A/N: I am so pleased everyone is liking this story! You all get big hugs from me!

Leo could feel Tigerclaw's breath on the back of his neck and it sent his pulse racing. He stretched out his senses, trying to determine the tiger's exact position. Taking a deep breath, he side-stepped. At the same moment, the blaster went off, burning his shoulder slightly. But he ignored it as he spun, using his katana to chop off the gun's barrel. Sparks flew from the equipment above the Shredder's bed.

"Be careful you idiot!" Stockman sputtered from across the room, where Mikey was attempting to keep him pinned to the floor.

But Tigerclaw paid him no mind as he tossed the useless weapon aside and brandished his own katana. The two swords crashed together in a flurry of lunges, dodges, and parries. But as Leo had already discovered he was not as strong in this human form. Tigerclaw snarled. "Who are you! How dare you attack our master!"

Leo couldn't prevent the bitter laugh. "I'm a turtle, can't you tell?"

The comment made Tigerclaw pause for a split-second. "What is that supposed to mean, human?" It was just enough distraction that Leo was able to regain his footing and put some distance between them.

Leo smirked. "If you don't know, then I suggest you ask Stockman." That did it. When Tigerclaw's gaze shifted to the mutant pinned by the smallest turtle, Leo called out to his brother. "Now would be a good time, Donnie!"

The purple-banded turtle was currently locked in a tug-of-war with Fishface, who had one metal foot latched around his bo. "Time to end this!" He kicked the mutant hard in the snout and using the bo as leverage flipped over him and flung Xever across the room to smash hard into Rahzar. Donnie barely gave him time to land before he was dashing across the space to where the animalizer lay. Just as he was about to reach it, Tigerclaw slammed a fist into the side of his head. Don flew backwards, nearly blacking out. Raph and Leo were on the mutant before he could take a defensive stance. The struggle, however, had knocked the weapon a little closer to Baxter.

He tried to grab it, but Mikey pulled on his antennas. "I don't think so, bug-brain!" Then the turtle leaned forward in an attempt to snag the animalizer himself. Baxter buzzed furiously and spit his acid at Mikey's hand. The turtle yanked it back with a glare. "Dude! That is totally gross!"

Baxter gave another buzz as he wrapped his hand around the animalizer, he swung it up over his shoulder without looking at the dial. Mikey only had time to gasp as he was swallowed in the white light.

Don opened his eyes to find Bradford standing over him with a deadly gleam in his eyes. In the corner of his vision his saw Baxter swing the laser up and Mikey enveloped in the same light as Leo had been. "Mikey!"

Raph and Leo looked up as well when the room lit for a moment. "Mikey!" They shouted in unified terror. Everyone blinked as the light faded, then gasped.

Raph's mouth hung open and he blinked rapidly. "Mikey?" A white and brown speckled rabbit sat on Baxter's torso. It jumped away quickly as the fly twisted, grabbing for him. The rabbit shot across the room to spring into Raph's arms. The turtle blinked again. "Mikey? Bro, is that you?" He lifted it up and the rabbit blinked pale blue eyes at him.

"Raph!" Leo darted between his brother and the charging tiger, managing to block the blow meant to likely decapitate him. "Raph, protect Mikey! Donnie, where's that ray-gun!"

"I'm a….little….busy…right now….Leo!" Don's words were interrupted by Rahzar repeatedly bashing him into the wall.

"I have the animalizer! Now I will turn you all into slugs!" Baxter twisted the dial and waved the laser around at his enemies.

"Actually, I wouldn't mind some more rabbits for dinner." Rahzar licked his lips as he smashed Donnie into the wall again.

"Yes, it has been some time since I had fresh rabbit." Tigerclaw smirked as his and Leo's swords met again and again.

"But I want to turn them into slugs, so I can crush them!" Baxter pouted.

Leo glared at his opponent. "You're not going to touch our brother!" Anger rose in him, forming a quick plan. He dipped low, allowing Tigerclaw's katana to glide over his head as Leo slashed him with his own sword across the calf. The cut was deep and true. Tigerclaw couldn't suppress the cry of pain as blood gushed from the gaping wound. Leo took advantage and slipped behind him to deliver a kick to his back, sending him stumbling forward into Bradford.

Don crumbled to his knees as the dog released him. He groaned, the room spinning. Baxter buzzed angrily and turned the weapon in Don's direction. "I will turn you into slugs! I will!"

But he didn't get a chance to fire as Raph kicked him hard in the chest. Baxter collapsed to the ground gasping. Raph clutched the bunny-Mikey to his chest. "No way! You're not gettin' another of my brothers with that thing!"

Tigerclaw and Rahzar had tumbled into their stash of laser riffles. Leo spotted this as the two mutants grabbed for them. "Donnie, move it!"

Don scrambled to his feet as Baxter started to raise the animalizer once more, he knocked it out of the fly's hands with his bo, catching it. "I'll take that!"

"Guys! Cover! Now!" Leo dove behind several crates, followed by Don and Raph holding bunny-Mikey.

The three brothers stared down at the fuzzy form of their baby brother. Raph frowned, concern in his gaze. "It's okay, little buddy. We're gonna get you fixed up." Mikey ducked his small head to rub it against Raph's chin. Raph clenched his eyes. "I promise." He looked up at his genius brother. "Donnie?"

Don examined the animalizer. "The design is simple enough. But I don't know if it will turn you back into a mutant turtle or a regular turtle." He turned the knob to the appropriate animal indicator.

Laser fire soared over the crates, getting closer by the minute. "We're out of time. We'll just have to risk it." Leo looked down at Mikey held snuggly in Raph's arms. "Do me first, then Mikey. Just in case something goes wrong."

Donnie frowned. "But Leo-"

"Come on out turtles! It's time to play!" Rahzar taunted from the center of the room.

Leo shot his brother a hard look as he scooted a little further away from Raph. "Do it now, Donnie!"

Gritting his teeth, Don squeezed the trigger. He hoped beyond hope that it would work. He shut his eyes against the blinding light. Raph blinked away the spots in his vision and proceeded to smile. "Leo."

Don opened his eyes cautiously. A smile spread across his face as well. "Leo, you're back to normal."

Leo looked down at his hands, still a bit disoriented from the blast. At least I didn't pass out this time. Relief washed over him as he realized they were green. "Alright!"

"Now Mikey!" Raph said eagerly, presenting his bunny-brother.

Leo peeked over the edge of the crate. "Uh, can't do it now guys."

"Why not?" Raph snapped.

"Because we are out of time!" Leo replied as the crates they were hiding behind suddenly went flying in all directions.

Raph tried to shield Mikey as he rolled aside, but he lost his grip on him. "Oh, no! Mikey!"

"How come you not wait for the Rocksteady and Bebop to come? You have all this fun without us?" Rocksteady stood over Leo, Raph and Don where they were sprawled on the floor.

"Ooh, I get to have some fun too!" Bebop half-squealed beside him. "Let's fry us some turtles, Rock."

"Yes, some frying of turtles sounds tasty." Rocksteady took a step forward and Leo hopped up to land a blow to his midsection. Rocksteady barely flinched.

Leo gave a nervous chuckle and wiggled his thumbs. "How about thumb wrestling?" Raph and Donnie were on their feet, ready for another round.

"Surrender turtles." Tigerclaw said from behind Rocksteady and Bebop.

Raph glared. "Not gonna happen, kitty."

"Surrender or I will make short work of the little one." Tigerclaw opened his mouth to expose his sharp teeth, lifting Mikey by the scruff of his bunny neck.

The three brothers gasped, their weapons instantly falling to the floor. Raph growled. "I'm warning you, Tigerclaw! If you harm one hair on his fuzzy little head, I'm gonna-"

"Do what turtle? You are outnumbered and out gunned." Fishface had finally regain his senses and now leveled his laser rifle at them.

"We'll do this!" Donnie swung the animalizer into view and fired. The white light engulfed Mikey again and everyone covered their eyes.

Tigerclaw felt the weight in his hand increase significantly. When he finally was able to focus again, he found the young turtle glaring up at him. "I can't believe you were going to try to eat me!"

At the same time Bebop let loose a barrage of fire, one laser hit the animalizer and it nearly exploded in Donnie's hand. "No!" The device disintegrated before his panicked eyes.

"That's it! Let's go!" Leo ordered. "Ninjas vanish!" Two smoke bombs went off simultaneously and the group of mutants coughed. When the air cleared, the turtles were gone.

"Should we go after them?" Rahzar asked.

"No, Master Shredder is too vulnerable here now." Tigerclaw walked back to where Shredder lay. "The turtles know where he is. He must be moved."

The team didn't stop running until they were safely underground. Leo smiled at his brothers as they headed home. "Great job guys! And thanks for watching my shell."

"We're just glad to have you back to normal, bro." Raph put an arm around Leo's shoulders.

"Hey, what about me?" Mikey pouted.

Raph slung his other arm around his youngest brother. "You too, little bro. But you did talk a lot less as a rabbit." He teased, giving him a light noogie.

Mikey giggled. "Hey!"

Leo smiled. "I'm glad to be back to normal too. Being human was fun, but I love being a turtle. Because it means I can be with you guys."

The three continued to banter happily as they strolled home. Behind them, Donnie trudged with his head down and shoulders slumped. He felt awful, but he wasn't willing to rain on his brothers' parade yet.

Karai heard them as they approached the turnstiles. She'd been waiting for a while, but she knew she had to talk to Leo. They'd ended on a bad note the other night and she felt kind of bad for it. She sighed as she heard the turnstiles swivel.

Leo blinked in surprise to find her sitting in the pit with her back to them, obviously waiting for them. "Karai? What are you doing here?"

"Leo, we really need to," she turned towards them and her eyes grew wide, "talk. Leo! You're a turtle again!"

He was surprised when she rushed forward and wrapped her arms around his neck. His arms automatically wrapped around her waist, but worry pressed his features. "Karai, is something wrong?"

She leaned back to look at him in confusion. "What are you talking about?"

He looked away. "Well, I thought…the other night….I mean…."

She smiled coyly. "Leo, don't you understand? I liked you as a human, but I like you a lot better as a turtle." She kissed him and for the first time she completely relaxed into him. Nothing felt off or incomplete. Leo was swept away by the sensation, engulfed in her essence, held captive in her warmth.

Someone cleared their throat loudly and Karai pulled away, blushing. "Father?"

Splinter's gaze was so intense that Leo took a step back. "Uh, Sensei, we uh…I mean we were…" His heart was pounding so loud as Splinter approached them, he was sure they could hear in Japan.

Splinter's gaze shifted between the two teens before he finally spoke. "This is something we will have to discuss at length it seems." His gaze returned to Leo, where he rested a hand on his shoulder. "But for now, I am glad you have been made whole, my son."

Leo smiled. "So am I, Master."

As Leo, Raph and Mikey launched into an animated retelling of their battle, Donnie still hung back. This did not go unnoticed by Splinter. "Donatello, what troubles you? You should be happy. Your brother has been returned to us as he should be."

"I am happy about Leo, Sensei. I'm just…." He lowered his eyes.

"You what, my son?"

Donnie shook his head. "I'm sorry, Master Splinter. I wanted to bring it home – to make you human again. But it was destroyed in the battle and it was my fault."

Splinter frowned, drawing Donnie into a small embrace. "Do not despair, Donatello. You have done well this night. Leonard has been restored and we are a family again. I left my human life behind a long time ago. I no longer need it. I have been blessed with such great children." He hugged him a little tighter. "Go now, celebrate with your brothers."

"Thanks, Sensei." Don smiled weakly up at him, his heavy heart lifted a great deal.

Splinter watched as Donnie rejoined the others in the pit. He smiled. His heart was filled with such pride and joy at the sight of his entire family being there safe and sound and whole once again. He noted how Miwa wrapped her hand discretely around Leonardo's. He groaned inwardly. I will have to meditate a long time on this one.

A/N: This chapter somehow came out short. And I'm not exactly sure how with all the action. But I had to leave things mostly how they were in the series as I was trying to stay within cannon this time. I truly hope you enjoyed it. If you did, don't forget to leave a review!

Also if you did, I will now shamelessly plug "The Monster's Sister." It's another Leo fic from a very different POV.