A/N: Hey guys - well after this chapter we only have the epilogue left. I know this story isn't super long but it wasn't supposed to be. It was just a transitional story for Leonardo's sake. There were reasons I had to write it the way I did and I'm know some of you didn't like it. I'm not perfect, but I don't write to be perfect. I write to have fun. And as I've said before if you don't like it don't waste your time reading it. I don't mind getting tips, or suggestions but there's no need to be rude to someone for something you don't like. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions, and I've always respected that but there are limits to what I'll consider constructive tips. So PLEASE don't read it if you hate it what a waste of time for both of us. That being said I really do value those who take the time to review - so thank you so much for those of you who take the time to do it. I'll probably post the epilogue Tuesday after I get home from work. I hope everyone enjoys the last of their weekend and for those who celebrate it happy Independence day tomorrow.

Chapter 10

"NOOOOOOOO!"

Leonardo jolted upright in his bed, startled out of a deep sleep. Immediately he was reaching for his katana, ready to come to his brothers' aid.

"NOOOOOOOO! DONNY! HELP ME!"

Michelangelo's words were strangled, panicked. Leonardo paused, his hand still on the hilt of his katana, but then he let it go. He didn't hear the sounds of a struggle coming from downstairs indicating that someone had found the lair. It sounded more like it was coming from Michelangelo's room down the hall.

Leonardo swung his legs over the side of his bed, shivering a little in the cool air. Not bothering to grab his eye stick he made his way down the hall, keeping his hand on the wall as he made his way down to Michelangelo's room.

He paused just outside, he could hear the sound of blankets rustling, of Michelangelo's heavy breathing.

A nightmare.

Leonardo had expected this, Michelangelo had always struggled the most with dealing with traumatic experiences. His subconscious usually brought them streaming back when Michelangelo slept, which resulted in a lot of sleepless nights for a lot of them. However, Leonardo was certain that Donatello was dozing in the infirmary where Raphael was still being kept. Donatello didn't feel Raphael was well enough to be moved to his own bed yet and had insisted he stay in the infirmary, despite Raphael's grumblings.

Michelangelo, however, had been released from the infirmary earlier that afternoon as long as he promised to take it easy. Michelangelo didn't complain, his chest was still sore, and his breathing still a little strained. Even going up the stairs had winded him. He'd taken refuge in his room and hadn't reappeared until he'd wandered down for dinner.

Leonardo pushed open his brother's door and made his way cautiously into the room, feeling his way with his feet gingerly. He didn't want a repeat of the skateboard accident, and he knew all too well that Michelangelo tended to be lazy when it came to picking up after himself. He almost wished he had brought his eye stick with him – you could never tell what you'd run into in Michelangelo's room.

Even now Leonardo could feel a few open comic books, what he guessed was an empty pizza box, and a few other odds and ends that Leonardo couldn't identify. When his knee bumped into the foot of Michelangelo's bed he felt the mattress carefully, making his way up to the head and sat down on the edge. He could feel the bed trembling as Michelangelo moaned in his sleep.

"Mikey?" Leonardo grabbed Michelangelo's arm and shook him gently. "Mikey, wake up."

"Nooo… don't… " Michelangelo moaned, clearly still fast asleep.

Leonardo shook him more firmly. "Come on, Mikey. It's just a bad dream."

Michelangelo gasped, and sat up. The muscles underneath Leonardo's hand bunched and Leonardo released him immediately, hoping that Michelangelo wasn't going to react violently the way Raphael always did when he was startled awake. Michelangelo was usually pretty calm, but after his ordeal with the purple dragons and from the sounds of his nightmare there was no telling how he'd react.

"L… Leo?" Michelangelo gasped, blinking his eyes and trying to shake off the images that seemed to be burned behind his eyes. He shivered.

"You ok, Mikey?"

"I… I'm fine. Did I wake you?"

Leonardo frowned, he could tell that Michelangelo was lying to him but he didn't press him. Michelangelo had always been the most open of the four of them, he'd share when he was ready to.

"I heard you yelling. Thought I'd check on you."

"Sorry, Leo, I didn't mean to wake you."

Leonardo waited, but it was clear Michelangelo wasn't ready to share the images that were plaguing his nightmares.

"You sure your ok, Mike?"

Michelangelo sighed quietly. "Yeah, Leo, I'm ok."

Leonardo knew better than to press him. He nodded once and turned to leave the room.

"L… Leo?" Michelangelo's voice shook.

Leonardo paused mid-step and turned his head towards his brother. "Yeah, Mikey?"

"What I said earlier, I didn't mean to… to make you angry. I didn't think you wouldn't come for us. You always come for us. It's just… " Michelangelo cut off, suppressing a shiver.

"Just what, Mikey?"

"I knew you'd be alone," Michelangelo whispered. Leonardo could hear the tears in Michelangelo's voice. "I knew Raph wouldn't be with you. The only reason the purple dragons would have left him behind in that alley was because they no longer considered him a threat. I was so scared that they'd… " Michelangelo trailed off as if he couldn't handle the mere thought. Leonardo didn't blame him. He hadn't been able to see his brother with his eyes when he'd found him in that alley, but he'd seen him with his hands and Raphael wouldn't have made it much longer if he, Splinter, and Casey hadn't shown up when they did.

"You didn't think I could get you out on my own?" Leonardo challenged, though he kept his tone soft.

Michelangelo winced anyway. He didn't look at his brother. "No, if any of us could've it would be you, Leo. You always were the best at this kind of stuff. But there were so many in that alley, and they took down all three of us. I knew if Raph was hurt you'd get him back, but then Splinter wouldn't be able to come back with you. You'd be alone, and up against the whole purple dragon gang and Hun on your own."

"I wasn't alone, Mikey," Leonardo turned back and walked slowly to the bed, sitting on the edge.

Michelangelo's head snapped up and he stared at his brother in bewilderment. "What do you mean you weren't alone?"

"I never would've gotten you and Donny out of there on my own if it weren't for Paul."

"Paul?"

"He's a purple dragon I cornered on the roof – I forced him to take me to you. He helped me get cage door open, to get you guys out… he even came back when Hun cornered me."

"A reformed purple dragon?" Michelangelo asked.

"I guess so, he kept thanking us for getting him out."

Michelangelo smiled a tiny smile. "Sounds like a good kid."

"He is." Leonardo agreed, smiling a little too. "But, Mikey, you know I would've tried to find a way to get you guys out even if I hadn't bumped into Paul right?"

"I know, Leo, it was the one thing keeping me going."

"What do you mean?" Leonardo asked, frowning a little.

"Donny was trying to keep me awake – worried about my injuries. I asked him if he thought you'd find us. He was sure you would, and when he said that I knew you would. I held onto that, Leo. I never doubted you wouldn't."

Leonardo smiled faintly, unable to help himself. Despite everything they had been through in past few years, despite Leonardo's anger, fear, and trials he'd had to overcome his brothers still had faith in him. And now he realized they always would, they would never give up on him.

"Try to get some sleep, Mikey. I'll see you in the morning." Leonardo rose from the bed and walked slowly out of the room.

"Night, Leo," Michelangelo called once Leonardo reached the door.

Leonardo turned back. "Night, Mikey."

Leonardo leaned back against his pillows, his body sagging with exhaustion. He let his eyes close, willing the darkness of oblivion to take him.

The slightest whisper of sound had his eyes popping open again, a low growl in his throat. He reached automatically for his katana but paused when he heard the intruder's heavy breathing.

"Le… Leo?" Michelangelo whispered from the doorway.

Leonardo relaxed immediately, letting his hand drop once more.

"What is it, Mikey?"

"Could I… would it be alright if I stayed with you tonight?"

Leonardo felt the surprise on his face. Michelangelo hadn't asked him that in years. Ever since April had lived with them and Michelangelo had been forced to share a room with Raphael he had been so excited to have his own room to sleep in again.

"Sure, Mikey," Leonardo said quickly, he scooted over to make room.

Michelangelo eased onto the bed next to Leonardo. Leonardo felt the mattress quivering a little as Michelangelo shivered.

"Mikey?" Leonardo asked, hesitantly.

"Hmm?"

"You sure you don't want to talk about it?"

Michelangelo was silent for several long minutes, his breathing quiet. Leonardo waited, frowning in the darkness. He knew his brother hadn't fallen asleep, the bed was still quivering with Michelangelo's sporadic shaking.

"I keep seeing it," Michelangelo finally spoke, his voice barely louder than a whisper it.

"Seeing what, Mikey?"

"Where Hun took me, I woke up in this white room. I was all alone, Leo. I had no idea where Raph or Donny were, or even where I was."

"You weren't with Donny?" Leonardo asked, confused.

"No, not at first. I don't know how long I was in there, but it seemed like forever. When Hun cam in he… " Michelangelo trailed off, shivering again.

"He what, Mikey?" Leonardo pressed, knowing if he let Michelangelo stop now it would be worse for him later.

"He chained me to a wall, it was hard to breathe. I felt as if I were in one of those torture machines… ya know the ones where they try ta stretch ya out?"

Leonardo growled low in his throat. "Then what?"

"I don't remember too much, he was askin' me where you were I think. But I didn't tell him. I remember… that was when my chest started to hurt… but I don't remember too much after that. I think I hit my head… when I woke up I was in that cage with Donny. I felt like my ribcage had collapsed, I couldn't breathe and everything was so hazy… "

Michelangelo shook against him and Leonardo automatically put a hand on his brother's shoulder. "It's ok, Mikey. He can't get you now."

"As long as I've got you around right, Leo?"

"Sure, Mikey," Leonardo answered automatically. "Whatever you say."

Michelangelo was quiet then, his breathing easing out into the familiar pattern of sleep. Leonardo lay awake, listening to his brother's breathing, squeezing his arm gently in a reassuring manner when Michelangelo whimpered in his sleep.

He lost track of the time, his mind wandering over what Michelangelo had told him and his own experiences over the course of the evening. Michelangelo's whimpers eventually tampered off completely and his breathing was slow and steady, comforting. Leonardo shifted a little, trying to find a more comfortable position. His leg was starting to ache from the weight it was forced to support. He wasn't used to sleeping on his side and his muscles were protesting the awkward position.

Moving slowly, so as not to disturb his brother, Leonardo felt automatically for the watch on his wrist to check the time. He was surprised to discover it was almost seven in the morning. He'd been awake almost all night.

Quiet as a whisper, Leonardo slipped out of his bed and out of the room. If he intended on getting in his morning meditation session in peace he'd have to do it soon.

The lair was still quiet, save for Raphael's chainsaw snore echoing from the infirmary. Leonardo smiled a little, for once happy to hear that noise once again. He slipped into the dojo, closing the door behind him.

The strong scent of rubber matting hit him, the smell familiar and comforting. As he made his way across the dojo, to where he kept his mediation candles, he was greeted with the bitter sweet scent of sweat and leather. And then the familiar scent of candle wax told him he'd reached his goal. He felt for the shelf carefully, not wanting to knock anything over. His fingers found the worn out old candles, thin trails of melted wax had dried on the sides. He pulled down the candles and sat on the floor, lighting them carefully, shaking the match out when he felt the heat too close to his fingers. He settled into his lotus position, closed his eyes, and let himself fall into the comfort of mediation.

Donatello frowned as he laid a soft hand on Raphael's forehead. His brother felt a bit warmer than he had the night before, a sign that infection could be setting in.

Raphael opened his eyes sluggishly, his amber orbs staring at Donatello with an unfocused gaze.

"Hey, Raph," Donatello said gently. "How are you feeling?"

"'Bout as good as you I bet," Raphael said with a smirk.

Donatello didn't smile back. "I'm serious, Raph."

"Side hurts, but it's fine, Donny."

Donatello nodded, he'd expected as much considering the location and the severity of the wound. Still he carefully pulled away the white bandage to check on the stitches. The stitches hadn't torn during the night, and there was no redness to indicate infection. Still that didn't explain the fever.

"Hey, Donny?"

Donatello's eyes snapped back up to his brother's. "Yeah, Raph?"

"Is it hot in here – or is it just me?"

Donatello was saved from having to answer by Leonardo's arrival.

"It's probably all the extra blankets he's got, Donny. He probably doesn't need so many."

Donatello blinked, surprised by the simplicity of the answer. He removed a few of the blankets layered on top of his brother and set them aside, he saw relief flash through Raphael's eyes as some of the weight was removed from his battered body.

Raphael's head turned slowly on his pillow so he could see his older brother a bit more clearly. "Hey, Leo."

"Morning, Raph." Leonardo stumbled, and caught himself on Donatello's chair.

Donatello frowned and started forward but Raphael's hand reached out from underneath his blanket and snatched his brother's wrist in his hand. Donatello looked to him, surprised, but Raphael merely shook his head at him. Leonardo didn't need their help, he'd proved that last night. It didn't mean he didn't need them, that he didn't want them around, but Leonardo was perfectly capable of looking out for himself. Donatello blinked and smiled at Raphael, seeming to understand what Raphael was trying to say without words.

"Hey, Leo?" Raphael said once Leonardo had steadied himself a bit.

"Yeah, Raph?"

"How did you find us?"

Like I told Donny – the time he put into some of those inventions he made came in handy."

"He used the GPS navigational bracelet to get Mikey and I out of the warehouse," Donatello explained.

"Yeah, but dat don't explain how he found me back in dat alley." Raphael argued.

"Oh, that – well Casey spilled the beans that you three had gone to the tracks. He, Splinter and I split up to try and find you. But if it hadn't been for my eye stick I wouldn't have found Raph at all."

"What do you mean, Leo?" Donny asked, confused.

"After Master Splinter, Casey and I split up to search for you guys, I was searching my second alley and I smelt something… well it wasn't something I'd expected. But I decided to check it out. Closer to the back I felt this weird vibration, one I was sure I'd never felt before. When I investigated further I found Raph, unconscious and bleeding out in a snow bank."

"It's a good thing ya did, Leo. Don't think I woulda lasted much longer out der."

Leonardo shivered involuntarily, remembering how cold Raphael had been underneath his fingers. If they had waited, if it had taken them even thirty minutes longer Raphael might not have made it.

"But how did you know where Mikey and I were taken? I know you used the navigational bracelet to track our shell cells – but I haven't put the shell cells frequencies into it yet." Donatello wondered, obviously trying to change the subject, sensing Leonardo's unease.

"Yeah, April looked up the address for me and I put it into the GPS. I found it pretty easily."

"There's one ding I don't get," Raphael said frowning. "How'd ya get 'em outta there by yerself, Leo? With da whole purple dragon gang der and everythin'?"

"I sort of… persuaded a kid named Paul to help me."

"Paul?" Raphael asked, confused.

"He's a purple dragon, Raph. Or he used to be anyway." Donatello explained.

Raphael's eyes widened in surprise, he turned back to Leonardo. "How did ya manage ta get 'im ta help ya?"

"I jumped him… told him to take me to where they were holding Mike and Donny."

Raphael laughed. "And he did it?"

"He did more than that, Raph," Donatello insisted. "He helped us get out."

Raphael's eyes widened in shock. "He… he helped ya?"

"More than that he thanked us for helping him escape the dragons," Leonardo said, chuckling lightly.

"Huh, sounds like a good kid," Raphael grunted.

"He is," Donatello and Leonardo spoke together.

Raphael shook his head. "Hun ain't gonna be happy – he's gonna find dat kid and get rid of 'im."

"Not if he got on the next bus out of town," Donatello said quickly. "Hun has more important things to do then hunt all over the US for one kid."

"Dat's true," Raphael admitted. He gave his brother a hard stare. "So, Donny – how'd ya get all dem bruises?"

"Hun worked me over, kept asking me where Leo was. He got pretty mad when I didn't tell him anything. He didn't get in any really good hits though."

"Looks like he got in some good hits ta me," Raphael disagreed.

"Considering Leo has a few cracked or fractured ribs, and Michelangelo has a bruised lung I got off lucky." Donatello argued grimly.

"Maybe," Leonardo said a bit irritably. "But I want to know why you guys felt like you had to sneak off behind my back to go after the purple dragons in the first place."

Donatello and Raphael exchanged guilty glances.

"We weren't trying to go behind your back, Leo," Donatello said gently.

Leonardo scowled ahead of himself, his arms crossed across his plastron. If Donatello and Raphael didn't know better they would've sworn that Leonardo could see them.

"Ya were pretty sick, Leo. Ya needed yer rest," Raphael put in.

Leonardo's growl was audible. "So you didn't think I'd be up for it? That I would slow you down?"

"No, Leo – dat ain't what I meant!" Raphael said angrily.

"Then what was it? Cause I want to know what it was that made my brothers go out and nearly get themselves killed last night!" He turned his head as if he could see Raphael. "What would've happened if Master Splinter and I hadn't gone out after you last night? We never would've found you in time! I found you bleeding out in an alley, Raph! And if it hadn't been for Paul I never would've gotten Donny and Mikey out of there by myself!"

"Leo, I… " Donatello started but Leonardo waved him off.

"I don't want to go through that again," Leonardo said grimly. "We work as a team – we don't go off without each other."

"I agree with ya, Leo," Raphael agreed immediately.

"Me too," Donatello said quickly.

"Good – because if any of you ever pull a stunt like this again," Leonardo threatened. "You'll be doing flips for a month."

With that Leonardo turned and stormed out of the infirmary.

Raphael turned to Donatello, a grin pulling up the corners of his mouth. "I think da old Leo's back, Donny."

Donatello grinned as well. "Sure looks that way, Raph. It's good to have him back."