Chapter Eleven:
-----------
After two, long, agonizing months of intense pain and discomfort; just when I thought it was finally over, it started all over again.
In other words, I'm repeating the same experience from a month back.
You still don't get it? Okay, I'll be blunt then. I'm growing another wing.
Yeah, you heard me; another goddamn, clumsy wing. As if the first one wasn't a pain, now I'm growing another one, what joy. If I weren't so tired, I'd really like to vent out some anger at Raph's punching bag right now.
I remember it too well, the sharp, stinging pain hitting my sensitive, raw shoulder muscles and sharply zapping right through my nerves. The stabbing in my tender muscles, the throbbing in my heavy head and against my brain, and the overly powerful exhaustion at the simplest of tasks, it was really starting to thin out my patience! I'm surprised I haven't snapped yet.
Also, it turns out there was a late reaction to it all; the dart, I mean.
Previously this week, Mike and Raph had to take off the weights they had strapped on me before. The weights that were supposed to help me balance the rest of my body; they were removed, mainly because father and Don had felt that they were just being useless now, more a hindrance than help, so they're better taken off as to allow my limbs more freedom.
In case you still don't get it: Because of my shell wound and the direct injection of the sap that was in the dart, when it had first hit me, the results were immediate and it only took my new appendage a few hours to create itself, bonding into me by using my own body tissues, tearing them down and reconstructing them, causing the intense pain that accompanied its transformation, and then break free from my body resistance, by digging its way out through the tender layer of my shell and sprouting out.
For a moment, it made me wonder if pregnant women felt the same agonizing pains while giving birth.
With a shudder, I pushed the thoughts aside, the thought itself was awkward to say the least.
It seems that there was still some sap left that had not fixed itself into my shoulder socket, and instead, it kept roaming my body aimlessly, trying to find a place to settle in. personally, I think my body somehow figured my socket had a full quota of the syrup, whatever it was, so as time passed by, the sap had been, as Don said, been digested by my body and unfortunately, all thanks goes to my mutated blood, the substance in the syrup had managed to find its way to my other shoulder, collecting itself and gathering in the other free socket.
It looks like there was something about the sap, that gave it the ability to think for itself, if only temporarily. Clearly, the substance is always more active when I'm sleeping and having a restless slumber, that's why I usually wake up fatigued and exhausted.
'And I used to wonder why I always woke up feeling tired and sore.'
Don suspected it to be some sort of nanobots, I'm not sure, he said he needed to do a few tests to confirm it, but that's the gist of what I understood from the gibberish techno babble he told me. I really wasn't paying attention, and his constant chatter was drilling holes in my ears, it was driving me insane! And don't look at me like that! I was up since three in the morning and couldn't go back to sleep! I was tired, cranky and with sore kinks all over!
Even I can be grouchier than Raph in the morning, you know!
Anyway, the semi-nanobots decided to reconstruct what was left of itself in order to copy the 'orders' in its program, that the remains were still available in the nanos, that were fixed in the socket of my left shoulder.
The growth of the other wing is ten times slower than the first wing, due to the lack of nanos and the lack of 'activity power' in them. Don assumes that instead of needing twenty four hours, to build itself and then set itself free from my body, like the first wing had, -seeing my shell was not fractured on the other side, and the wing will have to bash it's own way through,- this newly growing appendage, will need more time and effort.
From four days to about a week, that's what Donny had roughly estimated for the wing to start finish tearing down the tissues, and then to start digging its way out of my shell. It'll need two weeks to grow out, a third week to exchange the premature feathers with the flight feathers, then perhaps one more week, totaling a little more than a month, in order to catch up to the physical build of my other wing, which is now already a month older.
Of course, it depends if the physical build of this wing is even in par with the first one, due to the fact that the first one came out quickly and strongly, the other might be weaker, because it had less nanos in it.
'What comes fast, goes fast.' Raph muttered once, after hearing our brainy brother's theories regarding my appendage. Don and I chose to ignore him. Also, if I survived that long; my purple masked brother was afraid the process might be more painful than the first time, because the process is now stronger and slower and therefore, I'll need more stamina to live through the 'sprouting' stage.
I felt guilty when they have all gathered around and helped me to the couch, -again! Honestly, I'm beginning to loath that piece of furniture!- ruining that family dinner. I tried to apologize, but they all chided me, telling me I was being ludicrous, that my health is more important. Though the hurt look on Mike's face gave the hint that he did not fully agree to them; afterall, he spent hours in the kitchen, getting everything ready and all, but he swallowed his protest and it made the guilt inside me worse, but I didn't voice it out.
April and Don had spent the late hours at my brother's lab, spending hours upon hours late at night working and analyzing. My brother even had to take another blood sample from me, as well as tissue and blood samples from the one-month-old wing, wanting to compare it with the ones he had gotten earlier that month, when I had first been granted the current wing. April stayed over for the night; wanting to make sure I was alright, not to mention that Don had filled her in on what had happened to me, and how it all started.
Turned out she did not bring up the topic at dinner, because she felt it would only make me uncomfortable. She figured it might be wiser when we've got more private time together. She felt that if I did not bring up the topic in front of the others, then she will not talk about it, because she felt that it would probably bring up something I would want to avoid mentioning.
Somehow I appreciated her effort, it made me feel a little better.
Another week was spent bed ridden and I could barely move my arms. I swear, it felt as if each arm weighed a ton! The wing started digging it way through my shoulder, and the daily sequences of pain I usually ignore. They accure about once every hour or two and would last for about ten to twenty minutes. I endure them silently, unless they're too sharp, they make me groan or flinch, and I hate it when that happens; it makes me feel so helpless.
Mike, Don or April would usually grab some rags and dip them in cold water, pressing then gently over my shell and bare shoulder, clamped coolly against my skin. Mike even exclaimed in amazement that it took only a moment for my hot skin to warm up the rag. 'Dude! That's like some human-oven! Think we should try scrambled eggs next time?'
I would have laughed at his comment, -I actually found it funny!- if only my face wasn't stuffed in the cushions, twisted in pain.
My arm was numb the whole time; I could move it, but I just couldn't feel it.
Raph grouched earlier today, after peeling off the warmed-up rags, exchanging them with the damp, cool ones, saying that there was now a faint crack on the top right corner of my shell, and he guessed it is where the second wing will come out of.
Raph wondered if it would help, if I didn't mind; if they could remove the already fractured shell pieces, in order to let the wingout, but Don refused. Our brainy brother exclaimed that trying to speed up the process may damage the wing, or perhaps damage my shell and muscle tissues as well! He explained that the nanobots within my bloodstream are taking the process slower now, depending more on their lesser number and less resourceful activity, and interfering might do more damage than help!
Raph argued, saying it'll be faster, but then Don explained that my wing is like that of a moth in it's cocoon. They could just as well, easily cut the peeling and help the moth out, but then it'll be too weakand it will die, because it was freed ahead of it's time. It usually takes long before it breaks free from it's cocoon, but by the time it does, its wings would have dried slowly and would be strong enough to survive the outside world. Freeing it too soon would keep it's wings damp and useless, and it'll just die because it's wings had become of no use.
If Raph thought speeding the process is a good thing, -if only for my sake, and I do appreciate it,- he's wrong, because it'll only do more damage then good. Our genius brother explained it that rushing the wing out, might give it an even weaker physical build, which will be even more a waste of time and endurance, so it's better to leave it at its own pace for now.
'It's just like Sensai said. The wing is like a child, and right now it's in its premature state, rushing it's assumed birth will bring it to the world weak and frail, if it is proved useless, then it'll only hinder Leo because it's a part of him and he cant just hack it off!'
Father stayed up most of the night, talking to me, encouraging me, telling me it'll be alright, but I was just too tired, I didn't pay his words much of mind. Thankfully, his expert fingers spend most of the night soothing my tense muscles, and after so long, I managed a restful sleep. The next morning, Mike stayed around for a while, encouraging me as well, exclaiming how cool it would be to have two wings and that it's not so bad; of course, until father grew a bit frustrated at Mike's loud voice and shooed him away, telling him that I'm tired and in need of rest.
Raph on the other hand, just sat back during his 'watch' and was as still and as silent as a green pillar of stone; expression blank and indifferent. If I didn't know any better, I'd say he was refraining from dashing right back out there, hunt for the rookies who did this to me and beat the bloody snot out of them. To myself, I praised him for his selfcontrol; it's not always that he manages to hold in his rage for so long.
April spent most of her day tending to whatever need I let her help me with, seeing she had moved in with us until this problem is resolved, she didn't want to leave before making sure I'll be alright. I spent most of my time on the couch, too weak to go to my room. It was getting rather annoying, being unable to go around my own home without help.
Don, among my brothers, had spent most of his time in his lab, and I could tell by the times he came around again and again, asking questions, if I'm suffering any fever or a relapse or such, or if there is anything else hurting, he was so worried, it was written all over his face.
Then again, the bags under his eyes practically screamed how much he needed some sleep as well. Father had already noticed it, but the only reason he did not interfere or intervene earlier, was because he believed Don was the only one who could help with the situation, but seeing April was now here with us, he decided it was time Don took a break.
Of course, Don had other plans. "Sensei, I'm fine! Really! I've slept for about an hour earlier, I don't need to rest!" Don whined a bit, trying not to groan as master Splinter gently pushed him onto his armchair, tucking him with a blanket, merely a few feet away from where Iam, "I can sleep later! April and I almost figured out how the nanos are working, I'm sure if we- ?"
"I fully understand what you need to do, my son." He interrupted, a finger on Don's lips, shushing him, "You feel that it is your duty to find a cure for this, but you must understand that need your rest as well, Donatello!" he reasoned, chiding gently. After that, lifting both his hands to cup Don's face, he continued, "I am sure Ms. O'Neil will not have any trouble following your research notes."
"Father, I understand, really I do! It's just that- uh, how do I phrase this;" Don tried to argue, rubbing his temple, probably getting a headache; he was clearly too tired to keep going at it.
With a small smile, putting a hand on Don's temple, checking his temperature, and then sliding it down to cup his cheek, father spoke once more, "I do believe I understand what you mean to say, Donatello." He tilted Don's chin to lock eyes with him, "But still, I insist that you need your fair share of rest as well, my son. You can not continue neglecting your body needs like so." He then told, giving him a look of parental concern.
"You have been driving yourself to exhaustion since the very beginning, and it's already clearly taking a toll to your physical demeanor." He sighed softly, sparing me a small smile, before turning to Don again, "I admire your determination to aid your brother, and I'm sure he appreciates it as well, but wearing yourself out like so will not help matters any."
"I agree with Sensei, Donny." I added, joining into the conversation, "I appreciate the help, really, I do! But if you got sick because of me, I'll never forgive myself." I sighed, "We both need a break and I'm sure we both could use the company." I grinned weakly.
He glanced at me with disappointment, probably hoping I'd support him and let him go off with April to continue his research.
"Rest for now, my sons; we will talk again in the morning." Sensei smiled a bit, giving Don a warning glance. A glance that simply stated: 'I'll be back to check up on you later, so you had better be asleep, understood?'
Defeated, Don nodded with a sigh, "Hai, sensei." He paused for a moment, regarding father's questioning gaze, so he gave a tiny smile, "And yes, I will get some real rest, unlike Raph, I don't sneak out of bed when I know I shouldn't."
"Says you!" Raph walked into the area, crossing his arms over his chest, "If I remember correctly, ya did sneak out of yer bedroom while sick and restricted to bed multiple times." He smirked.
Don shot him a warning glare, "It was just once! Geesh, twist my arm why don't you." He grumbled.
Father gave a negative shake, and then turned to address our red masked brother, "Where is Michelangelo?"
"Mikey's with Ape; chatting about Leo's wings and stuff." He shrugged, "I think he's got this flying turtle idea way too deep into his skull, he wont stop yapping about it!" he grouched.
Father smiled, "Then would you please see what they're up to? I do not wish for Michelangelo to disturb Ms. O'Neil while she's busy." Father paused for a moment, complementing the situation, "Call him, I wish to speak to the four of you for a moment." He told and Raph bowed his head, turning around to fetch our orange masked brother.
I sat there, just staring quizzically at father, wondering what he wanted to talk to us about. I half wondered if it was about the wing, but then figured it could be something else. I kept thinking about it for a few more minuets, until Raph returned with Mikey in tow, and out energetic brother was already chattering a hundred words per minute; Raph looked about ready to snap.
"My sons, please, gather around." Father began, ushering them to the only seat left free.
Mike and Raph glanced at each other, before they looked at Sensei, and then Raph spoke, "Sensei, I think it's better if you take the seat."
Father arched a brow, his tail lashing a bit,"I appreciate the gesture, my sons, but I would prefer if you sit down for this." He informed, glancing at Mike, who just shrugged, so father smiled and continued, "Sit down, it'll only be a moment."
My orange and red masked brothers shared a strange glance, after hearing father's statement, and if I didn't know any better, I'd say a spark was lit between them, the second their glances met! As if announcing a war, Raph and Mike suddenly sprint one after the other and tackled each other to the floor, wrestling over who will claim the free seat.
Don jumped and yelped in his seat when they first started it, seeing they slammed the floor a mere hair away from his feet, forcing him to pull up his legs and hug his knees, causing his blanket to bundle up in his lap. Smothering a weary grin, he rolled his eyes and glanced at me, while I flinched inwardly at the loud noise they were making. I just smiled back and shrugged.
Father palmed his face, his ears pinned down to his skull at Raph's snarling and Mike's argument chuckling; they were going 'Oh yeah? Yeah! Oh yeah? Yeah! Oh Yeah! Yeah!' but I could make out a small smile on our father's lips. I guess he sort of knew they were going to start a fight over it, but nothing like this. After a moment, Raph pinned Mike to the floor by doing a foul! Also known as cheating, poking and tickling our youngest brother around the sensitive side's skin, and earning a loud girly scream drowning in uncontrolable laughter! Raph was then grinning in triumph, seated on the comfy recliner, looking down at Mike, who settled on the floor with a glare and pout.
"That was so uncalled for, Raphie!" Mike complained, stretching out his bottom lip and wrinkling his snout.
Raph shrugged, "Hey, don't blame me for your loss."
"You cheated!" Mike accused, up on his knees he jabbed a finger at Raph.
"Did not! We fought fair and square!" Raph said in boredom, not even phased by Mike's accusation.
Before they could say anything else, father clapped his hands, his cane tucked under his arm. Once getting our full attention, he glanced at Mike, "My son, please; I'm sure you'll do better next time, but for now, we need to talk." Father pulled his cane from under his arm and tapped its head to the floor, as if a request for us to settle down so he'd speak.
Looking at us one by one, I saw Don settle back on the seat, letting his feet on the floor, but when he tried to fold up the blanket so he'd set it aside, father shot him a glance. Defeated, Don sighed and unfolded it, spreading it over his legs and settling more comfortably on the seat once more. Raph, on the other hand, after sending Don a bemused smirk, leaned to one side on his armchair, elbow on the arm rest and his fist on his cheek, looking at Sensei with a curious glint in his eyes.
I glanced at Mike, who decided to settle at the head of the couch, his shell pressed to the seat. I wanted to scoot off and offer him some space, to at least move my legs away, but my upper body felt like a ton of bricks, and the wings were making it harder to move. With a faint sigh, I watched him curl up closer to me and hugged his knees, now paying attention to Sensei.
I had my arms folded under my chin and with a pillow nestled between them. Most of the time, my head feels too heavy and I end upfalling asleep, sometimes even during the middle of a conversation! My head feels too heavy to lift, not to mention painful and makes my neck all stiff. I'm not talking just about the splitting headache, either! My eyes feel dry and droopy, I mostly fall asleep for an hour or so every so hours. Blame it on the fact that the nanobots become more active when I'm resting; or when I'm trying to rest.
Father started talking and I think it was about the change that had happened to me, and how we should adapt to it and try to work it out, so it'll be easier for me to move about with two wings instead of one. He was questioning our purple masked brother about how it had all started, and Don told him about the nanobots, much to Mike's confusion.
Don explained that the nanobots are small, computer-like creatures that follow a system and rules, a bit like the antibiotics inside one's body, but in a whole deferent level, seeing the nanos were man-made and had flaws in their programming and system.
"Flaws? What do ya mean by flaws?" Raph grouched, not liking how the explanation is going.
"I mean by flaws is that the nanos, instead of seizing function, after emptying the continents of the syringe into Leo's socket, they have continued to function and remained active during the sprouting stage." He paused for a moment, rubbing his tired eyes, "I think they were somehow feeding off Leo's blood, it's what kept them going and helped them become a part of Leo's immune system." He then stifled a yawn,"It seems as though they have also multiplied for seeming the same reason, and instead of growing lesser in number, therefore stopping all activities, they have increased and had become even more active! It's the reason Leo is so restless lately." He glanced at me for a moment, before looking back at our family.
"Is there a way to stop it, my son?" father questioned, whiskers and tail twitching.
Don gave a negative shake, "If there is one, I still haven't fount it yet." He sighed and rubbed his sore eyes again, blinking tiredly and trying to clear his fuzzy vision, before he continued his explanation, "The nano's programming had somehow been designed that when a certain 'point' had had its full quota, or enough quantity of active nanos in it, they are to move out to another location, a similar spot that provides the same amount of resources and nourishments to keep them going, in this case, Leo's blood, and then strike a post there."
He glanced at me again, "From what I gather, it's how Leo's first wing came to be."
"Well can't you overwrite the system or something?" Raph growled.
Don gave a negative shake, "I've been trying it for a while now, but I realized that at every failed attempt to overwrite the system or the programming, the nanos either go fritz, crazy, or self-destruct!" he grouched, "And I'm sure we don't want that."
"What happens to the nanos when they're no longer active?" Mike asked, worry clear in his voice, "Is there a way to slow them down and extract them or something?" he hugged his knees tighter.
Don gave another negative shake, "I tried that. When I put them under extreme heat they multiply, and when I put them under very low temperature, they slow down to a halt." He inhaled deeply, allowing the air to stretch his tired lungs, wanting to stay awake, "Of course, we can't try that, because both the heat and the freezing point will probably kill Leo, before we even get close to the point of affecting them." He leaned back against the backrest and suppressed a loud yawn, "Uh, yet still, slowing down the activity does not mean we can just disconnect them from Leo."
"It doesn't?" Mike inquired, dejected.
"No it doesn't." Don sighed again, clearly exhausted and is more than willing to get some rest now for a change, "From the blood sample I've obtained, they're a part of his blood cycle and immune system now, they're the reason he can control the wing." he glanced at me with an apologetic smile, "The only reason Leo was able to control the wing at all, was because the nanos had made residents in his brain."
"His brain?" Raph gawked, utterly confused.
"Yes, they had somehow made telpethic connections and cords from the wing to Leo's brain, registering the new limb as a part of his body." Don yawned once more, before rubbing his bloodshot eyes while continuing, "Without the nanos, the wing will function on its own and will be even clumsier than it had first started." He grouched and stopped rubbing his eyes.
Don paused blinking a few, and then smiled sheepishly at my, "No offence."
I smiled and nodded my head, as if I could, "None taken."
Unfortunately, Don continued to explain some other details regarding the oil glands and the part about balancing both wings, but I was growing more exhausted the more I tried to resist sleep. In the end, mybody was shutting down and though I fought it the best I could, wanting to stay up and listen, it was much stronger and I lost to my footage.
I could hear father's voice later on, but his words were lost to my ears, yet his fingers working on my tense muscles was lulling, it made me sink deeper into my slumber and I found it most appreciated.
After all, Mike and Raph were good in massaging, but no one can do it as well as Sensei.
I was tired and in dear need of sleep, so I let go of the real world and sunk into the real of dreams.
And then, there was the comfortable, silent blackness…
Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
A/N: well, I guess this story is going to be more than fifteen-twenty chapters after all…