A disheartened Leo wended his way to the Mutanimals' headquarters, an abandoned warehouse in an industrial area in Queens. It was freezing and he knew he shouldn't be out in the abysmal weather, but he had to find Raphael. He couldn't imagine what unspeakable hell his brother was suffering and thinking about it chilled him to the bone. His brother must be beyond petrified. Of course, he'd pretend he wasn't, but he would be and he'd be counting on his brothers to rescue him. They couldn't-wouldn't-let him down, Leo thought.

Snow blanketed the ground and fell, some of it landing on his skin, as he trudged on. He wished he'd donned boots or at least a jacket to keep out the cold. He'd neglected to dress warmly in his haste, but he couldn't afford to think about that. He had to keep going. He gritted his teeth and continued his journey. Maybe the Mutanimals would have something warm to drink.

Sometime later, Leo reached the warehouse. He knocked on the door, gave the required password and the door opened. He went inside, greeted Mondo Gecko and glanced around the room. Mona Lisa, Mondo and Leatherhead were there.

The warehouse was sparsely decorated with a couple of space heaters, a gas stove and three battered sofas that had been salvaged from a dump and it was dilapidated, the floorboards creaking, as he walked, the paint on the walls peeling and the roof starting to collapse. A draught blew in from under the door and Leo shivered. It was chilly, even though the heaters were on. He'd give anything to be in his cosy and warm bed right now.

"Leonardo!" Mona Lisa exclaimed and rushed to his side. "You look frozen, my love. Why are you out in this weather?" She grabbed his hands and warmed them up with her own. "My love, you should be home," she added and wrapped her arms around him. He breathed in her familiar and comforting scent and nuzzled his beak against her plastron. How he adored her. She was perfection personified, his dream come true and his haven.

Mona had moved to Earth from Salamandria six months before and they were secretly dating. Leo planned on telling his family, but only when they'd all found love. He didn't want any jealousy to occur or for his brothers to feel left out, especially Raphael, who was probably the most sensitive of them all.

Leo and Mona had fooled around, but hadn't gone further than that, because they wanted to wait until they'd had their bonding ceremony. If they had one. Leo didn't think that'd happen once Mona knew the truth about him, but that wasn't his priority. Raphael was.

Leo kissed his girlfriend on her lips, smiled at the others and said, "Can I please have something to drink?"

"I'll make it," Mondo offered and went to the gas stove.

Leatherhead said, "Leonardo, something must have happened for you to be out in this weather."

"Yes. Raph's missing. We suspect he was taken by Slash. You haven't seen him, have you?"

"No. He hasn't been around in months. He quit the team, Leonardo. Said he wanted to be on his own. Didn't think it relevant. He's done that before and always returned, but he hasn't this time. Perhaps you're mistaken about him kidnapping Raphael."

"I don't believe in coincidences. Slash has always been obsessed with Raph and he choked me when I was on the way home from getting supplies for me and Raph. I think that's when he kidnapped Raph. My poor brother's somewhere out there and that madman has him!" Leo hissed. "Raph must be out of his mind."

"Wasn't he already?" Mona muttered.

Sapphire eyes bore into her hazel ones and Leo snapped, "What do you mean, Mona?"

"Raphael's psycho too. Come on, Leonardo. He has anger issues, lashes out at anything and everything. He's crazy. I know you love him, but he is. Maybe he and Slash are soulmates and they ran away to be together and it's not what you think."

"My brother's not gay and I know he has issues, but he's not twisted or demented! I can't believe you'd say that about your future brother-in-law, especially now!"

Mondo brought a steaming cup of tea to Leo, who smiled his thanks and gratefully sipped, feeling better, as the liquid warmed him.

"Oh, yeah? How many times has Raphael endangered Donatello and Michelangelo's lives, let alone yours, Leonardo?" Mona persisted. "You were in a coma for four months the last time. Donatello told me and you almost died. It was because of Raphael second guessing you. You ran in to the building to save his ass and you were ambushed. He wasn't harmed of course! So don't tell me he's not a psycho and a sociopath. How you're brothers I don't understand. You're nothing alike. Why do you always defend him? It's not like he deserves it. He deserves reprimands, banishment….."

"Mona Lisa, now is not the time to talk about such matters," Leatherhead chimed in. "Raphael's missing and that's the priority."

"You clearly hate my brother," Leo said frostily and pulled away. "And you wouldn't even begin to understand what loving a sibling means, because you're an only kid, Mona. I know he's pushed my buttons and he drives me up the damn wall sometimes, but he's still my baby brother and I love him. I'd die for him, just like I would for my other brothers. No questions asked. Raph would do the same, because beneath that snarky and malevolent exterior you seem to think he has, he's tender, kind, affectionate and would give the damn shell off of his back. That's the true Raph and the only reason you probably haven't seen that is because he despises you. And that pisses you off, because maybe you have feelings for him and want him, but he's not interested. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned, right?"

"I'd think you're in love with him, if I didn't know better," Mona said nastily. "And I don't love Raphael. I don't even like him and he doesn't like me. He told me that and said I wasn't good enough for you. Maybe he wants to crawl up your shell, huh and plug your hole, but he's settled for Slash, because he can't have you. Now that's a more reasonable explanation than my liking him. I like nothing about him."

Leo wrinkled his beak in disgust at the crass words and said, "He's not gay and he wouldn't want me. We're brothers. It'd be wrong."

"Not biologically. You know what, Leonardo. There's a fine line between love and hate. Perhaps Raphael was pretending to loathe Slash, because he feared the backlash that'd follow if he revealed they were an item and that's why he pretended he liked girls. Think about it. The Bushido code. Your clan's honor. His coming out would have jeapordized that and your Sensei's old fashioned. He wouldn't have approved. Baby, listen to me. That makes sense. You know I'm right. Raphael prides himself on his masculinity and he'd be embarrassed if anyone found out he liked sucking cock. He'd be a disgrace, an embarrassment. Rightly so. I think it's disgusting. Raphael will come home when and if he wants. You can't keep running after him, Leonardo. He has to stand on his own two feet. He wants to do that now, else he'd have been in contact and would tell you where he is."

Leo furrowed his brow in thought. Maybe his girlfriend was right and Raphael had run off with Slash. It made sense if Raphael was gay that he hadn't told his family, because they would be mortified if they found out knowing their views on homosexuality. Well, Splinter, Mikey and Donnie's views. Leo didn't give a shit what sexual orientation his brother was. He loved him, would always love him and just wanted to know he was safe. Then he could rest.

"Okay, so he could be gay, Mona," Leo said. "I don't give a damn if he is, but he's still out there in this horrendous weather and I need to see him and to know he is okay for my own peace of mind. Straight or not, he's still my baby brother and my responsibility. You wouldn't understand that, being an only kid, but no matter how old he is, he'll always be my baby brother and I'll always worry about him. Another scenario is that he was kidnapped and is in severe danger, especially as he's damn intersex and Slash will try to breed with him, but the kicker's that Raph's chromosomes are changing. He's becoming a girl and he doesn't even know. Slash will suspect and then it's hell for Raph. Slash will dominate him and will breed him like an animal and Raph will be powerless to defend himself. Slash might even go far as to incapacitate Raph, so he won't fight, like break his legs or whatever. Do you understand? He's a raging psychopath and my sweet brother's in deep trouble."

The others' jaws dropped in astonishment. Mona was the first to recover and she said, "He's intersex, Leonardo? I always thought he was male."

"Donnie found out last year and didn't tell him, because he thought we'd never find mates and it wasn't necessary."

Revulsion flashed on Mona's face and she said, "That's fucked up. He really is a freak."

Leo's heart sank. It was clear she detested his brother. How would she feel if he told her he had the same condition? He couldn't do that. Couldn't stand seeing her look at him like he was a freak that should never have been born. And how could she say that about his brother? It wasn't Raph's fault he had the condition. How could she be so callous? Maybe she was jealous of him? But why? Leo wasn't in love with his brother. He'd adored her. It made no sense at all.

"Whatever my brother is and whatever the situation," Leo said coolly. "We have to find him. I need to know he's safe. Your feelings about Raph are very clear, Mona. He can't help his condition. He didn't ask for it and I expect you to treat him with respect."

"You mean her," Mona said snidely. "Sure. I'll buy her a dress for Christmas. And you make it sound like I'm a bitch. Raphael was rude to…."

"I DON'T CARE!" Leo roared, his blue eyes blazing. "He's missing. I'm going to look for him. I came here to ask for help. Not for a lecture on how repulsive and awful my baby brother is. Shove your opinions up your ass, Mona. And he had a point. You are being a bitch and have been extremely unhelpful. I need help and comfort. Not insults. He's my family and you have to fucking accept that or we're done!"

"How dare you," Mona hissed, her own eyes flashing. "I think you love Raphael more than me. You always defend him and now I'm the bitch once again!"

"Enough!" Leatherhead shouted. "This bickering isn't helping any. Leonardo, have you tried tracing Raphael's phone?"

"He left it at the lair."

Mona Lisa crossed her arms, fuming at her boyfriend's treatment of her. He was unreasonable, she thought. She wasn't attacking Raphael. She was merely being honest and trying to assist him by seeing things in a new light. Yet he thought badly about her!

"Have you tried tracking Slash's cell?" Mondo asked.

"He'd have ditched it," Leo said glumly. "He's not as dumb, as people think."

The door opened and Man-Ray and Dreadmon entered the warehouse. Leo told them everything.

"Hmm," Dreadmon said, rubbing his chin. "I think I know where to find your brother, Leonardo."

"Where?" Leo asked eagerly.

"Bear Mountain Park. I've been there with Slash a few times and he mentioned it's his favorite place. It's highly possible he's there, however the terrain is vast and the weather's…."

"I can handle the weather. What's a little snow? What are we waiting for?"

"No, Leonardo. You don't understand. It's severe. The lakes are iced over. There could be avalanches. You could freeze to death."

"So you won't help me?" Leo said irately.

"It's best to wait until Spring," Man-Ray said.

"That's months away!" Leo yelled. "I can't and seeing as no one's going to help me, I'll go alone."

Leo glared daggers at everyone, stalked out and slammed the door behind him.

I'm coming, Raph, he thought. I'll find you. I'll save you if you're in trouble and will bring you home and if you're gay, there's nothing to be ashamed of. I'll always love you and will be there for you. Nothing will ever change that.

A/N Will Leo find Raph or will he perish in the harsh weather conditions?

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