"Oh, my gosh. Leo!" a voice said. "Did you kill him, you bastard? And why do you look like someone I know?" Her eyes landed on the now crying twins. She rushed over to them and scooped them into her arms. "I swear I'll kill you if you've touched them," she said furiously.
"Lady, I didn't kill him. He ain't dead," 2012 Raphael said. "He had a stroke and passed out. My sensei will be here soon and he'll try ta help him. Chill. And I ain't touched those kids. I'm an alternate version of yer Raphael. I came here ta look for my Leo. Who are ya?"
"Mikey's wife, Kala. Splinter? I thought he was dead."
"Yers is. Mine is on his way here."

"Raphael!" a voice called from the entrance to the cabin.
"In the kitchen, Sensei!"

Splinter entered the kitchen, took in Leo's prone body and said anxiously, "Is he dead, Raphael?"
"No. Keeled over and is unconscious. That's Mikey's wife, Kala."

"Greetings, Kala," Splinter said.
"Hi. Can you help him, Mr. Hamato?"
"I don't know. Raphael, help me carry him to his bedroom."

Raphael helped his dad carry Leo to his bedroom, while Kala took the babies to their room and placed them in their cot. Then she joined Raphael and Splinter.

XXXXX

"So, Dad," Raphael said, as a concerned Kala looked on. "Can ya help him?"

Splinter was examining Leo when the ex-leader stirred and whispered, "Where am I?"
"Leonardo," Splinter said, patting his shoulder. "You are in your bedroom. How do you feel?"
"Why can't I see you?" Leo asked fearfully. "It's dark. So dark. Turn on a light. I can't see anything. What's going on?" he demanded, his voice panicked.

Raphael's heart sank. Shit, he thought. Leo's blind. Ain't nothin' we can do ta fix that.

"Why can't I see you?" Leo repeated. "Say something."

"My son," Splinter said gently. "You should rest. You've had a traumatic day. Raphael…."

"Answer me," Leo ordered. "Now. I want answers. Don't baby me. I can take it. And where's my Raphael? Have you found him yet? I need him."

"Leo," Kala began, her own heart shattered. She didn't know how to tell him.

Leo turned his head in her direction and said, "Kala, you've always been honest with me. What's going on?"

Kala bolted out of the room, leaving Splinter and Raphael to explain.

"Why the hell won't anyone tell me anything?" Leo hissed. "Look, if the light's off. Just switch it on, okay? This isn't funny. I never liked the dark. Gave me the creeps."

"My son," Splinter said sadly. "You had a stroke. A complication of all the stress you've been under and,…."

"Yer blind," Raphael said. "That's why ya can't see nothin'. I'm sorry, Leo."

Leo's jaw opened and closed, as tears filled his eyes. Then he said, "Is it permanent? Can you fix it, Sensei?"
"I cannot," the ancient rat said. "I can mend scratches and bruises and fractured limbs, but that is beyond my powers, Leonardo. I am sorry."
"Is it permanent? I mean, it's just temporary, right? I'll get better," Leo said hopefully.

Raphael winced at the question. It was a known fact that when stroke victims became blind after a stroke, most didn't regain their sight, but how could he tell Leo that when he was clinging to some kind of hope? Hope he so desperately needed. He didn't want to be the one to destroy it.

Raphael took Leo's hand in his and said, "If anyone can regain their sight ya can. Yer Fearless after all and I got...We all got faith in ya."
"That's not an answer, Raphael," Leo said. "I want the truth. Will I recover my sight or am I doomed to a life of darkness?"
Raphael sighed, withdrew his hand and said despondently, "No one knows, Leo, but the probability is ya won't."
"Thank you for being honest. I'd like to be alone now."

"Leonardo, you shouldn't be," Splinter said. "I'll leave Raphael with you, will brew some tea and make you something to eat. Then you should….."

"No one's answered my question about Raphael. Have you found him?" Leo asked.
"Donnie and the guys are out lookin' for him," Raphael replied. "They'll find him and will bring him home. I swear they will, Leo, but ya need ta eat and drink somethin' and then ya should rest. I'll stay with ya, okay? Ya shouldn't be alone."
"Afraid I can't take care of myself," Leo hissed, sitting up right. "Because I damn can, even though I'm blind! I don't need anyone's help."

"Leonardo!" Splinter said, shoving him down. "You had a stroke. You need to stay in bed. My orders. Raphael, ensure he does. I will be back soon."

"Hai, Sensei," Raphael said, sitting down on the bed and taking the glowering Leo's hands in his.
"I don't need a baby sitter!" Leo snapped.
"I ain't leavin'," Raphael said. "Leo, ya had a stroke and ya need ta stay in bed, okay? At least for a few days. Then we'll help ya with whatever ya need. Look, I know yer an independent guy and ya hate a fuss, but ya ain't got no choice. Ya can't look after yerself on yer own, Leo. Raphael wouldn't want ya ta neither, if he's anythin' like me, so stop bein' a stubborn bastard and let us take care of ya, okay? He'd be pissed if he saw ya bein' so hard headed. I'm gonna tell him if ya don't listen. Do ya want a lecture from him, 'cause he can be just as strict as when ya used ta lecture."
Leo managed a smile and said, "You're as tough as him, aren't you? And as bossy." Then his eyes misted and he said, "I've always been independent. Had to be as the oldest. It was my job to look after my brothers and it's so strange them looking after me. I kind of like it and hate it at the same time. Cancer's one thing and I've accepted I haven't long, but blindness? Knowing I won't see Raph's stunning golden eyes ever again and his smile and my beautiful kids. That slays, me, Raphael. I was hoping Raph's face would be the last one I saw before I passed, but now I've been robbed of that," Leo said angrily and wrenched his hand away. "I was going to make videos for my family and Raph too. Now I can't. All I see is dark and….It's not fair! Why couldn't I at least be able to memorize their images before I succumbed to that disease? Why? And Raph's going to be even more protective and bossy when he returns. He'll fuss and fuss and that'll drive me crazy. I know he means well, but I….I don't want this, Raphael. I wish. I mean, I'm glad it happened to me and no one else, but…."
"It'll be okay, Leo. Yer not alone, okay? We'll…"
"But I am alone technically. No one else understands what it's like living with cancer. You can all carry on with your lives, do what you want when you want to, make love, have fun, things I can't. I'm not angry about that. I'm just….I'm heartbroken about leaving my kids and especially Raph. He acts so brave and has been a rock for me, but he's cracking inside. He's shattered. He's going to need someone to take care of him when I die."
"I have no doubt he'll have his family's support and will…."
"Yes, but he has other desires, Raphael. Those need to be met too."

Raphael stomach dropped. What does Leo mean, he thought? Surely not? I….

Leo grabbed Raphael's hand and said earnestly, as his unseeing eyes looked into Raphael's green ones, "You were terrific with my kids earlier, you said life's dull in your dimension, my Raph will be lonely when I pass and…."
"Leo, I don't think….."
"I worry about my Raph so much and what'll happen to him. I'm going to die soon, but I'll be able to rest peacefully knowing he's got someone to take care of him and my babies. Will you honor one of my requests, stay here in my dimension and be with Raph, heart, body and soul? Both you and your Leo. Please. I'm begging you. It cuts me to the core having to ask you, because I had dreams with my Raph and they're gone now. I know Raph will be more than okay with you guys taking care of him. Please, Raphael."

A/N How will 2012 Raphael react to Leo's request? Is Leo's blindness permanent?

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Had a birthday and was feeling down.