Chapter 3: Familiar Faces

Leo let his eyes ghost around the chilling interior of the cave. He had to hand it to his captor; he was thorough. After he'd been disarmed his captor had blindfolded and let him here. He hadn't necessarily been treated harshly but he'd definitely been tied securely. Now here he sat in this semi dark cave, with his mysterious captor sitting between him and the fire.

Now as a ninja turtle, the blue banded leader had been through many adventures with interesting and unexpected turns but running face to face with someone who bears his face was a plot twist in his life he was not expecting.

One upside about being captured by who he was fairly certain was his counterpart, was that he could read his expression. Sure he knew that usually wore his 'leader mask' as his brothers called it and carefully gauged his expressions in certain situations; a tactic this fellow was employing. Needless to say this tactic didn't work against yourself and in this case your counterpart. Leo knew that his counterpart wanted answers, he'd been led here because it was secluded from wherever his home was. He could also tell that his counterpart was apprehensive of him and Leo couldn't blame him. No doubt he wanted answers just as bad as the blue banded leader did.

"Alright, now I have some questions and for the sake of peace I recommend you answer. Who are you?" Leo was taken by surprise by the voice yet again. He hadn't heard that voice since his comma. In whatever reality this was no matter how closely this counterpart resembled him, it was obvious that he hadn't experienced the same injuries that led to Leo's voice change.

"My name is Leonardo, though I go by Leo" Leo answered, meeting his counterparts eyes shocked to see no recognition of the name. "Look I can assure you I am no threat to you. These bonds are not necessary, I will answer your questions as long as you answer mine."

His counterpart met his gaze, deep in thought. Leo's heart clenched knowing the internal debate going on inside.

"Alright" leaning forward the turtle cut the bonds around Leo's hands.

"Thank you." Rubbing his wrists Leo stood and moved closer to the fire. Internally grateful for his counterparts' show of faith in him.

"Alright so you know my name. What's yours?"

"Wind," his counterpart answered.

Shocked Leo nodded, his eyes downcast not really sure how to take the sudden turn.

Not understanding Leo's inner turmoil, Wind moved forward. "So Leo, ,what are you doing here? No one just appears from nowhere." the turtle narrowed his eyes ``unless you are with the Krangg."

Leo looked up surprised at the mention of the aliens. "I'm not with the Krang." He let out a sigh, not sure how to explain this complicated scenario. "Look, it's kind of hard to explain.. as I don't really get it myself." Leo let out a humorless chuckle. "I mean I have a notion of where I am but part of me hopes I'm wrong." The leader let out a sigh. "Have you ever heard of multiple dimensions?"

His counterpart nodded.

"Well I'm fairly certain that I am no longer in mine." Leo threw his head back and let out a sigh. "I was at home with my brothers. '' He noticed the turtle next to him stiffening. "When this device my brother was working on started buzzing and emitting a blue light. I barely had time to realize what was happening before.." Leo gestured broadly unsure of how to explain. "and next thing I know I woke up here."

His counterpart was quiet for several moments, sapphire eyes boring into the small fire deep in thought. "How do you know that you are in an alternate dimension?"

"Because it was a trans-dimensional device my brother was working on when everything went crazy" Leo let out a sigh. "And because" he smiled "I'm pretty sure you're my counterpart."

Wind's eyes widened before narrowing in thought. The two mutants sat in tense silence for several more moments.

"I believe you're telling the truth." Shaking his head in exasperation, Wind let out a laugh. "I don't think you'd make something like that up. Plus you didn't notice me for several minutes, I saw you looking for your brothers…" He trailed off a wistful look in his eyes. "As much as I'm apprehensive of you being sent by the Krangg I know what their portals look like and that was not it." He let out another long sigh running his hand down his face. "Amos would call me crazy for this but I believe you."

Leo let a smile spread across his face, happy to know his trust in people was universal and not just a characteristic of his universe.

"Thank you for believing me. There is a lot to take in." Leo fidgeted with his knee pads. "And there is more…I….I can't find my brothers. In fact I don't think they were transported to the same place I was..I need to find them and make sure they are alright." Leo didn't need to look up to see the pained look on Wind's face to know the impact the mention of his brothers had.

Wind looked away from the fire, a myriad of emotions dancing across his eyes. "Our two worlds are greatly different Leo."

Leo looked down, his heart aching and questions racing in his mind. Where was his counterpart's family? What was he doing in the woods? Why did he call himself Wind?

"Where are your brothers?" The question caused the other to flinch as though struck, his sapphire eyes darting back to Leo. "Before you turned up I was fairly certain I was the only one of my kind." Mouth dropping Leo felt as though his world had shattered at those words.

"How..? Why?"

His counterpart looked down. "So you aren't the only one of your kind?"

Leo shook his head. His heart clenching Leo stated. "I have three brothers." Leo closed his eyes feeling tears well up in his eyes. Why was this Leo alone? What if this reality had been his to bear?

"Their names are Rapheal, Donetello and Michelangelo." Leo clenched his fists looking up to meet the gaze of his counterpart; finding his maskless expression guarded yet hopeful, his sapphire eyes wide.

Holding his counterpart's gaze Leo continued. "I don't know what is going on. How I got here or why this world is different then mine. All I know is that I have to find them. They are my little brothers. It is my responsibility to protect them." A fierce determination flowing through his veins Leo took a step of faith. "I don't know you but if you are anything like me then you would do anything in the world to protect those close to you, and believe you me my brothers are my world. Right now all I know is that I got to get us home. Can I count on you to help me?"

A tense silence fell over the cave once more.

"When I was young I used to wonder if I had a family out there" Wind's voice was barely a whisper. " If I really was the only one of my kind mutated by the Krangg. I used to wonder if I had a family out there I was separated from hoping I'd make it back to them." Turning his gaze away from the fire and toward his counterpart, Wind continued. "But as I grew up I realized I had a family. The people who raised me. Who trained me. Who fought bravely beside me. But then they left where I could not follow…I've been continuing their mission of taking down the Krang since." Determined sapphire eyes narrowed in determination "I was raised to fight for justice. I know what it feels like to be separated from those you love and I will do what it takes to help you find your brothers."

Leo smiled, reaching over to grab his counterpart's shoulder.

"Thank you."