It was supposed to be a normal easy patrol none of this should have happened. We should have listened, been paying attention then maybe we could have stopped this maybe Leo… maybe we might not lose one of our brothers he would not be dying right now if only we'd… please don't leave us…
We are sorry we gave you such a hard time but we still need you… I need you I need my big brother without you I don't know what will happen to our family. Sorry, we didn't listen sorry you got hurt… just don't leave us.
Why do you always have to be the hero? Why do you always have to be the fearless leader when all I really need is my big brother. I am sorry we always fought, and how we all goof around when you are trying to keep us safe. Please don't leave us… or I will never forgive you.
The night was like any another, the four brothers racing across the city fighting bad guys and saving lives. Tonight, where nothing could go wrong. They have done this millions of times so what went wrong? What was different about this night?
The four turtles were fighting the foot ninja on a rooftop. They were grossly outnumbered but that didn't really bother the four brothers as they had fought larger odds before. Well, that was until…
"is it just me or do the numbers keep growing? When they are supposed to be falling?" Mikey asked, striking a foot ninja on the head as another took its place.
"Yeah it seems when we take two out of four takes their place." Raph growled as he punched one ninja in the face and dodged a kick from another.
"There are too many I think we need to pull back," Leo stated scanning the horde of approaching ninja; there seemed to be no end in sight.
"Retreat! No way we can beat these Ninja!" Raph shouted giving his older brother a quick glare before dogging another attack.
"Really Raph do we need to do this now?" Leo sighed, "this isn't really the time to argue, we need to get out of here before we are overrun."
"No, I'm not leaving! We need to finish the fight!" Raph, kicked a ninja back into a surrounding group he hated giving up and running away. Leo scanned the horde one more time and his eyes widened there on one of the rooftops stood the elite with more foot ninja but that's not what made his eyes widen it was the weapon they were holding.
The weapon looked like some kind of cannon made from alien Tec with a reddish glow coming from the barrel. His eyes tracked where the blast would hit…
"look out!" Leo panicked shout echoed a crossed the rooftop time seemed to slow down as the cannon fired Leo jumped into his purple-clad brother pushing him out of the way.
Everything seemed to stop moving at that moment everyone shocked into silence as they watched the canon's beam leave the rooftop with a concussive blast then everything went white. The building was blown apart in a fiery explosion; foot ninja and the turtles were sent flying into the air by the shockwave.
Raph groaned his ears were ringing he sat up to take in his surroundings, smoke was everywhere as well as parts of the building. 'what happened?' he thought; then it came back to him in a flash. Leo, Don an explosion. Raph forced himself to his feet he had to find his brothers. He found Mikey first he was pinned under some rumble as he struggled to free himself.
"Mikey!" he shouted and ran for is baby brother.
"Raph. Help I can't get out." Mikey gasped. Raph grabbed the concrete slab that was on top of Mikey he grunted from the strain, his injuries screaming in protest as he freed his brother. Mikey moved away from the slab and when he was clear Raph let go and the concrete fell back to the ground, more dust and ash covered the two.
"Mikey, are you hurt?"
"Just a couple scrapes and bruises." Mikey tried to sound upbeat but when he's tried to move his arm he flinched. Raph noticed this and bent down to look at his baby brother.
"Does that hurt?" Mikey gave a small nod "we need to find Don and Leo and get you home," Raph spoke softly hoping their brothers were ok.
"I'm ok Raph really, how are you?" Mikey asked
"Fine" came Raph's quick reply Mikey didn't look convinced but didn't push.
"Where is Donnie and Leo?"
"I'm not sure." Raph scanned the rubble hoping to see one of his brothers.
"Donnie!" Mickey shouted as he limped over to the still form
"Don? Come on wake up, Donnie." Raph stuttered as he picked up his little brother Don began to stirrer, which filled Raph and Mikey with relief that their brother was ok.
"Hey, you ok Donnie?" Mikey asked as Donatello's eyes fluttered opened and he groaned shifting in Raph's grasp.
"Leo!" Don shot up in a panic his pain forgotten, surprising the other two. Don looked at his brothers but when he didn't see the leader in blue his panic grew.
"Don clam down we will find Leo," Raph spoke trying to keep the purple banded turtle in his arms so he didn't injure himself more.
"Leo!" Don shouted again he pushed out of Raph's embraced and tried to run in the direction behind the other two turtles. They turned to see what got Don all frantic but when they saw him their breath caught in their thoughts. There lay Leo on his side his shell facing them a pool of blood surrounded his body and he wasn't moving.
"Leo!" Raph and Mikey gasped as they raced after Don's shakily run to their fallen older brother. Don got to him first; falling to his knees at his brothers back. he rolled Leo on to his back his arm flopped lifelessly on the ground next to him.
"L-Leo?" Don stammered as tears welled up in his eyes; Raph and Mikey came beside Don looking wide-eyed at their still brother.
"is -is he dead?" Raph asked. Don reached over to Leo's neck to feel for a pulse it was there it was weak but it was there Don wanted to jump for the joy his brother was still alive.
"No, he's alive but he is fading fast we need to get him back to the lair," Don stated pushing aside his own injuries and feelings as doctor Donnie went to work he took off his bandana and tightly wrapped it around the wound in his side trying to slow down the bleeding. "Raph." Raph didn't need to be told what to do he bent down and carefully picked up his older brother's limp form.
Don picked up his bow that was laying a few feet away and with Mikey's help got back to his feet that screamed in pain at the weight of his body. But he couldn't worry about that now they had to get home so he could patch up his wounded brothers then and only then will he fix himself.
The walk back home was slow, painfully slow in more ways than one. Don wanted to go faster to force his legs and his brothers to go faster; Leo looked pale his green skin was almost white from the amount of blood he was losing, but he didn't say anything he knew they could not go any faster then what they were going right now all he could hope for was that Leo made it home so he could save his life.
"Leo?" Don looked up to see Raph had stopped he was about to yell at Raph telling him that they needed to get home as fast as possible but stopped as he saw Leo's eyes were open hope surged in his chest
"Leo!" Mikey shouted as he and don humbled over to get a closer look. Leo's eyes were dull and his breathing was raspy he tried to move but Raph just squeezed Leo a little harder as he laid Leo up on the sewer wall. Leo didn't look good.
"Leo, we need to get you home your hurt," Don spoke trying to get his brother to stop struggling against Raph carrying him and aggravating his injuries. Leo turned his navy-blue eyes to look at Don.
"Don-Donnie?" Leo rasped his voice weak and fading
"Yeah Leo I'm here we are going home but you need to stay with me ok." Leo didn't respond his head lulled forward and his eyes closed
"Leo!" Raph shouted trying to keep his Brother awake
"You stay awake do you hear me!? Don't you dare close your eyes! Please come on!" Donnie shouted as fresh panic surged in his chest he needs his brother to stay awake that way he knew he was still alive. Leo's eyes fluttered open again in obvious signs that Leo was still fighting for conciseness. Raph quickly picked up Leo again and Began walking as fast as they could in the direction of home.
"Leo stay awake," Raph demanded but Leo couldn't hold on any longer and he closed his eyes
Don fumbled to get his Shell cell out of his belt and thumbed through the few contacts that were there finding the one he wanted he put the phone to his ear. He begins to panic thinking that Leo's time was running out he needed help.
'come on, come on pick up' Don thought as he listened to the ringing in his ear.
"Hello?" April's voice came on to the other line.
"April! Leo's hurt I need your help in the infirmary back at the lair!" Don spoke quickly
"Donnie, what happened? -"
"there is no time to explain just get to the lair as fast as you can." He cut her off and hung up he didn't have time to feel guilty about hanging up on the redhead because he had another call to make.
"Hello. Donatello what is the matter."
"Master Splinter Leo's hurt I need you to prep the infirmary and wait for April."
"My son what-"
"There's no time we are close but still too far from the lair, we need every moment to try and save Leo's life!" he almost shouted he could feel his brothers staring at him but he didn't care he wasn't going to take the precious time Leo had trying to explain what happened there would be time for that later.
"Alright my son I will do what you ask please be careful." Splinter tried to hide the worry in his voice that came tough the line
"we are on our way." Donnie sighed hanging up the phone and looking to Raph and Mikey
"will Leo be ok?" Mikey asked his voice shaking
"I don't know. Mikey, I will know more when we get him home." Don sighed
Back at the lair
Splinter put down the phone worry building in his chest Leonardo must really be hurt if Donatello was calling ahead and what of his other sons; How hurt were they? He shook his head he couldn't think about that right now. He turned leaving his room and headed to the infirmary
A few minutes later the door to the lair opened master Splinter rushed out of the infirmary hoping it was his sons but his hopes were dashed when he saw April and Casey at the door.
"Master Splinter are they here yet?" April asked worry evident in her voice
"No, I am afraid not I was hoping it was them coming through the door." He sighed sadly he liked April and Casey as family friends but he couldn't help the feeling of disappointment seeing them and not his sons.
"They called saying they were on their way home I thought they would have beaten us here," Casey spoke as the joined Master Splinter in the living room.
They sat on the couch none of them spoke; all in their minds thinking what could have happened to Leo and the rest of the turtles, where were they now and more stuff like that; occasionally their minds would travel to the worst-case scenario. That all came to a stop when the lair door opened again all three jumping up and racing to the door.
When the four came in they saw Leo in Raphael's arms covered in Blood and his eyes closed; Raph was bleeding too from several small cuts on his arms and legs, Donatello had his staff in one hand using it as a walking stick and was leaning against Mikey, Michelangelo looked the best out of all of them with small cuts and burses but his right arm was held protectively against his chest and it looked a little purple. Casey ran up to Raph and tried to take Leo from his arms Raph resisted for a moment not wanting to let go of his older brother but he knew he had too. Casey carried Leo to the infirmary followed by Don and April.
"Raphael, what happened?" Master Splinter asked Raph flinched not really wanting to talk about the nights' events.
"it's my fault master Splinter I didn't listen when Leo told us to retreat I -I… I'm sorry." Raph stammered tears burning in his eyes as he fought to hold them back. Splinter sighed he would get an explanation later right now Leo was what mattered and fixing all of their injuries.
"come, my sons let us have some tea and see if we can't clean up some of your wounds." He spoke softly as he turned and walked over to the kitchen.
Michelangelo was oddly quiet as the four of them waited, Casey came out of the infirmary shortly after laying Leo on one of the beds, they all sat in silence and watched their tea turn cold as no one felt like drinking or really doing much of anything.
They waited and waited; 6 hours had gone by and nobody said a word or moved.
"do- do you think Leo's going to be ok?" Mikey finally asked the silence getting to him for he was never one to sit in one place too long or stayed quiet for this long either.
"I am sure Donatello and Mis O'Neil are doing everything they can to save your brother." That wasn't really the answer Mikey wanted, and it made his heart clench what if Leo didn't make it?
'No! Leo will make it because he is the strongest turtle he knew. Donnie will save him.' Mikey thought as hope surged he just had to stay positive. Then the door to the infirmary opened and a very tired looking April came out. The two turtles, Rat and human shot to their feet.
"How's Leo, will he be okay?" Raph asked quickly. April stop and looked up; surprised to see all of them staring at her.
"Don is finishing up he wanted me to come out here and patch you guys up." She stated bringing out Dons travel med kit.
"I'm fine I want to know how Leo is!" Raph snapped,
"hey dude calm down she trying to help." Casey shouted back at Raph who just glared at the vigilante
"Enough both of you. You and Michelangelo are both injured and I think it would be best if you listen to her." Splinter demanded When Raph didn't break eye contact with Casey "Raphael!"
"Hai sensei" he submits lowering his gaze from Chasey and sitting back in the chair in defeat. April walked over to Raph first and started cleaning his wounds; he didn't speak or share eye contact the only indication that Raph knew April was there was the occasional hiss in pain from the disinfectant and the stitches (that he hated and a little scared of but wouldn't admit that). When April was done with Raph she silently moved over to Mikey.
"I need to see your arm." She said holding out her hand gesturing for Mikey's injured arm that was still held protectively against his chest. Hesitantly Mikey relists his arm which was swollen and slightly discolored. "it looks like you dislocated your elbow you might what to make sure nothing is broken though."
"Nah it's all good it doesn't even hurt that bad-ouch, ouch!" Mikey gasped as when he tried to move his arm to say he wasn't hurt only for hurt it more.
"Mikey! Be careful" April hissed as she gently took the arm back.
"how is Leo?" Mikey asked after a few minutes of silence, everyone in the room looked up at April and she Froze mid wrapping one of Mikey's injuries
"he was badly hurt we just finished surgery when I came out here." April sighed
"well is he going to make it?" Raph asked,
"it is too soon to tell." The group turned to see Don leaning ageist the door to the infirmary.
"Don…" Chasey started to say but he cut himself off Don looked horrible; he had dark bags under his eyes he also looked a little pale which help show all his darkening burses.
"how-how is he?" Mikey asked Don sighed and pushed the door open some more, the group got the hit that he wanted them to see for themselves.
Walking into the infirmary Raph wished he could turn and run away. Leo was lying on his back his chest was heavy bandaged he had two tubes that were forced down his throat. He also had an IV and a pint of blood hooked up to his arm. Soft beeping and the sound of air compressing were the only sounds that were heard.
"he sustained damage to one of his lungs and some stress fractures to his ribs." Donnie sighed and rubbed the back of his head "he lost a lot of blood I had to use up all his and my blood just to stabilize him and I don't know if that will be enough."
"why can't you use Mine and Raph's that you have?" Mikey asked Don just shook his head
"Leo's and mine blood are the closes and even using mine is dangerous because we all have different… well, different mutations and cellar make-up, I can try to fix the blood so it would work but that will take time."
"well, he is ok?" Raph asked for the millionth time that night Don sighed again which was starting to get on his nerves
"I- I don't know. He suffered some damage to his kidney and chest wall not to menschen all the other injuries he sustained; I fixed what I could but-but I am not sure if I have to go back in… if I missed anything or-or…" Don put his hand on his face as some tears leaked through; tears that he has been fighting all night because he had to be strong he had to focus so he could save his brother but now he doesn't know if he had done enough.
"my son you did all you can Leonardo is strong I am sure he will pull tough." Master Splinter spoke putting a hand on his crying son's shoulder.
"how do you know! He wouldn't be lying there if it wasn't for me!" Don screamed at the rare show of emotion extreme sadness and rage. "I didn't see it coming I wasn't paying attention to the weapon tha- that… he pushed me out of the way when the explosion went off."
"Don this isn't your fault I should have listened when Leo said we needed to go…" Raph apologizes he head bowed
"well Leo's still breathing that's a good thing… right" Mikey stammered tears in his own eyes as he stands by his oldest brother's side
"Mikey… Leo isn't breathing on his own I have him on life support, the machines are breathing for him." Don whispered and looking away from his family in shame.
Everyone slept in the infirmary that night, Raph Don and Splinter were the only ones awake as they silently watched over Leo's comatose form; praying that he would be ok and wake up soon.
Because their family wasn't ready to say goodbye they weren't ready to live without their leader their brother and eldest son; they weren't ready to live without Leonardo.
I hope you liked that chapter this will mostly be a flashback story in the family members point of view so I hope you enjoy. Oh, and if you have ideas on little brother moments or short stories how Leo has helped them or just been a good big brother let me know.