A/N: See, much faster this time. Thanks again for the feedback! I love hearing from all of you. It picks up from here...please leave a comment.

Another rock skipped out over the smooth river until it was swallowed by the darkness.

Leo watched as the ripples left behind collided and seemingly passed through each other until they eventually faded and disappeared.

His mind automatically started to compare the ripples to his ever-diminishing influence with his brothers, but he quashed the thought before it could get any more symbolic. Splinter often spoke in metaphors, and Leo had always been fascinated by it. It added to his admiration for the rat. It made him seem wise, almost mystical.

In his new-found cynicism, Leo considered that maybe Splinter spoke in such riddles to hide the things he didn't know.

It hadn't ever really crossed his mind before that his sensei could be wrong. Sure, like any kid, he had questioned his father's decisions before, but the old rat was inevitably proven right… or maybe it was the vague nature of his instructions that made him seem right.

Leo's mind was swirling. In his obsessive effort to become like his master, he had never doubted these things before. It called into question… well… his entire life up to that point.

He bent over and picked up another rock, which was really just a hunk of concrete from the vacant and decaying building behind him. He hurled the small boulder into the Hudson, abandoning the finesse he had used before. He ignored the burning in his shoulder as the projectile crashed into the water not far away.

He watched the ripples again, though they were more like small waves now, spreading quickly over the surface of the river. Almost immediately, they were swallowed up in the wake of a passing cargo ship.

A similar ship had taken him half a world away the year before. Leo started to wish he could go back to that moment and change things so he had never left. The more he thought about it, however, he realized that wouldn't have solved anything. Things had already been in a downward spiral between him and Raph before he left. The constant fighting had worn on everyone. Don and Mike had started avoiding the feuding turtles as much as they could. Each took a shot at mediating the arguments at one time or another, but that only put them in the cross-hairs, so they eventually gave up. It was all leading toward an inevitably ugly end. That's when Sensei's plan to send Leo away had come up. Leo had been excited to go. He had thought it would advance his goal to please his sensei and become just like him.

But leaving had only delayed an unavoidable outcome. Leo had come to blows with Raph anyways, and he had come out much worse for wear. It made him wonder what good leaving did at all.

He had seen leaders at their worst as they strived for power and betrayed anyone and everyone to get what they wanted. He had witnessed their gruesome crimes against those they were supposed to be protecting. He had tried to help. He had new scars as a consequence- not all of them physical. He still spent restless nights trying to forget the faces of those he had failed. Nothing erased them. He thought saving others would somehow make up for those he hadn't, but it didn't work that way. He had become obsessed with trying to help the people, but it never changed.

Maybe the lesson was that he couldn't control everything. Not the cruel dictators in forgotten towns, and definitely not his hot-headed younger brother.

The only one Leo could control was himself. Being secluded and so utterly alone affected him in ways he never could have anticipated. He thought this solitary journey would give him time to reflect, train and strengthen himself without the distractions of home. Maybe it had, but it had also taught him how much he really hated being alone.

He had spent so long wondering why he wasn't progressing like he wanted and why he felt so empty, like he was missing something. Then April had showed up and made it seem so simple.

Leo thought coming home would solve everything, but all the problems that were there before were still there, amplified by a few new ones and over a year of festering. Worst of all, he didn't feel any better equipped to deal with it.

The cargo ship was slowly melding with the horizon, and Leo was so intent on it and his thoughts, that he almost didn't hear the footsteps. They were quiet and carefully placed. Then they stopped.

Leo's muscles had instantly tensed, but he forced himself to relax. He knew those footsteps.

"Thinkin' of leavin' again?"

Leo didn't even turn. Instead he searched the ground for another rock. "Do you want me to?"

There was a pause, and then a gruff, but almost nonchalant, "Not today."

Leo couldn't help but smile to himself. That was probably as close to a compliment as he had gotten lately. His eyes fell upon another chipped piece of concrete, this one small, flat and smooth. "Where are Mike and Don?"

"Out lookin' for you."

Leo picked up the rock and turned it over in his fingers a few times before glancing up. "You found me first, huh?"

Raph shrugged. "Guess so."

He didn't say anymore, and Leo couldn't think of anything to say, so he turned back to the water and sent the concrete chip sailing across the river until it hit, and then skipped, once, twice…. Five times until he lost sight of it.

Neither of them moved for a full minute, and then the red banded turtle bent down and picked up a rock of his own. Leo grinned inwardly. Everything was a competition…

Raph's rock was bigger and not as flat, but sheer force went a long way in causing it to skip several times. Leo wasn't counting. Clearly Raph was as he instantly starting looking for another rock.

Leo just watched him. "Why did you come out here?"

Raph hesitated and picked up another piece of concrete. This one was so large, Leo could see the rebar poking out of it. Raph tossed it up and down in his hands a few times before dropping it. He avoided eye contact and shifted his jaw, seeming to try to find his words. "Just makin' sure…"

"I'm not going anywhere, Raph." Leo said with a sigh.

Raph was silent again. He filled the awkward silence by trying to find another rock.

Leo just watched him. Raph had always put on a big show like he was trying to prove something, but that bravado was distinctly lacking tonight. He looked uncomfortable, and out of his element, which he was. Conversations with Raph were usually brief, to the point, and avoided any delicate topics. "Look," Leo sighed, "I'm sorry."

Raph had been on his way to pick up a rock and stopped, then slowly retrieved the stone and stood to face his brother, his expression thoroughly confused. "What?"

Leo quickly snatched up another flat chip of concrete as he blew out a breath. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have left."

Raph continued to stare at him for another minute, his mouth slightly open. "The hell are you talkin' about?"

Leo almost rolled his eyes, but settled for shaking his head. "I shouldn't have agreed to go. It was a stupid idea." He held the rock so tightly in his hand, the sharp edge nearly sliced his fingers.

Raph was at a loss for words again. Finally, he shrugged, "I don't blame you for goin', Leo. Things were getting' bad and Splinter offered a way out."

"But that doesn't mean I-."

"Shut up a second." Raph continued, looking hesitant. "You've never disobeyed Splinter when it comes to trainin'. Him suggestin' you go was as good as an order the moment he said it. He knows that. It wasn't gonna matter how long you were gone."

It was Leo's turn to be shocked into silence. He watched Raph, who seemed disgusted with himself for saying the things he was. Leo didn't know what to think.

"That's not ta say I don't got a problem with you." Raph suddenly snapped before he looked away again, "But we can handle that, you and me. 'Cuz we've been through this… You're not the only hypocrite. We need you."

Leo managed the slightest of smiles despite his confusion. Begrudging acceptance was quite the praise coming from Raph. He didn't understand it completely, but didn't want to stop him, ask for clarification and risk ending the moment and stoking Raph's dormant wrath.

"So you gotta come back."

Leo's confusion deepened again. "I told you, Raph, I'm not going anywhere."

Raph raised a doubtful eyeridge at him. "Oh yeah? You gonna walk in the lair and go back to meditatin' with Splinter?"

Leo hesitated.

"That's what I thought." Raph scoffed.

"Raph-." Leo started, but didn't get to finish.

The night sky was suddenly as bright as daylight, and then all Leo saw was black.