Hey its been forever since I've written this story so here we go with Leo wide awake! Enjoy.

"Leo!" His brothers rejoiced as his eyes fluttered and as his vision came back he realised that he had done the near impossible. He had woken up. His brothers faces came into his view and he observed them all, especially the shock of how they had all changed since he last saw them. What had this done to them all? How long was he gone? All these questions fluttered in his mind however he fell silent with the wonder if the response was something he could handle? He looked at Donny who stood next to him almost shocked at seeing Leo awake.

Donny was always the turtle who's eyes shone with excitement and creativity, he knew how to fix almost anything and studied hard to learn most techniques for medication, first aid and repairs. Though that is how Leo remembered him... That was not how he was now. Something had changed, Donny's eyes were red from lack of sleep and overdose of caffeine. Under his eyes were bags that could carry an entire months worth of shopping. His hands were sore from all the tools and paperwork he had. He was fragile and Leo could see that. Leo wanted to reach out and hug him but he knew Donny's first thought would be 'LEO DON'T OVERDO IT!' so he resisted the temptation.

Raph was next to Donny and he himself looked softer than before. Raph was always the hot headed one, short tempered and ready to fight almost anything and anyone. Thats how he was usually in the most trouble out of the four brothers. He had a hard shell and a tough heart that never really broke. But Leo could see through him this time , his shell a little softer and his heart a little warmer. He was smiling in a way that suggested he felt calm at the presence of Leo waking up and surrounded by his family. Love filled his eyes and heart something he wasn't really use to seeing in Raphael.

Mikey was sat behind them both and seeing him physically hurt Leo inside. His once playful, happy and beaming brother was now restless, miserable and distant. He was sat out the way afraid to get close in case he had to loose Leo again. Mikey could never cope with death or injuries well. He would always fear the worst. But his humour kept them sane and positive. Leo wondered if Mikey had lost all of his spirit, how long was he gone? Long enough for Mikey to give up hope? Surly not...

Leo moved his head and spoke for the first time in how long he didn't know. Would his voice of changed? How did he sound... if any sound came out at all?
"Hey guys... how long was I out?" He sounded horse but it was still him...

"Well if you want the honest truth... six months. But don't panic. In that time we have been fine. We have coped well actually. Mikey learned to cook anything but pizza, Raph started to help Casey fight more crime but listened to his curfew that I set in place for once. And me? I spent most of my time here just in case you... well you know?" Donny smiled. He knew why Donny spoke about them all because they knew Leo well enough that it was always them who came first. Their well being and their care came first. Though he believed Donny he did wonder what had happened to make them all change... but then six months is a long time to hold out hope that he would of ever woke up really.

"Okay six months... not bad hey for a guy who was doing so well? You answered all my questions in one.. but i'm not gonna lie. Its so good seeing you all. I could hear you but not see you. It killed me... nearly." He smiled taking the joke on the chin and when he saw Mikey smile a little he knew something had hit him. A sort of humour recall of who he once was.
"Its nice to see you too bro. What was it like? Being dead but well not...?" Raph sat beside Leo on the bed curious about the experience his brother had just come back from. Leo could see even Mikey was interested leaning forward more to overhear.

"Well it was weird to begin with. I could hear things, understand things and give my opinion but I couldn't actually reply or move. But once you've been so called dead for a while and you begin to loose hope you enter a different world. Its called the Crossworlds. You'd of never heard of it as 99% of people don't return from there... Its where people go before they die, you loose all hope and faith and just start to give up. Thats when you're at your most vulnerable and a figure begins to talk to you about how dying is the only way out for someone as worthless as yourself. But if you're able to beat him then you wake up... Its intense and scary. And for a moment I did give up but then I thought about Master Splinter and somehow without seeing him I felt his presence and well... now im here." Leo made it sound so rubbish and boring and yet all his siblings faces had dropped in suspense and shock. He made every story so effortless but at the same time the guys were trying to process all of what Leo went through and how he was still standing a true fearless leader.

"So even in death Splinter helps us huh... didn't see that coming." Donny sat down thinking hard about the possibility of Leo being in another dimension of sorts...how bizarre he thought. For the next few hours the brothers all spoke and laughed like they did before Leo fell ill. For a moment it was as if he was never sick... and it felt special. But though the recovery was going to be long once again Leo was awake. His eyes were now wide open.