Disclaimer: only the OCs and the Plot that surrounds them

Chapter 25: Rest

We stopped for the night, Leo's bleeding really bad and we're both exhausted. Don's stable. Leo managed to get Don's injuries cleaned out and the worst stitched before he let me look at his side.

It wasn't as bad as I thought. I ripped up my blanket and used it as bandages for his side.

He's asleep now, curled in a heap with Don pulled close for warmth. I don't think he'd have let Don curl that close if one, Don wasn't hurt so bad, and two, he wasn't so tired.

I glance at them and sigh. My own body aches for sleep.

Exhaustion is dragging me under, but I have to stay awake for a little longer, then Leo will sit watch for a bit. I glance up at the stars and wonder if our father is even still alive. I sit back and sigh, force myself to watch my surroundings.

…

I must've dozed off because I'm wrapped up with Don now, Leo's sitting up, he's hunched over though, like its taking every effort he has to stay awake.

"Leo?" I ask, "Woln q'nk toa-?" (when did you-?)

"Shhhhh, tuthe koreng," he cuts off. (just sleep)

"Koen," I start, moving to get up. (but)

"Pu'den hahgern," he tells me. (rest brother)

Despite my will I find myself listening to him, I wake to hear someone whimpering. It's Don, he's shivering and in a great deal of pain. Leo is kneeling over us, trying to get Don to drink.

"Where-?" Don rasps, "who?"

"Shhh, toa muthe suque," Leo tells him. (you must drink)

I help Don sit up some and he coughs before managing to get it down. Don's confused I can tell by how tense he is despite his pain.

I lock eyes with Leo and he nods.

"Iuku poklu," he whispers as Don eases back against me. (let's go)

"Ko," I agree, "Toa pu'den?" (yes-'have' you slept 'enough'?)

"Ko," Leo replies firmly.

I hope he's telling the truth.

Don moans as I lift him. At first I'm annoyed, his injuries are bad yes, but nothing to what I've had over the past ten years. Then I remember, he hasn't been through that kind of pain before, so this is bad to him.

I ease him into the saddle and wrap the blanket around him.

"Who…are you?" Don coughs out.

"Duiaen," I whisper to him. (Friends)

"I…don't...understand," Don manages.

"Rest," I order softly.

"…Raphie…?" he gasps, trying to turn to me, but the effort is too much and he's exhausted and just sags against me. My voice no longer has the heavy Brooklyn accent it used to have, now, for one its deeper, and it has the Teripan tongue accent, its more subtle than the Brooklyn one though. It just changes how some of my words come out. For instance. "Rest" that I told Don might've sounded more like "reys'd" to him. I'm not sure…immune to the difference after hearing it so much I guess.

We make it back to the edge of the property two days later and Don is fading in and out. Shivering from what is left of the cold weather around us.

I barely remember carrying Don inside or even getting off my gelding for that matter.

I just remember curling into my bunk and feeling Aria snuggle next to me.

…

I wake to someone sitting in front of me. It's Mike. He smiles when I see him. What? How is he…why am I in the medical area?

"Easy bro," he says, getting up.

"Where's Leh'ya?" I get out.

He looks confused.

"Um-," he starts

"He means Leo," I here Fuira say, taking effort to say it how Mike would know it.

"Oh," Mike replies, stepping aside to let Fuira by.

I sit up slowly.

"You need to rest," she orders.

"Where-?" I gasp as my ribs give out a protest. OW! Oh my gosh…that hurts. I grimace and grab my ribs, falling back onto the pillows.

"You strained your ribs bringing Don'yelo in," she tells me.

Don'yelo? Oh Donatello.

"Leh'ya?" I grunt, rolling into a more comfortable position.

"Resting," she tells me, sitting down.

She touches my arm and kisses my forehead. If I wasn't so angry and tired right now I'd snap at her.

We're not exactly together yet, but we're definitely interested in each other now.

"Pu'den Luarah," she tells me. (rest love)

"Ko, nou buluaren," I reply, startled, but pleased. (yes my beloved)

She kisses me again before leaving. I think its safe to say we're together now.

"Um," Mike says after she leaves, "are you two…um…"

"Yeah," I sigh, "now help me up."

"Um…they said you had to-," he starts.

"Mi'k, shut-up and help me up," I growl, using the teripan pronunciation of his name.

As I start to get up my ribs scream against it and I nearly pass out. But I make it up and Mike helps me stay steady as I go looking for Leo.

He's curled up with Nel and Gaeh, sound asleep and looking relaxed.

I turn a little and spot Don wrapped in blankets and asleep as well.

"He woke up yesterday," Mike tells me, "You and Leo have been out cold for a week."

A WEEK?

I nearly fall over in shock.

Don stirs then, he opens his eyes and rest them on me.

"Raph?" he says, moving toward me and Mike, "It…was you"

I sigh and nod.

"Go back to sleep," I urge.

I just make it back to my bed and then curl into a heap with Aria who has come back in to snuggle with me.

I hear Mike say something about her before I'm out, but I don't catch what he said.

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