A/N: I apologize for the short update, but I decided that Chapter 19 would be waaaaay too long as it is on my document so I had to split it into two parts.

Disclaimer: I do not own the TMNT.

"If you find your family…"

Leonardo and Tenjin silently approached a crumbling wall with a gaping hole, as if it had been fired at by a gathering of canons. The darkness about the area masked most of their movements. The two were wary in their approach; this was the constant drill since the attack on the lair.

They crawled over the wrecked entrance and began wading through the surrounding wreckage left from it. Dust and dirt floated about even as the seasoned ninjas kept their steps lighter than a fox in a forest. The air they breathed in was filled with a dank musty odor like that of a cave. It was uncommon to Leo, who had lived in the lair for a good few years. The duo crested a fallen pillar and froze.

Leonardo's features turned ashen and the air turned from dank and musty to the coppery metallic scent of blood.

Tenjin shoved his friend aside and sprinted forward, through the haphazardly scattered chunks of brick and mortar. He fell to his knees with a cloud of dust that pillowed upwards in the dank darkness. Tenjin's hands trembled and his mouth opened and closed inaudibly. A silent cry of grief and anger escaped his lips as he dropped his hands onto the bloodstained fabric of the Hamato ninja's chest. The ninja's body was lying as if it had been tossed aside like a broken rag doll. The red symbol patched on his shoulder matched the stains underneath his body. Tenjin's eyes trailed to the splintered and blood stained teak nun chuck in the ninja's left hand. "Tekaru…" He whispered painfully as he removed the weapon from Tekaru's stiff hand.

Leo tensed and approached Tenjin and Tekaru as his eyes darted about the darkness, searching for 'too-dark' shadows or the glint of steel. He quietly unsheathed a katana as he knelt down by Tenjin, placing a hand on the grief-stricken ninja's shoulder.

"Tenjin, we need to find the others. Now." He spoke almost inaudibly. Tenjin's head snapped to his and the ninja held his face inches from Leo's. "If this had been your brother you-" He snapped angrily, his voice was thankfully deafened by the wreckage surrounding them.

"No. We have to worry about the living now. He made a sacrifice," Leo said, nodding to Tekaru's limp form, "and I'm not going to sit here squandering it." Leo straightened and moved off, stepping over scattered bricks and bits of steel. He ducked under a pillar and spotted multiple blood splatters dotting the ground, but no bodies. Worry, anger, and fear began festering in the pit of his stomach. Leo glanced about; his heart thudded painfully in his chest.

"Raph! Mikey! Don!" He shouted; his voice echoed in the clearer and more open space. Leo caught sight of the lab door out of the corner of his eye. He turned and stared at the broken door hanging on its hinges. The steel door had taken a heavy beating; it was riddled with dents and scores. Blood had been splattered upon it as well, in great curving arcs.

Leo took a step forward, his eyes fixed in a painful stare upon the door. There was a footstep behind him. Leo whirled about, his katana whipping out in a deadly but graceful arc. At the end of Leo's katana, with the razor-sharp tip against his throat, stood a bruised and worn Donatello. The purple-masked turtle raised his hands to indicate harmlessness and Leo lowered the blade slowly. His breath came out in a heavy gasp and he placed both hands on Don's shoulder, keeping his katana away from his brother.

"Thank God, you're okay. Where are the others?" Leo said, his shoulders sagged as if a great burden had been lifted from them. Don, with a blank expression, pointed with a shaking hand to a crumbling wall. Leo sighed in relief and sheathed his katana on his shell as they began their approach. "Is everyone okay?" Leo asked his brother as they made their way up the mound mixed between brick, mortar, and dirt. Don remained silent as they crested the mound.

"Don?" Leo asked his silent brother, giving him a sidelong look.

"Leo!"

The blue-masked turtle turned just in time to catch Mikey in his arms as the blissful and seemingly recovered turtle leapt at him in an ambush of a hug. Leo's face broke into a small smile and he rubbed his youngest brother's shell comfortingly. "It's okay Mikey, I'm here now." Leo said, looking down at his brother. Mikey's eyes, filled with unshed tears, met his and he nodded with a sniff. He released his brother and took a step back. Leo turned his gaze to what lay below before him.

Five prone ninjas, all laying on white mats and covered in blood stained bandages, were being attended to by the four uninjured. Leo grimaced and made his way down the mound to come level with his friends, and his saviors. "Two too many are dead…" He thought grimly.

The ninja's looked up at his approach. They all began to move to bow.

"Stop." Leo said, his eyes filled with pain for his friends. They froze. "Rest, brothers. You need it." He said softly and the ninjas, although reluctantly, complied. Leo's gaze met each of theirs.

"We have lost two of our brothers today." Leo began. "They were honorable and courageous souls, and I sincerely wish that I had gone in their stead so that they may have lived. No matter how much I wish it, though, I cannot turn back time nor bring them back." He continued, a lance of sorrow filled his voice and he closed his eyes, accepting it.

The ninjas exchanged glanced. "However, this is not the time for grieving. Unless this violence is to be repeated, we need to move to safety. We need to recover our strength and let our wounds heal as best they can. I will ensure that this never happens again, brothers. If I must personally defeat the Shredder and Karai and their legacy, then I will. This bloodshed will not continue in my family. I won't allow another life to be lost." Leo spoke, his voice was sharp and serious, with enough tone and snap to crack a boulder.

The ninjas nodded, those lying prone had moved to rest on their elbows. They bowed their heads. "We will join you, Leonardo-san, until the end."

Leo nodded gratefully and glanced about. He turned to his brothers, now standing behind him. "Where's Raph?" He asked. The two exchanged solemn glances. "Leo…" Don began slowly. The older turtle was already shaking his head. "No. Where's Raphael?" He asked again, desperation creeping into his voice. Mikey's eyes welled with tears and he looked down, ashamed. "Leo, he's gone… Karai's men came and attacked," Don began, his voice shaking terribly.

Leo grabbed Don by the shoulders with a powerful grip and brought his face just inches from Don's. His eyes were narrowed to slits and filled with intensity. "Start from the beginning and tell me everything." He bit off; his voice was dripping with bridled fury.

Don nodded with a gulp. "Okay," He whispered. "I'll tell you everything."

A/N: Thanks for reading and please review!