Author's note: So two chapters in one night, huh? I must be feeling generous. Either that or I'm just apologizing for not posting this fic earlier when I had Donny's nice - short - chapter completed. Anyway, Leo's is longer so rejoice! The only reason I posted both today is because I finally thought up a title. It took me forever! I wanted a nice cool title and since I use a lot of different ways of naming death, I thought this title worked perfect! So enjoy Leo's double length chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own the turtles & company.

Leonardo felt hot. Too hot to be normal for a cold-blooded reptile like him. When he realized this, he was aware that something was wrong. For the moment, exactly what was wrong evaded him at the moment. He knew he also felt drained, but why? What happened for him to get like this? The answer was close to the forefront of his mind, but he couldn't seem to grab onto it. It was dancing right out of reach and Leonardo's tired brain didn't have enough energy to chase it down yet.

At least he was alive. That much he knew. Though why that was such a big deal was oblivious to him. He could hear the murmur of voices, so he knew he must be home safe. He did notice one voice was missing – and he knew that was significant for some reason – but he couldn't force his mind to dwell on that yet.

What did happen? Leonardo struggled hard to remember. He knew it was important. Whatever happened to him wasn't something he could ignore. The answer skirted closer. It was still out of reach, but it was a start. A name came to him then. Something about Donatello…but how was his brother involved in what happened to him? He reached out, hoping to draw the answer closer. Something seemed to be stopping him from gathering this important information.

He listened to the sound of his heart racing in his chest. Each beat caused him agony, but it still comforted him. It was a sign he was still alive…but why was that so important? The answer was nearer now; so close. Cold…he remembered the cold. Oh it would be so great to be in that room again so he wouldn't be so hot anymore! But that thought was wrong. That cold room meant terror. It meant Death's hand had been near enough to touch him…and his brother!

Donatello was dying. He remembered now. He was going to die with him too. Why didn't they? He wasn't dead as he thought he would be. Is his brother alive as well? He had to find out but this mental block also prohibited his awakening. He still didn't understand all the details. Some things were still out of reach. The heat was affecting his brain. That was probably it. He felt so sick…

The poison! Now he remembered. That gas that had invaded his system through the vents. That's why he felt so sick now. That gas was supposed to kill him…and his already dying brother… Oh Donny, I'm so sorry for not getting you out when we had the chance! He was stupid to have walked right in like that and not getting his brother out of the refrigerated room while the door had still been open.

His memory was coming back in patches: disorganized and sluggish. There was still one thing that bugged him. How did he survive? He was sure he was going to die. There had been no hope left when the poison had him passing out over his brother. He was as good as dead he had thought.

Maybe he had been rescued in time? Maybe Raphael had arrived and got them out before he died there? Maybe… It had to be that way. He had been on his cell with Raphael before he had passed out. His brother had known of his predicament and probably arrived with Michelangelo to his and Donatello's rescue.

Did they get there in time to save Donatello as well? He had to know, but trying to fully regain consciousness through this heat haze of fever dreams was like trying to wade through water. He didn't even know where he should start. His mind was muddled enough and it just felt hopeless to try to find his way.

The way felt reminded him of his near-death at the hands of the Shredder's Elite before he crashed through April's apartment window. He had felt lost then too. He remembered how hard it had been to find his way to his family. Now it wasn't just Death's veil keeping him from his family but that miserable heat radiating off his body and fogging up his mind's coherency. It was so tempting to slip away from the heat; to retreat to the far reaches of his mind and lock himself away forever. It would be so easy, but then he would never find out what had became of his brother. He had to know.

"…Donny…" He heard himself mumbling repeatedly as he regained some since of consciousness. It surprised him how he managed to speak without his mind telling him to. It was unsettling, but he guessed he was thinking so much in worry for his brother that the words had formed for him.

"…Can you hear me?" He heard next, "Talk to me, bro."

"Where…Donny…?" Leonardo muttered. He had to know.

"He woke up about five minutes ago," The voice said. So Donatello was alive? That's good…

"Now come on, Leo," A different voice said, "Stay with us."

"Too hot…" Leonardo whispered. The sound of his voice was like sand paper against wood. Leonardo moved onto his side and began coughing painfully to clear up his voice.

"You thirsty?" He heard the first voice say. His sluggish brain finally supplied him with a name: Michelangelo. He opened his bleary, sick veiled eyes to notice the glass cup of water held up in front of his face. Leonardo couldn't keep his eyes opened so he closed them before responding.

"Thirsty," He admitted. He felt an arm move under his carapace to help him into a sitting position before the cup was pressed to his lips.

"Drink slow," The other voice said: Raphael. Leonardo obeyed the order. He was very dehydrated from being sick with that poison in his lungs. He was also very tired. He blamed the heat. That draining heat and his painfully rapid heartbeat. He was surprised he managed to stay awake this long.

When he was laid back down, he felt legs beneath his head and knew he must be lying in someone's lap. He forced his eyes open again to look into Michelangelo's sad blue eyes framed by his orange mask.

"Mikey…" Leonardo whispered, slowly, as he weakly lifted a heavy arm to caress the side of his baby brother's face. Michelangelo grasped the hand in both of his own as he stared down at Leonardo curiously.

"What?" Michelangelo asked after a bit of waiting.

"You…sad…?" Leonardo asked.

"Yeah," He admitted, sighing, "I don't wanna lose you and Donny. I won't right? You'll be okay?"

"Mikey…" Leonardo sighed, letting his eyes fall closed before turning away.

"I was so scared when Raph told me you called," Michelangelo continued, "I heard his side of the conversation. You don't know what it's like. Raph looked so anxious… And then when we got there and I saw you hunched over Donny and your shell cell lying next to you… I thought you were both dead. I thought we didn't make it in time. I thought…" A tear dripped down onto Leonardo's face, informing him that his baby brother was crying. He cursed his thoughts to give up; cursed Death's tantalizing fingers trying hard to find a grip on his soul; cursed his rapid heartbeat that was starting to command his full attention. His brother was crying because he almost died and he was thinking about allowing Death to have his way with him? What was he thinking?!

"T'anks…" Leonardo mumbled.

"What?" Michelangelo asked, confused, "Why?"

"Fer…d…da motivation…" Leonardo said the last word slowly so his mind could pronounce it without slurring it too much. After that, he heard Michelangelo gasp before wrapping his arms around Leonardo and hugged him tightly.

"I forbid you from leaving us," Michelangelo whispered, "You'll be fine in no time."

"I hope so…" Leonardo breathed.

"Leo, couldja tell me whatcha feel so I can tell Don when he wakes next?" Raphael asked. Leonardo turned to face him but couldn't manage to open his eyes.

"Mostly jus' hot…but my heart…feel like…gonna burst," He said, slowly, "Too fast… M'weak too… Can't move rea'y… Jus' real sick… Tired… Wanna go ta sleep…scared I won't wake up… Feel…like…dying…"

"You won't die," Raphael said, firmly as if he could make it true by saying it, "Trust me. Mikey will keep you awake if you're worried about it, right?"

"Definitely," Michelangelo agreed, loosening his grip around Leonardo, but not letting go completely.

"T'anks…" Leonardo mumbled again. He would stay awake if that's what it took to live. His painful heartbeat wouldn't deter him with Michelangelo counting on him. He would be dead a long time ago if it hadn't been for them. He owed them this. He loved his family.

Author's note: Now I gave you two chapters to read. REVIEW PLEASE! I will pm all those who read "Two Turtles; One Stone" to inform them of the follow-up.