Chapter 6:

(Donnie's POV)

I honestly thought I might have reason to hope as I watched my brother react to what I'd said, by just standing there watching me as if he couldn't comprehend my words. But then he attacked again and I realized I would have to follow through with my threat after all.

So, with a single motion I slid under his charge, forced my legs up into his plastron and kicked with everything I had, sending him flying as I righted myself again and threw a shuriken before he could land and avoid it.

I had to struggle with my instincts to go to his side as he screamed in pain due to the blade sinking its small teeth into an old wound; an injury obtained from a training exercise when we were kids. He had dislocated his knee and we'd been unable to get him back home before the nano-bots had healed it, forcing us to break the bone in order to set it correctly.

Though it didn't cause him pain anymore, there was a certain spot that, when hit, brought him to his knees. This was why I had left Raph and Mikey behind, I had been the one training with Leo to be his second and he'd made sure I knew his week points, so that if I ever needed to – I could take him down.

Quietly retrieving his fallen sword; my brother slowly got back to his feet and turned to look at me, before gathering the strength in his legs and charged again. It seemed I had hit a nerve; for this time his attacks were fierce and coordinated as he forced me back until only thin air lay under my feet, leaving him to quickly strike across my shoulders as I tried to right myself and get back onto the roof.

Though I was able to turn at the last second and shield against the attack with my shell; the force still sent me flying into a wall where I lost my staff in the process of breaking the impact.

This in turn forced me to quickly grab the bricks over my head and flip backwards onto the top of the raised doorway before Leo could plunge his sword through my chest.

"You are not fit to lead this team," I told him angrily as he pulled his weapon free and glared at me through his helmet, but jumping up to continue his attack. But I quickly fell back to the lower roof, rolling onto all fours as I picked up a loose board and swung it with everything I had as he descended after me; causing the wood to shatter upon impact with his shoulder when he too tried to shield against it like I had.

Unfortunately for him, that particular side of his shell was missing, taken from him in an abnormally large shark attack sometime in our previous life, which caused him to flinch just enough that the rest of my attack made contact with his helmet, sending the thing flying off to one side of the roof.

"You have endangered our team," I added sternly causing him to strike out with his sword in a laughably sloppy attempt to force me back, "I cannot and will not allow you to lead us," I proclaimed loudly and I could tell my words had actually reached him this time as he actually hesitated in the act of getting back on his feet.

Unfortunately, the shear level of his control still demanded he attack; however, this time I stood my ground and didn't move as the tip of his sword was aimed directly at my throat.

But as he came within inches of taking my life, everything stopped as my words finally hit home, driving in the fact that he had been stripped of his command, not only spiritually, but physically and to him that could mean only one thing – one thing he could never do.

"You've failed our family."

The sound of his sword hitting the concrete was almost deafening as he unconsciously dropped the weapon in response to me reaching out to grab the back of his suit to keep him from backing away when his body suddenly began to convulse in an attempt to fight off the control and rid itself of the worm.

But I didn't allow him to get away from me and instead pulled him into an awkward hug. "I'm sorry," I whispered in his ear before delivering the strongest punch I was capable of straight to his stomach, which finally forced the bug out through his mouth where I promptly squashed the wretched little thing.

"Leo," I begged when he suddenly crumpled in my arms, which forced me to my knees, "Hey," I stated worriedly as I attempted to turn him around so I could be sure he was still with me.

"I'm okay," He answered shakily after taking in several deep breaths, clearly in a lot of discomfort; but despite that I couldn't help but relish in how good in felt to finally hear his voice again.

"Donnie!" A new voice cut in and we looked around to find Raph, Mikey, Splinter and Zira arriving on the scene – just in time.

"Leo!" Mikey promptly acknowledged; running up to give our previously missing brother a hug, which left Raph in a somewhat startled state of shock as he watched the exchange for a second before walking forward as well.

"How's it goin' – brother?" He asked, clearly struggling to hold in his emotions.

"Better now," Leo admitted, which seemed to crumble Raph's wall of stubbornness, for he suddenly fell to his knees and gave him one of the biggest hugs I'd ever seen him bestow on anyone.

"My son," Splinter said upon his own arrival, leaving Leo to bow respectfully to him, but our father was having none of that; for he promptly brought us all into his arms and held us close as he spoke around his tears, "You are home my sons, you are home."