Once we were back to the lair, I apologized with Master Splinter. Luckily he wasn't angry at me and the guys accepted me as their new leader immediately. Whoa! Lucky me.
…
…
"Whoa! Raphie-boy is leader!" Mikey cheered.
"Yep and don't think I'm gonna go easy on you, Mikey. I ain't Leo" Raph chuckled.
"I'm aware of that bro. And certainly… I wouldn't like to have a second Leo. We like you for who you are" Mikey said.
"Hotheaded and impatient?" Raph teased.
"Yeah, yeah. Just like that" Mikey laughed.
"So, how does it feel? You know, being leader" Don asked.
"Weird but nice. In fact, I don't feel any difference" Raph shrugged.
"Raphael, your brother Leonardo wants to see you" Splinter announced once he entered into the living room. Raph left the place and walked upstairs to his brother's room.
"Leo? Ya wanted to see me?" Raph said knocking the door.
"Yeah, please come in" Leo said. Raph opened the door and found Leo with a little brown with golden chest on his lap.
"I wanted to give you something" Leo said. Raph sat beside him looking at the chest in puzzlement. Leo opened it and pulled out a golden medal.
"Wait a sec, that's the medal Splinter gave ya when you…" Raph said recognizing the object.
"When I became leader. Yes, it is. And now it's yours" Leo said handing the medal to Raph.
"Leo, I… I don't know what to say!" Raph said happily and nervous at the same time.
"You deserved it, bro. That will remind you I gave you a big responsibility; the life of the ones you love and care for are in your hands now and I know you'll be better than me" Leo said smiling.
"Not true bro. Ya'll always be our leader… no matter what" Raph said pulling his brother into a hug.
"If you say so" Leo chuckled returning the embrace.
A week later…
Our first patrol night in weeks was a success. I don't wanna show off but I made it big time as leader. But to be sincere, I wouldn't have made it without Leo's advices.
Heh, who would believe a hotheaded like me could learn how to be patient? I didn't believe it myself at first but sensei says I'm making a great progress.
One month and 3 weeks…
Leo's bike is almost ready… one more week and I'll be ready to show it to him. I can't wait to see his face! I'm just hoping he'll be strong enough to have at least a little ride… well, I'll have to help him if he can't do it. No biggie.
This thing of being leader is kinda nice: extra training, meditation sessions, Splinter gave me some books and some extra lessons… it's gre… gr…
WHO THE SHELL I THINK I'M FOOLING? IT'S HORRIBLE! I can't stand this! Ok, I like the extra training but I hate those boring and long meditation sessions! And those boring old books! Shell!
Anyway, the guys are giving me all their support and Leo gave me some advices too. I guess it was also hard for him. Speaking of Fearless… I'll go to see if he's ok; last night he told me he felt his breathing stopping for a second. Creepy!
Leo's room
Apparently he's ok. Asleep, no sign of pain… or movement. Better check his temperature. Where did Donnie leave the thermometer?
…
…
"Don? Where did you leave Leo's thermometer?" Raph yelled from out of Leo's room.
"Did you look on his drawer?" Don yelled back from the living room.
"K, thanks" Raph said and went back to Leo's room.
"C'mon buddy, ya gotta wake up for a sec. I'm gonna check your temp" Raph said shaking Leo gently.
"Whoa, he's cold!" Raph thought.
He shook Leo insistently without getting any reaction from him. Raph tried not to panic and touched Leo's neck searching for his pulse. His eyes opened wide when he found none.
"No, no, no! Please, Leo! DONNIE! I NEED YA HERE! LEO'S NOT BREATHING!" Raph yelled and started CPR immediately.
"C'mon Leo, c'mon!" Raph muttered as he pressed Leo's chest.
"Raph, stay back!" Donnie yelled and placed the oxygen mask on Leo's face.
"Don, tell me ya can do sumthin'!" Raph looked at his genius brother.
"I'm trying! Keep pressing his chest!" Don ordered. Raph complied.
"Guys! What's happening?" Mikey asked nervously.
"Leo's not breathing!" Don said causing Mikey to gasp in panic.
"Should I call LH?" Mikey suggested.
"Yes, please but quickly!" Don nodded.
"C'mon Leo! Ya gotta breath!" Raph said. Both Don and Raph stayed with Leo, doing CPR and giving him oxygen till he started to cough and recovered conscience again.
"Whew… close call. Very close, I have to say" Don sighed in relief.
"Don't cha ever scare us like that!" Raph yelled.
"Nngh… my…*cough*… chest hurts" Leo managed to say.
"Well, I guess Raph pressed it a little too hard" Don smiled nervously.
"I was desperate!" Raph replied.
"LH is in coming. LEO! YOU'RE OK!" Mikey yelled happily and ran to his brother's side tackling him into a hug.
"Hey Mikey" Leo smirked hugging his little brother back.
"I thought you were… you were…" Mikey started sobbing.
"Ssh, don't cry Mikey. You know I'll leave someday" Leo soothed him.
"N-not like that… not like that!" Mikey cried.
"My sons, Leatherhead is here" Splinter entered with Leatherhead beside him.
"What happened? How is Leonardo?" LH asked.
"We could help him breathe again" Don explained.
"I can see that. Donatello, I will need you to help me getting him to your laboratory" LH said. Don and LH moved Leo carefully to Don's lab. The croc asked them to leave him alone with Leo for a while. Minutes later, he came out with the results.
"Well?" Don asked.
"You helped him just in time… but I fear I have very bad news" LH said sadly.
"More of those ones?" Mikey muttered.
"Michelangelo!" Splinter said in a serious tone.
"Leonardo's system is collapsing. He won't resist for much longer" LH explained. The turtles and Splinter were devastated with the news.
"How long?" Splinter asked.
"Probably three or four days" LH said with a sigh.
"Can I see him?" Raph asked.
"Sure. He's sleeping now" LH said opening the lab's door and closing it once Raph was inside. The red masked turtle approached to Leo's sleeping form.
"Hey buddy. It's me, Raph. LH told us… yer body's giving up. Not so good news, huh?" Raph said picking a chair and placing it beside Leo's bed.
"Mikey is crying like shell; Donnie's trying to comfort him but… he's also hurt. We're all hurt seeing you like this" Raph continued. He took one of Leo's hands and squeezed it slightly.
"Please Leo, if ya can hear me… don't give up. Not yet, not now… no ever. I promise ya a bike, remember? I only need one week and it'll be done! So, please, please… fight bro. Yer a fighter, a warrior!" Raph said hoping his brother could hear him.
"Please Leo, please God… I'm only asking you for a week, just a week!" Raph kept talking, his throat hurting and his eyes burning for the repressed tears.
"Just a week… and then… You can take him. Please God… please" Raph muttered. He couldn't hold it for much longer and ended up crying softly; his brother's hand pressed on his cheek.