Warnings: None

Rated: T as usual

Notes: So I got a job, so I won't be updating as much as I thought. Sorry.

Updated: June 13 2013

Have You Ever Died chapter 25

Little Brothers

Leo sighed as he ran hot water over stained fur, trying carefully to wash the blood, paint and ink out of his Wolf's fur before it became a permanent accessory to him. Caleb nuzzled him in response, laying down in the tub happily. Leo felt guilt in the fact that this was the first bath he'd give the poor wolf since he'd gotten him all those years ago.

Or what felt like years anyways.

Leo scrubbed gently at Caleb's fur, his eyes flicking every so often at the mixture of colors as it was washed down the drain. He half hoped the colors would stain the clean white tub, so he could always see the vibrant hues, but he knew that his brother's wouldn't be so appreciative of the sudden artistic flair to the bathroom.

He shivered as his hands left the warm water, and reached for more soap. It had been a few days since he had woken up, and this was the first time he'd gotten any time to himself. Don was on the road to complete recovery, and was even allowed to go into his lab every now and again. For the most part, everything had returned to normal.

He wasn't normal though. Well, by other's standards, he supposed he was 'normal.' But he had gotten to used to the ever presence of madness in the back of his mind, and it was strange not feeling it there anymore.

It wasn't 'normal.' Not at all.

In the past, he hadn't wanted the madness, but now that it was gone…

He kind of missed it.

His eyes scanned Caleb's now almost spotless white fur, and found a small spot of red, about the size of a quarter behind his right ear. Dabbing at it with the cloth, Leo was startled to see that once it was gone, another spot quickly replaced it.

Was Caleb bleeding?

He turned off the water quickly, and moved Caleb to he was facing him, and gently bent down Caleb's head. Prodding carefully at the red spot, he moved the fur aside to see a small, thin cut.

He accidentally brushed his fingers against it, and Caleb growled.

Caleb actually growled at him.

And Leo leaned back, pulled his fingers away, and growled right back. His eyes narrowed, and Caleb immediately stopped growling, and leaned his head back to nuzzle Leo's face.

Pushing his thoughts away, Leo grabbed a towel and quickly dried Caleb off, carefully avoiding the spot behind his ear.

Standing up, Leo threw the towel over a drying rack before leaving the small bathroom, Caleb at his side. Leo brushed his fingers across the now smooth fur, and marveled in how Caleb's previously plain red eyes had suddenly seemed to morph into a brighter, beautiful crimson.

He had missed that color.

The sound of fighting brought his attention away from Caleb, and he turned the corner into the dojo. Splinter was yelling at his brothers, who were rolling on the floor, one which happened to be in a headlock, to keep quiet. Don occasionally barked at them to be quiet as well, his fingers moving quickly over his keyboard.

Leo walked over to Splinter and tapped his shoulder. Upon seeing him, the old rat seemed to deflate, his anger washing away. "Leonardo, it is good to see you my son."

"What's going on?"

Splinter shook his head, his shoulders slumping in irritation, "I wish I knew. Whenever Michelangelo tries to tell me, Raphael will not let him speak."

"It's because he's a little brat!"

Leo glanced down to see that Raph still had Mikey in a choke hold and was currently trying to stifle any words that came out of the younger turtle's mouth.

Don chuckled, "I'm not even sure I want to know what they're fighting about."

Leo watched Raph and Mikey for a minute, before deciding that he did want to know, and in one swift motion, he pulled the two off the floor, unclasped Raph's arms, and separated the two.

They were to startled to argue with him.

"So what were you two fighting about?"

Splinter watched the three with curiosity. Raph replied, "It's none of your business, Fearless."

Leo frowned, but no anger was on his face, "I thought we were past that Raph."

"Not even close."

"If you don't stop, I'll start calling you Ralph."

Whatever response Raph had to what he thought Leo was going to say died on his tongue. He stared at the playful look on his brothers face, "…You'll do what now?"

"I'll call you Ralph."

"But Fearless-"

"Yes Ralph?"

Raph made a noise of protest in his throat, but his shoulders slumped in defeat, "Oh fine you little-"

Don cut him off, "So what were you two fighting about?"

Mikey frowned, "Well I was talking about how I haven't seen Klunk in a while, and so Ralph over there," he grinned at the new nickname, "Started joking about how he probably ran away because I'm bad at caring for pets, and I wanted him to eat his words."

"Which resulted in getting yourself in a headlock in the middle of the dojo," Don finished. Mikey nodded sheepishly.

Leo frowned as he remembered what he'd seen all those weeks ago. When Caleb had killed Klunk. Mikey deserved to know what had happened to his cat. He had just opened his mouth when Mikey let out a squeal of delight.

"Klunk! There you are!" Leo's throat tightened up as he watched a orange blur jump into Mikey's arms. "I was wondering where you were lil dude!"

A warm feeling spread over Leo's body, and he glanced around the room, startled when he saw the two things he never expected to be there.

Joey and Carter.

They seemed older now, as old as him if he had to guess, but they still held onto their childlike characteristics. Joey's face was still a little to round, and Carter's figure had yet to fill out. They held each other's hands tightly.

The two beckoned to him, not saying a word, and he walked calmly over, ignoring the sounds of his youngest brother's laughter. He felt Raph's eyes on the back of his head, and took care not to act strange.

His eyes flickered towards the doorway behind the two, and they nodded before they seemed to fade away. Just before his foot reached the doorframe someone decided to speak.

"Leonardo, you are leaving already?"

Without turning around, Leo answered his sensei, "Yes Sensei. My heads starting to hurt, and I want to rest."

Not waiting for recondition, Leo continued through the door. He didn't know it yet, but leaving that room triggered a changing point in his life.

Raph scowled, stepped forward, and began to speak to his family.

Leo was already gone.