Well, here comes school. Don't worry I am still planning to post a chapter regularly every other week! Just wanted to thank everyone who has commented and supported this story! It really means a lot. :)

And for any other Christians out there, my dog just had puppies, and the runt isn't looking so good. If you would be willing to pray for him that would be so great!

Okay, now that that's been said, let's get on with the story! Sorry this chapter is a little long, but it gets better soon!

Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT in any way, I only have the plot.

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Chapter 6

"Everyone sit down," Splinter commanded firmly, though not harshly.

No one argued, and the three brothers instantly lined up in a row, sitting on their knees, in front of their Sensei. Raph next to Donnie, and Donnie next to Mikey. Just like they always did.

On Raphael's other side, was an empty space where the eldest of the four was supposed to be. Without Leo there, it seemed unnatural, and cold. Raph shivered. He hated being on the end of the line, it just felt weird.

Splinter gazed at the empty space next to Raphael, intrigued by the extremely rare sight, before turning to the others, calmly looking each one of them in the eye.

"Where is Leonardo?" he asked curiously.

Mikey hesitated before answering, "He's still asleep Sensei."

"He had a late shift in patrol last night and was running a bit behind," Donnie explained hurriedly, "He must not have gotten back till early this morning is all."

"Hmmmm," Splinter pondered, stroking his long goatee thoughtfully. Though his tone did not sound promising.

"Sensei," Raph blurted, "You know how Leo is with training. He's always here earlier than the rest of us, warming up and getting ready. You don't have to punish him because he's late for one session."

Master Splinter paused, glancing over at his hot headed son, raising an eyebrow inquisitively.

"I see. So you all are willing to take Leonardo's punishment for him?"

Silence.

"I thought not."

Splinter chuckled lightly in amusement.

"But Sensei," Raph interjected, "I'm sure Leo wouldn't be late for a training session without a good reason!"

"I believe you are correct Raphael. Why don't we go and ask your brother, in person, what that reason is exactly?" Splinter said, already striding over to the dojo exit.

The three brothers exchanged quick glances before hurrying after him. They would never admit it, but they were all very excited to see how this rare occasion would play out.

When they reached Leo's bedroom door the three brothers watched with eager anticipation as their Sensei put his hand on the handle.

The moment his hand met the cold metal, Splinter hesitated. His rat ears twitched slightly, and the faintest look of confusion crossed his face.

What on earth is that about? Raph wondered, confused.

He didn't have time to think about it when Master Splinter suddenly flung open the door.

"Leonardo!" he boomed in his strong authoritative voice.

Raph was expecting his older brother to start awake and fall out of bed with a yelp. And he couldn't help smiling at the image it depicted in his mind's eye.

But no sound came from the dark room.

Odd, he thought, his smile quickly fading.

Though it wasn't impossible. Leo had been known to be a hard sleeper at times.

Splinter stepped into the pitch black bedroom and, for some reason, something didn't feel right. Raphael had an itching feeling crawl up his shell, and he wasn't sure why. He suddenly realized what it was that was bothering him. There wasn't any light. Like, at all.

Leo wasn't really afraid of the dark, he just felt better with a light on. Even if it was only just the weak glow of his t-phone screen, he'd always have some form of lighting while he slept.

Donatello had put it this way, Leo wasn't afraid of the dark, he was just afraid of the absence of light. Which, of course, sounds very grande and heroic, so Leo would just say that any time he was accused of being afraid of the dark.

One year, Donnie had practically reconstructed a Space Heroes clock so that the face would glow blue at the flip of a switch, and gave it to Leo as a Christmas present. Leo absolutely loved it, and had put it to good use every night since.

But one look into the room told you that no one had touched that clock since last night, or this morning.

The batteries could have died, Raph tried to reason with himself.

Though he doubted it. Leo took special care to keep that clock in perfect condition. Or maybe he got back home too tired to turn it on. That was a more believable reason, but still unlikely.

Master Splinter took two steps into the room before freezing in place, his rat ears quirked forward, trying to hear through the dark silence.

Raph wished he could see his Sensei's face, but the tall rat's back was turned to them.

"Leonardo," Master Splinter called loudly, though his voice wasn't as confident as before.

There was still no answer.

"Donatello, turn the light on. Now!" he ordered, not daring to move, and Raph thought he could hear the slightest tremor of fear in his Sensei's command.

"Hai Sensei," Donnie obeyed, stepping into the dark room.

He flicked on the light switch with a shallow click.

Yellow light illuminated the clean, neat, and organized room, of Leonardo.

A desk lamp sat on a bedside table that doubled as a miniature bookshelf, holding Leo's prized collections, from martial arts textbooks to comics, all neatly arranged in order from most to least boring. At least, in Raph's opinion.

The floor was bare with the exception of one excersize mat that was laid neatly in a far corner of the room.

Above the head of the bed was a large tapestry, portraying the image of a silver wolf howling at the moon from a rocky outcropping, while stars glimmered in the background. The picture had a bluish tint to it, enough to draw you deeper into the scene depicted, but not so much as to spoil the realistic feel of it.

Hanging on the right wall was a Space Heroes fan poster, and above that, a little more to the right, was the Space Heroes clock from Donnie.

Two wooden stands, screwed firmly to the left wall, were the resting places for Leonardo's twin blades, and Raph noted that they were both vacant.

Leo's bed was the same kind as everybody else's, a trashy frame from the junkyard. But Leo had gone to great lengths to make it look like some bed any ordinary kid on the surface would have. The head and foot boards, which Leo had personally added on, were made of polished wood, giving it a cozy, rustic look. A dark blue comforter was spread across the mattress, and pulled up neatly over the pillow. It was very obvious that the bed had been left untouched since it had last been made.

In other words, Leonardo was not in bed sleeping, where he should have been.

Master Splinter turned to look at his three sons, who were staring into the room from the doorway in shocked silence.

"Michelangelo. Are you absolutely certain Leonardo came home from patrol last night?" he asked quietly, the seriousness in his voice adding to the gravity of the situation.

Mikey was still staring dumbfounded into the empty room when he whispered, "No."

Splinter turned to Donnie.

"Donatello?"

The purple masked turtle shook his head.

Master Splinter straightened, his face creased with concern as he stroked his long goatee-like beard anxiously.

"Then I do not believe your brother did return from patrol," he said quietly.

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They figured it out! Bum bum bum! Well that's chapter 6! :D I hope you all have enjoyed! Please tell me what you think in the comments! And don't be afraid to be blunt if it's no good. I'm still learning, and anything you guys have to say that may help my writing is invaluable!

I'll see you all on the next chapter!