The old sewer lights blinked at random, illuminating him at different intervals. Pain raced up and down his body and coursed through his veins as he trudged through the runny debris. He wheezed and coughed harshly, bringing his hand to his mouth and drawing it back after feeling stickiness and gazed at it. It was thick crimson blood with black clots that ran down his three fingered hand and further stained his dirty, torn wrist wraps.

Almost...there...

He panted. Never in his life had he been so tired. Every muscle screamed at him and his legs shook in agony as he forced his body to take just one more step. He stumbled and dropped to his knees, hacking and choking as something forced its way up his throat. A liquid thinner than the previous poured out of his lips, spewing all over the sluggish sewage and the narrow concrete walkways for the workers.

No, no, no, NO! Not now! Not again!

He moaned as he wiped blood and unrecognizable, half-digested chunks of bile off his face. He tormented himself as dug his broken fingernails into his skin, trying to use the temporary pain as a distraction from the stomach acid burning his throat. He grasped the strap of his pack tighter and stood shakily. The sharp clang of metal could be heard and a ringing sound resonated through the tunnels as he clawed at the gritty wall.

Splish...Splat...

He limped unsteadily in the disgusting flux of waste, some clinging to his legs. A half-hearted swat did nothing and he sighed. It wasn't like removing sewage from his person would make the wounds he had accumulated be miraculously fixed. The injuries burned as the infection that had set there grew from the bacteria. The young creature hissed in pain and gritted his teeth.

God damn it...

...Oh, fuck!

He quickly halted and nearly tripped over his feet and opened the ragged satchel, moving things around as he desperately looked for something. A green hand brushed against the sought after object and he pulled it out and sighed in relief.

Thank GOD...

The mutant replaced the item and threw the bag over his shell, knocking against the scarred carapace. The nerves tingled slightly as the rough cloth brushed against the abused area.

He sloshed on, panting as every movement drained him. He licked his lips, grimacing at the metallic taste.

It'd just be easier to lie down, I could just take a short nap.

He halted suddenly as the the flitted across his mind and blinked in shock at the glorious sounding prospect. Then he shook his dome, now disturbed by the very idea.

No, I need to get back to my brothers. No matter the cost. I'll fall asleep and never open my eyes again. I HAVE to get back. Even... even if they don't want me.

Minutes passed as the turtle slogged through the sewers, searching for his home. It was nearby, he could feel it in his shell.

So close... where's the door?... ah, they moved the lever... probably didn't want me to find the lair again...damnit..

He pawed weakly at the concrete wall, blindly feeling for trigger that his brothers must have moved from its usual spot as a disguised busted pipe. He felt the hidden, metal door slide away as he found the lever and pulled down, activating the electric door.

Click...Hisssss...Shiiiiiiink...

The concrete rushed to meet his face as the door he had leaned on opened all the way and dropped him on the floor. It sent a spike of pain through his head and added to his perpetual headache. The new, bright, shining lights of the lair contrasted greatly to the ones of the sewer and other lights he had come across and blinded him momentarily as his eyes struggled to adjust. "Uurngh..." He groaned in pain as his bag made a cacophony and drew attention.

"...!" "Holy shell!" "Quick, get him on the couch."

Footsteps slapped loudly against the floor, their owners' disregarding years of stealth training in favor of collecting their fallen sibling. He felt multiple hands gathering under his limbs and hoisting him in the air. He shivered as a slight breeze flowed around him as he was carried swiftly to the couch. A huge light hooked to the ceiling was straight above him, so he screwed his eyes shut, closing his eyelids tightly.

"NO!"

A sharp slap to his bruised cheek made his head whip and eyes snap back open, glaring at the offender. They glared back.

"You have to stay awake!"

But he was tired!

No matter how many times he was shook from the brink, he kept letting his eyelids fall as if heavy weights were attached to them, weighing them down.

..."My sons... ...a...?!"

"Master Splinter! Help!..."

He smiled grimly and stared into the wide eyes of his brothers and sensei, all with fear and concern burning in their eyes. He saw their eyes widen with fear when blood spilled out of his mouth and besmirched his teeth as he gave a weak laugh.

"Nice to see you, brothers..."

He saw them freeze and become distracted by his last fading word. He felt himself teetering on the edge of consciousness as his hold slipped. He saw them shouting and frantically moving around and grinned.

Now I can sleep.

So he let go.

TBC