Where's Leo? Chapter 37, a ninja turtles fanfic

I can't believe it, I'M ACTUALLY FINISHING THIS!

Oh my goodness for my worst story this sure has come far and maybe I would've gotten more reviews if I didn't have this strange urge to write something every day. Bad habit. Anyways, now that I'm finishing this I'll be able to focus on my other stories. I want to mainly focus on "MY Brother" and "Because We're Brothers."

Next, I'll continue "For Treasures You Hold Close"

Then I can finally get started on my new story.

Well without further ado here is the 37th and final chapter of "Where's Leo?"

37~Leo's Choice

Leonardo sat in the garden of his home. One year he lived here, trained here, trained under the Ancient One, trained with Venus and Slash, enjoyed the feeling of the sun on his face, compared to what he dealt with in New York City this place was heaven. But this left the problem bare boned, he didn't want to upset Raph, Don and Mikey but he didn't want to abandon Venus and Slash. There was so much more knowledge available here, more ninja techniques, magic techniques and abilities to be discovered. There was cleaner air, more room, they could move around outside in daylight all they wanted. He couldn't have these freedoms if he returned to New York with his brothers.

When all the details were pushed aside by his mind Leo realized he had two options and just how simple those options:

1. He could be selfish and stay here to live a dream he'd always wanted.

Or,

2. He could be selfless and return to NYC but also, possibly, the nightmare that began this all.

Which was truly fair?

Leo sighed and climbed to his feet, glancing over the land as the sun set on the horizon before turning towards the door to the kitchen and walking through to where he found his youngest brothers playing in the soapy water where dishes soaked.

"Watch out for the fork!" Slash warned with a smile.

"You can't beat the Mighty Triton of Atlantis!" Mikey drawled and they continued on in their game, not noticing their eldest brother standing behind them.

With an affectionate smile Leo slipped past them and into the main room where Don and Venus where observing a strange crystal.

"I found it behind a waterfall where an ancient temple used to stand," Venus explained.

Don picked up the crystal, running his fingertips over the unusual surface, "It feels like some sort of plasma, only more solid but the molecules aren't packed close enough together to classify as a solid directly and it's so lightweight a simple wave of your hand and it momentarily rises in the air as if it were a gas, perhaps vapor pockets are built into the molecules?"

"Perhaps," Venus said, "Or it could simply be a disruptor of chi energy, unable to deicide what form to mold into."

"It's like the atoms don't know what form to become," Don murmured as Leo slipped passed them both, he glanced into the dojo to find his sensei meditating, sad energy surrounded him. As if he lost something important and valuable. Leo frowned, after all this time he hadn't bothered to talk with either of his teachers. Well, the Ancient One was busy so Leo supposed this was as good a time as any to talk with his father. He made he way upstairs only to find Raphael staring out at the sunset through the large window in Leo's room.

"Raphael?" Leo asked walking up beside his immediate younger brother.

Raph glanced over at his older brother and smiled, "Hey bro, how is everyone?"

"Surprisingly, getting along greatly, Mikey and Slash are playing with the dishes and Don and Venus are discussing the properties of a crystal Venus found a few years ago," Leo said, taking a seat in front of the window, sitting cross-legged since he would need to meditate to contact his father.

"It's nice," Raph said solemnly, sitting down next to Leo.

"What?" Leo asked.

"This place, it's everything you wanted. More than we could ever have in New York City."

"Raph, tell me the honest truth. Do you want me to return with you, Don and Mikey to New York?"

"Truthfully?" Raph asked, as he pulled his knees up to rest his folded arms across them, before laying down his head.

"I mean for you, selfishly," Leo explained.

"Does that matter?" Raph asked, his eyes moving from the sunset to meet Leo's gaze.

"Yes," said Leo holding Raph's gaze, "I want to stay here, it's everything I want. That's selfish. I want you all to be happy, so I want to go home too. That's selfless."

"Ok," Raph said with a sigh, "Selfishly, I want you to come home. Selflessly, I want you to be happy and if that means you staying here then I'm fine with that."

Leo glanced awkwardly towards the sunset, this Raphael was much different than the one he had left and he was still trying to understand him, suddenly though he had an idea.

"Raph?"

"Hmm?"

"You want to talk to Master Splinter?"

Raph's eyes widened and his jaw dropped as he turned to stare at Leo who was wearing an amused grin. The eldest reached out and shut Raph's jaw, "Careful or something will fly in there.""But Master Splinter is still in that coma," Raph said.

"His body is, his spirit isn't," Leo said holding out his hand, "Meditate with me and you'll see him."

Raph looked at the offered hand and took it with no hesitation, "Now just relax," Leo said.

Raph sat cross-legged and breathed deeply, trying to remember all the techniques his father had taught him for meditation. Before he knew it he was in what he recalled as, the Dream Realm. Venus had brought them all when they had to rescue Splinter from those humanoid dragons.

"Come on," Leo said, walking a few feet away, "Our father isn't far."

Raph obediently followed, hoping that this was true. His father and sensei, that had been in a coma for over a year, he would finally hear his voice again?

"Here," Leo said stopping at a hovering silver dot in the air, "This is his life essence it remains here when one slips into a state of unusual unconsciousness."

"So what now?"

"You meditate," Leo said.

"What but aren't you-"

Leo shook his head, "No this is between you and master Splinter. When you wish to return just meditate on the thought of the Ancient One's home."

With that, Leo vanished, leaving Raph alone.

Leo reopened his eyes to find himself back in his own room, Raph was still sitting next to him in meditation. The eldest got up, stretched and left the room. When he reentered the living room he found Venus had vanished, leaving Don on his own. When Leo's feet hit the floor the purple masked turtle looked up. Don smiled and motioned Leo to join him. The dark blue clad turtle quickly shuffled across the floor to sit down by Don's side.

"Uh hi," Don said, looking a bit nervous.

"Hi," Leo said back, watching his younger brother curiously.

"Well, I talked to Venus and then, Mikey and I talked earlier and well-"

"Well?" Leo asked.

"We've decided that, we want you to stay here."

"What?" Leo asked, shocked, "But I thought you all wanted me to come home?"

"We do, but, we want you to be happy too. We had no right to attack you like that, no matter how scared we were for Master Splinter."

Don glanced at Leo, met his gaze for a minute, looked away and then closed his eyes tightly.

"Don?" Leo asked after a minute of silence.

"Yeah?"

The eldest reached out and turned his purple masked brother towards him before pulling him into a hug. Don's eyes flew open and he stared forward for a few seconds before his arms encircled his older brother and he found himself pressing his face into Leo's shoulder as small tears trickled from his eyes. It was so hard, but Leo would be happy here and forcing Leo to go back home, would hurt more in the end. It was better they let him stay here, in the presence of a family that wouldn't make their mistake. The genius turtle knew that Leo would be ok, training from the Ancient One would make him much stronger than Splinter's could, Venus could heal his wounds rapidly, and Slash would keep him happy. It would be perfect, ok, and safe for his eldest brother here. So he had to let him go.

"Shh," Leo cooed pulling his younger brother closer, tightening his arms around him.

Don shifted and sighed while letting his forehead rest in the crook of Leo's neck, "You're the best big brother ever."

Leo smiled, it felt so good to hear that, but nonetheless, "Now careful Don, you still have Raphael."

"Yeah, I do," Don agreed turning slightly and snuggling against Leo.

Leo's smile grew and he bent his head forward to nuzzle Don's temple. The younger turtle sighed happily and snuggled closer, a happy smile on his face. He would miss this but, he just wanted his big brother to be happy.

An hour later Leo found himself eating a small bowl of rice in the kitchen when he sensed Slash and Venus entering the room although his back was to them, "Yes?" he asked before they were halfway to the table.

"Man I can never sneak up on you," Slash said walking forward and sitting beside his older brother. Venus sat on Leo's other side and her amethyst eyes spoke before she did, they needed to talk.

"What is it?" Leo asked, pushing his snack aside.

"We've talked Leo and, we think you should go back to New York with your brothers," Slash said, "I've been talking with Mikey and gosh Leo, he really needs you at home."

"I agree," Venus said, "I have looked into Donatello's mind, although his drive for your happiness has overcome his selfishness, he still wants you to return. He has learned his lesson, he wants his brother back," she finished while laying her hand on Leo's shoulder.

"But Slash-" Leo protested.

"We talked about that too," Slash said, "Venus said I could return to her village with her if-no, when you leave for New York."

"Really?" Leo asked Venus.

Venus smiled amusingly, "He will need much more training but I will be happy to teach him."

"Yeah, then when I finish the training there I can visit you in New York and see about more ninja training," Slash said.

"I will come along as well," Venus said.

"Guys, I-um, I don't know what to say," Leo said, staring at the wooden table in front of him.

"The choice is yours Leo," Venus said.

"Yeah Leo, whatever makes you happy."

"What makes me happy," Leo thought, mentally looking at each life in his head, "What I want."

And then Leo knew the answer, his choice was made.

They all gathered at an abandoned bay where the ShellSub was docked to make it's return trip. Venus and Slash were keeping a lookout for any humans that could discover them. Leo was helping his brothers get the sub ready for it's departure. They pushed it into deep enough water and then the turtles all came together. Before anything could be said, footsteps approached the group. They prepared to hide but relaxed when it turned out to be the Ancient One.

"Sensei," Venus, Leo and Slash acknowledged with a bow.

The Ancient One returned the bow and said, "I see you three are ready to depart."

"Yeah," Don said, looking at Leo sadly as he, Venus and Slash crowded around their teacher.

"Come on bros, we'll say our goodbyes and head home," Raph said, putting a comforting hand on Don's and Mikey's shoulder.

Neither Don or Mikey wanted to though so Raph took a deep breath and decided to go first. He walked up behind Leo and when his older brother turned to him he suddenly felt choked up but he swallowed around it and found his voice, kind of.

"Um, thanks Leo, for everything. I'll miss you. I hope you're happy here."

Behind them Venus' and Slash's eyes widened. Leo, throughout this, remained silent and un-readable. Raph suddenly couldn't meet his gaze though and found himself staring down at the brown sand that made up the surrounding patch of land around the bay. Then in a flash, Leo had wrapped his immediate younger brother in hug. Surprised and shocked at first the red masked turtle remained still before returning the embrace. It wasn't the gentle hug that Leo would give Don or Mikey, it was a strong, tough, protective embrace.

"I love you big brother," Raph whispered.

"I love you too little brother," Leo said, "Don't forget to tell them that once in awhile."

Raph nodded and stepped back, pulling out of the embrace, "I will."

As the red masked turtle stepped away Mikey ran forward, enveloping his eldest brother in a tight hug, "I'll miss you bro."

Leo relaxed when he realized he was still managing to breathe. He then remembered what Slash had told him the day before.

"I've been talking with Mikey and gosh Leo, he really needs you at home."

Leo shook off the thought and returned the hug but didn't say anything in return. Mikey gulped and buried his head in Leo's shoulder, unable to stop a few tears from falling from his eyes, "Just make sure you're happy."

"I will, baby brother."

"Love you bro."

"Love you too."

Mikey pulled away, trying the scrub the tears from his face. He felt a hand on his shoulder and turned to see Raph with an open invitation in his eyes. The orange masked turtle smiled a small smile and then stepped forward to hug his red masked older brother. Raph wrapped his baby brother in his arms, letting him bury his face in his neck and release the rest of his tears without shame, worry or fear. Mikey didn't have to be alone and do everything on his own anymore, he had a big brother now. Don was the last to say goodbye but when he gently embraced his oldest brother he found a kind of state of peace settling over him. He could live with this. He knew he could. Leo would be fine, happy and strong. Sure his family wanted a second chance but they couldn't and wouldn't force Leo to return to the nightmarish world when he had a paradise here. After everything he had to take care of in his life, all the responsibilities, all the troubles and everything he did for them, well he deserved this. It was what he wanted.

Don murmured against Leo's shoulder, "I'm sorry, we-I shouldn't have-"

"Shh," Leo said and ran his fingertips across the back of Don's neck, causing him to relax, "I've forgiven all of you and don't forget, I love you, Don."

Don pulled away slightly and wiped away the tears on his face, "I love you too Leo. Good luck with your training."

Leo nodded and watched sadly as his last younger brother pulled away and they all climbed into the ShellSub. As it began moving out into the water, Leo felt a hand on each of his shoulders. He looked back to see Slash at his right and Venus at his left. They were both wearing matching smiles. Leo returned the smile and they all embraced each other tightly. Out in the bay that bled into the wide ocean, the three mutant turtles gazed back sadly as they watched another family absorb their brother. The sub had yet to submerge underneath the calm waves so while autopilot was on they all sat on top of the ShellSub, watching in melancholy silence as their oldest brother disappeared more and more into the distance. Finally though Leo stepped away from the group embrace and waved to his brothers, giving a final goodbye. They waved back and kept waving until the shadowed figures turned and disappeared back into the cover of trees.

Mikey sniffled before whimpering. Raph turned and pulled his baby brother to him, "It's ok Mikey. Leo will be happy here."

Raph turned and pulled Don towards him when the purple banded turtle let a whimper escape his own throat, "And we can come back and visit him anytime."

"Soon?" Mikey asked as he buried his face in Raph's neck, tears still falling from his eyes.

"Yeah," Raph said with a small, hopeful smile as he looked up and watched the sunset beginning to disappear below the horizon, "Real soon little brother."

…

Would you hate me if this was the ending?

Readers: GLARE GLARE *Forms angry mob armed with pitchforks, giant mallets, knives and torches.*

Ok. O_O' How about we continue?

Reader armed with chainsaw: Good choice. ^_^

…

Raph sighed and glanced up at a sonar sensor screen in the ShellSub. His baby brother was currently curled up in his lap, mumbling in his sleep and kind of drooling on his plastron. The red masked turtle would've, a year ago, shoved Mikey away but this Raphael was different, time had just changed him too much.

"He asleep?" Don asked, walking up to his brothers and joining them on the floor, their shells leaning against the side of the submarine.

"Yeah," Raph said, tucking the one brown blanket they had more tightly around Mikey and lifting a corner for Don to slide in next to them.

With a yawn, the purple masked turtle pillowed his head on his older brother's shoulder and mumbled, "We'll come back really soon won't we? And we'll bring Master Splinter too, when he wakes up."

Before Raph could think up a response, his purple clad younger brother was asleep.

The three turtles woke up the next morning to the sound of Don's shellcell ringing.

"Are either of you calling me?" he asked.

The red and orange clad turtles shook their heads.

"Maybe it's Leo, wanting to say goodbye a last time," Mikey suggested, crawling out of Raph's lap and stretching.

Don answered the phone thinking, "Maybe it is Leo. Maybe he…changed his mind and wants to come back with us."

The happy thought showed on his face and then-

It fell when he recognized that it wasn't Leo. It was April, calling to see when they'd be home.

"Yeah, we'll be home later today," Don said, quickly hanging up, "Yeah we found Raph. He's fine."

"That was April," Don explained at the crestfallen looks that stared back at him.

They all eventually climbed to their feet, all silent and unsure of what to say or do. Don turned off the autopilot and took control of the sub, just really for something to do.

"Don't worry Mikey," Raph said as they sat down in the chairs behind Don, "We'll see Leo again real soon. So soon you won't even notice time passed."

Mikey bent his head forward, "I know we did the right thing but-"

"It isn't fair because it's not what we want," Don finished.

"But that ain't fair to Leo, if it had been one of us Leo wouldn't have pushed us to come home," Raph said.

They all sighed, they knew that was the truth. After a few silent minutes later Mikey almost spoke up again when something banged against the side of the sub.

"What's that?" Mikey and Raph shouted in unison.

Don turned the camera but saw nothing, "I don't know but we better surface."

"It's got to be a sea monster!" Mikey yelped, jumping into Raph's lap, "Save me!"

Of course when they surfaced, they found the water around them was still.

"I can't see anything with the camera, someone's going to have to go up and look around, maybe dive and see if something's underneath the sub."

Mikey grew stiff. No way. He wasn't going to do it.

"I'll check it out," Raph said, getting up and sitting Mikey into the chair, "Keep a look out for whatever it is but don't do anything stupid."

"Yes sir, Leo junior," Don muttered under his breath.

Raph was beginning to irritate him. He was nothing like the old Raphael they knew. Either way whatever hit them was going to have to deal with his new-

Before he could finish the thought a yell rang out.

"Don! Mikey! Get out here!"

They scrambled for the hatch climbing out and staring out in wonder at the sight of a full wooden boat next to their sub and Raph was already on it, hugging a laughing Leo.

"LEO!" Mikey shouted and jumped over to the boat jumping the distance between them.

Remembering he had put the sub back on autopilot when he scrambled above he jumped the distance and joined the group.

"But Leo-how? Why are you-? Did you-?" the three younger turtles asked randomly, blending the questions together.

"We found them!" Leo shouted.

A trap door opened and the turtles were shocked to see Venus walk out, "Don't look so surprised, you can do anything with a bit of magic."

To prove her point she waved her hand at the deck of the small boat and the wood began glowing before creating a bridge towards the open hatch of the ShellSub.

"Does this mean, you're coming home?" Don asked hopefully to his oldest brother.

Leo smiled humorously, "Yes, I'm coming home."

"Yes!" Mikey shouted, hugging Leo tighter and burying his face in his neck, this time though the tears running down his face, were tears of happiness and relief.

"Thank you Leo, thank you," Don said.

Raph smiled at Leo in mock humor, "I could've handled it."

"But, it's my job," Leo defended.

Raph looked at the younger turtles and raised a hand to rest it on Mikey's shoulder, "No, it's our job now."

They shared an affectionate smile and then a clank against the side of the ship had Don and Mikey panicking about what had hit their sub. To their surprise Venus lifted her hand and lifted the being onto the boat.

"This water is full of seaweed!" it complained and the other turtles calmed down when Raph went over and pulled away the green ocean plant, "Calm down, it's just Slash."

"Hey everybody!" he called and began pulling away all the ocean plants sticking to him.

"So are you and Slash going back to China?" Don asked, remembering that Venus had mentioned it back at the Ancient One's.

"No," she said with a taunting smile.

"Guys," Leo said quietly, getting everyone's attention, "I have to say all this time I was trying to choose between two families, when all I needed was one. So, if it's alright with you guys, I've invited Slash and Venus to our home."

Raph smiled, "I'm all for it, Venus is one shell of a doctor and from what I've seen, Slash can make an apple tree grow upside down."

The light blue masked turtle blushed from the compliment while Slash did a little dance.

"Mikey? Don?" Leo asked.

"You actually need my answer?" Mikey said, still slinging to Leo, "I'll finally have someone that'll know what I'm talking about! Plus, Slash needs a good video game marathon to really start living."

"Don?"

Everyone turned to the purple clad turtle who shrugged and smiled, "How can I say no? Venus' magic may help us wake up aster Splinter and since Slash likes doing the dishes how can I deny him the joy of washing the dishes for all of us?"

Everyone shared the same smile.

"Come on, let's get into the ShellSub," Leo said, walking towards the bridge Venus had built.

"What about the boat?" Don asked.

"I'll take care of it," Venus said and when they all stood on top of the sub they watched as Venus surrounded the boat in magic before it completely vanished.

"What did you do with it?" Slash asked.

"I sent it to my village," Venus explained, hoping it did not cause her village to freak out. Well that was something to worry about at another time.

They all ducked inside the sub, all six turtles embracing one another in a large group hug.

"Now, let's go home," Leo said.

Hours later the six turtles stood around an unconscious Splinter as Venus used her magic, Leo and Slash joining, despite the only small amount they knew. Don had his head buried in a medical textbook, all the words giving him a headache. Uh, he was an engineer not a doctor. Raph was standing off to the side for a minute before he reached out and rested a hand on Leo's shoulder. Their gazes met. Then, the brothers and best friends shared a smile. Mikey came in after a silent minute, reporting that dinner was ready. They had all turned to leave with a sound came from the unconscious elderly mutated rat.

Across the world in China, the people of the village gathered around this strange wooden thing that had appeared near the Guardian's home. They considered it a gift from the Guardian herself and let it remain there as a shrine of honor.

Back in Japan the Ancient One sipped his tea silently, staring at the graves that marked where his children lay. He finished his tea and reached out for the pot that lay next to him on a small table in the garden. As he poured and drank a second cup he could swear he could hear the call of 'camera-mile!' in the distance. With a laugh he finished his next cup and looked up at the overhead starry sky. Leonardo had come to him shortly before the kumquats had left. He promised to drag his family back to Japan for three months every year. He had agreed wholeheartedly. So after a few more minutes he picked up his now empty tea pot and tea cup before making his way into his house where soon, more than just he and three turtles would reside. No, a larger family would soon dwell here. Perhaps one day, if it was needed they would call this place home but for now he waited, for his beloved children to return home, once again.

And that's it for "Where's Leo?" I hope everyone liked it. It's official I've now finished my oldest and probably longest story. At least for the time being. Thanks for all the reviews, being readers and for just loving TMNT.

You guys rule!

A last few reviews for this story and final chapter please? I'm so happy. My worst story is finally done. Thank goodness.

~Moonsetta