Chapter 10: Help

"Aggg" Leo let out a strangled cry letting himself lean against the sewer wall for support. They had been moving since the rooftop and for the most part Adrinellin had been keeping them going but for Leo at least that driving force was quickly waning.

Leo was bent forward with his arm pressed against his plastron, obviously in pain from the weight of Shredder's boot. Wind was seriously worried about bruised or possibly broken ribs. What the real concern though was the shoulder wound. The blade didn't appear to have hit anything vital but blood was sluggishly seeping from the wound, already the turtle in blue had lost a fair amount of the life-giving liquid.

Sliding down next to his comrade Wind took a moment to assess the wound, using the clean wraps around Leo's wrists to slow the bleeding. It wasn't by far a permanent fix but he was able to loosely wrap the gauze around the injury and slow the bleeding.

"We're not far from the lair." Leo bit his teeth down to fight down against the pain in his shoulder. "We weren't that far to begin with, it's just another two rights and a left. There's a train station platform you can't miss it." Darkness swam at the edge of his vision.

"Leo, hold on. Keep those eyes open." Wind instructed.

Leo shook his head. "an't" Leo mumbled, opening his eyes half-way in a clear fight to remain conscious.

Wind shook his head in worry, weighing his options.

"Jus' go," Leo hissed.

"Not without you!" Wind argued, "We're almost there." Wind's voice shook with worry.

Leo shook his head. As much of a strong suit Wind was putting on Leo had seen the end of that fight, he'd seen how many hits the turtle had taken trying to avoid the Shredder and that lightning strike…there was no way the other turtle could carry him and Leo knew he was in no shape to walk even another step.

"Go..get..mybrothers." Leo slurred out his eyes drifting shut.

Wind closed his eyes, fighting back tears. As much as he wanted to argue he knew Leo couldn't' continue on. Time was precious, the main objective now was getting Leo to a safe place and care for his injuries. Wind was facing two options: carry Leo or go get help.

As much as he abhorred the mere thought of leaving a turtle behind Wind could not argue with the logic of Leo's suggestion. Millions of volts of lightning had passed through him when he attacked the Shredder and although he fared better than his opponent, the event had not left him unscathed. Already darkness was creeping into the corners of his vision. Realistically he knew that he wouldn't get Leo all the way to the lair before he himself would succumb to unconsciousness.

"Okay, I'll be right back with help." Wind promised, "don't go anywhere until I get back."

Leo's sapphire eyes were already closing and he made no move to respond.

Using the sewer wall for support Wind pulled himself onto unsteady feet, before making his way as quickly as he could down the tunnel once more. Fighting against the oncoming darkness at the edge of his vision and his unsteady feet, Wind continued to repeat Leo's directions in his mind if only to keep himself aware.

At last he stumbled upon the train platform. Leaning heavily upon the turnstiles to keep from falling, Wind took a centering breath. He could hear voices just beyond. He was almost there.


Donetello couldn't believe it. He couldn't, he didn't want to. He was a turtle who liked rationales and explanations.

One should be able to look at the variables of an equation and easily surmise the end result. His brothers and him had stumbled upon a huge problem. Life again proved unpredictable and dangerous for the ninja family, something they had grown accustomed to, yet they had always faced these things together. But even then Donetello did not panic. He assessed the variables of the equation and surmised how to return home. By all logic Leo should be back in their dimension. They were transported to where their counterparts were, with no counterpart to transport to, Leo should have remained behind. Straightforward, logical.

When they were unable to return home…that theory no longer held water. Donetello felt his boat of reason sink beneath him with nothing to hold onto. His counterpart had been just as baffled as he and provided little explanation of what was going on.

His brothers panicked. Michelangelo cried and the genius was at a loss of how to console him, except for promises he didn't know if he could keep and words of reassurance that he was saying as much for Michelangelo as he was for himself. Raphael reacted in his usual manner with anger. He yelled and stomped around the lab, before retreating to blow off steam in the dojo. Everyone was relieved that he didn't leave the lair. Donetello couldn't express how grateful he was for Casey Jones, all though not their lovable hockey player, the boy knew how to calm down the red banded turtle. In the last few days the human allies presence had been a welcome reprieve. Casey found trans-dimensional travel 'so metal' and April was a huge help in their research. The two human teens were just as distressed at the device's unpredictable failure as they were.

Michelangelo had mumbled something between his sniffles about this world being 'a black hole for Leonardos' and absurd as that comment was, Donetello was beginning to agree. He didn't know exactly what was going on. All he knew for certain was that he was worried. Somehow they had LOST their older brother and Donetello was not going to rest until he was found!

"Donatello" Michelangelo's somber voice pulled the genius out of his thoughts, putting his counterpart's computer aside on the couch next to him the purple clad turtle pulled his little brother close to his side for a much needed hug.

"It's going to be okay little brother" Donetello promised, hugging his orange clad brother closer to his chest. "We'll find him. We'll find Leo."

Lounging in the beanbag chair closer to the TV, Raph pulled his magazine closer to his face, wanting to give the two brothers from the other dimension as much privacy as he could. His own heart ached for them. His heart had shattered when he'd learned about his own Leo. It didn't matter that he hadn't known him, the pain was there all the same. He knew how the three brothers were hurting and Raph knew he spoke for Mikey and Donnie two in saying they would do whatever it took to restore their family. He didn't know how their Leo had been lost in being pulled to their world or whatever but he knew everyone would try their hardest to find him.

The red clad turtle was pulled out of his thoughts suddenly by the sound of the turnstiles. Frowning he rose to his feet. Mikey was currently training with Master Splinter and Donnie was in his lab. Guessing that it was probably Casey or April the red clad turtle made his way over toward the turnstiles.

The car magazine in his hand dropped to the floor, eyes wide Raph stood soundlessly staring at the turtle at the turnstiles.

The turtle was leaning heavily on the turnstile breathing heavily, it looked like the equipment was supporting most of his weight. Seeming to sense his presence the other shifted, standing up straighter, though his hand was still pressed close against his middle as though in pain.

Sapphire blue eyes raised to meet green and the two turtles stood in shocked silence.

"Leo?" came Michelangelo's questioning voice as the turtle rounded the corner most likely to investigate the silence.

"Leo!" The cry came louder this time, joyous as the orange clad turtle flung himself at the still silent turtle.

No sooner were Michelangelo's arms around him, did the turtle seem to wake out of his stupor as though in pain the turtle let out a cry pushing Michelangelo off of him and stumbling backwards, his blue eyes wide in alarm.

"What's going on?" Donetello asked, rounding the corner just in time to witness the new turtles retreat.

"Leo?" Baby blue eyes filled with hurt and confusion as said turtle seemed to step away. Hands up in a non threatening manner Donetello stepped forward equally alarmed.

Seeming to remember himself the new turtle spoke. "I'm not Leo" he blinked a few times, almost fighting to find the words. "He's hurt. I had to come..we need to hurry."

Not waiting for a response, 'not-Leo' turned and headed into the sewers.

Shocked, the three turtles rushed into action.

Being the first to register the strange and startling development, Donetello turned to his younger brother with quick instructions before rushing after the stranger who so resembled his brother.

"Michelangelo, have Donnie get the lab ready. Raph you're with me."

Raph didn't need to be told twice before darting after Donetello easily leaping over the turnstiles.

Their guide hurried as fast as he could though he stumbled more than once, catching himself with a hand against the sewer wall.

Raph was debating if he should go back to grab his brothers or Sensei when suddenly they rounded a corner to find a figure crumpled against a wall, the white bandage against his shoulder heavily stained with red.

"Leo" Donetello's voice was barely a breath as he fell beside his motionless brother.

Checking a pulse, Donetello let out a sigh of relief to find one, though slower and weaker then he would have hoped. The genius went straight to work checking his blue clad brother for further injuries.

Raph stood there dumbfounded his mind spinning. The turtle before him was heavily wounded and bleeding. So, Leo had been transported here. But where? Why was he so hurt? What happened? Questions bounced around the red clad turtle's mind.

"He's unconscious, we need to get him back to the lab asap." Donetello assessed his voice pitching an octave higher in worry. "I think he may have some broken ribs but we will have to risk moving him."

A thump next to him had Raph turning. Their guide had suddenly collapsed onto the ground next to them. Since finding the blue clad turtle, the mysterious guide had momentarily slipped from Raph's mind.

Green eyes widened and Raph felt his heart climb into his throat. If the turtle Donetello was tending to was his Leo, then who was this?

Dropping to his knees, Raph felt his heart soar with hope. Could it be. Was this his Leo? His long lost brother. Did they really have a Leo? Were they meant to be four?

His elation and hope crumbled into panic though as the situation before him became clear. The unmasked turtle before him had collapsed. Crumbled like paper. Reaching forward, Raph felt for a pulse, his hands shaking. He found one but it was erratic and fast.

"Donetello!" Raph cried out in alarm.

Turning from his brother the purple clad turtle let out a curse. He hadn't looked for any injuries when he'd first stumbled into the lair. The purple clad turtle cursed his foolishness now.

"We need to get them both back to the lab, pronto."

Without any further explanation, Donetello lifted his own brother gingerly into his arms, mindful of his shoulder wound. Following suit Raph lifted his brother. His brother. Tears clouded green eyes, contrasting emotions raced through the red clad turtle. Elated and yet terrified he rushed through the tunnels careful of the burden he was carrying.

"It's okay. I got you. I got you brother." Raph whispered reassuringly as he ran, the weight of his burden far from his mind, his only thought getting home as quickly as he could.

At last the welcome sight of home came into view.

At the sound of the turnstiles Donnie barged out of the lab. "Raph, you're back, good, now can you kindly explain to me what is going on!?" Donnie demanded as he rushed out of his lab. He'd prepared it as requested but was still struggling to decipher Michealanelo's rambling.

"Is the lab ready?" Donetello asked without preamble, rushing past a baffled Donnie and straight to the lab.

"Yes' ' Donnie assured his counterpart, his eyes wide as took in the sight of the wounded turtle in Donetello's arms.

"What happened?" Michelangelo asked, his blue eyes growing wide. "Leo!"

Not wanting to waste time with explanations Donetello rushed to the lab gently easing his brother onto the cot before rushing to grab supplies.

"Get another cot ready!" Donetello barked at his counterpart. Donnie's eyes widened in fear but did so immediately, pushing supplies off the spare cot and pulling it into an open space.

"Why? Is Raph okay?"

At that very second the red clad turtle burst into the lab rushing over to the now cleared cot and setting down his own precious burden.

A strangled cry rose in Donnie's throat as the genius covered his mouth taking a step back, eyes wide.

A cry came from the lab door. Mikey and Master Splinter and the Rapheal of the other world had come running at the sound of the commotion and were now staring eyes wide at the sight of two heavily wounded yet identical turtles.

"What the shell happened!?" Rapheal demanded at his brother's side in an instant.

"My son?" Master Splinter's voice was unusually shaky as he made his way toward the cot, his eyes darting between the two wounded turtles.

"Is this Leo?" Mikey's voice came out a teary whisper. "Our Leo?"

Donnie nodded, his own eyes clouded in tears. A frightening feeling gripped him the genius was fighting before elation and terror.

"Everyone out of the lab!"Donetello's voice called above the noise. The purple clad turtle's shoulders were squared and he wore his no-nonsense face. "This is not a time for questions. Unless you are helping treat wounds. Out. We can't work if it's crowded!"

Snapping back into reality, Donnie turned to his own family. "He's breathing but I need to assess his wounds. I'll alert you as soon as I know anything."

Although his eyes were cloudy with an array of emotions the elderly father nodded, understanding the necessity.

"Come my sons, let your brother work." Master Splinter ushered the two pairs of teary Michelangelos and worried Rapheals out of the lab, leaving two purple banded geniuses to work.

The lab finally empty except the wounded and the healers, Donnie set to work. His brother was breathing but his pulse was rapid. He had a myriad of forming bruises and cuts all over his body. He looked as though he'd been hit by a bus. Most concerning were the signs of electrocution. A large amount of electricity had passed through his brother's body, thank God no traces were still present but the harmful effects of the electrical shock were present. The first manner of business was peeling the fried wrist wrapping off his brother's arms. Anger and apprehension coiled in his gut as Donnie recognized the clear handiwork of Krangg tech, although it seemed to be altered to some degree.

Nearby, Donetello was busy cleaning and stitching his brother's ghastly shoulder wound.

Rapheal luckily volunteered to give blood as the blue masked turtle was low on the precious commodity. Donnie found himself regretting that he didn't have more cots in the lab, feeling bad for making Rapheal rest in a chair next to his brother's cot an IV connecting them.

Hours later, both patients stable and resting, the two geniuses left the lab to answer the questions of a very anxious family.

Michelangelo rushed to Donetello as soon as the door was open, anxious to hear about the state of his older brother. Donnie paid no attention to the conversation as he made his way over to his own family in the pit.

Mikey sat on the couch wrapped in his fuzzy orange blanket, Raph sat with his head in his hands. Master Splinter sat between them both rubbing soothing circles in their shells, his own eyes troubled.

"My son," he lifted his head as Donnie approached.

Master Splinter rose and gave his son a comforting hug, Donnie leaned into the embrace needing the comforting gesture. Burying his head in his father's robes the purple clad turtle took several deep breaths. He hadn't given himself time to think since Raph and Donetello had barged into the lab with two wounded Leo's. He had pushed himself immediately into medical gear, pushing his own emotions back to deal with the situation at hand. Now it all came rushing forward.

Leo.

His brother had been found.

And nearly lost.

All on the same day.

Donnie let out a sob as he hugged his father closer, at what they had nearly lost today and what they had gained.

His father tensed but pulled him even closer, his hand rubbing soothing circles in his shell.

After a moment and several more deep breaths Donnie pulled himself out of the hug whipping at his eyes.

Donnie met his family's worried gazes. "He's going to be okay. He's stable. My guess is that he collapsed from exhaustion. He has sustained a fair amount of injuries, none fatal. I would like to keep an eye for the next few days. He is showing signs of electrocution, it's a miracle he's alive."

"But he is alright?" Master Splinter asked his fatherly eyes clouded in worry.

Donnie nodded. "He's unconscious but he's stable. He should make a full recovery." Their anxiety seemed to deflate at the words, relief flooding their eyes.

"What happened?" Raph asked the red clad turtle clenching his fists. "Where has he been all this time?! What hurt him?!"

"I don't know" Donnie felt his own anger well up at the unanswered questions.

Mikey wrapped an arm around his two brothers pulling them in for a shared hug. "What matters is that he's home now." The youngest's eyes blazed with a protective fire. "We can protect him."

Raph nodded a shared fire burning in his own eyes. "You're sure right we will."

Huddled together the small family felt a kindred fire stir in all their hearts. They had been given a chance at something they thought they'd never have. What was thought lost forever was returned to them. It was a blessing they never thought would come to them.

What was three was now four.


Wow. I promise there is fluff and comfort to come, it's not all angst.