"Two hours Leo. Two hours." His mind spinning making him feel sick, whatever it was that spoke to him was determined to make him stay and die. He spoke to himself how he would when training his brothers, hard, stern and forceful. It was the only way Mikey would listen. In the background a door opened softly and mumbles were heard.
"So whats the verdict Don?"

It was Raph! Why were they awake so early? Unless they had a feeling something was wrong. Or maybe Leo didn't have the correct time. In his mind he was shouting as loud as could be but he knew they couldn't hear him at all as he lay there still and silent.
"DAMN IT!" His fist punched down though only in his mind.
"How am I gonna wake up and say help when I cant even smile to them?! Think Leo think!" Pacing his heart rate began to climb and suddenly he could hear Don beside him.

"Hey bro it's me Don i'm sure you knew anyway. I'm just checking you're blood again, if you can hear me... please wake up." The needle went in and in his mind he flinched trying to escape the cold metal.. but in reality he didn't even blink. Frustration was hitting him hard how in his mind he was free moving, speaking and responding but the real world seemed so dim and far away. Almost like the didn't exist. This is what the cross worlds was, an in between hell for the living who could be dead. Or the dead that want to be living. As it stood Leo was just living but the other side waned him dead. They figure made that clear himself. Fighting it was painful but to give in would be a tragic mistake knowing his brothers would be left without him , not as a leader but as a brother and guardian. After Master Splinter died Leo took on the role as a parent. He had to, and though they were all thankful it was a hard time to cope with. But then it clicked with Leo in that moment of sadness.
"Mater Splinter?" Could he of been here too? Could he still be here if Leo channelled enough energy into his master?
"Focus Leo, focus!" He shut his eyes tight and held his fists shut trying to call through to his Master, he still was after all even when the cancer eventually killed him. Splinter had always been one for fighting but when Donny diagnosed him he still stood strong and trained them. He died a week later and was buried that same day in their sewers. Leo remembered the day he died so well, it even made him feel pain the same he did the day he died. He remembered his Masters pale face, cold hands and how they lay his cane on top of him lowering him into the coffin Donny made.

He remembered how every brother stood there mourning their master... their father. Raph couldn't cope seeing him in that way. He never even blinked as Leo lowered the coffin into the ground. Mikey wrapped his arms around Raph and Donny pulled both brothers in eyes clenched shut. But Leo stood there strong. He had too, what choice did he have?
To break would show weakness and as the oldest brother it was now his responsibility to care for them, train them and guide them. It was a lot of weight on his shoulders but he knew it had to be done. After the service April and Casey came down to pay respects to them all, but with them having their own human lives they couldn't expect them to throw it all away to live in the sewers now and help the brothers. They even had a little girl now called Lucy sh was six. And she had always took a loving to Raph. So he left to play with her for a few days and Donny left to work on machines and gadgets to heal himself. Meanwhile Mikey burrowed his head into comic books and popcorn to ease his pain. But Leo? He forced himself to work hard, to train and go to normal. Not just to heal but to learn the way of teacher, master, and father figure.

In his dark mind he tried to pull away from the hard times and pull together the good, so many good. But it hit him. Without him who is going to watch the guys? Guide them? Love them? Teach them? Be the for them when Leo isn't... Even without Master Splinter actually being there his thoughts were enough to push Leo into that moment of life or death. Memories flooded his mind and suddenly a tunnel appeared as he threw himself into it he took a final heavy breath.
His body flung up and his breathing was more of a pant, his eyes open looking around the room to see his brothers. He smiled through his breathing a lay back down calming himself down. He did it...