So the Foot had kept their bargain and let Leonardo go, as soon as Michelangelo presented himself at the exchange point. However, being the Foot, a vile, despicable clan of assholes and scumbags, they grabbed Mike and disposed of poor Leo, throwing his unconscious body into the Hudson. And, if Raph and Casey didn't get there on time, Fearless would still be floating out there, in filthy waters, slowly swaying in his own blood…
There was something seriously twisted going on with the Foot. I mean, first there was Casey. They almost cut his legs off! Then the Shaman? Glowy blue light? Then the thing with Leo… and Michelangelo, who is, apparently, right at the middle of all this mess. The Foot need him for something! But what?
I felt like I was out of air. There was so much to do in the lair: hours upon hours of assisting Donatello with Leonardo's injuries; watching Splinter lose it every time we'd have a breaking-point and having to attend to him as well; yelling at Casey, talking him out of running around the city with Raphael, to try and keep his legs out of any more damage; sick-worrying for Mikey, feeling so useless and absolutely unable to do anything to help…
When Donnie got us home, Master Splinter finally snapped out of his trance, and analyzing some of the facts, assured us that the Foot would keep Mikey alive. At least for the time being… He also said something about Usagi and how he was too blind to see what was really happening… Naturally, I didn't catch all of what was going on. Usagi had disappeared… And we didn't know how much time we had on our hands.
Poor Master Splinter! What he must be going through! One son deadly injured, another missing. And I can't even imagine how many times before he had to shed fur, worrying for his family's safety like this…
After Leonardo was medically treated and left to rest, Casey got some of Dr. Don's attention as well, mostly by being scolded for his recklessness with his injuries and the whole running off situation.
"What were you thinking... you hotheaded half-wit! Leaving them all alone in the Shellraiser like that… They may have been hurt or kidnapped or worse…" – Donatello was muttering under his beak all the while he was patching up vigilante's legs, while April and I exchanged glances.
"Ugh! Who was even thinkin' straight, Donnie?!" - barked Raphael in Casey's defense, "What's done is done! And Splinter was 'der! They're o'right, he's o'right, and we got Leo home.. so now all we hav'ta' do is go get Mikey, 'cause my sai're thirsty, itching ta' make some Foot shit-faces bleed…"
I literally had no idea what we were going to do. And no one would explain anything to me, either. Donatello would only wearily shake his head at my questions, perhaps because he didn't entirely understand everything himself (somehow I doubted that very much). Or maybe he just didn't want to burden me, thinking I might not be able to comprehend the situation, since all of this nightmare-mission-business was new to me. I didn't push. He had enough burdening his shell as it was.
Changing another cold compress on Leo's forehead, deep in thought, I was all of a sudden taken aback by a weak, but persistent touch of his hand, catching my shoulder. His wheezy voice barely made it to my ears: "Mike?" He tried to pull at the bandages clenching his neck. This was the first time he actually said something. Until now he could only motionlessly moan in pain.
I softly took his hand, meaning to put it back on the side of his body, to prevent him from messing up the bandages, but apparently Leo was stronger than me even in his current state. Absently he pulled me into him, and Donatello immediately came to my rescue.
"Shhh, brother… relax, don't talk now... everything is under control! You are home. It's okay." Skillfully and elegantly, in a manner only he was capable of, blocking his brother's attempts to straighten and sit up, Donatello carefully pushed the bandages on his patient's neck back to their place and slightly pulled them a little tighter, "You've suffered some severe blows, Leo: the injury on your neck is very fragile! Not to mention the catastrophic state of.. well, your entire body!"
"Donnie! (dry cough) Where's Mikey?" Leo's hand rushed toward his bandaged eyes, but Don was quicker.
"Don't touch that!" Pulling Leonardo's arms away, he leaned into him with all his body weight, pushing him back to the lying position. "Sorry, Leo! You will have to be more patient! Let your body rest! Don't make me stuff you up with sedatives!"
But Leo wouldn't stop. Donatello wasn't about to let go either, pinning his struggling brother to the mattress. "There's nothing you can do at the present moment to make this situation any better, Leo! You have done enough, so please… don't make me use any unnecessary means to keep you down!"
Leonardo's arms stubbornly fumbled about for several more seconds until slowly and unwillingly releasing Donatello from his grip, as it became crystal clear to him, and to me, that in his condition there really was no reason to question his brother's tactics.
Donatello was taking full charge of the situation, with rigid expression and firm and indisputable tone, speaking to Leonardo like that... Who was the authority at this moment? Who would be calling the shots? Accepting (quicker than I expected), the fact that Donnie was in charge now, Leonardo let go and laid back, sealing his lips, and waiting for his brother's instructions.
After making sure his point was thoroughly processed and understood, Donatello took a seat by Leonardo's bedside and briefly delivered the latest news, in a calm, imperturbable manner, carefully explaining the difficult situation we found ourselves in: "I'm gonna make it short" he cleared his throat "Michelangelo turned himself in, to the Foot, in exchange for your life, Leo! Raph and Casey are out looking for his whereabouts as we speak."
Poor Leonardo went from frustrated to appalled in a matter of seconds. His expression of instant horror made me shudder, since I figured he was blaming himself for the dire outcome of this mission…
"Leonardo! My son!" In came Master Splinter, with great pain mixed with some amount of relief in his eyes. He quickly approached the bed, took Leo's hand in his, and placed his other hand on his son's forehead. Leonardo turned his head. He couldn't see, but his blinded gaze was unquestionably connected to his father's.
After Leo was brought back by Casey and Raph, the old rat became almost completely incomprehensible, spending all of his time by his prodigy's bedside. For the most part, in deep meditation.
Allowing them to have a moment, Donatello procrastinated for a while, but then, taking a deep breath, went on with his short info report: "Mikey's astral energy is strong! Master Splinter assured us of that!" he looked in the direction of their father. Splinter was with his back to us, clearly not listening to what was happening around him, all his attention tuned on Leonardo.
"Father…" Leo's voice sounded a million miles away. "I failed…" His body began slightly convulsing, "Mikey…"
My heart throbbed at the sight of Fearless Leader looking miserable, in such pain, and completely lost. I touched Donnie's shoulder and looked into his eyes. I felt like I was about to cry, but held myself together, begging with my eyes for my boyfriend to make it all better, as he always knew how. Don offered me a short, hapless smile, and a quick kiss to my forehead. Then he declared the inevitable in a calm, placid voice: "Leo, I'm sorry… we lost all trail of Usagi…"
"Leo! You're awake!" Running up to us, April carefully pushed in between me and Don to get next to Splinter, who was sitting on the edge of Leo's bed, "Oh, god, I'm so glad you're back with us! And I hope you can explain what the hell happened out there…"
Donatello shook his head, clearly disapproving of what she was asking. Paying no attention to him, April went on: "Why did you attack? Why wouldn't you wait? That wasn't the plan, Leo… why didn't you follow the PLAN?!"
"I…" Leonardo's expression hardened, as he gasped for air, coughing and wheezing.
Splinter's sharp, lightning-like gaze darted towards his smartest son. Donnie immediately got up and approached the upset woman.
"That's enough, April!" He gently grabbed her shoulders, pushing her away from his brother's bed, "Leo is in no condition to deal with this right now, as I'm sure you understand… Let's leave him be…"
April stared at Don with a bitter expression on her face for a better half of a minute. She was about to say something else, but he offered her a sheepish smile, which clearly begged for compliance. But she fretfully placed her hand on his shoulder, as if to say: wait, what's wrong with you? We have to figure this out! But at that moment Master Splinter began quietly chanting. Same way he's been doing for the past few hours while Leo was still unconscious. Leonardo remained very still, listening to his father's voice, here and there trying to join in, his lips moving almost without a sound. There was nothing else for us to do but to get out of their way.
"Right now Leo is, presumably, unable to perceive what we're saying to him in full capacity" explained Donatello, when the three of us were headed toward the kitchen "He has suffered a very serious concussion, the side effects of which I'm not yet able to determine. We can't know the actual damage... not yet! (he sighed) We need time! He needs time! And more importantly- rest!And lots of it…" He lowered his eyes and shook his head bitterly, "Leo cannot help us get Mikey back! Mike is our priority right now! So why don't we leave the investigation for a later occasion, April…"
The redhead gazed at me, asking for support, with a look of: can you believe this? on her face. I looked back at her in total frustration, finding nothing to say. Don was, of course, right. I mean, we had absolutely no idea what Leo was going through, or what kind of damage he has suffered. Both April and I felt like we were absolutely useless in this situation, and as it drove me crazy, it must be even worse for her. But it was hard for us in a different manner, so to say. For April, it was the irrationality of Leonardo's actions: out of character sudden diversion from a well calculated plan, a desperate attack, which made no sense, so rushed and injudicious. For me, it was the mysterious disappearance of the ronin. The way Splinter referred to it… what was going on? Clearly, only Leo could shed some light on that. He must know something we don't… But that didn't help us to get Mikey back!
I've noticed how April seeked understanding with me. I suppose I was the only sane person in this whole craziness for her. Probably because I was incredibly inexperienced, and therefore absolutely objective, working hard to do my best helping, and more importantly, not getting in the way.
The two of us never spent so much time within each other's company before. Now we were all over one another, crying, worrying, biting nails… She was my older sister, walking me through, every step of the way; I was her anchor of tangibility, pulling her back every time she'd almost drown inside the inner darkness of her traumatizing memories.
She ended up telling me about what happened in Japan, about hers and Casey's life away from NY and the turtles. She kept talking as if there was a bottomless well of unsaid things within her soul. Things I felt she wanted to say to the turtles. Things she kept mostly to herself up until now.
At first I just listened to her, hungrily eating up every bit of information she'd offer. Then, after a while, I became reassured enough and started asking questions. I wanted to know more about the other side of her story, the one that involved Raphael… and Donatello! But every time I mentioned the hothead, there would appear a particularly strange look on her face. She'd smile at me, but wouldn't let it out.
It's hard to explain why, but it was clear to me that April's feelings for Raph, even though seemingly indistinct, were stronger than I at first thought and theorized them to be. She clearly longed for him. In fact, she would've given anything to be forgiven by him, since she was sure he still kept her past actions and choices deep down in the very center of his aching heart, like a sharp blade of poisoned knife still stuck inside the old wound, not allowing it to close or heal, cutting closer to the main artery bit by bit as the time passed.
She unmistakably loved the turtle with every single nerve of her being. And there was nowhere to run from this. This connection was obviously too strong to dissolve into nothingness, like two soul-mates always destined to end up together. No matter how far apart or how long ago. And shouldn't there be only one such person in the world at a given time? For all this love and devotion? Or else people would burst in flames, burdening, submissive, insane. And as I listened to her, I wondered why she chose to keep her grip not only on Casey- her lawful husband, and Raphael- supposedly the love of her life, but also on Donatello- the one whose heart she so dismissively broke.
Looking into his eyes I saw my own reflection – image of stress and agitation. He looked so tired. Even more than usual. Returning my worried stare, with the same validity, mirroring my own, Donatello pulled me onto his lap. I looked him all over, then slowly and very softly kissed his eyelids, each at a time, causing him to close and rest his eyes, while I was gently massaging his temples. He pushed his hands around my waist, leaning back onto his shell and allowing me to do to him whatever I wished.
I cautiously kissed his warm dry lips. He kissed me back and his hands pushed me closer, transferring my weight onto him. Gently he took a hold of my palms and brought them towards his face, nuzzling and blandly kissing along their length. I moved my hands to his beautifully muscled green shoulders and towards the back of his neck, took off his bandana, and everything else…
A long sigh of timely mollification escaped his lips and I couldn't help but sense his unrest. Like an uncharged battery, he was unable to go on any longer. It's been such a long, devastating day! He needed to rest and start anew. To gather his thoughts and recharge his energy. He was needed now to lead this team, think up strategies, tell everyone what to do and where to be… at least until Leo came around, the clan was presently in Donatello's hands!