Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT.

Warnings: Angst, torture and goodbye

Mindless Babble:

dojo- practice area for martial arts

Otóosan- Father

kata- form or shape- in this instance a type of meditation or discipline that moves from one stance to another in a flowing motion.

ki- life-force

kanji- Japanese writing

Leonardo stood on the roof of a tall building. One arm pressed against the man's black clad chest. The other held the point of a razor sharp katana lightly on the hollow of the man's throat. The turtle's body trembled with barely restrained emotions. His breath came in ragged gasps.

"Easy, Leo. He's no good to us dead." Donatello placed a three fingered hand on his brother's shoulder.

It had been over two weeks since Raphael had disappeared. The three remaining turtles had long ago lost their patience. The hardly ate and slept only when they were on the brink of exhaustion. Even Splinter had been surprised by the tenacity his sons had shown.

"Where is he?" Leo spat the words like they were acid. "Where is my brother?"

The ninja laughed. "Wouldn't you like to know!"

Leonardo barely restrained himself. He wanted nothing more then to plunge his blade into the neck of this waste of human flesh. Instead, he pressed the man's chest a bit harder and growled. He heard a cracking sound and realized what had just happened. The smell of almonds filled the air as he threw away the lifeless corpse.

"Cyanide filled fake tooth," Leo said, disgusted.

They stood there for a few moments trying to decide what to do. The only lead they had was now lying at their feet, dead. Then as one they looked up at each other.

"Does anyone else feel the sudden need to go home?" Michelangelo asked.

"I think Master Splinter wants to speak with us," Leo said as he walked to the edge of the building.

"Why can't he use the shell phone I built for him?" Donatello asked, following his brother.

Leo jumped down to the fire escape, his words echoing up to the other two turtles. "Because it's Master Splinter."

The three turtles found their sensei meditating in his room. He sat on a large pillow, his eyes closed and his breathing shallow. He seemed to be the very picture of peace but for one thing. The fur beneath his eyes was wet.

The brothers knelt before their master and waited for him to speak.

"I have found Raphael." Splinter felt his heart break as hope enveloped his sons. "I fear he is not long for this world. His ki is fading."

Leo's his heart dropped to the pit of his stomach. "That's not all, is it?"

Splinter bowed his head. "He is in terrible pain. I believe he has given up."

Three hearts beat wildly as they raced down the hall. They had broken into the old office building through the air vents in the roof. Now they searched for the stairs that would take them to the basement. It was there they would find their brother.

They finally found the stairs and raced down them. Leo stopped them at the door that opened into the basement. He let everyone catch their breath before speaking.

"I don't know why it's been so easy to get down here, but we have to stay on guard. Donnie, I want you to stay here and make sure the stairs to the first floor stays clear." Leo looked his brother in the eye. "No heroics. If you need help, call for it!'

"I know, Leo." His voice broke as he replied. "Get Raph so we can all go home."

A ghost of a smile appeared on Leo as he turned to open the door. When he did, he was surprised to find a long corridor lined with doors. Leo growled in frustration.

"Mikey, you take the doors on the right and I'll take the ones on the left. Check every room, even if the door is locked. Just break it down." He looked at his brother. "Raph is down here, somewhere."

Mikey nodded. Gone was the carefree, fun-loving turtle. He may not be the fastest, brightest or fiercest but someone had hurt his brother and in so doing had hurt him as well. Mikey was angry and now there was no holding back.

The two turtles literally tore the place apart. Every single room had been locked. By the time Leo had reach the last door on his side, his nerves were so frayed he didn't even check to see if the door was locked. He merely ripped it off its hinges. He stepped into the room followed closely by his brother. Both looked around in confusion. The room was empty.

"Leo, we checked every room!"

"I know, I know." Leo ran the light from his flashlight over the walls of the small room, frustrated. He could feel that Raph was nearby.

"Wait! Leo, shine your light there!" Michelangelo pointed at the floor. The faint lines of a trap door appeared as the light played over the area in the corner.

Leo almost dropped his flashlight in excitement as both turtles lunged for the door. Leo stopped Mikey just as he was about to pull the door open.

"Mikey, wait." Leo remembered what Master Splinter had said about Raphael being in pain. If it was bad enough that his stubborn brother had given up, then he didn't want his younger brother to bare witness. "Stay here. I'll get Raph."

The other turtle nodded. As much as he didn't like it, Mikey knew Leo was right. He wouldn't be able to keep it together if Raph was hurt.

Leo flipped the door open. The stench forced both turtles back into the hallway, gagging. It was a mixture of mildew, blood, vomit and worse. With watering eyes, Leo plunged back into the room and down the stairs.

The only light came from a single, naked bulb that hung overhead. It barely illuminated the room, much less the deformed figure below it. Coarse ropes stretched the figures arms past what could have been considered normal. Blood oozed from a staggering amount of wounds. It flowed heavily from the collar that encircled the creature's neck. Bruises tainted the green skin an ugly purple. One eye was swollen completely shut.

Leo took a step towards his brother. A flash of color caught his eye and he looked down. At first he thought it was Raphael's mask, and then he realized what it actually was. A feeling of sick horror overcame Leo and he felt like he was going to be sick. A pair of kanji had been written on the filthy floor. The "ink" was blood, the blood of his brother and it was still fresh. So sickened by the realization, it took Leo a few seconds to recall what they meant. When he did decipher them, he had to fight the urge to throw up.

"Oh, Raph," he whispered as he moved to cut the ropes. "What happened to you?"

the past…

The moon was just beginning to set as Raph did a kata to calm himself. He had come to the pond that had always held peace and solitude for him since he was a child. Tonight though, that peace was denied to him. The dream-vision had severely disrupted his psyche.

He quickly grew frustrated and gave up on the kata. Instead, he sat down cross-legged and tried to meditate. He slowed his breathing and tried to clear his mind. Unfortunately, meditation had never been the turtle's strong point. He was about to give up on that too, when the vision seized him again and tangled him in a web of terror. This time, though, the nightmare didn't get the chance to finish.

The men in form-fitting black took care of that.

The screams echoed into the hall. Tears of shame stung Raphael's eyes. He had sworn to himself that he would not cry out. He hadn't when the first of many blows rained down on him; or when they had brought out the blades. He had even kept his tongue when they tore both arms from their sockets. But then they had delivered the worst injury the turtle could even conceive. They had managed to wound his very soul.

His beloved weapons lay at his feet, shattered.

the present…

"Mikey, take these," Leo yelled, tossing up a bundle to the startled turtle. He emerged a few moments later carrying the limp form of Raphael.

"Wha… Raph?" Michelangelo asked as he tucked the bundle into his belt. He had to jog to keep up with his brother as they made their way back down the hall. "Is he…?"

Leonardo didn't… couldn't… look at his brother.