Chapter 20

"Leo!" Raph stumbled through the dust and debris which lay scattered across the floor, sliding to his knees next to his face down brother, checking his pulse.

"I… I… can't feel… my legs…" Leo gasped, blood trickling down the corner of his mouth as he wriggled his torso slightly, attempting to free himself.

The three youngest turtles could only stare at their brother- the strong, fearless leader, Leonardo, who now lay battered, bloodied and pinned by a giant boulder which had landed directly onto his unprotected back.

"I'll get you out, bro!" Raph grunted, his eyes wide, getting ready to pull Leo loose when Donnie placed a hand on his shoulder.

"Don't." his voice was flat, expressionless. "If he can't feel his legs it may mean spinal damage… Unless you want to cause full blown paralysis we have to free him a different way."

Raph saw the fear in Leo's eyes and stepped back, shoulders slumped in defeat.

The room was still trembling, telling Donnie they didn't have much time to free their brother. He pushed this thought aside, they couldn't rush this unless they wanted to cause Leo more injury.

"Mikey, attach your kusarigama chains to the rock next to Leo, Raph," Donnie held out his bō staff, "Wedge this under the rock while I create a levy for the chains."

Leo had passed out during this exchange, so Donnie checked his pulse again and shook his head sadly. He had no clue on how to fix spinal damage, but that wouldn't stop him trying.

Raph swapped places with Donnie, since he was stronger in the arms, while Mikey prepared to pull Leo free.

"Ready." Mikey called above the rumbling.

"Ready!" Repeated Raph, gripping the chains.

"Ok- on three-" Donnie shifted his weight on the staff, "Three, two, one. HEAVE!"

As one, Donnie pushed on his staff, Raph pulled on the chains and as the boulder lifted, Mikey pulled the eldest turtle free, keeping his eyes fixed on his face rather than the area which had been crushed. As soon as Leo's feet were freed, the boulder dropped back down, throwing up another dust cloud, yet this time it revealed all turtles accounted for and free from boulders.

As Raph retrieved the weapons, Donnie checked the eldest turtle.

Leo's lower body was a mass of bleeding wounds from the jagged rock and his back was bleeding profusely.

Donnie looked at his brother, suddenly realising how broken he appeared, both from the earlier torture and now from the news he could be paralyzed from the waist down.

As if hearing his thoughts, Leo stirred, blinking as he realised he was now free. His lips moved but at first no sound came out, and it was only when Donnie leant closer could he hear what Leo was saying.

"… Leave… me… only… weigh… you… down…."

Donnie hardened his gaze and snapped at Leo.

"We just did all that effort of freeing you and now you want us to leave you! No turtle left behind- that's the rule!"

Leo looked helplessly at his brother then turned his gaze down in despair.

"I'm…. no… good to.. you… like this…."

Donnie softened, he knew that it had been hard for Leo to admit this, but all the same, they were running out of time.

"We don't care Leo- you're our brother," he lowered his voice so only Leo could hear, "Besides, it might only be temporary, and if it isn't- you know I'll do everything I can." Donnie was pleased that this brought a grateful- genuine smile to his brother's face and he muttered a quiet,

"Thank you."

Donnie stood and stepped back, allowing Raph to pick up Leo, helping him onto his back so he could be near his precious swords as well, and together the brothers left the destroyed lab of horrors to search for another Kraang portal.

"There's got to be a main portal in the facility." Donnie explained as they ran, "They need one to bring Leo and Mikey here."

"Sorry.. I couldn't... save the… portal…" Leo breathed into Raph's ear, bringing a smile to the hot headed turtle's lips.

It was typical for Leo to apologise for saving everyone from a certain death instead of the portal.

"Hey…" Raph huffed as he ran, "As long, as we are all… here right?"

He felt Leo nod into his shell.

Up front Donnie suddenly skidded to a halt before turning direction and shooting up another corridor, the route they were following had been blocked by rubble.

Eventually, after several such changes in direction the brothers entered the purple lit portal chamber which had been abandoned by any Kraang droids.

Their escape was reasonably easy- which was surprising after all they had been through- save for Donnie having to program the portal- with Mikey's help- to land them in a dark alley way which led to the lair in case they could be tracked to their landing location.

Mikey went through first, closely followed by Raph with Leo then, just before Donnie jumped through, he pulled a marker pen from his pocket and scrawled a message onto the control panel. He gave a grim smile then followed his brothers through.

As he vanished, a rock fell from the ceiling, knowing the controls and shutting down the portal. The rock bounced, and landed next to Donnie's message:

"Project clone turtles is finished. By order of Kraang Prime."

THEY HAVE LEO! YAY!

SO here are the questions:

- Will Donnie's message stop the Kraang?

- Will Donnie be able to help Leo?

- What will Splinter say?

- Will Mikey have a nightmare?

I'll update as soon as possible but it's coming up to mocks weeks so I am limited for the time I can spend on this... Sorry in advance.

LL99 OUT!