"My son." Splinter rasped Joyously.
Carefully, Yoshi reached out a trembling hand and stroked his son's brow, this was real, he was alive, he was awake, at long last, his final wish had been granted. Splinter embraced Leonardo, careful not to hurt him, he held his child to his chest and closed his eyes. His son was so weak he couldn't return the hug and his arms fell back on the sheets. " son. I was so afraid we would lose you. I was so afraid you wouldn't wake up." The old rat slowly laid his eldest back onto the pillows, pulling the covers up and patting them. There was a jerkiness to all these actions, and his hands shook . When he looked up again Leo was watching him concernedly, he opened his mouth but Splinter placed his hand over it stopping him.
"No, don't speak yet, you've been asleep for quite some time and should drink something before you try to talk."Splinter muttered and got up from his chair, leaning heavily on his cane.
Leo watched him leave. Noticing how slow his father moved. He was so frail. Splinter stumbled a little as he returned with the tea tray. Leo tried to reach out and help him but found the effort too great and he fell back again panting. It was an effort to just raise up his head, he was helpless, for the second time in his life he was useless. He had been a fool. They had been fools to try to stop the Shredder on their own.
Splinter set the tea tray down onto the small table next to Leo's bed and poured his son a cup of his favorite green tea. The calming aroma wafted around the room over their heads. Leo breathed in the familiar scent and smiled, he had missed this, he looked over at his father. Splinter did not seem to be enjoying the smell, there was sweat running down his forehead and his breathing came out in ragged gasps. As Splinter lifted the cup for his son his hands started to shake and his eyes grew wide.
In one moment Leonardo's world fell apart. In one moment everything he had ever known and loved was gone. That moment had already passed. It had happened when he and Raph had gone alone into the foot headquarters. This was just the after shocks. This was the price that had to be paid. They had cheated Death, and now Death had come to claim its due.
Splinter dropped the cup- It broke apart in a million peices- His hand clutched at his chest- Eyes rolled up- Mouth open- Hair standing on end-
Leo tried to catch him as he fell, but he couldn't- There was a crash as the side table was knocked over- Together they both landed on the floor beside the bed- blood mixed with the shattered glass- Leo felt a terrible pain in his throat as he tried to scream for help- There was no voice- Just whistling air- Desperately he crawled to Splinters body and lifted his father's head into his lap, Yoshi's body stiffened and jerked as his heart tried to keep beating, Leo leaned over him trying to help him breath, but it was hopeless.
He cradled his father in his frail arms, his father was dying and there was nothing he could do to stop it. He couldn't ease his pain, he couldn't save his life, Leo's heart was breaking along with Splinter's. Suddenly his father's body stilled, his eyes opened. Leonardo stopped breathing. There was a galaxy within Yoshi's eyes, a gold and brown swirl of color. A deep pool of black. A light far away. And then the next moment everything went dark. It stopped. The light was gone. Everything was gone. Two gray marbles in a dry face. A shell. A skin. Nothing. Nothing left. He was gone.
Leonardo couldn't believe what was happening. It couldn't be true. It just couldn't be true. He had done this. It was his fault. All his fault.
The tears ran down. He threw back his head in a silent scream. His mouth stretched wide but no sound came out. His face contorted. He wanted to die. He had meant to die. He had done this. He had done this.
I'm so, so sorry father. I'm sorry for everything. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I was trying to protect you. I was trying to protect all of you. I'm sorry. Oh God it hurts. My throat hurts so bad. My world is ruined. And I was the one who ruined it. I destroyed us. I did this. Father, forgive me. I meant no wrong. I didn't mean for this to happen. I didn't know. Oh father, Sensei. I love you. God I can't do this. I can't do this. Father. I am sorry.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?!"
The shout startled Leo out of his silent torture, he looked up and saw Donatello standing in the doorway, the next second he felt a blow hit the side of his head and he was knocked away from Splinters body. The room was moving, someone with a hammer and an anvil was pounding on the insides of his skull, he felt sick, his eyes opened and he saw that it was Donny who had hit him. His brothers staff lay beside his head. There was blood on it.
