So, I wanted to give you guys ample amount of time to read the last chapter because the word count was OVER NINE THOUSAND! (Dragon Ball Z reference anyone? Anyone? No? No. Okay - moving on...)

I own nothing - thank you FanFiction, for reminding me :P

enjoy...

Chapter 26: All For One

Leonardo finished telling his story with his eyes cast down looking at his hands while stiffly sitting on the couch. He felt exhausted and slightly angry. He was angry because he was embarrassed; embarrassed that he had to tell him family what had happened. A part of him still hoped that he could handle it, that he could handle the situation like he always does with every situation that comes into his path. Another part of him prayed that it was all just some horrible nightmare that he could just forget about if he didn't brood over it.

He wanted it all to be a dream.

He wanted to convince himself that his sluggish muscles were because he had trained hard the day before. He wanted to believe his seizures were only from the stress of being the leader of the Hamato clan. He needed to believe that the nightmare of blood soaking his body, dripping from gaping wounds, drying on his hands and assaulting his senses wasn't their blood. He needed to believe that those nightmares were just that; nightmares, and not flashbacks of what had really happened.

He wanted to believe this, but he knew it wasn't true.

He killed those girls because he wasn't strong enough, good enough, sane enough to stop the guard from shooting them at point-blank range. He couldn't stop Hanson from ordering the guard to kill his sister and daughter. He couldn't stop the bullet the zipped inside of Anna and exploded out of her back. He couldn't do anything, he failed them.

And, when it came down to it he couldn't even kill Hanson. He couldn't kill the man who hurt him, tortured him, killed the people he loved!

Truthfully, Leo didn't really remember how he got out of that cell; it's still all a long, tangled blur to him.

He remembers the blood, the scream that tore through his throat when the gun blasted. He rememberes launching himself over to catch Grace's body but altimetry falling short and having to watch her fall to the ground. He can recall hearing his own voice plead for Grace to open her eyes one last time and he can still feel the heartache of watching her still chest and unmoving eyelids – she never opened her eyes, never.

What he could not remember was getting the gun or attacking the guard. His mind was too far gone at that point, his body went into autopilot, his mouth moved without him meaning to say anything. He couldn't even remember if he did say anything to the red haired man, everything was too jumbled together, nothing made any sense.

It was madness and who can understand madness?

Bits and pieces every now and then filtered through in a nightmare or flashback of his brothers talking to him while he pointed the gun at Hanson's ugly face but, he still to this day could not understand why he didn't shoot the man who murdered his family and tortured him.

He remembered faintly the figure his head had made up to look like Donatello telling him that he would become a murderer like Hanson.

Like Hanson, I would've become Just. Like. Hanson.

In that second Leonardo knew, he remembered why he hadn't just outright shot the horrible man - it was because he didn't want to become like him. He couldn't become anything like him, ever. He wanted to prove to himself and to Hanson that he wasn't the animal Hanson had treated him like for over a year. He wanted to show mercy... show mercy to a cruel man.

Maybe that was the reason he didn't kill Hanson, or maybe he was just too weak... Leo really didn't know.

His brothers and father were sitting around him silently as he finished retelling his grisly tale. He had kept things out of his retelling – else they would have been on their feet thirsting for the blood of Hanson. He didn't tell them how he begged for death; he would never tell them that.

That was his demon and his demon alone.

Michelangelo, who was sitting to his left, had tears running down his face. He wasn't sniffing or sobbing but tears made paths down his green cheeks none the less. He was mortified at his brother's story. The child in him wanted to believe it was just that: a scary story but, looking at his older brother's face and his malnourished and beaten looking body the youngest knew it to be true.

Donatello who was sitting on Leonardo's right was also crying as he slowly and gently, making sure Leo could see what he was doing so it wouldn't scare him, placed a hand on Leo's shoulder and gave a small squeeze. Even the small innocent contact had the blue turtle tensing his muscles. Don could plainly see his uneasiness in the way his body hardened and his teeth clenched so he let go of his brother only because he wanted Leo to feel comfortable. It was horrifying; thinking what his brother went through then had kept to himself for almost seven months.

Raphael was standing in front of the couch arms crossed, holding a shocked expression. His eyes were wide and wild. His shock quickly turned into rage as Leo finished his story. His hands shook; he couldn't sit down or stay still. He started to pace in front of the couch while trying to control his racing thoughts. He dug his fingers into his arms attempting to still the fires of hate burning inside of him.

Oh Fearless...

Splinter sat off to the side of Leonardo completing the small circle the family had unknowingly taken with Leo at the head and holding their full attention. Splinter had been having tea with April and was walking back to the Lair when he heard echos that sounded like his sons angry voices bouncing off the sewer tunnel walls. He had rushed back thinking something had happened only to find his oldest son being lead back to the couch by Raphael while he whispered his story to them. Splinter had listened intently to his sons horrific tail without saying a word. While his son was whispering the old rat could feel the darkness around his eldest begin to recede, though much of it stayed looming over Leonardo. Slpinter could sense that his son was leaving out much of his two years away, but that was fine. Leonardo still had demons following him that he could not yet shake.

We can get through this my son, the old rat thought, we all have demons that follow us. What we must decide is if we shall walk with those demons or command them.

Leonardo was shaking. He thought he was supposed to feel better after telling his family about the horrors he had faced in Central America but he didn't feel that much better. He felt hollow and empty inside, like he had just lost a piece of himself. His heart hurt, his mouth was dry and he could feel a dull throb beat in tune to his heart in his head.

He held his breath waiting to see what his family would say.

Will they hate me for not trying harder to escape? Will they condemn me for not saving those girls?

Leo prepared himself for the worst.

There were a few minutes of heavy silence as the family mulled over what they had just heard. It was Mikey who finally broke the silence saying in a cracked whisper, "Why didn't you come home after you escaped? We would've helped you."

Leo looked up at his youngest brother and shook his head. "No, I couldn't come home," he started mouth dry as sand and throat sore from speaking for almost two hours, "I was... I wasn't myself. My mind was... just gone. I-I needed to collect myself before I could come back here and bear the weight of this family." He paused looking back down at the ground, "I still don't... I'm not sure I'm strong enough even now to lead you guys. I'm..." He trailed off, his tongue too thick for his mouth. He felt exhausted and as usual his body felt heavy as it protested even the pull in his chest as he breathed. He winced involuntary as his head gave another throb.

"What is wrong, my son?" asked Splinter seeing Leonardo's slight wince.

Leo contemplated on it for a second, should I tell them about my body always hurting and how I always feel tired?

No… Now they know what happened in the jungle. They don't need to know this as well. I can handle my body.

"Nothing Sensei, I'm just tired." He answered looking back down at his shaky hands.

"Alright Leo," began Raph. He had been silent throughout the entire story but now his voice cut through the thick air like a knife.

It made Raph sick to his stomach and pissed as hell knowing that his brother had gone through something so horrible for so long then refused to tell them about it.

Those bastards, fucking bastards... It was his only thought all throughout Leo's story. Raph wanted revenge even if Leo didn't. He wanted to kill the people who hurt his brother and killed those girls.

Raph walked over to Leo and sat on his knees in front of him. He got close to his leaders face and said, "Ya gotta promise me somethin' Leo. Promise that ya won't keep nothen' from us any'moe got it? I don't care if ya even stub yer toe, you will tell us you are hurt or sick, got it?" Raph looked right into Leo's eyes. Raphael's accent was thick as it always was when he got angry or determined.

Leo tensed his muscles as Raph gently put his hands on his knees and continued. His accent still weighted his voice but he said softly, "I ain't stupid bro, I see ya wincing all da time and limpin' around and not eatin' an' that's gotta stop. You tell us when yer in pain and we'll help ya got it? Look Leo, I ain't got no clue what all happened when you were in dat cell with those two girls but if you promise me this then I'll promise ya that I will personally do all that I can to make sure Bishop and Patrick Hanson get what's commin' to 'em. I will hold both of them down while you kill them if that's what ya wanna do. If not, then me an' Mike and Don can take care of them for ya. We're yer brothers and we will fight your enemies for ya when ya can't. Do we have a deal Leonardo?"

Leo looked at his normally hothead, quick tempered brother. He could see the raw determination glistening in Raph's clear brown eyes. Tears welled up inside of Leo's eyes as he looked at Raph then to his other brothers and Master. They all waited for his promise.

He looked down at his still shaking hands and whispered, "I promise."

"Good," nodded the red turtle leaning back but still staying on his knees close to Leo. "Now tell us why ya look like somethin's hurtin' ya right now."

It took the Leader a moment to decide how to tell them what he'd been going through in the seven months since he escaped that prison. "I don't know why but for some reason my body always hurts." He finally said, feeling stupid and embarrassed.

"What kind of hurt Leo and where in your body?" inquired Dr. Don.

"Everywhere. It's usually a headache that won't go away, though. My arms and legs feel really stiff and sore like I've just finished an all day training exercise and my chest feels tight when I breathe most of the time," he answered shyly.

"Does it feel tight like it does right before a seizure?" questioned Don fully morphing into the infamous Dr. Donatello.

Leo bit his lip, "No that feels different. That tightness feels suffocating, this just aches." Dr. Don nodded.

Leo pondered for a moment, "Whatever you did when you changed my blood helped. I felt better for a few days but then all the pain came back."

Again Don nodded thinking over the possibilities of where his brother's pain could be coming from.

The blue banded turtle wasn't finished with his story yet and he knew it. He needed to tell his brothers how sorry he was for leaving for so long even if it wasn't by choice.

This time he didn't look at any of his brothers, only at his quivering hands. "Listen guys," he started, his voice was quiet. He licked his dry lips with his dryer tongue. "I'm so sorry I... I'm so sorry I wasn't here for you when you needed me. I fought so hard for you every day. I'm sorry I-"

His apology was interrupted as Mikey jumped into him. The orange banded turtle clung to his older brother with his eyes shut and buried his face into Leo's shoulder. Don immediately hugged Leo's other side. All his guilt and fear of losing his brother and anger for not seeing him for so long was put into his crushing embrace. Don wrapped his arms around Leo's plastron and didn't let go. Raph leaned forward once more and laced his arms around Leo's neck.

Leo's eyes were wide with shock; he didn't even have a chance to be scared as Raphael leaned forward and kissed his forehead gently for a long minute before he too squeezed into the group hug.

"I fucking love you Leonardo," was all the red turtle could mutter before both Don and Mikey mumbled their love.

Leo closed his eyes and nodded one, then twice. He didn't want to cry, he couldn't. He was to stay strong. A Leader must not show weakness, a Leader must not show fear, a Leader…

A single tear washed down his face then was quickly followed by another. He'd been so scared and so alone for so long the contact with his brothers had cracked the barrier holding his emotions. He let the tears fall until he began to sob into his brothers strong and protective embraces.

Leonardo cried for Annalisa and Grace. He sobbed for the hours and days and months he'd been tortured. He cried for the injustice and cruelty of it all. He cried for the hours he spent under a scalpel as they carved away at him. He cried for not even having many scars to show for his time in hell.

He had seen the devil, had felt the brimstone and had collapsed under the weight of his secrets. It wasn't fair, none of it. Leonardo wailed into Raphael's shoulder and grabbed Donatello and Michelangelo's hands then held them close.

"I was so scared," the Leader choked out. He felt a warm paw on his head and knew without looking that it was his father gently comforting him.

The family stayed like that until Leo's cries quieted into sniffs. Slowly they broke apart but stayed close, each keeping a comforting hand on their older brother. They were quiet as they thought through the two years Leonardo had been gone. It had been a long two years for the small family but for Leo it had been an eternity.

Suddenly Don spoke, "Wait Leo," he jumped closer to his brother speaking quickly, "you said there's a chip in your head right?" Leo nodded, "what if that's the reason you don't feel good? I looked at samples of your blood and there was a strange substance that resembled a light lace of poison in it. I just assumed we got it out when we did the blood transfusion but maybe that chip has something to do with it." Don words were barely understandable as they jumbled together.

"That would make sense... I guess" said Leo quietly as he pieced together what his brother was saying.

"Show me where it is." Don ordered in his 'I will take no bullshit' voice. He hopped off the couch before coming around to the back. Gently, he undid Leo's bandana and gasped. There, right where the knot was tied, was a large bump that was utility the size of a quarter. He stared at it open-mouthed.

How do I not see this before!?

"Oh shell, Leo... I'm so stupid! How did I not see this?" He berated himself angrily but he lightly fingered the bulge. "I checked you over when you were sick I... I..." He felt so stupid, angry tears filled his eyes.

"I didn't want you to know Don," Leo whispered looking at the ground feeling like a specimen under his brothers eyes.

"But still! You shouldn't be able to hide something so huge, so important so... so," Don growled in a very un-Don way.

"I hid it from you Donnie... It's fine..." Leo murmured tears filling his own eyes as he heard the hurt in Donatello's voice. He quickly sucked them back, he had already cried. He would not cry again.

"I'm supposed to look after you and check you all over to make sure you're okay every time we get into a fight, damnit! That's my job Leo... To look after you!"

"No Donatello." Leo turned around to look at his brother, "That is not your job," he said plainly with his voice low, "It's my job to look after you. Your job is to live your life and patch us up when we come home hurt. It's not hurting me so it doesn't really matter." He finished, still whispering.

"But Leo, it might be-"

"Let me see." Raph cut off Don's angry protest. He got to his feet and went to look at the back of Leo's head. The blue turtle just turned back around to stare down at the ground feeling uncomfortable. Mikey put his hand up, so Leo could see what he was doing, then slowly wrapped it around Leo's left hand. Leo forced himself not to tense as Mikey touched him.

"I won't hurt you dude," Mikey assured in a voice so small only Leo could hear. He smiled at his youngest brother before nodding and gripping his hand tightly. Leo looked at Mikey feeling his eyes start to droop slightly. He was exhausted.

"Leo, I can take this out," Don finally said, "It would be dangerous and take time but I can call April and she can help me."

Raph stayed silent looking in disgust at the proof of Leo's torture. He became even angrier when Don said this might be the reason Leo was always in so much pain all the time.

Don kept talking, "Yes, this would take a lot of time and I would first need to X-ray it but I'm positive I can get it out. Also, it would make sense that this chip is harboring the poison we found in your blood stream. If I'm correct then I think what's happening is that it's holding this poison inside and at certain intervals it's letting it out to affect you..." The genius trailed off as he thought about the type of technology needed to make this kind of advanced torture device.

"Well what are we waitin' for Donnie? Take the damn thing out!" Raph crossed his arms, scowling.

Leo turned around then jumped unsteadily to his feet. As he gained his footing he felt a wave of nausea over take him. His head pounded harder, he'd been sitting for so long the sudden movement made him sick. Mike surged up next to him ready to catch Leo if he fell.

"Don't take it out just yet, n-not tonight!" Leo hastily stammered.

"Why not?" growled Raph feeling rage bubble in his chest. He wanted Leo to get better, he wanted everything to go back to normal. He needed things to go back to the way they once were with Leo being the level headed leader and him being the quick tempered berserker.

Leo wasn't sure why he didn't want the chip to be taken out yet. Maybe it was because he was so tired and only wanted to crawl into bed and sleep for the rest of his life. Maybe it was because he was so used to the constant pain that any change would make him feel even hollower... Or maybe he just wanted to let himself suffer like he felt he deserved...

"I just... I think I need to… I don't think..." He couldn't get his mouth to work.

Splinter came up behind his son and placed a comforting hand on his arm, "I believe that is enough for tonight. Leonardo, I can see you are tired, please go to bed. I suggest the rest of you venture to bed as well. It has been a long night and I suggest we all think about what Leonardo has told us before we make rash decisions," he paused, "no practice tomorrow. Goodnight my sons." With that the old rat walked slowly to his room. He needed to mediate on what his son had told him.

Mikey looked at Leo, "I'll help you up the stairs bro" he said. Leo was about to object but one stern look from Mikey sent his protest away.

Truth be told he was grateful for the help. Doing everything by himself hadn't really been working out too well.

"Hey Leo?" asked Mikey as they left Don and Raph talking quietly in the living room and headed for the stairs.

"Yeah Mike?" Leo leaned into Mikey a little, he felt light headed.

"Did those girls really have super powers? Were they like, the Silver Sentry and stuff? Could the little girl-"

"Grace."

"-Yeah, Grace, could she like control your mind? Wait, if I try hard enough could I read your mind?" Mikey laughed trying to make light of the tense situation. Mikey put a green finger to his temple and looked right into Leo's eyes trying to read his thoughts.

Leo gave a small chuckle. Images flashed through his mind of Grace's face as she concentrated on reading someone. She would always furrow her small brow and purse her pink lips.

"No Mike," he smiled for the first time, "you can't read my mind. Even if you could I wouldn't suggest it...It's kind of in a war right now." Leo looked down at the stairs they were slowly ascending.

"A war?" whispered Mike, his happy attitude sobered.

Leo didn't elaborate. He didn't need to tell Mike about the guilt he felt and the pain he harbored in his heart and in his body.

A thought struck the orange turtle, "Tell me about them, dude" he said.

"About Anna and Grace?" questioned Leo looking wide-eyed at his brother.

"Yeah! Come on bro, this is what you need! You need to talk about them. You said that Grace was like a daughter to you and Anna like a sister right? Well you should tell us about them. Make us see why you loved them so much. It's like..." Mikey thought hard for a second, "When Loki killed Agent Colson in the Avengers movie. All the other Avengers were upset but they came together and defeated the puny green god, remember? Sure they were sad about Phil dying but they used that sadness to totally put a beat down on that whole alien army!" Mikey concluded feeling proud that he had just used a comic reference for real life.

Leo smiled at his brother. He wouldn't mention the fact that he had been in Central America at the time that movie came out thus he'd never seen it, but he thought on Mike's words all the same.

Yes, talking about his sister and daughter sounded nice. He could tell his brothers all out the girls they would never meet. He could tell them stories of those gifted two just like he told stories of his brothers to them in the long year of imprisonment.

After the two turtles made their way into Leo's room and Mikey set Leo gently on his bed the orange turtle said, "Hold on, I'll be right back."

"Back?" called Leo to Mikey but his little brother was already out the door. Leo sighed before his eyes dropped more. He was so tired...

A loud banging sound and a "watch it Mikey!" woke him up not a minute later. He felt a weight near his feet and opened his eyes. Don sat at the foot of his bed looking at him with a small guilty smile.

"Sorry," he laughed, "we were trying to be quiet."

"Yeah until Mike decided to drop the cot on my foot!" Raph grumbled from beside Leo's bed.

"Well maybe if your big clodhopper foot wasn't where I was trying to put the cot it wouldn't have been smooshed," Mikey giggled.

"What..." Leo's voice was soft and groggy, "what are you guys doing?" He whispered unable to make his voice any louder. His eyes felt heavy and clouded. Maybe he had been asleep longer than a minute.

"We're bunking with you bro," smiled Mikey as he finished placing the last cot into Leo's small bedroom.

Leo opened his eyes more to look around the room. There were three cots all beside his bed facing out so the heads were closest to Leo. On each bed were the colors of his brothers in sheets and pillows. Red, orange and purple blankets accented each cot.

"So I'm getting new roommates?" slurred Leo as he smiled to himself. His eyes were already beginning to close; he tucked himself deeper into his warm blanket.

Leonardo covered his nervousness with slight humor. He wasn't used to this many people in his room at one time.

As he pulled the blankets closer to himself he could feel darkness creeping into his vision. His mind began to wander.

His brothers were near him, or close to him, too close. His brothers could hurt him while he slept. They could jump him, take his swords and slice his skin to ribbons. He didn't want to go inside of that acid bath anymore, he couldn't. Anna always says the acid burns his skin and makes it hard for her to heal him with her ability. Where was Anna? She's not here obviously or she would be wondering aloud why there were so many people in their cell, she doesn't like people so much. Where was Grace? Did they take her away again? Leo knew he hadn't seen Angelo in weeks... maybe she was just at the other side of the cell leaning against the wall and drawing pictures in the dirt, she likes doing that. Grace is a sweet girl.

When we get out of here she wants to come live with me and my family. I think Raph will like her, he always thinks that he's a tough guy but I know he's a big softie. Mater Splinter will like Anna, she's smart, her intelligence is nowhere near Don's but she smart enough to hold a good conversation.

"Goodnight Anna, goodnight Gracie," Leonardo garbled feeling the strong tingle of sleep beckoning and pulling him under.

The brothers stopped dead in their tracks and froze. Mikey looked to Raph and Raph to Don with large and confused eyes. Their breaths caught in their throats, everything was silent.

Raph hesitated, "Go ta bed Fearless," he commanded lightly after several tense seconds.

It was the last thing Leo heard before he fell asleep.

We'll talk about it in the morning, Don mouthed to Raph and Mikey. Raph turned immediately back to making his bed in silence and Mike jerked his head into a sloppy nod

Raphael tucked himself into his cot as Donatello did the same in his. Michelangelo stayed standing looking at his cot then to Leonardo's bed.

"Lay down Mikey," Don whispered having already turned off the lights.

Mike bit his lip before smiling and moving his cot out of the way. He then gently eased himself into Leo's small bed wrapping his arms around his snoozing brother. Leo mumbled something in his sleep but Mike just laid his head on his pillow and snuggled closer to his oldest brother.

Mikey could remember all the times he slept in Leo's bed when he was little and had nightmares.

Leo had been the one to comfort me when I was scared, now it's time to return the favor, Mikey thought.

"I love you, dude," he breathed into Leo's chest before he too fell asleep.

Thoughts?

AHHHH! Attack of the fluff!

I hope you guys aren't getting bored or deterred by such long chapters...

Oh, and just incase you didn't notice; the chapter title is short for 'all for one and one for all.' Personally, I thought that would be a waaayyyy too long chap title so I shortened it.

The next chapter will be with the girls, just an FYI :)

Have a good day fellow readers!