Chapter 45 ~Recovery~
It was a bedraggled group who rolled into the driveway. The front door burst open as Karen turned off the truck, and Luke tumbled down the stairs, rushing toward them as the mutants exited the truck in various states of battered exhaustion.
"Michelangelo! Leo, Raph, Donatello, Splinter… Mom! Are you guys ok? Where's Dad? Where's Doctor Haig? I called Sheriff Darlee when he got away from Dad, Mom, I didn't know what else to do…"
"It's ok, Luke, we're all ok," said Karen, catching Luke's arms and making him face her. "Everyone's ok. You did exactly right. Pete took Doctor Haig away. Your Dad's gone with him to give a statement. The monster's gone, and everyone's going to be ok."
"Mr. Darlee didn't see you guys, did he? I'm sorry, guys, I wasn't thinking…" Luke jerked away from Karen, going toward Leonardo.
The Turtle gave him a tired smile. "It's ok, Luke. We stayed out of sight. Your mom is the real hero," he said. "She's the one that zapped the monster with that stunner Haig had."
"How did you know?" Karen turned, startled. "You guys were all off in the woods…"
"Who do you think told you to do it?" he replied, grinning. "Just because you didn't see us didn't mean we weren't nearby, Karen."
"That… that was you?" Karen chuckled. "I just assumed it was John."
"I was kind of hoping that sheriff would assume that too," said Leonardo.
"You took a dreadful chance. What if Pete had seen you guys?"
"We didn't have a choice, Karen. We couldn't let that thing attack you. As it was, the second shot blinded it. It just fell back into the beam."
"I'm just glad you didn't have to reveal yourselves, Leonardo." Karen crossed the short space between them and embraced the startled Turtle. "I'm glad you're all ok," she said. She let him go and stood back, looking into his face. "Thank you. You saved my family."
Leonardo stepped back, and gave her a short, formal bow. "And you saved ours. Doomo arigatoo, Karen-san."
"You're welcome. Now, come on." She turned, her gaze sweeping the group. The other Turtles and their Rat master were watching her with varying degrees of amusement. "Let's get you all inside where it's warm."
She didn't have to repeat the invitation. They trooped tiredly into the house. Raphael disappeared in the direction of the bathroom, grabbing dibs on the first shower. Michelangelo headed straight for the kitchen, announcing his intention of "whipping up a meal fit for a victorious army". Leonardo followed his younger brother, intent on brewing a pot of relaxing tea, and Splinter excused himself to join them. Donatello veered off toward the office, a determined look in his brown eyes.
"Don't you want me to check your ankle, Don?" asked Karen. "You should probably ice it down…"
"No, thanks, Karen, but I've got work to do," replied Donatello over his shoulder. "I've got to see what I can pull off Santino's computers before the Feds get in there and shut the place down."
"…Ok," Karen shook her head. She wasn't sure what Donatello would be able to find, but she wasn't about to discourage him. She opted to head toward her own bedroom, intent on changing into clothes that weren't wet with sweat and melting frost.
Karen quickly donned a pair of sweats and a loose tee-shirt, before heading out to the kitchen to see what Michelangelo had managed to find. The orange-banded Turtle was humming, stirring something in a bowl. Leonardo was sitting at the table, sipping a cup of tea. Splinter was nowhere in sight, but Raphael was at the table with his brother. His mask was missing, and so was the bandage Karen had used to bind his arm. He was inspecting the tape she'd applied, which was hanging haphazardly.
"Darn it, Raphael," scolded Karen. "You're going to have a scar."
"Won't be the first one." He shrugged. "Would ya mind tapin' it up again, or should I bug da Genius?"
Karen hesitated. "I suppose it's really too late to stitch it now. Anyway, I don't have the proper anesthetic here." She sighed. "All right. I'll tape it up one more time, but really, you've got to take care of it, Raphael."
"Yeah, yeah, keep yer shell on," grumbled Raph.
"Raphael," said Karen, deadpan, "You do realize I don't have a shell, right?"
The startled Turtle met her eyes for an instant before he threw his head back and guffawed. "Dat's true."
Even Leonardo smirked over his tea cup. "I guess you'll have to come up with a new expression, Raph."
"I guess so." Raphael chuckled. "Ok, Doc, whatdaya say?"
"I'll get the first aid kit," said Karen, still grinning.
Michelangelo hummed happily as he poured the batter into a pan and started layering slices of what looked like zucchini over it. Karen set the first aid kit on the table and sorted out the antiseptic, bandages and tape while Michelangelo rooted around in the refrigerator.
"What are you looking for, Mike?"
"You got any Parmesan cheese, Karen?"
"Sure, it should be on the door."
"Cool."
Karen shook her head as she carefully pushed the rather ragged edges of the wound together one more time. She was encouraged to see the ends of the laceration had already begun to seal together, beginning the healing process. She wrapped the tape carefully, adding several more layers than she normally would've thought necessary.
"There," she said, finally satisfied. "That should hold it."
"T'anks, Karen," said Raphael. He moved his arm experimentally, his eyes widening. "Geesh, ya use enough tape?"
"Well, I don't want it coming loose again," said Karen.
"I t'ink my arm could be half cut off an' it wouldn't come loose wit' da way you've got dis wrapped," retorted Raph, but he grinned.
"Good. You never know what you might get yourself into with your track record," Karen shot back. "I want to be prepared for any possibility."
Soon Michelangelo had, true to his word, prepared enough food for a small army. Leonardo dragged Don out of the office, insisting he sit down. They all gathered around the kitchen table, digging in to the delicious food gratefully. Karen smiled, watching Raphael smack Michelangelo's hand away from a dish before he proceeded to empty half of it onto his own plate, earning a chorus of protests from his brothers.
I'm really going to miss these guys if Donatello figures out how to calibrate that machine, she thought. Well, if they can't find a way back, at least they can stay here. They're like family now.
She glanced at the purple-banded Turtle, noticing how quiet he was, and the way he was picking at his food. Even as she watched, he pushed his plate away, standing up.
"Excuse me," he said politely, picking up his dish and heading toward the sink.
"Donatello, are you ok? You hardly touched your supper," said Karen.
"I'm ok, Karen. I just have a lot of work to do," said Don. Karen noticed the slightly worried look Leonardo shot his brother as he passed the table, but no one commented.
Everyone retired for the evening soon after the table was cleared and the dishes were washed. There were hardly enough leftovers to feed a sparrow. Karen watched, amused, as Leonardo coerced Raphael into helping with the dishes. Michelangelo smirked, jogging out of the kitchen with comments about how nice it was not to have to do the dishes, because, after all, he'd prepared the meal.
It was a long time before Karen got to sleep that night. Every creak, every shuffle of the old house had her every sense on high alert as she peered into the darkness, searching for a threat that might come looming out of the night.
Stop being so silly, she told herself. The monster's gone and Haig's in jail. Everyone's home safe, and you're fine.
Finally she drifted off into a fitful sleep.
She was running through the forest. The trees loomed large on either side of her, black, reaching, snatching at her as she passed. Ahead, Luke was crying out, calling to her, but she could run no faster. A roar… the monster…it would get Luke… take him from her… she forced her legs forward, but movement was growing more difficult…
John staggered out of the trees… he was carrying a body, bloody and torn. "I'm so sorry, Karen… I didn't get there in time…"
She drew nearer and horror drained her of any vestige of warmth. Luke lay in his father's arms, sightless eyes staring into the distance, chest ripped open, revealing muscle and bone. He was impossibly still…
"NO!" she shrieked, an animalistic sound.
"No… no…" her moans and cries blended with those of the monster, wailing in the darkness.
"Miss Karen-san! Miss Karen-san, wake up. You are dreaming. Wake up."
Something grasped her arm, bony, thin fingers. Haig. Karen shot up in the bed, jerking away from the hand on her arm, scrambling backward.
"Miss Karen-san, are you all right?"
A familiar, gravelly voice. Not Haig. Karen blinked.
"Splinter?"
"Yes, Miss Karen-san. Are you all right? I fear you were dreaming. I heard you cry out…"
Karen moved back across the bed, swinging her legs over the side and sitting up. She felt weak, shaky, and her limbs trembled.
"You are safe now, Karen," said Splinter gently, touching her hand. She jumped at the unexpected contact, and his whiskers twitched. He withdrew, but Karen reached out, catching his hand.
"I'm sorry," she whispered, embarrassed, but not quite able to let go.
Splinter smiled. "It is quite all right, Miss Karen-san."
"I feel so foolish," said Karen, forcing a laugh. "Everyone's safe now. I shouldn't be having nightmares."
"Everyone has fears, Miss Karen-san," said Splinter gently. "Perhaps a cup of tea would calm you."
"That sounds nice," said Karen, getting to her feet. There was no way she was going back to sleep now anyway. She followed the Rat into the kitchen. He put the pot of water on to boil while Karen got out the cups and teabags.
"How do you do it, Splinter?" she asked. "How do you live with something like that monster, knowing it's… it's out there somewhere. Knowing the worst could happen at any time? How… how do you go on?"
Splinter poured the steaming water into the mugs and brought them to the table. He sat down, studying his cup for a long moment before he met her eyes.
"Some things are out of our control," he said slowly. "We have no guarantee of safety, Miss Karen-san. We have only the moment, and the choices to make within the moment. We cannot change the past, nor can we control the future."
"So, you're saying that worry is a waste of time?" Karen sipped her tea. "My mother used to say, never borrow trouble."
Splinter smiled. "Your mother was a wise woman. The past is for learning, not living. The future is out of reach."
"So live today. I understand." Karen nodded, taking another sip of her tea.
Splinter reached across the table, resting his fingers lightly on the back of her hand. Karen looked up, startled at the gesture from the usually-reserved Rat.
"Miss Karen-san. A parent has many worries. Too many to carry alone. Worry shared is often halved." He gave her a knowing smile and took his hand away.
Karen stared for a moment, feeling a blush creep up her cheeks. She suddenly felt very vulnerable. "Splinter, I understand what you're saying but, well, John and I…"
"People sometimes change, Karen."
"But, how will I know what's right?" Her voice sounded small, even to herself.
Splinter met her eyes, his gaze full of compassion and understanding. "Your heart will know, Karen-san."
She nodded slowly. Splinter's lips twitched with a satisfied little smile. He turned his attention back to his tea, and said nothing more.
