Leonardo made his way out of the out of Donatello's room, fully intending on getting to his own, but his plans changed when he noticed a dark figure standing in the shadows by the kitchen. He drew his katanas and jumped into a defensive fighting stance.

"Someone's jumpy," Michelangelo said as he stepped into better lighting. His arms were crossed over his chest, and Leonardo could not see his eyes as they were shadowed by the way he tilted his head.

"What are you doing up so late, Mike?" Leonardo asked.

"Could ask you the same thing." Michelangelo flipped on the light switch and walked into the kitchen. He reached into the cabinet for a glass. "You just get in?"

"I was talking to Donnie."

Michelangelo poured himself some water. "What about before you woke 'im up?" He took a sip. "Out lookin' for a fight?"

The older turtle frowned as he turned away. "I'm going to bed."

"So you'll look for a fight out there every night," Michelangelo called after him, "but you're gonna avoid one here, huh?"

Leonardo turned around and gave his brother a hard look. "Are you looking for one?"

"I didn't say that."

"It sounded like you were implying it, Mike."

The two stared at each other silently for a moment, before Michelangelo put the glass in the sink. "Why do you keep going out alone?" He looked back at his brother. "Do you think you're gonna fix it?"

"It's none of your business."

"Or are you tryin' to get killed, too?"

Leonardo rolled his eyes and sighed. "Go back to bed."

"No." Michelangelo walked closer to him. "You know, Raph couldn't take 'em all. If he couldn't, you can't either dude."

"You're the one who can't take them. Did you forget that Don and I ended that fight while you were out cold?"

Michelangelo's eyes darkened and his body went very still, tense. His brother realized a moment too late that it was only the brief calm before the storm, as Michelangelo growled and slammed him into the wall. With his hand gripping Leonardo's throat, he pulled him back and slammed his shell against it another time, holding him there. "So you think it should've been me instead of Raph? It's my fault he's dead, huh? Is that what you think?"

Leonardo didn't fight his brother, but he narrowed his eyes at him. "No," he said his voice raspy and quiet. "That's what you think."

"You know what? This is your fault! Do you know how many times you just let Karai go? Raph would still be alive if you woulda let us get rid of her. You killed him!"

"I know," he rasped so softly it couldn't be heard.

"What did you say?" Michelangelo loosened his grip a bit.

"I know. It is my fault."

The smaller turtle growled again and tightened his grip before letting go entirely. He punched his fist into the wall beside his brother's head.

"I see those anger management sessions with Sensei aren't helping out much."

Michelangelo snarled and looked as if he might slam him into the wall a second time. Instead, he simply stormed off to his bedroom and slammed the door, leaving his weary brother behind. Leonardo looked over to the light coming from Splinter's open door and realized that his father had witnessed the encounter. "Sorry Sensei."

"I will speak with him in the morning," the rat said.

"No need. It's over and done with. He's just blowing off steam."

"I will still speak with him in the morning," Splinter said firmly. "Tonight I will speak with you, though."

"I was actually about to get to bed-"

"Leonardo."

The turtle sighed and followed his father into the room, kneeling in front of him. Splinter sat cross-legged. "Your brother may be 'just blowing off steam,' but he seems to be blowing it in the wrong direction."

"Tell me about it-"

"As are you, my son. I have tried to ignore the way that you have handled the loss of Raphael. You have always been the steadiest and most stable of your brothers, Leonardo, so I believed that any negative ways of expressing your grief would pass quickly. I was wrong."

"I mean no disrespect, Sensei, but I'm handling everything fine. You have enough to worry about with Michelangelo."

Splinter gave him a thoughtful look. "Tell me… What do you believe is the source of your brother's problems?"

"Guilt," Leonardo said. "He thinks it's his fault because Raphael turned his back to Karai when he was trying to protect him."

"He does not say it," Splinter said, "but it is true. He has tried many times to put those words into my mouth and into Donatello's. I believe he wants us to punish him as he is punishing himself."

"That's stupid. He'll never learn to cope that way."

"If it is so stupid, why do I fear that another of my sons is having similar feelings?" He gave Leonardo a knowing look. "I know that you, too, are blaming yourself for your brother's passing."

Leonardo looked down at the floor. "Maybe I don't care to cope."

"And will I then have lost two sons?" Splinter's tone was harsh and scolding, forcing Leonardo to look back up at him. "I am afraid for you most of all my sons. Donatello may be depressed and Michelangelo may be coping poorly, but you, Leonardo, are destroying yourself day after day and night after night."

"Father, I…"

"I know it is easy to be consumed by guilt, but-"

"Do you know how many times Raph told me that I should get rid of Karai?" Leonardo cried. "He knew that she had no honor. I think I even knew it. But I still let her go, over and over again. I thought that she could change."

"And Raphael loved you for that. He didn't have it in him to forgive and to hope the way that you do, and, though he fought you over these issues, he loved you for your ability to see the light where he could not."

Leonardo's eyes watered a bit. "Did Raphael ever actually say that?"

"Not in so many words, but a father knows his sons. You were Raphael's brother. Do you think that in his final moments he could've been angry with you for having wished to change a person that you thought you saw hope in? You were Raphael's brother and he loved you."

"And I failed him."

"Raphael knew the risks of turning his back to Karai in that battle, my son. Even the greatest ninja will turn his back to an enemy in battle when he must. You had to turn your back on Karai to protect your own honor and your family's honor, just as Raphael did to protect his brother's life. No one is at fault except for the dishonorable enemy who takes advantage of the exposed back before him."

Leonardo wiped at the tears on his cheeks with the back of his hand. "She will be punished for what she's done." He gave his father a determined look. "I respect you, Father, but if you try to stop me from doing what I must do, then I will not listen."

"Then I will not try to stop you," Splinter said wearily. "Just know that a desperate man alone cannot win the fight to save his own soul. He must recognize the help and guidance of those who care for him." He set his paw on his son's closed fist. "Please do not lose yourself in this fight. Our family could not handle such a loss."

Leonardo looked back at the ground. "If we're done, I promised Donatello that I would get some sleep."

Splinter sighed and removed his hand. "Yes, of course."

Leonardo slightly bowed to his father before getting to his feet.

"As much as you and your brother fought…"

Leonardo stopped at the doorway but did not look back at his father.

"As much as you fought, you are more alike than either of you could have ever known."

Without a word, Leonardo left for his own bedroom. Once there, he collapsed onto his bed, willing sleep to take him.