It's raining and Leo's mind felt hazy. His body was heavy. He looked around trying to find his brothers body. But each time he tried to pull himself together he'd break down again.
"Leo. We've been out here for hours. We need to go." Donnie said softly. Leo turned to his brother.
"I can't leave him Donnie. I have to bring him home. W-what if hes . . ." Leo's sliver of hope was fading fast. Donnie came over to Leo and hugged him then pulled back setting his hands on Leo's shoulders.
"He's not, Leo. If the blast didn't . . . Didn't kill him the fall would have." Donnie said threw tears. Then turned to look over at Mikey. Leo fallowed his gaze and his heart broke even more. Mikey was sitting by the cliff wall with his knees to his chest and clutching one of Raphs sai in his hands. He was crying.
"We got to get him home." Donnie whispered.
"We haven't found Raphael yet Donnie." Leo said. Donnie turned back to Leo. Tears streaming down his face.
"Leo, I don't think we will find him." Donnie said softly. Leo snapped his head toward his brother.
"I calculated it, Leo, his body should have been around that fallen tree. But it's not. And there isn't anything around that tree that looks disturbed." Donnie said. Leo looked at his brother. Donnie was failing at keeping himself together. Leo put his hand on the back of Donnies neck.
"Ok. But we'll come back to search for Raphael." Leo said turning back to the river. Donnie nodded and stared to walk toward Mikey.
"And Donatello." Leo called. Donnie turned back to his brother. Leo rarely called him that unless he was being very serious.
"Yeah?" He said.
"I'll tell Dad." Leo said.
"You don't have to do this by yourself Leo." Donnie said.
Leo looked up at the sky then turned back to his brothers.
"Yes I do Donnie. Come on Mikey let's go." Leo said sadly. Mikey nodded slowly then tried getting up but he burst into tears again. Leo put an arm around Mikey's shoulders and led him toward the helicopter that was waiting for them.
"I-I'm so s-sorry." Mikey sobbed. Leo stopped walking and turned to Mikey.
"No. No don't you do that, Michelangelo. You didn't do this. You did nothing wrong." Leo said firmly.
"If I had just been faster or been more focused maybe this wouldn't have happened." Mikey sobbed.
Leo and Donnie glanced at each other.
"Mikey, you didn't do this. Raphael chose to save you that doesn't mean you made a mistake. He just wanted to protect us. He . . . He always put himself out there to protect us." Donnie said trying his hardest to comfort his brother.
"Donnie's right this wasn't your fault, Mikey. Don't ever blame yourself for being protected by someone who cares for you." Leo said pulling Mikey into a hug. Donnie patted Mikey's shell and started walking to the helicopter. Leo walked with Mikey and the three of them got in and were flown to New York City. The ride was silent except for the brothers quiet crying.
Vincent was waiting for them when they got to the landing pad. She walked up to them as they got out and hugged each of them.
"I know I can't change anything but if you boys need anything just let me know and it'll be done if its in my power." She said softly. Leo looked up at her.
"I'm taking my brothers home. We'll be taking a leave of absence for a while. Honestly I don't think we'll be back. I need time to talk with my family." Leo said with an almost emotionless tone. Vincent just nodded.
"I understand." Was all she could offer.
Leo lead the way toward the sewers. The boys were walking for a while till they finally made it to the familiar hidden door. At first the three boys stood there silently. Donnie put his hand on Leo's shoulder. Leo glanced back at him then nodded. Leo open the door and they walked in.
The boys could smell tea brewing in the air. Sensei always tried to have a fresh pot ready for them. It was comforting whenever they would get back from a mission. They walked to the dojo.
"Your finally home my sons." Master Splinter said as he walked into the large open room and taking a seat on a pillow. He looked up at his sons and frowned. Something was clearly wrong with his sons. The boys kneeled in front of their sensei.
"Father . . ." Leo tried to tell him. Leo could hear Donnie and Mickeys silent tears behind him. He took a ragged breath as tears filled his eyes again. Splinter looked at his sons. They were in agony.
"Where is my son?" Splinter whispered. Leo looked up at his fathers worn face filled with worry and confusion. Leo sobbed.
"Father . . . Raphael . . . . . He's dead, Father." Leo was shattered as he watched his once strong father and sensei crumble at what he heard. For the first time Leo saw his father weep.
Leo crawled to his father and hugged him tightly as the old rat silently wept for Raphael.
"He died saving us. He sacrificed himself for us. He was wounded and there was a bomb. He ran away from us and jumped off a cliff to save us. I couldn't do anything to save him. I'm sorry Father." Leo said as he cried.
"My boy. My poor boy." Splinter sobbed.
Each of them sobbed as flashes of Raphael sped through their minds. All the good times and even the fights between them. They all cried out for Raphael till it was nothing but silence.
Donnie took Mickey to get everyone food as a distraction. Leo sat with Splinter.
"What are we going to do, Master?" Leo said softly.
Splinter sighed "I don't know Leonardo. We will half to take it day by day." He said.