A/N: Believe it or not, there are only three chapters left for this tale. Plus I'm composing an epilogue. With only a few chapters left, it's going to be all action!

Please note: Character thoughts are in italics.

Disclaimer: If I owned the turtles, my bank account would be much larger than it is.

Chapter 14-Lost Memories

Michelangelo's voice was the only one that rang out against the sewer walls as he led the way back to the lair.

Behind him was Leonardo, stumbling as he walked, since his eyes were covered with a blind fold. His hands were tied behind his shell, and he had one heck of a headache!

Raphael kept one hand on Leonardo's shoulder as he guided him forward. He reached around with his other hand to whack Mikey in the back of the head.

The talkative turtle whined as he rubbed his head. "Oww, Raph, what was that for!"

"Calm down knucklehead. We don't want Fearless Leader over here to memorize the way to the lair by the acoustics of the tunnels."

Leonardo let out a snort at the untrusting turtle's remark as he was once again shoved forward.

Donatello kept silent as he followed his siblings, his mind trying to figure out how Leonardo was going to react when they showed him the neural interface.

Master Splinter heard his sons approaching footsteps and rose to greet them.

"My sons did you find?" The old rat let out a gasp, his sentence going unfinished, at the sight of his eldest son. "Leonardo?"

The blind folded turtle turned his head to the source of the sound.

Raphael pushed him forward as he yanked the blind fold from the turtle's eyes. "Oh yeah about our father…"

Stumbling to regain his balance, Leonardo's eyes grew wide in shock as they focused on Master Splinter.

"…he's a giant rat."

Oroku Saki slammed his fist on the desk so hard, it sliced into two. His eyes flashed with rage as he looked at the bowed heads of his Elite Guard.

"You've lost Leonardo AND the device!"

The four warriors kept silent, their heads remained bowed.

The angry Foot Clan Leader growled. "Get out!"

The well dressed ninja's bowed once more to their Master and with a puff of smoke were gone.

Saki should have known this day would come. He should have disposed of those turtles when he heard about the first one. And now it turns out that all three of Leonardo's brothers were alive! This was unacceptable! He would have to rush forward with his plans to defeat the Utroms before the leader recognized his birth right.

The Shredder reached for the intercom on his desk and barked out. "Hun!"

Saki's best hope now was that Leonardo's loyalty to his Master would outweigh his innate nature to lead his brothers.

Leonardo was certain that if Raphael didn't still have his hands on his shoulders, he would have fallen over from the shock. These turtles can't seriously believe a giant rat is their father!

Master Splinter had to hold himself back from hugging his eldest son. After all of these years, my sons are all alive and together again!

Cautiously the rat approached the surprised teen. As his eyes roamed over his eldest son, Splinter had to suppress his disappointment. Yet another one of my sons does not remember.

"My son, it is good to see you have returned. Come let us sit. There is much to discuss."

Raphael continued to propel his brother forward. The small family followed Master Splinter into the kitchen.

Michelangelo tried his best to remain still as he listened to his brother's retell their stories. He was happy that they were all reunited, but he couldn't figure out what his eldest brother was thinking. For a little over an hour now Leonardo had remained silent, as he listened to the tales from each of his brother's regarding their pasts. I wonder what he's thinking?

Raphael leaned back in his chair, his arms crossed in front of his plastron, as he kept his eyes locked onto his eldest brother. Having given his word that he would sit and listen to his brothers speak, Leonardo's hands were freed of their binds. His hands encircled the tea cup in front of him. While the black masked turtle made no move to fight or flee, his body language didn't relay that he was relaxed either. Instead Leo sat completely still, simply listening to his brother's chat. Raph narrowed his eyes at his brother. I can't tell what he's thinking.

Donatello kept glancing among his siblings across the table from him. The tension in his arms and the way his eyes never wavered from Leo, it was easy to read how Raph was feeling. Clearly the hot headed turtle didn't trust their eldest brother. Mikey's energy was just as easy to read. Despite his best attempt to sit still, it was obvious that the youngster couldn't wait to start smothering his brothers, trying to make up for too many years of lost time together. But Leonardo was a mystery to Don. The black clad turtle sat as unmovable as a statue. His face reflected nothing as each brother spoke of their past. What does he think of us?

Master Splinter sat as still as Leonardo, although his eyes missed nothing. It was clear that all four brothers were extremely confused. For three of his sons, they were uncertain what Leonardo was thinking. And for Leo, he was undecided on what TO think. My poor sons, we have a lot of work to do.

Leo's eyes bore into the steaming cup as he ignored everyone's roaming eyes while listening to the pasts of his brothers. His gaze locked onto the swirls of steam as his thoughts raced. Residing in the sewers? Living among Triceritons? Dwelling among the Utroms? A rat as my father? This is just crazy!

Yet as the confused turtle looked up, into the four pairs of eyes watching him, something about this scene felt familiar. It was almost like he had sat at this table among them before. How is this possible? And why don't we remember?

Leonardo couldn't help but shake his head at his thoughts. The sound of someone clearing their throat brought his attention back to the group.

Donnie decided there's no time like the present time and pushed onward. "Leo, I know this is a lot to take in and it's a shock. Yet, we all have gaps in our memories. I have a way to reclaim them." Don paused for a moment before continuing. "But it will require all four of us to do so."

For the first time that evening, the black masked turtle spoke to the group as he raised an eye ridge. "What is it?"

Don rose from his seat and turned towards his makeshift laboratory. "Follow me."

Inside the laboratory sat four chairs, facing each other. On each chair was a strange device that looked like it would fit on someone's head.

Donatello reached over and grabbed the device closest to him. Holding it up, he addressed the group. "This is an Utrom neural interface. When the four of us are hooked up at the same time, we will be able to retrieve everyone's fragmented memories. Then the device assembles them together and well, essentially we will be able to fill in the blanks."

Michelangelo was already bouncing up and down in anticipation. "Cool right?"

Unfortunately, Leonardo wasn't as easily convinced, and his red clad brother was watching him closely.

"Look, I'll hook Mikey up first. You'll see it isn't going to harm you."

With guarded eyes Leonardo nodded. I gave my word that I would sit and listen to them speak. And I have. I want to believe them, I really do, but this is all too much!

With Donatello's back turned, Leo struck out at his sai wielding brother and ran for the door.

Raphael stumbled from the unexpected blow, and then let out a growl as he tackled his older brother. "That's it!"

Leonardo was a skilled ninja, but when it came to ground fighting, Raphael had the advantage. Having grown up among the Triceriton's, Raph excelled at grappling. With his eldest brother effectively pinned beneath his stronger sibling, Mikey leapt into the fray to help keep Leonardo still.

Donatello approached the wrestling siblings, the syringe from Mr. Mortu in his hand.

"I'm sorry Leo." He quickly stabbed Leo in the neck and pressed the plunger, releasing the contents. After a few seconds, Leonardo's struggling ceased. Surprise showed in his eyes as he blinked upward at his siblings.

Mikey turned wide eyes at Donatello. "Um Donnie, what's in that thing?"

"It's an Utrom paralyzing agent. It will paralyze the subject's voluntary motor responses from the neck down, but leave the mind active so that we can perform the neural interface."

Raphael picked up the paralyzed turtle, and carried him to one of the awaiting chairs. He turned to his smartest brother. "Donnie, remind me never to piss you off."

The four turtles found themselves in a large room, with Utrom's rushing by in a hurry.

As usual, the talkative Michelangelo spoke first. "Dude, you didn't tell us the Utrom's were pink squishy brains!"

Leonardo reached for his swords, only to find his hands grabbing at empty air.

Raphael found his sais were missing as well.

"Donnie?"

The knowledgeable turtle addressed the group. "None of this is real, it's all in our minds. This is the past. Everything has already happened. The neural interface will link together our missing memories and then fill in the blanks with the memories of the Utroms. We just have to watch and observe."

Upon closer inspection Donatello realized they were on an Utrom spaceship. He remembered Mr. Mortu's recap of how the Utrom crash landed on Earth. "This is how the Utrom ended up stranded on Earth."

The turtles watched as Mr. Mortu addressed Ch'rell and the angry captive promised to not only escape but to also wipe out his fellow Utroms. The scenes shifted quickly and the turtles saw Ch'rell escape and crash the Utrom spaceship on Earth.

Years began to fly by in a blur of colors, like a movie on fast forward. Michelangelo let out a groan. "Guys, I'm going to get sea sick."

Raphael glared at his annoying sibling. "Can it Mikey!"

Leonardo turned to Donatello. "What's going on?"

"We are speeding through time while the interface assembles the next collection of memories involving the Utrom. I programmed the interface to give us a history of how the Utrom ended up on Earth. Followed by assembling our repressed memories from our youth. Hopefully, we'll be able to get some answers as to how we got separated all those years ago."

Suddenly the years stopped and the turtles found themselves watching a younger version of themselves.

Shocked, Mikey questioned the group. "Hey bros, is that us?"

Donatello merely nodded his head, Yes.

A young orange masked turtle was being chased around the room by a slightly angry looking red clad turtle. Off to the side, sat a turtle with a heavy book on his lap, sporting a purple mask. From off to the side a young blue clad turtle raced up to a much younger looking Master Splinter. "Master Splinter, when are you going to give us weapons?"

The rat master chuckled at the child as he picked him up. "Leonardo, you must learn patience. You and your brothers will not be ready for weapons practice until you have mastered your katas."

The blue masked turtle looked over the rat's shoulder and called out a greeting. "Hi, Mr. Mortu!"

The older Leonardo's eyes grew as large as saucers, his mouth hung open at the scene before him.

The landscape shifted again, and the turtles saw themselves running along the sewer tunnels chasing after the orange masked child in the lead.

"Haha, you guys can't catch me!"

"We'll see about that Mikey!" Yelled a young Raphael.

The young Leonardo stopped his brothers for a moment. "Guys wait, I have a plan."

The three brothers huddled together for a moment, then nodded their heads and ran off into three different directions. They were able to corner Mikey by approaching him from all 3 sides, cutting off his escape routes.

"Now!"

They watched the youngster get tackled and then tickled by his three elder brothers.

The scene shifted again. The four brothers were in formation, practicing a kata. Looking over them, Mr. Mortu turned and spoke with Master Splinter. "They will become fine warriors."

They saw the young rat nod in agreement before the scene shifted again. This time they found themselves inside a technologically advanced building.

Donatello whispered. "The old TCRI building."

A Guardian rushed into the room to speak to the Utrom Captain. "Mr. Mortu, Ch'rell has entered the building."

"Then we must hurry. Quick fire up the transmat! Begin self destruct sequence. We cannot allow Ch'rell to escape from Earth. Every Utrom begin evacuation. Go! Go! Go!"

The four teenagers turned their heads simultaneously as they watched the Shredder in full armor enter the room. "Finally, the Utrom homeworld will be mine!"

Hamato Yoshi withdrew his sword and jumped towards the Shredder.

Watching in horror, the teenaged Michelangelo let out a cry as the scene unfolded in front of him. "Master Yoshi!"

Donatello put an arm around his distraught brother as he tried to comfort him. "It's already happened Mikey."

The Shredder's armor was ripped open, showing Ch'rell sitting inside. The exposure did not stop his attacks. The battle was not faring well for the Utroms or the Guardians. And in the middle of it all was Master Splinter. The Ninjitsu master had stopped fighting when he noticed his four young sons hiding behind a console, watching with fear in their eyes.

Leaving their hiding spot the four children raced to their father's side as he ordered. "My sons! Come, we must go!"

The Shredder cried out and threw a bomb at the retreating family. Knocked unconscious, the small family was scattered throughout the room from the blast. Master Splinter and Michelangelo were thrown to the right, near a sewer drainage pipe whose grate had fallen. A pipe burst from overhead and father and son were washed away.

Raphael was hurled onto the transmat device. A falling beam landed on the control panel. Sparks flew as the machine powered up and the red masked child vanished into thin air.

Donatello landed near a console that was bent in half. The purple masked child rolled for a few feet before stopping underneath the machinery, hidden in the shadows.

Leonardo was tossed to the left, landing not far from the Shredder himself.

The stunned teenagers watched the Shredder grab the unconscious blue clad turtle, glance around the room as if searching for something, then turn and race out of there.

The elder Leonardo's protest left his mouth as he watched the Shredder steal his younger self away from his family. "No!"

Next to him Raphael inhaled a sharp breath, while Mikey let out a whimper, as their eyes took in the scene in front of them.

Donatello remained quiet, his brain processing everything the neural interface was showing them from their past.

The four teenagers shielded their eyes by instinct as the room exploded in a blinding flash of white light.

A/N: So that's how the brother's got separated (and probably some amnesia) all those years ago. Was it what you expected? And in the next chapter, how is everyone going to react to the news? Finally, a big THANK YOU to those who review! If you haven't please do, I bribe with treats. Virtual double fudge brownies to those who do!