A/N: omg I've finally found some inspiration to continue with this story! It's been years. I'm so sorry! I just couldn't work out what to do. I think I do now. This will be the second last chapter.
Previously
"Leo…" Raph said again.
"I see it too," Leo answered before Raph finished. He could just make out the outline of his brother in front of him. Light was coming from somewhere.
"Hey maybe we're near the entrance," Raph said.
"Hopefully," Leo responded, feeling hopeful.
It was hard to tell but it seemed like they rounded a slight bend and then there it was. Light. Not an entrance per se, but light from above, coming from gaps in the 'roof' of the cave.
"Light!" Leo breathed.
"Maybe we can get out!" Raph said, moving a little faster towards it.
Now
It wasn't enough to light the whole cave. But it was enough that they could clearly see around them...which was a really good thing as this section of the cave had several large rocks of various sizes scattered about. The light was kind of like being outside at night under a full moon.
Just like we were before all this happened, Leo thought.
The turtles still didn't know how much time had passed, but Leo thought it was definitely at least the next day.
Both the brothers moved together so they were directly under the cracks and Leo let go of Raph's shell as he spoke "It's definitely sunlight...we've been in here all night and at least part of the day".
Raph nodded, turning in a full circle and then looking ahead "It's..." he began but was cut off by Leo having yet another coughing fit.
Raph waited, he was starting to get so worried and frustrated. Leo really didn't look well, Raph noted. He looked exhausted, sick. Worry coiled tighter in Raph's stomach.
Raph reached out and put one hand on Leo's shoulder. Once Leo had stopped coughing Raph started again, "It's still dark as hell further down.."
"Yeah," Leo spoke slowly trying to prevent any further coughing fits. "I think the rock was weaker here... and it has cracked over time...I'm pretty sure that's ground up there".
Despite his best efforts Leo began coughing again. Each coughing fit making him weaker then the last.
"That's it," Raph growled in frustration climbing onto one of the large rocks, ignoring his protesting ribs and knee.
"Raph," Leo started, startled at his brothers sudden movements.
"I'm getting us out of here!" Raph said grabbing a sai from his belt and reaching up to the closet crack it the rock. Raph jammed the tip of his sai into the crack trying to chip away at the rock. He didn't care that this position was painful for his ribs, knee, or any other part of his sore tired body. He didn't care that he might break his sai. He didn't care that he barely had any energy with how dehydrated he felt. He didn't care that it seemed impossible. He was getting his brother out of here!
Leo watched as Raph attacked the rock, stunned for a few moments. His head...while no worse, was still no better and it took him a good few seconds to catch on to Raph's idea.
"Be careful," Leo said to his brother, worrying about the way Raph had to stretch out and balance on the rock, while using quite a lot of force on the crack above them.
"Leo, don't..." Raph began to speak, turning his head to his brother; while stabbing at the rock at the same time. Raph didn't finish his sentence though, because a big piece of the rock came away, bringing with it what looked like a fair amount of dirt. Raph slipped as he got a face full of it, landing on the ground hard.
"Raph!" Leo yelled, limping to his brothers side, while coughing.
Leo was barely to Raph when Raph jolted up in a panic screaming and flailing his limbs about.
Leo felt panic grip him, as he tried to grab hold of his flailing brother, while getting his cough under control. He managed to grab one of Raph's wrists before said turtle could start running. Leo had no idea what was happening until he felt it. Bugs. Whatever Raph had dislocated from the surface had housed bugs, hundreds of them. Now Leo was closer, he could see the small black creatures crawling all over his panicking brother.
Leo managed to get hold of a Raph with his other hand as well, "Raph, we'll get them off" Leo said speaking as soothingly as he could manage.
Leo began to brush them from Raph's face and arms. Raph still tense, frantically brushed them from his torso.
"It's ok, it's ok," Leo repeated, as he moved as quickly as his injuries would allow to make sure they were all gone.
Once they were all off Raph backed himself as far away as he could from the hole he'd made, until he was up against the cave wall. He then slumped down and curled in on himself.
Leo stiffly lowered himself down next to his brother, and rubbed Raph's neck and shoulder soothingly. Raph was vibrating with residual panic. And Leo realised his brother was fighting back tears.
"They're gone, they're gone. It's ok, it's ok," Leo repeated over and over, making sure no more were anywhere near his brother.
Slowly Raph's breathing evened out and he lent into Leo. Leo wrapped his arms around Raph and rocked them slowly, trying to be careful of Raph's ribs. Leo hoped he hadn't injured them more when he fell, and he doubted this position could be that comfortable. But Raph was holding him tight and Leo wasn't letting him go.
After a while Leo spoke, "Raph...you, you did it, I think we can get out".
Raph slowly lifted his head, he'd made a hole...that they could fit through.
Raph was so relieved he thought he might cry again.
Slowly the brothers got to their feet, Leo moved first making sure the bugs had crawled off. There was only a lingering few. Raph carefully navigated around them.
"You first" Raph spoke, for the first time since the bug attack. His voice rough but fairly steady, as he hoisted himself back onto the rock.
"No way...you're ribs..." Leo panted.
"Leo, you can barely breathe...there's no way you can lift me right now," Raph said kneeling and locking his fingers together to make a foot hold for his brother. "And I'm taller then you, I'll have more chance of pulling myself up," Raph added.
"You're injured Raph..." Leo began.
"So are you," Raph replied gesturing for Leo to climb up.
Air, sun it felt so good even with the strain of pulling himself out of the hole as Raph pushed him up. Somehow Leo found the strength to claw himself all the way out. It took Leo a really long time to get his coughing under control and for the world to stop spinning. The sun was low in the sky. It had nearly been a full night and day.
Raph had to take a few minutes to recover as well. Leo was out, but Raph didn't have much strength left either. Everything hurt. And the panic attack had zapped his strength as well.
Leo pushed himself up into a kneeling position and checked around them. The coast seemed clear, but Leo didn't feel like his senses were functioning that well. Leo crawled back over to the opening carefully.
Raph sat on the rock. He was starting to wonder whether he had the strength to jump and start pulling himself out of the hole.
"Raph, you ok?" Leo asked looking down at his brother.
"Yeah," Raph replied, looking up at Leo.
"Come on...I'll pull you out", Leo said waiting for his brother to make a move. No matter how much he was struggling he'd help his brother.
"Leo I..." Raph started.
"Raph, Leo cut in reaching for his brother, "Raphie," Leo started but stopped turning his head after hearing a twig snap somewhere behind him.
Raph stood and climbed onto the rock, slightly startled by Leo's use of that name. Mikey used it often. But not Leo, not since they were little. Leo suddenly disappeared from Raph's view, distracted by something behind him. Raph mustered what strength he had to jump. All Raph could think of was that Leo was alone and injured and there was something up there...
