Splinter drug himself over to where his son lay, wincing as his broken leg bumped against the wall, behind him he left a trail of blood…
" Leonardo…"
He reached out and touched his eldest child's shoulder, the knife wound in his side looked ugly, and the burn marks criss crossing his chest and arms told of the torture they had put him through…. Splinters heart broke at the sight…
"Leonardo, please, look at me, open your eyes…"
" I'm sorry Sensei, but I can't…."
" Leonardo, for me, please…."
" I don't want you to see this…"
"My son, it's alright, let me see…"
For a moment Leo didn't move, but then slowly, painfully, he turned his head towards his father's voice… A sound halfway between a breath and a sob came from Splinters throat… Leo wanted to reach out to him, to comfort him, but he was too weak and hurt to do so….
Splinter placed his paw on Leo's forehead.
" They took your eyes… I am so sorry… This is all my fault…"
" No, its mine… I was the one who wanted to go topside… I did this to us…"
" Don't say that my son, you are blameless in this matter, had I kept you four safe underground, left the matters of the surface to the humans and let us live out our lives in peace none of this would have come to pass… I should never-"
" Shhhhh, don't do this father, don't do this, we don't have long now, whats done is done, we cannot change it, there is no point in thinking about what might have been…. Take my hand, I can't find you…"
" I'm here my son…"
" Don't leave me dad, stay with me till…."
" Until the end, I will remain by your side Leonardo…"
Leo grew quiet, Splinter crawled to his side and wrapped his thin arm around him so that his sons head rested on his shoulder….
All the while the blood drained from the turtles wound, staining the old rat's fur red… His child was dying…. There was nothing he could do to stop it...
" Dad…?"
" Yes my son?"
" I didn't tell them where-"
" I know you did not, I know you never would..."
"Dad...?"
" Yes Leonardo?"
" Do you think the others will be alright? Without us I mean…. Do you think they are ready- ready to be alone?"
Leo's breath came and went in quick pants… His voice was a strained whisper…
Splinter smiled sadly, remembering his other children…
" Yes, I believe so…. They are strong…"
" Raph will look after them… He…. Will make…. A good leader…"
" Shhhhh, rest now my son… Don't fight it…. I will join you before too long…"
" I am cold Sensei…."
" I know Leonardo, I know…"
" I hope the others don't… don't find us… There are… too many of them… to fight… I hope they… just stay… away…"
"Shhhhh, sleep now, don't worry about your brothers, they won't find us, not this time…"
" I…. I…. I hope I have been a good son…. I hope… I have made you… Proud…."
" I have always been proud of you, of all of my children, Leonardo you have done well, you are brave, and a better man than I ever was…. Know that I love you my son… Take that with you when you go...I am right behind you…."