Hey I need to put more of this up! Eeep. It's been too long. *hides and puts up chap*

Italics are thoughts.

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Chapter 10

Leo jumped over to another building, panting hard, his muscles ready to give out. He was loosing energy and he knew it, no matter how much he wanted to ignore it. It hadn't been too long and the Elite showed themselves behind him once again. They didn't even seem winded. He jumped across another gap and landed on the next rooftop as thunder roared, the rain suddenly poured down, instantly soaking him.

He looked behind him again and saw that the Elite guard was gaining. Eyes narrowed, Leo looked ahead and jumped again. The rain coated the rooftop, making the surface slippery. Leo slid as he landed, wobbling and trying to steady himself, but collapsed on the middle of the roof.

Lightning flashed.

The Elite stood around him, glaring down at him.

Leo gasped for breath, trying to calm down his breathing. His heart raced. This can't be it. He mentally shook his head. NO. They will not stop me. I will not go down. Not today. He took a deep breath and stood, his breathing and his heart once again calm. He slowly pulled out his katana and got ready for their attack.

The one on his left spun his trident and leapt forward, aiming it for Leo's head.

Leo swiftly pulled up one sword and hitched it into the trident's blade. The other sword, he shot upward on his right catching the naginta. He pushed outward, waited a few beats then pulled inward and jumped backwards, letting the two Elite collide into each other.

The other two quickly replaced the two fallen Elite and attacked as one.

Leo dove out of the way, spun, and lashed out against the closest one, creating a gash in the Elite's leg and ripping his cape.

The Elite growled and collapsed to the ground, holding his leg. "That will not save you," he hissed.

The last Elite sneered at him and lurched forward, ax twirling.

Leo faked a right and jumped left, landing on a slippery puddle of rain water and falling to down, sliding across the rooftop on his shell.

The Elite ninja jumped over the puddle and ran straight for Leo.

Leo jumped up missing a blow to his head. He yelped as a stinging pain shot up his left arm. His right hand shooting over to clutch his left arm, quickly slipping one sword into his case. He picked up the remaining sword with his left hand and stood straight. A sound to his left caught his attention and he spun. A foot landed a kick to his chest, sending him flying off the building. Leo soared downward and diagonally, landing on a rooftop a dozen feet below the one he had been on. He slid across the slippery rooftop and crashed into the building's chimney.

Lightning crackled again, lighting up the sky as the bricks tilted and tumbled over from Leo's impact.

Leo gasped as the bricks came down and buried him before he could get up.

---

The leader of the Elite guard led the way to the rooftop Leo had fallen on. He stopped next to the pile of bricks and stood there. He put the tip of one of the blades from his double bladed staff on the rooftop. He stared at the pile. Glaring at it. Waiting for Leo to crawl out. His fellow Elite guard ninjas joined him. Minutes crept by and nothing. The Elite smirked. "The job is done."

"Yes. It appears so." The second spun his trident once then slipped it back into its hiding place in his cape.

"The master will not be pleased. He wanted the kame alive to witness his family's demise." The third spoke up, slipping his ax into his cape.

"Yes. I know," the leader answered coldly. "But 'accidents' happen. It could not be avoided."

"You're sure he's dead?" the fourth asked, poking at the rubble with the blunt end of his spear.

Nothing moved.

"I'd say so," the second sneered.

The leader turned and headed for the warehouse. It would not be pleasant telling the Shredder what had happened. But it would be doable. He disappeared into the shadows of the night, his Elite brothers behind him.

---

Leo listened to the voices, his body aching as they just stood there talking at their leisure. But he didn't move. Didn't even twitch. He was in no condition to fight them. He had to get his arm bandaged. He clutched at it tighter, grateful that he had already been holding on to it and didn't have to move, letting the Elite know that he was alive.

Finally their voices stilled and their footsteps retreated.

Leo let out a relieved breath and waited another few minutes before pushing the bricks off of him and crawling out from under them. He staggered to his feet, clutching harder at his arm, and trying desperately to remain standing. His head spun. Suddenly feeling like he would black out, he dropped to his knees and took a deep breath to calm the dizziness. He waited a few minutes, then shakily stood to his feet. Looking around to make sure he was alone, he headed west for April's building. He knew he probably wouldn't make it to the lair. And he wouldn't be able to wrap his arm there if Keith had brought the Foot to the lair. He would only get in the way and possible get himself killed. He had to leave the lair problem to Raph and Rai. He would help them after he was bandaged up.

Once he was standing on the building next to April's, he looked down at the alley, debating on which door to knock on. The back door or go through the roof door and knock on the door of the apartment. He didn't like the idea of climbing down the fire escape to get to the back door, nor the idea of jumping across one final rooftop to get to the roof door. He looked down and fought off a wave of dizziness. Then looked across the gap to April's building. He swallowed. The jump looked better.

Leo turned around and walked halfway across the building, then turned back to face April's building. He took a deep breath and ran, jumped across the gap, and landed on shaky legs on April's building, blowing out a breath of relief. He stilled his heavy breathing and walked slowly to the rooftop door. Pulling it open, he entered and continued to April's apartment door. He knocked and waited, his right hand still clutching his cut arm.

Nothing.

He knocked again.

Still nothing.

Leo began to worry. Had Keith led some Foot soldiers here? The building was still standing, but did that really mean anything? His lightheadedness increased. He had failed his family and April. And what about Casey? Would Keith find him too? His thoughts started racing and his breathing increased, coming out in gasps. Would Raph and Rai be too late? Would they only find the rest of his family in a broken heap, the lair destroyed?

The door creaked open and April looked at him tiredly, her eyes widening instantly. "Leo?! What happened?"

Leo couldn't say anything, too shocked to see that April was still here and fine. Darkness etched the edges of his vision and he felt himself fall, barely registering April's arms catching him.