In the Lair....

Raph and Mikey carried Leo into the lab. Master Splinter was awaiting their return and had the lab set up to care for his injured student. "Donatello, place him here." Said Splinter. "Thanks Sensei. I need a scalpel, rags, hot water..." The list went on and on and Mikey and Raph went to get the items. "Be calm, my son you will help your brother he will be fine." Said Splinter. "I don't know if I can help him sensei. He is hurt bad and it looks like they were giving him some kind of drug." "You will help him my son." With that said Splinter turned towards his injured son. He looked over Leonardo and went into his mind.

Leo's Mind....

"My son, where are you." Said Splinter to the emptiness in Leo's Mind. "GO AWAY!!!" "Leonardo, my son please come out and show yourself." "I don't want to I don't have to you are not the boss of me here." Said Leo. "My son, you need to come back. Your brother is helping you, but you need to face this and not hide." "That's easy for you to say sensei, but you don't know how hard it is. You don't feel the pain like I do. You don't know what is going to happen when I wake up. Raph will probably make fun of me and say what an awful leader I am, and the pain is just awful. I don't want to wake up. Now GO AWAY!!" Leo flung his sensei out of his mind...

The Lair....

"Sensei," Mikey Cried "Are you ok?" "Your brother, he fought me, he will not come back." "What do you mean he won't come back Sensei," said Raph irritably. "Your brother is afraid to come back. Come let us leave Donatello and Michelangelo to their work I have to prepare you for your journey." "What journey, why do I have to go. I should stay with Leo." "My son you will have to find Leonardo." Said Splinter. "What do you mean sensei? Find Leo, he is right here." "Not in the physical my son, but in the metaphysical. Leonardo pushed me away from him. He is afraid to come back. He is in a lot of pain and self-loathing. He thinks you will belittle him about not being able to defend himself." "Sensei, I know I give him a lot of grief, but he was hurt I would never. The last time he was hurt, I.." "I know my son, but Leonardo has never seen that side of you." "What if he kicks me out too? Maybe you should have Mikey go. Me and Leo never see eye to eye." "That is why it must be you my son. But, your brothers will be gong also." Splinter walked back to the lab room where Leo was and awaited for Raphael to make his decision.

The lab....

"Donnie, will Leo be ok?" asked Mikey in a scared voice. "I don't know Mikey, if Raph can get him to come back in his mind his body will heal, but it will take time." Said Donnie. "Do you think Leo wants to come back?" "Don't be stupid Mikey of course he wants to come back. He loves us and he knows we need him." Said Donnie in a very aggravated voice. Just as Donnie finished saying this Master Splinter walked in. "Donatello, did you do all you can for your brother?" "Yes, sensei. We have to wait until Leo wakes up before I can do anything else." "I want you and Michelangelo to go with Raphael into Leonardo's mind." "Hai, Sensei." Said the brothers together.

LEO'S MIND....

"God, I am so scared." "FIGURE'S!!!" "Who's There?" "Just your brother who knew you were a chicken." "Raph..." "Hello Fearless Leader, or should I say Chicken Leader?" "Leave me alone Raphael. I don't want to fight with you right now." "But, I have to be here. After all it is the lair and it is my home too." "What do you want from me Raph." "I want you gone I am the leader not you. So, stay right here, and don't do anything PLEASE!!" "Why do you hate me Raphael? I don't understand, I thought that we were close once, but you really don't like me." "Why do you think? You are always the perfect one. The one Master Splinter loves. You can do no wrong. But, me, I am always in trouble, I do nothing right." "How is this my fault Raph? I don't get it. I am trying my hardest to be accepted. You, Donnie, and Mikey are so close. I have no one. You guys cast me out because I am the leader." "Oh, BOO-HOO. Lets see how Mikey and Donnie feel. Hey guys come out of your rooms." "Hey Raphy Boy," said Mikey coming down from his room.

"OH, hi Leo." He said not as happy. "Mikey, what's wrong what did I do." "Leo, I am tired of you being the Leader, you push us too hard, you never lighten up, and you are always getting hurt." "WHAT!! I am only trying to teach you guys. I lighten up. And I've been hurt once that is it." "Oh really Leo, said Donnie. "What do you call what you are now?" "What do you mean? I'm Fine." "No your not Leo, and I am tired of patching you up. I am tired of taking care of you." "Donnie, I don't understand, I'm fine nothing is wrong with me." "Geez, Leo you don't even know when your hurt?" asked Mikey. "Look down bro." Leo looked down at himself and realized he was bleeding badly, he was cut up and it looked like a bullet hit him. But he did not remember getting hurt. He just remembered not wanting to go home, because he was in pain, not physical pain, but emotional. "Donnie, you have to help me." Leo pleaded. "No, Leo I am tired of you." "But, Donnie I'm your brother." Leo said in a small sad voice. "Not, by choice." Said Donnie and he turned his back and went into the lab. Leo looked at his brothers in shock. "I don't understand, why do you all hate me so much. I did nothing to hurt you only to strengthen you."

"You pushed us too hard and never let us breath you are always on our backs and we are sick of it. All of us are." Said Raph and he went to his room. "Mikey, not you too, please I need you." "Sorry bro, but you are a pain in the shell." And he left to go in the kitchen. Just then Master Splinter came out of his room. "Sensei, I need your guidance. My brothers think that I should not lead anymore. They all hate me please tell me what I can do, what did I do." "Leonardo, if you do not know you will never know. It is time for a change Raphael will lead." "What? Sensei you can not be serious. I did nothing wrong, I was just trying to protect my brothers. Please don't take this away from me." "I am sorry Leonardo. Your usefulness has come to an end. You are no longer the Leader." With that said Splinter left to go back into his room. Leo sank down to the floor and cried. He really was alone, and he never felt so bad. He never thought his brothers hated him. He never thought his Sensei would find him no longer useful. He thought they understood his responsibility, but he was wrong.