Disclaimer: Have pigs started flying yet? No? Ok then, I still don't own 'em. And I still don't get paid for this. Please don't sue.

Chapter 9

Donatello had heard his brother's desperate shout and now raced through the sewers. He knew better than to go through the warehouse, as that would give away the location of the lair. This way wasn't longer, just underground. He slid a little at the junction, but regained his footing and continued his race to his brothers. With what Splinter had taught him and by focusing on the task at hand he was not bothered by the proximity of so many other minds.

"Mike, Mikey, come on, you gotta stay with me." Leo insisted as he crouched down beside his brother and forced Michelangelo to pay attention to him.

"Mikey, you're gonna be ok, bro." Raph added. He looked up and saw three Foot ninja getting way too close. "I'll deal with them then I'll be right back." He promised. Raphael leapt to the next rooftop and engaged the Foot ninja keeping them as far away from his brothers as possible.

"Leo. Not your... fault." Mike forced out.

"Shh… Shh Mikey, you shouldn't be talking." Leo looked down at his brother in concern. The sword had sliced right through Michelangelo's plastron and who knew what kind of internal damage there might be. All he could do was try to stop the bleeding, and he didn't have anything that would be particularly useful. With no other options, he quickly untied his mask and applied pressure to the wound.

"Hurts," Michelangelo managed weakly.

"I know, Mike. I'm sorry." Leo watched his brother carefully and noticed Mikey's eyes glazing over. "No, Michelangelo! Stay with me. Focus, Mike!" Leo kept talking, babbling and making Michelangelo listen. They had to get him back to the lair, but there was nothing he could do at the moment. Nothing except wait and try to keep his brother conscious.

Raphael was making short work of the Foot soldiers he came across. He had dipped into a state that he rarely used. Often, Raphael let his emotions and reactions guide his fighting, but right now those emotions were too strong, and he knew that if he let them control him that he would lose himself in them. That was something he couldn't afford. Master Splinter had taught them better than that. There would be plenty of time for emotion later. Right now he was calm, collected and more deadly than he had ever been in his entire life.
Michelangelo was losing too much blood. It was too fast, and there was absolutely nothing that Leonardo could do to stop it. Nothing to do but apply pressure, wait and pray. He heard someone scrambling up the fire escape of a nearby building, the one on the same side of the street but opposite of where Raphael currently battled the Foot. Leo didn't move from where he was crouched trying to help his brother, but he was prepared to at a moments notice. Relief flooded through him, followed shortly by confusion when Donatello leapt across the gap and ran to his side.

"Damn." Don gasped when he got close enough to see what had happened. There was nothing else to say about the scene that greeted him.

"Donnie?" Mike muttered.

"Hey bro, yeah, it's me." Don said quietly, desperately fighting to keep his voice light. He wasn't sure he could do anything for Mikey, other than make him more comfortable.

"Noth… you can do... bro." Michelangelo forced out. He was prepared, ready for whatever was next. All he could do was try to make sure that Leo didn't do the self-blame thing for his getting hurt and that Don didn't agonize of how he might have saved him.

"Here, Leo. I'll get it." Donatello offered. He pulled gauze out of his bag and added it to Leo's blood soaked mask.

Leonardo watched silently for a moment as Donnie worked. He didn't understand. The last time he had seen this brother he was nearly unconscious on the floor of the lair. On the other hand Leo knew better than to turn down an extra pair of hands at a time like this. The sound of light footsteps ripped him from his dazed state and he looked up to find several Foot Ninja racing toward them. "I got them." Leo quickly, though needlessly, informed his brothers.

Donatello was aware of what was going on behind him, but his focus was on Michelangelo. He picked up Leo's chatter and worked quickly; trying everything he could think of that might stop the bleeding and save Mike. He watched in horror when Mikey's eyes drifted shut. Don called out a few times, and when his brother's eyes didn't re-open he took a chance. If he did this, he wasn't sure he could get back to himself without being overcome by the thoughts of the other people who were still too close. He didn't know what he was doing, but he knew he had to try. Without any other options he reached out carefully and searched for Michelangelo's presence.

Leonardo battled the Foot, forcing them away from his brothers. Every now and then he noticed his arms changing color on him, but he was able to force that aside and ignore it. He even managed to use his opponents shock to his advantage. Just because he couldn't control it didn't mean he wasn't going to use any edge it gave him. The nearest Foot ninja backed away enough that Leo had space to execute a roundhouse kick that knocked the soldier from the roof. Only 8 more.

Leo took a glance behind him to see how Raphael was doing. He turned just in time to see a Foot soldier throw a grenade behind his brother. The nearest ninja swept Raph's legs out from under him and Raphael hit the roof hard. Using the time that the turtle was falling the other ninja leapt to safety.

"Raph! Get away from there!" Leo shouted at the top of his lungs. He couldn't make it to Raphael in time to help, and for the second time tonight his precognition kicked in. He was facing a Foot ninja who had charged him when he saw the grenade go off the first time. Leo caught the sword in his own and wrested it away from its owner then spun and lashed out, knocking the soldier from the roof. Turning to face Raphael he saw that Don had thrown himself protectively over Michelangelo.

The blast came for the second time. Aside from the noise of the explosion the only other sound he heard was Donatello crying out in pain, probably from being too near the blast. When Leo searched for his opponents he found that the Foot were gone. They had retreated. No one was here and the fight was over. Don was still draped over Mikey and Leo wondered just how many brothers he had lost this night. Twice he saw it before it happened, and twice there was absolutely nothing he could do to prevent it.

A/N: Short, I know. Sorry.