Well, Chapter 6 yay! Wow can't believe I even got this far XD Thanks everyone for reading ^^

Chapter 6 – Filling the Void

Trouble. It tugged at the back of his mind as he tried to clear his head.

Danger. It was making his instincts tell him they needed to flee.

A feeling so deep that normally he would have collected his sons and left already but there was still two missing. Their auras where no longer within reach and he begun to fear the worst. A fear that haunted him since the very day he had found the young turtles. A fear that only a father could truly understand. Opening his eyes he stared at his two other sons.

A small smile spread on the old rat's face. He just could not help but smile with pride at the sight of each of his teenage sons. They were his pride and joy. His everything. His very world. And Splinter could not ask for anything more precious than them.

Michelangelo was playing a game, but Splinter could catch those baby blues glancing from the screen towards the entrance. Even though he is the youngest of the turtles Michelangelo is the most skilled in the art of ninjitsu – now if only Splinter could get him to focus then the orange ninja would be almost unstoppable.

Those fatherly eyes then travelled to Donatello, who appeared as if he was interested in his current project on his work bench. The one that was conveniently placed in front of the entrance instead of his lab. The brightest and smartest of the turtles, Splinter knew that without Donatello they would be lost.

Then he looked towards the entrance himself, hoping and willing for the hot-head and the calm calculative leader to walk in. But they didn't. Instead a sudden shudder overcame him and pretty soon Splinter knew what it meant.

It felt like a warm wave that wash over his body and then it was gone leaving just a cold chill. It meant only one thing – The shield had fallen.

Standing up his two sons was already looking towards their father, curious browns and fearful blues both with questioning expressions. They felt it also. Splinter thought with pride, pretty soon their powers would awaken, slowly.

"My sons go find your brothers," Splinter commanded trying to sound calm but the old rat felt the panic begin to form in the pit of his stomach. Donatello looked towards Michelangelo, "now!" Splinter commanded. The two left quickly through the entrance in a hurry, they did not need to be told twice. They were just as worried as Splinter.

Turning around Splinter took a deep breath, "Derius," he said calmly, "nice of you to visit."

"My pleasure Splinter Hamato."

The two turtles had moved in silence, with speed and accuracy, not even making a sound. Something that was strange and eerie for Michelangelo. Donnie watched the shell of his younger brother. Both blending in the shadows as their years of training had taught them.

Donatello was so busy paying attention to the sudden serious Mikey that he tripped over a rock instinctively using his hand to stop the fall against the wall, "ouch!" Donnie yells suddenly his voice ringing along the tunnels. Mikey turned around giving a smirk as if saying for once I didn't ruin it. But that smirk had turn into a frown.

"Donnie!" Mikey said worried rushing to the side of his brother who was now cradling his right hand, "what happen?"

"I don't know," Donnie said his voice strained with the pain, "I just touched the wall and it burnt my hand." As if to show what he meant he held his hand out. The olive green skin was blistering and was actually starting up a pinkish hue. "At least it wasn't too bad of a burn."

"Yeah, man, that looks painful though," Mikey said with a sad look in those innocent blues.

Nodding Don stood up and looked to the wall; he saw where he had placed his hand. It was a pipe, one of the water pipes. "Heat can end up travelling along metal, but this should be cold water not hot water..." Donnie muttered and let his browns travel along the pipe. "Mikey lets follow this pipe maybe it will lead us to where Leo and Raph are."

Nodding Mikey went to walk ahead and paused, "no more touching the pipe ok Donnie." He said with a joking smirk.

"Yeah I think I learn my lesson Mikey..." Donnie muttered annoyed. "I'm not three, unlike someone I know."

"Yeah Raphie acts so young sometimes," Mikey was quick to pipe in.

Chuckling nervously the brothers continued their search, wondering what it was that was waiting for them at the end of the pipe. Knowing the luck of their family, they had a feeling it was not a good thing.

Swing. Swing. Swing. Kick. Swing.

It was a well known drill to Leonardo as he practice in a meadow. One full of colourful flowers that was only native to Japan. The ninja did not question why he was here; instead he decided to enjoy it. It was so peaceful, so perfect. Serenity he had been searching for so many years. But...

He paused in his training, as he looked around. Master Splinter was sitting on a blanket in front of him drinking green tea, the smell of the incense reaching Leonardo's nose, "what is wrong my son why are you so hesitant in your morning drills?"

Leo looked around; he wasn't sure what it was that was bothering him. But it was there as if something was missing. "I don't know Master," Leo replied honestly, "I feel a dark hole inside me, an emptiness I cannot fill."

"That is normal my son, you have yet to complete your desires and your dreams. But the question you must ask yourself what is it that you have to complete?"

"Become a ninja master of course," Leo said calmly. It had been his dream since he was a child, his desire since he was young.

"But my son, you're already a master."

Leonardo blinked and looked down realizing he was wearing the medallion that Master Splinter had given him. But if that was true...then why did he feel so empty still? Leo looked around; the flowers were dying before his eyes, withering away. Turning back to his Master, Splinter was beginning to fade. "Wait Master don't leave me!"

"Look inside yourself Leonardo, look beyond the plain path and trust your heart."

"The plain path?' Leo whispered as the world around him faded into darkness and a blue path appeared before him. Leo took one step and paused...no...This was the plain path. He did not want to go that way, he wanted to go back. Turning around he took a step into the darkness.

Suddenly a path appeared before him, red and glowing, with roses lining it. He begins to walk down the path his eyes narrow with determination. Leo did not know what it was that was driving him, but someone needed him. Someone needed his help! And he would do anything, anything for this person.

"Raph!" Donnie yelled his voice an octave higher.

Both brothers ran up ignoring the ash that was falling and the crisp dry ground. There was a cling as Mikey hit something on the ground and blinked, it couldn't be could it? "Leo's sword!" Mikey yelled suddenly.

"Mikey wait!" Don warned but it was too late as Mikey yelped and drop the blade. "What the?" Donnie gently grabbed Mikey's hand and made sure the burn was not too bad. "I was trying to say that there was obviously a huge fire here so touching Leo's swords can end up burning you."

"Well why the hell did you not say so sooner!" Mikey complained tears stinging his eyes as he cradled his hand. But after another glance at Raph, Mikey instantly forgot his injury.

Lying on the ground, Raph was reaching towards one of Leo's blades. His bandanna was no more than an ashen mess on the ground before him, along with anything else he was wearing. He had bite marks and scratch marks everywhere a pool of blood had begun collecting around Raphael from his many wounds. It was weird how the only thing that wasn't burnt was Leo's blades.

Mikey moved closer eyes taking in the painful expression on the hot-headed turtles face which was much paler than usual. If Mikey thought he looked bad when he was sick now....now Raphael looked like he was only a finger's throw away from death.

Donnie reaches out to touch Raph but barely even got close to him as he pulled his hand quickly away. "Don't touch him Mikey, he is much hotter than the swords." Donnie explained.

"But, then how do we get him back to Master Splinter?"

"I'm thinking...." Don said as he scanned the area thinking of what he can use.

Looking around Mikey stood up and paused he notice something on the blade. Bending down he looked...it was blood? Eyes traced towards Raphael seeing a blade like cut unlike the many other wounds on his brother, a cut that only a katana can make...a crude one. The kind that one would make if they accidently stub their toe with a sword....

Quickly getting up he looked around Raphael. His belt, only one side survived the fire, the part wrapped around his shell it had droplets of blood all over it and sadly there was only one sai that manage to survive. He also found the other katana with droplets of blood on it and not burnt either.

"Don!" Mikey exclaimed. "It's his blood."

"What?" Don asked looking at Mikey as if he was crazy.

Mikey pointed at the katana, "his blood protects anything from his powers."

Don's eyes widen the expression he would usually get when a light goes off in his head. "Like a failsafe device!"

"Umm, yeah okay..." Mikey said giving Don a look that said he didn't understand.

Don hug Mikey, "never thought I would say this...but you're a genius MIkey!"

"A genius? Really?"

"Don't let it go to your head Mikey," Don said giving him a whack in the back of the head. He kneeled by the pool of blood around Raph and took a deep breath, "the things I do for my brothers..." Donnie muttered and begins to smear himself in Raphael's blood.

Mikey sat down beside Don, "let me help – it's kind of like finger painting."

"Yeah....not exactly." Don said shaking his head as both brothers begin to work at painting Donnie.

As Leo continued down the path he notice the glow was growing faint, the roses where beginning to wither. He urge himself to move faster.

Then Leo saw what it was. What it was that had been bothering him. Or rather who it was. "Raph!" Leo exclaimed rushing to the side of his bleeding dying brother. "Raph? Raph? Raphael wake up!" Leo said his voice sounded meek, distant, not himself. This had to be a dream right?

"Please, wake up! I can't...I can't live without you!" Tears stung his eyes, they begin to fall. The droplets landing on the broken body before him. "Please Raph, wake up....please..." he whispered.

Then he knew what it was, Leo begin to realize what Master Splinter had meant. This was what he wanted, what he desires, what he needs. He loves Raphael! He loves him more than anything in the world!

"Raphael, wake up. I love you, I need you! Just please call me fearless again, or hit me...or do something...."

But there was nothing, no reply, no remark, just the faint sounds of distant breathing, the breath sounds of someone fighting for their life.

"Got him?" Mikey asked lightly as he helped balance Raph on Don's back some more.

"Yeah, make sure there is no way he can move around too much we need to get him back to the lair soon," Donnie explained. Raphael was lighter than Donnie thought. It felt weird being covered in his brother's blood. Without Raphael's powers wanting to burn him alive his brother's skin felt cold and clammy to the touch. Not the best sign. "Call Master Splinter, tell him we got Raphael."

Mikey picked up the shell cell only to have it ring in his hands before he did anything, "hello?" Mikey answered.

"My sons!" Master Splinter's voice had the sound of panic to it, "don't go back to the lair, stay as physically close to Raphael as you can, leave and hide somewhere...." then there was the sound of something smashing and then the busy tone.

If Mikey's face could go paler it was at this moment, "Donnie?" He asked weakly.

It was too much. Raphael dying on his back, Leo disappeared and god knows what happen to him, and now the only safe haven they had was consider unsafe. Don wanted to run to his father's aid, he wanted to help but at this moment he knew what his priorities where. Raphael and Michelangelo must be kept safe and as the oldest here he had to make the hardest decision in his entire life.

"Come on Mikey..." Mikey nodded weakly and followed Donnie down the tunnels. How come his entire family was falling apart in just one night? This wasn't fair.

Leo cradled his brother close, wishing he could turn back time....he could feel Raphael's spirit fading, growing weaker. Leaning close to his brother Leo did what he wanted to always do.

He kiss those lips, pressing Raphael close to him, tears dripping from his eyes creating many more little pools of tears on his brother. Then there was a glow, a bluish glow, a gentle washing light. And Leo felt Raphael respond, kiss him back. The roses bloomed. The reddish glow became a lovely bright light and a meadow of roses was suddenly born all around them.

Pulling away Leo looked down at Raphael and those twinkling golden eyes, "hey fearless." Raphael whispered with a smile.

Just as Leo open his mouth to respond he felt pain, agonizing pain...everything crumbled away and he felt like he was falling!

Leo awoke with a start and he had realized the pain was from one of the guards kicking his side which was obvious more than once. "Good your alive..." the guard said throwing down what appeared like slop on a plate, "enjoy dinner." The guard replied gruffly and left closing the bars behind him.

Just as Leo was about to eat the sound of the door open and the light brighten in the room again, adjusting to the light he heard the cell door beside him open and the sound of someone being tossed in. Finally able to see Leo's eyes widen as he stared at the broken mess of, "father?"

Well the end of Chapter 6 I hope you all enjoy it just as much as I did writing it! Please review I always enjoy feedback and comments!