Author's Note:

To the Guest: Hehe. Thanks for reviewing! :D

Still Not Home

Rise verse

Donnie didn't begin to get slightly worried before the next day. It was an unusually long time for Leo to sort things out. Had something unexpected happened? As in, more unexpected than usual?

He wanted to talk about it with Raph, and he cornered him in the kitchen while he was making one of his infamous Raph-sandwiches.

Raph watched him with suspicion, his hands grabbing his food, but Donnie wasn't after the sandwich.

"Raph? Do you think we should…"

He glanced left and right in case Michelangelo had just popped into the kitchen. He didn't want their other-dimensional guests to listen to this conversation, and this was the orange-masked turtle's third favorite place in the lair after the Arcade and the skate ramp.

Michelangelo had a stomach as big as Raph's, which was an interesting mystery because he was so much smaller. But as he had refused to be dissected, Donnie wouldn't be able to solve it to his satisfaction.

"…Do something?"

"About what?" Raph asked before taking a big gulp of his sandwich.

"Oh, I don't know. About the fact our brothers are still missing?" Donnie paused. "Not that I'm worried about them."

"Ah, that!" Raph nodded vigorously. "Yes, I'm worried about them too."

Donnie frowned. "I just said that I wasn't wor-"

"But," Raph cut him off, "what are we supposed to do? The portal-making sword is with Leo. And without the portal-making sword, we can't do portals!"

Satisfied with his reasoning, Raph went on eating his snack.

"Yes, but don't you think they should be back by now? What if Leo can't use his sword to come back? What if he and Mikey are prisoners? What if…"

Donnie realized that Raph's face was crumpling and he decided to spare him the thirteen other hypotheses he had.

"What do we do? Donnie, what do we do?" Raph panicked.

Donnie aligned his two painted eyebrows in one big thinking one. "If Leo and Mikey can't open a portal on their end, we must do it on ours. Their weapons are mystical. They must have a different energy signature."

"Really?" Raph said with confused hope. "Uh… is that good?"

"That's good." Donnie smiled at him. "It means I might be able to track them down. I have a few theories, but as you know, my weapon isn't mystical. So I thought, maybe… maybe I could borrow yours for a few experiments?"

Raph almost dropped the remnants of his sandwich as he put his hands to his weapons.

"You want my weapons?" he said threateningly.

"It would only be temporary." Donnie tapped his fingers together. "Unless you have a better idea?"

Raph had no better idea, which meant he was left with two bad choices: either he renounced to his brothers or he renounced to his amazing, wonderful, so neat mystical weapons. Because he knew there was a very high probability they would end up broken in whatever experiments Donnie had in mind.

One of these choices seemed worse than the other, though, and thus Raph handed over his tonfa to Donnie.

"I trust you, Donnie," he said in a voice that didn't quite manage to carry it. "Take good care of them."

Donnie took the precious objects with a grin way too bright.

Leonardo entered the kitchen in search of a glass of water at that precise moment. He tilted his head at seeing the two conspirators.

"Is something the matter?"

"No, no, of course not!" Donnie and Raph chorused.

Both of them all but fled the kitchen, leaving Leonardo slightly confused.

Leonardo wasn't fooled. He knew that something was off, and he had his suspicions about what it was. After all, Raph had told him that Leo would come home very soon, no problem; and now they had been there for almost 48 hours and still nothing.

However, Leonardo was not expert about mystical portals, and he couldn't do anything about it. Maybe Leo would come home soon. Maybe Donnie would find a solution in the meantime - or maybe Donatello would.

Leonardo thought about his own world. Had Leo and Mikey met Donatello and Raphael? He truly hoped so, as much as he hoped that they had been well received. He was sure Donatello would be thrilled to have other-dimensional visitors, but Raphael might be a little more difficult to convince.

Leonardo sighed. There was nothing he could do, except going with the flow. Michelangelo was sure doing that extremely well.

But maybe it was time to organize their stay here a little better. As there were no official training sessions in this lair - something that never ceased to amaze him - he would have to make his own.

He had no intention to let his brother fall out of shape, after all.

Unsurprisingly, he found Michelangelo in the Arcade.

"Mike, I think we should train," he began softly.

Michelangelo knew Leonardo wouldn't hesitate to hide the screen if he didn't answer, so he didn't try to ignore him.

"Nah, Leo, there is no hurry. We can train at home. I have so many videogames to try here!"

"And they'll still be there for you after our sparring session."

"Can I at least complete my level?" Michelangelo negotiated.

"Of course. Join me as soon as you're done."

One hour later, Leonardo was perfectly warmed up and Michelangelo hadn't shown up. Rolling his eyes, he came back to the Arcade.

"Mike?"

"Still not finished," Michelangelo said quickly. "It won't save if I don't reach the checkpoint!"

Leonardo watched the screen. He didn't know that game, but he had an inkling his brother was lying.

He was about to call him out when Donnie, who was relaxing by being massaged by Shelldon, opened mildly curious eyes.

"You know, you can save at any time in this game."

"Oh really?" Leonardo said, very softly.

Michelangelo paused his game to watch his brother with a grin looking very much like a grimace. "I might have been mistaken," he admitted.

Leonardo raised an eyebrow but didn't pick up on the obvious lie.

"So, are you coming?"

"Can I at least complete my level?" Michelangelo tried.

This time, Leonardo crossed his arms and hardened his voice just a little. "No."

"Fiiine." With a sigh, Michelangelo saved his game and stood up.

"Are you really going to train?" Donnie asked, interested.

"Of course we are. Do you want to participate?" Leonardo offered.

Donnie shook his head, enjoying every bit of the massage Shelldon was giving him. "Nope."

Michelangelo gave him a forlorn gaze, and Donnie chuckled.

For all his whining, Michelangelo actually enjoyed sparring with his brother. And he had to admit that it felt good to stretch his ninja-muscles a little.

This lair was even vaster than their home and they had no problem finding a room suitable for that purpose.

Michelangelo was wondering whether he could throw Leonardo off balance long enough for a surprise attack when Raph opened the door.

"Oh! You're sparring?"

The envy in Raph's tone sounded a little surprising to Michelangelo, but after all, Raphaels could be weird sometimes.

Michelangelo silently checked with his brother that they could pause before turning his back to Leonardo in order to invite Raph.

"Do you want to come?"

Raph's eyes sparkled. However and to Michelangelo's surprise, he shook his head.

"Uh, oh, no. Thank you."

"Then do you want to watch?" Leonardo offered.

"Oh, yes! If you don't mind. I won't bother you." Raph rushed into the room and sat down next to the wall with a big grin.

Michelangelo exchanged a look with Leonardo. Why would the turtle want to watch but not participate?

Leonardo shrugged almost imperceptibly and adopted an on guard position, indicating that training should go on.

For the following half an hour, Michelangelo didn't have time to think about Raph's reasons. When Leonardo finally called a break, he stretched and came to collapse next to Raph.

"Hey, if you've changed your mind, don't hesitate. I could use someone to take Leo's focus off me."

Leonardo smiled.

Raph fidgeted. "No, thanks."

Michelangelo frowned. It was easy to see that Raph wanted to very, very bad.

"What's the problem, dude?"

Raph watched him with impressive puppy-dog eyes. Michelangelo wasn't used to that from a Raphael.

"I don't want to hurt you. I'm… well, you see." He shrugged his massive shoulders as he pointed at his body. "Big? Heavy?"

Michelangelo's eyes widened. "That's what's bothering you?" He nudged the big turtle. "It's only going to be a problem if you catch me. And you won't."

"Your brother does," Raph muttered.

Michelangelo rolled his eyes. "That's because he's a treacherous ninja who doesn't follow the patterns he's supposed to."

Leonardo grinned. "Thanks, Mike."

"And you know what?" Michelangelo went on, a perfect plan forming in his head. "I think he has been dying to spar with you since the beginning. How about you try it while I go mind my own business? I have a level to complete."

Raph's eyes went from Michelangelo to Leonardo, then back to Michelangelo.

"Uh…"

"Perfect! Then it's settled." Michelangelo jumped back on his feet as if he wasn't tired at all. "Tell me how it goes!"

"You won't be off the hook forever, Mike," Leonardo warned.

Michelangelo rightly interpreted it as permission to leave.

"Dude, I just gave you an enthusiastic sparring partner! You know I deserve a reward."

He winked at his brother and hurried to disappear before Leonardo could change his mind.

Raph stood up hesitantly. As much as he loved sparring, he didn't want to hurt anyone, and he went easy on his brothers on the rare occasions they trained together. But these two turtles… They hadn't held back. They took training seriously.

They had seemed to enjoy it, too, no matter what Michelangelo pretended.

He cleared his throat.

"So are you often training together?"

"At home? Every day." Leonardo tilted his head. "I thought we might as well get back into the habit. It looks like we'll be there for longer than expected."

Raph grimaced. "Don't worry about that. Donnie will find something to bring you back."

Leonardo had the sensitivity not to insist.

"So, how about hand-to-hand combat?"

Raph nodded slowly, intending to hold back like he did with his brothers.

A few moments later and his face against the cold hard floor, he completely reconsidered this strategy. Leonardo's fighting style was obviously fully compatible with bigger opponents.

"Okay, let's get serious," Raph groaned as he picked himself up.

Leonardo grinned. "It's about time."

2003 verse

Raphael was unable to focus on the TV. His mind was too busy wondering what Leo was brewing.

Since he had declared that he met the challenge, Leo had spent most of his time thinking and asking for information about Hun and the Purple Dragons, but he hadn't told anyone of his plan just yet. And it had already been two days.

Donatello was spending most of his time trying to make a portal, but he said he didn't know when or if his efforts would be met with success.

As for Mikey, he had just received a big mysterious package ordered online and was nowhere to be seen.

Luckily, Raph could always count on Casey to beat villains with him, or he would already have gone crazy. They also kept an eye on Purple Dragons' business, but so far the thugs kept a low profile.

As Raphael knew they were up to something, it wasn't a good sign. Maybe he should ask Donatello to come with them next time - his brother had ways of finding information that were way beyond Raphael's understanding.

But he would rather his genius brother focused on making a portal to bring Leonardo and Michelangelo back.

Raph sighed. He hated waiting. He hated worrying.

And most of all, he hated when…

…Paint dripped from the ceiling and splattered his plastron while he was trying to watch TV?

"What the…" Raphael exclaimed as he jumped backwards and looked up.

Mikey knew he should have warned Raphael that he was painting the ceiling, but everything in the red-masked turtle had screamed that he wanted to be left alone when he had come back home to collapse on the couch. So Mikey had decided that if he was extra careful, maybe Raphael wouldn't notice.

But in his enthusiasm, one droplet of paint had escaped his notice and landed right on Raphael's plastron.

"Sorry! My mistake!" he shouted.

Raphael was looking up at him with a flabbergasted expression.

"What are you doing?"

Mikey pointed proudly at the beginnings of his artwork. It was far from finished, but it was already possible to see the shapes of four mutant turtles and a rat. Donatello had been nice enough to give him pictures of Leonardo and Michelangelo, whom Mikey had never seen; but as the four turtles looked very much alike, he could use his sketches of Donatello and Raphael for them too.

This fresco was going to be a masterpiece, he knew it. And besides, it helped him pass the time while Leo thought about his big exploit.

Both Donatello and Splinter had immediately agreed when he had asked them if he could dispose of their ceiling.

"I'm painting the ceiling. Do you like it?"

He was fully expecting Raphael to grunt and complain that he should do a better job keeping his paint to himself, but Raphael seemed to have forgotten about the incident.

"That's… nice," the red-masked turtle said.

Mikey beamed. He had heard more fleshed out compliments from his own brothers, but this one was definitely one of the most moving.

Could it be that art would succeed where Doctor Delicate Touch and Doctor Feelings had both failed?

Mikey decided to push his luck.

"I could use some help with the tins of paint. Interested?"

To his surprise, Raphael chuckled. "A payback opportunity, uh? Alright. I'll help."

Donatello contemplated the beginnings of a portal taking shape in the garage. The theory was eluding him for now, so he had decided to relax his mind with engineering.

He welded another piece of metal. He had no idea if it was going to work, but he needed to do something in case Leo's future plan didn't work.

He enjoyed having visitors, but he wanted his brothers back.

He hoped they were doing alright. Leo and Mikey had assured him that Raph and Donnie would take good care of them, and he trusted them, but he would feel better when he would see his brothers with his very own eyes.

The sound of the elevator opening told him he had a visitor.

"Donatello?"

"Yes, Master Splinter?"

His father came closer to him.

"I wish to speak with you."

"Of course, Father. What can I do for you?"

Donatello put down his welding machine and removed his safety equipment.

"What do you think of our current situation?"

Donatello hesitated. He had already told Splinter about the sword and its challenge, as much as his own decision to try building a portal. "What do you mean?"

"Has this Leonardo come to you with a plan?"

Donatello shook his head. "No, Master Splinter. He wanted to know about Hun and the Purple Dragons, and I've told him everything I could. But he has been avoiding me lately."

"Hmm," Splinter said. He looked at Donatello's work. "And do you think you'll be able to build a portal to their home world yourself?"

Donatello sighed deeply. "I'm not sure, Sensei. I'll do my best."

Splinter smiled at him. "I know you will, my son." He put a hand on Donatello's shoulder and squeezed softly. "Try not to put too much pressure on yourself. I know you haven't been sleeping a lot these past few days."

"Yes, Master Splinter," Donatello said sheepishly, making a mental note to take proper sleep tonight.

He knew his father was already worried about his two missing sons. He didn't want Splinter to worry about him, too.

Leo was hiding inside the pool with only his eyes above the surface, watching Mikey and Raphael.

Since Raphael had agreed to help, the fresco hadn't advanced one inch; however, Raphael seemed to be a gifted student in the art of bodypainting, and both of them had great fun if the laughter was any indication.

The ground below was a mess, but Leo had seen and done worse at home. And he was happy his brother was enjoying himself so much, of course.

For his part, Leo was tenser than he had ever felt. The plan he had devised had way too many flaws for his peace of mind.

You could even say it was a plan worthy of his brother Raph.

Indeed, Leo had come to the conclusion that an exploit worthy of his sword's attention could be nothing less than beating the leader of the Purple Dragons, the mighty Hun.

But Leo had also come to the conclusion that he couldn't use his usual cunning. If he asked Donatello to create a sleeping gas and used it in the Purple Dragons headquarters to capture Hun, he knew it wouldn't count as an exploit. It would be efficient - treachery often was - but not honorable or impressive.

Champions didn't use sleeping gas.

Champions worked solo to gain the admiration of their fans.

A true champion would come into the Purple Dragons' lair and challenge Hun to a duel, and defeat him.

So that was what Leo was going to do. He didn't want to rely on Donatello to solve the mess he had himself created, and he didn't want to renounce to his sword, either.

He was going to make it eat its words. The sooner the better.

And of course, he couldn't tell anyone about his plan. The others would insist to come with him, except maybe Raphael.

From the corner of his eye, Leo saw Splinter cross the lair with barely an eyebrow raised at the mess Raphael and Mikey were creating and use the elevator to go up. He was surely going to talk to Donatello, who was working non-stop inside the garage.

And Raphael and Mikey were too busy to pay attention to him.

This was the perfect opportunity.

Leo silently left the pool and took his borrowed sword. Without any further hesitation, he sneaked out into the sewers.

He had an appointment with glory.