Red. All that Leonardo could see was red. For the umpteenth time he cursed his brother for favoring the same color as blood. Splashes of it were everywhere.

At moments like this, Leo hated being an expert tracker. He could see every movement through the scrapes and the blood trails. He had a clear picture of every wound as it was inflicted. Leo could see his little brother, Raphael, scrambling to shrink back as Shredder slashed repeatedly into his sides. He was plagued by images of Raphael, with no protection, no escape, and all alone.

Leonardo fell to his knees. His fingertips brushed over a stain he was certain had been a pool of his brother's blood. Tears gathered at the corners of his eyes. His shoulders shook as he tried to silence his sobs. It was the first time he had ever broken under pressure. He could feel his brothers coming closer. He could sense that they, too, had tears in their eyes. He knew that they needed him more than ever. He knew that they needed him to be strong, but how could he stay strong knowing that he was reason all of this had occurred? He was the one who'd sent Raph away, the one who'd gotten his little brother into this mess.

For the first time in years, Leonardo allowed his composure to crumble. As the tears ran freely down his cheeks all he could think of was Raphael, his little brother, his best friend, his playmate.

Someone put a hand on his shoulder and squeezed softly. Slowly, his head turned. The eyes that offered him comfort were dark, echoing Leo's own pain. But Casey Jones stood with his head held high, his lips pressed into a tight, thin line. An image of Raphael bearing a similar expression flashed in front of Leo's eyes.

Casey's hand slid off Leo's shoulder but remained outstretched in front of the turtle as he spoke, their eye contact never faltering. "We can't give up now." He said resolutely.

As Casey spoke, Leo was once again reminded of Raphael. Raph keeps me going. He realized. All of them do. Without them, I am nothing. I need them...all of them.

Casey's right. We can't give up. We have to get Raph back.

Leo took the offered hand and gripped it tightly. Their gazes remained locked for a few more moments as the wall of distrust that had divided them up to this point came crumbling down. The leader turned to his brothers and, as Casey's determination fueled his confidence, Leo made them a promise. "We'll find him." He said quietly. Then he reaffirmed a little louder, "We'll find him and bring him home."

Slowly, the eldest turtle looked down into the eyes of his father. Splinter nodded, his eyes offering Leo the comfort and reassurance that he desperately sought. With a return nod, Leo set himself back into leader mode.

He crossed to the other side of the roof and noted all the telltale signs. "This," he waved to the ground just in front of him, "is where Raph fell. He was trying to get away, but Shredder kept at him. He was hit once," Leo pointed to the multiple stains as he spoke, "twice, three times, at least."

Donnie shifted uncomfortably and pushed his glasses up his nose. "Leo, assuming all of that blood is Raph's, there's a high probability that he—"

Leo frowned and shook his head. "No, he's alive Don. He has to be."

Donatello pursed his lips and frowned at Leonardo. Denial wasn't going to get them anywhere. Much as he wanted to believe that his brother was alive, the logical, practical voice in his head was telling him that the chances were slim. Still, if anyone could survive losing that much blood, it was Raph.

The brainiac slowly glanced over at Michelangelo. Mikey's cheerful demeanor was completely absent. His blue eyes were bright, a little bit too bright, and his muscles were rigid. Don's nose crinkled with concern. He reached out slowly. "Mikey?"

Michelangelo didn't respond right away. In fact, his didn't respond at all, he simply kept staring at the bloodstains.

Donatello's frown only darkened. "Mikey, I think you need to sit this one out." He said as he grabbed Mikey by the shoulders and started steering him away.

Leo slowly turned to look at Mikey with concern. "Maybe you should take Mikey back to the lair."

"No." Mikey protested, glaring up at his older brothers. "I'm not a baby. I can take it."

With a stern face Leo opened his mouth to protest, but Mikey cut him off.

"I'm staying Leo. I have to help you find Raph. After all, it looks like he's going to need all the help he can get." Mikey said with a wan little grin.

After a short period of consideration, Leo stepped closer, peering directly down into Mikey's eyes and nodding. Concerned as he was about Mikey, saving Raphael was top priority. And as Mikey had just noted, it wasn't going to be easy. They would have to use all of their strengths to get out of this one alive with Raphael in tow. Right now they needed to find out where Shredder was keeping Raph. They'd wasted enough time already. With a grunt, Leo turned back to the task at hand.

Slowly, Leo followed the blood trail that led across the roof. He pointed it out to the others. "This is from Shredder dragging Raphael off."

Splinter hummed and lowered his eyes. Casey and the turtles all turned in the old rat's direction. Slowly, he spoke. "Shredder would have no reason to take your brother if he was not still alive."

That lifted a weight from Leo's chest. "So at least we know that Raphael isn't dead."

"More accurately, we know that he wasn't dead when Shredder dragged him away." Don amended absently.

Leonardo sent the genius a pained look and Donnie immediately closed his mouth, his eyes going wide with horror as he realized the gravity behind the correction he had just made.

Sensei's tail twitched and he cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. "Assuming your brother was alive, it is more than likely that Shredder has since tried to make him talk."

Leo's hands clenched into fists as he understood the implications of his father's sentence. "You mean Shredder could be...torturing him?"

"Yes, my son. I am afraid that is exactly what I mean."

"Guys!" April called, making them all look up. The reporter had found some scuffmarks on the rooftop that seemed rather out of place. While examining them in further detail, she saw something she hadn't expected to see: one of Raphael's sais. It was embedded in the roof, rammed point-down into a concrete seam so that it was standing upright. April was about to yank it out, but she withdrew when she realized there was something odd.

Leo, Donnie, Mikey and Casey crowded around April, practically smothering her as they struggled to see what she had found. Leonardo's eyes narrowed, while Mikey's widened. Donnie shoved the two of them aside roughly as he carefully scrutinized the weapon using his various goggles and scanners. "There's something attached to it." He said softly.

Leo drew back, one of his hands rising to grip the handle of his katana. "Is is dangerous? An explosive?"

Donnie shook his head. "I don't think so. I'm not getting any unusual readings. My scans indicate..." Everyone stared as Donatello paused and left them in suspense.

"Donatello?" Sensei asked softly.

"It's a voice recorder. Standard store bought model. Basically a modernized version of a tape recorder, so it's rather an unusual thing for someone to have, since most cell phones have a recorder function."

Casey frowned. "So, it's got some kind of message on it or something?"

The brainiac frowned. "Only one way to find out." Donatello tentatively reached out to remove the device. He jumped, nearly having a heart attack when Mikey's hand suddenly latched onto his wrist and pulled him back.

"Donnie, are you sure we should do that?"

Leonardo frowned sternly and tried to reason with the youngest. "Mikey we have to. It could be some kind of clue as to where Raph is."

"What kind of villain would give us a clue?" Mikey asked.

"One who enjoys watching us dance around in circles." Don answered dryly.

"I don't like this any more than you guys do. But I'm gonna do whatever it takes to find Raph." Casey said, moving to grab the little recording device, but he blinked as he saw that April already had it in her hand.

"You guys talk too much." She stated evenly as she turned it on.

Casey loomed over her shoulder to see the screen. "There's only one recording. From a couple hours ago."

They all exchanged glances and fidgeted nervously for a few moments before Leo ordered in a mere whisper, "Play it."

April did. Everyone leaned forward, each passing second of silence fueling their anxiety.

Leonardo's skin began to crawl when a dark, sickening chuckle boomed out from the little recording device. The words that followed only allowed uneasiness to bloom in his chest, its tendrils wrapping languidly around his heart.

"The drug will eventually coax out your innermost fears. All I have to do is wait."

"Why?" A weak, tortured voice asked.

"Raphie!" Mikey exclaimed, breaking the spell they were in, reminding the others that they needed to breathe. The youngest leaned forward childishly, as if being closer to the voice recorder meant being closer to their missing sibling.

"Mikey, what are you—"

Leo put a finger to his lips, quieting them just in time to hear Shredder's answer.

"I will use them to break you. Your brothers and father will come. They will be too late, of course, but I'm sure they'd appreciate knowing how long it had taken for your inner demons to consume you."

Splinter glared at what Shredder said. He noticed that all three of his other sons had gone pale, staring at the device in April's hand with unseeing eyes. The old rat bowed his head, cautiously reaching out to put his hands on their shoulders. Donatello and Michelangelo immediately leaned into his embrace, even going so far as to cuddle closer to him for support. But Leonardo remained resolute, solitary, a tall sentinel with his head held high, silhouetted against the midnight skies.

"You'll never break me." Raph said. His voice sounded strained. Shortly after, there was a pained whimper, followed by another.

There were tears in Donnie's eyes and his voice sounded croaky as he said, "April turn it off."

"No." Leo objected, his eyes never leaving the player.

Before Donatello could object, Raphael's voice returned, the sheer amount of pain in it making Michelangelo sob. "Leo, please—a"

"Sh! Listen!" Leo said insistently, struggling to hear Raph's words.

"No...Leo...watch Mikey...not babysitter...no! Don't turn around! Don't! Have—to—protect—Mikey! Mikey! NO! NO! Mikey! No..."

Michelangelo pulled away from Splinter's side and stepped forward, shakily. He collapsed to his knees. His mouth was slightly open, his eyes were wide with horror and pain, and his cheeks were damp with tears. "Raphie!"

"Sh!" Leo repeated, placing a hand on Mikey's shoulder.

Raph's voice continued, rattling on, pausing only for breath. "Mikey! No! Not—no! Not dead! Please, please don't be dead! My fault, all my fault. Should have watched your back, should have seen...should have known. Should have protected you! 'S my job. Have to protect brothers."

Don frowned and shared his observation aloud with his family, "He's delirious. Probably the result of whatever drug Shredder mentioned earlier."

Leonardo nodded absently. There was a short pause where neither Shredder nor Raph said anything.

Until, Raph let out another whimper and said, "Have to protect...supposed to. Protect brothers, have to protect brothers. Die for my brothers. Can't let them die. I'm supposed to die first."

The eldest turtle gasped. Raphael didn't really think that, did he? His thoughts reeled around that revelation for a few moments. What was Raph thinking of? Shredder had said this drug would bring out Raph's greatest fears. So was one of Raph's fears failing to protect them?

Leo was snapped out of his musing when Raphael's voice went on to mutter, "Always in the Hashi 'cause of you." That was very similar to something he had said to Raph in the past. "So stupid...Leo's better." That made him choke on a sob and he coughed. Raph, no...don't ever think that. "Control your temper...always hurt them...hurt them all the time...a horrible brother..."

"No!" Don yelled, surprising all of them. He turned to Leo desperately. "Please Leo, turn it off. I can't stand hearing this!"

Lowering his eyes Leo shook his head. "I'm sorry, Donnie. We have to listen to the whole thing. There might be something in it that could tell us where Raph is."

"Shredder sent us this to break out spirits Leo!" Don argued with tears in his eyes.

Again, Leo shook his head from side to side. "We don't know that for sure. The only way to find out is by listening to this thing all the way through. If you can't take it, you're free to step away for the time being."

Mikey and Donnie looked at each other, both of them struggling with the pain of what they were hearing, yet at the same time, both reluctant to leave. In the end, they knelt side by side, reassuring each other as Raph's voice went on.

"Disappointed...going to get us all killed...Leo!"

Leo looked up. Raphael's call of his name sounded so clear that for a moment he'd fancied Raph was here beside him. He didn't like the ominous silence that followed Raph's call of his name.

"Leo! Please...don't say that! No, no, Leo, please! No...I didn't betray you. I didn't!" A stressed grunt preceded Raph's next, slightly muffled, words, "Would never betray family. Never betray you guys."

Bile rose in the back of Leonardo's throat at Raph's words. The insinuation that Raphael had betrayed their family undoubtedly came from what he'd yelled at Raph during their fight. Tears came to his eyes. I know, Raphael. I know that you would never, ever betray us. I'm so sorry. All of this is my fault. I was so stupid. I just hope, with all my heart, that when we get you back you'll find some room in that big heart of yours to forgive me for what I've done. And if you can't...Then I will understand. I love you, little brother. Hang in there for me. We're coming.

"No...can't let them down...Can't break...have to fight...but can't...not strong enough. I'm sorry. I'm not strong enough." Raph murmured, the hitch in his voice making it clear to the other turtles that he had been crying. They, too, began to cry. But then...

"Turtles." Everyone, humans and mutants, glared daggers at the machine as they once again heard Shredder's voice. "If you still value Raphael's life, meet me on the roof of the old Beekman Paper Company." The recording cut short. Mikey and Donnie glanced determinately over at Leo and he nodded. The ninja leader held out his hand and the other two turtles immediately followed his lead, adding their hands atop his. Casey pulled his hockey mask down over his face and added his hand to the mix. April looked them all in the eyes one by one before placing her hand on the pile. They all turned to Splinter expectantly.

"Steel yourselves, my children." He instructed them all gravely. "We have no idea what we shall find." They nodded. Splinter placed his hand on top of theirs.

"Let's get out brother back. For Raph." Leo said. Everyone nodded their agreement. Leo grinned a little and as they pulled their hands up and away he added, "Cowabunga!"

—————

The roof of the Beekman Paper Company building was empty. No one was there as the turtles, Casey, April, and Splinter circled it from above. Leo decided to take the plunge. He turned to them and said, "I'm going in."

Mikey smiled. "Lead the way, big bro."

Just seconds after they landed on the building below, Shredder emerged. "So, you came."

"Shredder! Give me back my son!" Sensei yelled.

"You're in no position to be making demands, rat!" Oroku Saki retorted, but then he pulled back a little, making all of the turtles tense with uncertainty. "But if you really want your son..." He vanished into the shadows and reappeared moments later, dragging something behind him. Shredder tossed the object at their feet.

"You bastard! What have you done to him?!" Casey screamed, rushing forward to fight Shredder head on, but getting held back by Leonardo, who had stopped him by grabbing his golf bag. Leo could tell, from the angry tears in the human's eyes, that he was too emotionally unstable to win this fight.

Shredder laughed at the pathetic hockey-masked vigilante. Then, he let the bomb drop, "I never said he was alive."

For a split second everything froze. All of sudden, they noticed that Raphael was too still, too rigid. Donatello slowly fell to his knees and felt for a pulse, the world he once knew, crumbled to pieces all around him. His heart was suddenly completely numb. There was no pain, no sadness, no bone-crushing grief. It was all being masked by numbness. Numbness which was slowly turning into rage. Suddenly it was no longer about mourning his murdered sibling. It was about making the one responsible for Raphael's death suffer. He stood, baring his bō staff threateningly at Shredder. "YOU! I will kill you for this!"

The next thing any of the others knew, Donnie was flying at Shredder, completely enraged. The meaning behind the brainiac's response slowly dawned on them and they stared in shock at the body of their loved one.

"Raphael...no..." Leo said, tears falling freely down his face.

"Raphie!" Michelangelo cried. Leo slowly turned to his youngest sibling, reaching out to comfort him. Mikey's face changed. It changed in a manner that Leonardo had never seen before. Mikey's child-like innocence faded away, leaving behind a mature, worldly, worn face. Oh how Leo longed to wipe that look off his baby brother's face.

Mikey flung himself at Shredder, joining Donnie in the fight.

"Mikey, Donnie, no, stop! We have to make a plan!" He yelled, but they all ignored him. Their anger and hurt was too great. He would be unable to control them. Hesitantly, he bent down at Raphael's side, hoping that somehow Donnie had missed something. That somehow, despite what Shredder said, Raphael was alive. The longer he looked, the less likely it seemed. Raph's neck was mottled by thick, dark bruises. Strangled to death. His eyes were closed in a way that seemed both eerily restful, yet disturbingly vacant. The wounds in his sides looked as though they had stopped bleeding some time ago, but Raph's torso, arms and shell were covered in dried and sticky blood that had smeared or dripped down them.

Leo was momentarily distracted by a vicious battle cry and he looked up just in time to see his father leaping to his brothers' defense.

He lethargically turned back down to the body of his brother. He turned the body over slightly so that he could see Raph's face. Fresh, hot tears came to his eyes. He pulled out the sai they had retrieved from the rooftop where Shredder had taken Raph. He placed it in his fallen brother's hand and closed Raph's cold, stiff fingers tightly around it. A lone tear rolled down his face as he stood.

Leonardo turned his carapace to his brother's body, crossing the roof with his head held high, even though his heart had plummeted down to the depths of his soul. He had never before felt so lost, and yet, to the others, he had never before been as utterly inspiring as he was right now. With a yell, he charged at Shredder, his katanas in hand. His brothers rallied behind him, cries of their own joining his.

Shredder countered them all, pounding their plastrons, cutting and bruising their arms, and flinging them backwards. Leo landed plastron-first, losing a katana during the fall, and slid about three feet. He looked up to see his father fighting Oroku Saki with all his might. Shredder grabbed Sensei by the tail and pulled him in for a massive body punch. A series of cracks could be heard before Shredder finally tossed the mutant rodent off to the side. Leo growled and pushed himself up.

Shredder laughed at him and readied his blades. "Freak! Time to face your own extinction!"

Leo grit his teeth, raised his sword, and ran at Shredder. He dodged the first blow and managed to land one of his own. His katana dug into Shredder's side and the enemy howled. Lashing out unexpectedly, Shredder struck him with a tremendous uppercut which left his head spinning, followed by a chest-kick that knocked the air out of him. As the armored figure grabbed Leonardo's arm, the turtle was powerless to avoid it. Shredder sent the leader of the turtles plummeting off the end of the building.

"LEO, NO!" Donnie and Mikey screamed.

For a few moments, Leonardo was flying. His bandana tails fluttered about his face as he flew carapace-first off the building. As he hit the ground, everything exploded into a world of red and black. It was a world of pain that made him want to scream and cry until he couldn't cry anymore. The pain was getting the better of him. He could feel himself fading, moving away from this world.

He smiled as he saw a face he recognized.

"Raphael..."