Chapter 8: Leo

"Leo's cancer will quickly get worse if left untreated, resulting in the failure of bone marrow , which will in turn lead to the failure of internal organs and..."

"And what, Donnie?"

"...Death."

I had been expecting those words, but they weren't what scared me the most. No. The absolute terror in Donnie's voice and eyes did that.

And then Sapphire had to go and instill some false hope into him.

I'm not gonna lie - that really got my blood boiling. Not because I don't want to believe that there's still a chance, but because I can't risk getting my family's hopes up only for them to be crushed if it doesn't work out.

My mood turns dark and I head for the dojo, needing some release. I find the room empty. Perfect.

Soon I've wrapped my hands in gauze and stretched. I attack the punching bag with all my might, channeling my raw emotions into fierce hits that cause the bag to spin crazily. I don't even realize how hard I've been going at it until there are hands on my shoulders, pulling me away.

"Whoa, Leo! Chill out, bro!"

Raph.

I'm panting. Aching. Exhausted. I turn to my immediate youngest brother and his eyes widen.

"Are you okay?"

"'Course I am, Raph. Why wouldn't I be?"

"Cuz you're crying."

I frown, raising a hand to my face. And freeze. Tears are sliding silently down my cheeks in a wave that just won't stop coming. "I-I'm not...I wasn't crying just a second ago. I mean..." My hands are shaking now and my voice cracks. I swallow. "I'm fine. I-I...I'm gonna be fine. I'm gonna come out of this and be just fine."

"Come out of what?" he asks, his green eyes betraying his worry. "Leo, you're not making any sense. Do you want me to get Donnie?"

And in the end, it's not his words that break me. It's the tenderness and hesitation with which he's approaching me. It's so different from his normal brusque ways that my throat constricts. I sink onto the floor and bury my face in my knees, sobbing.

Footsteps pound on the floor outside and then Donnie and Sapphire burst into the dojo. Sapphire sees me crying and rushes over, throwing her arms around me. "Shh...it's gonna be okay. Everything will be fine. I promise."

"Don't!" I snap, meeting her eyes with my red-rimmed ones. "Don't make a promise you can't keep."

"Promise about what?!" Raph demands. He looks furious and confused and scared all at the same time. "Someone better start talking or I'm gonna-"

"Calm down, Raph," Donnie says warningly. "Take a deep breath and calm down."

"Calm down?" the hothead screeches. "Our big brother is crying like there's no tomorrow and no one will tell me why and you want me to calm down?! Give me one reason why I should calm down, Donnie. Give me one damn-"

"Enough!" The word explodes from my lips so forcefully and loud that Sapphire jerks away, her grey eyes wide with fright. Everyone is staring at me in shock. My shoulders sag and all the anger leaves my system. "Enough," I repeat quietly. I dash at the tears soaking my cheeks and let out a long breath.

Right here and now, I've reached a fork in the road. I can sense it. I have two choices at this moment. I could either tell Raph and the others, or I could hide the truth from them one more time. Not telling them would spare them the awful reality for at least a little longer. That would initially be my choice, but then again...If I do tell them, and Sapphire is right about the possibility of a cure...

Raph leans forward, crossing his arms. His face is still lined with concern. "Well?" he prods.

Breathe. Whatever you do here determines the future.

My eyes close and I clench my hands into fists. And I speak.