Disclaimer: Ok I don't own the cannon characters but I do own the OCs and the Plot.

*Looking like four chapters left in this story guys. Hang in there. Oh haven't quite decided but there might be death. I have two ending scenarios in mind*

Chapter 29: Time to Become a Team Again

Aria, Nel, Gaeh, you are so lucky never to have to see this. I hope I get a chance to hold my daughter again though. Aria…I love you my little angel. I have my Sais shoved into my belt and Leo's swords across my back. I plan on giving them to him.

Eight years if hauling, almost two years of hard work around Joban's place and fifteen years of Ninjitsu training could never have prepared me for the horrors if Svgar's slave barracks, you can't even truly call them that. The slaves are crammed into uncomfortable bunks, they're thin and filthy.

Don managed to get us past the fence a half hour ago. We've been searching for Leo ever since, there is no sign of him anywhere. A slave stirs beside me as I creep forward, I act fast and hit a pressure point that will knock them out. He slumps limp and I keep moving.

"PSSST," I hear.

I turn and catch sight of a figure waving me over.

I move slowly, wary of a trap.

"You looking for the new guy?" he whispers.

I nod.

"He's in the main house, they locked him in isolation until Svgar decides what to do with him," he tells me.

"How do I know you aren't a snitch?" I hiss.

"I…you don't, but I swear if I can get anyone out of here…I want to," he murmurs.

I nod.

"Go west of the fence and you'll find a narrow gap, get through and run for it," I tell him, "hurry."

He gets up slowly and look around before hesitantly getting up and moving toward the door.

I creep around the other bunks and find Don and Mike, dragging them out.

Mike is gagging and trying to stay calm. Don looks like he's about to be sick.

I'm not doing much better.

We're inside the house now, treading carefully over the creaking floors. Don managed to disable the security and I took out the guard dogs. My arm still hurts a little from where one bit me.

The guards that are patrolling the area are carrying hot whips and heavy clubs. I'm doing my best to keep us out of sight. Mike and Don are both watching the guards nervously as they pass us.

I hold a finger to my lips and shiver nervously. Mike nods and Don slowly moves forward at my signal.

I hear laughter as we move slowly down the hall and sounds of something being hit. I turn slowly around the corner. I see a open doorway and just as I start to move forward I hear a muffled sob.

Leo.

I see him pulling away and move forward as quickly as I can.

"Don't" I hear Leo say, "don't touch me."

He's trying to be strong right now.

I round the corner of the doorway and growl. The guards look up in time to see me attack. Don and Mike follow me. I drag the first guard aside and reveal in the feeling of my fist connecting with his jaw.

"Don't. Touch. My. Brother." I spit.

He sags to the floor, utterly limp.

I turn to see Mike trying to coax Leo from the back corner. I see him move away and press himself all the tighter back there.

"Don't," he begs, "just leave me alone."

"Shhh Leo its me, it's Mikey," Mike coos, moving forward a little.

Don has debauched the other guard and is moving forward.

"Don," I hiss, "remember the letter."

He stops and flashes he a horrified look, realizing how close he just came to scaring Leo out of his mind.

"Leo," I coax, "Leh'ya, tulgeh loqu."

"Raph?" it's a whisper, frantic, hopeful.

"Yeah," I murmur, stepping forward to calm him.

"Its ok its us," Don says softly.

"Why are you here?" Leo begs.

"Its time to be a team again, a family again. Despite the scars and pain who are we without those that bind us by blood? Who are we without the kin and the comfort?" Don murmurs.

"We are nothing but an instant…snatched away quickly and forgotten," Leo finishes.

I can't help but smile. I pull Leo's swords off my carapace and toss them to Leo.

"Ya' ready Fearless?" I ask, remembering the old nickname I used to calm him by.

"Let the shadows…let the steel…the team be one," Leo says softly.

He comes out of the dark slowly, his swords clutched in his hands. In one fluid motion the sheath is on his back and he straightens up. I grin and Mike hugs him. For the first time in a long time I don't see Leo flinch. He looks us in the eye and then, slowly he smiles.

"You read…-?" he asks.

"Yeah, did you read Splinter's?" Don asked.

"No…I was afraid to…-" Leo starts.

"He-" Don starts to cut off.

Alarms blare around us.

"We gotta go now," I order.

Leo grabs Don and Mike and I follow.

We have to get out of here now.


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