Hey guys! Hope you're enjoying the story so far. Review and let me know what you think I'm going to be taking finals this upcoming week so the uploads might be a little slower. Good luck if you're taking them!

Lana puts the dry dishes away and sighs before grabbing her bag of clothes. She stuffs her special shoes into the bag before throwing on some sandals. She walks through the living room and sees Donnie asleep in the reclining chair with his mouth open. Mikey is laying on the couch and breaths softly. She smiles as the light from the TV plays over them making their green skin turn a bluish green.

On a rooftop somewhere Casey and Raph sit looking out at the city. Raph sighs and looks at his feet dangling over the edge. Casey stares at him and shakes his head.

"So the Nightwatcher huh?"

Raph shrugs and looks at his best friend.

"I got restless sitting around in the lair."

"You always did."

Raph nods and smiles.

"It's how we met ya know."

"Oh how could I forget? I hit you, you hit me, we raced, good times."

Raph laughs and shakes his head.

"The good ol' days."

"I'm guessing your family doesn't know?"

"Nah, and I'd like to keep it that way."

"Why?"

Raph sighs and looks at him.

"Do you think Splinta' or the othas would approve? Things are weird enough with Leo bein' gone…I don't need my surface rights taken too."

Casey nods.

"…what was I supposed to do? Wait around for Leo to get back? We haven't heard word one from him since Splinta' sent him away on his little vacation…"

Casey looks at his friend and sees how upset he is even if he'll never admit it.

"April told me he stopped writing."

"8 months ago was his last letter, and all it said was 'I'll be back when I'm ready". To think we really thought he'd be home when he was supposed to be."

"You know Leo-"

"Ya and while he's in the jungle the criminals are running free. You think these lowlifes take vacations at the first sign of pressure? No. The criminal element of this city may be guilty of a lot of things but being quitters ain't one of them."

Raph stands up and paces the roofs ledge.

"Ya know, I don't even case about Leo anymore….kind of hope he never comes back."

Casey makes a face and looks at the red-banded turtle.

"Come one, aren't you being a little hard on the guy? I know you two have your differences, but he didn't run away. Splinter sent him away."

Raph sighs and rubs his face.

"I don't know, it's possible…I guess if I could live anywhere other than the city I'd go too…"

Casey makes a face and Raph smirks slightly.

"You're right, I could never leave this place. I can't even sleep without the sound of the subway rumblin' ova' my head…I guess it comes from growing up with a house full of brothers."

Casey nods and Raph sits down again.

"Listen, I'm not tryin' to tell you what to do, I'm just sayin' if it was my brother I'd find a way to work it out."

"Can't work it out if he neva' comes back…"

Casey looks at him seriously.

"He's coming back Raph. One day."

"That's not the point Casey. It's been almost a year since his training ended."

"Ya but Leo's a perfectionist. He could've just gotten caught up in his own world."

Raph rolls his eyes.

"Well what does that say about him as a brother?"

Casey doesn't say anything but instead switches topics. Raph tries to listen but his eyes droop shut and he's out.

Leo sits in the cargo section of a plane bundled up in blankets trying to keep the cold from getting to him. He breathes out and his breath swirls past his eyes. He sighs and gets comfortable under the blankets so that he can sleep for a little bit. He should be close to New York by now. It's been a long flight. All of a sudden the sounds of the gears moving make Leo jump up and get in position. The landing gear unloads and Leo holds onto the tires tightly. When they get close enough to the water he smiles and jumps letting himself free fall for a few seconds until he pulls the cord releasing his paragliding equipment. He soars over the water heading for the shore. He skims his hand on the reflective surface before flying higher into the air and bringing his equipment back into his pack. He dives into the water and makes his way to the secret entrance. When he pops his head out of the water he looks around and sees that it all looks the same. When he swims to the edge and pulls himself out he dries off with a towel they also kept handy by the edge. He puts his pack down and walks further into his home. It all looked the same. The soft snoring catches him off guard and he looks over at the couches seeing his two youngest brothers. A small smile graces his lips before he turns and see the light in his fathers room. He quietly walks over and pauses outside.

"Enter."

He takes a deep breath before slipping inside.

"Kneel my son."

He does as his father says and looks at his knees.

"I return from my training master…I was so caught up in my own world, I forgot about everyone else. I'm sorry I failed…"

Splinter's eyes go wide as he listens to his son.

"On the contrary my son, now you are much stronger."

Leo's eyes widen as he looks up at his father. He pulls out medals and walks around to him. Leo rises and accepts them.

"Your strength is needed here now. You owe me no apology…but perhaps you should talk to Raphael."

Splinter's keen ears pick up his other sons entrance but says nothing.

"Your absence has been particularly difficult for him…though he'll never admit it."

Leo nods and looks at his father.

"I'm sure things will be back to normal in no time master."

Splinter nods but Raphael clenches his fist. Typical leader boy.

"Good because until you can act as one, you are forbidden to fight."

"Yes sensei."

Leonardo bows before bending down to hug his father. Splinter wraps his arms around his eldest son and smiles. It had been a long time. Raphael watches this and sighs in frustration.

"Raphael! Your brother is home."

Raph's eyes go wide as his father looks at him, but he hides it and kicks the door open slightly.

"Uh hey."

Leo smiles and Raph frowns.

"Hey."

"Welcome home."

Leo's smile falters but thanks him anyway.

"Yeah. Thanks."

Raph nods before fake yawning.

"Well, I'm going to bed."

Leo watches his brother turn his back and walk away. Leo follows and sees Raph flip the magazine off Donnie's head.

"Hey Leo's back. Better go say hello before he leaves again."

Donnie groggily wakes up and looks around.

"What? Leo!"

He gets up and hugs his brother tightly.

"Hey!"

Mikey wakes up and falls off the couch before getting up and rushing into a hug with his brother.

"Leo! I'm like dreaming aren't I?"

Leo's smile falters as he gets uncomfortable.

"No, Mikey, you're not dreaming…"

"Oh good. I have nightmares about birthday parties…"

Leo shakes his head in amusement and continues to hug his youngest brother. Raph flips up onto the balcony and looks down at the reunion before shaking his head and slamming his bedroom door shut.