* Author's note* To speed up time, I jumped the plot line forward a little. Hope it makes sense! R&R and let me know. Thank you*





Chapter Thirteen:

As Time Passes




Donatello slowly opened his eyes, only to shut them as the bright rays of the morning sun hit them. He yawned, stretching his arms and legs, feeling the ache in his back and shell return, caused by the many nights of sleeping on a cold floor with only an old sleeping bag. He placed his hand up over his eyes to shield out the light and opened his eyes once again. Don then moved up to a sitting position and rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. He focused on his watch, looking for the time, but then remember the battery had died some time ago. He shook his head at himself, then glanced over to the sleeping bags his brothers occupied. Michealanglo snored soundly, the shirt of his uniform and his mask on the floor beside him, and his arms were crossed under his head, for they had no pillows. Don watched Mike's face twitch, as if the young turtle was dreaming. Don laughed and smiled, then turned to Leonardo's bag, only to find it empty, except for the shirt of Leo's uniform, folded neatly on top of it. Panic crept up on Don and his eyes dashed around the room, fearing that Leo had run off again. His eyes came to rest on an open door that led to the roof of the warehouse, and it explained the reason for all of the sunlight that poured in. A cool breeze passed through, signifying to Don it was almost the end of summer.

Don rose to his feet, feeling the aches descend down his legs and into his feet. He once again thought of his comfortable bed back home in the sewers. He yawned again, looking at the wall in front of him. He had constructed a calender out of old army maps months ago, because it was the only way they had now to kept track of the days. Don blinked, looking at the month, then the date, then his jaw dropped. If he remembered correctly, it had been a little over a year since the war had begun. Don rubbed his eyes, as if he didn't believe what he was seeing. A year. An entire year had passed, even if it didn't seem like it. It had been a year since the Madria had taken over the city, forcing the Mutant Militia into hiding. A year since the Foot emerged, in greater numbers and with more powerful fighters then the Turtles had ever seen. And, it had been a year since they had seen Raphael, and the tension between the brothers had grown out of control since that fateful day. Mike and Leo had stopped talking after several attempts on Leo's part to apologize to him. They only spoke through Don, but even Don became tired of the game, and stopped talking to the both of them. Leo lost faith in himself as a leader and commander, and had given up on the purpose of their mission. He spent time to himself, and would leave for days at a time, making Don worry and fear the worst. Mike, on the other hand, would wish Leo would never come back. He did talk about Raph constantly, remembering all the times they hung out or the times they got into trouble together. Then, Mike would cry, thinking that Raph was gone forever. Don didn't know what to say then, and just let his little brother cry on his shoulder.

Don walked over to the open door, grabbing his bo staff to use for support for his aching back, and headed up the cold metal stairs to the roof. When he reached the top, he saw Leo, standing very close to the edge of the roof, facing the river to the east. The wind picked up, catching the tendrils of Leo's blue mask, and whipped the ends around his shoulders. Don quietly watched Leo for a moment. He felt so angry at his brother, but at the same time, he still loved him. Leo was always the strong one, guiding the way for them all of those years ago, giving them strength and courage to face anything that was in their path. Now Don knew Leo was the one who needed the strength from them. Don then walked over and stood beside Leo, studying the stern expression Leo always carried. Leo caught Don staring out of the corner of his eye and smiled slightly. Don caught the smile that appeared and placed his open hand on Leo's shoulder.

"Happy birthday, bro." Don said, with a smile.

"Thank you," Leo responded in a low whisper, almost as he was embarrassed. Tears then began to well up in his eyes as Don grabbed him and they hugged tightly. Leo was surprised by Don's sudden gesture, but held onto him. Leo had felt so hated by his brothers, but this affection made him feel like now was the time to change things.

"How does it feel to be nineteen?" Don asked after he pulled back, wiping his own tears away.

Leo laughed slightly, doing the same to his own tears. " Not very good." He turned back to the river, watching the wind carry the waves of the water. "I don't think I deserve to see nineteen."

"Don stepped back in shock. " Leo! Don't say things like that!"

"Look at us!" Leo felt his suppressed emotions begin to push out. " Look what happened! The troops gave up on me! Mike hates me! Raph is gone, probably dead."

Don's body shuddered from Leo's words. " Don't say that either."

"Don, I'm sorry. I'm just so sorry. I let all of you down." Leo buried his face in his hands and let more tears flow out. "I failed my family. I failed Splinter."

Don dropped his head, not knowing what to say to comfort his oldest brother. He just watched as Leo fell apart, the only time in his life he had ever seen him so emotional. Don never knew Leo could be so vulnerable. Leo then dropped down to his knees, still shaking from the tears that hit the roof below him. Don dropped down too, one hand holding his staff, the other he planted firmly onto Leo's shell.

A noise from behind them cause Don to turn sharply, making the ache in his back sting again. Mike had awaken, and stood at the top of the staircase, holding his arms to his chest to protect himself from the cold wind that blew. He seemed to be half-asleep, yawning as he looked at Don and Leo. Don rose and walked over to Mike.

"What's going on? Mike's teeth chattered as he talked. "What's wrong with Leo?" His face turned to an expression of concern.

"I think Leo woke up this morning and realized what an ass he's been." Don said, half-joking, trying hard to lighten the mood. Mike didn't laugh, but instead walked over to Leo and sat down, his back facing the city below so he could look Leo in the face. Leo lifted his head and looked at Mike with shock in his eyes. Mike was also surprised. Like Don, Mike had never seen Leo so emotional. He stared at the tears that fell down Leo's cheeks.

"What's wrong?" Mike asked, his voice full of care and concern.

"Everything." Leo sobbed. He grabbed Mike's hands and turned his body around to face him. "Mikey, I am so sorry I messed up. I'm sorry I told Raph to leave." He buried his face into Mike's hands and continued to cry. " Please don't hate me."

"Aw, Leo. Stop that!" Mike felt the tears well up in his own eyes. " You know how sensitive I am!" He laughed as the tears began to pour down. "See? You're making me cry!"

Leo raised his head, slightly laughing as Mike pointed at his face. Don then began to laugh, watching the two of them mix their emotions together. Mike grabbed Leo in a hug and once again Leo hung on, feeling the forgiveness in Mike's embrace.

"I'm going to fix things Mikey. I promise." Leo said as he pulled back. He jumped to his feet and grabbed his katanas, which were leaning on a vent, and headed for the stair case.

"Are you going to fix things right now?" Mike laughed again, rising to his feet. Leo stopped next to Don and turned around.

"Yes. I feel I need to. It's been too long." He looked down at the stairs. " Raphael is waiting for me." And with that, he disappeared.



Linda sighed heavily as she placed her head down on a wooden crate. Her body has refused to get up this time. The pain of many days running around the city had finally caught up to her, and the growling in her stomach intensified. She realized she hadn't eaten anything in days. Food was becoming scarce all around the city, so she had no choice. Her thoughts then turned to her father. Linda had run into him, several times, and had even had gone out with him into the city with the other Foot ninjas. Han would still not speak to her, or would even acknowledge her presence. Linda finally gave up on him, feeling that Saki had the Madria brain wash him to keep her loyal to the Foot. She also tried to talk to Raphael, as he laid in his cell, but he still refused to speak to her. She just watched as his health depleted day by day, and stood by helplessly as Jonas continued with his weekly torturing on Raph. At night, when she was all alone, she would cry, wishing the hand of Death would touch her so she wouldn't have to spend another day in her own personal Hell. She had lost her father, and she had lost the love of her life. Linda thought about Leonardo every day, and it only made her feel worse. She had fallen into the depths of depression, and had no way out.

A door slammed open, waking Linda out of her thoughts. She raised her head to find Shredder standing over her. The skin on his face seemed to drip off from under his metal mask as his breath came out in sharp rattles.

"What are you doing in here?" He growled at her, obviously angered by her sudden disappearance.

"I-I'm sorry Master." Linda cringed at her own words. " But I was tired and I-"

"Foolish dog!" Saki yelled. " You have no time for rest! You have another mission to carry out today!"

"But Master," Linda's eyes began to tear as she pushed herself up to her feet. " I feel very weak-"

Shredder grabbed Linda's Foot uniform collar "You will go, NOW!" He then threw her to the ground.

Linda returned to her feet, then made the mistake of glaring at Saki. " Why don't you do it yourself!"

As Linda turned to walk away, Shredder grabbed her pony-tailed hair and pulled her back.

" How dare you speak to your master like that!" He flung Linda around to face him, then slapped her face with the back of his hand. Linda cried out, the tears flowing down her face. Shredder threw her to the floor, watching as Linda curled into a ball and cried loudly.

"You will go or I will kill you!" Saki turned and walked in a fast pace through the door. Linda didn't move for what seemed like hours, her body violently shaking from the tears and from the fear of Saki. It wasn't until another Foot member pulled her up and pushed her to the waiting helicopter outside did she wake from her emotional daze and return to the cold persona she had been carrying for the past year.



Leonardo felt so lost roaming the streets of New York. Everything he had grown to know about the city had been destroyed. Over half of the buildings that made the city famous had been blown up or burnt to the ground. The streets that had once been packed with cars had become a graveyard with half decaying bodies covering them. Nothing looked familiar to him anymore. It was as if he had walked through the gates of Hell. Leo shook his head, his anger and his sadness fighting the other to break out first. He then looked at an open manhole, the cover broken in half as if it had been blown apart. The only relief Leo held was the fact that Splinter was safe upstate with Casey and April. The Foot had been looking for them for a long time, and the sewers were the first place they looked. Leo then looked up at the warehouse that sat on an island out on the river. He knew that was where Shredder was, where the Foot was hiding, and where his brother was being held. Leo felt scared suddenly, but shook it off quickly. That was what he had become this past year; afraid of everything and everyone; someone who felt no hope in his heart. But that was over. Leo was a year older, and he felt it was time to grow up.

Taking a deep breath, he started for the docks on the river, planning to take a water route to the warehouse, when he heard the sound of an approaching helicopter. His instinct directed him to hide behind a nearby rubble pile, and he quickly moved out of sight. He watched as the huge black helicopter landed only a few yards away from him, and several Foot members jumped out. One of them shouted orders in Japanese, and many of them took off in different directions. Then the one who gave the orders jumped back into the helicopter and Leo watched as it flew away. Looking back to the ground, Leo noticed one Foot ninja remained, standing in one spot and it almost seemed to him the soldier refused to move. Leo smiled, thinking this would be the perfect time to get information on Raph. The solider's back was turned to him, so Leo, quietly but quickly, ran up behind the soldier and wrapped his arm around his neck. The soldier struggled against Leo's grip as Leo placed a katana into the solider's back.

"Okay buddy. If you answer some of my questions, you may live."

Then the soldier stopped moving.



Linda gasped, not wanting to believe that it was Leo's voice she had just heard.. So many things raced through her head at once, wanting to tell him it was her. But her fears over came her. Leo would never love her if he knew the truth. Linda then realized, if she talked, she would revealed herself. But if she didn't, he would kill her.


"I said, where is my brother?" Leo repeated for the second time, twisting the blade against the soldier's side. The soldier let out a small yelp, but that was all he could get out of him. Leo grabbed the soldier's shoulders and turned him around to face him.

"I won't ask you again! Answer me!"


Linda stared into Leo's eyes, feeling the anger that poured out at her. Her heart felt so heavy in her chest, like it was going to burst out. Leo's katana dug farther into her side, and she knew she had to do something.


Leo was shocked when the soldier flung his leg up and kicked him across his jaw. Leo staggered back, then dropped his katana. Leo narrowed his eyes. That's okay, he thought. If it's a fight he wants, then we'll fight. Then he lunged at the solider, screaming at the top of his lungs.


Linda's eyes grew wide when she saw Leo coming towards her. She prepared herself for the fight, but knew she couldn't over power him. All of the times they sparred in the Turtles dojo, Leo had beaten her. She knew she had no chance. Leo delivered the first punch to her side, followed by a few kicks, which Linda dodged only one. She returned with a few hits to his abdomen, then raised her foot to kick, only to have Leo block it and throw her to the ground. As tired as she was, Linda returned quickly to her feet and charged at Leo. Leo flipped over Linda's head and sent her back to the ground with a roundhouse kick. This time Leo pinned her to the ground before she had the chance to get up. She again struggled against him, but found she unable to break free.

"WHERE IS HE???" Leo screamed in her face. Linda didn't speak, but felt exhaustion take over her and the tears running down her face. All she could do was shake her head. Then to Linda's horror, Leo growled and ripped at the black mask that covered her identity. The next thing she knew, she was staring right into the shocked eyes of the man she loved.

"Linda?" Leo said her name breathlessly, not believing his eyes. He blinked several times before he finally realized it was really her. He fell backwards, his eyes still staring in her direction. It had been so long since he had seen her, and she somehow appeared older, grown up, than the young woman he had known. Linda managed to pull herself up to a sitting position, refusing to break the eye contact they shared. The silence that surrounded them was so loud, Linda wanted to cover her ears and run away.

Finally, Leo spoke, not to Linda, but more to himself. " He was right."

Linda knew he was talking about Raph, and it made her heart ache. She had made a mistake. She let her fear of losing her father take over her judgement, and now, her price would be losing the one true love of her life.

An explosion in the distance woke them both of their trance, and the Foot's helicopter suddenly appeared behind Linda. She turned to it, watching the others board it, then turned back to Leo. She watched as the shock finally faded away in his eyes, and confusion set in. Linda searched his eyes for any signs of forgiveness, but found nothing there. The tears raced back down her cheeks as she reached down and picked up the hood of her Foot uniform.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, then after she replaced the hood on her head, Linda turned and boarded the helicopter. Leo returned to his feet and watched the helicopter fly back across the river towards the warehouse, then he felt a horrible pain in his chest. It was his heart, and it had broken in a million pieces.


Don sat in confusion on the first floor on the MM hideout. The explosion that rocked the building was only a few blocks away. He knew the Foot were getting closer, and he was afraid that Leo would run into them. He wrung his hands together nervously, his brain racing as he tried to think of what to do. Leslie and Mike came up behind him and Leslie tapped his shoulder.

"Donatello, are you-"

Don then shot up from his seat, making them jump back in surprise. He walked over the wall, grabbed his bo and walked back up to Leslie.

"Lieutenant, gather the troops. We're going after Leo and Raph."




Miles away, in a quiet backyard garden, Splinter sat in deep meditation. It had been so long since he had talked or seen his sons, and it worried him. He concentrated on them, searching the miles between them for some sign that they were alright. Splinter then felt something. Pain. Intense pain from one of them, Raphael. Then incredible sadness from another, Leonardo. Then confusion from yet another, Donatello. But yet, in the last one, he found a little bit of hope. He smiled as he knew it was from Michaelangelo. It was something Mike had not felt for a while, but at that moment it had returned. Splinter opened his eyes, then made the decision to head for the city to help his sons. He needed to be there for them, as any father would be. He grabbed his walking stick, then headed out into the woods.

From the porch steps, Casey watched as Splinter disappeared into the woods. He knew exactly where Splinter was going, and knew it would be dangerous for him to go by himself. Casey jumped to his feet and called out to the screen door.

"April, honey. I'm going to the store. I'll be right back." Then he took off running after Splinter.