Three times Leo saved his brothers from mind control and one time they saved him...

Chapter 3, Mikey

The turtles were on what was supposed to be a regular patrol, Leo was running at the front when he suddenly stopped and raised his fist in a signal that they should stop.

Raph approached Leo, "What's going on?" He asked quietly.

"Someone's watching us." Leo said quietly, looking around in suspicion.

"I don't s-" Mikey began, but was cut of by Leo shouting something. What it was Mikey was not able to discern because he was soon overcome with a burning sensation throughout his body, every movement was agony. He looked down at his arm and saw there was a dart in it, he pulled it out and then everything went black for Mikey.

Leo's eyes widened when he saw the color of the serum, it looked like the same stuff that Stockman had made for Raph. Leo immediately grabbed Mikey's nunchaku, knowing that they were very dangerous.

"Leo what're you doing?" Raph asked.

"This is the serum, the mind control serum!" Leo said frantically, and Raph and Donnie shared very concerned glances. Leo quickly stood and looked around to try and see where it came from, but he didn't see anything, yet he could still sense that someone was watching.

"Where did that come from?" Donnie asked.

"I don't know." Leo replied.

Mikey then started moving, twitching at first, but then his eyes opened and he jumped to his feet. His whole stance, his posture, it was so not Mikey, and Leo knew that the serum was more effective this time. When Raph had been under the influence of the serum, he still fought like Raph, but now it was becoming apparent that that would not be the case this time around.

Donnie, who was the closest to Mikey, was the first to react, but not quick enough, just as Donnie had drawn his bow staff Mikey had kicked him so hard he was flying into a brick wall, and luckily not off the side of a building.

Leo ran up behind Donnie and picked up his bow staff, knowing that it would do much less damage to Mikey than his katanas, and also, if Donnie's unmoving form was anything to go by, Donnie wouldn't be needing it for a while.

Leo took cautious steps towards Mikey, "Mikey, I don't know if you can hear me, but try to fight this alright. It isn't a battle we can't fight for you, but you don't have to face it alone."

Raph watched, interested to see what Leo was going to do, but ready to spring into action if needed. He was surprised to see that Mikey seemed to be contemplating Leo's words, but then suddenly, three throwing stars flew at Leo, who managed to block all of them with the bow staff.

Leo's face hardened and he glanced at Raph, who was already moving into a position on the opposite side of Mikey, they momentarily circled Mikey, who seemed to be waiting for them to make the first move, Raph went first and engaged in a flurry of punches and kicks, Raph was at the disadvantage, Mikey was much faster than he was, so without the use of his sais, he was easily beaten and kicked to the side.

Raph landed by Donnie who was just starting to come to, and, both of them knowing that they wouldn't be of any help in their state, they watched Leo.

Leo dropped the bow staff and took out his katanas, but then he did something unexpected by Raph and Don, he threw one to Mikey, who caught it.

"I know you know how to use it, you're faster than me, more agile. This should be no problem for you." Leo said, bending his knees ready for Mikey to come at him.

Mikey stared at the katana and then at Leo, and for a moment, it seemed like a bit of Mikey was coming through, but then he ran at Leo, sword drawn. Leo blocked his initial stab and countered with a harmless kick that sent Mikey stumbling back a few paces. Mikey tried again immediately, and a similar series of events occurred which ended with Mikey stumbling back. This happened several times and it was becoming apparent to Donnie and Raph what Leo's plan was, to exhaust Mikey, Leo was expending nearly zero energy blocking Mikey's attacks, which were pretty weak, leading everyone to believe Mikey was on the verge of a breakthrough.

Then suddenly, Mikey came at Leo with a speed and strength that no one had been expecting from his previous attacks, Mikey managed to knock Leo's sword from his hands and swung his sword at Leo's neck, but just in time he stopped. The blade had slightly cut Leo's neck and there was blood streaming, any deeper there might be trouble, any longer and it was the same.

But Mikey was frozen, on his face Leo could see the conflict. He was afraid to move, not wanting to deepen the cut or startle Mikey, but out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw a figure turn and leave, it was the person who had been watching them, but from this distance Leo couldn't tell who it was. When he glanced back at Mikey, he had tears in his eyes and he whimpered, "Leo?" He took away the sword and dropped it. Mikey took a few steps back and looked at Raph and Donnie, who had just gotten to their feet.

"Mikey, it's alright." Leo said, grabbing his neck to prevent excess bleeding. He grabbed Mikey's shoulder with his other hand as a comforting gesture and nodded to reinforce his statement, "We can't stay here, I don't think anyone is still watching, but I can't be sure, we shouldn't be out here right now." Leo told them.

They all nodded solemnly and quietly made their way back to the lair, when they did, no one said a word, not even when Splinter came out from his room to ask what happened, no one answered and they all simply walked off to do their own thing, with the exception of Leo, who went to see Donnie.

"You're lucky Leo, this could've been very bad." Donnie said.

Leo didn't respond, and Donnie wrapped it up in silence, Leo then left the med-bay and was going to go into the dojo, but then Splinter intercepted him.

"Leonardo, a word." He said, walking into his room, Leo following him and shutting the sliding door after him. Despite themselves, both Mikey and Raph were eavesdropping.

"What happened tonight?"

"We were being watched by... someone, I couldn't tell who. I didn't notice until it was too late, I think they fired a dart at us, it hit Mikey. It was some sort of upgrade of the mind control serum that they used on Raph and Donnie." Leo explained quietly.

"Hmm..." Splinter hummed in deep thought, "Are you well?" He asked.

"I'm fine sensei." Leo replied.

"I do not mean physically, Donatello is not the only one who has noticed your strange sleep patterns of late. You look tired, your spirit is weak. What is on your mind?"

"Nothing sensei, I'm fine." Leo said dismissively. Raph and Mikey heard Leo stand and move towards the door and they scattered.

Raph leaped onto the couch and he turned around as he saw Leo walk towards the exit of the lair, "Hey bro, where are you going?" He asked.

"For a run." Was Leo's curt response.

"But dude-" Mikey stopped as Leo completely ignored him and left the lair.

Raph and Mikey shared concerned glances and both of them, without saying a thing they both went to Donnie.

"What's up with Leo?" Raph asked.

"What?" Donnie asked in confusion.

"We heard Splinter talking to Leo about his sleeping patterns?" Mikey questioned.

"Oh, yeah, he's been having bad nightmares, he'll go to sleep around 1am and he'll wake up around 4 and go for a run for two hours and get back before the rest of us wake up, he thinks I don't notice but I do, and so does Master Splinter I guess." Donnie said, "Why? What's up?"

"Leo just went for a run." Raph said and looked at the clock, 2:49 am.

Authors Note: Okay, so this one was a bit shorter than the rest of them, but the next one will either be really long or a two-parter, or both, we'll see. Big thanks to those who followed/favourited and a special thanks to The-Lithe-And-Lethal, Yukio87 and leggo lover 99 for reviewing! :)