Fifteen days. Fifteen days since Amelia was last seen. Nobody knew where she was, or whether or not she was even still alive. The turtles combed the city streets every night, hoping to find something that will help determine what has happened to her. But every night they came back empty handed, and every night the chance of finding her alive becomes less likely.

Leonardo was the last to enter the lair. He stopped in the doorway and silently watched as his younger brothers went their own separate ways; Donatello to his lab; Raphael to the dojo; and Michelangelo to Mel's room. This appeared to be their usual routine every night since Mel's disappearance and it was beginning to worry Leonardo. He couldn't help but wonder who was hurting the most. He was aware of the individual bonds the three of them had seemed to form with her, even though she had not been with them for very long. Leonardo had yet to form any kind of bond with her. Every time he approached her she seemed to back off, almost as if she was distancing herself from the blue clad turtle, yet he had no idea why. Though, if he was being honest with himself, he never actually attempted to connect with her.

Leo treaded lightly past the dojo, carefully observing Raphael from the doorway. He seemed to be even angrier than usual as he threw forceful punches at his punching bag, which was already barely holding together. If it wasn't for his temper it would be near impossible to know exactly how Raphael was feeling. He never has been an open book.

Making his way over towards Donnie's lab, he pushed the door open slightly and observed his genius brother as he hovered above a map of the city. Donnie muttered quietly to himself, shaking his head and marking off several locations with a red marker. He seemed more determined than anyone to locate Mel's whereabouts. Donnie yawned and rubbed his eye before getting back to work. Leonardo shook his head slowly, worry gnawing within the pit of his stomach. His brother hadn't slept in days and every time it was suggested he do so, he would refuse. They had to find Mel, fast.

Trudging up the stairs, Leonardo stopped by Mel's door and smiled at the sight of his youngest sibling, who was curled up on the mattress with Klunk and Krilllin on his chest. Mikey had volunteered to care for the lizard since Mel's absence, but unfortunately it hadn't been going as well as he had hoped. Mikey had observed Mel's treatment of the lizard; feeding him; playing with him; teaching him tricks; and cuddling him. Yet Krillin didn't seem to want any of those things. Every day he would patiently await the arrival of his owner, but when the turtles came home empty handed, he would go straight to sleep. Mikey has since taken to sleeping in Mel's room, though Leo wasn't sure if that was for Krillin's sake or for his own.

Leo turned away and made his way back down the stairs and into the kitchen. He grabbed a glass from the over-head cupboard and filled it with water from the tap. He raised it to his beak and downed the entire glass in one gulp. He was going back out to search for Amelia himself. It was his job as the eldest sibling to take care of his brothers and make sure everything was okay, and if bringing Mel back alive was what it took, then he was going to do it. He just prayed that it wasn't too late. Exiting the kitchen, he took a final glance at his brothers' whereabouts before turning towards the lair door, which had begun to open.

His eyes widened in shock and horror as he silently watched the door slide open, revealing a bloodied figure.

"Mel…" Leonardo whispered to himself as an almost unrecognizable Mel stumbled through the door. He stood frozen to the spot and all he could do was stand and take in the horrifying sight before him.

One of her eyes was swollen closed and black. There as a softball sized purplish bruise on the right side of her temple. Her bottom lip was split and bleeding. Numerous cuts and bruises, and what appeared to be small burns, covered her skin. What looked similar to a dog collar was securely tightened around her neck. Her clothes were gone, and she stood there trembling only in her underwear. Across her waist was a large horizontal gash which was oozing blood. She stood awkwardly, holding onto her hip with her right hand, which appeared to be slightly disfigured, as if she was in a great deal of pain. But despite her overall appearance, the only thing that kept Leonardo's horrified attention was the fact that her left arm was no longer there. It had been amputated halfway above the elbow and was wrapped in bloody gauze.

"Leonardo…"

Mel's weak voice broke the blue clad turtle from his thoughts. A small and tired smile was on her face. Taking a step forward, she lost her balance and began to fall. Quickly recovering from his shock, he sprinted towards her, catching her just before she hit the ground.

"Nice catch," Mel commented before slipping into an unconscious state.

Leo stared at Mel in his arms before screaming over his shoulder. "Master Splinter! Help! Donnie! Raph! Mikey! Come, quickly!"

Master Splinter's eyes snapped open as the panicked scream of his eldest son reached his ears. He grabbed his wooden cane that lay beside him and made his way to the door as quickly as his old legs would allow. His brothers, also hearing the cry for help, each stopped what they were doing and rushed into the living room, weapons drawn.

"What? What's goin' on?" Raphael twirled his Sais between his fingers as his eyes scanned their home.

"My son, what is the matter?" Splinter questioned, also preparing to defend their home.

Leonardo slowly turned around to face his family, an unconscious Mel in his arms. The same look of shock and horror passed on each of their faces as their minds registered who was in his arms. An eerie silence swept over the family. Leo scanned the sickened faces before him before breaking the silence.

"I was going out to look for her, and…she was there. I-I don't…I don't know how."

"Her arm," Donatello sounded disgusted as he gaped at the bloodied gauze where her arm used to be. "What happened to her arm?"

Michelangelo took in her appearance before tears began forming in his eyes. His lower lip quivered and he bit back a sob as he asked, "Is she…dead?"

Leo shook his head quickly, "No. She's just unconscious."

"We must care for her injuries," Splinter said, turning and walking towards Donnie's lab. "Come now. Quickly."