LEO

Leo immediately caught on to Zoe's plan. Of course. He should've seen it himself. Though he was comforted by the thought, hope, that he probably would have if Z hadn't been so quick on the draw.

Letting Mikey pass with Scout in his arms, they formed a ring around the large, indestructible man. A few quick hand signals and they all knew what they had to do.

Medusa and Sappho closed in first. The man was fast, with impressive reflexes. And while Dusa and Saph, didn't get a hit in neither did their opponent, quickly becoming frustrated with his inability to catch Leo's impossibly quick sisters.

Then, the opening came, when the man overextended himself, lunging for Sappho whom Medusa snagged out of range at the last second.

Aries charged in from behind, ramming the man between the shoulder blades at the same instant, Raph and Leo appeared on either side, each sweep kicking a leg out from under him.

Then Arcos pounced upon his back, pinning him with his full weight.

The man tried to rise, but Medusa quickly slithered in, coupling around him, to force his arms and legs out and useless under Arcos and Medusa's combined weight.

Then Sappho and Aries each pinned a leg while Raph and Leo locked his arms down.

"Zoe. April. Now." Leo cried out.

Zoe crouched beside him, grabbing him by the back of the neck. For a moment there was nothing. Then screams. Howling, inhuman screams as he thrashed wildly, unable to break their combined grip.

"What the fuck is going on?" Aries yelled, keeping his grip on the man's leg despite violent efforts to buck him off.

"He's not used to pain. And he's feeling everyone's. All the hurt he's caused. It's his now." Zoe's voice held a growl as she spoke.

April approached. "Well?"

"He's as open as he'll ever be." Zoe smiled.

April bent down and touched the top of the man's head, the air around her humming with power.

Then man convulsed for a few moments before going still, a puddle of drool forming under his open mouth.

As they all let go and stepped back, Arcos lifted the man's head, revealing his blank, unseeing eyes. "What did you do?"

"His body might be indestructible, but his mind was not. Now he's just an empty shell." April responded dispassionately, sparing no empathy for the creature that had harmed her son.

Leo looked out among the crowd of remaining enemies, all gaping in disbelief at their fallen leader. They began to drop their weapons, holding their hands up in surrender.

"Zip ties." Leo decided and his family went to work on those who remained alive and ambulatory.

"What the shit was that guy?" Raph muttered as they worked.

"A mutant." Donnie answered. "Probably from the early days when Mutagen was really unstable and could combine with anything, even inanimate objects. I conjecture he's some kind of steel composite."

"So why ain't he a freak show like Muckman?" Raph griped.

Donnie shrugged. "Dumb luck. It's probably how he survived this long."

Leo pondered the truth of that. In the days of escalating violence leading up to the war, most of the particularly non-human looking mutants had bit it, being the preferred targets whether they were maliciously dangerous or not. Or, as it later turned out, disappeared into the clutches of the EDF. It had been so long since they'd faced off with a genuinely dangerous mutant, he'd almost forgotten the intensity of it.

"Medusa, Sappho. I need you to find Marco and make sure he understands that he will be testifying with full cooperation against this organization without taking a plea bargain to reduce his own sentence, same as Tripp."

They nodded.

"Donnie..."

His brother cut him off, already typing into his tablet. "The files are sent to the police, appearing to come from a conscientious objector within the group. They have it all."

Leo gave a sharp nod. "You and Sappho keep an eye on it, I don't want a single one weaseling out of this. And the police..."

"...are on their way." Donnie finished. "They have the location and are aware of the trafficking. There's not much time."

Leo looked out upon his family. No matter what good you did, a vigilante must not get caught doing it. Especially with the body count tonight. "Get everyone packed up in the vehicles. We move out now."

He turned his attention to the restrained men. "I advise against mentioning us in any specific detail." His voice carried a dangerous edge to it.

A quick glance at their vegetable of a leader and they were all nodding fervently.

He'd have Don and Saph keep watch and make sure any links to them uncovered in the ensuing investigation conveniently disappeared.

As he carried Shen's still body back to the van, Arcos stopped him. "Should we really just leave? Those crates are full of people. I can smell them."

Leo nodded. "I know. I'm hoping the police will free them. Could you stay nearby and watch, just to be sure?"

"Of course." Arcos answered, melting back into the shadows.

Suddenly Leo felt very tired, wanting nothing more than to go home and luxuriate in the safety of having their family back.

SCOUT/MIKEY/JEM/DENIM

Grandmere's gift had eased Scout's pain, healed her injured back, dulled the ache in her head. But it couldn't flush the drugs out. For that she'd have to wait. She leaned against her dad as he carried her to the car, her mother reaching out to push the hair back from her eyes.

Scout looked at her, heart pounding as she would finally, for however brief it was, get to hear their voices. "I'm sorry for all of this."

Her dad ground to a halt, both her parent's mouths falling open, then realization dawning, they snapped shut. Her mother's eyes filled, as she reached across her dad's arm to cup Scout's chin. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Scout shook her head. "I didn't do this on purpose. I didn't- I wasn't- seeking. I swear." Squirming in her dad's arms, she struggled to get more upright and flung her hands around the back of his neck. Burying her face in his shoulder she sobbed. "Please don't send me back to rehab. I don't want this stuff in me. I'll do whatever you say, no lies, no tricks, I swear. I didn't want this. Daddy, please."

Mikey cuddled her close. "I know, Cubs, I know. Anton saw you turn 'em down. I'm so proud of you. And we'll take good care of you while it works out of your system. Ice cream for dinner, if you want."

Denim swatted him lightly on the shoulder.

Jem walked close behind his parents, listening to Scout's muffled cries, pleading that their parents not send her back to rehab. He was ready to intervene and plead on her behalf, but their dad had it. She'd detox at home. Having not been by her side for the first go round, he had mixed emotions about being there for the second. He just hoped it was the last.

As they piled into the car, Uncle Leo's voice came through his mother's com just loud enough that he could hear. "Everyone to the warehouse. This family needs to have a little chat."

Internally Jem groaned. They were likely in seriously deep shit. He scooted over as Anton climbed in next to him, holding Alli, who even in her sleep clung to him. Grandme're hadn't got to finish healing everyone and Alli still looked rough. "She okay?"

Anton pulled her closer, if that were possible. "She will be."

With their dad driving, Scout in the middle leaning on their mom who was in the passenger seat, Jem exhaled a semi-sigh of relief. They were all alive. Help was on its way to those they'd left behind. Jem frowned, looking back as the warehouse faded from sight. His tonfa were on the floorboard, stained in red. The things he'd done back there, he wasn't so sure anyone could simply drive away from.

His mother's fingers touched his carapace then, as she twisted around to look back at him. "You okay, Jemmy?"

He tore his gaze from the horizon to look in her indigo eyes. "I don't really know, Mom. I mean we- my cousins and me I mean, we're in trouble, right? And the things I did back there-"

His eyes grew moist, as he blinked, his mind swimming with images of the blades on his tonfa slicing through flesh, the feel of it splitting, cutting through muscle and tendon, intestines... spurts of bright red splashing his skin. He looked down at himself, to the dried brown clinging to his clothes and arms, some on his face. His insides grew hot…

"Shit! Mikey, pull over, he's gonna lose it!" Anton yelled, moving Alli to the side as the car screeched to a stop. Antonello opened Jem's door in time for him to stumble out and hurl behind the back tire.

Denim opened her car door, Mikey behind her as Anton clambered out after Jem. "It's okay, Anton, stay with Alli," mom said. Then her fingers touched Jem's shoulder. "We don't have to talk about this now. In fact, we probably shouldn't. We need to get you cleaned up and some sleep. Everyone needs it after a night like tonight." She glanced at Mikey, her brow furrowed.

Mikey dug around the glove compartment for a bottle of water. There was usually one there as Denim liked them despite the total lack of flavor. Yup. Score.

He grabbed it and pushed out of the car, handing it to Jem as he gave his son's shell a pat. "It'll be ok. Well, no, probably not, but you'll make it through this and we'll help. I mean, it doesn't exactly get better, but you can kind of figure out how to live with it, if that makes sense. But we're here for you, 'k?"

Accepting the bottle, Jem sat on the curb, rinsed and spit. He took a long drink, near draining it. This wasn't anywhere in his life plan. Placing the bottle on the ground, he rubbed his face. Not that he'd mapped his life out to the end, but he had the general highlights and this sure as shell wasn't one of them. He was beyond exhausted, his body trembling as his stomach churned, despite having just divulged itself of its contents. Every time he closed his eyes-

There was no going back from this. No undo button. Yet when he replayed those moments a second further back, there were also no other options. It was his cousins, his siblings, or him. Given those options- well, he'd done exactly what he was trained to. Which made him queasy all over again.

He looked up at his dad, who spoke from experience, assuring him he wasn't alone. But in a way he was. They all were. Alone with their actions.

Glancing at his mother, Jem saw the guilt in her eyes. Suddenly what he knew of their past, was the shielded version. He was certain. "How do you guys live with yourselves?"

His mother flinched, his dad's eyes growing wide as Jem pushed himself to his feet and climbed back in the car.

Denim's eyes met Mikey's. "Okay," she blinked rapidly. "Okay. I was not expecting that. Let's get him to the warehouse and take it from there?"

He nodded slowly, the wind sucked right out of his sails. "Yeah. Nothing's gonna make it not suck for a while anyway. I think he asked that, well cuz he's mad, but also cuz he needs to know for himself. My answer is you, so I don't know how that'll help him." Mikey added with a tired smile. "Let's go home. Maybe things'll look better after we've caught some z's."

As her parents stopped to help Jem, Scout struggled to keep her eyes open. Alli and Anton's heads pressed together in the backseat, both breathing audibly. Breathing. She could hear them breathing. Her body was heavy, bruised and already getting sore, the fatigue of actual battle. And her blood, the way it thrummed with energy against her skin, although the fight was over, was unsettling.

There was a new urgency keeping her awake now. She needed to memorize the sounds all around her, of doors opening and closing, metal creaking, latches clicking. Her brother huffed a pout in the backseat. Her parents slid in on either side of her, material rustling over upholstery. There were so many sounds; the jingle of the keys as her dad started the car. There was the rumble and purr of the engine sparking to life. Her mother's distressed sigh, and her father's unusual silence.

As they drove on, nearing the warehouse, the sounds became farther away. Knowing she would never get them back, not this time, Scout pushed herself upright and grabbed each of her parents by the arm. "Say something."

"Like what?" Her mother asked, craning her head around to look at her. "Are you okay? Is something hurting?"

Her dad's eyes darted from the road to her and back. "You okay, Cubs? Like, I know you're not." His eyes flickered to Jem then back. "But like- do you need Grandmere or Donnie?" Scout's eyes filled and her dad's panic seemed to grow. "Cubs?"

"Scout, say something." Her mom begged, gently brushing hair from Scout's eyes.

"I can't, Mommy. I just want to listen." She sniffled. "While I still can, because it's going away. You're already starting to sound like you're in a tunnel and I just-" She reached out and hugged her mother. "I just want to hear you and Dad for as long as I can."

Denim squeezed Scout tight then guided her back to look at her. "You aren't wanting to get more of it, are you?"

Scout shook her head. "No, Mommy. I just- this is the end of sound for me, and it's kind of like wanting something really bad, getting it then trying to hold it to you when it has no shape or form. I can't keep it with me. I just want to hear your voices until it's gone, so I can remember them."

Denim's eyes filled and spilled over. "Sound to you, reminds me a lot of what it's like to love someone." She wrapped her arms around Scout. Pulling her close, she kissed the top of her head.

"I don't understand," Scout closed her eyes to better focus on her mom's voice. She had to memorize it. The way it had a slight southern drawl to it, warm and welcoming. And the way she said Scout's name, like she was embracing her. Scout's heart lifted and dropped before sending an ache throughout her chest with every beat.

"Someday, Hamato Scout, you will understand. But for now, if these are the last words you ever hear me speak, know that I love you." Denim grinned, chuckling a bit as she guided Scout upright. "As for your dad, ask him to talk and see what you get. His voice really will be the last one you hear."

Scout laughed as she set her hopes and sights on her teary-eyed dad. "Daddy, will you talk my head off?"

Mikey didn't know what to say, although, as a general rule, that never stopped him. And so, he opened his mouth and just let the babbling begin as he drove. Do's and don't's when considering culinary combinations. Tips and tricks for his favorite video games. How comic books worked as manuals for life. The finer points of nicknaming stuff. Some improvisational beatboxing.

It seemed like time sped up, making that the shortest drive ever to the warehouse. Kinda like the drive to the docks had been the longest. He parked and looked back, able to tell from Scout's expression that her hearing was gone, leaving only silent, bleeding ears.

He couldn't help wondering which of the inane things he'd said had been the last thing she'd ever hear. He wished it could've been something profound like Blue Jeans, but his mind ran more towards nonsense.

Jem got out, slamming the door behind him and stomping towards the warehouse. Mikey and Denim shared a look and sighed, exiting the car themselves. Anton carried Alli, while Scout walked between them, holding their hands as she rarely did. Even when she'd been a little girl, she was always more inclined to run ahead and explore.

Inside, Horace and Casey were waiting, brewing up tea, coffee and hot cocoa. Mikey could tell from Casey's expression that he was disgruntled. He hated being sidelined. But they all, including Casey, knew why. He was too important to too many innocent lives to compromise unless they were well and truly screwed.

Inside the warehouse, Scout felt the overwhelming need to split herself in two. She wanted to be with her parents, yet alone to deal with her renewed loss. This time to accept that it was permanent.

For as long as she lived she'd never forget the perfect, chattery, singsong sound with an undertone of uncharacteristic sadness that was her dad's voice. It was everything she'd hoped for and more.

She'd glanced at her mom, who'd wrapped her in her arms as her dad jabbered on about everything that he could. It was in that moment, when she'd looked at her mother, to find her intently listening, a smile on her face and light in her eyes, that she thought she recognized something pass from her into him. As if a person could share their strength, or radiate their love, maybe both. Maybe that was kind of what her mom had been talking about, because that moment wasn't something she could physically hold onto. But she saw it, felt it just the same. And it hadn't even made a sound.

Scout understood how her mother felt. Sort of. Of course, her dad was something different to her than he was to anyone else, even Jem and Alli. Scout needed him, the way he understood her, took time out for her, the way he taught her the art- with patience, while making very difficult moves still fun. He listened. He cared. And he never gave up on her.

For all the things he jabbered on about, the subjects didn't matter. It was him, being himself, that she got to hear and would always remember. Finally, all the things he'd said in daily conversation was condensed in one ongoing flow, with his personal inflection to it. That's what she wanted. That's what she got. But that didn't make it hurt any less when it all went away.

No matter how many times she'd come down off Essence before, nothing hurt as bad as knowing it would be her last. Letting her fingers slip from her parents, Scout went off in search of some time alone.

As the warmth of Scout's hand pulled away Denim found herself reaching for Mikey. She guided him over to a chair at the table as Casey slid a mug toward them. As was her post-fight practice, she stood back looking him over. "Babe, scoot forward to the end of your chair so I can get a look at your shell." She reached out already spying a new scuff and dent. "I'm guessing you'll be in line for Mom?"

Before Mikey could answer the warehouse, door opened, letting in a flood of family members. Raphael's mouth was going a mile a minute.

"What were you thinkin' huh? You could've been killed, Andrea!"

Drea crossed her arms and rolled her eyes. "It sucked! That's what I think! None of us wanted to be there, but someone had to do something!"

"We were on it!" Raph snarled. "You had no business goin' out on ya own!"

Andrea dropped her bloodied weapons on the floor at her father's feet. "Today I can honestly say I hate knowing what I know and that I had to do the things I did. But then again, if I didn't, what would've happened to Scout and Alli?" She squared her shoulders, meeting Raphael's scowl. "Can you honestly say you would've got there in time to stop them from being shipped off to who knows where?"

Raph's growl vibrated the warehouse, shaking the walls.

Denim bit her lip as Andrea fired back, very much her parent's child, while Zoe waited beside Raph, ready to either intervene if she deemed necessary, or to contribute what she had to say.

Behind them Leo slipped in carrying Shen, Karai right behind him, Aries came next carrying Nellie, then Donnie with Nik followed by April.

The congregated mess of parent and child, shifted to let Phoenix in, the healer setting right to work, giving orders. "Leo take Shen to my room, Aries take Chanel to yours, Donatello, take Nik to Arcos' room. Michelangelo, bring Scout and Jem, take them to Medusa's room. Antonello, bring Allison, put her here on the couch. I'll take care of her first. Andrea come here to me, let me have a look at you. Adults will have to wait, unless its life threatening. Speak now or get in line people!"

Everyone stared at Phoenix, the entire warehouse silent. "Well move!"

"No one leaves until we've all talked." Leo insisted, carrying Shen upstairs. "This- with the children will be addressed."