Meanwhile back in Leon's home dimension, things are rather... gloomy to say the least. It has been a lot for everyone to handle and they all tried to handle the situation but it was difficult for them all.

Mikey's arms kept on shaking even doing minimum tasks like cooking. Draxum explained to them that he was very lucky to still be alive and he would be dead if he kept it up. But the family knows that Mikey isn't his usual happy self.

When the portal closed and he, Donnie and Raph all cried when they lost Leo, they informed the rest of their family what happened, it impacted them all a lot.

Splinter became very protective and worried over his remaining sons, often fretting over them when they got home from topside and always telling them to call or send a text as to not worry him.

April made sure to keep her bat with her even taking glitter around to defend herself but she took the liberty of visiting the gang after school and during her free time. As for Casey, the loss of Leo hit him hard but he tried to move on or at least keep himself distracted.

He can sometimes be seen lingering or sleeping in Leo's subway cart with Mikey in hopes not to feel the overwhelming sadness but sometimes Raph sometimes caught them crying in Leo's subway cart and it made him feel saddened as he would try and comfort them even with Casey and April.

Raph was hit the hardest. Being the older brother, it was his responsibility to keep them safe and get back home in one piece but Leo sacrificed himself to save them all and New York City and practically the whole world. They watched the news of the clean up and Donnie practically stormed out of the room when the EPF took credit for saving the world. That made everyone deeply upset, especially Mikey, Raph and Casey.

The people of New York didn't know that they are still all alive thanks to a sixteen year old mutant turtle who sacrificed himself for the home and family he loves.

They broke the news to Señor Hueso who was in disbelief and shocked at what happened when he was told about what went on.

He felt sorry for the Hamato Family but they knew Hueso was fond of Leo, and even sees him as the oldest son to his own son. So learning that Pepino sacrificed his own life to protect them all was a major blow.

They told this to Sunita who was shocked by the news and offered them her condolences. Cassandra was shocked by the news but she tried to cover it up by being her usual bad ass self but deep down, she felt like the fire inside her went dim.

They even told Big Mama what happened who felt extremely sorry and offered her condolences to them. She wouldn't admit it but the turtles grew on her and she didn't attack them since they practically saved New York but learning that one of the turtles sacrificed himself for everyone, it made her tear up and even gave Splinter a hug to comfort the old rat who needed it.

Draxum didn't show any emotions but he was deeply shocked by the news. He wasn't close to Leon but he still sees him as a son ever since Mikey gave him a second chance.

The one who hasn't recovered from the battle, especially losing Leo, was Donnie. The softshell practically shut himself in his lab and tinker with his inventions to keep his mind occupied and away from his emotions. His family were worried about him and it took coaxing from Mikey to get him to at least get out of the lab to eat or use the bathroom but other than that, he never spoke a word to anyone after hours of recovering. Though he uses TSL, Turtle Sign Language every so often but he would just hiss at anyone who even tries to ask if he was okay or not.

Raph let out a sigh as he looked at the calendar. It was the third day and the next day would be Leo and Donnie's birthday. Mikey is being optimistic and tries to cheer everyone up for the special occasion even going out with April to get the stuff for the party but he knows that Donnie won't like to celebrate. Not without the certain red eared slider to annoy and tease him.

Donnie would never admit it but he loves Leo dearly. The two were peanut butter and jelly with Donnie being the peanut butter and Leo being the jelly. The ice and fire of the team. Donnie would do anything to protect Leo even if he doesn't want to admit it since Leo annoys him but Donnie secretly enjoys his company.

"We're back." April announced as she and Mikey came inside the kitchen.

"Oh, hey, guys. How's grocery shopping?" Raph asked.

"It went okay as much as possible even with Mikey here wearing a human disguise. We got stuff y'all need." April said as she helped Mikey put away the food.

"Hey, Raphie? Why don't you give Donnie his lunch? It's already past noon and he didn't come out to eat it..." Mikey said softly as he looked to the lab with a saddened look.

"Sure thing, big man." Raph smiled or tried to as he picked up the plate with Donnie's favorite. Salmon sushi and some water.

He walked past Casey who passed out due to another sleepless night but he made sure the young time traveler had a blanket over his shoulders before continuing to the lab. He stood by the door of Donnie's room and hesitated on whether or not he should knock.

Taking the risk, he knocked gently.

"Hey, Donnie, can I come in?" He asked gently.

He didn't get a response but the slight opening of the door made him look and saw Donnie behind the door which was open slightly.

"Hey, bud. Mikey made your favorite. Why don't you eat it before it gets cold?" Raph offered the plate but Donnie just gave it an emotionless look before giving the same look to Raph who winced.

Donnie didn't take the plate but he only took the water which made Raph sigh softly.

"Donnie, you gotta eat at least something. We're worried that you haven't eaten anything yet." Raph said but Donnie just ignored him and proceeded to close the door but Raph wasn't having it.

"Donnie, come on. You gotta at least come out of your room for some fresh air." Raph said worriedly.

Donnie didn't look at him but was muttering something.

"What?" Raph asked in confusion.

"I said, you wouldn't understand." Donnie growled stubbornly.

"What do you mean?" Raph asked in confusion but that was enough to make Donnie snap.

"You don't understand! You don't and you never will!" Donnie yelled angrily.

Raph was shocked at what Donnie said, the same was for Splinter, Casey, April and Mikey who heard it from where they are. This just made Raph angry but it was more on the concerned type of anger.

"You really think I don't understand? Here I am trying to make my brother eat something or to at least come out of the room because I care about him. And here you are saying I wouldn't understand?! How can I do it if you don't say anything?! All you do is snap at me as if I don't get it! If I didn't, I wouldn't be bending my shell over backwards all day for you!" Raph shouted.

Mikey whimpered softly at this. They've been like this ever since the invasion almost succeeded. Raph and Donnie were always at each other's throats but this one feels more different than the rest and it's scaring him deeply.

April and Casey looked at each other worriedly as Splinter didn't know whether or not he should interfere.

"You can keep your pity for yourself! You have no idea what it feels like! I'm the smart one around here and I can think of anything to bring Leo back! And so far all you guys are worried is that I eat and all that. What about Leo? Doesn't he matter? Have you guys given up on him?!" Donnie shouted back with tears threatening to spill from his eyes again.

No one said anything to that because it wasn't easy to openly admit that their hopes weren't that high about finding Leo. If he can still be found at all. Donnie eyed everyone's reaction and what he saw just made his anger snap to sky high.

Mikey was close to tears in the kitchen. April couldn't meet his eyes. Future boy just looked down to the ground. Splinter just went back to his room to probably watch a show and Raph... Well, Raph's expression is unreadable but he can clearly see one emotion. Hopelessness. That made anger swell in his heart. Leo. His brother. His twin. His other half sacrificed himself to save New York and Raph from the Kraang and his own family just... gave up on him?! Leo promised him that he'll be there when their 17th birthday arrives and that's in a few weeks.

He gritted his teeth while clenching his hands into fists

"I don't believe it… you guys have given up on him…You really think he's gone and you didn't say anything?!" Donnie snapped at them.

"We…" Mikey hesitated as he shrank at the glare Donnie directed at him.

"We were... waiting for the right moment to tell you, Donnie. Everyone here is hoping that Leo is okay but without knowing for sure. It's hard to wonder if-" April said but Donnie cut her off with an angry and betrayed look in his eyes filled with unshed tears.

"YOU ARE ALL TRAITORS!!! How dare you guys think that?! How can you think that Leo is really gone?! That there is no chance of bringing him back!" He yelled at them angrily. He took a deep breath before schooling his expression into a blank yet icy and cold look.

"And why did I not see earlier that you guys are all a bunch of backstabbers… You know what? I'm done." Donnie coldly said.

"Donnie…" Raph tried to reach out to him but one heated glare from Donnie made him stop.

"No! I'm done with this. I'm done with all of you." Donnie sneered at them but his focus was mainly on his older brother and what he said next broke something inside Raph.

"I wish that it would've been you in the Prison Dimension instead of Leo. Because right now… I don't need you." Donnie coldly told him with a heated glare before huffing and retreating inside his lab.

Donnie shut the door of his subway cart so violently after that hurtful thing he said to Raph, who was just frozen in shock and anguish. Everyone felt sad about what they did. Deep down, Donnie was right to call them backstabbers because with them not saying anything, it feels like they've given up on Leo, worse, abandoned him for dead. They didn't say anything to each other and all of them went somewhere around the lair to busy themselves or keep themselves occupied to not think of what just occurred but Raph stayed in front of Donnie's subway. Shell-shocked and hurt by what Donnie said. When everyone saw Raph in complete disbelief and shock but most of all hurt from what his little brother just said, Mikey went to his big brother to give him a hug and find some comfort from him as well. Raph held his littlest brother close as the two began to cry all the tears of his heart. He failed as a big brother... The protector of his family...

'Where are you, Leo... We need you... Your family needs you... Donnie needs you...' Raph thoughts as he sobbed silently with Mikey whimpering in his arms.

Meanwhile, inside his room, Donnie slides down on the floor against the door of his subway cart, crying silently about what he said, already regretting each and every word that came out of his mouth. He didn't mean to say those things, deep down he was just angry, hurt, frustrated and stressed because he couldn't find a way to bring his brother back.

But there was a way.

A very dangerous one.

Donnie got up and he went through his stuff to find some blueprints he had hidden from the others. The schematics were about a huge machine that could open up a dimensional portal through space and time.

With any luck, he would bring Leo back home, no matter the cost.

"Don't worry, Leo. I will find you. Wherever you are, I will use everything I have to bring you back home with us. No matter the cost." Donnie muttered in determination as he started to get to work on his project.

He'll find and bring Leo back, that he can promise. and he won't break it.