Ch. 26 An Unexpected Surprise.

In another part of town, Chris Bradford was in his dojo working furiously on his punching bag. He focused his fist on a picture of Leonardo as he angrily muttered to himself. "A hit in between the eyes for the way he disobeys me," He raged through gritted teeth "A right to his cheek and good fist to his jaw for the attitude I have to put up with," He laughed. "Now that's the way that turtle should look" He said proudly as he stood back to admire his work. He screwed his face in an angry scowl and grabbed the punching bag. He brought his fist up and began to pound the picture several times over until it was almost unrecognizable. He took the picture off the punching bag and, after tearing it up several times, he threw it in the garbage. "Time for a new one," He said with an evil chuckle as he walked toward his desk and pulled out a fresh picture of the blue eyed turtle. "Now this is a dream I wish would come true."

He was just putting up the picture when heavy footsteps sounded in the hallway just outside his dojo. He turned and watched nervously as Saki walked in looking extremely angry at him. "Where is Leonardo?!" He demanded.

"Uh, Master, What are you doing back in the states so soon?" He asked as he quickly removed the picture from his punching bag and tried to put the picture in his pants pocket.

"You disappoint me Bradford," Saki made his way over to him and Bradford looked around him to see, much to his surprise, Xever walking in behind him with a twisted grin. "I have been advised of your incompetence," Saki stated. He stared at Bradford with a stony expression and, with his eyes staring directly into Bradford's, grabbed the picture out of the man's pocket. He looked down at the photo and shook his head, "Now where is Leonardo?"

"He….uh…is with that Hamato kid," He replied meekly.

"And when is he expected back?" Saki stood tall over Bradford as the large man quickly fell to his knees and bowed his head.

"I..uh…." Bradford swallowed hard. It was clear to him Xever had spoken to their master and had given him the details of what was going on, he knew he had no choice but to tell the truth. He sighed and his shoulders slumped forward in defeat. "I have no idea master," He said.

"Has your student not checked in with you?" Saki asked in a mocking tone that told Bradford he knew everything.

Bradford shook his head, "No Master Shredder." He looked up slightly and watched as Saki walked around him and made his way over to a large katana mounted on the wall. Xever watched gleefully as Saki picked up the sword and turned back to Bradford, he laid the tip of the sword against Bradford's shoulder and dug the tip in ever so slightly.

"I have spent too many years and too many long hours attempting to get this serum for the military as well as the foot clan…" Saki said as Bradford winced and shook from the pain he was now feeling in his shoulder, "For you to louse it up." He spat as he suddenly ran the sword down along Bradford's back making a long thin cut from the man's shoulder blade to just above his waist.

Bradford gasped in pain as he felt the sword slice into him. He quickly closed his mouth and held back the whimper that threatened to escape his throat as Saki continued to walk around him. He now felt the tip, dripping wet with his own blood, against his cheek. "Regardless of how you feel about him, Leonardo is the key to getting that serum and when I order you to do something then I expect you to do it." He removed the sword and tossed it on the floor in front of Bradford. "Is that clear Bradford?"

Before Bradford could respond, the ringing of a cellphone sounded, Saki reached into his pocket and looked toward Xever, "Answer it." He ordered and tossed the phone to the long legged Mexican.

Xever stepped away to speak while Saki turned back to Bradford. "Now Bradford, tell me why you brought Moore out here when you know very well how much Leonardo dislikes him."

"Well," Bradford raised his head slightly and shook as he gazed fearfully into Saki's angry eyes, "He was released from jail and I thought, since he was one of my most favored students and it was the holidays, it would be nice to see him again and have him here for Dinner as well as…"

"Master Shredder," Xever walked over to him, "That was your contact at the police department," he startled slightly as Saki turned his angry eyes on him. "Um…they just got a call that there was an incident down by the Hamato Dojo." He said and watched as Saki's fist clenched extremely hard. "Leonardo is in the hospital."

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Raph held Leo's right hand as the doctor finished wrapping his left arm. "You were lucky, "The doctor was telling him, "It's only a sprain." Behind the doctor stood a police officer with his pad and pencil out waiting to ask Leo some questions and next to him stood an officer with a camera. The doctor pulled out a pen light and began looking into Leo's eyes. "We're still waiting on the cranial x-rays to come back," The doctor was saying, "but it doesn't look like you've suffered any head injuries."

Leo nodded vaguely as he heard the doctor speak, but his voice sounded far away and everything around him seemed to be nothing more than a dream. A sudden flash brought Leo out of his trance and he looked over at the officer taking photos of his bruises. "What are you doing?" Leo asked in a shaky voice.

"Leo," Raph gently touched Leo's bruised face and made him look at him, "He said they needed pictures of your bruises for evidence."

Leo nodded vaguely, "Oh, um…okay." Leo looked at the doctor. "Can I go home now please?"

"You should stay for at least one night," The doctor suggested, "Just to make sure there is no further trauma."

Leo nodded lightly, "What about Jeffrey?" Leo asked nervously, "Is he alright?"

"Why should you care about him?" Raph demanded angrily. "If you didn't kill him then I will!"

"Raph Please!" Leo yelled at him as more tears began falling down his face. "I know I did what I had to do to get away from him but the thought of me possibly killing him is nothing I'm happy about."

The doctor placed a comforting hand on the shaking turtle. "Mr. Moore is not dead," He assured him quietly, "While he does have a skull fracture, he will be okay," Leo let out a deep shaky breath. "He'll probably be unconscious for a day or two but he will recover and the police will deal with him from there."

"If they don't I will." Raph muttered as his fist shook with rage, he looked at Leo then quickly turned his head after Leo glared angrily at him.

Leo took a breath and nodded, "I still would just like to go home please," Leo stated as the doctor began to clean up.

The doctor nodded and started to walk out the room. "Let me just check on your x-rays and we'll see what we can do."

Leo laid back against the pillow and wiped his eyes as one of the officers came forward. "Do you feel up to answering some questions?"

Leo nodded and for the next fifteen minutes, one police officer questioned him about the attack while the other continued to take pictures of Leo's bruised and cut up body. After they had left, Splinter, Donatello and Michelangelo walked into the room. Mikey quickly hurried over to Leo and wrapped his arms around him.

"Oh Leo," Mikey sobbed, "We are so sorry for what happened to you."

Leo pressed himself further into Mikey's hold and tried hard to hold back his sobs. "I'm okay Mikey," Leo finally choked out. "I'm only going to be here for another hour and then we can all go home." The two pulled back and Leo gave Mikey a teary smile. "I'm only sorry I didn't get to make our dinner."

Mikey smiled back at him, "We'll have that tomorrow." He promised.

"Leo just has to stay here for a little while till the doc gets back with his x-rays then after he gives Leo the okay, we can go home." Raph told them as Splinter and Donnie each gave Leo a quick hug.

Several minutes later, the doctor returned and gave Leo the all clear. "He should go home and rest and if he starts to have any headaches or double vision, he should get in touch with his own doctor immediately." He advised. "But no matter what, he should definitely get some rest."

"And he will be doing that in his own home." A new voice said as the door swung open and Saki walked in.

Leo gasped in surprise upon seeing his father walking into his room. "Father?" He looked from his friends to his father nervously. "When did you get back?" He asked, "And how did you know I was here."

Saki scowled angrily as he looked from his son to the other mutants standing around. "I arrived in New York an hour ago," he replied, "And I have my sources, you should know that by now boy." Raph scowled at Saki's tone toward Leo. Saki turned to the doctor who was staring at him in mounting fear. "I heard you tell my son that he could go home." Saki leered down at him and the doctor nodded his head. "Good," He turned to Leo. "Then get your things and let's go."

"But father," Leo cried out, but before he could continue his protest, Saki turned to face him angrily.

"You were told to get your things!" He shouted causing everyone in the room to flinch and stare at him in surprise, "Now do it!" He turned around angrily and stormed out of the room followed slowly by the doctor and a very agitated Splinter.

Leo shook hard and pushed back the sobs that were threatening to escape his throat; he sniffed as he began to get off the bed and walk over to where his clothes were.

"Leo," Donnie walked over to him but he only shook his head.

"I'm sorry everyone," Leo told them with a shaky voice as he put his shirt on. "I guess we'll hold off on that dinner for now." He gave them a teary smile as he started to put on his pants.

"Leo," Raph walked over to him and scowled angrily. "You can't go home with him, he…"

"Is my father Raph," Leo said looking back at him sternly. "And I said I would stay until my dad got home and he is." He looked from Raph to his brothers. "Thank you for letting me stay with you guys," He said, "I'll see you soon." He walked over to Raph and placed his hand on Raph's cheek, they leaned in and kissed tenderly, "I love you." He whispered to him as he started toward the door.

"Won't you be joining us for our New Year's Eve party?" Mikey asked, watching in dismay as Leo began to slowly walk out of the room.

Leo turned and looked at Mikey uncertainly, "I'll try Mikey." He told him as he left the room.

Meanwhile, Saki had finished discussing Leo's condition with the doctor, after the doctor had left, Splinter came over to him, "Mr. Tartaruga, I…"

"That was his mother's name," Saki told him with angry narrowing eyes, "It was never mine."

Splinter startled for a moment but quickly composed himself; he bowed humbly before the large man, "My apologies Mr…."

"The name is Saki," He told him as he stared eye to eye at the large rat, "Oruko Saki.

Splinter nodded to him, "Saki-san," Splinter started, "Your son has been through quite an ordeal tonight," He looked at the tall scarred human with pleading eyes, "I was hoping you would allow my sons and I to assist you in helping Leonardo deal with what has happened…."

"It is because of you," Saki quickly interrupted, "Leonardo has to deal with this at all," He almost yelled, "Now I will take my son and leave this place and I would request you and the rest of your freakish mutant family to stay away from what's mine!"

Splinter looked up at the man in surprise. Although he had known Leo's father to be rather abusive, he was not expecting the man to have such hatred for Leo's kind. Splinter was about to berate the man for his attitude when Leo and the others came out of his room. Splinter watched with his jaw and fist clenched as Leo meekly walked with his head down toward his father.

Leo turned to look at Splinter, "Thank you for allowing me to stay with you Master Splinter." He said with a bow.

He then walked over to his father, "I still have stuff at my friend's home," He told him barely moving his head up to look at the tall man.

"You will get it another day," Saki told him as he grabbed his right arm and forced him to walk away from the others. Leo took a quick look back and noticed Donnie and Mikey watching him leave with both concern and fear in their eyes while Raph and Splinter looked as though they were ready to beat the living crap out of his father. Leo took a deep breath as he made his way out of the hospital to his father's waiting car. He knew what they were thinking. They were afraid for him and angry with Saki. But Leo was determined to let nothing more happen to him. He was tired and sore and all he wanted to do was go home and try to sleep. He got into the car and watched as his father slid in next to him. He looked over at the driver expecting to see Bradford but was surprised instead to see another familiar figure staring back at him.

"Xever," Saki said, "Take us home."

After watching Leo walk out of the hospital, Splinter took a deep relaxing breath and turned to his sons. "Come, my sons," He said as they began to walk out of the hospital, "It has been an exhausting day for everyone, let us go home."

"But father," Raph said as they followed each other out of the hospital, "We can't let Leo go with him, Mr. Tartaruga will do something terrible to him," Splinter turned and looked at him with sympathy in his eyes. "I know he will," Raph said in a whisper.

"Leonardo's father is called Oroku Saki," He told him, "And he is his father Raphael, and you know as well as I that if we interfere it will only make it worse for him."

"Wait," Donnie looked at Splinter in shock, "Did you say Leo's dad's name is Oroku Saki?"

Splinter nodded, "Yes, apparently, Tartaruga was only his mother's name."

Raph watched as Donnie narrowed his eyes and rubbed his chin in consternation. "What is it Donnie?" He demanded as they all climbed into the family van.

"That name," He muttered thoughtfully, "Oroku Saki, I've heard it before," He shook his head. "No," He corrected himself, "I've seen it before."

"Where D?" Mikey asked.

Donnie looked at him in uncertainty. "I'm not sure," He mused, "But I know where to find out."

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Hi all, yes I'm back, had a nice vacation but now it's time to get ready to go back to work and school, I'll hopefully be finishing this up before then and as always, I love all the reviews so please keep them coming. Thanks again and peace :)