Hello everyone, it appears that I am monumentally late with the next chapter. In my defense, I was in a massive car crash, and I have been recovering.

Between the concussion, possible fractured ribs, a gash along the left side of my face that required stitches and general soreness…I'm in a lot of pain.

But I didn't want to leave all of you waiting. I appreciate your patience with me, and I hope you enjoy this latest installment.

On and on they walked through the fog, the vague outline of the bookshelves passing by as they strode further into the depths of the ancient library. The mist curled around green ankles, giving ghostlike tugs at their extremities, whispers in the dark echoed by the rustling of unseen creatures only added ambience to the strange place. Leo watched it all with wide eyes, relieved to have his brothers within arm's reach. Not that the leader wanted to admit, even to himself, that he was fighting the urge to grab one of his brother's hands.

While his initial scream at the start of the adventure was embarrassing enough, he certainly didn't want a repeat, and he couldn't lie and say he wasn't creeped out. However, even in his current state, his ability to control his emotions and actions slightly compromised, he was determined to salvage at least some dignity. Although his brothers have been amazingly patient with him this whole time, never giving him grief over his weakness, he didn't think he could feel comfortable to grab their hands for comfort, not like he could when they were tots. Even Raph, with all the personal growth he'd done here, wouldn't be able to hold back a snicker at their fearless leader wanting to hold hands.

Leo…

The Blue clad turtle pulled up short, his eyes wide with fright. He could have sworn he heard something whisper his name. casting his navy gaze all around, he saw nothing save the three of them. Mikey leaned around the eldest, his faze quizzical at his leader's sudden stop. "You ok, Leo?"

"I thought…" Leonardo shook his head, "Never mind."

"Ya feel like we're bein' watched too?" Raphael asked softly, fingering his sais anxiously.

Leo turned to face his immediate younger brother, eyes furrowed with concern, "Yeah," he nodded, "but, somehow, I feel like it isn't going to hurt us. It's just watching us, possibly even following along."

Michelangelo gave a small yip of fear, "You mean…like a ghost?"

Leo shrugged, "I'm not sure, it's hard to explain; but I do think it won't hurt us, at least, I hope not. I don't know what to think in this place anymore."

Raph gave a small shake of his head, "Yeah, well, let's get movin' so we can save Donny." The hot head stated, pushing his brothers back around to face the long aisle, "After this is only two tests left, and I'm hopin' Master Splinter is makin' a big dinner tonight with no trainin', because I ain't movin' once we get home."

Mikey cackled his agreement, giving two thumbs up, "Me neither! I'm gonna eat, and then I might even just collapse in bed for the next month and half."

"I'd settle with just sleeping in tomorrow," Leo murmured wistfully, "no training or leadership lessons. Just uninterrupted sleep in a patch of sun."

Raph placed a consoling hand on his brother's shoulder, giving it a gentle squeeze, "You'll get yer rest, bro," he stated firmly, brooking no argument, "when we get home, I think we can all agree that ya need to get some real sleep, we'll even watch over ya and make sure that no one disturbs ya too."

The blue ninja gave a grateful smile at his brother, not missing the questing fingers trying to gauge his heartrate as inconspicuously as possible. Leo held back a chuckle. Donny was better at that than Raphael, but the leader was touched by the caring gesture. Leaning forward, Leo let their foreheads touch for a brief moment, whispering his gratitude, "Thanks, Raphie,"

Raphael allowed the contact, his normally brusque nature that disliked physical touch on complete lockdown. Something Leonardo appreciated more than he had words to express. However, they didn't have time to keep stopping, Donny was waiting to be rescued and they shouldn't keep him waiting. Heaving a small sigh, the leader straightened up and then once again faced their destination. They needed to finish this.

As if sensing his determination, the fog once again parted. This time an old monk was revealed. High on a pile of books, he sat in meditation, his robes hanging around a bony frame. His bald head was covered in wrinkles, and almost skeletal hands rested on the knees of his legs currently bent in lotus. The air was peaceful, almost like they had walked into sacred ground or into a sanctuary. Mystical energy flowed freely, giving all who stood there a sense of safety; Leo closed his eyes, relishing the feeling.

"You came," the old monk spoke, seemingly awakening from his meditation to turn a piercing gaze on his visitors, "I must say, you have come farther than many before you. Well done, dear boy."

Leo shook his head, navy eyes wide with honest humility, "It wasn't me at all," he said meekly, "my brothers are responsible for my making it this far. I wouldn't have even made it past the first test if not for them."

The monk grinned widely, showing off surprisingly flawless teeth, "Well said," he chuckled, "you all have great destiny on your shoulders, but you especially Leonardo."

Leo jerked back in surprise, quickly glancing at his brothers, face aghast, "Me?" he spluttered, "I'm not…I mean…My brothers do, I'm just…"

Leo looked down, rubbing an arm anxiously, "I'm not that special," he finished in a miserable mumble.

Raphael gave a stern growl, "Leo," he rumbled, sounding more like the older brother than their leader, "remember what I said about sayin' negative stuff about yerself?"

The blue ninja wilted at the reminder and nodded meekly, "Sorry,"

The red ninja gave a satisfied huff as he nodded his head, "Don't forget it, and even if ya do, I'll be here ta remind ya!"

"Ok,"

The monk laughed openly at the exchange, nodding his head approvingly, "Indeed, your entire family is miraculous. Nothing short of a marvel, with each of the four brothers carrying a star of destiny that promises much. However, as I was saying, you, Leonardo, hold special potential."

Leo tried not to disagree, and didn't try to open his mouth due to the warning glare he got from Raph. However, the urge was too much to control, "What do you mean?" he asked, hoping that asking for clarification wouldn't count as being negative.

"For one so concerned with his family's happiness, you seem to forget your own," The monk stated, his tone factual and without spite, "which is unfortunate, as your family would be much happier if you allowed yourself a little more grace."

"That's what we've been tryin' ta tell him," Raph grumbled good-naturedly, giving his eldest brother's elbow a nudge to show he wasn't angry.

The monk nodded, "Indeed, he should listen to his brothers more often. In this especially, as he has placed others before himself so often, he has begun to believe that his needs and personal happiness holds little importance."

Mikey turned to his eldest brother, baby blue eyes heavy with grief, "You don't believe that…do you?"

The leader turned away from Mikey, not wanting to cause his family more pain, but the youngest merely followed Leo around, "Leo?"

Leo held his mouth shut with both hands, regressing back to the first test, scared of the impact his true feelings would have, but once again Raphael was having none of it. "Leonardo," the red ninja growled warningly, invoking the power of his big brother's full name, "ya promised, ya said you'd talk ta us, about everything."

Pleading navy eyes begged Raphael not to make him answer, but the red ninja merely crossed his arms resolutely. Hands shaking, the leader tucked them under his chin, once again appearing more childlike in his uncertainty, "Yeah," he whispered finally in grief filled tones, "I do."

"Why?" Mikey pressed.

"Because that's what a leader does," Leo shrugged, not daring to look up his brothers.

"That's a cop out," Raph grunted, "I want the truth, now."

The leader hugged himself, his shoulders hunching self-consciously. It wasn't that he didn't want to answer, he just didn't know how to. He had no clue how to piece together his feelings and verbalize them. Ask him to come up with a battle plan on the fly with enemies surrounding them and a seemingly impossible route for escape? Leo could do that in his sleep. However, ask him to explain feelings that he'd kept in the deepest darkest parts of his heart and mind? No way.

"I'm waitin',"

Leo ducked his head, unsure of how to begin, "I don't know," he whispered, "I don't know how to answer."

Mikey dove in before Raphael said something in a harsher tone than he meant, "How about you try saying what you're feeling right now? And then we go from there?"

The blue ninja shook his head, "That's just it, I'm bad at it," he murmured, eyes becoming moist, "I don't know how to answer because saying how I feel is…it's hard."

"Just try, bro," Mikey coaxed, gently grabbing Leo by the shoulders, "we're here, and I promise I won't let Raphie make fun of you. Deal?"

Though it was meant as a joke, Leonardo couldn't help but feel comforted at the words, "Ok," he conceded, "I guess, it's because I…" the leader floundered, words abandoning him, but a darted glance up at Michelangelo helped push Leo forward, "it's been pounded into my head for years that your safety, the family's safety, is my main priority. So much so, I would lose myself in training, or lose sleep at night out of fear I'd be the weak link that causes your deaths. I'd practice and train, and go over plans and backup strategy, all to ensure you come home in one piece."

"But why would that make you feel that you're not important?" Mikey's question was soft, but the sorrow riding on his tones made it weigh a metric ton.

Leo shook his head, the answer fleeing from his mind, "I don't know," he repeated, struggling to come up with an answer, "back at the ninja tribunal, you all received weapons. I had to borrow someone else's because I wasn't good enough to earn my own. Just because I have a dragon totem doesn't mean that I was magically worthy, if anything I just became more confused. Why, if I had such a strong spirit totem, why was I ignored by the tribunal and denied a weapon?

"And then I wondered," Leo hesitated, but at Raph's hand appearing on his arm, closed his eyes and dove ahead, "what if…what if I'm just a shield for the truly important people? I was given someone else's weapon, but only to protect you guys? What if the soul purpose of my life and destiny is to sacrifice everything and simply exist waiting in the wings? Watching everyone else get amazing futures where they change lives or even the world, but I get left behind?"

Green shoulders hunched further, muscular arms trembling under the weight of the confession, "I had resigned myself to no future, telling myself that it was honorable to be a protector. I had convinced myself that the real people who matter needed to be kept safe, and there was no shame in that role. I didn't let myself want any more than that."

"But what do you really want?" Mikey asked gently.

"I…" Leo's head spun, this was one of the deepest secrets he had, one he'd guarded. The thought of saying it out loud made him dizzy, "I want…"

Leo shuddered, and Michelangelo and Raphael stayed quiet, sensing the enormity of the moment, "I want to travel," Leo admitted, "I want to have adventures and see new sights. I love New York, but I hate it. We're trapped, and we can't even have a life, not a normal one at least. Sometimes I go out right at sundown and I watch the ocean, and I wish that I could get on a ship and see every port in the world."

"We've seen some pretty amazin' things, though, haven't we?" Raphael asked softly, "What about all the adventures we've had in space, and getting zapped inta the future?"

The blue ninja shook his head sorrowfully, "It's hard to explain." Leo took a breath, before trying to explain how he felt with a different tactic, "Did you know that sometimes I sit outside Juilliard and listen to the students play their instruments? Or watch the dancers practice? The way they move, or the passion they have when they play, I'm so jealous of it! I want it! I want to do something that makes others speechless, that can bring a crowd to its feet. Sometimes I really mourn that we aren't human, that Donny can't go to college and change the world with his inventions, or you and Mikey can't enjoy life like regular teenagers. Going to wrestling matches, or enjoying skateparks with other kids."

"And you?" Mikey sensed his brother's regret, mostly because he had just mentioned it, "Do wish you could go somewhere like Julliard?"

Leo blushed, that secret having been spilt unintentionally, "Sometimes I daydream about going there," he admitted softly, "that I was human, and I could lead a normal life, and have all the things mutant ninja turtles don't get."

Leo ducked his head back down, ashamed of the yearnings he was confessing to, "But then that would mean leaving you, and I don't want that. I want to spend the rest of my life making memories with all of you. I love ninjutsu, I love the feeling of mastering the way of the sword, and I love knowing that I can protect my brothers because I've perfected my craft. I love drinking tea with father every evening before bed, and I love spending time with my brothers. But I want to make my own mark on the world. I don't want to be an invisible life that gets snuffed out and no one even remembers or knows who I was. I want to leave a legacy that inspires others to make the most out of living, which is ironic. Because out of the four of us, I'm the one most scared to live."

"Leonardo," the monk spoke, his aged voice cutting through the gloom, "are you not aware of the lives you've already touched? The legacy you've built, not only across space, but even time? There are mighty warriors in far away dimensions that whisper the names of your brothers in awe, but they regard Leonardo as the mightiest of you all and treat your name with respect."

Leo's head snapped up at the statement, eyes wide and disbelieving, "What?"

The monk nodded with a gentle smile, "My boy," he said, eyes soft, "as the previous spirits have said, you hold more gifts than you know. Within you is a dragon roaring for the sky, and to deny him flight would be a travesty. That is why these tests are so important, they are giving you the keys to unlock that inner dragon and set him free. Do not doubt your destiny, dear one. For you there is a future filled not only with sacrifice, but of joy. I can promise, that if you pass this cave of trials, you will find that life will be sweeter, and the burdens you bear, though not any lighter, at least easier to carry. And the future you yearn for, will not only be yours, but you'll share it with your family, and you'll walk the many paths of life together."

A lump formed in the blue ninja's throat, but he clenched his eyes shut before any tears spilled onto his cheeks. Giving a nod, Leo gracefully bowed, an unspoken gesture of gratitude. The monk shook his head fondly, then sighed, "I guess it's my turn to give you the riddle, eh?"

Straightening up, the blue ninja swiped at his eyes quickly, erasing any evidence that he had almost lost his composure, "Yes, please."

"Too bad," the monk lamented, "I was enjoying the first visitors I've had in centuries, I would have enjoyed talking with you more."

Leo smiled, feeling more lighthearted despite the heavy conversation that they had just had, "I'd like to say we'd come visit after this, but I don't think that would be honest."

The spirit burst into gales of laughter, slapping a bony knee, "Nor would it be possible, young warrior!" he chuckled "I have no doubt that you will pass these tests, child, and your team will be much stronger. When you leave here, do not look back, but look to the future!"

Leo nodded, "I will, we will, I promise."

"Very good," the monk nodded, "now, the test."

Clearing his throat, the spirit situated himself back into a meditative pose on the books, no doubt to appear more solemn. "This thing all things it devours, birds, beast, trees and flowers; grinds hard stones to meal; slays kings, ruins towns, and beats mountains down. What is it?"

The leader brightened, understanding the answer almost immediately, "We've already been talking about the answer."

"And that is?" The monk asked, jade green eyes sparkling.

"Time," Leo answered confidently, "time is the destroyer no one can escape."

"But time can also heal," the spirit added, fog began to enclose the monk, its curling tendrils wrapping him in a dense cocoon, "Time masters all things, but if you have wisdom, you can master it before it masters you. Remember, young one, live life with purpose. Leading your brothers and protecting your family is just one facet of who you are. Live, child, live and discover the unknown lands beyond the ocean and the sky, go on many more adventures and find your destiny!"

His words echoed away, and soon, the open area where the old man had once sat was completely empty. Just as before, there was no evidence to him having ever been there. Leo blinked, but Raphael verbalized what they all thought, "I'm neva gonna get used ta that,"

Mikey snorted at the remark, quirking an eyebrow ridge at his older brother, "What, Raphie? You act like the weird and supernatural isn't already a part of our extremely messed up lives."

"Ya make a good point," Raph shrugged, "but that doesn't mean I have ta get used to it."

Mikey chortled, but Leo shook his head, "Our lives really are messed up, aren't they?"

The youngest grabbed his leader so to sling an arm around his shoulders, "Maybe, but according to the old guy, they're also pretty great! So, silver lining and all that!"

"Yeah," Raph gave an almost feral grin, "apparently we're all pretty famous, and I can't say I mind that."

Leo shook his head, but couldn't help the smile, "Well, nothing to do except find the last spirit and answer their riddle."

"Well, if things keep following the Christmas Carol theme," Mikey began, making Raphael groan in annoyance, "then any minute now, its going to get dark and creepy…"

True to the turtle's words, the already gloomy environment darkened considerably, the fog now taking on a translucent jade green glow along the floor. The bookshelves disappeared in the darkness, and all Leo could see was the glowing mist around their ankles. Trembling with fear, Leo decided to throw his dignity aside for the moment, and quickly grabbed his brother's hands. He rationalized it was so they wouldn't lose each other, but he couldn't deny the comfort in their strong grips.

"….Meep…." Mikey squeaked.

"I swear Mikey, when we get outta here," Raphael snarled, squeezing Leo's hand just as hard.

"It's not my fault!" Michelangelo wailed, "It's not like I wanted to make it get even scarier!"

A shaft of light cut down from the ceiling, illuminating an old writing desk that looked to be from the 1800's. Piles of papers were strewn across the top, a spilled bottle of ink long dried fallen on its side, but the most disturbing thing was the person sitting at it. Or, used to be a person.

A skeleton, without even the slightest strip of flesh left, sprawled across the desk. In its bony fingers, held in a death grip, was a feathered quill, still dark with ink on a letter that would never be finished. It was dressed in similarly old styled clothing, probably from the same era as the desk. The skeleton's jaw hung open in a macabre silent scream, and its sightless eyes stared right through the brothers.

Mikey shrieked, jumping into Leo's arms, but the Leader had already let out a strangled scream of his own and was clutching Raphael. The three brothers huddled together, even the hothead trembling in horror at the sight. "That's seriously messed up," Raph whispered.

"What do we do?" Michelangelo asked tremulously.

Leo shook his head, "I-I don't know," he stuttered, shifting to stand closer to Raphael, "go poke it or something."

"ME?!" Mikey squealed, "Why do I have to go?!"

"Because yer the youngest," Raphael growled, "and that automatically makes ya monster bait."

"Aw, come on," the orange ninja whined, "Leo, these are your tests!"

The leader whimpered, but nodded, his brother was right. If it was anyone's job to poke the scary skeleton, it was his. Giving a heavy gulp of apprehension, Leo pushed Raphael forward, using the hotheaded turtle as a shield, "Hey!" Raph exclaimed, digging his heels in, "I'm not going any closer to that thing than I have to!"

"Don't make me go alone!" That was the closest his brothers had ever heard Leo come to whining. Adding in the pleading eyes, and Raphael was sunk.

"Fine," he huffed, "I'll go with ya,"

"I'm just gonna stay back here," Mikey announced, watching his brothers approach the skeleton, biting a knuckle anxiously.

As one, the duo crept forward, Leo hiding behind Raphael's shoulder, his eyes peeking over the muscle and pinned on their destination. The hothead grimaced, the closer they got to the desk, the uglier its occupant became. Raph could handle horror movies, had watched enough slasher flicks with Casey that he had become desensitized to the carnage. However, even he couldn't deny the creepy factor of an abandoned skeleton. The red ninja gave a shudder, one that was quickly answered by his eldest brother. Neither were enjoying this experience.

Finally, they arrived, and Leo reached around Raphael poking out a tentative, albeit shaking, finger. Before he made contact though, the skeleton sprang to life with a ghostly wail. Raphael and Leonardo grabbed each other in a hug, both screaming in terror, Raph practically climbing on top of Leo in an effort to escape the now moving skeleton. The wail died down, and suddenly the skeleton was doing what looked like yoga.

"Oh, that feels amazing!"

Both brother's screams died down to airless pants, both wide eyed and speechless. Their jaws hung slack as the skeleton continued to do various yoga poses, giving satisfied grunts each time its spine gave a nice pop. "You have no idea how long I've been laying there!" The deathless creature exclaimed, "I get so few visitors, and with such rare opportunities to move around, its murder on the back!"

Leo and Raph had yet to release each other, but Leonardo was slowly coming back to his senses, "Uh…Uh-huh." He said lamely, before spluttering, "I'm sorry, but…this isn't what I was expecting."

"My dear boy, this entire adventure isn't what you were expecting!" the skeleton cackled, straightening up and dusting off its tattered clothing, "Now! Have you adequately collected yourselves, or do you need another minute or two?"

Mikey approached his brothers, sniggering into one hand at how terrified they still looked, Raphael appeared as if he might faint. "Dudes, you ok?"

Leonardo nodded, disentangling himself with his younger brother, "Yeah, I'm good," he stammered, "that was just a shock."

"You're telling me!" Michelangelo agreed boisterously, "but I forgot how scared I was when I saw you and Raphie scream, it was hilarious! I wish I had a video camera!"

Leo sent a pout at his youngest brother, "Not funny Mikey, Raphie hasn't even gotten back to normal yet."

The orange ninja peered at the hothead, noting his still glazed eyes and hanging jaw, "Wow," Mikey giggled, "who knew that mister tough guy doesn't like jump scares with skeletons?"

"It's not like we get to go to Halloween haunted houses," Leo threw in, "this is new for all of us."

The youngest shook his head forlornly, "Too bad Donny isn't here, he'd have gotten a kick out of that."

"Well, when we get him back you can tell him all about it." Leo rolled his eyes.

"Are you two quite done talking?" the skeleton sighed, "I may be dead, but my time is still valuable."

"Time? What time?" Mikey poked, "You just told us that when no one else is here all you do is lay across that desk!"

"True," the spirit nodded, "but you see, even I have my reasons for wanting you to succeed. You see, I was a warrior who came here to be tested, much like you, but I failed. My sentence was to wait here, and I would not be released until a warrior passed the tests. Should you pass, I will finally be released from this never-ending torment, and I can die in peace."

Both brothers winced at the knowledge, Raph still spaced out from the scare, "You mean, you failed at this point in the caves?" Leo asked, "What happened?"

"I came here without my team," the skeleton sighed forlornly, "I was convinced these caves were nothing I couldn't handle, but inevitably I was tripped up. You did well by coming with your team, as I did not."

"I'm sorry," a surge of pity overwhelmed the blue ninja, making his shoulders droop.

The skeleton waved away the apology, "Don't," he stated, "if you truly feel sorry for me then continue and pass the rest of the challenges. Of all the warriors that have come through here, you four show the most promise. Now, are you ready for the riddle?"

Leo exchanged glances with Mikey, then nodded at the skeleton, "I'm ready."

"Very good," clearing a nonexistent throat, the spirit asked, "How is a raven like a writing desk?"

Leo blinked in confusion, "Come again?"

"How," the skeleton repeated, more slowly than the first time, enunciating each syllable, "is a raven, like a writing desk?"

The leader's jaw dropped. He had heard the riddle, it was one he'd read in the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. However, he couldn't remember the answer, in fact, he wasn't sure it was ever given. His heart began to pound, and Leo's vision began to tunnel. He didn't know the answer, what was he going to do?! His breath came in short gasps, even as his lungs began to burn with the advent of the panic attack. How was he going to save his brothers? He couldn't answer the question! Donny was lost, and if he didn't give the right answer, they both would be trapped in this cave just like the skeleton. Would they rot away the way he had? Doomed to wander the bookshelves, only able to move when a visitor arrived? What about Raph and Mikey?

Leo's breaths were reduced to mere wheezing pants, and it was around this time that he felt something firm slap him across the face. Leo reeled, air pulling into his lungs and the thundering of his heart in his ears calming enough to let him get a good look at Michelangelo, his hand already pulled back and ready for another slap. The leader held up one hand to signal Mikey to stop, while the other rubbed his sore cheek ruefully, "I'm ok!" he gasped, "I'm back."

Michelangelo let out a massive sigh of relief, "Yeesh! Don't do that bro! You freaked me out for a second there!"

"Sorry," Leo shook his head, but then dropped his face into his hands, "I just started to freak out, because…"

He didn't want to say it, didn't want to admit defeat, not when he'd been doing so well up to this point. However, Mikey grabbed his big brother's shoulder, "Dude, it's ok, I know the answer!"

Leo jerked up, his face wreathed in surprise, "You do?"

"Yeah!" Michelangelo grinned, "It was in an online video game I used to play, we had to come up with the answer. It bugged everybody for weeks until somebody figured it out!"

"What is it?"

The youngest shrugged, "There is no answer," he replied, "it's a trick question."

Leo clasped the hand that still had a tight grip on his shoulder, "Are you sure?"

"Absolutely, bro,"

Leonardo considered, then remembered the advice given to him by the monk. He needed to listen to his brothers, they only meant well for him. Closing his eyes, the turtle gave a heavy swallow then turned to face the skeleton, "My answer is," he began, terror causing his body to tremble, "that there is no answer."

A crack boomed in the distance, and then the creaks and slams of bookshelves falling over quickly followed. The sound began far back where they had begun, but was quickly reaching their current position. The fog swirled, and jade green lightening flashed through the gloom. Leonardo clutched his brothers, Raphael finally coming out of his trance enough to give a startled yell at the cacophony around them. The spirit merely gave a skeleton grin.

"Well done," he said softly, yet somehow was still able to be understood perfectly, "young warrior, do not forget. A leader does not know everything, neither is he expected to. Never be ashamed to ask for help. A true leader understands that only through relying on his team, and building a foundation of trust and respect, can he achieve the impossible!"

Huddling together, Leo clenched his eyes shut, holding his brothers close until finally the noise stopped. Deathly quiet filled the space, and Leo was almost nervous to open his eyes and find that he actually had become skeleton himself.

"Guys? You can let go now, it's over."

The three brothers sprang apart at the welcome voice, all turning to exclaim its owner's name, "Donny!"

The purple turtle grinned, spreading his arms, welcoming the tackled hug that pulled him down to the ground. "Jeez! You guys miss me or something?" he chuckled.

"Of course we missed you!" Mikey pouted, "and of course the challenge where you disappear has to be the freakiest one!"

"I don't know," Raphael grumbled, "mine was pretty freaky."

"Yeah, but yours didn't have ghosts!" Mikey rebutted.

"Or a talking skeleton," Leo deadpanned.

Raph shuddered, "Good point."

"Aw, they weren't that bad," Don chuckled, "I think they were all pretty nice!"

"How would you know? You weren't there!" Mikey exclaimed.

Donny wiggled his eyebrows at the youngest, "Was I?" he asked.

"Well, I mean," Mikey floundered, suddenly looking less convinced, "Weren't you?"

"Actually, I was with you the entire time," Don stated with a smug grin, "I was just invisible, you couldn't see or hear me."

"You mean, like a ghost?" Mikey quavered.

"Uh-huh," Donny nodded, "it was actually a pretty interesting experience. Granted, I went crazy trying to talk to you guys, I was terrified I wouldn't be able to help you, but it looks like everything went just fine!"

"Wait, if you were here, then…" Mikey's eyes brightened considerably, "You saw Raph and Leo scream like a couple of little girls at the skeleton?!"

The brainiac dissolved into giggles, "It was awesome!" he cackled.

Raphael and Leonardo pouted as their younger brothers laughed at their expense. Leo glancing at his hot headed younger brother, "I vote they go on the bottom of the turtle pile."

"I second that," Raph nodded.

"Aw, come on, guys," Mikey pleaded, "you gotta admit it was funny! You'd be laughing like crazy if it were me and Donny!"

"Yer right, I would," Raph growled, "but it ain't, and so, yer goin' on the bottom of the turtle pile!"

"But I'm always on the bottom!" Mikey whined, "I get squished! You're big enough, why can't you be on the bottom?"

"Because I'm not a lamebrain dimwit, like you, Mikey!" Raph shot back.

"Hey, watch who you're calling dimwit, Dimwit!" Mikey retorted, "If I remember correctly, you're the one that went catatonic while I helped Leo solve the last riddle!"

"Yeah, what's that got ta do with anythin'?"

"It proves that I'm not a dimwit!"

"Mikey, one good idea, does not a genius make," Raph chuckled darkly.

"Oh please, you don't even know what that means," Michelangelo moaned, "you're just trying to sound like Donny!"

"Uh, guys?"

The bickering duo whirled on their newly reclaimed purple brother, "WHAT?!"

Donatello pointed down, while his other hand did a shushing motion. Glancing at their feet, the duo couldn't help but melt at the sight.

Leo must have sat down for a small break while his siblings bickered, but his exhaustion overwhelmed him. Falling onto his side, the blue turtle lay curled in the fetal position, chest rising and falling in deep slumber. Once again, all three were struck at how the caves had made their eldest brother seem much younger than he really was. Leonardo would never fall asleep like this in the middle of a mission, but then again, they had never been in a situation so emotionally and mentally taxing before either. The poor guy was exhausted.

Dipping down, Raph picked up his leader, a fond smile quirking his mouth when Leo snuggled closer with a sleepy mumble, "Come on, Fearless," he said softly, let's get ourselves somewhere safer than here and get ya that turtle pile ya asked for."

Mikey taking Leo's other side, the quadruplets walked up the next flight of stairs, and through the exit door into the corridor. With gentle hands and much shushing, the team laid down for a quick rest, each snuggling as close as physically possible. Within moments, the fatigued terrapins were snoring, clutching their siblings tightly, and dreaming of the moment they finally escape the caves.

Here's the latest chapter, and I really hoped you all enjoyed it. I beg of you, please leave a review. Since I'm bedridden from the car wreck I would love to have something positive to read while I recover.

Thank you!