The same day, August 1, Brennan stretched out on his bed and closed his eyes. I have to move soon, he thought. But where can I go? My face is everywhere. His eyes lit up, as an idea hit him. Donning his disguise, Brennan left the motel and headed to his boyfriend's apartment. Picking the lock, he went inside. Finding no one home, he snagged a beer and waited for his boyfriend to return home.
When Brennan's boyfriend arrived home, carrying bags of groceries, he dropped them in shock upon seeing Brennan. "Bren!" Daniel Rosenberg said. "What a surprise and a pleasure. Where have you been the last few days, besides racking up your murder count?"
"I bet it is. You look really great, Danny."
"So do you," Daniel said, bending down and gathering up the groceries. When he was finished, he said, "So what do you want? I take it this isn't a pleasure visit."
"It is," Brennan said, striding towards Daniel and kissing him roughly on the lips. They kissed passionately until Brennan pulled away and said, "I still love you, Danny, and I'm sorry I haven't been in touch the last few days."
"Yeah. Killing and conning people would take up time," Daniel quipped. "I love you too, Bren. Since I saw your name plastered all over the media, I've been worried. I called you a bunch of times, but got no answer."
"Had to ditch my phones."
"You should have been more careful. I finally killed people," Daniel lied, trying to impress his boyfriend. "Ten so far and no one's suspicious." Daniel had always been hesitant to kill people. He wasn't ruthless like Brennan and he still hadn't. "I'm impressed, Danny. You finally did it!" Brennan said, and kissed him again. Then pulling away, Brennan said. "Have the cops interviewed you yet?"
"Yeah, but I told them that I hadn't heard from you in months."
"Thanks, Danny. I'm sorry I haven't been in contact, but I love you. You know that, right? You're my soulmate."
"I'm the only one who gets you, Bren. Hey, I heard on the news that Jared's dead. I'm so sorry."
"Me too. Other than you, he was all I had. I'm pretty sure the turtles killed him."
"Turtles?" Brennan filled him in and Daniel said, "Do you like this Leonardo? Did you sleep with him?"
"No. I've only ever been with you, Danny, but hey, we could share him. What do you think? He's hot. You'd like him, but we first have to annihilate the rest of his family. And then we can all move to the south or somewhere far away. What do you think? Make a fresh start?"
"I'd go anywhere with you, Bren, but are you sure we can off these turtles? And that poor Raphael! He didn't do anything wrong. Don't you think…."
"They killed my cousin. I loved him. They have to pay!" Brennan yelled.
"And how do you suppose we do that?"
The phone rang. "Hello?" Daniel said. "Yeah, this is he. I'll be there now. Thanks, Dr. Moss." Daniel disconnected the call and said, "Bren, I have to split. My doctor wants me to go there now."
"Bad news?"
"I shouldn't imagine so. I had my yearly physical last week and he just wants to give me the results. I'll be back later," Danny said, and planted a kiss on Brennan's cheek. "We'll discuss your plans when I'm back."
"Mexican for tonight? I'll cook."
"Sounds great."
Daniel headed to his doctor's appointment, went inside and sat down in the waiting room. When his doctor appeared, he went to his office and sat down. "So, Doc," Daniel said. "What have you got to tell me?"
"I'm afraid it's not good news, Daniel," Moss said. "You have HIV."
"W-what?" Daniel stammered. "You're joking, right? I can't have it. I've only ever had one partner and I've been faithful to him. Do the damn test again!"
"You're sick, Daniel. I'm so sorry. I wish it had been a different outcome."
"How bad?"
"There are drugs to stave off the symptoms. We'll have to get you started on them right away."
"Do whatever it takes. I'm eighteen-years-old. I'm fucking way too young to die." Fucking Brennan, Daniel thought, clenching his fists. He swore he was faithful. How could I be so fucking naïve and believe him?
The rest of the appointment was like a bad dream to Daniel, as he listened to the doctor, who explained what drugs Daniel would need to get. Taking his prescription, Daniel said, "Thanks, Doc. How long will the drugs prolong my life?"
"I don't know," Moss said. "Could be five years. Could be twenty. Could be much longer, but make sure you take your medication every day, Daniel."
"I will. I don't want to die. There's still so much I want to do with my life." Like taking it back, Daniel thought, clenching his fists angrily. Starting now.
Daniel left, got his meds from a drug store and thought, Brennan deserves to be punished for handing me this death sentence and I'm done protecting him. I loved him so much and he cheated. Did he know he had this disease when he slept with me? If he did, how could do that to me? I've only ever loved him and been there for him. Heck, I even helped him cover up one of his murders and I've never turned him in, when I could have so many times. No, he has to pay.
Daniel made an anonymous call to the cops, alerting him that Brennan was at his apartment. Then he headed down into the sewers. If this Leonardo had a relationship with Brennan, Daniel thought. Then it's my duty to warn him that Brennan may have infected him with HIV. And if he has a family, they could all be at risk too.
Sometime later, Daniel was shocked when he saw a figure up ahead. The figure saw him, too, and stopped. "Who are you?" the figure demanded, stepping out of the shadows.
Daniel gasped when he saw a sea green skinned, blue-eyed and orange masked turtle in front of him, wielding what he guessed were nunchucks, and looking annoyed. "Name's Daniel Rosenberg. I was looking for Leonardo. Do you know him?"
"Maybe I do and maybe I don't, dude. Why are you asking?" Mikey demanded.
"I have something I need to tell him. Please, if you know him, take me to him."
"I'm Mikey, Leo's brother. What do you need to tell him?" Mikey asked, contemplating whether Daniel could be trusted.
"I got diagnosed with HIV today and the only one I've ever been with is Brennan. If Leonardo…."
Mikey's eyes flew wide with shock at the mention of Brennan's name and he sucked in a deep breath. "You know Brennan?"
"My boyfriend, Brennan Worthington. He told me he was with someone called Leonardo, who lived in the sewers and I thought Leonardo should know about my status, especially as he more than likely had sex with my boyfriend and could be infected."
"You did right, dude," Mikey said, placing his nunchucks back in his belt. "Follow me."
They headed back to the lair and when they arrived, Daniel saw little children playing in the lounge. They looked up when they saw him and came over to investigate. "Daniel, these are my nephews, Leo jr and Kane," Mikey said. "Guys, meet Daniel."
"Ohh. Are you a bad man?" Kane asked, studying Daniel.
"No," Daniel said. "I'm not. You two are so cute. How old are you?"
"I'm three," Leo jr said. "He's two."
"Kane, go get Daddy Leo," Mikey said. The little boy raced off and returned a few minutes later with Leo.
"And who are you?" Leo asked, narrowing his eyes and pulling his kids close.
"My name's Daniel Rosenberg. You are Leonardo?"
"I am. What do you want?
"I dated Brennan Worthington and I just discovered that I have HIV. I never cheated on him, so it's obvious he infected me. Brennan told me he dated you and I felt you needed to know in case you were infected too. I also alerted the cops about Brennan's whereabouts. He came to stay with me, but I…He's evil, so I had to tell the cops. And what Brennan did to you and your family…I'm so, so sorry, especially about Raphael. I loved Brennan, but when he told me what he did, I…I realized he needed to be locked up."
"Thanks. I appreciate your telling me. I need to go be with my family."
"Leo, he just rolled on Brennan," Mikey said. "His life will be in danger too, bro. Don't you think he should stay here until Brennan's locked up? He doesn't seem like a bad guy."
"I guess, but you keep an eye on him, Mikey. After what happened with Brennan, I'm wary of people. Come on, kids."
Leo left his kids with Splinter in his bedroom. Then he found Don in the lab and told him about Daniel. Don took a blood sample from him. Going into the infirmary, followed by Don, Leo said, "Raphie, Don needs to take a blood sample from you."
"Why?"
"Brennan had a boyfriend named Daniel, who has been diagnosed with HIV. He swears blind he was faithful to Brennan. Don took a blood sample from me."
"And how long will it take ta know the results?"
"April will come over later," Don said. "And pick them up and take them to a lab. Should have the results in a few days, Raphie."
"And then what? What if me and Leo are sick?"
"We'll cross the bridge when that happens, Raphie, but it's quite possible that you won't be infected. Just because Brennan has HIV doesn't mean you or Leo will have it."
"Fuckin' Brennan. Look how many lives he's destroyed. I'd like ta ram my sai up his fuckin' ass and now he's potentially infected both of us? Fuckin' prick. What 'bout our babies if we die?
"I didn't sleep with him, Raphie," Leo said. "I only kissed him, but I'm having my blood tested just in case. It's pointless to worry until we know for sure. It's possible, like Don said, that we don't have it."
"And it's possible we do have it. Yer only sixteen and I'm only fifteen, Leo. Way too young ta die." And with that Raph started to hyperventilate, as he pictured his fatherless kids and Leo on his deathbed. "Raphie!" Leo said. "Calm down, Raphie!"
"Don't wanna die," Raph said, gasping for breath. "Wanna live."
Don looked at his panicked brother and said, "I'm sorry, Raphie, but I have to do this."
Don injected Raph with a tranquiliser and Leo said, "What did you do, Don?"
"Gave him something to calm him down and sleep."
Leo grabbed Raph's hand and said, as the medication began to take effect, "I love you, Raphie. No matter what happens, we'll get through it." When Raph had passed out, Leo and Don left the room and headed to the lounge, determined to get more information about Brennan.