A/N: Hey everyone I know it has been a while and I apologize. Things have been a little nuts lately and this chapter has been giving me some problems. I promise I will always update when I can, but work is picking up and with my new promotion I am working more so my writing time has diminished. Please bear with me while I try and balance things but I do apologize for the long breaks between chapters. Thank you for your patience and thank you to those who take the time to review - it is really appreciated. I hope everyone enjoys this chapter and I'll write again soon.

Chapter 21

Elizabeth could feel the panic building up in her chest as Donatello's hurried driving had them whipping around corners fast enough to make the battle shell's wheels squeal in protest. She clung to Raphael, grateful that he was at least unhurt. But Leo – she had no idea just how badly hurt he was.

She watched him from the corner of her eye, knowing that Raphael's full attention was on his brother, worried about his condition as well.

She wished that she'd been able to convince Raphael to stay. That his brothers would have never gone out. If they had then maybe Leonardo wouldn't be struggling for every breath now, and Raphael wouldn't feel so hard and rigid beneath her. He felt almost cold.

Donatello took another sharp turn and an irritated New York driver honked angrily at him. Elizabeth cringed.

"Keep pressure on that wound, Michelangelo. It'll help slow the bleeding," Splinter said, his eyes darting between Michelangelo and Leonardo. Elizabeth guessed it was in an attempt to distract himself from Donatello's lunatic driving as well as concern for his sons' well being.

Raphael leaned forward a bit, squishing her a little, as he reached forward to press two fingers against Leonardo's neck, as if to reassure himself that Leo was really still there with him. He pulled back but his face was more distraught.

"Don! Leo's not breathin' too good back 'ere."

Donatello said something that Elizabeth had only ever heard from teenage boys on the street corners.

"Donatello!"

"Sorry, Sensei," Donatello sounded distracted as he took another turn, the wheels on the right side hitting the corner as he jerked the battle shell down another street.

Elizabeth turned her attention to Leonardo, she had been so afraid of him when she'd first met him. But she'd come to really like Leonardo. He was fluid motion. She had come to really like watching the brothers spar. Each one of them had such a different motion to them, a different energy.

Michelangelo was pure energy. Like a ball in a pinball machine. Once you pulled back on the spring and released the ball it would bounce all over the place, having no real sense of direction or planned movement, but going wherever it was directed. Michelangelo would bounce around, trying to wear down the brother he was sparring with, throwing wise cracks and dodging their blows, while trying to get in a few hits of his own. His mouth was just as quick as he was and Elizabeth had come to notice that Raphael was usually the one that got the most riled up and let his temper get the best of him when Michelangelo started taunting him.

Donatello was the complete opposite of Michelangelo. His movements were more calculated, his eyes focused completely on his opponent, as if searching out the weak spots and coming up with the best plan to take them down. He was easily just as skilled as his brothers and Elizabeth had flinched a few times when she'd heard the thwack of his bo connect with one of his brothers' shells. But Donatello seemed to get distracted as well, after a while his concentration would waver and whatever brother he was sparring with would get in a good hit or two before Donatello would seem to come back to himself. But Elizabeth knew that this didn't make Donatello any less of a fighter than his brothers were. Because his attacks were so calculated he could often find the weak spot his brother exposed and have him down on his shell before the other brother even knew what hit him.

Raphael was sheer power. Every hit, kick, or jab with his sai was pure force. Elizabeth had watched in fascination as Raphael's powerful muscles had rippled under his skin as he and his brothers moved around the dojo in their terrifying, yet mesmerizing dance of blows from kicks and fists and flashes of weapons. Raphael's moves were not calculated at all, but unlike Donatello he was totally focused on his opponent, his one goal – to take them down. Raphael's movements weren't as fast as Michelangelo's but his reflexes were sharper. Elizabeth had seen him catch Leonardo's katana between the prongs of his sai and catching Leo in the gut with a powerful kick – when seconds before he'd just managed to avoid Donatello's bo staff as it had made a swing at his shell. Raphael lived for the fight; his eyes would take on a strange glow that would make those amber orbs shine with anticipation and delight. Every thrust and kick would push him into more, until his brothers tired or Splinter would call the match to a halt.

Leonardo's moves were much more fluid. Like the way water moved. It was almost as if he didn't have to think about his next move because it just came naturally to him. He put more energy into his moves and less power than Raphael. With his longer weapons it gave him a longer reach and he wasn't forced to be so close to whoever it was he was fighting unless they approached him first. Leonardo's ability to wield his swords the way he did fascinated Elizabeth. There was such smooth motion in the way he moved his weapons, as if they were an extension of himself, and not merely a tool he used while fighting.

To see him lying so still now, so completely motionless while his chest heaved as it fought to get enough air honestly frightened Elizabeth.

Donatello jerked the wheel again and Elizabeth's body bounced against Raphael's plastron, she winced, knowing that move would probably earn her a bruise. But it was worth it, as long as he was safe.

"Don!" Raphael's voice was sharp, desperate.

"Almost there, Raph. How is he?"

"Not good – how long?"

Donatello jerked around another corner and pushed a button on the dash, making the warehouse door open and he pulled in, stopping the battle shell with a jerk that made all of them wince as their seatbelts dug into their shoulders. Donatello twisted the key, killing the battle shell and rushed back to the back, his chocolate brown eyes searching Leo's body anxiously as if he'd suddenly developed x-ray vision and could see his brother's injuries just by looking at him.

Elizabeth climbed off of Raphael's lap, knowing that the best way she could help Leo was by letting the brothers work together to get him inside where they could assess him properly.

"Get him inside, don't jar him around too much," Donatello instructed his brother.

Raphael slid his arms under Leo's body, holding him bridal style, keeping him close to him, clinging to him as if afraid Leo would disappear at any moment. But from the way Leo looked Elizabeth wasn't so sure that Raph was wrong with his fears. Leo's skin had taken a waxy gray appearance, his breathing so strained it was almost painful to listen to. Like someone scratching their nails across a chalkboard. It just sent shivers up one's spine to listen to it.

Donatello hurried ahead of Raphael, presumably to get things ready for his brothers in the infirmary by the time Raph got there. Michelangelo trailed behind, clutching one hand to a bleeding gash on his arm. Elizabeth was sure it was still bleeding because she could see fresh blood squeezing out between Michelangelo's fingers.

"Come, Michelangelo," Splinter said his voice calm but Elizabeth could see the strain it put on him to keep his voice that way. "Your injury needs attending to as well."

"Is Leo gonna be ok, Sensei?" Michelangelo asked, his baby blue eyes pleading with his father. It reminded Elizabeth a lot of how her brother used to be, how he'd always go to their parents, no matter what the problem was and having the faith that they could make it right again.

Like when Sammy's horse Rocky had stepped into a gopher hole and gone down while Sammy had been out riding instead of doing his homework. Sammy had been thrown from Rocky's back, and with the exception of a few bumps, bruises, and a few mild scrapes he had been unhurt. Rocky hadn't been so lucky. He'd gotten to his feet after his stumble, but it was obvious to Sammy that something had been wrong. He'd run back to the house where Elizabeth and her mother had been cooking dinner and begging for help. Elizabeth and her parents followed Sammy back to where Rocky was. His leg was swollen and from the way he held it, it was clear that it was paining him greatly. Elizabeth had been instructed to take Sammy back to the house. When she'd seen the haunted look on her father's face she knew why. There had been no hope for the horse, he'd obviously broken something that would never heal properly if at all – and even if it did he'd be in constant pain and unable to run or walk properly again. Their father was going to have to do the only decent thing he could and that was simply to put Rocky out of his misery. Elizabeth's mother had gone with them, seeing them into the house before retrieving their father's veterinary bag that he always brought home after work. Sammy had had such faith that their father was going to heal Rocky's leg that he'd waited anxiously by the back door, hoping to see their parents leading Rocky back. But when he finally spotted them they were alone, Rocky was nowhere in sight. As his face fell and the blood had left his face Elizabeth knew that Sammy had realized that not every situation was within a parent's power to make right. For Sammy the lesson had been a hard one and he'd refused to leave his room for days.

Elizabeth truly hoped that this wasn't the case this time.

Leo's a fighter. He'll pull through this. He won't leave his family.

Elizabeth thought about the blue-banded turtle's fighting spirit, his deep devotion to his family, and willed herself to believe her own thoughts. She hated to think what would happen to the rest of this small tight knit family if Leo didn't pull through this time.

Elizabeth chose not to intrude on the family, although Michelangelo and Splinter had joined Raphael and Donatello in the infirmary. Elizabeth knew the infirmary wasn't that big and that she would only be in the way. Michelangelo's own wound needed tending to and she was sure Splinter had gone in there not only to keep Michelangelo calm, but to see how his oldest son was doing for himself. From the way Donatello barked orders at Raphael she knew that he was doing everything he could to assist Donatello in saving his brother's life.

After what seemed like hours Donatello stopped frantically barking orders and the infirmary was much calmer. Elizabeth wasn't sure if that was a good thing, or a bad. She was too scared to get up and see for herself in case she still was an unwanted guest and would only be in the way. So she continued to wait.

But at last Michelangelo emerged, looking rather teary-eyed as he clutched at the arm that had been injured during the battle. It was wrapped up in an ace bandage and he headed for his room, sniffling.

Oh no.

Elizabeth was horrified; she got to her feet and walked on her shaky limbs to the infirmary. He couldn't be. It didn't seem possible that Leo could be gone.

Hesitantly she peered around the edge of the infirmary door, her heart pounding in her chest.

"Come in, Miss Elizabeth," Splinter's calm voice invited her.

She drew in a breath. Surely if something was wrong Splinter would sound more upset? Or would ask her to stay away while they grieved for their brother.

She took a few hesitant steps into the room and her eyes were immediately drawn to the bed occupied by Leo. To her relief his chest rose and fell easily, probably with the aid of the oxygen mask that was fitted perfectly for his face.

"Elizabeth," Raphael's voice sounded very tired but he smiled at her, and held out one arm. Elizabeth took his hand and allowed him to pull her to him. He cradled her against his side.

"How is he?"

"He'll be ok, he 'ad a dislocated shoulder an' a sprained ankle. But he don't 'ave any crushin' injuries or broken bones."

"Which is amazing since he had a roof collapse on him," Donatello muttered from where he sat studying slides under a microscope.

"So why is he on the oxygen mask?"

"Don tinks dat Hun drugged Leo with someting – it's makin' 'is heart rate too fast an' 'is breathin' ain't doin' too good on 'is own."

"Is he going to be ok, Don?"

"If I can figure out exactly what it is that Hun gave him I should be able to come up with an antidote to reverse whatever is doing this to him."

"How can you be sure that this Hun guy gave Leo something?"

"Cause Leo went down before the roof even collapsed, I saw him – he couldn't get his legs under him. It was like he had lost control of his limbs. Leo could have easily gotten out of the way before that roof collapsed if he'd been able to. But he just lay there – and his injuries don't account for his rapid heart rate or labored breathing. If he had crushing injuries they might be explained, but he doesn't." Donatello sounded a bit annoyed. "I'm having a hard time concentrating with all this chit chat going on though – so if you don't mind."

"Come on, Elizabeth," Raphael said quietly leading Elizabeth from the room. She leaned into him as they made their way to the guest room that had unofficially become Elizabeth's.

"Is he going to be ok, Raph?"

"Leo ain't a quitter – he'll keep fightin' and Don'll find da stuff he needs ta fix whatever did dis ta 'im." Raphael reassured her.

"Are you sure?"

"I'm gonna stay with 'im and Donny tonight. If someting does h'ppen den we'll be der, but I don't tink it will. Donny's good – he'll figure out what's doin' dis ta 'im."

Elizabeth was a little disappointed she'd be sleeping alone tonight, but she understood Raphael's need to be close to his brother while he was injured, she wasn't going to ask him to stay because she knew where he was needed more.

She sat down on the bed and Raphael sat next to her, keeping her close to him as he pressed his beak against the top of her head.

"'Lizbeth?"

"Hmm?"

"I should get back in der."

"Oh, ok, Raph."

Raphael quickly kissed her forehead and stood up, closing the door quietly behind him.

Elizabeth sighed and began to get ready for bed.

Elizabeth found sleep hard to come by, and when she did she had nightmares. Graham finding her, taking her away. Leo succumbing to whatever Hun had given to him, leaving his family to grieve for him. Raphael pulling away from her, telling her that she'd be better off with Graham. Telling her that's where she belonged.

Elizabeth's eyes snapped open and she lay awake, panting in the dark for several long minutes, trying to catch her breath as if she'd just had a very hard work out. When at last she was able to get her breathing under control she sat up and pushed the covers aside, rolled her legs off the bed and sat for several long minutes, her heart still thundering away in her chest as the last few images of her nightmares disappeared into nothingness.

She got up slowly, walking on quiet feet and headed for the bathroom. She could hear Raphael's chainsaw like snore echoing from the infirmary and was sure that it was probably only the very early hours of the morning. No one else was awake.

She splashed cold water onto her face, and raked her hair back with her fingers. Feeling a little better she left the bathroom and headed for the kitchen, knowing if Donatello had been up watching over Leo all night he'd be in desperate need for another cup of coffee.

But when she got to the kitchen she was surprised to see Donatello already there, pouring himself a fresh cup of coffee and looking rather drained.

"Don, how's Leo?"

Donatello looked mildly surprised to see her, but he smiled. "He's going to be ok, Elizabeth. I gave him some stuff that'll counter act the drugs Hun gave him. He's breathing easier and his blood pressure and heart rate have come down. Raph fell asleep about an hour ago but you can go in and see Leo for yourself if you like."

Elizabeth nodded. "If you don't mind."

"Come on," Donatello said leading the way back to the infirmary.

Elizabeth followed and paused in the infirmary door. The oxygen mask that had been strapped over Leonardo's face the night before was no longer in place, and his chest rose and fell easily without it. The fingernails scraping the chalkboard sound was gone and except for a few darkening bruises and his arm sitting in a sling he looked just fine. Elizabeth released a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.

Donatello chuckled lightly. "Leo's a fighter, Elizabeth. He's pulled through worse than this."

Elizabeth forced a smile and nodded, turning her eyes to the figure sprawled out on the chair next to the cot. Raphael was oblivious, he was far too out of it. His head was tilted to one side, his legs stretched out in front of him, his arms crossed over his plastron.

"Raph wouldn't leave," Donatello explained as he yawned. "He finally fell asleep after I took off Leo's oxygen mask."

Elizabeth wrapped her arms around herself. "You hungry, Don?"

Donatello shook his head. "I'm good, thanks, Elizabeth."

Elizabeth left the infirmary and headed for the kitchen. She'd make enough for everyone anyway – in case they changed their minds later.

Elizabeth pulled the perfectly browned muffins out of the oven.

"Wow, dudette, you went all out."

"Morning, Mikey," Elizabeth said turning and smiling. She set the pan of freshly baked muffins onto the table alongside the cookie sheet that held the main course, which Michelangelo was examining curiously.

"Uh, what exactly is this, Elizabeth?" Michelangelo asked as he examined the strange concoction of breakfast foods, which seemed to lay on a layer of browned hash browns.

Elizabeth grinned. "It's breakfast pizza, Mikey."

"Pizza?" Michelangelo's eyes lit up.

"It's not that kind of pizza, Mikey," Elizabeth said with a laugh.

"Pizza is pizza, Elizabeth."

"If you see it that way," Elizabeth said. "Do you want to see if your brothers want any?"

"Sure thing," Michelangelo bounded out of the kitchen as Elizabeth began to pull the muffins out of the cupcake tins.

It only took him a couple minutes to return with a rather tired looking Donatello and an irritated Raphael. Elizabeth had no doubt that Michelangelo had found the most irritating way to wake the red-banded turtle.

"This looks interesting, Elizabeth," Donatello said as he too eyed the breakfast pizza dubiously. Elizabeth was rather surprised he'd joined them, but she had a feeling that Splinter had insisted that all his sons eat something.

"It's good, Don, I promise," Elizabeth said as she grabbed a pizza cutter and began to slice up the pizza. The browned hash browns crunched underneath the sharp edge and the cheese stuck to the sides. Sliding a pancake turner under one of the pieces she put it on a plate and handed it to Michelangelo, who eagerly took it from her.

Donatello and Raphael took their slices as well.

"Is Splinter hungry?" Elizabeth asked.

"He's making sure Leo stays in bed."

"He's awake?" Elizabeth's wide eyes flew to Donatello's face. He smiled back at her.

"Awake and grumbling. Leo hates being bed ridden."

Relief flooded through her and suddenly the atmosphere of the lair was much more pleasant.

"Should I fix him a plate?"

"Sensei will eat later," Raphael grumbled as he reached for a muffin.

Elizabeth had no doubt in her mind that Raphael was exhausted and Michelangelo waking him up for breakfast hadn't made him happy. Of course, if she were to be honest with herself, if she was woken after only a couple hours of sleep she doubted she'd be very pleasant either so she wasn't going to hold it against him.

"Wow. Dis stuff is good, 'Lizbeth," Michelangelo said through a mouthful of pizza.

Elizabeth smiled, Michelangelo was easily impressed. She took a slice for herself and a muffin and began to eat herself.

"Elizabeth I want to try and do an ultrasonic reading this week. We can see how big the baby is and make sure everything looks ok."

"Sure, Don. Just let me know when you want to do it."

Donatello finished the last of his breakfast and stood up. "Thanks for breakfast, Elizabeth. I'd better get back. Leo's going to want to get up as soon as he can, and I want to make sure everything looks ok before he does."

Elizabeth smiled at the soft spoken turtle. "Your welcome, Don."

Donatello headed back for the infirmary.

Raphael likewise stood up and headed upstairs to his room. Elizabeth figured he was going to try and get some decent sleep.

"Want some help cleaning up, dudette?" Michelangelo asked as he reached for another muffin.

Elizabeth stood up and patted Michelangelo's shoulder gently. "That'd be great, thanks , Mikey."