Leo looked out of his bedroom window and seeing it was dark realized he must have fallen asleep. Donnie and Raph should have been home by now, he thought anxiously. What's keeping them? Has something happened to them? I have to find them. Can't sit here and do nothing. Gritting his teeth, as pain coursed through him, Leo sat up, held onto the dresser to steady himself and stood up, his hands still on the dresser. I feel like an old man, he thought miserably. But there's no time to gripe. I need to….
"What the heck are you doing?" Mikey said, entering the room. "Get back in bed, Leo," he added sternly.
"I'm going to find Donnie and Raph. They aren't back yet, are they? I sense something bad has happened to them."
"You're weak, Leo. I'll go look for Donnie. Get back in bed now."
"No!" Leo said defiantly and stepped away from the dresser. He was shaky on his feet, but he remained standing, his lips in a thin line. "I'm going to find them. You can come with me or you can stay with Kala."
Mikey sighed and said, "You're an obstinate shit, Leo."
"Less talk, Mikey. Get the flashlights," Leo said, trying to ignore the pain. He was in agony, but he knew his brothers needed him, so he'd grin and bear it. Leo donned his obi, picked up his katana from the dresser and placed them in their sheath on his back.
Mikey rummaged in drawers, found flashlights and said, "I have flashlights. Let's go, but hold on to me, Leo. You're very weak and you might fall."
"I'm not an invalid, Mikey, and can walk by myself! Go tell Kala and then we'll go."
XXX
Meanwhile, a groggy Donnie carefully stood up, trying to remember where he was. Then it hit him. It was now dark, he was still deep in the forest and Raphael was gone. The last thing Don remembered was that they'd been struck by tranquilizer darts. Whoever fired them must have taken Raph, he thought and it could only be for nefarious reasons, like selling and experimenting. He had to find Raphael fast, but he first had to get back to the cabin and enlist Mikey's help and get search tools, like flashlights. Then they'd search for their brother. Hopefully, they weren't too late.
Donnie was halfway back to the cabin when he heard voices and saw familiar figures approaching him.
"Leo, Mikey?" he said in surprise.
"Donnie, thank goodness you're okay," Mikey said and heaved a sigh of relief.
"Where's Raph, Donnie?" Leo said, his voice rising in panic.
"What the heck are you doing out here, Leo? You need to be in bed!"
"Fuck bed," Leo snapped. "I'm okay right now. Stop fussing like a mother hen. I'll rest later. Where's Raph?"
"I don't know. Last thing I remember is we were hit by tranquilizer darts. It was dark when I woke up and Raph was gone. I have no idea where, Leo. I was on my way back to get Mikey. You honestly should be up and walking. What if you collapse?"
"You're here and can assist, but I can't rest until I find Raph, Donnie. He's my universe and my heart. You'd feel the same way if it was your mate."
"But we have no idea where to search, Leo, and the forest's vast. He could be anywhere. What the heck? Sh. Someone's coming." They quickly hid in the shadows.
"Booyakasha!" 2012 Mikey declared to his brothers' and Splinter's annoyance.
"Shut up, doofus!" 2012 Raphael said and smacked the side of his head.
"Raphael, do not hit your brother!" Splinter admonished. "And be quiet. I sense someone is here…"
"Raphael?" Leo said in shock.
"Who said that?" 2012 Donnie said in alarm, raising his bo.
"I did," Leo declared, beckoning his brothers to step forward.
"No way!" 2012 Mikey said in shock. "They look like us, Sensei, except I'm better looking than my other self!"
"Sensei? Splinter?" Leo said. "Is this some kind of joke? Sensei died."
"Clearly not, moron," 2012 Raphael said and rolled his eyes. "Why do ya look like my Leo, except yer taller? Brainiac, got an explanation?"
2012 Donnie nodded and said, "I think we've stumbled on our alternate selves. I'm Don, as you may have guessed. That's Mikey and this is our hotheaded brother, Raphael. You're our alternate selves."
"Why are you here?" Leo asked.
2012 Raphael piped up, "Leo, my mate, is missin' and we came here ta find him. Why are ya wanderin' the forest at night?"
"Looking for my mate, Raphael," Leo said. "He's missing too."
"Wow. So my alternate self and myself is with a Leo. Cool. Anyway, yer lookin' rather green, dude."
"Leo's sick," 2003 Donnie said.
"With what?"
"Cancer," Leo said. "Now we all know one another, we need to keep moving. Every second counts."
"Shouldn't ya be restin'?" 2012 Raphael asked. "I think ya should."
"No."
"I think ya should. Ya don't look so hot. "
"I'M FINE RIGHT NOW!" Leo screamed. "Gosh. You're as bad as my Raph. I need to find him and then I'll rest…
"I agree," Splinter said. "Leonardo, you should rest. Are you staying nearby? I'll take you back and stay with you."
"I appreciate your kindness Master Splinter, but I'm fine and….
Pain suddenly coursed through him and Leo doubled over in agony, emitting a loud, guttural scream. Raphael raced to his side and wrapped an arm around him. "Leo, ya okay?" he asked in concern.
"Just…." Leo said and held his stomach, trying not to cry out again.
"It's the cancer," 2003 Donnie said. "It's metastasized and he has weeks or days left. He should be at home resting and is in no condition to walk. We told him, but he's determined to find Raph."
2012 Raphael pulled away, suddenly feeling extremely sick to his stomach and nausea bubbling in his belly. He turned to the side, doubled over and upchucked into a nearby bush.
"Gross, man!" 2012 Mikey said and wrinkled his beak in disgust.
"What's wrong with him?" Leo asked.
"He's gravid," Splinter said. "And this settles it. Leonardo, you are not well enough to carry on and Raphael, you need to go rest as well. How far away is the place you're staying?"
"Fifteen minutes' walk," 2003 Donnie said.
"But, Sensei!" Raphael protested, his green eyes flashing.
"No buts and none from you, Leonardo. I know I'm not your Sensei, but you need to listen to me. Go with Raphael and get back into bed."
"What about my Raph?" Leo asked weakly, as 2012 Raphael grabbed his arm to steady him, so he didn't fall over.
"We'll do our best to find them," Splinter said. "But you need to do as I say. Raphael, make yourself and Leonardo some ginger tea when you get to the cabin and then rest."
"Hai, Sensei," Raphael muttered, pissed off, but knowing he had no choice but to listen. "Come on, Leo."
XXX
2012 Raphael gripped Leo's arm tighter, ensuring he didn't fall. "So, whose cabin is it, Leo?" he asked.
"April and Casey's."
"Are they there?"
"They're dead," Leo said flatly, as if he were discussing the weather.
"And that don't bother ya? Ya sound so cold 'bout it. I thought they were our friends."
"Maybe in your world, but friends don't try to kill friends and terrorize them. Raphael resisted April's advances and she threatened to send our babies to scientists. He snapped and murdered her and then Casey tried to kill Raph and Donnie killed him. No. We're not happy that our friends are dead, but the alternative would have been far worse."
"Ya got a point. I'd have done the same thing if anyone threatened my family or babies."
"So you're gravid, huh? How far along?"
"Few weeks."
"Congratulations. You excited?"
"Thanks. Yeah, but I'm kinda nervous too. I'm only fifteen and I ain't never had babies before, ya know. I'm a little scared I won't be a good dad and what if Leo don't want them?"
"He'll adore the babies and so will you if you two are anything like me and my mate. Raph was fifteen when our eldest was born and he was a natural. He's an incredible daddy and the kids just adore him. You guys will be fine."
"How many kids do ya got?"
"Six."
"Wow."
"Three girls and a boy and two eggs."
"That's so cool. I'm sorry yer sick, Leo. I …"
"I'm twenty and it's hard accepting your mortality at such a young age, but…I've been a lucky guy. I've had love and babies and loved every moment, even the bad times. Raph's been absolutely fantastic and the best mate I could ever have hoped for. I'm sad I won't be here and I'll miss him and the kids, but I…
We're here," Leo said and pointed at the cabin.
XXX
They went inside and 2012 Raphael brewed ginger tea and he and Leo drank it at the kitchen table. Raphael didn't care for the tea, but it did settle his stomach, so he sipped it. "What's it like on your planet?" Leo asked.
"Borin'. We defeated all the gangs and it's dullsville. Here?"
"Even Shredder?"
"Oh. He was murdered by his mother after he double crossed her over some plot. What do ya do here?"
"Before I got sick, we fought the gangs and Shredder. When my illness was diagnosed, we came here. It's not permanent. Just a while longer and then I'll spend my final days at the lair and my brothers will come up here and bury me next to our Sensei. He had a heart attack when he learned about my Illness. I miss him so much."
"Shit. I'm sorry, Leo. I know I'd feel the same way 'bout Sensei."
"He was an excellent grandpa," Leo said and sipped his tea. "We all miss him very much." An idea suddenly came to Leo, but before he could voice it, crying emanated from his bedroom. "The girls," he said. "I'll get them."
2012 Raphael protested, saying that Leo should remain seated and he'd get them, but Leo refused and went to get his twin daughters.
When Leo returned Raphael gazed at them in awe. They were so tiny, perfect and beautiful.
"Want to hold them while I make their formula?" Leo asked.
"I couldn't. I might drop them."
"You won't," Leo said and placed them in Raphael's arms. "Hold them like that. That's good. You're a natural, Raphael. I have no doubt you'll be a good dad."
Raphael smiled, his green eyes lighting up, as one of the babies stretched out a small hand and touched his beak. "What are their names, Leo?"
"Amy touched your beak and that's Ali-Alyssa. The others are asleep."
"They're so cute."
Leo prepared the formula and said, "They are, but me and Raph hardly get any sleep. They keep us on our toes. It's worth it though. Being a parent's so rewarding. I love it. Best thing I've done, other than being with Raph."
"I'm in awe, Leo. They're just so perfect. Ya and Raphael are very blessed."
"Do you think you…?" Leo began and paused, as he felt strange and a numbness in his face. "Raph, I can't see you," he slurred. "What's wrong with me? I feel strange."
Raphael placed the girls in a pram that had been left in the kitchen and raced to Leo's side.
"I want ya ta raise yer arms for me, okay, Leo?" Raphael said, getting a bad feeling.
"Wh-what's going on, Raph?" Leo slurred again.
"Lift yer arms, Leo."
Leo tried and his arms dropped down, unsteady and Raphael's heart sank.
"What's going on?" Leo slurred.
"Yer havin' a stroke, Leo. Sh. I'm here, Leo. Yer gonna be okay. I got ya." Raphael kept one arm around Leo, dialled his smartest brother and said, "Send Sensei, Donnie. Leo's havin' a stroke!"
"Keep him calm," the genius said. "Sensei's coming. He knows what to do."
"Tell him ta step on it," Raphael said and disconnected the call.
"Am I dying?" Leo asked.
"No, Leo. Stay with me and stay upright. I got ya. Ya ain't gonna fall."
"I'm so tired."
"Don't sleep, Leo!"
"So tired," Leo said, closing his eyes and before Raphael could catch him, he sank to the ground in a heap, his eyes sliding shut.
A/N Yay. Another chapter out. Thanks to all reading and reviewing.
Will Leo recover from his stroke and see his mate again?
To prevent confusion when the two versions of the brothers are talking together, I'll use 2003 Leo and 2012 Don for example.
If it's just one version talking to each other, ie 2003 Raph and 2003, Leo. I'll just use their names. I hope that won't be confusing.
And seeing as 2003 Splinter's dead, I'll just use Splinter.