Disclaimer: I DO NOT I repeat I DO NOT own the TMNT franchise. I just write TMNT stories for entertainment. I make no profit from my stories so please don't sue me.

Author's Notes: Italics will denote character thoughts.

Chapter 2

Raphael's point of view

I was watching the television when I heard Master Splinter tell Leo something about being safe. I turned just in time to see Leo grab his coat and fedora, and disappear into the elevator. I was about to go after him when Master Splinter's voice stopped me.

"Sit down, Raphael."

"But Master Splinter, where's Leo going? And why did he look so upset?"

"All will be explained in due time, my son."

I was about to argue my case when I heard Mikey announce in a singsong voice that dinner was ready. I held my tongue for once and headed to the kitchen. On the way there, I saw Karai coming from the dojo. She was panting slightly and looked completely exhausted.

She was dressed in black pants and a black tank top with a sheen coat of sweat covering her bare arms, neck and face. There was a small blue towel draped across her neck which she removed and began to towel off with. After momentarily observing her, I shook my head in quiet amusement, thinking of how she was just as bad as Leo was when it came to training.

No wonder those two got along so well.

I entered the kitchen and sat down in my chair, Karai echoing my movements soon after. Then Master Splinter came in and seated himself at the head of the table. Mikey, who looked absolutely ridiculous in his red 'Kiss the Chef' apron with his matching gloves and hat, turned off the oven and pulled out a delicious looking pot roast.

He sat it down gingerly on the countertop and allowed it to cool, before turning back to the stove and turning off the pot containing the vegetables. After that was done, he placed a big bowl of salad and a little basket of bread on the table. The table was already set, so now all we needed to do was wait for Leo.

Mike was practically beaming as he addressed us, "I don't know about you guys, but I'm starved!"

I couldn't help myself as a wicked smile came to my face.

"When are you not starved?" I asked, sarcasm dripping from my every word.

That was enough to wipe the smile off of his face. He put one hand on his hip, slightly narrowed his eyes, and with his other hand began shaking a wooden spoon at me. For all his efforts to look threatening, he looked like an angry wife berating her husband.

"This is the thanks I get for slaving over such a hot stove? To think, I cook and clean for an ingrate like you. I don't get any respect! Besides, I wouldn't talk if I were you, snore-head."

At first, I hadn't been paying him or his theatrics any attention, but when he called me, of all things, a 'snore-head', my eye ridges shot up in surprise. "I do not snore, motor-mouth!"

"Do too, smelly jock!"

"Do not, Pest!"

He removed his apron, hat and gloves, while glaring at me menacingly. If it was one thing Mikey hated, it was being called 'The Pest.' Each of us had nicknames that pertained to us and in his case, his suited him perfectly.

We would have continued with our little banter had Leo not interrupted us. We heard the elevator doors open and close, but when he didn't come into the kitchen for dinner, that's when we knew something was wrong. Somehow, I had the feeling that it had to due with why Leo was upset earlier and why I hadn't been interested in watching any sports tonight. I exchanged glances with Mike and Master Splinter.

When none of us spoke, Master Splinter sighed sadly. "I presume the worst has happened."

He rose from the table, as did myself and Mike. Karai was right behind us, as well. Upon our arrival in the living room, we saw Leo sitting on the sofa in a daze. His eyes weren't watching the TV and I highly doubt he was even aware that we were watching him.

Master Splinter approached him cautiously and touched his shoulder. Leo looked up at him, and then the next thing he did threw me for a loop.

He cried.

It was hard to see the one person you thought of as 'Fearless' crying his eyes out. It was disturbing and even wrong to see my twenty-year-old brother like this, and so before Master Splinter could say or do anything, I gripped Leo's shoulder.

"What in the shell is wrong with you? You're acting like somebody died."

He shrugged my hand off his shoulder, and then that's when I saw it. The remains of a bo staff. I looked at the pathetic heap of wooden shards, and then back at Leo in disbelief.

That would explain why I couldn't watch any sports tonight. Something had been wrong, but I had carelessly brushed it aside and thought little of it.

"You can't be serious!" I exclaimed.

I just didn't want to believe that this was happening. Leo said nothing. I looked at Mikey who was stubbornly trying to hold back tears; Master Splinter, who looked extremely calm but deep inside I knew he was a wreck; and then at her. She had the nerve to be standing there, looking as composed as ever, as if this was an every day occurrence for her.

My vision went red and before I could stop myself from doing so, the words just flew out of my mouth, "This is all your fault! If you hadn't come into the picture, then Don would be here right now. I bet you that the Shredder is doing all sorts of things to him, no thanks to you, Karai!"

I heard Mikey gasp and I didn't have to look at Master Splinter to tell that he was angry. But at this point I didn't care, nor did I feel sorry for my actions.

Her eyes widened slightly, and then narrowed. Karai had never been one to lose her cool, but her face seemed a little flushed.

Judging by the dirty look she was giving me, I could tell that she was ticked. Like I said, though, I didn't care. I crossed my arms over my plastron and stared hatefully at her.

"How dare you!" she hissed in a deadly, low voice. "I vowed that no harm would befall you or your brothers. How am I to be held responsible for this when you don't even know the circumstances surrounding the situation?"

She returned my hate-filled glare with one of her own. I swear, if looks could kill then Karai would have been dead in five seconds flat.

"Because you're probably still loyal to Saki! You wanted to get in good with us, and then right when we trusted you, you'd make your move! And as far as that 'no harm to you or your brothers' bit goes, you sure broke that rule two years ago when you ordered that attack on us. After all, everybody knows that a leopard can't change its spots, right?" I asked, venom dripping off of my every word.

She was about to retort when Master Splinter interrupted us.

"Silence! This is not the time or place to argue about who is to blame. Right now, your brother is out there somewhere. I have a feeling that he is in dire need of our help, but that will prove to be fruitless if the two of you cannot put aside your differences."

His stern and piercing gaze spoke volumes about the punishment that would befall anyone who dared to speak again. We fell silent, but that didn't mean we couldn't have a disagreement with our eyes.

He turned away from us to speak with Leo. "Leonardo, I know that you are distraught over what has happened, but you must calm yourself. Giving in to your emotions right now will not solve anything. You have to be strong."

When Master Splinter went to put his paw on Leo's shoulder again, he got up and went to his room, his steps slow and sluggish. Softly, he closed his bedroom door, as an unwelcome silence descended upon us.

"Master Splinter, aren't you going to go after him? Apparently Leo knows something we don't, and I'm not about to sit here and wait to take action!" I angrily fumed as I began stalking towards the lair's door.

"You'll do no such thing, Raphael."

I glanced at Master Splinter, resisting the urge to just ignore him and leave. I was shaking with rage as I answered him, "But Master Splinter, what about…"

He loudly tapped his walking cane on the floor and fixed me with another stern look. "I'll not have you or anyone else out there. Anything could happen and I would prefer not to lose two sons in one night."

Mike timidly looked between Master Splinter and myself, reaching an arm over his plastron and slowly rubbing his left arm while he voiced his concerns, "But Master Splinter, wouldn't it be better to go after Donnie tonight instead of in the morning? I mean, he could still be…"

Michelangelo was now the unfortunate victim of Master Splinter's wrath. "No! I will meditate on this and in the morning we shall address this problem," he said in an uncharacteristically heated tone.

As he retreated to his room, he looked older and extremely tired. His shoulders were slumped in defeat and his walk had been slower than usual. The others eventually followed his lead, lost in their own thoughts.

Apparently there would be no family dinner tonight.

For a few minutes after everyone left, I stood in the living room, breathing heavily as I clenched and unclenched my fists. I felt completely helpless and didn't like it one bit. When I finally came back to my senses, I let out a forlorn sigh.

As I slowly trudged to my room, it didn't take a rocket scientist to know, judging by our luck, that things were bound to get worse before they got better.