A/N:
Ani means "(big) brother"
Imouto means "(little) sister"
Ootosan means "Father"
Kooun means "Good luck"
-chan is an affectionate honorific for a younger woman or sister, the female equivalent of "-kun".

Chapter 37 –Blessing-
~~~

"Splinter!"

The cry tore from Leonardo's throat. He rushed to Leatherhead. The crocodilian turned, cradling his father to his scaly chest. Leo saw with relief that the rat's chest rose and fell steadily. Gene Spencer hurried up as Marjory climbed out of the van.

"He is stable," said Leatherhead, "But the wound should be cleaned and properly bandaged."

"Let's get him inside," said Gene. "I can help you."

Leatherhead carried Splinter into the house, followed closely by the man. Leo started to follow, but Marjory Spencer's voice stopped him.

"Leonardo, please. Help me get Austin into the house."

"Austin? Are you ok?" He glanced at the older woman. What about the baby?

"She's ok," said Marjory. "The baby is fine. Austin, come on now, Honey, let's go inside."

"Ani, he… has Michelangelo," Austin whispered. "And Donny…" Fresh tears made their way down her cheeks, tracing the pink lines already etched there.

"They're going to get them back, Austin," said Marjory with the soothing tone of oft-repeated words. "Leatherhead promised. He's not going to abandon them. It will be all right. Come along, dear. I'll make you a cup of tea."

Austin's breathing was ragged and hitched. She stood like a statue, refusing to move forward.

Leo gently took her arm "Imouto," he said. "Austin-chan, we will get him back."

The girl fell against Leonardo's plastron, winding her arms around his neck.

"Leo-san… bring him home," she sobbed.

"Austin," Leo gingerly wrapped his arms around the woman, patting her back a bit awkwardly. While Mike was affectionate to a fault and even Raph allowed the slight woman to hug him occasionally, Leonardo wasn't used to being clung to. His job had always been to lead. Ordinarily it was his brothers who comforted their wives.

But Mike's not here to hold you. Oh, Austin, I'm sorry, he thought. I never should have let them go. But Splinter…

"Come on, Austin. We've got to see how Splinter's doing," said Leo gently. Austin nodded, letting him go. Marjory came over and put her arm around the girl's shoulder. Leo gratefully let the woman take her.

Inside, Leatherhead was standing over the couch where Gene was kneeling, wrapping clean bandages over his shoulder. Leonardo saw that the blood had been cleaned more thoroughly from the rat's fur. Leo watched as the man unhesitatingly treated Splinter's wound, touching the rat's fur without so much as a flinch. I guess I was wrong, thought Leo. He really does seem genuinely undisturbed by our mutation. He doesn't even seem to notice LH now.

"I've done all I can to make him comfortable," said Gene.

Leonardo approached the couch, relieved to see his father's chest rising and falling steadily. "Leatherhead, what happened? How…"

"It was a bullet from Bishop's guards," growled the crocodilian. "I removed the bullet at my Den, but I felt it was unsafe to remain in the city. Splinter is strong. He was awake before."

"Why isn't he waking up now?" asked April. Her voice cracked, giving away how close the red-head was to tears. Casey stood back from the couch, his arms crossed over his chest, scowling in obvious frustration.

"He has had a most difficult time," said Leatherhead. He looked at Leonardo. "I am afraid he was… unhappy with me, when he became aware that I left your brothers behind in order to save him."

Leonardo nodded. "You had no other choice. Is there anything else we can do for him, Leatherhead?" he asked softly.

LH shook his head. "No, Leonardo. For now, all he can do is rest and heal."

"Then we must begin planning," said Leo. "You'll need to tell me everything about Bishop's base. How you got in, where the containment cells are, everything."

"Leonardo…" The crocodilian looked down upon the turtle with an expression of concern. "Your father did not wish for you to fight."

"I don't have a choice, LH," replied Leo. "My brothers are in danger. Besides, I… I'm going to be all right." His voice wavered, but his gaze never did.

Leatherhead gazed at the blue-banded leader for a moment.

"It is good to have you back, my friend." He clapped Leo on the shoulder. Leo grinned.

"Leo?" April walked around the couch and came to face Leonardo. "What… what did you mean? Are you… are you ok? Really?"

"I am, Ape," Leonardo met the woman's gaze steadily. April looked into his eyes for a long moment. For the second time that day, Leonardo found himself wrapped up in a crushing embrace.

"I'm glad you're ok," she whispered before releasing the blue-banded turtle.

"How's Splinter?" asked Sierra a bit timidly, coming closer. Leonardo glanced at her. She looked uncertain, as if she were afraid to intrude.

"LH says he's going to be ok," he answered, fighting down the urge to put his arm around her. Suddenly Leonardo felt he wouldn't mind very much at all if Sierra needed comfort.

April had turned away and was kneeling beside the couch, brushing her hand gently over the rat's forehead, smoothing the ruffled fur.

"He's tough," she said. Tears were sliding down her cheeks. "He's strong. He'll be ok."

"We'll leave as soon as possible," Leonardo said quietly. "April, how's Casey's arm? Is he strong enough to fight?"

"What? Leo, you can't leave! Splinter…" April stood up, turning to face him.

"Splinter will be safe here. He has you here to look after him. Gene, too. He's had medical training. April, I can't leave them there. They would come, if it was me."

"But… Bishop got Don and Mikey." April shook her head. "Leo, you can't go alone. Wait… wait until Raph's leg heals…"

Leonardo shook his head. "April, you know I can't do that," he said quietly. "Don, Mikey and Bev don't have that kind of time."

"Ya ain't goin' alone, Leo," growled Casey. "I'm comin' too."

Leonardo looked up at the tall man. "You can drive, Casey," he said. April made a small noise of protest, but Casey nodded.

"All righ'."

"Leatherhead and I will leave as soon as he's ready," said Leonardo. "He can brief me on the way."

"L… Leo…nardo."

The voice was weak, hoarse. Leo knelt beside the couch as Splinter shifted. His ebony eyes flickered open and he looked around in confusion.

"Wh… where…?"

"You're home, Sensei," said Leo gently. "You're safe. Leatherhead brought you back to the farmhouse."

"Leatherhead." Splinter's tone was tinged with bitterness now. "I told him… leave me… Donatello… Michel… angelo." Tears slid down the sides of his face, wetting his fur and turning it dark.

"Leonardo and Leatherhead will get them back," Sierra spoke up. "They got me out. Leonardo can save the others. I know he can."

Splinter's gaze snapped to his son's face. "Leonardo," he whispered.

"Father. I will go. I will bring them back safely. I give you my word."

"No." The word was barely a whisper but everyone froze. Splinter met his son's eyes steadily despite his obvious pain. "You must not go, Leonardo."

"Father, I have to go and get them out." Leonardo took a deep breath. "I'm ready to pick up my swords. I'm ready to fight."

Onyx eyes met dark brown for several long heartbeats. Splinter reached for Leonardo.

"You must not go, my son," Splinter rasped. "You must not… Bishop…"

"Sensei…" Leonardo began to answer, but Raphael moved to stand beside him.

"Father. Leo's right. He's better, Sensei. I… I don't know exactly what happened," Raph shot his brother a look, "but he's… healed."

"Bishop… is a formidable foe," Splinter managed. "More than… one… can face alone."

"He will not be alone." Another voice broke in. Leatherhead moved into the room. "I will accompany him."

"And me. I'm drivin'." Casey Jones put in.

"Leonardo… my son…" Tears glittered in the black eyes.

"Sensei, I'm going. I… I want your blessing, Ootosan."

The rat's gaze turned away from his son. Leo could feel the fury radiating off Raphael as if it were waves of heat. A tremor of pain ran through him.

Leonardo got slowly to his feet. "Raph, stay with him," he said. "Gene will tend to his injury." He turned away from the couch. Raphael reached out with one hand and gripped his brother's shoulder.

Leonardo met Raphael's eyes and managed a small smile. Splinter's hand shot out, catching Leonardo's wrist. The turtle turned back toward the couch.

"My son." The old rat's voice was low, resigned. "Your katanas… they are here. In my room. Upstairs."

Leonardo smiled.

"Thank you, Father. I won't fail you."

Splinter's eyes stayed closed. His grip was firm on Leonardo's wrist. "Be safe, my son. Kooun."

***

Leonardo breathed in deeply, letting the breath out again slowly. He'd slipped into meditation more easily than ever before as the spiritual plane seemed to rise up to met him, familiar and welcoming. The strange Presence was quiet for the moment, making him almost wonder if the conversation in the woods had been a dream, a product of his over-stressed mind. But he could still sense something surrounding him, as tangible as a cloak and as comforting as his father's embrace.

He was waiting for Leatherhead to get some rest before they started the journey back to the city. Casey had been impatient to leave immediately, but Leo had a sense of peace.

In… out.

The slightest of sounds had his eyes snapping open. Sierra stood in the doorway, watching him.

"I'm sorry," she said. "I didn't mean to disturb you."

"You didn't," he answered quietly. "Please, come in." Leo got to his feet. He was hyper-aware of everything, the intense green of her eyes, the soft, fruity scent that wafted to him, the curl of her hair as it lay against her cheek.

The woman hesitated. "You… you're really going back to the city? After this… Bishop?"

"We have to," Leo said.

Sierra crossed the room, stopping a few steps away from him, not quite meeting his eyes.

"You got me out," she said, but it sounded almost like a question. "You got me out and you all came back safely. But there were three of you then. And this Bishop… he… he's captured two of your brothers."

"We'll get them back," said Leo quietly.

"But… your father, he taught you, didn't he?" Tears were sliding down her cheeks now. "Gene says he's a ninja master. And he had Michelangelo, Donatello and Leatherhead with him."

"Yes."

"How… How can you go? Leonardo…" Sierra looked up, her green eyes so intense, Leo felt his breath catch in his chest. She came nearer, almost as if drawn against her will.

"Sierra, they're my brothers," he said gently. "I have to go."

She was close now, so close he could see blue flecks in her green eyes.

"When… when you… disappeared…" she shivered. "Before Gene and the others brought you back, I thought we… I thought I had lost you. I was… afraid." She was blushing now, but she pressed on, determined. "I didn't like that feeling, Leonardo."

Leonardo waited, his breath frozen in his chest. Sierra lifted her hand as if she would touch him. Something in her gaze faltered, and she lowered it again. Leonardo couldn't bear it. He reached up, catching her wrist gently.

"Sierra…"

He trembled, fearing she would jerk away. She tensed for an instant, but then her hand relaxed, coming up to cup his face. Leonardo's eyes widened. The woman's lips were inches from his mouth. Her breath touched his mouth, soft and warm.

"I don't want you to get hurt," she whispered.

"I have to go," he answered. He hesitated, longing to surge forward, to gather her up and hold her close, but fear held him back. What if she pushed him away in horror? What if she thought he was… a monster?

In the seconds it took for those thoughts to form, Sierra moved closer, closing the gap between them.

"Then I at least have to…"

Leonardo's breathing nearly stopped as she pressed her lips against his mouth, searching, longing. In an instant, he was returning the kiss, lost in the warmth of her touch, painfully aware of every inch of her warmth pressed against his plastron.

His arms came around her, gently drawing her near, but careful of her injuries. He cradled her against his plastron, terrified of hurting her and intoxicated with the sweet things her mouth was doing to his. A groan sounded from deep in his throat as her arm came around his shoulders.

Sierra pressed against him as if she could not get close enough. Her lips moved against his mouth, their tongues meeting, exploring. Finally she retreated, breaking the kiss. Her green eyes stared into his, clouded with yearning and confusion.

"Wow," breathed Leo, startling a giggle from the woman. She blushed furiously, pulling back, but not very strongly, her face a picture of uncertainty.

"Leonardo, I… I'm sorry… I…"

He could feel her body trembling under his arm.

"You're… sorry?" he whispered, feeling desolate. He loosened his hold, but he couldn't quite bear to let her go. Not yet. Not after that kiss.

She met his eyes. "No," she said softly. "Not really."

Leo tightened his arm around her and she relaxed against him.

"Me, either," he said softly.

"You really do have to go, don't you?" she whispered.

"Yes."

"Leonardo…" The pain in her voice tore at him. She trailed off, not quite asking him not to go.

"Sierra." He cupped his hand against her cheek, marveling in the silky-smooth skin under his fingers and the comfortable familiarity in the way his hand fit her face. "I can't make you a promise that I'll get through this, but I can promise that I am not coming back without my brothers and my sister-in-law, and I can promise that I'll do my absolute best to get back to you."

She leaned back, looking into his eyes. "You're saying you have to protect them first, aren't you?" she asked softly.

Leonardo nodded. "They're my family," he said softly.

"I… I understand." Green eyes burned into his, as if she were memorizing every detail of his face. She gave him one last fierce squeeze before letting him go. "I'll wait for you."

Leonardo watched as she turned away and hurried out of the room, leaving him with only the remembered sensation of her lips pressing against his mouth and the faint scent of her perfume hanging in the air to remind him that what had just happened was real.

Oh, Sierra. I wish… I wish things could be different. But Donny and Mike are counting on me. Bev and Austin, too. I'll come back to you. I can't say it, it's not honorable to speak an impossible promise, but I will.