"My son!" Splinter cried.

Fighting the pain in his chest, Leo struggled to rise. His family needed him. He needed to protect them. Weakly he tried to push himself off the floor, arms shaking.

The damaged Karai Legion took aim again.

"Leo!"

Young Raph rushed forward plunging his sai into the broken robot. Again and again he stabbed the hunk of metal, eyes wild.

"Kid watch it!"

Young raph looked up just in time to see the Foot Elite swing its blade down towards him.

"Ooof!"

Suddenly he was knocked aside, wrapped in a pair of arms.

"Ya dang hothead," the older Raph grunted.

Together they stood, but not without effort.

The young Raph looked at the old turtle, and the arm that now hung uselessly at his side. That old geezer had saved him. He had saved him and gotten hurt.

The corners of young Raph's vision turned red.

"Come on kid" the old Raph said to him. "They need us."

Gripping his weapons tight, young Raph nodded, sprinting back to cover his fallen brother.

Leo's vision was swimming. He was vaguely aware of his father beside him, but lacked the strength to move. The pain in his chest was agonizing.

All laughter gone, both Mikeys kept the perimeter around young Leo and Splinter. Frantically fending off all four Foot Elites.

A cry of fury rang out as young Raph flew into view, a white-hot vengeance fueling his every move. Old Raph too joined his young self, expertly defending the young hothead as he left himself vulnerable.

He understood the kid's anger. He would make sure he could let it all out, and still have his shell in one piece.

….

Karai lunged again, barely missing the old terrapin's shoulder. Leo leapt back as the metal swung again, inches from his arm.

He had heard the cry of his family as his younger counterpart was struck. Desperately he had tried to join them. To defend them. But Karai was too skilled, and had expertly herded him away from them.

"Get out of my way Karai!"

She blocked his attack, her face a determined grimace.

"I am sorry Leonardo. But you and I have unfinished business."

Leo frowned darkly. With a sudden strike he kicked Karai's legs out from under her. She had been expecting a blow from his katanas and was ill-prepared to defend herself from the fall.

Leaping over her, Leo rushed to his family. He wouldn't leave them again.

Coming to a halt in front of the fallen younger turtle, Leo knew it was bad.

Splinter held his fallen son's head in his lap, trying to make the young warrior comfortable.

Bending down, the older Leo ran a hand across the young turtle's plastron. A great crack had formed, and by the feel, had even been indented crushing the young turtle's chest. The skin was raw and burned, and even gone in some areas. He needed medical attention now.

"Do not ignore me Leonardo!"

Karai had regained her feet and leapt into the fray, her blade flashing. Donnie leapt between the unsuspecting old turtle and the coming blow, parrying as best he could.

His bo staff was a blur as he pushed Karai back. Blocking her sword and dealing heavy blows. He couldn't allow Karai to kill his older brother again. He would stop her.

"Take this Karai!" April had taken her blaster and was providing cover for her friends.

With a snarl Karai leapt out of harms way. Her underlings pulled back to her side.

They're losing. Don thought. We might be able to do this!

***CRASH***

The far wall of the room exploded, showering the small group with debris.

Coughing Donnie tried to see through the dusty haze. What had happened?

As the air began to clear, fear and despair gripped his heart.

"Shredder."