Thanks to Sapphire93, mav32, Kyaserin Marii, aronoiiel, Rose of Hope, BubblyShell22, BigfootSighted, Merdeka21, hmw95, and Lady-of-the-Rings, 54Viruses, Julia-Catherine, Paranoid Puppy, Katiesmeghead, and winged-monkey for your reviews. I write for you guys. I still don't own the turtles (but I do own Kizake )) Enjoy!

TMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNT

Leonardo limped back down the hallway, following the ninjas as quickly as he could. He could feel the hate and resentment coming off of them in waves as they grudgingly obeyed their dead master's wishes. He tried to process everything that had happened in the last hour, remembering his initial struggle with Kizake, chasing him through the dark hallways, their final duel, Kizake's death, and the news that his brothers were, in fact, alive. That was the hardest part for him to comprehend. After days of despair and grieving, agony and guilt, pain and sorrow, he had been told that his life had not been ripped away from him.

He noticed with slight shock that they were nearing his own cell door. Just before they reached it, however, the ninjas stopped before another door and one of them placed a keycard into an electronic lock, causing the door to slide open slowly.

Time stood still for Leo as the door opened, revealing a small, darkened room. Three figures stood in various spots around the cell, hanging by chains from the ceiling, much as he had before escaping. His ragged breath caught in his throat when he realized that these were his brothers, staring at him in surprise and relief.

"L-Leo?" one of them whispered. Mikey, Leo's mind absently registered. It was true… they were alive! A choked sob escaped from his throat and he fell to his knees, shaking uncontrollably and trying to steady his strained breaths. He felt dangerously close to tears, but still none came. His brothers were alive… they were alive… they were alive….

Finally Leo pushed himself up and drew his lone katana, lunging at his youngest brother with a strangled cry. He lifted the sword and swiftly cut the chains holding Mikey captive. Without pausing he did the same for his other brothers, letting out all the anger and frustration he felt at their captivity. They seemed unharmed, but still…. As soon as Leo had cut Donny free, he fell forward into his intelligent brother's plastron, the tears finally finding their way to the surface.

TMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNT

Donatello stood there, holding his oldest brother's shaking frame, unsure of what had happened for the hundredth time since their capture. He was really getting tired of not having the answers…. He rubbed Leo's shell, not even trying to imagine what he was going through at that moment. He had thought they were dead for so long. Don had no idea how he had found out they were alive, but he didn't care at the moment. All that mattered was that Leo was here, alive.

Don noticed grimly that Leo's plastron was warm and sticky against his own. He had obviously aggravated the crack again since leaving his cell. His arm and side were also still bleeding heavily from the wounds from Raph's sais. Don looked at his other brothers, who were looking at the ground. Mikey looked like he was in pain, as if seeing Leo in such a state physically hurt him. Raph, for once, didn't look angry. Instead he seemed subdued, as he did only in the gravest of circumstances.

Leo finally pulled away from Donny and turned to his other brothers. He fell into Raph, sobbing into his shoulder as well. Raph looked surprised for only a second before wrapping his arms around his brother and whispering soothingly in his ear. Don noticed a lone tear trickle down his cheek and he hugged their oldest brother tighter. Leo eventually broke their embrace before finally turning to Mikey and burying his head in his shoulder. Mikey gratefully shrank into the embrace, sobbing into Leo's shoulder in turn.

After what seemed an eternity Leo finally stopped sobbing and quietly gasped for air, although he didn't stop shaking. Don watched as his knees buckled and he sank to floor, still clinging to Mikey.

TMNTTMNTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNT

Raphael stared wide-eyed as his only older brother collapsed and Mikey lowered him gently to the floor. He had forgotten about Leo's injuries in the emotion of the moment. He attempted to swallow the lump in his throat but to no avail. He vaguely noticed Don kneeling down next to Leo, taking in the extent of his injuries, and Mikey stroking his head, clinging tightly to his hand and rocking back and forth. Raph willed himself to move and was finally able to make his slow way over to his brothers. He sat down next to Don and stared intently at Leo's face.

"Is he gonna be okay, Donny?" he asked hesitantly.

"He's gotta be okay!" Mikey said. He had tears streaming down his face and his gaze was locked on Leo's face. "You've gotta make 'im better, Donny. You gotta….

"I'll do everything I can, Mikey. He'll be okay." Raph looked to Don for reassurance that he wasn't just saying that to appease Mikey and was pleased to see a determined, hopeful look on his younger brother's face. He would be okay…. "For now we've got to stop the bleeding and then try to get him home without causing any more damage. I'm going to need your elbow pads…. Raph was glad to see that even in such a stressful situation Donny was able to keep some semblance of rationality. He quickly stripped off his pads and placed them in Don's outstretched hand. Leo was gonna make it—they were all gonna make it. They were going home….

TMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNT

Mikey clung to his big brother's hand like a lifeline even as he pulled off his elbow pads and handed them to Donny. He had come too close to losing Leo… again. He needed him so badly—he didn't know what he'd do if Leo died. He was his hero, his idol… Mikey looked up to Leo like no one else, not even Master Splinter. He tightened his hold on Leo's hand, willing him to get better.

Mikey looked up at Donny, reluctant to take his eyes off Leo. But he had to know he would be okay. Mikey could have fallen over from relief when he saw the hope and conviction in Don's eyes. Leo would make it… they would all be returning home….

What seemed like an eternity later Don broke the heavy silence. "Okay, I think it's safe to move him now. Raph, help me carry him. Mikey, I want you to stay next to his head—talk to him if he wakes up and let him know everything is okay." Mikey nodded, knowing Don had given him that job just as much for him as for Leo. He never once let go of Leo's hand as they made their slow way out of the room.

"Wait a minute! Where the shell are we, anyway? How do we get home? We can't just carry 'im the whole way," Raph said, stopping suddenly.

"I… I hadn't thought of that," Don replied. Mikey suddenly felt all the hope draining from him. For all they knew, they weren't even in New York City anymore….

"I beg your pardon, sirs, but I do believe I can help you," a strange voice interrupted Mikey's thoughts. The turtles heads all whirled around to see one of Kizake's ninjas standing there, head bowed. "I understand if you do not wish to trust me, but my late master seemed to want to help you, and so will I."

Mikey could tell Raph was about to say something rude before Leo's strained voice stopped him. Al three green heads again whirled around, trying to hear their fallen leader. Leo spoke again, "You can… trus' 'im…. He on… only wan's to hel'. Leo's voice was slurred and weak, but his message came across clearly. Mikey looked at the ninja and nodded. If Leo trusted him, so did he. They would accept this guy's help if it was what Leo wanted.

TMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNTTMNT

Finally, the reunion!! The story's almost done, but don't worry, I'm not gonna stop writing. I love it too much. Anyway, I hope you like this chapter. I'll try to update again soon. Thanks for reading faithfully.