Hello! I want to thank everyone who has supported me thus far. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. I will continue to do my best to update, although it may be difficult sometimes, as I have returned to school. But I hope you wil stick with me through it all. Thank you for reading, reviewing, faving, alerting, etc.
Onward!
"Why isn't he answering?" Leonardo dialed Donatello's number again, waiting out the rings five times before being directed to voicemail for the sixth time in a row. Leo stared at the phone, stomach tightening. Raphael and Michelangelo watched, Raph rolling his eyes when Leo went to try again.
"Listen, instead of calling, how about we just get off our butts and look for him? Or did you call me and Mikey back so we could have a wimp n' worry session?" Raph pushed himself off the large, curved vent of the apartment complex, gritting his teeth. "And what's with you freaking out? For all we know, he go distracted by another computer store. Or did you already forget last week?"
Leo glared at Raphael, gaze switching to Mikey as he inched toward Raph. The orange wearing turtle grinned at Leo, chuckling and rubbing the back of his neck.
Leo's shoulders sagged a bit and he sighed. "All right. He's-"
The T-Phone's ringing cut Leo off and he fumbled with the phone, accepting the call and pressing the device to his ear.
"Donatello, why didn't you-"
"In pursuit." Leo stood straighter at his brother's hoarse voice, catching Don's panting on the other line. Static crackled on the other end, in tune with Donatello's breaths.
"Of who?" Leo waved his brothers' concerned and curious looks away, focusing on Don's voice. His eyes roved the streets, half-expecting Don to appear from one of the alleys.
"A woman. All black clothes, blonde hair. Caught her in the middle of a burglary." A pause came and Leo's heart skipped at the sound of gunfire.
"Don!"
"I'm okay." Another breath on the other end sent another screeching wave static through the line and Leo growled.
"You don't sound okay!"
"She works for the Kraang! She knows where April's dad is. We're heading toward North and Maple."
"Be there soon." The words barely left Leo's mouth before Don hung up, leaving Leo with dial tone. Leo turned to Raphael and Michelangelo, squaring his shoulders. "North and Maple. Now." Two nods later and the three were jumping from rooftop to rooftop, slipping into the shadows whenever possible.
"What'd Don get himself into now?" Raph asked once he caught up with Leo.
"Possible informant for the Kraang."
"Wait, so we're being spied on? Right now?" Mikey gasped, turning his head this way and that, scanning the streets for more informants and spies. "What'll we do? What of they find the pizza place down by-"
"Not that kind of informant, Mikey." Leo shook his head as they took another jump, glancing at a nearby street sign. His eyes lit up at the two signs, one reading North, the other Maple. We're here but...where's Don?
Shots tore through the air and the streets were suddenly lit by neon pink bullets. A woman and Donatello ran into view, the woman twisting around to fire a few more shots at Don. The three brothers leapt down a fire escape and toward the ground, drawing their weapons as they landed. The woman whipped around, eyes widening. "You little freak! You called for back-up!"
Donatello's staff flew toward her head but she ducked, air whooshing above her while she rolled along the ground. She used her hands to push off the ground and away from another swing, landing on her feet only to have to duck again. Her hair flew in front of her eyes and she panicked, shouting and aiming her blaster at Don's stomach.
Raphael spotted the action as they charged, snarling and throwing one of his sais with all the force he could put in his right arm. With a screech, the woman flew to the ground, pulling the trigger on impact. Leo, Raph, and Mikey's stomach's bottomed out when the pink bullet hit and sent Donatello to the ground, smoke swirling up from his torso. Leonardo and Michelangelo sprinted toward their fallen brother, but Raphael screamed and ran for the woman, other sai at the ready. She jumped at the animalistic sound, meeting Raph's burning eyes.
Her face paled and she scrambled up, dropping her gun and picking up his sai. Her fingers slipped on the metal but she kept her grip long enough to throw it toward Raphael's head.
Raphael's eyes narrowed to slits and he caught the sai mid-air without so much as blinking, chest swelling and blood thrumming hot.
"Raph, forget her! We need your help!" Leo shouted. Raphael slowed and stuttered to a stop, torn between his brother and his target. Leo's breath caught when Raphael turned back to the woman's retreating form, only to shudder it out when he shot back to them. Leo easily caught the swears and curses Raphael ground out, but he was beside them in moments, leaning over Donatello.
Donatello's breathing was raspy but steady, the bullet having burned his right arm rather than his stomach. Leo searched Donatello and pulled out all the medical supplies he found in the pouches and satchels, lying them around him.
"Why is he out? I mean, i-it didn't hit-" Mikey's voice wavered and Leo swallowed hard, screaming within for his hands to stop shaking. Focus. I need to focus. We're already down one brother. I don't need to make it worse.
"It's probably from the force of the blow. He was pretty close when she shot him," Leo said, prodding around Donatello's neck and head, inspecting him to be sure he was safe to move. Just like you showed me, Don. "He probably has a concussion," Leo continued. "He hit the concrete pretty hard."
Leo winced at his own words, briefly meeting Mikey's wide and frightened eyes. "It's not as bad as it sounds, Mikey. We just need to get him home, re-treat this burn-" he glanced at Raphael, nodding at his brother as Raph tied off the bandage around Don's arm, "and wake him every-"
"Four to five hours," Mikey finished. He looked toward Donatello, his shoulder slumping. "That-I heard Don say it once."
Leo's gaze softened and he put his fingers to the pulse on Don's neck, noting the irregular heartbeat. "Listen, Mikey, you're the fastest, right? I need you to head back home and tell Master Splinter what happened. Hopefully April's still there too. Help them get ready for Don, okay?"
Mikey nodded vigorously, disappearing into the shadows and leaving the three alone. Leo and Raph's eyes locked and Leo suppressed a shudder. Raphael's eyes still burned, dark and angry. His brother's entire body was stiff and tight with fury. Then Raph snarled one last time, lost in his own thoughts as he knelt down and held his hands out, his shell facing Leo. Even now, the anger seemed to choke the air around his brother, and the look in his eyes left Leo's chest cold.
What would have happened if he caught her?
"You gonna stare all night or help me?" Leo shook his head at Raph's voice, gently picking Donatello up and easing him into Raphael's waiting piggyback.
"Be careful of the burn."
"I know, I know." But Raphael kept glancing at Don, adjusting and readjusting his silent brother until he was sure Don was as secure and comfortable as possible. With a nod at Leonardo, Raphael started down the nearest alley, Leo pressed close behind. He watched, heart jumping whenever Don groaned or shook a little too hard in Raph's grasp.
Be okay, Donnie.
"That's it, April. Breathe. Your head must be clear so that your body is ready to take on any challenges it may face." April nodded at Splinter's words, her eyes closed as she took several long, deep breaths. She counted them off in her head, trying to rid herself of everything she'd felt that day: that annoying guy who sat in front of her in physics, the constant questioning from her aunt as to where she spent her evenings, the worry of her father...
"Be careful. Do not dwell on the thoughts. Let them roll over you-"
A crash made April jump, clutching her heart and whipping around to face the noise. Splinter's ears twitched but he remained stone-faced, rising to his feet with his cane. As the familiar footsteps came closer, his fur stood on end, the skin beneath tingling.
"What was-"
"Master Splinter! April!" Michelangelo flew inside, panting hard and looking frantic. He skid to Splinter, his father resting a hand on his breathless son's shoulder. "We-we need-"
"Breathe, Michelangelo. What is wrong?"
Mikey opened his mouth wide and sucked in as much air as his lungs would allow, exhaling loudly. His shoulders slumped momentarily, only for him to perk back up and start in a flurry of rushed words, "Master Splinter, we were out on patrol and Donnie called and he said he was running after some kind of lead but by the time we caught up with him it was too late and there was a fight and a shot and Leo and Raph are bringing Donnie here so you guys can treat him for a burn and a concussion and maybe some other things but I'm not sure anymore and-and-and-"
Splinter grabbed his son's shoulders and squeezed, Mikey blinking and taking a few more deep breaths. Mikey felt light-headed and sluggish, but picturing Donnie motionless on the street jerked him back into action. He pulled away from Splinter, running a hand over his face.
"Master Splinter, we-"
"Go. Sit, my son. April and I will get the medical supplies." Splinter gently pushed his son to the floor, resting his hand on Mikey's head when he tried to stand again. "Sit. When they arrive, you will be needed."
Mikey slowly nodded, easing into position and bouncing his leg up and down. Splinter gestured for April to follow him and she jumped up immediately, following his long, swift strides down the hall.
April's heart clogged her throat. She had only managed to catch part of Mikey's hurried explanation, but she knew she heard "Donnie" and "hurt" in that mess, and her hands shook at the thought.
"Please hold these, Ms. O'Neil." She shook herself out of her head and held out her arms, cradling burn cream, bandages, and several bottles of medicine. Splinter muttered something about healing tea before he turned and started down the hall again, April on his heels. They soon emerged into the living room, Splinter calling for Michelangelo just as thuds and voices echoed to them.
April swallowed and stepped closer to Splinter, heart racing at what she was about to see. The voices grew louder and she bit her lip. Within seconds, Leonardo and Raphael came panting into the lair, Donatello held close to Raphael's back.
"Sensei," Leo said, just as breathless as Mikey had been and his eyes filling with relief. April shifted her feet, uncomfortable by how worried Leo looked. She craned her neck to get a better glance of Donatello, Raphael bringing him to the couch.
"-ussion. He's got some cuts too and his left arm's gashed. He must have fought her a bit before too. I mean, he was pretty banged up when he got to us and-and sensei...she just aimed and shot. If Raphael hadn't thrown his sai..."
"Now is not the time to dwell on ifs, Leonardo. We must treat your brother's wounds. And wake him soon." Leo nodded and Splinter turned to April, giving her a slight nod. She stepped forward, handing whatever Splinter asked for and soon working with him on Don's wounds.
She leaned over Donatello's still form, heart skipping and seizing painfully. Her eyes were drawn to the large burn on his right arm, her hands applying burn cream after Splinter cleaned the skin around it. Don's arm jerked slightly when she applied the cream, and just as she capped it off he groaned, trying to twist away.
April raised an eyebrow, perplexed until she heard Leonardo mumbling apologies near her. He had Donatello's leg in his grasp and was tightening bandages around a deep cut. A chill swept over her when her eyes finally took in the blood, but she forced her gaze away, absently reaching for the rag that was handed to her and setting to clean the smaller cuts on his torso. Every now and again she would spot a flash of orange, red, or blue, or hear another moan from Donatello, but she refused to look up from her work. The dirt and dried blood slowly disappeared, and her fingers, though shaking, soon covered his nicks and cuts in bandages.
A thin paw wrapped around her wrist and she looked up, heart jumping up her throat again. Splinter closed his eyes and April gulped, stepping away. She glanced around at the brothers, who also stood away from Donatello as silently asked. All their eyes were dark and troubled, watching their father hover over their fallen brother. Leo's face was the most stoic of the three, but she caught him biting his lip every now and again. Raph, on the other hand, looked ready to punch a wall, his face twisted in a snarl. Mikey's eyes were wide and bright, his hands wrapped in tight balls to keep them from shaking.
April turned away, closing her eyes and taking a deep breath. Oh, Donnie, what happened? She tried to recall Mikey's explanation but could only remember him mentioning a woman. Nothing else came to mind. Splinter standing caught her eye, her shoulders hitching when he cleared his throat and faced them.
"His wounds are not as serious I had initially feared, but we must watch his arm. I will discuss it with you three later. But his concussion..." The turtles stood a little straighter at this and Raphael clenched his hands. "We will need to keep an all night vigil, awaken him as needed, and clean his wounds."
"Hai, sensei," the boys said in unison.
Splinter bowed his head and moved toward Donatello, laying a gentle paw on his head. Placing his other paw on Don's chest, he shook him lightly, watching Don's face scrunch up. With another low groan, Donatello slowly opened his eyes, squinting and glancing around. Splinter's face eased into focus and Don's eyes widened.
"M-master Splinter?" Donatello rocked his skull, pain blooming in his forehead. He pressed his palm to his forehead, ignoring the throb that followed, and blinked as Splinter began to poke and prod his head and neck. Realization came rushing to Donatello and he blew out a sigh, letting his left arm fall back to the couch. The room swirled too much for Don anyway.
"I think I hit the back of my skull here," Donatello mumbled, leaning up a bit so Splinter could see. "And my top left." Cool, thin fingers pressed on the skin, which pulsed beneath Splinter's fingertips. He waited until Splinter's paws withdrew before letting his head fall back down. Another heavy breath left him and Donatello's eyes felt hot and sunken. Splinter placed a hand on Don's cheek, watching him fight to keep his eyes open.
"It's all right, my son. Rest for now. One of your brothers will wake you in a few hours." Donatello narrowed his eyes and bit his lip.
"But, sensei..."
"Not buts. Now have some tea and go to sleep." Splinter reached for the cup on the coffee table and gestured for April, making all three brothers slump when none of them were chosen to help.
April hurried over, her heart beating normally again after hearing Donatello's voice. Splinter handed April the cup and helped Don sit up just enough to sip the tea. The move was tender and April's chest ached at the thought of her own father. As Donatello drank, his mouth making a popping noise as it left the cup, he caught her eye and muttered, "I'm sorry."
April's mouth parted in surprise and she shook her head. "No, Don. Why are you-there's nothing to-" She stopped, giving him a small smile. "I'm just worried. About you, about what happened, about...well, you get it." Splinter lowered Don's head back down and took the cup from April, watching the exchange with a careful eye.
"No, April. I'm sorr-"
"Stop apologizing. Okay?" She grabbed his hand and squeezed, her own shoulders drooping when she saw Donatello's eyes flutter closed.
He was gone before he could answer.