Chapter 6: We Are Family

A/N: Well, this is it. This is the final chapter of A Warrior's Pain II: Hiding Away. I have had a lot of fun writing this story, and I hope you have all enjoyed reading it. Now, I want to give a shout-out to those who reviewed the last chapter. Thanks to: Mac, PlainSimpleGarak, KatanaChicka80, Mikey's Kunoichi, and Shellsboy24. You guys are awesome! I hope you like this last chapter! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own the Turtles. I wish I did, but I don't. They are owned by Peter Laird and Mirage Studios, Inc.

Leonardo made his way to the new Lair, thinking about all that had happened. When he had returned from Japan, he had discovered that the Lair had been destroyed and his family was missing. He had questioned the man in the Foot Mech but had gotten no answer. With Angel's help, he managed to get an answer from April, but it wasn't good news. Leo didn't want to believe that his family was gone, so he set out to find them.

He managed to locate his family and led them to safety. Then, he set out to confront the woman who had attacked them. Leo was victorious over Karai, but he didn't finish her off. He still felt that she wasn't like her father. She was just letting her anger get the best of her. But he still warned her to stay away from his family and cut off the statue of Saki's head to make his point. After that, he enlisted Angel's help to get food and supplies for his family.

After finding the right manhole cover, Leo slipped in and made his way to the pumping station. He handed his brothers boxes of Chinese food before presenting Splinter with a carved walking stick he had picked up while in Japan. Splinter thanked his son for the gift before officially welcoming him home.

Raph handed Leo a box of food, which the blue-banded Turtle took gratefully.

"So, what's been going on?" he asked them.

"Not much," said Raphael. "I mean, besides the Foot attackin' us and all. You did get our letters, didn't you?"

"Yeah, I did," replied Leo. "I mean, what's been going on with the Foot?"

"I have no idea," said Donatello. "I still don't fathom how they found the Lair."

"Karai probably found out via the Foot Mystics," said Leo. "She knew I was gone and wanted to attack you."

Michelangelo shook his head. "I don't think she knew you were gone, Leo," he said. "When she came barging in, she was surprised to find that you weren't here."

"Why'd you come home?" Raph asked him. "Did the Ancient One kick you out?"

"Not exactly," answered Leo. "He had a vision that you guys were in danger and told me I had to go." He hung his head. "I'm sorry I didn't get here in time."

"Do not blame yourself, Leonardo," said Splinter gently. "You came as fast as you could. There was nothing you could have done."

"I understand, Sensei," said Leo softly. "Hey, Don, I got some first aid supplies. After dinner you can check Master Splinter's wound and treat any other wounds you guys have."

"Thanks, Leo," said Don appreciatively. "I owe you one."

After dinner was eaten, Don immediately checked Splinter's chest wound. The other three Turtles hovered nearby, waiting to see what the verdict was.

"Is he gonna be okay?" asked Leo anxiously.

"The cut isn't real deep," explained Don. "She just missed his heart by a few inches. If she had cut him any further, he would've died. However, he's going to be fine. I'll put some disinfectant and some gauze on it for now."

"Thank you, Donatello," said Splinter graciously. "I am very lucky to have such caring sons. However, I do not want you to fuss over me. I will be fine."

"I know, Sensei, but I'm still gonna check on you in the morning," declared Donnie. "That's what a good doctor does."

"I would expect nothing less from you, Donatello," replied Splinter. "It is in your nature to be so caring. Now, I think we all need to get some rest. We have had a trying day."

"You're telling me," said Raph. "This day was bad."

"Yeah, but something good came out of it, too, Raph," Leo told him. "We have our family and we have a new home."

"I don't wanna go to bed," Mikey whined. "I wanted to explore our new home."

"We can do that tomorrow, Mikey," Leo told him. "Master Splinter is right. We've all had a long day. Let's get some rest and we'll talk about this tomorrow." He handed each of his brothers a sleeping bag, a few blankets, and a pillow. Leo then made sure that Splinter was comfortable as he tucked his sensei in.

"Leonardo, you do not have to do this," Splinter told him. "I will be fine."

"I know, Master, but I want to do this," Leo replied. "Just get some rest. I'll see you in the morning. I love you."

"I love you, too, my son," Splinter said, giving Leo a kiss on the forehead. "Sleep tight."

After tucking Splinter in, Leo went to Don to make sure he was fine. Don wished Leo good-night and settled in to sleep. He was too tired to talk to his older brother. Leo smiled and made his way over to Mikey. The youngest Turtle immediately threw his arms around Leo and began to cry.

"Mikey, what's wrong?" Leo asked him.

"Leo, I thought you weren't coming back," Mikey sobbed. "I had bad dreams where you never came back when we needed you. I don't want you to leave us!"

Leo rubbed his brother's shell. "Mikey, calm down," he soothed. "I'm not gonna leave you again. As much as I loved Japan, there wasn't a day that went by when I didn't miss you guys. You mean more to me than anything else. I'll never run out on you."

"Promise?" Mikey asked timidly.

"Cross my heart and hope to die," Leo promised. "Now, get some sleep, Mikey. I'll talk to you tomorrow."

"Okay, Leo," Mikey said, snuggling down with Klunk beside him. "Love you."

"Love you, too, goofball," Leo teased. Then he headed to his own spot to set up his sleeping bag. As he did so, he noticed that Raphael hadn't even set up his sleeping bag. He was sitting beside it with his arms clasped over his knees.

Leonardo could tell that there was something on his little brother's mind. He went over to him and put a hand on Raph's shoulder.

"Raph, are you okay?" he asked gently.

"Go away, Leo!" snapped Raph. "I don't want to hear it."

Leo quirked an eyeridge. "Hear what?" he inquired.

"I don't wanna hear a lecture," grumbled Raph. "We all know I screwed up."

"Is this about what happened at the old Lair?" Leo asked him.

"Yeah, I messed up," Raph said. "I almost got them killed."

"You didn't screw up," Leo contradicted. "You did just what I would've done. I'm really proud of you, Raph."

Raph looked skeptical. "You mean it?" he asked. "You're really proud of me?"

"Yeah, I am," replied Leo. "What you did showed me that you can step up to the plate when you need to."

"Leo, I panicked!" protested Raph. "I didn't know what I was doin'. After we all separated, I really felt like I had screwed up. I thought I'd never see Don, Mikey, and Sensei again, and I knew that you'd hate me if I let anything happen to them."

"I wouldn't hate you," said Leo firmly. "I could never hate you. I know how you feel though. I felt the same way when I came home and found the Lair destroyed. When April sent me that note telling me that Karai had destroyed you, I got scared. I didn't want to believe it, but I knew it could've happened. I'm just so glad I found you guys alive."

Raph embraced his brother. "It's good to see you, bro," he said. "I missed you so much, even though I never let it show."

"I missed you, too, Raph," said Leo. "I missed your grumbling and complaining."

"Well, I missed your nagging," countered Raph. Then they parted. "Um, Leo, I wanted to ask you about two things. Is that okay?"

"Yeah, it is," said Leo. "What is it?"

"Why were you so upset before you left?" Raph asked him. "Did it have to do with Karai?"

"Partly, yes," said Leo. "I was upset that she had betrayed me, but I was more upset with myself. I thought I had failed you guys by not coming up with a better plan. I felt that since the only way we could've defeated Shredder was to terminate ourselves, I had failed you."

Raph was shocked. "You didn't fail us, Leo," he said. "We all agreed to do it."

"I know that now," said Leo with a laugh. "So, what's the second thing you want to ask me?"

"Did you finish Karai off?" Raph inquired. "I know you went to see her, Leo. It usually doesn't take you long to get food and supplies. So, out with it. What happened?"

"Well, I did fight Karai and beat her," Leo began. "She wanted me to finish her off, but I didn't do it."

"Why not, Leo?" Raph demanded. 'After all she put us through, she deserves to die. Are you in love with her, or something?"

"No, I'm not," Leo told him. "I just feel that deep inside, she's not like the Shredder. I think she's just letting her anger and hate for us consume her, much like I let my anger get the best of me. But I did warn her to stay away from you guys."

"You might be right about that hate and anger stuff," mused Raph. "I think I could learn a lot from you if you'd teach me."

"I will," Leo promised. "You'll learn a lot from me. And I promise not to nag you as much."

"Well, that's a good thing," Raph teased. "I'd better mark that on the calendar." He yawned. "Well, I guess we'd better hit the sack. See you in the morning, bro."

"'Night, Raph," said Leo sleepily. As he snuggled into his sleeping bag, Leonardo had to smile. They had lost their home, but they had gained a new one. The Ancient One was right when he said that one must flow with change. Leo knew that he and his family would do that and stick together. He felt that no matter how hard things got for them, it would all work out as long as they were together. That's what family was all about. Karai could do all she wanted, but there was one thing she could never do.

She couldn't break their family because blood was truly thicker than water.

A/N: Yatta! That's Japanese for, "I did it!" I have finally finished this story. I have enjoyed writing it, but I'm glad it's over. Will there be a third part? Nope, unless they torture Leo again in the series. So, you guys know what to do. Please read and review and tell me how this chapter went. Thanks to those who have stuck with this story to the end. I truly appreciate all the feedback. Have a shelltastic day!