Chapter Thirty Seven: -Splinter-

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It had a long time since we all have had a decent rest, we're all so exhausted.

Physically by the lack of rest and nourishments, and mentally by continuous anxiety and worry over our fallen kin.

'Leonardo, please do get well and awaken soon, my son. We all miss you so dearly.' I thought sadly and stroked my son's head.

I watched my other son nod off to sleep besides me, before I ushered him to go ahead and sleep for now. Donatello reluctantly argued with a slur, he talked in his half woken state, before he finally agreed and crashed on the nearby futon with a low but audible content sigh.

Moments later he snored softly, he reflected just how exhausted he was by the overwhelming activity, fatigued and continuous work and devotion for his ill brother. I praised him for his devotion, just as Raphael and Michelangelo tired themselves out for Leonardo's sake as well.

Raphael and Michelangelo had been quiet during the past few days, more recently than before. They refused to let their fatigue show in their behavior, though it displayed openly with their facial expressions and sluggish movements.

Raphael had tried to suppress his anger more and surprisingly with much more success than I first thought; while Michelangelo had been less hyperactive and more well behaved, but still with a bit of mischief hidden in his sleeve.

As much as I am proud by my youngest's maturity, it pains me to see Michelangelo so- almost silent and sullen. I miss his laugher and his joyous, radiant presence. In these hard times I believe they are exactly what we need, and yet he is holding back, perhaps more for his brothers than for himself.

As much as Raphael tries to force himself to adapt to his new state, his pain is clear on his body language.

I know his newfound blindness will only make him hide deeper into himself, to refuse help or pity from others. I fear it might cause a friction or a draft between him and his brothers, and all I can do is let them interact more during their daily activities and practice.

He will refuse their help I am sure for he will see it as weakness, and they would not be put down by his temper and independence.

We all love him so much and I know they will understand, just as well as he understands the bond that tie us together.

Feeling alone, I am no longer as young as I used to be. I watched my eldest sleep and while with such permanent injures marring his body, it put a hole in my heart. I caressed his head for a moment longer. I prayed and wished his pains away, I hoped that when he awakens and everything will be fine.

But though I am old, I am no fool and I know the impossible when I see it.

'Leonardo, my son,' I thought in building rage, 'How dare that foul beast hurt you like this…'

But I thought of it no more, for I felt the sensation of- something like a shudder travel up my fingers. I blinked in start at the sounds the seemingly started out of somewhere within the room, my spine instantly turned straight and stiff.

Another sound that resembled a soft moan came, and then a pair of hazy eyes shone blearily from behind their droopy eyelids.

I did not feet the cup of hot tea as it fell from my grasp to his the floor, its cluttered noise muffled by the rug below.

"Leonardo?" I called, my heart raced in my chest, "Leonardo, can you hear me?" I called again and desperately I held on to my control, a smile stretched across my muzzle, as tears of joy threatened to spill and soak my cheeks.

He blinked again, once, twice and then he craned his seemingly heavy and stiff neck my way. A somewhat loud pop came and he flinched with a weak pained yelp, teeth grit and pain washed over his features, but then his brows furrowed slightly, he waited for the pain to subdue and then blinked a few more times, his bleary eyes cleared before a small smile shone after he recognized my presence, "Hey dad," he greeted weakly.

I felt my heart leap into my throat at those words; they were like salve to my mental wounds. My son, my baby! He was alright! I wanted to cheer and call for his brothers with a burst of energy I've not felt in ages, but I guess the old stoic ninja master in me decided they were all exhausted and needed their sleep, not to forget Leonardo was tired as well and would not remain awake for long. It was for the best to let them rest longer, hopefully their brother will wake up again in the morning.

"My son, we were all so worried." I chided gently, rubbed the moist from my eyes and smiled at him, overwhelmed by his return.

He closed his eyes for a moment, as if registering what I had said with an apologetic smile, "I know, she told me." He murmured drowsily and then opened his eyes again, he tried to remain conscious, "Sorry, for making you worry."

I was confused at the first part he spoke, "It is alright my son, as long as you are still with us." I caressed his head again. The thought nagged at me, so I had to ask, "But- who did you mean by she?"

"The gypsy, she told me," He gave a weak sigh and attempted to roll to his side, probably to ease the pressure on his chest and to talk more freely. But then yelped and groaned aloud, tears gathered in his eyes, "Oh god…!" he moaned, the expression of intense pain and discomfort twisted his features.

"My son, do not move! Your injuries are still fragile," I warned with a hand on his shoulders as to keep him still on his front.

Donatello had explained to me and his brothers that with Leonardo's missing wings, they had left nothing within his body but gapped holes, and that the strange nano creatures that had merged within his body are currently reconstructing everything. Not from scratch, but from the other excess parts, broken tissues and fibers of his body. Like how the wings were created, they take these excess parts down and reconstruct the lost muscles into place, mending the gaps and sealing them shut.

I found that impossible, for one can not grow back an arm after it is cut off, so how are these strange creatures capable of such a thing? Are they like an octopus who can regenerate and grow another tentacle after losing it?

That sounds quite absurd, yet it is happening now as we speak.

It's the miracle of modern science, as Donatello would say, I suppose.

True, but science is also a two edged sword.

There are those who use it for the good of man kind, and there are others who use it for their own greed. Just as there are those who wish to understand how God created his creations, while others wish to play God and try to mimic his creations.

"My body… it burns…" he whimpered as more tears trickled down his face.

His pain sent a wave of anguish to my soul. My son, my child. How could there be nothing for a father to do but watch his child suffer?

Leonardo, he couldn't even more out of his laid position, he tried to calm himself with a few deep breathes, yet his arms remained motionless, laid by his sides with his fingers twitching weakly every so often, as pain spasm through his delicate and jittered nerves.

I rubbed his shoulder soothingly, careful with the side of his shell that was now more damaged than before.

He was tightly wrapped under layers of white secure gauze and bandages, ointment and herbal medications. Luckily, some of there were provided by Miyamoto-san, who had so graciously delivered it to us a week prior his visit today.

"Oh God, she told me it'll hurt, but she didn't say it was this bad." He groused weakly. His arms heavy but he moved them sluggishly to his upper sides. With a hand fisted into a ball, he tried to push up but was too weak to attempt it.

"My son, you needn't move." I instructed, I did not want him to injure himself by moving too much.

He didn't argue and tiredly gave up, panting slightly with his eyes misty and face wincing in pain, "Ugh… God, how long have I been out?" he grumped, eyes closed and a frown knit his brows, "I feel- so stiff and heavy." He moaned.

At that, I complemented the thought of telling him he was out for three weeks, but then thought better of it, "It matters not, my son. What matters is that you are awake and well." I caressed his head, soothed him and wanted to take his pains away, if only I could.

He settled down and his eyelids fluttered sleepily, so I caressed his head and rubbed his shoulder a while longer.

Faintly, Donatello murmured in his sleep and turned, stirred and twisted in his bed and then curled under the blankets, searching for warmth and soon he drifted into a comfortable slumber. I half wanted to go to my other son to tuck him in properly, his feel peeked out at the foot of the bed. With a tiny smile, I decided to leave it for now, he will pull them on his own under the blanket when it gets cold, right now Leonardo needs my attention.

"Leonardo, you said that she told you;" I began for I needed an answer, "what did you mean? What did she tell you?"

He fluttered his eyes open for a moment longer, and only now I've noticed that they're were no longer a warm color of dark brown, but have turned a bright shade of amber reddish orange, and his pupils were cat-slit as well, like those of a feline.

"She- she said the Eleventh was born, that the beast of earth will hunt them down." he inhaled slowly, he calmed himself in meditative breathing and willed the pain away, before he looked at me with a tired smile, "Sorry, but I don't remember most of what she said, I was just too tired when she talked to me." He admitted, then craned and strained his stiff neck to look at me from a better angle, "Sensei, is Mike alright?" he asked pleadingly, as if dreading the answer.

I furrowed my brows in concern, for this is the second time he inquired about his brother, "Yes, Michelangelo is just fine, Leonardo. You needn't worry." I assured and continued to caress his scalp.

"Are you sure? She said the beast of Earth would go after him." He argued, shifted his arms and winced as he folded them under his head, he tried desperately to gain a better line of vision to see me, "She said- she said that- well," he hesitated, eyes closed and his breath quickened.

I worried, the anxiety and worry were already exhausting him, and his constant movements were wearing himself out.

I did not want him to hurt himself, but I also didn't want him to fall asleep again. Desperately wanting to calm him down as to not trigger his wounds, I began to massage his tense shoulders, and kept in mind of their new tender and thickness.

"My son, the night is long and I do believe is would be better if you rest for a while longer." I advised kindly. "Your brothers are all asleep right now, it would really please them to see you awake tomorrow, so get some rest so you would be more suited to greet them." I suggested, already I wondered if he would be able to wake up again if he went back to sleep.

He gave a soft sigh, "I guess." He murmured, and then closed his eyes, "I just- I don't know…" he trailed on, but after a moment he never continued, for he had fallen asleep once more.

I watched him sleep, my heart now calmer and less worried.

'My son, my precious son.' I smiled lovingly and watched him sleep for a while longer.

With my fears put to ease, I pushed away from the side of his bed and advanced towards Donatello. I chuckled at his feet where they peeked cutely from under the blanket, and gently adjusted the warming covers over him. It seemed he was so tired he didn't even feel the chill on his toes. I tucked him in, caressed his head and kissed his temple.

After that, I pushed off the floor and watched my child as he slept peacefully in bed.

I exit the room and pain close to no attention at all to the empty cup of tea on the mat near Leonardo's bed.

Outside the room, quietly I made way past the corridor and towards Raphael and Michelangelo's rooms.

The closest was Raphael. I stepped into the darkened room, his soft snores were audible from where he slept in his hammock, his blanket half on the floor, half bunched up and over his legs, where as the assortment of cushions and pillows littered the floor below him. His face was peaceful and relaxed, and without his new black and red mask, I could see my child's innocent face where he rested in the comforting embrace of his bedding.

With a smile, I adjusted the scattered pillows and pulled the blanket, tucking him in for the night.

With a slight startled snort he murmured under his breath but didn't wake up, instead he turned to his side giving his back to the door where the soft light of the den shone into his room, and curled into a tight ball and hugged himself, snuggled and buried his head into his pillow then murmured some more.

Softly I chuckled and caressed his cheek, before I kissed his temple.

His expression relaxed and I could see the faintest hint of a smile at the corners of his mouth.

I smiled at my stubborn little child, my little protector and my little family guardian.

I secured the lights as to not harm him when he woke up the next morning, and then departed to Michelangelo's room.

I was not surprised when I saw the lights were still on, softly they lit the small slit under his door.

I rapped my knuckles on the wooden slab, and at the allowance to enter I stepped in.

"Sensei, is something wrong with Leo?" Michelangelo started, already he pushed out of his top bunked bed with his orange tabby perched around his neck like a scarf, an alarmed and worried look lit his deep brown eyes, "Is he okay? Or was there a relapse? Is he- ?"

"Leonardo is fine, Michelangelo." I interjected with a half humored smile, then glanced at him and concealed my knowledge of his brothers awakening, "He is fine, there is nothing wrong, my son." I insisted.

He did not look convinced, "Then- all due respect sensei, what are you doing here?" he somewhat scowled, confused why I had left his brothers side.

To say I was not affected would be a lie, but I was not exactly angry at his question, I was a bit more annoyed. My son, my youngest child, questioning my concern for his brother and why I had departed from the bedroom; was he that worried about his brothers welfare?

He seemed to sense my mood for he hastened to apologized, "Erm, I'm sorry sensei, I- um, didn't mean to offend you or anything, I just… I just…" he trailed on, now sadness and a hint of fear surfaced on his features.

My concerns turned to him, "My son, please sit down, I wish to talk to you." I gestured towards his bed.

Reluctantly he agreed, "Um, sure; right this way." and walked back towards the pile of cushions and sat down, while I settled on the edge of his lower bunk bed. He regarded me for a moment where his pet Klunk gracefully hopped off his shoulder and curled onto my lap. "So, what did you wanna talk about, sensei?" he offered a weak wry smile, "I didn't get in trouble without my knowledge or anything, did I?" he joked.

I smiled and busied my hands with stroking the feline's fur, "No, my son you are not in trouble." I assured with a knowing gaze, and then regarded him for a moment longer, "But I wish to ask you of the woman you said to have met at the caves," I began.

He stiffened, "The gypsy? Why?" he questioned, more so confused that alert.

I sighed for I knew he would probably prefer not to speak of her, "I am not sure, but I feel that perhaps she has something to do with Leonardo's change." I said while the feline purred loudly on my lap, "I think that if we could find her, we could ask her of what she knew of these- beasts of earth." I explained, a hint of worry and discomfort started in the depth of my soul, but I pushed it aside, I do not want my son to worry if it showed on my face.

At his distressed stare I continued, "All we know is that it has something to do with Leonardo, as Seraph, but what of the Eleven that would become before the beast of earth arises, my son?" I questioned, for that was all I knew from the chant Michelangelo had told me.

He looked at me once more even more confused, "Wait, you mean to say the Eleven and the beasts of earth are two separate things? From what I understood from her, she said that the beasts of earth were eleven." He confessed.

I frowned, this did not make sense, "My son, do you recall what she had said exactly?"

"Um, she said something along the like of: 'Seraph would pray where the six stars will fall from heaven, the beasts of earth would rise and soon become eleven.' I think." He replied, then paused with a deeper furrow between his brows, "No wait; now that I think about it, I'm not sure if she said beast or beasts. A singular or plural," he looked at me, even more puzzled.

I worried, for I did not think that there were more than one beast. From what Leonardo had told me in his brief moment of awakening, I understood that it was only one beast, but Michelangelo was the one who had met her, so perhaps there were more?

Also, the scorch markings on my cane, the number eleven, what could it all mean?

I sighed, it was very late and I was tired, Leonardo is safe and everything will hopefully work out in the morning.

But then, that's when the tabby hopped off my lap and startled licking my leg.

Startled, I watched Klunk work on grooming my leg's fur in puzzlement, before I realized the stickiness of sweetened tea messing my coat. It was when I dropped the cup at Leonardo's room and it stained my fur, I never even felt the hot water splash on my foot.

"Um, better get that cleaned, sensei. It could attract mosquitoes from miles away." my son gave a meek smile.

I huffed a small smile, "Very well, you should be off to bed as well, my son. It is late." I advised.

"Will do, goodnight, sensei." He smiled humbly.

Soon after I ushered him off to bed in spite of his complaints, and once tucked into bed I kissed the top of his head, which he only replied with an embarrassed frown, before he turned on the charm and kissed my cheek goodnight. I laughed heartily; that was my littlest son I knew and love.

I wished him goodnight with his pet perched on his chest, and then I turned off the lights.

Once I cleaned and dried the stickiness off my fur, I returned to Leonardo's room, and for what remained of the night, I remained vigilant, my heart at ease, my family was safe.

Needing rest, but not wanting to sleep, I slipped into a meditative nap with a smile on my face.

Indeed, it was a much needed and much appreciated rest.

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A/N: …