Author's Note: Thanks so much for the reviews! Sorry to leave you on that cliff-hanger, but hopefully this chapter was worth the wait. Again, thanks for the support! To anyone reading this, please leave a review (let me know what you think!). Cheers!

Chapter Five: Blessings in Disguise

"DONATELLO!"

Leo felt a familiar pull in his gut.

Donnie's face morphed from triumph to absolute terror as he realised that something was awfully wrong. He began to turn and raised his arms over his head, trying desperately to shield himself from Shredder's gauntlet as it came down upon his head.

Adrenaline shot through Leo's veins and exploded in a force towards Shredder, raw and powerful.

Shredder's gauntlet should have sliced through Donatello's flesh.

The weapon, which had cut down so many others before him, should have found Donnie's skull and cracked it wide open to spill crimson blood and brains across the rooftop.

And yet…it didn't.

A strained grunt escaped Shredder's mouth and his raised arm began to tremble. Frozen in place, his face scrunched in effort as he tried futilely to break through the invisible force which now bound him.

Leo felt his telekinesis working; sheer energy flowing through him as he focussed on keeping Shredder locked in place. He could feel the sweat beading on his suddenly hot and sticky forehead, dampening his bandana.

Raphael rushed in then, practically crashing into Donnie before pulling him forward, out of Shredder's reach. Together they retreated to stand behind Leo.

Donnie's voice was shaky, "Th-thanks Raph."

"Don't mention it," Raph replied.

Mikey leapt onto the railing of the water tank above them, "What's up with Shred-head guys?"

Alone, without his Foot Soldier Army, the Shredder's eyes were wide and panicked, flicking between Leo and his brothers. His arm was frozen in the air, mid strike. "What is this?" he seethed. "WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?"

Leo breathed, keeping his voice steady, "We haven't done anything!"

Shredder's eyes were hateful, full of rage and burning like an exploding sun. "When I am free of this," he said, his words dripping with malice, "I will kill you all."

Leo maintained the energy flowing from within him, in complete control. His internal walls were also strong, like an impenetrable fortress. It was his undying love for his brothers which fuelled him. With or without his 'gifts', he would never allow Shredder or anyone else to harm them. There was one thing that remained certain in his life; that he would protect his brothers until the end of time, no matter the cost.

Leo raised his Katana blades, outstretching them to the sides as if shielding his brothers, "That's never going to happen, Shredder!"

With that, Leo breathed in and focussed on the vast amount of water above him, currently held back by the tank's rusting exterior walls. He found the cracks in the structure and then outreached with his mind to expand them, engaging his telekinesis to a whole new level.

A light mist began to spray from the tank.

"Yo dudes, I'm getting wet up here," Mikey said from above, "I think the tank is about to blow."

Leo smiled, "Time to go guys."

Mikey landed beside him silently, "What about Shredder?"

"Leave him," Leo replied shortly.

Raph twirled his Sai, "But Leo, we could stick him. Right here, right now. And then that would be it. No more Shredder."

Leo shook his head. "I said no, Raph. We don't kill people in cold blood, even if it is Shredder. He'll get what he deserves, one day."

Leo turned then, walking away from his enemy. He could feel his internal battery reaching critical power. Red blood still oozed from his shoulder wound, but the injury felt like a distant memory, with all of his concentration focused on the water tank above and keeping Shredder frozen in place.

Continuing forward, Leo stepped around the injured Foot Soldiers across the roof as he leapt down from the building, with his brothers in tow, Raph still muttering under his breath about how they could end Shredder's life with one strike of his Sai.

Soundlessly, Leo's feet connected with the smooth concrete of the street below but his mind rocketed upwards as he ripped the water tank wide open, blasting apart its jagged steel. Not wanting to kill his enemy, Leo released his hold on Shredder, only to hear a gruff yell from above cut off, as a white waterfall cascaded down the building.

He glanced sideways at Donnie, who had his mouth open in awe, watching as water continued to pour down from where they all once fought. "Are you okay, Don?" Leo asked him.

Donnie blinked. "Yeah, I'm alright. I don't understand what just happened, but I'm glad it did."

Leo opened his mouth to reply but was cut off by Raphael, who held him still by his uninjured shoulder whilst he inspected the deep and jagged wound in his other.

Raphael smirked up at Leo, "That's gonna leave a wicked scar dude. You alright?"

Mikey was hovering between them, constantly changing his focus between his brothers, concern clearly on his face.

Leo felt heavy. His limbs ached and his shoulder wound was on fire, but he beamed back at his brother, proud of what they all had accomplished. He attempted to shrug but the gesture turned into a grimace as his injury flared, "Nothing that won't heal."

Donnie stepped forward then, also looking at the wound, whilst he reached up and untied his own bandanna, pulling the knot out with a swift tug. "That could get infected Leo. We live in a sewer, remember? I'll need to clean and dress it, but I don't have any supplies on me."

Leo wanted to offer his own bandanna, but before he could, Donnie was already gently wrapping his purple one around the wound in a makeshift bandage to stem the bleeding.

"Hold it there Leo," Donnie instructed, "constant pressure, okay?"

"Thanks Don," Leo replied, watching as Donnie's bandanna started to stain as blood began to soak through. "Come on guys. Master Splinter will be waiting."

The lab certainly was a little worse for wear after the explosion which had occurred earlier in the night.

Leo sat on Donnie's lob-sided desk chair. The chair had been salvaged long ago from a land fill site as a gift for Don from their youngest brother. Little Mikey had been so proud of his find. The memory made Leo smile fondly.

The lab around him was scorched. Shattered glass twinkled across desks which now had black burns seared into their wood. Leo could still smell smoke. He wrinkled his nose, resisting the urge to cough.

Walking home, the adrenalin which had sustained his gifts had started to leave his system and the pain from his shoulder had intensified, burning with each step. His heightened senses certainly added to the pain, as he could feel his flayed flesh catching on the fabric of Donatello's purple bandanna.

He and his brothers had taken it very slow, remaining concealed in the shadows. Leo had kept a keen eye on Donatello throughout the journey home. His brother had looked slightly paler than normal, but he was alive.

When they had finally reached the Lair, Master Splinter had been waiting for them but his anger at them for missing curfew melted away instantly as soon as he saw that Leo had been injured.

Now, in the lab, Donatello was rustling amongst the first aid cupboard in the far corner of the damaged room, pulling out bandages, swabs and other medical supplies. "It's lucky that this stuff survived the blast," he said over his shoulder.

"Yeah," Leo agreed, distracted. "I guess so."

Leo took a shaky breath in. Reaching within himself, he checked his walls, only to find them intact, despite his pain.

Subconsciously, Leo began a mantra in his mind: I can do this…I can do this.

He watched as Donnie gathered up medical supplies. Balancing the massive amount of supplies in his arms, Donnie walked over and unloaded them on the scorched desk next to Leo.

"That's a little much, don't you think?" Leo asked, gesturing at the mound of first aid equipment.

Donnie looked up from his pile, gentle concern in his eyes. "You've got a pretty serious stab wound Leo. Just stay still and let me help."

Leo smirked but the expression twisted as Donnie reached up and began to untie his own blood soaked bandanna that was still wrapped around Leo's right shoulder. Donnie pulled the ruined bandanna away.

Leo felt a pang of guilt as Donnie threw it straight into the trash bin on the floor.

"Don't worry about it," Donnie reassured, not missing a beat. "I'll just get another one from Sensei."

Leo nodded and looked towards his injured shoulder, the sight making him swallow.

His shoulder was a mess. Torn flesh was hanging from his plastron. The bleeding had slowed but the way that the Odachi had twisted in his shoulder, had made a gaping wound.

"This is going to hurt," Donnie warned sadly.

Leo knew that Donnie would try to be as gentle as he could. He nodded. "Just do what you need to. I can take it."

Immediately Donnie set to work, unwrapping bandages, gauze and prepping needles with thread. He unwrapped alcohol swabs and began wiping around the wound.

Instantly, Leo inhaled a sharp breath, his knuckles turning white as he stiffly gripped the arm rest of the desk chair. The fluorescent light above them flickered. Leo breathed deeply. He had exploded lights before, when he had been in pain.

"I can get Raph to knock you out," Donnie offered, not seeming to care about the flickering light, his eyes still fixated on Leo's wound as he cleaned it with water and sterile gauze strips.

"What?" Leo laughed.

"That way, you at least wouldn't feel anything."

Leo shook his head, laughing breathlessly. "If it comes to that, I'll let you know."

Leo could tell that Donnie was trying to be gentle as he started to piece his plastron back together again with a sewing needle and thread, but he couldn't help but wince as the needle pulled at his flesh. The light flickered again. The bulb began to buzz in his ears.

I can do this…I can do this.

Over and over, Leo repeated the mantra inside his head, desperate to remain in control. The electric buzzing in his ears intensified. The lights around the lab danced, all flashing on and off. He could feel his internal wall trembling. Leo closed his eyes and he breathed.

I can do this. I can do this…

"What the hell?" Donnie's voice asked. "Something's going on with the power."

Leo slowed himself down, focussing on just his breath as he inhaled crisp oxygen, feeling his lungs expand, before he exhaled again. He knew, for a fact, that he could remain in control. He had proved that to himself across the night, whilst saving his brothers.

Just breathe. In…and out.

He had saved his brothers!

He had used his gifts to save them.

Breathe in…

Breathe out…

I can do this, Leo reminded himself.

And for the first time since gaining his abilities, he believed it. He opened his eyes and breathed. The flickering lights subsided. The buzzing in his ears dulled. The wall inside his head stood strong.

Donnie looked around the now peaceful lab. "Well that was…weird."

"Yeah," Leo agreed, "weird."

Leo sat in the chair then, closing his eyes, whilst Donnie continued to work on his shoulder. He continued to breathe steadily but the mantra in his head faded, as he simply didn't need it anymore.

"I think I'm done," Donnie's voice announced, after a small while.

Squinting, Leo opened his eyes slowly, blinking until his eyes adjusted to the fluorescent lighting of the lab. He switched his glance from his brother, who stood in front of him with a relieved smile across his face to his shoulder, expecting to see a wound, but instead finding his injury neatly wrapped in pristine white bandages. The bandage wrapped around his chest and shell, securing more gauze in place. Leo went to rotate his shoulder, but then stopped as it throbbed.

"Whoa whoa Leo," Donnie warned, "I was able to stitch you up, but please take it easy."

"Duly noted," Leo nodded.

"Ready to stand?" Donnie asked.

Again Leo nodded, slowly rising onto his feet, with Donnie holding out his hands, ready to catch him if he was to stumble.

"I'm good," Leo announced.

Donnie's smile broadened and he lowered his arms. "Good. We'll have to change the bandage every few days, but you should make a full recovery."

Inspecting his brother's work, Leo was impressed. His brother always did have an eye for anything intricate. Donnie's voice broke him out of his thoughts.

"Can I ask you something, Leo?"

Leo made eye contact with his brother. "Sure. What's up?"

"How'd you know about the arrows? Yes, we're trained to listen for and react to threats, but that was something else."

Leo stopped.

How was he going to explain everything that had happened?

How was he going to keep his gifts a secret?

Did he even need to anymore?

"I guess I…I…."

Leo trailed off. On the brink of telling Donatello, Leo stopped himself, remembering why he kept it all a secret. He remembered that he had killed someone and that his family knowing anything immediately put them at risk.

"I guess I just knew," Leo said. It wasn't a lie, but it wasn't the truth either. "Just an instinct."

Donnie regarded him with scepticism, but then shrugged, turning to the door.

Leo followed, testing his shoulder as he walked and grinning.

Leo sat on the couch, trying his best to keep his shoulder still and his face blank of emotions.

Donnie was pacing in the middle of the dimly lit living room of the Lair, "Water tanks don't just spontaneously explode Leo!"

Raphael was punching the crap out of his practice dummy, "And what the hell was up with Shredder? It's not like he got cold feet and second guessed killing Don."

Donnie gulped, "I should be dead."

Mikey looked up from the TV which he sat inches from, watching Space Heroes, "Glad you're not dead Don."

"Me too," Donnie sighed before starting to pace again. "What happened out there guys? It was like an invisible force was holding Shredder. There had to be someone else out there, helping us. Maybe someone with some high force field tech, which might I add, hasn't even been invented yet!"

Leo knew that Donnie wasn't going to let this go, "What's your point Don?"

"Well we need to get in touch with these people. See what they know. Imagine how much help they would be if we became allies! Leo, why are you so hesitant about this?"

The question hit Leo hard and he paused before replying, carefully choosing his words, "Because if they wanted to be allies, why didn't they make themselves known to us? Maybe they don't want to be found."

For Leo, that was close enough to the truth. Somehow, perhaps too occupied by their own enemies, his brothers hadn't seen what Leo had done on the roof to the Odachi wielder. They didn't know what he could do and Leo was going to keep it that way, for now.

Donnie paused then, clearly thinking, "Okay."

Leo nodded, "Okay. I'm going to speak to Master Splinter."

"Make sure you tell him about how we kicked ass!" Raph called from his practice dummy.

Leo chuckled, making his way towards the sliding door of his Sensei's room, withstanding the urge to clutch his injured shoulder. He stood outside and then slid it open a couple inches. "Master Splinter, may I come in?"

Splinters voice came from within, "Enter my Son."

Leo slid the door so that he could slip inside. Again, just as he had left it earlier that night, incense burned. Candles lit the room in a soft warm light. Splinter was in the centre of the room, gliding through a complicated kata, his movements fluid, like water. He stopped and turned to face Leo, gesturing towards his bandaged shoulder.

"Are you alright, my son?"

Leo nodded, "Hai Sensei. May I sit with you?"

In response, Master Splinter knelt down and folded his legs under him. He gestured for Leo to approach and do the same next to him.

Sitting, Leo looked his Sensei in the eyes. Within them, there was such wisdom and understanding, inviting Leo to talk.

"Sensei, something happened tonight, with me. I don't know how to explain it, but I can do this…thing. And I always thought that it was a curse, but tonight it felt like an actual gift."

Splinter's whiskers twitched, "Many blessings come in disguise, my Son."

"It certainly was a blessing tonight."

"And what is this blessing that you are talking about?" Sensei asked.

Leo's breath hitched, "I don't think I can say. Not yet."

Master Splinter's eyes were soft with understanding, "When you are ready, I will be waiting."

"Thank you Sensei."

Leo pushed off the floor and walked to the door, leaving his Sensei to continue his kata work.

Heading back into the living room, Leo smiled as he observed his brothers. Raphael was lounging now on the couch, talking to Donnie, both of them still trying to figure out what had happened on the rooftop. Mikey was glancing back at them periodically, torn between talking and watching the old television set.

The sight warmed his heart and he walked forward to sit next to Mikey on the floor. His youngest brother beamed at him and Leo wrapped his arm around his brother's shell, hugging him tight.

And for the first time in a long time, Leo felt like everything was going to be okay.

To be continued…