a/n

You know, there was a point when I could write a 30 page chapter in one day and stil have tiem to make dinner. I think I'm getting old.

Raph," Old? Wasn't it just your birthday?"

Charmy:" yes it was but that's beside the point."

Raph, "Is the point that a college student a year and a half from graduating asked for a "ninja turtle' birthday cake?"

Charmy: :( yeah but I did'nt get one.

Raph, "That's cause you got one LAST year. Ditz.

Charmy: As Thor would say, ANOTHER!

Update 2/

Yeah, I normally make small updates and don't say anything about it, but this one was a bit more significant. But it wont take away from the story if you decide to not read it again

Hunted

"Why can't I go out to the sewers?"

Leo looked up from his chess board (he wasn't sure how, but he just KNEW Halfshell was cheating somehow.) His elbows resting on his knees and in turn his chin on his fists. He glanced up to see Little Donnie curled up in the corner of the couch, fingers running over the 'knight' that he had 'killed' on the battlefield. Leonardo wasn't' sure why he was so fascinated that that certain chess piece, but now his eyes were on the entrance to the sewers, or more specifically the door.

Leo would never admit how nervous it made him.

That's why he returned his attention firmly to the chessboard his fingers edging his bishop diagonal, "I don't think you want to go out there Halfshell. I'd rather not tell you what's in the sewer water."

"You already told me once, it's not like I' going to wash my clothes in it or drink it. I just wanna walk around, isn't that ok?"

It was such an innocent question; Leo wanted nothing more than to oblige his wish. He would even take him to the surface to alteast give him a LITTLE bit of fresh air. He stretched his fingers to cover their shaking, "You're still burning up, and it's not safe out there."

"But you said there weren't any humans in the sewers."

"Humans aren't the most dangerous thing in this world, and they certainly aren't the most dangerous things in the sewers."

"What else is out there?"

Leos' skin began to prickle, as though claws were being drug over them. In the echoes of the mind he could still hear that laughter. The echo of his sword cracking against cement and claws scurrying around with only the sheen of their eyes indicating their presence.

He would never forget that horrible creature

That king of rats

But he kept the smile on his face, his hand going out to rub his hand over his charges scalp.

"Just trust me, it's not safe out there in the sewers. You're better off here."

Where I can protect you

Where I can keep you safe.

(#)(#)(#)(#)

Leo pressed his shell against the stone wall, the sheen of his skin hidden by the shadows. His eyes glanced up to where he knew Don's security cameras were watching him. This was the spot Donatello had shown him on the camera's.

This was the spot.

He knelt down to the ground; he could just see the outline of bare feet. And that was all the evidence he needed.

The Rat King was defiantly here.

The same creature Little Donnie had seen.

Leo had counted his stars grateful when he hadn't seen the 'rejection' of nature since that day in the building ruins. He had almost hoped that the Rat King had fallen to genetic degradation like Baxter Stockman almost did.

But after he had talked to his young charge, now he knew the truth.

He wasn't' even sure why the Rat King would be in the sewers. The only thing he could think of was that the nuisance would be hiding from the very person who created him,which did not help the situation at all. Agent Bishop

Which means it wouldn't be too long before the very man investigating Little Don's 'crater' would be down here too.

All they needed now was for the Shredder to come back to life to create a 'trifecta' of a bad situation.

A tremor shot up Leo's leg, sending his hand after it, he was used to having animals crawling over him in his state of 'calm' before he realized it was the shell cell. He fingered it free from his belt before drawing it out recognizing the familiar numbers of Raph's cell and holding it up to his head, "Whats' up?"

"The kids missing." Raph's voice was heavy, the word barley coming out between pants, "We can't find him anywhere."

"What/!?" Screw stealth. He lifted himself to his feet, "What the hell do you mean he's missing?! Check my room, check the med room, check the freaking cupboards he can fit in there pretty easy-"

"He AINT here Leo we LOOKED everywhere and the doors stuck."

Leo's hand shot up, squeezing the bridge between his eyes so tight he was sure it'd leave a bruise, "Why would he leave, he was fine, he was asleep when I left."

"How the hell should I know?! You gotta find him, he was barely breathing before and I don't know what condition he's in."

A growl shot through Leo's lips, his fingers finding the end button and sending him running back the way to the Lair.

Bishop on the hunt

The Rat King on the Loose

Little Don was missing

What kind of hell was this?

Leo reached a turn his hand shooting and grabbing a pole to swing himself over the sewer water his feet skidding on the slick stone under his feet.

There was no way he was going to let anyone get their hands on that boy.

The sound of coughing pierced his ears, the familiar heart aching sound that made his nerves set on fire but brought about a relief on how familiar it was.

He turned, eyes searching for the source of the coughing, hoping the close sewer walls hadn't created a hellish labyrinth-

On the opposite side of the sewer, over the water. To the small figure standing there, wearing a short white long sleeved shirt with a short sleeved purple hoody over it. The hood resting round his neck along with a blue scarf obviously made for someone taller than him, a wooden plank hanging from his hands his normally olive green skin was paler then usual and a white bandage was wrapped tightly around his scalp, but the purple mask and light brown eyes said the identity better than anything

Halfshell

A breath of relief breath past Leo's lips, he had already jumped to the other walkway before his 'strategic' brain could keep up with him, "Why did you leave the Lair!? Everyone's worried sick about you! I told you to stay put and I would come home-"

A glint of light brown eyes met his and instinct won over his body his hand shot up, catching the wood from hitting his head, furious eyes meeting his confused ones, "Don! What are you doing?!" he demanded, the body twisted a foot aimed right for the other side of his head, his forearm catching the blow. He twisted his body to allow the flying attacked to land behind him, his hand grabbed Don's forearm his arm hooking around Donnie's neck without choking him the body thrashing around against him, 'Donnie breath, please calm down before you kill yourself-"

"Let me go you Rokudenashi! Nisemono!" he screamed. Leo's hand shot up going over his mouth, throwing himself back against the wall as the boy thrashed around in his arms, "Halfshell-"

"DON'T CALL ME THAT! "He felt a leg shoot up, hooking around his calf, his body flew back and unbalanced he released Don before he could send them both flying hard into the ground choosing to absorb the fall with his shell. The small younger version of his brother standing over him though it offered Leo no comfort (especially since he still had that plank of wood in his hands), "YOU PROMISED ME YOU WOULD SEND ME HOME! I BELIEVED YOU! BUT THERE IS NO WAY FOR ME TO GET HOME IS THERE!? I'M STUCK HERE! I'M STUCK HERE IN THIS HELL HOLE!"

He didn't want to hurt the young kame, but he no intent of being a helpless. He swung his legs around and flew back to land on his feet, his hand catching Don's forearm and shoving him back, sending him back against the wall before releasing and stepping back, his arms bracing to catch him if he attacked or tried to run.

Donatello turned so his side was pressed against the wall, the wood he had been carrying with him barely hung from weak fingertips, Leo saw a hue to them he didn't recognize-a darker color that made him nervous. His eyes went over the bandage wrapped tightly around his scalp. His fingers reaching out to run over the cloth when Don flinched his hand slapped his away, hurt eyes looking back to him. Mistrustful as the day they had met.

This was worse.

These eyes screamed betrayal

Closing, the boy curled up tighter, a pained whisper leaving his lips that sent a tremble through Leos heart. A harsh accusation from dark lips

""Nisemono."

(#)(#)(#)(#)

Leo glanced around in the dark of the lair. It was the rare time when everyone's sleep schedule overlapped. It almost game the impression of a peaceful home. You almost wouldn't suspect that in 5 hours there would be an explosion of yelling, running and "begging for forgiveness" from Mikey.

But that's' what made their Lair a home

And it was also a reminder of his need for sleep.

His arms stretched over his head before he turned back to his room. He could just see the young kame occupying the bed he had given him.

Somehow little Don had sent the blanket from his body and was now hanging off his bed. Leo could only shake his head with a smile. Donatello often spent his time trying to convince him of his maturity ( Leo really wasn't convinced his charge was really 14). But he had a bad habit of casting aside blankets he desperately needed to stay warm.

Leo reached down to pick up the blanket half on the floor. He drug it back onto the bed and over Little Don's small form. The sleeping kame twitched in his sleep eyes fluttering, "Go back to sleep Halfshell."

Light brown eyes looked to him through heavily lidded eyes, confused for a moment ith a loss of lucidity before he nodded, resting his head back against his pillow as a yawn escaped his lips, "Good Night Taisho."

Leo hesitated over his futon, as tempting as it was to go back to sleep he sighed for a moment before moving back over to his large bed, sitting n the edge and took a hold of his shoulder and shaking it.

The boy moaned in his sleep before glaring at him weakly. Leo almost felt bad for waking him up, "Halfshell, I know you mean well but you can't call me Taisho. Alright?"

"Why?"

"Because Taisho means general. I'm not even in the military."

"So? You call me Half-shell."

"That's different."

"I don't think so." Donnie reposition his head on the pillow to look up at him better, "Am I embarrassing you?"

"No" Though the truth was yes. He hated to think what Raph would say if he knew Little Don was calling him general, he knew there would be nothing but harsh words. it wasn't something he wasn't used to

"But I like calling you Taisho. You are the general of this house."

He couldn't help but sigh, free hand rubbing Don's scalp but he noticed that the young kame was now smiling, "Come on Halfshell don't laugh at me-"

"But I like calling you Taisho. You remind me of a Taisho I knew."

Huh?,"HuH?" Donnie looked WAY too satisfied at his confusion. His finger jabbed the younger in the chin, " Don't Laugh at your elders BRAT."

"Make me shire."

Leo smirked lightly, yanking the blanket over the boys head long enough to see hand imprints fight the sheets for freedom. Though he feared now neither of them were going to sleep tonight especially when the younger found freedom and got his head out, so his jabbed his fingers into Little Dons chest, "SCOOT." but appreciated the smile on the others face as he scooted over. Leo laid down and rested his head down on the other pillow as Donnie turned to look at him. He took the blanket and drug it over him (only this time not trying to smuther him), "Ok, so are you going to tell me about this general?"

"Is this story time or what?"

"Sure, you tell me a story then I tell you one cause I say so. So tell me about the General."

Donnie smiled before rolling over onto his side smiling at him. Leo almost felt bad for keeping him awake but it didn't look like Little Don wanted sleep anyway. What else was Leo going to do anyway? Go out and listen to his brothers watch movies together?

"Yeah, he came by our I-sha-shop with his mother. I think he was an Inui or a Neko. His mother was sick and he wanted to get her some help. I was really young at the time, I couldn't even talk, but I couldn't stop staring at him. I had never seen anyone so grand or well-dressed before. he was wearing this weird bowl shaped hat. But I couldn't stop staring at it. he just looked over at me and smile, he put it on my head and let me wear it till he left." he smiled back to Leo," You remind me of that general."

Leo smiled back, before resting his head back on the pillow. He knew when morning came he would have to return to his role as leader. To watch his younger brothers laugh and talk. To share secrets that he used to apart of before he had been 'given' the mantel of leader, "Ok so you want to me tell a story?"

But for now?

"Yeah sure."

Just for tonight?
He could share stories back and forth through the night, as he did. Long until his long charge fell asleep with his head resting on Leonardo's' shoulder. His arms wrapped around the younger until sleep finally over took him as well

Even if it was just until Donnie left

He could pretend he still had a brother

(#)(#)(#)(#)

"I-It's all my fault."

Lei looked back to the young kame. His thin body shivering heavily in a way that he knew had everything to do with the pungent sewer air and the attempt to flee from the Lair. He couldn't ignore the hue of his skin, but it wasn't as painful as seeing the young Kame's tears he hadn't realized how distraught the young kame had been before, it would of sent him toward Don if not for the threat of the plank in his hands

"He-he attacked Usagi. He-h-he was wa-wasting a-away in th-that c-cave. W-wait=waiting for me to c=c=come home. L-Leo wa-wasn-wans't there, I-I rui-ruined th-th-there l=lives"

Leo reached up, his hand going to touch his face but Don's face twitched, a glare returning across his features, not all dampened by the tears running down his face

"When did you see your brothers?"

"I-I saw your Don t=try to open the portal. B-But he j-just op=ened a window. Th-that's whn-when I he-heard them tal-talking." hateful eyes turned back to him, hurt eyes that accused him of horrible sins, "Th-that's when I heard them talk. I can't get home can I!? How long were you going to lie to me!?" hisvoice cracked like glass from a window, Leo's couldn't stop himself from flinching, hish hand reaching out to try and stop the tear from escaping his eye but like last time a hand slapped his away but it held nothing like the fire in his brimming eyes"don't –don't touch me."

Such a glare from someone so young made his heart ache. Eyes that were once so trusting of him and depended on him. The boy deserved the truth,

He deserved the truth

"I thought I could spare your feelings. I thought we had more time."

"Th-that's n-no excuse."

"I know. I know. I'm sorry. "His hand ran back to touch is face only to have it slapped away again,

"Wh-when can I go home?!"

"I don't know." he forced the truth from his lips, even as it made the tears swell in the boys eyes, "But we WILL get you home."

"I-I wanna go h-home NOW though."

"I know." Leo risked the bruise that was surely forming on his hand, for the mind he surely knew was beginning to crack, "I thought we could send you home. I thought it would be easy. We've tried so many times to open that portal. We've tried everyway we can."

"Th-they're su-suffering. They-re suffering. Ku-Kuma-n-ni looked ha-half dead.H-He hit Usagi and made him hit his head. I-I'm I'm not there to help him. Wh-what if he's dead?" he palms going up to rest against his trying to smother the tears swimming out of them, "I want to go home .HA-haven't I been stuck here long enough?" his lips began to tremble, "I hate this w-world I HATE IT!" his loud shout echoing over the walls, "Wh-what if U-Usa-gi dies!? Th0the vil-villabers wo-would kill him. Th-then what –what would Mikey-Mikey do!? He-he wou-wouldn't be abl-abl to hand-handle it. I-I wouldn't be a-able to b-be there for-for him.W-why isn't Aniki there?! W-why did he leave!? I want to be with MY family. I want to see the stars again,"

Leo closed his eyes, guilt building in his chest like a disease. A disease he brought upon himself," You-you don't know if Usagi was even hurt he might be fine-"

"But I don't KNOW he's fine. Im NOT there Leonarod, I'm not there to help him, wh-" his voice suddenly choked, the plank swung hard and slapped against the wall, splintering th wood in half in a flare of rage that Leo had his arms braced for

I know "I'm still trying to get you home, I'm not giving up an neither should you. It may not been as a soon as you wanted, but I plant on getting you home."

"You can't promise that. Do you think I'm a fool!?" he demanded, "Don't make any more promises you can't keep."

"Don…." Leo was so wiling to make that promise again. Though still unbroken, the anger and sadness in the young kame's eyes accused him of just that. His form shaking, a grief all in itself that he knew too well. Though he couldn't tell if it came from the cold or from his own gut wrenching anger. His hand rose up slowly, his fingers touching Dons to take a hold of them only to have them slapped away, light brown eyes glaring at him and causing him to sigh sadly, "Halfshell-"

"Don't call me that." Leo wasn't sure what hurt worse, the rejection of his nick'name or the rejection of his arms. He swallowed deeply, knowing a fast response might end up with his head caved in , "Donnie please, I didn't lie to you. I just -"

"Shut UP-"

"No." he hated to admit how hard it was not to snap in response. But he kept his focus on Don's trembling, over the goosebumps that laces very the parts of neck Leo could see, "You know I'm not going to hurt you, just as I know you could of killed yourself getting here. You have a right to be upset with me but please, you have a right to worry about your family, but don't make yourself worse because of your pride." he opened his arms slowly, he wasn't going to risk pulling him over

"You're not alone," he whispered softly.

He watched Don's eyes tremble, but the tears returned, eye contact was broke as the younger looked to the weapon in his hands. Slowly the broken plank fell from his fingers with a dull thud. Leo fought the sigh of relief, his eyes jumping back up to Don. whose front teeth was now biting so hard into the bottom that Leo feared he might pierce them. But he didn't risk a word from his lips. Only a sigh of relief when the boy took a step in his direction. Leo forced his sigh of relief to stay in his throat, "That's it, Its alright Halfshell."

Though head bowed, Leo could just hear a small sob escape his lips. Before Dons hooded head leaned forward, resting against his chest in a clear act of submission. Despite himself, Leo wrapped his arms tightly around his charge, squeezing him as tightly as he could. He couldn't feel Dons arms wrap around him, but he felt the youngers weight being leaned against him. Whether from weariness or simply relenting, but he didn't care if little Don's cold skin and clothes stung against his bare skin, but he only tightened his grip. It was probably the best he was going to get

"Wh-what if they're dead?" the strangled whisper reached him, muffled by chest and arms, "Wh-what if Raph killed him?"

"Do you think your brothers' capable of killing someone like Usagi? Someone who watched after you?"

"H-he was mad-"

"Do you think he could of?" he asked again, urging the question further. The boy trembled in his arms lightly before Leo felt him shake his head. That was a good answer, "Then Usagi's not dead, then your Aniki's' fine, then Raph's not being 'killed' by the village and your Mikey's' not alone. You may not see that for yourself. But you WILL. You'll be able to prove it with your own eyes. " he slowly raised his hand to rest on the back of his charge's scalp, "I-I don't know when, it may not even be soon. But we are getting you home one way or another I didn't break my promise yet did I?" he felt the boy shake his head again.

Leo breathed out. Rocking the form in his arms gently. If only to get that painful shaking to go away. The worst part of all was knowing this could have been avoided if he had simply told the truth. But he pushed it away and closed his eyes

He needed to protect the young kame

He needed to protect him from everything in this cruel horrible world.

"Lets get you back home, alright? Into a warm bed where we can get some medicine in you."

The form in his arms suddenly twisted, jerking away. Leos' eyes shot open , sure to see the boy running form his arms. But Don was still standing there, not pulling away but looking bck down the sewer. Frozen like a deer in headlights, "What is it?"

"C-Can't you hear it?" He glanced back to him, eyes alarmed and looking back the way he had been, "There's something there."

"What?" Leo placed his hands back on Don's shoulders, moving him aside to step behind him. Automatically his mind returning to that horrible creature-

No

This was a motor.

It wasn't the familiar 'hum' of Donatello's motors, he could pick that out in middle of traffic. He knew this sound, they had followed him in his desperate attempt to save his younger brother from his secondary mutation. And it was only proven fact as strobe lights began to shine down the tunnel from a adjacent one. Almost like the hounds of hell.

From the devil himself

Bishop.

"Shit." an unfamiliar curse flew from his lips in a hush, his hands going back to hold little Don's shoulders while his eyes refused to leave the tunnel, "Shit shit shit."

"Wh-whats wrong?"

"We need to go NOW." he was already moving his feet, hand grabbing the smaller. His mind running through scenarios, anything to try and fight off the enemy. By himself, he had a better chance, but with a sick boy with him, he knew there was only one reasonable option,

"Run." he throat struggled to keep from screaming it, before he could even let Little Donnie absorb his words. Hurtling down the opposite way they had come.

His arm suddenly scraped against the tunnel wall, something sharp digging into the tender flesh and warm liquid seeping to the surface, he fought back a bitter growl of pain. The small hand in his adding to the adrenaline pumping in his veins.

He wasn't just looking out for himself.

He was also looking out for the young kame behind him.

Before he had even learned ninjtusu, he and his brothers had been forced to memorize tunnels in the sewers, to prevent any of them from getting lost.

He was never so grateful for that information.

Leos' mind raced through the maps of the tunnels. Scraping through every bit of information taught or learned. Every secret the sewers had to offer with the whipping sound of twisting fans, and the glance to the right showed the water from the sewer water lashing up soaking their feet, the shadow of a large crack in the sewer wall catching his vision

Suddenly the body being drug behind him slacking, his arm yanked back painfully as he spun around only to be welcomed by the painful glare of lights. Panic won over manners and light over his vision of approaching hover car. Leo grabbed Donatello by the forearm and lifted his small form over his shoulder before sliding down a tunnel, the sides of his shells scraping against the close walls. He all but threw the boy of his shoulder and threw himself down over it, hands going over the back of his head.

Ninja

He was a ninja

His body began to stiffen, light shooting into the tunnel for a moment before passing by. Leo hurried back to his feet, hand going up to hold the wall and poking his head out, he could just see the dull black sheen as the machine moved on down the tunnel. He wasn't even sure if the machine and its ruthless inhabitants had actually seen them, but it wasn't worth the risk to stay there. But the sound of twisting turbines replaced by a new sound. Just as horrid as the last

gasping

Don

Halfshell!

Leo twisted down and fell to his knees, his hands reaching into the darkness to brush over stone cold skin. Despite his best attempts to be careful, he hooked under the body he had thrown to the ground and drug close, the gasping only growing louder, like a fish out of water. The form withering in his arms, though darkness obscured even his sharp eyes.

He dug into his belt till fingers brushed against a familiar flash light that he whipped out, his thumb clicking against the nob and shining a modest light at the body he still held up with one arm. Dons' hands were tight to his chest, as though trying to claw at some invisible force. His lips dark and his eyes white, as though his pupils were trying to escape through the back of his head. Coughs choking in the back of his throat

"Nono,nonooononono." Leo reached and took him by the wrists, "Donnie breath, please, "he begged. Gripping his shoulders as tightly, "Please, dam it." though he knew the young kame couldn't hear or obey his pleas

Please

Please

Leo's hand flew back to his belt. He had to get a hold of someone in the lair. Anyone. They could bring by a nebulizer, something ANYTHING. He, the "Fearless Leader" couldn't stop his fingers from shaking. He couldn't stop the panic, the one he always fought hard to keep behind. His fingers brushing over something plastic-

Leo all but drugs his small body into his arms, fingers running over the side of his throat and the tight muscles like stone. His fingers shaking

An epi-pen.

He could still hear his Donatello's weary voice telling him he was over thinking things, after spending weeks researching his brother's asthma treatments.

But if he used the epi-pen what then? His lungs still wouldn't be right. Still wouldn't be able to breath. For some reason he found his eyes shooting around the rugged tunnel. In hopes a savior would answer his pleas-

A ball point pen

Lying stuck under a rock, shining from the wet from the sewer water. Drowned by the infectious water they were always forbidden from drinking. His mind going to the knife he had in his belt and the medical training he had forced Donnie to give him. In case the inconceivable happened.

Risk giving him an infection?

Or let him choke on his own lungs?

He forced his mind into silence, trained from years in darkness. Leo laid little Don on the floor as flat as he could, taking out the epi-pen and yanking the cap out with his mouth, his fingers unfolding the scarf away from Little Donnie's neck heaving the cloth over his neck before pressing the point into his skin. A hissing around filed the air, he could see the muscles in his neck relaxing, f

Now came the part he dreaded.

And he could only be grateful he charged was passed out.

He took the ballpoint pen off the ground, twisting off the cap and yanking out the ink and springs, he blew through it for a moment to free it of any extra debris before reaching into his belt and drawing out a small knife. The point was barely a fingernail width but to him it felt like he was holding a cleaver

"Please don't wake up." he implored the oxygen deprived turtle. His eyes ran down the length of Don's neck till he saw the point just below the throat that Donnie had told him about. He shook his knife wielding hand for a moment before lowering the knife, ignoring the darkening hue of the boy's lips.

Slowly he pressed the tip into the spot. Blood began to ebb to the surface, an act that would have made him give up entirely if he did not know the necessity of his actions. He bit the inside of his cheek before pressing deeper till he drew away. Don had warned him about too much blood, luckily he had stopped in time before he drew out the hollow ballpoint pen. He had never been squeamish, but when he stated to push the 'hollow' into his neck, it took considerable strength to not fling the horrible thing away from him-

There

He took the straw again, blowing down into the pipe which would carry oxygen into Donatello's lungs, two quick breaths. He paused, drawing back, before lowering his head again, blowing again, keeping track of time and a pattern. But his eyes remained on the child's face. Till the hue of his lips lessen.

Leo pushed more breath into little Don's lungs before yanking out his shell cell, not wanting to take a moment to pause, he pressed on the red button he should of when he first found Donnie, sending out a emergency beacon that would blare through the Lair. If they were not already looking for them He pushed more breath into his lungs, "Don't die, please." he begged "For God's sake don't' die-.

Something brushed past his leg again, cold damp fur that disappeared into the darkness. He ignored it, until he heard the sound of squeaks filled the air, echoing around them, a haunting melody that reverberated into the darkest recesses of his mind.

Shivers crawled over his skin, the fear slipping and replaced by disgust, fingers tightening as he raised his head slowly.

Two white eyes glared out from the darkness ahead. The darkness he had been so willing to run into.

He knew those eyes.

Leo growled in the back of his throat, his hand slipping back and gripping the worn leather of his sword hilt. Breathe coming up through his teeth and growling, "You can't have him." he rose to one knee, sword tight in his grasp. Pointed to the white and the threat he represented, "If come near him, if I even think you're CONSIDERING touching him, I'll hunt you down like the freak you are."

The eyes narrowed, if Leo could of guessed, he could of sworn the Rat King was smiling.

As though accepting a challenge.

Lights flooded down the crack of a tunnel, wind all but knocking him right back onto his knees, his arm shooting up to keep from landing on his charge. For a moment he could see the decayed bandaged form of the Rat King, arms over to protect his own eyes from the bright lights.

Except the panic didn't overtake him.

Leo knew those engines

"LEO!"

He twisted his head around to look at the lights, he could just see 3 familiar forms riding in the hover shell.

Backup.

He was already on his feet, heaving his into his arms , one arm holding up and the other held the ballpoint to keep it from opening up his airway anymore. The tallest of the group jumping down to the walkway bright amber eyes falling on the boy in his arms and the air tube protruding from his neck, "Leo-"

Leo all but threw the small boy into Raph's arms, "take him, get him on a nebulizer NOW." before turning back to the tunnel, but the eyes had disappeared. Behidn him he could hear someone jujump up onto the hover shell, indicating that little Don would now be sfae and would be put on the nebulizer they had in the hover shell.

Which means he had nothing to keep him from going after that Rat King

"what the hell are you doing!?"

Leo chose not to answer; he could just see the curve down the 'mini tunnel'. The only possible place he could have gone. But a hand grabbed his arm, "LEO."

"Take him back to the Lair-"
"so you can go play 'hunter'. The tunnels are crawling with Bishop ship.-"

"If I don't take care of the Rat King now he'll just come back-"

"that's worth risking ending up on Bishops operating table!?"

Leo yanked his arm out of his immediate brother's grip. As cliché'ly poetic as it sounded, he was ready to bring on the hunt. He was ready to what he should have done the day he met that abomination of nature.

But a weak cough behind him reminded him of his more imminent responsibility.

More than even his brothers could of.

He growled in irritation, shoving the sword back into its place, glaring back down the tunnel that had allowed the Rat Kings escape.

He had meant every word he had said before.

If that freak came anywhere near little Don again, he would not hesitate to do what he needed to do.

He turned back around and ran past his immediate younger brother. He could see his youngest brothers hovering over the floor, the sound if soft hissing. Leo vaulted into the 'tub'.

Mikey was now holding up the young kame's head a plastic mask specially made for the young turtle was over his face. A gentle misting filing the see through plastic indicating breath

Not conscious,

But still alive

The 'tube' had been pulled out of his neck and was now covered in bandages. Leo went down to his knees, drawing the boy into his arms, without even having to look he reached under one of the hover-shells seat and yanked out a blanket, wrapping it around his small shaking body. "There you go, good boy." his hand ran up and down his shell if only to hide the cowardly tremors in his own hand. Hiding them from a child who couldn't even open his eyes, he lowered his head down to rest against his forehead against his, "Good brother, very good" his words were as simple of a child's, but he couldn't' stop him. Forcing himself to intake desperate breathes he hadn't realized he had been holding. He couldn't look to his brothers just as he couldn't bring himself to let Little Donnie out of his arms. He couldn't bare the look on their face; instead he closed his eyes and hardened his tone to the voice of a leader he had always been

"Get Leatherhead and Professor Honeycutt on the phone. I want them at the Lair by the time we get back. NOW."

a/n

Nisemono! Imposter/liar

shire/ass

Rokudenashi/ bastard!

Josho/ rise