Hello my friends, I'm back and we're almost done with Control, then we'll be on to the rest of the alphabet LOL! If you have any ideas or requests, just post them into your comments and I'll see what I can do.

Anyway, thank you all for being so understanding about the car accident, it's been difficult, and I have to see more doctors about my head injury and I'm even talking to an attorney about the car wreck itself because the guy who hit me broke a bunch of laws.

I'd appreciate if you all keep me in your thoughts and prayers as we go forward, because everything is going so crazy and I'm mentally, physically and emotionally exhausted.

Thank you for caring though, and I promise, I'm taking care of my health the way you have requested.

For now, though, please enjoy this latest installment.

Michelangelo slowly came to, his eyelids fluttering at the effort it took to lift them. He was so warm and comfortable, the strong embrace of his brothers cradling him, and the comforting rise and fall of Leo's plastron moving under his cheek. Everything was perfect, and Mikey didn't want to move an inch.

It had been so long since he was able to enjoy a turtle pile, their lives being what they are. Between alien invasions, getting blasted to various parts of the universe, and keeping rival gangs from tearing Manhattan apart the ninjas rarely found time to cuddle. Their schedule was surprisingly tight for mutant turtles hiding in the underground of New York, the orange ninja mused.

Looking up, the youngest couldn't help but smile. Raphael and Donatello had Leo smooshed between them, with Mikey plastered across the eldest's chest. The blue ninja's head was nuzzled into the crook of Don's neck while Raph's head rested on their leader's shoulder. The three breathed in sync, their plastron's rising and falling together in smooth harmony. Michelangelo snuggled his leader, a happy smile brightening his features.

Nothing was quite like a turtle pile. To be honest, it was the only good thing that had happened in the caves. Granted, he had a good laugh at Leo and Raph screaming at the skeleton, and he was happy at the way they were growing as a family. Many of the talks that they'd been forced to have had been long in coming. However, he wasn't lying when he said that Leo's current state was freaking him out. Mikey wasn't sure he could take much more of his oldest brother acting so out of control.

Leo was the strong one, always has been. He was reliable, and sturdy. Even with all of Raphael's griping, the hothead knew and accepted that Leonardo was going to be head of the clan one day, and take Master Splinter's place as the patriarch. This knowledge was something everyone acknowledged, albeit quietly, but most importantly, they respected the choice. Leo was the best turtle for the job, end of story. He had the wisdom, tactical knowledge and ability to protect their family. They trusted him implicitly and knew that he'd do well with the added responsibility.

However, it seems their brother didn't get that memo.

Leonardo doubted himself, and even seemed that he regretted being made leader. It also sounded like he was unhappy with their lives in New York and wanted to leave it behind. Mikey bit back a distressed whimper at the thought. He didn't want to try and imagine them without Leo in charge, no doubt it would end in disaster if they tried. Mikey wanted to believe that his big brother didn't mean what he had said, but Leo never lied. Leo hated lies. Which meant that he was telling the truth.

However, Mikey's brow ridges furrowed at the new thought, Leo also said that he loved his family, and that was the main reason he didn't want to leave. So, maybe he only regretted it sometimes? Mikey wasn't sure. All he knew was that the sooner they got out of the caves and got Leo back to normal, the better. No more fear and tension that he'll collapse from a heart attack from all the stress. No more Leo battling with guilt at every deeply held secret being brought to light. They can go back to the way things were, but probably with a few changes if the secretive glances between Raph and Donny were anything to go on.

Leonardo sighed in his sleep, heaving Mikey's head up on the swell of the breath before settling back into the turtle pile. The brothers unconsciously shifted, allowing the movement, then tucked themselves in more securely around the struggling eldest. Raphael draped an arm around Leo in a loose hold, while Donny curled up to brace his cheek on their leader's head. The blue turtle in question gave a sleepy smile, nuzzling his brothers, completely relaxed in the safety of his siblings' embrace. Michelangelo watched all this contentedly.

This was the side of their little team that few people saw and wasn't really displayed outside of the lair. Even their father wasn't always privy to the cuddle sessions the turtles would indulge in; as they were most often in the privacy of one of their rooms, and usually late at night when all were struggling with nightmares. Maybe it was instinctual, maybe it was the only source of comfort they could find after a particularly difficult mission; whatever it was, the brothers would cling to each other, a silent promise that they had each other's backs no matter what may come. Mikey wouldn't trade anything in the world for these quiet moments. They gave him the strength to fight, and even seemed to help him defend his mind against the strangling darkness that accompanied his bad dreams.

They'd become rarer these days though, and it had distressed the orange turtle, worrying him that they were growing apart. Mikey had actually started feeling a measure of dread over it, as he was scared his family would fall to pieces the way they had in that alternate future Donny saw. The feeling caused a chill to shoot up Mikey's spine, the turtle suppressing a shudder. He never said anything, but hearing Donatello talk about that possible future, it planted something deep inside his mind that scared him. The kind of fear that makes you wake up screaming into your pillow or gasping for air with your heart thundering in your ears. Mikey would give anything to ensure that never happens to his family.

The youngest perked up, another new thought causing something of a revelation.

What if these caves were meant to heal that? What if this incredibly stressful situation was meant to mend what was broken? It's always painful to purify an open wound, a process all four turtles were intimately familiar with. However, at the end, you may have a scar, but you're always smarter, wiser, and have a better understanding of what went wrong. That way you can avoid it ever happening again. Is this what the Ancient One wanted all along? Did he see cracks forming in the team, caused by the pressure Leo was under, and decided these caves were the best way to deal with the core problem?

Mikey pursed his lips in thought. These revelations were becoming a bit too heavy for him. He preferred letting Donny and Leo handle the problems that required complex thought, not that he was an idiot, he just enjoyed dreaming more than strategizing.

However, if his hunch was correct, then the Ancient One definitely had an ulterior motive for sending them here, and he wasn't sure how he felt about that. He was both angry and grateful at the same time. How would he talk to the Ancient One after this? Should he get mad about how they easily could have died, all for some mystic test? Or say thank you because they seemed to have gotten their closeness back as a team? This test was certainly breaking down walls and secrets, allowing them to regain the love and support they've somehow lost. Was that the point Ancient One was trying to make?

Michelangelo gave a disconsolate groan, hiding his face in his eldest brother's plastron as his temple gave a sharp pang. Curse these big thoughts giving him a headache!

Strong fingers rubbed Mikey's head, somehow knowing the spots that hurt, kneading the area where the knot of the mask could cause a painful indentation. The youngest almost purred at the pleasant sensation, but then his eyes bugged wide as he realized he wasn't the only one awake anymore. Baby blue eyes snapped up to meet a navy gaze, and Leo smiled softly at his youngest brother.

"What's wrong?" he whispered.

Mikey narrowed his eyes at Leo, pouting at the way their leader always had a sixth sense when it came to protecting his brothers, "You're supposed to be sleeping," the orange turtle answered quietly.

Leo shrugged in reply, "I just woke up," he stated, "and right when I opened my eyes, I saw you looked upset. I got worried."

"Right," Mikey snickered as softly as he could manage, "you just happened to wake up right when I was having an existential crisis. I'm telling ya, bro, your spidey sense for when something is wrong is scary sometimes."

Leo merely blinked, but a smirk quirked one side of his mouth and his hand went back to fondly rubbing his brother's head. "Maybe I do have a sense for my brothers, but it's only because I care about you so much."

The orange ninja leaned into the touch, enjoying his semi alone time with his eldest brother. Leo watched Mikey for a few seconds, then once again broached the topic, "So, what made you upset?"

Michelangelo frowned, unsure of how to answer, but the gentle caresses on his skull seemed to drive away his fear and replace it with a feeling of security, "I was thinking about how it doesn't seem like a coincidence that the Ancient One sent us down here." The youngest admitted, "I was also wondering how to treat him after this, because I'm angry at him for hurting you, but I'm actually happy that we're close again."

Leo's hand stilled, his shoulders deflating at the number of things left unsaid lurking behind that statement. "We have been pretty busy lately, haven't we?" he asked gently, "You've been pretty vocal about how we don't have as much family time these days."

"Yeah," Mikey nodded, voice soft, "I was worried we would fall apart like that future Donny saw, and it's scared me how we don't hang out as much anymore."

Leo gave his brother's head a thoughtful stroke, using the movement to help guide his thoughts as he pondered out how to answer the unspoken plea in Mikey's voice, "You're right," he finally admitted, "we haven't spent as much time together, we each immersed ourselves in our own interests, or in my case, responsibilities, that we forgot the foundation of what makes a team strong."

Mikey braced his cheek on Leo's chest, the comforting throb of the eldest's heart thrumming in his ear, "That's why I don't know if I should be angry or grateful," he sighed, "I'm angry because this is a test that could kill us, but it's also brought us closer together. You and Raphie have barely argued, and we're all supporting each other instead of fighting. It's nice."

"I agree," Leo hummed, going back to massaging the back of the youngest's head, "so what else is bugging you?"

"How did you know I was worried about something else?"

The blue leader chuckled, "Because I know my brother, and I could hear the gears turning in your brain even in my sleep. So, spill it."

Mikey sighed, "I'm worried about you. It's not that I'm angry at you, bro, because I'm not; but some of the things you've said almost sound like you regret being made leader, and that scares me. But I know that you don't, because you've also said how much you love our family and how you love leading us. And I know you're telling the truth, because you never lie. I guess I'm just confused."

Leo cupped Michelangelo's head with his hand in a soft pseudo hug, "I would never leave you guys, ever. I know a lot has been said down here, things that I probably shouldn't have bottled up for so long, but I don't regret being made leader. I'm stressed, yeah, and I wish for things that sometimes feel impossible with the amount of responsibility I carry, but that doesn't mean I'll ever up and quit. Our family is too important to me to do something like that."

"Good," Mikey mumbled, nuzzling his brother's plastron, "because I don't want to lose you, I don't want to lose anyone. We need to stick together."

"We will, little brother," Leo affirmed, his voice soft but stalwart, hand giving soothing strokes to his brother's head and carapace, "and if it makes you feel better, I'll promise to start making sure we have family nights again every week. That way we won't get as bad as we were before all this."

Nodding enthusiastically, Mikey gave a happy sigh; settling once again on Leo's chest, enjoying the head massage and the warm feeling that all was right with the world. For the moment at least. "I love you, aniki," the youngest mumbled lethargically.

"I love you too, otouto,"

"Can I join in?"

Mikey glanced up only to give a wide grin at Donny's pleading chocolate brown eyes. "Join in on what?" he asked innocently.

"I want cuddles!" Donny whined in a childlike tone, nuzzling his head insistently against Leo's.

The leader melted, lifting his hand from Mikey's head so to hug Donny's, rubbing it gently with the pad of his thumb, "Aw," he chuckled warmly, "of course."

"Hey!" Mikey pouted, "I wasn't done yet!"

Donny stuck his tongue out at the youngest, "You had enough, it's my turn now."

"Nuh-uh!" Mikey denied, snuggling closer to their eldest brother while making a grab for Leo's hand, "I was here first, finder's keepers; you were asleep, and we were enjoying a private brotherly moment!"

"We are all cuddling together!" Donny shot back, slapping Mikey's hands away and making Leo laugh at the antics in the process, "Therefore, it is not private, and I can join in if I want!"

"How about I just break up the party, and nobody gets him?" Raphael's grumpy tones broke through the argument, sleepy amber eyes blinking at the dueling brothers, "Sheesh, can't a turtle take a nap in peace?"

The red ninja gave a cavernous yawn, making his sibling flinch back, "EW!" Mikey squealed theatrically, "When was the last time you washed that thing, Raph?! Your breath smells like two-week-old pizza!"

Raphael rolled his eyes, "Whatever, I have better mouth hygiene than you, Mikey." He groused. "I actually use the mouthwash April buys for us, ya just brush yer teeth as fast as possible then go back ta playin' video games."

"I use the mouthwash!" Mikey argued, making his brothers pause, each smirking at the suspicious statement. The orange turtle groaned in surrender, "Fine, I use it when I remember, which may not be often, but I can still say that it gets used."

"Right," Raph drawled, shaking his head in fond amusement, "whatever ya say, Mikey."

Leo rolled his eyes, his face wreathed in a soft smile overflowing with familial love, "Well," he sighed, "I guess since we're all awake we might as well tackle the next two challenges."

Groans were shared, but none argued. All wanted to get out of the caves sooner rather than later, but Donatello stopped his older brother, "Wait, I just want to give you a quick field physical."

"Donny, I'm fine," Leo stated, rolling his eyes as Don summarily ignored him and started to check his pulse, "seriously, the rest did wonders. I'm feeling a lot better, and my heart isn't racing at all."

The brainiac pursed his lips in thought, mentally counting between heartbeats, before giving a tolerant huff, "You seem to be ok, but you know the agreement. Don't keep quiet if anything changes, got it?"

Leo gave a snarky salute, making Raph and Mikey snicker. Don merely shook his head and flicked his eldest brother on the nose. The blue ninja giggled, making his siblings melt at the seldom heard sound, and rubbed his nose to ease the stinging. "Are we good to go now?"

Donatello nodded, and Mikey leapt to his feet, "All right!" he exclaimed, "Let's get this party on the road!"

The purple ninja raised an eyebrow at their baby brother, eyes glinting with mischief, "Awfully excited, aren't we Mikey?" he taunted.

"Well, yeah!" the youngest nodded, "We're two challenges down, and only two to go! If we keep going at this rate, we'll be out of here by dinner time!"

Raphael gave a dark chuckle, catching where his immediate younger brother was going with his line of thought, "That's interestin'," he smirked, giving a wink to Don, "especially since, if I'm right, yer the one doin' the disappearin' act next."

"Wait…what?"

Donatello snickered at how the youngest froze, wiggling his eyebrows at his older brothers who were sniggering quietly at the scene, "Well, Raph disappeared first," Don deduced, ticking off each occurrence, "then me, so it would make sense that logically the next challenge would focus on you."

Mikey's jaw dropped as two hands slowly reached up to grip his head, "Holy shell," he gasped dramatically, "you're right! It is my turn! No, I don't wanna go, you can't make me!"

"Oh, come on, ya big baby," Raphael huffed, grabbing his youngest brother by the arm and dragging him down the corridor, "it ain't so bad. Donny was just invisible, and I was able ta break outta my cage no problem. Besides, Leo's been acin' each challenge, we just gotta have faith that he'll take care of this one too."

Leo walked beside his hotheaded brother, draping an arm around the red turtle, "Aw, thanks Raph, I think that's the nicest thing you've ever said to me."

"No it's not!" Mikey rebutted from where he was being dragged, "He's been all sorts of sweet and cuddly since the spirit lady first showed up!"

"You're right!" Don gasped theatrically, walking up next to Raphael so to cast a suspicious glare in his direction, "Are we sure that Leo isn't the only one she messed with?"

Leo laughed gaily at the accusation, sending a teasing glance at Raph (who was trying valiantly not to laugh), "Oh yeah, she took away my control, and decided to steal Raph's temper."

"Do you think we can make it permanent?" Mikey asked innocently.

"Oh, hardy-har-har!" Raphael groused, although his eyes twinkled in amusement, "Pick on the guy who's just trying ta help his family get out of a freaky cave."

Donatello grinned, shaking his head at his siblings before coming to a stop in front of the next door, "Looks like we're here."

Mikey paused, his attitude sobering, "You know, I was thinking,"

"Is that what I smelled burning?" Raphael muttered, earning him a jab to the ribs by Leo's elbow. Despite the blue ninja snickering at the remark.

The orange turtle growled at his older brother, but turned back to his point, "I'm just saying, if this challenge is the one where you have to save me, what do we do on the last challenge? She said there was four, right?"

The quadruplets paused, a thoughtful silence falling before Mikey groaned, "Exactly!" he exclaimed, "I don't know about you guys, but these tests have been weirdly specific to things that Leo fights in his mind. I mean, think about it!"

Michelangelo pointed at Raphael, "Raph's challenge was designed to make Leo lose it and have a meltdown because he wishes he could lose it the way Raph always does!"

The red ninja huffed, rolling his eyes, but didn't argue. Don released a small squeak when the finger swung around, and pointed in his direction, "And Don's challenge was to show Leo that he was as smart and capable as Donny."

"And you?" Leonardo ventured, interested in hearing the, strangely deep, thought process of his baby brother, "What do you think yours will be?"

"Well," Mikey tapped his chin, pursing his lips as he pondered the question, "when you were yelling back in the first challenge, you said that you were angry you couldn't just be a teenager. That you hated having to be responsible all the time. I think we can agree that out of the four of us, I'm the one who gets to be a normal teenager the most. So, probably something to do with that."

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Donatello said slowly, "but Mikey has a point. His hypothesis is surprisingly astute."

"That's great an' all," Raphael rumbled, stepping into the circle, "but how does that help us now? So, we go in there and Mikey will get zapped away, we'll rescue him and then go finish the last challenge, so what?"

"That's my point!" Mikey declared, waving his arms, "Yeah, this challenge may very well be about me and how Leo secretly wishes he could just goof off instead of training all the time, but what about the last challenge? I don't know if you've counted recently, but Leo only has three brothers. So, who is the last challenge going to center around and what does that mean for us?"

"Two for two," Donny sighed, "once again, Mikey's right. The last challenge may zap Leo away somewhere and we'll have to solve it without him, or it may remove all three of us. Or something entirely different! We won't know until we get there."

"If we won't know until we get there, then why freak out about it now?" Raphael stated, crossing his arms, "we've come this far, we ain't gonna lose before we even try."

"Raphael is right," Leo's quiet voice broke in. Stepping into their circle, the siblings took in the appearance of their eldest brother, each mourning the haggard look he wore, all benefit of their short rest lost.

Right hand gripping his left wrist to prevent the shaking afflicting his frame, Leo cast the most determined and fearless look he could muster, "We won't know until we try, and psyching ourselves out before the battle doesn't help our chances. We've come this far, and we haven't failed yet. If we trust in our team, we'll get through this. I trust you, and I trust our training, neither have failed us yet. We're going to get out of here."

A moment of awe followed Leo's words, each turtle gazing at their brother in admiration. "That's the Leo I know," Don smiled gently, eyes shining with pride and affection.

Raph answered the look with a grin of his own, "Good old Fearless."

Leonardo looked down at the floor, a blush coloring his cheeks, "I hate it when you call me Fearless," he mumbled, "I'm not, and you know it."

The hotheaded turtle's eyes widened, before he turned serious, "Leo, I don't…I'm not…" Raphael sighed, taking a deep breath to gather his words, "I don't call ya that ta mock ya, ya know that, right?"

The leader hesitated, still unsure about the whole being open with his brothers about his feelings situation, then pushed his fear aside, "Sometimes I do," he murmured, "other times it feels like an insult."

Raph winced, not needing clarification on what times Leo was speaking of. He knew exactly when he had meant for the nickname to bite as deeply as his Sai. "I'm sorry, bro."

"It's ok," Leo shook his head, uncomfortable with being so vulnerable again in front of his siblings, "I've gotten used to it."

The red ninja pursed his lips in thought, before giving a nod, "If ya want, I'll stop callin' ya that."

Leonardo's head snapped up to pin Raphael with wide navy eyes full of shock, but warmth filled him at how much the red ninja had matured in their short time in the caves. Gratitude engulfed him at Raph's unexpectedly kind offer, but once again, hesitation filled his heart. In truth he never wanted Raph to stop calling him Fearless. Sometimes, it was that small reminder that gave him to courage to forge ahead despite the danger. He needed Raphael at his back, prodding him to go forward when all he felt was fear. All he wanted was for his brother to stop using it as an insult. It was certainly a conflicting thought.

Capturing his bottom lip between his teeth and giving an indecisive nibble, Leo turned back to his bombastic sibling. "Can I get back to you on that?" he asked quietly, his gaze raw and uncertain, "I need to think about it before I give you an answer."

Raphael was shocked, but it quickly gave way to a fond smile, "Yeah," he nodded softly, "take all the time ya need."

Leonardo returned the smile, happy that if anything good came out of this, it was that his relationship with Raphael was growing into something better. Michelangelo was right, they hadn't really been arguing down here, and Leo never realized just how understanding Raph could be when they weren't yelling. It truly was a nice change. Getting back to the task at hand, the leader gave an encouraging nod to his siblings, then turned back to the door, watching as the mysterious jade green light formed new words on the dark stone.

The Third of Four, You're Almost Done

But Michelangelo Won't Be Having Fun

Locked Inside an Icy Prison

Find the Key and Complete Your Mission

"Can I just say," Mikey groused, his face twisted into a pout, "that does not sound promising."

"No kidding," Donatello winced, "I was just invisible, and Raphie was in a cage, but an icy prison? I'm a little concerned myself."

"It's going to be ok," Leo murmured, though to his team or to himself, none knew.

"Right," Raphael nodded, "we'll get through this, just like Fearl-eh, Leo said we will."

Taking a deep breath in through his nostrils, the leader stepped forward and flung open the doors. The stairs leading down were shorted than the last two, and the chamber was filled with a dense fog that obscured any clue to what the challenge was. True to the riddle, all the turtles shivered at the icy air permeating the room. Michelangelo gave an audible gulp but began to descend the stairs with all the gravitas of a condemned man walking to his execution.

Looking over his shoulder, the orange turtle exclaimed, "You guys better save me before I turn into a popsicle!"

"Mikey!" Leo scrambled down the stairs, not wanting his brother to disappear before he could at least hug him. The youngest had other plans it seemed, though.

"You can do this, Leo," Mikey said, voice strangely calm, "you trust us, and we trust you. With anything. Leadership, our family, and I trust you with my life. Love you, bro."

Milliseconds before Leo's hand could grasp Mikey's shoulder, the orange ninja stepped off the last stair, and the test began. Michelangelo was whisked away, and green flames lit the chamber, revealing a room covered in frozen statues. Leo gasped, his eyes wide in wonder and fear.

The room was sparce, white with snow and ice that hung from the ceiling and walls in long icicles. However, the ever-present jade fog hung heavy on the floor. The only ornament to the room designating the challenge, was the myriad of frozen sculptures, each made of the same dark stone as the doors. While they were disturbing to look at, Leo couldn't help but feel they were familiar. However, the leader didn't give them much thought, as there was one sculpture that he recognized right away.

On the far end of the room, standing on a round pedestal his features cold and still, Mikey was trapped in ice. Leo gave a strangled cry and jumped to where his brother was held captive. Joined by his younger siblings, the trio gathered around their baby brother, each wearing a look of horror and anger. Leonardo's hands clenched into fists, and in a moment of temper, he struck the ice holding his youngest sibling. Hot tears welled in his eyes, but he swiped them away before they could fall.

He would not allow himself to break down here. It wasn't quite the control he used to have, but the leader felt a measure of comfort that he could at least stop himself from having another melt down. His brother needed him, and tears wouldn't solve anything. Stepping back, Leo cast his gaze around the room, looking around for any clues on how to save Mikey.

Based on what he could see, the pedestal where his youngest sibling stood had a small keyhole directly in front on the bottom, meaning that a key was necessary. But where would he find one? The answer must be in the room. Looking more closely at the sculptures, Leo noticed that they were each holding a key in cupped hands. Maybe that was how he was to free Mikey? It made sense, but which was the right one? Not to mention, was he alone on this challenge, or would there be a spirit to guide him?

As if responding to his thoughts, a small arctic fox with jade green eyes materialized out of thin air, its fluffy tail brushing the snow as it trotted towards them, "Where have you been?" it asked in a snotty tone, "I was expecting you hours ago."

"I'm sorry," the leader stammered back, addressing the small creature, "we stopped for rest."

"Rest?" The fox laughed, "you are in the Cave of Trials, what part of that sounds like you are allowed time for rest? Are you so inept that you can't even finish these challenges without needing a nap like some child? Disgraceful!"

Leo appeared taken aback, and the brothers could already see him feeling guilty about taking time out for his health. Anger filled them, as this was the first spirit to take advantage of their leader's insecurities in such a cruel way. Fingering his Sais, Raphael gave a snarl, "Hey, don't get an attitude with us, ya furball!"

"Yeah!" Don backed up his brother, gripping his bo staff threateningly, "We didn't ask to be tested, and nobody told us that we were on a time limit. Leo needed to rest, and you can't expect us to finish these challenges dead on our feet!"

"Your inadequacies are hardly my problem," the fox stated with a tolerant sigh, "I'm merely here to inform you of this challenge. Whether you choose to take responsibility for it and act accordingly, or continue to be bumbling fools, is your decision."

"How is resting foolish?" Don asked aghast, "it's that kind of thinking that we're trying to help Leo overcome, not make worse!"

"So says the pot," the fox snarked, "are you going to continue your tirade about the kettle, or shall I introduce the challenge to you?"

"Pot?" Raphael asked, one eye ridge raised in confusion.

"He's calling me a hypocrite," Don growled softly, "apparently, I should take my own advice about resting, instead of insisting Leo does. He's right, but I don't like hearing it from him."

The fox gave a toothy grin, its jade eyes sparkling maliciously, "At least you have the wisdom to admit I'm right. However, if it wasn't for your leader's weakness, you wouldn't be in this mess, correct? If he had just been stronger, more resolute, less irresponsible and immature; you would never have had to be sent into these caves. You would never have had to be tested."

The blue ninja's breath quickened, coming in short panting gasps. His heartrate skyrocketed, and the terrapin wrapped his arms around himself. Closing his eyes against the cruel words, Leo tried to bring back all the encouraging things he'd heard from his brothers since the trial began. However, no matter how hard he tried, the cold from the room and the insidious remarks from the fox made it hard to concentrate. His head was once more a cacophony of accusations being flung every which way. He could barely concentrate; it was too loud.

"Think about it," the fox continued, circling the brothers, teeth bared, "you already suspect that you were sent down here for a reason, maybe the one who sent you here knew that your brother wasn't good enough to lead. Leonardo certainly knows it. He's a waste of time and space, otherwise he wouldn't be having so much difficulty breathing right now."

Leonardo's breaths were now a wheeze, scant amounts of oxygen being pulled into strangled lungs. Darkness settled into his mind. The fox was right. If he had just been a better leader, maybe this would never had happened. He was so stupid to think that he could get them through this, not when they could have avoided it altogether if he had just been less weak. He was so pathetic. A sharp pain stabbed through his chest, causing the turtle to give a breathless cry. He didn't have time to focus on it though. The negative thoughts were engulfing him. Even the constricting of his heart, it felt so far away now, wasn't enough to get him free from the clutches of his own mind. The specter of his father in the first challenge was right, he was a disgrace. Couldn't even maintain control of his own body, much less lead with honor. He brought shame to his family, his brothers, he couldn't do this…he couldn't lead them…couldn't…

"Yes, poor little Leo," the fox's voice hissed through his mind, creeping into his thoughts like a poisonous cloud across a forest, "you always knew you weren't good enough for the job. You can't lead your brothers, you can't even defend yourself. You're weak!"

A dull thud rang in his ears, the young leader couldn't even see anymore, his vision was black. All he could do was listen. Listen to the shouts of his brothers, feel their hands as they grasped him as he…was he laying on the ground? When did that happen? Don was screaming at him to breathe, when had he stopped? Raph was trying to turn him on his shell, but…it was strange, everything was floating away…all he could hear was…the fox…

…

The fox snickered at the scene unfolding in front of him, licking his chops, "Yes," he snarled, "you are a disgrace, the other spirits were wrong, you aren't special, you're nothing!"

The creature yelped as Raph roughly grabbed it by the scruff and flung it away, "Get away from him!" the red ninja bellowed.

"I-I can't feel his heart!" Don sobbed, grabbing his older brother's attention, "He's not breathing Raphie!"

Raphael clenched his eyes shut, refusing to acknowledge Don's report, but then gave a violent shake of his head. He would not wimp out now, not when Leo needed him! Leaning over his brother, the red clad turtle began to do rhythmic compressions onto his leader's plastron. All four of them had passed a first aid course, nagged into it by both April and Don, as the brainiac had insisted they all needed basic knowledge in case he was out of commission. Raphael was never so grateful as he was now that he had taken the freaking course.

The red ninja continued the compressions, ducking down to breathe into his brother's mouth, and then returned to pumping his heart. Raphael hadn't even noticed that his hands were wet with the tears streaming down his cheeks, splattering onto Leo's chest.

"Clear out," Don commanded, his handy bag of tricks at hand, "I've rigged up a field defibrillator."

"A what?" Raph asked.

"Just get off him so I can shock his heart!"

Raphael jumped off, watching as Donny pressed some gizmo onto Leo's plastron, and into his side. They watched the blue ninja jolt from the electric current, and as Donny bent down, tears of relief dripped down to join Raph's. "His heartbeat is back," the brainiac stated through his sobs, "It may not have been a full attack, the stress may have caused it to go into an irregular rhythm or palpitation. Either way, he's back."

The brothers melted under the strain, each releasing cries of both gratitude and sorrow, both clutching their leader in unyielding grips. The fox sneered at the display. "Pathetic, the lot of you," he growled lowly.

"Let me tell ya something," Raphael snapped, liquid gold eyes gleaming with his temper and the flow of tears, "if anyone in this family ain't pathetic, it's Leo! He's the strongest of us, and right now, I'm kickin' myself for bringin' him ta this point! He shouldn't be so stressed that his heart gives out on him, and I admit, I'm responsible fer some of that, but don't ya look down yer nose at him, don't ya dare look down on my brother and leader!"

Raphael grabbed a Sai and held it threateningly in front of his face, eyeing the spirit between the blades, "And if ya think ya can get away with hurtin' my brother, think again!"

The fox had the grace to flinch at the red ninja's promise, his fur bristling, "Why you insist on protecting him is beyond me,"

"Well, why you suddenly show up and bully him into his heart giving out is equally mysterious to me!" Donatello growled fiercely, "What's wrong with you?!"

The spirit shrugged, delicately grooming its paw, "I'm a fox," it stated, "we are tricksters, sometimes we can help, other times we cause chaos. Your brother has been getting too much affirmation in my opinion, I don't get what everyone sees in him. A real leader wouldn't get so worked up."

"He's seventeen years old!" Raphael bellowed, "You can't expect him ta be perfect, he's still practically a kid, we all are! Besides, how many seventeen-year old's know how ta lead the way he does, huh? How many of them have had ta put their brother's lives at risk the way he's had ta? How many of them are a genius at strategy the way Leo is? I can tall ya, not many! He's worth more than ya think, and a lot more than that in my opinion! So, unless yer gonna tell us about this challenge, keep yer trap shut, because I've had it up ta here with yer mouth!"

The spirit growled deep in its throat, but didn't argue, "Fine," it grumbled, "tell your brother when he wakes up that this challenge is to find the statue that holds the key to your brother's prison. Each sculpture represents a different part or facet of your brother. He needs to find the one that corresponds with Michelangelo, and then use the key to thaw your brother from his prison. If he manages that, you're free to go to the next challenge."

"No need," a weak voice rasped between the huddled turtles, "I heard you just fine."

Donny gasped, looking down to see Leonardo struggling into a sitting position, "What do you think you're doing?!" the purple ninja spluttered, "Your heart just stopped, you can't be moving around yet!"

Leo shook his head, "We don't have a choice Donny," he gasped, allowing Raphael to pull him up, "we need to get Mikey out of there, I won't leave him like that longer than I have to."

Donatello heaved a grievous sigh, "Fine," he muttered, reaching into his bag "but I'm keeping an eye on you, and you're taking these whether you like it or not."

Leonardo took the proffered meds, swallowing them quickly then turned back to the fox, but once again found the spirit had vanished. This time, however, he felt relief at its absence, "Good riddance." He growled.

Raphael nodded behind him, propping his leader against his chest, "Yeah, I was about ta skin the little monster."

"I would gladly have helped," Donatello snarled.

Leo leaned back against Raph's bulk, taking deep breaths, wincing at the throbbing in his chest. His episode certainly put a damper on things. He could already feel the strain on his body becoming almost unbearable. However, Leo couldn't give in. He was already kicking himself at how easily the fox goaded him into, whatever that was. To be honest, the leader was afraid of long-lasting repercussions of this adventure. Would he struggle with heart problems now? He sincerely hoped not, but now was not the time to worry about that. He needed to rescue his baby brother and get his family out of these caves.

Bracing his hand on Raph's arm, Leo pushed himself up, and then allowed his brother to assist him in the arduous task of standing up. They needed to save Mikey, even if his body gave out, he had to save his brother.

Well….I wasn't expecting that…but then the Fox wrote himself as a jerk, and Leo's body said "Deuces!" and I genuinely shocked myself.

I guess we're all on the edge of our seat on how this will turn out!

Thank you once again for all the kind words and support. Please leave a review, they really do help me as I recover.