Chapter 19

Leo crawled through the vents of the warehouse with practiced stealth, being extremely careful with his sore arm. It was time to get his family back. If he knew anything about his brother Raphael's past plans, he'd probably find the red banded turtle here too. And with Rai and April with him, they had to be here too. He did wonder if Casey had been with them. Most likely yes. So now it fell to him to rescue his family. And he would. Or die trying. He wasn't going to leave this building without them. He had already cost them too much. Brought too much destruction into their home. The least he could do was get his family out of here. And then... He didn't know what. They had no home now.

He came to an opening in the vents and was surprised to see the cover had been taken off and set aside. He frowned and peered inside, seeing his family. They were untied, but all there just as he thought. Except April. He didn't see her standing with the others... He scanned the room, angry eyes resting on Shredder who was entering the room and cracking his knuckles.

"It's time we began this," Shredder growled.

"What makes you think you can finish us off bucket head?" Raph demanded.

A flood off Foot ninjas slowly fell in behind Shredder. Keith appeared at Shredder's right side, a smirk spread across his face.

Shredder laughed coldly. "I think it will be quite easier than you think Raphael." He turned to Keith. "And I thought you had tied them!"

Keith's smirk disappeared. "I... I..."

"Just goes to show traitors don't tie good knots!" Raph growled.

Shredder glared at Keith, then turned his glare on Raph. "No matter. You will not be escaping this building."

The Foot ninjas began surrounding the group, closing off any hope of an escape attempt.

"Contain them," Shredder ordered.

The ninjas pounced forward in a blur, at least three grabbing each of the group and holding them secure.

Raph glowered at Shredder and squirmed against the ninjas. "I will get free. And you know it!"

Leo's gaze hardened from above them in the vent. He looked down towards the wall and silently dropped himself down behind the pile of boxes near the wall. He about gasped as soon as he dropped down. April stood just a couple feet away watching the scene.

So she was here.

Leo inched close to her and tapped her shoulder. He would need her help if he was going to get his family out of here.

April spun around and about punched him in the mouth.

Leo caught her fist in the air, inches from his face. "Whoa. Shh..."

April's eyes widened. She pulled her hand back. "You shouldn't be here!" she whispered.

"We don't have time for this," Leo argued. "I'm here now and I'm not leaving without you guys."

April shook her head and sighed, not looking like she was going to argue back. They both knew it would be useless.

A sickening slap echoed through the room.

Leo and April quickly peered around the boxes.

Raph had slumped a little. "That all you got?" he growled defiantly.

Shredder glared at Raph. "Not even close." He walked up to Splinter. "I'll start with your beloved master."

The Foot ninjas snickered.

Keith stood just behind Shredder, his smirk back in place, hands clasped behind him.

Leo's eyes narrowed. They had to do something right now. But he knew he couldn't take on that many ninjas. What they needed was a distraction. He thought through some options, but only one seemed to be the best. Smoke pellets. And a little power outage. He turned to April and gave her three smoke pellets. "As soon as the lights go off, I want you to throw these to the center of the room," he whispered faintly.

April looked at them and nodded. "Be careful."

Leo nodded and snuck off darting behind boxes, keeping out of sight from the Foot ninjas and Shredder. He chanced a look at them as he neared the front of the room. Shredder stood over Splinter, gauntlet raised. Arm about to come down and strike his master. His father. No! He wasn't going to make it in time! The light switch was still too far away!

Rai seemed to see him, eye in his direction for a moment, then turned back to Shredder. He suddenly groaned.

Leo cringed. It sounded painful.

Every eye turned to Rai as he collapsed in the grasp of the ninjas.

Shredder laughed coldly. "Couldn't take the pressure. Weak."

Leo bolt forward while Shredder had his attention on Rai and smacked the light switch.

Confusion quickly swept through the room.

"What is going on?!" Shredder bellowed.

Little balls clacked against the ground. Smoke came up in the darkness. Coughing could be heard. Shouts echoed. Shredder's standing out the most. And it was ugly.

"Find whoever it is!" Shredder finally bellowed. "Now! Keith find him!"

Leo snuck through the darkness to release his family, careful not to inhale the smoke. He couldn't reveal his presence. Not yet. First sensei. He darted right, almost bumping into a few ninjas, but quickly jumped over them. Landing lightly on his feet, he proceeded to master Splinter. He unsheathed one katana and kicked the two ninjas on his sensei's right. He swiped left, clang of metal on metal echoing, and lifted his right leg, kicking those three down.

"My son..." Splinter whispered very faintly, disbelief evident in his voice.

"I'm here sensei," Leo whispered in Splinter's ear. He quickly darted off into the darkness and came up to another few forms. These ninjas held Raph. He instantly kicked down the ninjas holding his brother and sent one flying.

"You were supposed to stay at April's," Raph muttered.

Leo chuckled. "You can't keep me away that easily," he whispered.

Raph nodded, then whirled around. April stood behind him holding out a bag filled with weapons. He took out his sai.

"Was stashed in a locker in the back of the room," she whispered faintly.

Raph seemed to grin. He turned and darted off.

Leo looked at April.

She nodded and slipped to the back of the room, out of the way, where she knew where she was going.

Leo turned and darted to find someone else. He nearly bumped into a group of confused ninjas. He quickly kicked down the ones on the left, then ducked, nearly getting whacked from those on the right. Leo brought up his blade and swatted away the swords, and punched the ninjas down with a good right hook.

The lights smacked on and smoke was starting to clear, drifting to the ceiling.

Mikey stood right in front of Leo, looking like he had just saw a ghost. His mouth gaped open.

"Leonardo!" Shredder yelled, disbelief thick in his voice.