Thursday
Finally, after months of hard work… it's done. Leo's bike is done! At last! Shell, I'm exhausted, but this… this is worthy.
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"Whoa! Raph, it's perfect! Are you gonna show it to him now?" Casey said as he entered to the barn.
"Not yet. How far we are from the next beach?" Raph asked.
"And you're asking me that because?" Casey asked back in puzzlement.
"Duh! I'm gonna take Leo to a beach for his first ride. I know the sand could be tricky but…" Raph said.
"Why a beach?" Casey asked again still confused.
"Don't know. Just thought of it" Raph shrugged.
"The closest ocean beach to Northampton is Carson Beach in Dorchester… that's 109 miles east, just outside Boston. But it'll take a while to arrive there" Casey said. "Well, we're gonna have to move at 2 or maybe 3 am. Y'know… people" Raph commented. "Oh, I got it. Want me to help you?" Casey offered.
"Hmmm… ya could wait in the car while I get Leo. Just one more thing, don't tell anyone about this" Raph said.
"Don't worry" Casey laughed.
"I'm serious Casey, don't tell anyone or I'll seriously kick yer butt!" Raph said in a serious tone.
"Ok, ok! Geez… chill out, dude!" Casey chuckled and left the place.
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I know that was exaggerated but, y'know… gotta take cautions. Casey can be as gossipy as a teenage girl. Hehe, he'd kill me if he knows I said that. Well, I hope Leo likes his bike or at least I hope he'll be able to ride it.
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"Hey, Raph. Whoa! Nice bike!" Don suddenly appeared into the scene.
"It's Leo's" Raph said.
"Ok, but… how do you expecting him to ride it?" Don asked.
"I'll help him if he can't do it. Ya look worried, whazzup Donnie?" Raph asked noticing Don's face.
"I didn't want to tell the others about this but…" Don started.
"What is it?" Raph asked in curiosity.
"Leo's been coughing out a lot lately. With the change of weather I'm afraid of his immunological system; his defenses are getting weaker day by day. Everything, even a simple cold could be risky" Don explained.
"So… what if… I don't know… what if he goes out at dawn?" Raph asked, nervousness clearly noticed on his voice.
"The wind is freezing cold at that time! He could easily get pneumonia or something like that. By the way, what was that question for?" Don asked sensing something was a little suspicious there.
"Er… nothing! Nothing, just… curiosity" Raph said trying to stay clamed. Without anything more to say, Don left Raph alone with the bike.
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This is bad, really bad. I want Leo to enjoy this at least just for a lil moment, but what if that puts him in danger? I don't want him to get sicker than he already is just because of a ride. On the other hand, this could be Leo's only and unique opportunity of having his own bike and riding it! I really don't know what to do. I promised him the bike… that means he has to ride it at least once!
Alright, don't care what Donnie says. I'm taking Leo and his bike to that beach… tonight. I mean, at dawn… well, it's dark at dawn so it looks like is still evening so… oh whatevah! Ya got the point already, don't cha?
1:30 am
"Leo, ya awake?" Raph shook his brother gently.
"Mmm? Hey Raph… need something?" Leo said in a sleepy voice.
"Yep: You. C'mon, we're leaving" Raph said helping Leo to get up.
"Leaving? Why, where?" Leo asked confused.
"It's a surprise. C'mon, Casey's waiting" Raph replied. Leo nodded and followed his brother without a word; he was too tired to argue.
Both turtles made their way to the battleshell as stealthy as they could. If somebody discovered them, they were dead meat… especially Raph and Casey; they'd been acting really suspicious the morning and Don had been keeping an eye on them the whole day. The car was ready with the bike on the inside waiting for its owner, but Raph was going to wait until they were on the beach to show it to Leo. With Casey's help, Raph took Leo to the front side; he handed his blue masked brother some blankets just in case.
"It's ok if I continue sleeping here? My eyes are closing" Leo said.
"Yeah, it's ok. But ya'll have to wake up soon" Raph chuckled.
Hours later, they were finally on Carson Beach. The place was empty. Perfect. Still, the weather was being a problem; the wind was colder and Leo hadn't stopped coughing the whole trip.
"Hey buddy, rise 'n shine!" Raph said shaking Leo trying to wake him up.
"This place is freezing cold! It's the North Pole or what?" Leo said rubbing his eyes, still feeling sleepy.
"In yer dreams, maybe. I wanna show ya sumthin'; now get up and close yer eyes" Raph said.
"I haven't opened them yet" Leo chuckled. Casey placed the bike in the sand while Raph took Leo to the place where his bike was.
"Now ya can see" Leo slowly opened his eyes. He couldn't believe what he was seeing. In front of him… there was his bike.
"Whoa! This is… this is my bike! Raph, you did it!" Leo said in awe.
"Ya like it?" Raph asked.
"Like it? I love it! It's amazing!" Leo laughed as he climbed on his brand new bike. The sound of the waves in the background made him come back to earth.
"Wait a sec… we're on a beach?" Leo asked looking at his surroundings.
"Uh-huh, the perfect place for yer first ride" Raph smiled.
"Well, let's see how fast this baby can go" Leo started engines and began to ride.
The feeling of flying in perfect harmony, total freedom and total fulfillment was with him; he felt in heaven. Leo felt consumed by this new feeling and happily lost in that place of wild winds and peace. Now he could almost understand why Raph loved bikes so much. Raph was happy of seeing his brother enjoying this, feeling so free and relieved. This was much better than see him on the bed agonizing. Half an hour later, Leo went back to the battleshell
"That was incredible! I didn't know ya were so good at this" Raph smirked.
"Well, seems like you're not the only one who knows how to ride a bike like a pro" Leo said mockingly.
"Hehe, ya think yer a pro huh? Still bein' smug, Fearless" Raph poked Leo's arm laughing. Both brothers walked back to the car; during the trip, Leo coughed more violently.
"Ya ok?" Raph asked concerned.
"Mmhmm, just a cough" Leo said clearing his throat.
Farm house
8:10 am
"Leo, ya have to keep this I secret, k? I don't want Donnie chasing me" Raph chuckled helping Leo to lie down on his bed again.
"Ok. Thanks again, Raph"" Leo smirked.
"Yer more than welcome. Now try to go back to sleep" Raph said covering Leo with a blanket.
"That won't be a problem" Leo laughed and closed his eyes immediately. Raph had just closed his brother's room's door when a shadow appeared behind him.
"Did you have fun, Raph?" the genius turtle said in a very serious tone. Raph almost jumped back in shock.
"D-Donnie, hey! Er… whatcha doin up?" Raph said nervously.
"I was going to ask you the same. Anyway, I woke up early because I was supposed to check Leo's signs. I went to his room and want me to tell you what did I find there?" Don started. Raph was speechless but he felt things were about to get ugly.
"An empty, cold bed; the shell cell on his drawer and… no battleshell either. Not even a note" Don continued.
"Donnie I… I can explain" Raph stuttered.
"No, you can't! Maybe you don't care about Leo's health but I do!" Don said angrily.
"What are ya talking about? I care about him as much as you do!" Raph replied.
"Oh really? Then why you took Leo to a cold beach knowing how weak he is?" Don said almost yelling.
"How did ya know?" Raph asked in shock. How his brother knew?
"I tracked your shell cell. I can't believe you did that to him! He's dying, Raphael! But then again how would you notice something like that, you only care about you and your stupid bike!" Don yelled. With all the noise, Mikey woke up and peeked out of his room to see what was happening.
"Watch yer words, brainiac!" Raph growled. He had tried to be patient but his brother was starting to get on his nerves.
"Oh, I'm scared!" Don rolled eyes and walked away.
"Where do ya think yer goin'?" Raph said angrily, Don just ignored him. Mikey wanted to go there and stop everything but he thought that would just make things worse.
"Don! Donatello, come back here! It's an order!" Raph yelled.
He felt strange calling his genius brother by his full name but he knew that worked when Leo did it. Don froze. Raph thought he had succeeded but he was way wrong. Don starting chuckling, then laughing… a creepy and scary laugh… almost evil.
"If you think that's gonna work on me, you're wrong! You may be my brother… but you'll never be my leader!" Don hissed and went downstairs. Mikey gasped and locked himself back in his room; he couldn't believe Don had just said that.
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I would have preferred a stab, a kick or a punch in the face instead of that. Now I know how Leo felt every time I said the same words to him. Hurts… a lot. Just imagine how he is gonna be once Leo is gone. Man… I wish I was the one dying; they'd be fine without me. Especially Donnie.
