Brotherly Blunders

Words He Never Had to Say

Leonardo Hamato sat on the couch with tears in his eyes. One button on a detonator. That's all it had taken. One press of that button had taken his little brother away from him.

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Leo's POV

It had started out as a normal, everyday nighttime run. We were investigating an old abandoned warehouse down by the docks. Rumor had it that the Foot had been using it as base.

The four of us crawled in silently through the skylight. I crept through the rafters and peered down into the space below. The room was filled with large stacks of crates bearing the foot symbol, and there was what would appear to be a large central computer. Definitely a Foot hideout, I thought to myself, question is: Where are they? Something's not right.

I motioned to my brothers and we jumped down into the warehouse. Donatello headed straight for the computer and began to hack it. I drew one of my Katanas and looked around warily. This has got to be a trap. I told myself.

I turned to my immediate younger brother. "This is way too easy." He nodded and I said 'keep watch' with hand signals and he nodded again and moved over to the door.

Donnie was about to download files off the computer to his t-phone when the screen went dark and I got a nasty feeling in the pit of my stomach. A loud clanging noise made me look up as all the doors and windows were being blocked off by heavy metal seals sliding down in front of them. We're being caged in.

"LEO!" Raphael shouted.

I turned to my emerald green brother to see him struggling to hold his own against the giant trap door. Sweat ran down his face as he struggled to keep it up. I ran over motioning for Mikey and Donnie to follow. I may not know Shredder's reason for trapping us in here, but I'm not going to wait and find out.

Raph was slowly losing his fight to keep the door open. I sent Donnie and Mikey on ahead telling them to fetch the Shell Raiser. The two of them ducked under and left the building as fast as they could.

That was when all shell broke loose. 

Raphael's muscles couldn't take the abuse and the door slipped, the muscular turtle giving everything he had to catch and hold it at waist level. "What the shell are you waiting for Leo? Go!" He yelled urgently. I crawled under to the other side and took hold, trying to help lift it for my brother, but it was still slipping. Raph's strength was giving out and I wasn't strong enough to lift it myself. "I can't do it, Leo. I can't hold this thing up any longer!" Raphael's voice growled out, his breathing growing shaky and uneven.

"Hang in there Raph, if I can just get a better grip..." I stated, my voice wavering when I tried, and failed to lift the door a little higher.

"No, Leo. Just go. I'll catch up."

"No! I am not leaving you behind!" I shouted to him as I fought the door in vain, tears forming at the corners of my eyes.

"Sorry, big brother," he paused for a moment and I could hear his silent resolution. No! "But you don't have a choice." He stated, his voice soft and filled with emotion. Raphael released his grip. The weight became unbearable and the door fell with a sickening thud.

I stared at it for a moment, tears rolling down my cheeks. I turned and ran the rest of the way out of the building into a nearby alley where the Shell Raiser was waiting. I jumped in, landing with a thud, making Mikey and Donnie jump. "Donnie! Raph's been trapped in the building we've got to get him out!" My younger brothers stared at me wide-eyed and fearful.