Chapter 3

Leo P.O.V

"Then Raph and Casey came in and just as Donnie told them you were still missing- you came flying through the window." Mikey finished dramatically, "I took Razar out with a couch for you!"

Leo smiled at his brother, but once again, it wasn't heartfelt. Mikey's tale explained the sound of shattering glass from within the void, but what troubled him was how he had led Shredder's goons to April's apartment. He had let the team down.

"So… Leo." Donnie was now sitting next to him on the side of the tub with Raph on Leo's other side and Mikey on the floor, "What happened to you?"

A flash of blades, a mixture of claws and feet. Footbots and more Footbots- the endless stream of enemies…

Leo closed his eyes- attempting to calm his rage at his failure.

"I…" he cleared his throat, still not used to the new tone of his voice or using so many words after the silence. "I would… rather leave that… to another… day." He whispered, his arms tight across his shell to try to hide the scars from his brothers- even though they must have seen them long before he had.

"Leo…" Mikey stood and instantly the eldest regretted how he had put his feelings across. He was the one who had worried them, so he had to be the one to be strong. He removed his hands from his shell and attempted to stand, yet his bad leg gave out and he fell forwards, only to have three pairs of arms catch him.

"Leo- you idiot!" Raph looped an arm around his shell, "Weren't you listening to a word Donnie just said?!" Despite the annoyance in Raph's tone, Leo smiled, glad he had diverted the conversation away from his injuries. That could be dealt with another time.

"Shall we go down to April and Casey?" Donnie asked, taking Leo's other side, and once he nodded, he helped Leo from the bathroom and down the stairs.

Although he didn't say anything, Leo couldn't help but let out a grunt or two as he jolted his knee, or even touched shells with his brothers due to the constant flames of agony building up. Never before had he suffered so badly from a fight- a broken bone or two, or even a day unconscious, yet this seemed far more extreme than all of his previous injuries put together.

But he had to try and be strong… He winced as they reached the bottom of the stairs- then again, maybe he could work on the strong tomorrow.

"You okay, bro?" Mikey swapped places with Donnie as the genius quickly rushed out the wooden front door muttering something about "Equipment."

Leo nodded in reply but held tighter onto Raph's shoulder, not caring if his hot-headed brother realised how desperately he needed the support. Thankfully though, Raph caught on to the meaning and steered Leo across the musty smelling hallway and into a living room where Casey and April were waiting.

"Leo!" April jumped out of her chair and rushed over, tentatively wrapping her arms around his neck. "Thank goodness you're awake." She muttered but didn't elaborate. She released him and he smiled awkwardly, uncomfortable with the attention.

"S'up dude?" Casey went to slap him on the shell, but before the teenage boy's hand moved halfway down, Raph caught it with his free hand.

"Don't be an idiot, Jones!" Raph huffed, rolling his eyes at Leo who smiled in return, glad he had left the void behind and was now surrounded by his family- despite some being a little inconsiderate.

Raph and Mikey helped Leo to the couch where Mikey took up the second seat and Raph and Casey fell into the armchairs. April remained by Leo's side until Donnie returned, then she moved over to Raph to give Donnie some room.

Leo could now see that the 'equipment' the scientist had mentioned was the make shift stethoscope made out of two cups and a piece of string, and in Donnie's other hand was a bottle of what looked like mutagen.

Leo frowned.

"Um, Don?" He managed to croak out- causing Casey to turn suddenly in the corner of his eyes, "What's that?" He gestured to the bottle.

"Altered mutagen. It's like medicine, but I tried to change the molecular structure so it would heal you quicker…" He looked down glumly, "Although it didn't seem to happen…"

"You don't say!" Raph snorted, "Three months wasn't exactly short was it- Lei?"

Leo felt his eyes go wide.

"You alright?" Donnie moved to help but the eldest shook his head.

"How long?" He whispered- hoping he had heard wrong.

"Three months." Raph repeated, suddenly realising he hadn't told Leo about the length of time he had been comatose.

"To be exact 103 days…" Donnie muttered under his breath, lowering his head slightly so he didn't have to meet Leo's eyes.

"We've been here three months?" Leo stammered- unable to accept how long he had been trapped in the void for, "I've been out that long?"

"You've had us worried sick Leo, Raph barely slept." April gestured to the second eldest turtle.

"It was nothing." Raph waved a hand dismissively, yet Leo suddenly became aware of the deep, dark bags under his brother's eyes- at the amount of sleep he must have lost while Leo was trapped within the void.

"Raph," His directly younger brother looked up, "Thanks."

Raph nodded, clearly understanding what Leo was thanking him for: for bringing him back; for staying with him throughout the long months and most of all- for keeping the family together during such a dark time.

"So, like why does he sound different?" Casey asked bluntly, ruining the brotherly moment and receiving a savage glare from April. The exchange went unnoticed by Donnie who just sat back, his scientific mind struggling with attempting to dumb it down for Casey.

"He's sustained damage to his throat, and pretty much everywhere else for that matter." The genius concluded, and- as if on cue- Leo felt a searing wave of pain explode through his insides, just beneath the vivid scar from the Shredder's blade.

The eldest turtle felt his face burn with shame as he felt five pairs of eyes judging him silently, his family clearly able to see what had become of him in a short space of time. Donnie was the first to recover.

"Here." He poured some of the mutagen onto a spoon, "Try some more of my special pathogen mutagen medicine- you'll be healed in no time." Ignoring Raph's sarcastic scoff behind him, Donnie held out the spoon and doubtfully, Leo leant forwards to take it. His reaction was instant.

His insides- his stomach rather than his damaged organs- twisted and Leo had to grasp hold of his shell to physically stop the urge to throw up.

Out of the corners of his eyes he saw Raph suddenly stand, Mikey lean closer and Donnie's face morph into shock. He had to think of something fast to stop them being so concerned with every slight thing he did.

"Ugh." He added an unnecessary dramatic shiver for Mikey's benefit, "Tastes like it's supposed to come out of me- not go into me!" he pulled a face, masking the extent of his disgust for the mixture- and thankfully, Mikey snickered by his side and Donnie visible relaxed.

Raph on the other hand wasn't impressed. The red banded turtle plonked himself next to Leo, draping an arm around his shoulders with a surprisingly painful force. He then slammed a fist into Leo's chest, making him jolt with pain.

"First thing tomorrow we'll start training again-" he glared at Donnie who was getting ready to interrupt, "You and me. I'll have you on your feet in no time."

"Yeah, Leo- I can make you a crutch later," Casey butted in- most probably just to further annoy Donnie, "I'll leave it outside yours and Raph's room, ready for the morning."

Leo nodded to both of the hotheads, silently thanking them for their support and that they were able to see beyond the weary figure in front of them, realising he needed to get on his feet as soon as possible.

"But Raph!" Donnie finally managed to break in, jumping to his feet in the process, "Leo shouldn't exert himself- his knee-"

"Forget it Donnie." Leo muttered, not meeting the gazes which he felt turn to him- it was almost as though everyone had forgotten he could speak.

"Leo-" Mikey began, but Leo shook his head.

"We need to get back to New York. The sooner I start training again, the sooner we can get on our way."

"Leo." Donnie crossed his arms defiantly, "You can't help the situation back in the city in your current state."

"That's why I need to train." The eldest replied, feeling a dreaded sense of deja vu from when he argued with Donnie before the invasion of New York. If there was one thing Leo hated, it was arguing with his brothers.

"But you need to heal!" Donnie snapped back, "Why are you doing this to yourself?"

"Because I need to beat Him!" Leo regretted the words the moment they escaped his lips, knowing how he would be judged for such a personal lust for revenge, but it was too late to take it back. Dropping eye contact with everyone, Leo stood on shaky legs. He was too tired to be arguing, his defences were down after the emptiness of the void and he was desperate to fill the horror of the past months, yet he didn't want to do it like this, not now.

It took two steps away from the sofa for Raph and Mikey to jump up to help him out of the room like an invalid.

But for once- Leo would allow such actions for he did not hold the strength to fight back. The heavy silence followed the threesome up the stairs and into the room he'd share with Raph. Leo could tell his brother's wanted to ask more questions, but they stayed silent- which suited him just fine.

Besides, he had his own questioning to carry out tomorrow.

Sorry again for the long wait- but what do you all think?!

Question time!

What questions will Leo ask?

Will Casey manage to make a decent crutch?!

Will a new day bring about good things for the Hamato clan?

Will i finish writing uop the next chapter before tomorrow?!

Hope you enjoyed like always and as per usual: Please review! Thanks to all you amazing people who have done so already!

LL99 OUT!