusion that either they were insane or he was. He took a deep breath the warmth of the alcohol filling is stomach, relaxing his muscles.

"Okay, Donny, deal Leo in, he needs to catch up. Take off your coat," Raphael said as he put four shot glasses in front of Leonardo, filling each with a clear liquid. "And throw your shirt and a s-sock into the pile."

Leonardo dragged his hands down his face. "What was with the...the blood and-and...I thought you had killed each other," Leonardo whispered miserably.

"Yeah well, if we had it would have been all your fault," Raphael's words were scathing.

Leonardo flinched at the statement, but accepted it as his due.

"But I'm gonna forgive ya for being a total ass," Raphael said graciously with only a hint of angry menace lacing his words. "I even forgave Donny," Raphael motioned to Donatello who nodded as he picked up the hand he had dealt himself, studying the cards in front of him intently.

Raphael picked up his own cards and studied them. "But you deserved a little payback and so did Donny," Raphael began as he looked over at Katherine who had also picked up her own cards and was frowning over them.

"So I bet Donny that I could make you faint. Donny didn't believe me. So I told him my plan and he still thought you would catch on. I mean, all that corn syrup looks like blood, but smells like sugar and takes forever to dry. We staged the whole thing. I won twenty bucks and got to mess with you," Raphael grinned broadly, pleased with himself. "Kitten even taped the whole fainting thing on her phone, so I can watch it over and over again." His grin broadened with mirthful glee.

"Think of that as my revenge for your 'sloppy seconds' remark," Katherine said with a slight smile. "Donatello is going to help me put it to music."

Leonardo looked blindly down at the two cards that had been dealt to him. His mind spun furiously. He felt as if he had been tossed into some sort or twilight zone. He made to reach for them but Raphael's hand clamped down on his own.

"You gotta strip and drink, then you get to play," Raphael said as he lifted his hand away.

"I don't want to play. Raph I..." he began but one look from his golden eyed brother's gaze silenced him.

"You're playin', Leo," Raphael hissed dangerously. "You...what's that word, Donny?" Raphael questioned.

"Sullied," Donatello said as he began to count his poker chips.

"Sullied Kitten's name. You know, all that honour crap you're always talkin' about. And you owe me an apology, so here's your apology; play," Raphael growled as Donatello looked at Leonardo expectantly.

"I can't," Leonardo said shaking his head back and forth and trying to blink back the tears that threatened to roll down his cheeks. He stood, pushing the chair back before falling to his knees in supplication; head bowed with shame, guilt and apology.

"Leo, get up," Raphael growled.

"No!" Leonardo shouted as he closed his eyes tightly, tears escaping to roll down his cold cheeks. "I'm sorry, Raph. So, so very sorry. I should never have done what I did. Even if you were guilty of what I accused you of, I should not have acted towards you with violence, and I should never have kicked you out of your home and our family."

"Leo," Raphael warned.

But Leonardo needed to speak. Raphael would not be allowed to just brush this all away with a poker game. Though he truthfully didn't understand how Raphael could even begin to forgive him, he knew it didn't matter; because he could never accept Raphael's forgiveness. There was in fact only one way that he could think of to assuage his honour against the crimes he had committed against his own brother.

"Raph, I behaved towards you in a dishonourable and unforgivable way. I can't-"

"Leo, shut up," Raphael ground out in irritation. "Sure you beat the shit outta me, but you wouldn't have if I hadn't of been such an ass or if I had of tried to fight back. And yeah, I lost a lot of blood, but I also didn't try to stop it 'cause I was too damn angry and hurt to bother. You said some mean stupid shit, but you know what, I've done the same damn thing to you. How many times I told you I hated you and wished you dead? How many times have I nearly killed you because I was pissed off? So you know what, we're good. So stop thinkin' about throwin' yourself on your sword for your stupid idea of honour and play the damn game!"

Leonardo felt as if he couldn't breathe, lungs bereft of air, heart clenching in grief. "I can't. I disowned you, accused you-" Leonardo's words were cut off as he was suddenly hauled upright.

Leonardo gazed into Raphael's molten amber gaze. "You couldn't disown me or kick me out if you tried," Raphael challenged. "You could hate me and I'd still be your brother and you'd still love me. As for kicking me out," Raphael shrugged. "I've got a new home." Raphael shot a glance at Katherine. "And if she can forgive me for what I did to her, then I can forgive you, okay?"

Leonardo was about to reply but was unceremoniously dumped back into his seat. Leonardo looked at Donatello for support but received none as Donatello was studiously studying his cards.

Leonardo closed his eyes in resignation; knowing when he had been beaten. He knew it would take a long time for him to forgive himself for what he had done, and he probably wouldn't be able to ever forgive himself or accept what he had done, but he was okay with that.

"Are you seriously playing strip poker for Katherine's hand in marriage?" he asked quietly.

Raphael and Donatello shrugged noncommittally. Leonardo's eyes sought out Katherine who was studiously ignoring all of them, her concentration firmly fixed on the cards in front of her.

He let out a defeated breath and shucked his coat and his boots; throwing his shirt and a sock into the pile of clothes in the middle of the table. He picked up the first shot and downed it with a grimace. He frowned heavily at what he believed to be tequila.

Leonardo didn't drink very often, the occasional dish of saki tended to be all he usually allowed himself. He downed the next shot of the foul drink. The fact that Raphael and Donatello were both drinking, was disturbing him slightly. Raphael had been sober for nearly two years, and Donatello never touched alcohol. This fact only convinced him that he was dreaming, and if he was he would rather stay within the dream than confront what existed in reality. He took the third shot as he peeked at his cards.

Katherine pulled the clothing from the table and threw it to the floor. His foggy brain briefly wondered how he was supposed to concentrate on the game, or anything for that manner when Katherine was only sitting in a bra. He frowned and ducked his head under the table. Katherine's bare legs were crossed and she still wore a pair of socks, but no underwear.

Leonardo sat up his mouth going dry as he looked at Katherine in shock. She gave him a smile and a flirtatious wink. Leonardo quickly looked down and picked up his last shot, not even noticing as the liquid burned its way down his throat.

Michelangelo had called his oldest brother back last night after arranging to meet with Holly. His brother had assured him that Raphael and Donatello were fine and that everything was fine, and although Leonardo's words had been suspiciously slurred, he hadn't had much chance to examine this as Holly had pulled up in front of him and exited her vehicle along with Katherine's mother. Holly had given a small smile and a shrug explaining that Katherine's mother had also wanted the 'tour' and Michelangelo had no choice but to comply. Of course he would admit to himself that he was still a little star struck when it came to Katherine's mother, who had been warm, funny and charming. She had even signed some of his Dark Cat memorabilia.

Whatever reservations she had about Michelangelo and his brothers seemed to have vanished, and before she left, Katherine's mother invited Michelangelo and the rest of his brothers to dinner on Friday at the penthouse.

He and Holly had driven out early in the morning, Holly having packed a few things so that she could stay with Katherine rather than at the penthouse. Michelangelo had been tempted to tell Holly about what had happened, but didn't want to air that little piece of dirty laundry and have her run away because she had discovered that his brothers were all insane.

Michelangelo looked over his shoulder at Holly who was rummaging around in the back of her SUV. He shrugged and ran up the porch not bothering to knock as he opened the door; throwing the bright morning light into the darkened foyer. His eyes widened in shock as he surveyed the blood stained walls in front of him.

He took a shaky step into the house and felt his shoulders slump with relief. The strong scent of corn syrup filled the air. He stepped into the foyer and brushed a finger through some of the fake blood. He had made up the stuff enough times to know what it looked and smelled like. It also didn't dry like blood did.

He looked around noticing the sai and bo pinned to the wall and the other half of the broken bo and the other sai. He frowned in confusion wondering why someone had dressed the foyer up like a house of horrors.

He shrugged striding into the kitchen, looking around the room in dismay. There were empty liquor bottles on the table, counter and floor, along with articles of clothing, a deck of cards and poker chips.

Michelangelo backed out of the kitchen and walked to the living room, and found it empty. He made his way back to the foyer and made his way upstairs, taking them two at a time.

With the amount of alcohol that had been consumed, someone or a few someone's were going to be hurting very badly this morning. Michelangelo smiled mischievously intending on waking his brother up in a very loud and unpleasant manner.

He checked the first spare bedroom and then the other, finding them both empty he frowned and made his way to Katherine's bedroom.

He opened the door into the brightly lit room.

Jumbled on the bed were too many bodies with too many limbs all tangled together in a mess of sheets and missing clothing.

Michelangelo blinked a few times and shook his head before pulling back and closing the door. "I don't want to know," he said trying to dislodge the thoughts and scenarios that sprang unbidden into his mind.

"Hey, Holly, are you hungry?! I'm going to make some breakfast," he shouted down to the lower floor as he strode down the hall. "We should just hang out in the kitchen until everyone wakes up!" he yelled to her as she answered an affirmative to breakfast. "That way only one of us will be traumatized for life," he mumbled mockingly to himself under his breath.

Donatello groaned wincing as the bright light pierced his eyeballs, sending spikes of pain straight into his brain.

He tried to roll over but something heavy was draped across his chest. He blinked a few times as Katherine protested his movement. He froze, his eyes widening in shock as he looked down at himself.

Katherine's head and arm was resting across his plastron. She looked as if she was wearing Leonardo's t-shirt and her underwear and that was it. Donatello himself was wearing only his underwear and one sock that he strongly suspected wasn't his.

Donatello's eyes looked over and found Raphael whose arm was thrown across Katherine's back, his face buried into her side, his lower body covered in a sheet. Donatello turned his head and found Leonardo sprawled across the bed, his lower body wrapped in a sheet, one arm draped over Katherine's legs, his head resting on one of her bare thighs.

Donatello groaned again, this time in horror. His heart began to beat franticly, his skin becoming cold with terror over the thought of having engaged in some sort of...of...foursome with Katherine and his brothers last night. oh God...that would be considered an orgy, he thought to himself in disbelief.

"Donny," Raphael grumbled. "Stop moving."

"Raph..." his voice was a shaky, pained whisper.

"Donny, there is someone usin'a jackhammer on my head, so shut it and go back to sleep," Raphael growled again.

"But...but..." his voice was high pitched and full of terror and dread.

Raphael sighed and lifted up his head. "We all crashed in here because none of the other beds were made up and we wanted to make sure Leo didn't try anything stupid, like try to kill himself," Raphael mumbled. "Nothin' kinky happened, now go back to sleep," he insisted as he put his head back down.

Donatello felt himself relax, placing his hand across Katherine's back and closing his eyes. "Hey, Raph?" Donatello asked curiously. Raphael only grunted in response. "Who won?" he wondered, but his brother didn't answer having already fallen back asleep.

Donatello closed his eyes, enjoying the comfort in the sounds of the room's sleeping occupants.

Almost done! hope you enjoyed the chapter!