Epilogue

Leo looked across the street from the rooftop he was standing on. Orange and yellow light danced across his cold skin and face, which was warmed by the intense heat of the building that burned out of control in front of him.

He did not smile or feel any sense of satisfaction after having defeated what was left of the Foot Clan, the Purple Dragons, and bringing down Hun -who was leading both. Instead, he felt oddly disconnected, as if he couldn't quite believe that it was over. It wasn't that he believed that their lives would be free from danger and violence from now on, because he knew that new gangs would just take the place of the old ones, so it would never be over. But he knew that their greatest enemies were gone; their enemies' operations now destroyed with the decimation of their refurbished headquarters; and that was a start.

He and his brothers had a new chance at living more peacefully -at least for a while- and that made Leonardo feel... grateful, was the best word to describe what he was feeling.

Leo glanced to his right and looked at Raphael, who -after months of physiotherapy- had managed to not only make a full recovery, but also wield his Sais again as well. At the moment Raphael was bloody, bruised, covered in blackened soot, and favoring his left leg heavily while clutching at his ribs, but he was smiling; a smug, slightly malicious smile of satisfaction mixed with faint irritation.

It had taken all of Leo's persuasive powers to get Raphael to let the gang and Foot members live. Raphael had been hell bent on taking his revenge in the most bloody, vengeful way possible; and Leo hadn't wanted his brother to become that monster.

Although the thought of revenge against every human who had injured or threatened his family was a tempting avenue to pursue, the bloodshed would have been tantamount to a massacre, and Leo didn't want to sink to the Shredder's level. Nor did he wish that fate amongst any of his brothers, because although Raphael may have managed to come to terms with that kind of atrocity, Donnie and Mikey wouldn't have.

His family had suffered enough, at the hands of their enemies, as well as at Leo's own hands; they deserved some peace, and this had been the only way to give them a modicum of that elusive feeling and state of being.

He looked over to his left and looked at Mikey, who stood watching the flames rise higher and higher into the air, black plumes of smoke billowing up into the night sky.

Mikey looked worse than Raph, and was more heavily injured, his face scrunched up in pain as he nursed his broken arm, but under the soot and blood there was relief, and for that Leo was thankful.

Donny looked at the building, but continued to glance in both his and Mikey's direction in concern. Donnie was less concerned about their former enemies and more concerned about them and their current injuries.

The high pitched wail of sirens and horns shattered the shocked stillness of the night.

"That's our cue." Raph sighed in disappointment. "I woulda loved to have watched that building burn to the ground." Raph grumbled as he turned and placed a hand on Leo's shoulder.

"You okay, Leo?" Raph asked in concern.

Leo looked over at his younger brother. He knew his brother wasn't asking him about tonight, but rather in general, if he was okay. And he had to admit to himself that he was not quite okay yet, but that he would be. The nightmares were getting better and with this new victory he was sure that his nightmares would get even better.

"No." He finally admitted to Raph. "But I will be." He said as Raph nodded in understanding. "You?" he asked, wondering how Raph was doing, since he had never talked about his time spent being tortured by the Shredder.

Raph gave him a cocky, lopsided grin. "I'm good, Leo. The Shredder didn't try to break me or play twisted little mind games. He was just trying to kill me, and I lived, he didn't and that's kinda the end of that." He finished gruffly, giving an unconcerned shrug as he limped a few steps away.

"Come on, Mikey, let's get back to the lair and get that arm looked after." Donnie prompted gently as Donnie gave Leo another concerned glance.

Mikey gave Leo a worried look before nodding and letting Donnie fuss over him, before they each helped each other walk in the direction of the Battle Shell. Donnie was limping slightly as well, and Leo believed his genius brother was more injured than he was letting on. They were all going to need stitches, ice packs, and casts, but their injuries were a small price to pay for the freedom they had just received.

Donnie paused and looked back over his shoulder at the building. "Is it really over, Leo?" He asked softly.

Leo looked over at his genius brother. "For now." He answered truthfully.

Donnie nodded in understanding as he and Mikey continued their slow, pain filled pace towards their vehicle

Leo turned his attention back and watched the building burn for a few more moments before giving a slight nod of approval. His family was injured, but safe for the moment, and that was all he could really ask for.

He turned away from the Saki building as it gave an ominous groan and collapsed. Leo glanced over his shoulder and made sure that the fire crews and police had not been in harm's way and found they hadn't been. The building had been empty except for all of the high-tech weapons, drugs and other supplies that had financed the Shredder's evil empire.

It was only then, with the smoldering, broken, decimated building at his back, that Leo allowed himself a slight smile of satisfaction.

Raph limped over and slid his arm under Leo's shoulders. Leo's other am hung limply at his side, the bleeding from the deep lacerations he had received finally having stopped.

"Come on Leo, I think you have a concussion, so just take it slow, 'kay?" His brother said gruffly as he gave him a comforting hug. Leo smiled and hugged his younger brother back, fighting back the tears he felt brimming in his eyes.

Raph pulled away and they both helped each other walk back to the Battle Shell, battered and bruised, but victorious.

I have been ever so grateful of Darkunderworld and Amonraphoenix for helping me to get this great story out. And to Jettrooper12 for helping start it.

And for all of those who reviewed, you also helped to make the story great to write for!