Raph was almost an entire block ahead of everyone else as he tore down back
alleys and through the shadows, trying as hard as he could to get to Kelen
before anything could happen. He silently pleaded for her to be okay. To be
standing at the front door smiling and tell him he had been dreaming. But
deep down, in the place he buried everything he didn't want to know, he
knew she was not okay. He just knew it. And he knew he was too late and all
he could do was pray that that bastard was not cold hearted enough to kill
his own daughter. Raph was running purely on rage. Leo started to catch up
with him when he got the same feeling Raph had. That something was wrong.
Something was awful and Kelen was begging for them to come to her rescue.
Raph got to the porch first and threw open the door. He was completely out
of breath. But when he took the time to examine the scene around him, he
almost stopped breathing all together. Soon after, the others arrived to
find Raph staring at the scene in the entryway. Leo thought he looked
scared. Only on very few occasions did Leo sense that Raph was scared, and
he knew that whatever Raph was looking at, was something that would be
forever drilled into his memory. As they all approached the door, each of
them gasped and stared, their feet simply wouldn't move. Lauren raised her
hand slowly to her mouth. Partly to keep from throwing up, and partly
because she realized something more terrible had happened to Kelen than
they had imagined. No one could believe what they were seeing. Bloody
handprints covered the wall and smeared across the floor. The carpet was
stained a permanent crimson color in more than one, large, area. Pieces of
torn cloth from Kelen's clothes hung from the banister. Screams echoed
silently across the walls where Kelen had placed them just minutes ago. And
if walls could talk what a story they would have to tell.
Trent found his legs first. Leo closed his eyes. He didn't want to imagine coming home and finding this scene from his brother's blood. He couldn't possibly imagine how terrifying it would be to look around and know you were just minutes off from saving the only family you had. But in a way, Kelen was part of Leo's family too. And the other reason his eyes were closed were so tears wouldn't find their way out. Lauren looked over at Donny. He stood on the line between anger and hysterics. Lauren reached over and touched him. When he looked over at her, he had never seen someone look quite like she had. He took her hand and led her into a place he had never ventured before. He turned and motioned for Mikey to follow, but Mikey's eyes had long since turned liquid and he wasn't sure he could convince Mikey to go look for Kelen. But Mikey followed. Leo gave Raph's shoulder a squeeze. "Come on," he whispered. Raph nodded weakly and he took his eyes off the blood stained glass covering the floor to follow.
Everyone followed Trent's lead up the winding staircase as Lauren quietly directed him to Kelen's room. Trent stood before Kelen's closed door. He ripped off the note that was taped to it. He read it quietly first and then out loud. "She told," he said hoarsely. He turned the knob on her door and opened it swiftly. If it was in anyway possible, Kelen's room looked worse than downstairs. Not one piece of furniture remained standing. The bathroom door was broken through. They could only guess how long Kelen had been locked in there while she realized he was going to kill her. There was a knife stuck in the floor. A piece of cloth was stuck at its point. Raph could see the fight scene unfolding. Kelen had just barely missed the knife. This guy did have the balls to kill his own flesh and blood. So why was there such a scene downstairs? Donny thought this over in his mind. Then he realized why, Kelen had tried to run away. She had gotten all the way downstairs and to the door, but then he had caught her. Leo looked for Trent, hoping to offer a comforting word, but Trent was no longer with the bunch that had gathered in the middle of the room. Almost instinctively, everyone's head turned to face Trent. He was on his knees beside Kelen's bed. He was crying and holding Kelen's hand as she lay helplessly sprawled across her bed. The group slowly moved toward Kelen, who didn't even look like Kelen anymore. Her clothes were in shreds and blood dripped over inch of her once peachy skin. Shards of glass and wood were stuck in her neck and side. Her legs were exposed and covered with new scars. Old ones had been reopened and were bleeding again. Raph walked cautiously over to her bedside and knelt down beside Trent. The only comfort he could offer himself was that Kelen was still breathing and her eyes were open in slits. Her breathing was gradually growing slower though, and he wasn't sure whether or not she knew they were there. He moved up beside her head and sat down on her bed. He cradled her head in his lap. Her eyes opened a little more, she knew he was there. But she was in too much pain to do much more than lie there and breathe. This task alone was growing harder. Raph just told her not to move. Inside, Kelen knew she wasn't okay and it was very likely she was going to die. Kelen wanted to jump up and hug them all and tell them she loved them. She wanted to hold her big brother, who wasn't really as strong as he looked, and apologize for all that she had ever done to him to make him mad or worried about her. But she couldn't. It was frustrating to realize this, but trying was too hard, keeping her eyes open was too hard. So Kelen slowly let them drop and she felt tears splash down upon an open wound on her shoulder. The voices that were being heard around her that once seemed so distinct now had no owner, and the words all blended together in a never ending slur of sound that spun in her head. Soon everything was quiet and peaceful. Her world turned into a calm feeling of serenity. The only thing that came in from the world going on around her was touch. And slowly that feeling faded too. She had the sensation she was being lifted, but thinking even became a blur and her thoughts made no sense. So Kelen entered completely into the world of darkness that beckoned for her to come and promised a long, peaceful rest. Kelen quickly gave in and lost all connection from the outside world.
Raphael carefully picked up Kelen and began to carry her to Lauren's car. Trent kept a steady pace with him for the short length, never once removing his eyes from his baby sister, who was quickly diminishing before his eyes. They had agreed on taking Kelen back to the lair. At a hospital they would have to explain what happened, and they were sure her dad didn't want that. They also couldn't be seen in a hospital unless they were dressed in complete disguises which hid their features from those bright lights. And none of them could bear not knowing what was happening to her…or not saying goodbye if the need should arise. A short ways away, they arrived at the entrance to their home. Raph had sat with her on the ride over and had become very protective. He wasn't taking any chances. He carried her from the car to the sewers, and down all the long tunnels. Trent assisted him in bringing her down the ladder to their home, where they quickly brought her to their "emergency room." Splinter followed the sound of their footsteps into the well lit room where Kelen had been placed on the bed. Donny briskly entered the room and began rummaging around for everything he would need. Mikey was following at his side, deeply worried and scared. Leo helped Donny pry Mike away from the room and escorted him into Mike's bedroom. "I want to stay with Kelen," Mike told him seriously. "Not until Donny gets everything under control. We need to be sure she's stable before we start taking risks," Leo told him with an equal amount of seriousness. Mike agreed only because it was best for Kelen. Splinter stood in the room while Trent quickly went over everything he knew. Splinter gave Donny the little help that he needed and turned back towards Trent. He put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and told him that everything was going to work out. Splinter had faith in his sons. He exited the room with the intent of meditating; but was stopped by a worried face. Lauren sat collapsed at the bottom of the ladder in complete hysterics. Splinter tried to talk to her but she was too upset to hear anything he was saying. So he led her to the kitchen and sat her down in a chair. He made her some herbal tea to calm her nerves. Once she was relatively under control, he asked her if she'd like to talk. She was silent for a moment, but finally spoke. "Kelen has almost always been in control. She's always been there to help me get through whatever I needed. And now she's dying and there isn't anything I can do to help her," she said. Then she started crying again. Splinter touched her shoulder softly. "What you can do, Child, is be there when she awakes," he said. "But what if…" Lauren couldn't finish. "She will wake up, I promise you. But you are her sister, and she needs you there," he told her with complete confidence. Lauren nodded and thanked him. Her sister? 'I guess she is,' Lauren thought, 'I mean, she always kind of has been.' Lauren walked from the kitchen to the room of urgency, where Donny was furiously trying to revive Kelen and make sure he had spotted and cleaned every injury before starting with stitches and other things to help her. Leo stood in the corner and watched everything Donny did, ready to help at any second. Mikey had been allowed back in from continuous pleading, but didn't know what to do once he got in there. So he had pulled up a chair to one side of the room and prayed she would wake up. He talked to her a little and asked her to wake up, not sure whether or not she could hear him. Trent was kneeling next to her and holding her hand. He was her older brother and was trying to protect her from something out of his reach. Donny had already taken blood from him and Trent was willing to give her his heart if she needed it. Then, Lauren spotted Raph. He was off in one corner of the room with his arms crossed looking down at the ground. Lauren walked over to him and gently placed a hand on his arm. He snapped his head up and looked at Lauren, who was trying hard not to give up. "She needs us," she told him. "I don't know what to do," he admitted after a period of silence between them. "Just sit with her," Lauren whispered. Then she walked over and took her own advice. She sat and leaned against Kelen's bed. She closed her eyes and tried to calm down. Donny took a brief moment to touch her shoulder. She appreciated the gesture and smiled weakly. Raph went over and took a seat next to Lauren. He leaned against Kelen's arm. He turned his head and looked at Kelen. She was white as a sheet and looked like death warmed over. He silently told her he loved her and kissed her hand. Then he turned his head back around and just leaned against Kelen's body. "C'mon babe," Mikey said out loud, although he didn't know it, "We're all counting on you. I don't know what we'll do if you don't wake up."
Hours later, well into the early morning, Donny had done everything he could and there was nothing left to do but wait. And waiting was the hardest part. She was covered in stitches, gauze and home-made casts. But she was still Kelen. And the Kelen they knew was a fighter and wasn't giving up that easily. Donny sat by Kelen's bed and looked at her. 'How could someone do this?' he thought. 'How could her own father try to kill her? How could he ruin a life like hers? Hasn't she been through enough?' He exhaled deeply and looked over at Lauren. She was sitting quietly against Kelen's bedside, breathing shakily and trying hard not to let her tears show. She had been crying all night and was exhausted from the ordeal. Everyone, with the exception of Splinter who was meditating, was in the small room. Mike had ended up falling asleep, making everyone promise to wake him if one single little thing should change. Leo sat with his eyes closed in deep thought. Trent had also fallen asleep after Mikey with the same promise. Worrying made you tired. Raph was still sitting sullenly by Kelen, and had refused to leave her side once he had gotten there. "Come here," Donny said quietly to Lauren. She made her way over to him and he cradled her in his arms. "Don't be afraid," he told her, "She's going to be fine." Lauren had complete trust in him, but still wouldn't let herself fall asleep. "You're going to have to sleep sometime," Donny said. Lauren shook her head. She didn't want anything to happen while she was asleep. Donny didn't argue with her. He just held her and waited for her to fall asleep. Finally Lauren's head nodded to one side. He put his head up against hers. Then he was hit with a thought. What if this had happened to Lauren? What would he have done? Man, Raph was good at hiding his feelings. He and Raph had never been close, but since they started dating Kelen and Lauren, they had gotten closer and done more stuff together. Donny gently placed Lauren on the ground with her back against the wall. Then he walked over to the other side of the bed and sat next to Raph. They were both silent a moment. "You really love her, don't you?" Donny asked. Raph looked like he might yell at him, but changed his mind and nodded. Donny smiled. Never would they have guessed that Raph would fall in love. With a human, no less. And they had really never guessed she would love him back. "You love Lauren?" Raph asked. Donny nodded. "You told her?" he asked. Donny blushed a little, but nodded again. Raph nodded, too. After another moment of silence, he asked, "Is Kelen gonna be okay?" Donny sighed and looked Raph straight in the eye. "I hope so. I think so," he told him honestly. Raph thought this over for a while. When he turned back to Donny, he had fallen asleep. 'I guess I would too," Raph thought. He looked over to Leo. His breathing had slowed and was a little slumped over, asleep. Raph was the only one left awake. He shifted positions and looked at Kelen. He took her hand and looked at her. He couldn't have thought she was more beautiful. "God, Kelen," he said to her, "I love you so much. Please wake up. I think I might die without you. I promise to take good care of you. I'll never let that guy hurt again, just please, please wake up." He looked at her for a minute, but nothing happened. Her eyes remained closed and her body was shut down. He let go of her hand and turned back around. He couldn't fall asleep. If something happened, no one would be there. He walked into the kitchen and got himself a cup of coffee. He sat down at the kitchen table for a good half hour just thinking about her and what would happen if she didn't wake up. He looked over to thee small clock in the kitchen. It was 3:30. He had had a rough night last night too when Kelen had told them all what really happened. He gulped down the last of the coffee and returned to Kelen. He stood over her bed looking down at her. He put his hand on her arm but immediately jerked it away from reflex. Her arm was hot. Really hot. He started to feel her arms, neck and face. She was burning with fever. "Donny!" he yelled, waking everyone up. Donny jumped to his feet and went over to him. "What is it?" he asked worriedly. Raph took Donny's hand and put it on her forehead. Donny too pulled it away. "Oh my God," he said. He ran out of the room to get cold water and washcloths. Everyone else was now wide awake and beside Kelen. "She's got a fever," Raph told them without looking up. "Kelen," Mikey said starting to tear up, "Kelen, please wake up now so we can make you better." But Kelen didn't move.
Inside, Kelen was still surrounded by peace. Every once in a while, she heard a voice or felt a hand, but she quickly excused them. She didn't want to come back yet. She was feeling so good and didn't want to give that up. She remembered what had happened and knew if she woke up she was going to feel pain. And she didn't want to feel pain. She was so content where she was. So pushed away all the little things she felt and sunk herself deeper into the calmness and the dark.
Kelen was settling in to the darkness when she was flushed with a hot feeling. She didn't want to have feeling. She tried to dismiss it, but couldn't. It was stronger than her. She tried to fight it back, but it consumed her being. She wanted to scream. She wanted to throw up. She wanted it to go away. But when she heard Mikey's voice so clearly, she almost wanted to cry. He wanted her to come back. They all did. She realized she had been selfish in pushing away all their pleas. But she had sunk into the darkness to deeply to come back. All at once, her body temperature changed drastically. Cool water was covering her. She felt better, but still, she didn't feel right. She realized for her to get better, she had to wake up. Although she loved them all, she knew how much it was going to hurt, and wasn't ready for that. But she had made up her mind. She fought back the peacefulness and pushed away all calm feelings surrounding her. She strained to hear voices and feel things. She stared to remember more clearly what had happened, and knew she was almost there.
Donny sighed and looked at her, unaware of the internal battle she was fighting. "Whatever just happened is probably going to keep her down for another couple of days," he said turning to the group. But they weren't looking at him, they were focused, jaws dropped, on Kelen. Donny turned to find her moving her arms a little, struggling. Then her eyelids fluttered and opened. She groaned and wished she was back in her world of no feeling. But everyone was talking all at once. They were smiling and crying at the same time. Raph was down on one side of her bed, with his placed gently on her shoulder. Her brother was on the other side, holding her hand and kissing her cheek. She managed to squeeze his hand a little. And it was all worth it.
Trent found his legs first. Leo closed his eyes. He didn't want to imagine coming home and finding this scene from his brother's blood. He couldn't possibly imagine how terrifying it would be to look around and know you were just minutes off from saving the only family you had. But in a way, Kelen was part of Leo's family too. And the other reason his eyes were closed were so tears wouldn't find their way out. Lauren looked over at Donny. He stood on the line between anger and hysterics. Lauren reached over and touched him. When he looked over at her, he had never seen someone look quite like she had. He took her hand and led her into a place he had never ventured before. He turned and motioned for Mikey to follow, but Mikey's eyes had long since turned liquid and he wasn't sure he could convince Mikey to go look for Kelen. But Mikey followed. Leo gave Raph's shoulder a squeeze. "Come on," he whispered. Raph nodded weakly and he took his eyes off the blood stained glass covering the floor to follow.
Everyone followed Trent's lead up the winding staircase as Lauren quietly directed him to Kelen's room. Trent stood before Kelen's closed door. He ripped off the note that was taped to it. He read it quietly first and then out loud. "She told," he said hoarsely. He turned the knob on her door and opened it swiftly. If it was in anyway possible, Kelen's room looked worse than downstairs. Not one piece of furniture remained standing. The bathroom door was broken through. They could only guess how long Kelen had been locked in there while she realized he was going to kill her. There was a knife stuck in the floor. A piece of cloth was stuck at its point. Raph could see the fight scene unfolding. Kelen had just barely missed the knife. This guy did have the balls to kill his own flesh and blood. So why was there such a scene downstairs? Donny thought this over in his mind. Then he realized why, Kelen had tried to run away. She had gotten all the way downstairs and to the door, but then he had caught her. Leo looked for Trent, hoping to offer a comforting word, but Trent was no longer with the bunch that had gathered in the middle of the room. Almost instinctively, everyone's head turned to face Trent. He was on his knees beside Kelen's bed. He was crying and holding Kelen's hand as she lay helplessly sprawled across her bed. The group slowly moved toward Kelen, who didn't even look like Kelen anymore. Her clothes were in shreds and blood dripped over inch of her once peachy skin. Shards of glass and wood were stuck in her neck and side. Her legs were exposed and covered with new scars. Old ones had been reopened and were bleeding again. Raph walked cautiously over to her bedside and knelt down beside Trent. The only comfort he could offer himself was that Kelen was still breathing and her eyes were open in slits. Her breathing was gradually growing slower though, and he wasn't sure whether or not she knew they were there. He moved up beside her head and sat down on her bed. He cradled her head in his lap. Her eyes opened a little more, she knew he was there. But she was in too much pain to do much more than lie there and breathe. This task alone was growing harder. Raph just told her not to move. Inside, Kelen knew she wasn't okay and it was very likely she was going to die. Kelen wanted to jump up and hug them all and tell them she loved them. She wanted to hold her big brother, who wasn't really as strong as he looked, and apologize for all that she had ever done to him to make him mad or worried about her. But she couldn't. It was frustrating to realize this, but trying was too hard, keeping her eyes open was too hard. So Kelen slowly let them drop and she felt tears splash down upon an open wound on her shoulder. The voices that were being heard around her that once seemed so distinct now had no owner, and the words all blended together in a never ending slur of sound that spun in her head. Soon everything was quiet and peaceful. Her world turned into a calm feeling of serenity. The only thing that came in from the world going on around her was touch. And slowly that feeling faded too. She had the sensation she was being lifted, but thinking even became a blur and her thoughts made no sense. So Kelen entered completely into the world of darkness that beckoned for her to come and promised a long, peaceful rest. Kelen quickly gave in and lost all connection from the outside world.
Raphael carefully picked up Kelen and began to carry her to Lauren's car. Trent kept a steady pace with him for the short length, never once removing his eyes from his baby sister, who was quickly diminishing before his eyes. They had agreed on taking Kelen back to the lair. At a hospital they would have to explain what happened, and they were sure her dad didn't want that. They also couldn't be seen in a hospital unless they were dressed in complete disguises which hid their features from those bright lights. And none of them could bear not knowing what was happening to her…or not saying goodbye if the need should arise. A short ways away, they arrived at the entrance to their home. Raph had sat with her on the ride over and had become very protective. He wasn't taking any chances. He carried her from the car to the sewers, and down all the long tunnels. Trent assisted him in bringing her down the ladder to their home, where they quickly brought her to their "emergency room." Splinter followed the sound of their footsteps into the well lit room where Kelen had been placed on the bed. Donny briskly entered the room and began rummaging around for everything he would need. Mikey was following at his side, deeply worried and scared. Leo helped Donny pry Mike away from the room and escorted him into Mike's bedroom. "I want to stay with Kelen," Mike told him seriously. "Not until Donny gets everything under control. We need to be sure she's stable before we start taking risks," Leo told him with an equal amount of seriousness. Mike agreed only because it was best for Kelen. Splinter stood in the room while Trent quickly went over everything he knew. Splinter gave Donny the little help that he needed and turned back towards Trent. He put a reassuring hand on his shoulder and told him that everything was going to work out. Splinter had faith in his sons. He exited the room with the intent of meditating; but was stopped by a worried face. Lauren sat collapsed at the bottom of the ladder in complete hysterics. Splinter tried to talk to her but she was too upset to hear anything he was saying. So he led her to the kitchen and sat her down in a chair. He made her some herbal tea to calm her nerves. Once she was relatively under control, he asked her if she'd like to talk. She was silent for a moment, but finally spoke. "Kelen has almost always been in control. She's always been there to help me get through whatever I needed. And now she's dying and there isn't anything I can do to help her," she said. Then she started crying again. Splinter touched her shoulder softly. "What you can do, Child, is be there when she awakes," he said. "But what if…" Lauren couldn't finish. "She will wake up, I promise you. But you are her sister, and she needs you there," he told her with complete confidence. Lauren nodded and thanked him. Her sister? 'I guess she is,' Lauren thought, 'I mean, she always kind of has been.' Lauren walked from the kitchen to the room of urgency, where Donny was furiously trying to revive Kelen and make sure he had spotted and cleaned every injury before starting with stitches and other things to help her. Leo stood in the corner and watched everything Donny did, ready to help at any second. Mikey had been allowed back in from continuous pleading, but didn't know what to do once he got in there. So he had pulled up a chair to one side of the room and prayed she would wake up. He talked to her a little and asked her to wake up, not sure whether or not she could hear him. Trent was kneeling next to her and holding her hand. He was her older brother and was trying to protect her from something out of his reach. Donny had already taken blood from him and Trent was willing to give her his heart if she needed it. Then, Lauren spotted Raph. He was off in one corner of the room with his arms crossed looking down at the ground. Lauren walked over to him and gently placed a hand on his arm. He snapped his head up and looked at Lauren, who was trying hard not to give up. "She needs us," she told him. "I don't know what to do," he admitted after a period of silence between them. "Just sit with her," Lauren whispered. Then she walked over and took her own advice. She sat and leaned against Kelen's bed. She closed her eyes and tried to calm down. Donny took a brief moment to touch her shoulder. She appreciated the gesture and smiled weakly. Raph went over and took a seat next to Lauren. He leaned against Kelen's arm. He turned his head and looked at Kelen. She was white as a sheet and looked like death warmed over. He silently told her he loved her and kissed her hand. Then he turned his head back around and just leaned against Kelen's body. "C'mon babe," Mikey said out loud, although he didn't know it, "We're all counting on you. I don't know what we'll do if you don't wake up."
Hours later, well into the early morning, Donny had done everything he could and there was nothing left to do but wait. And waiting was the hardest part. She was covered in stitches, gauze and home-made casts. But she was still Kelen. And the Kelen they knew was a fighter and wasn't giving up that easily. Donny sat by Kelen's bed and looked at her. 'How could someone do this?' he thought. 'How could her own father try to kill her? How could he ruin a life like hers? Hasn't she been through enough?' He exhaled deeply and looked over at Lauren. She was sitting quietly against Kelen's bedside, breathing shakily and trying hard not to let her tears show. She had been crying all night and was exhausted from the ordeal. Everyone, with the exception of Splinter who was meditating, was in the small room. Mike had ended up falling asleep, making everyone promise to wake him if one single little thing should change. Leo sat with his eyes closed in deep thought. Trent had also fallen asleep after Mikey with the same promise. Worrying made you tired. Raph was still sitting sullenly by Kelen, and had refused to leave her side once he had gotten there. "Come here," Donny said quietly to Lauren. She made her way over to him and he cradled her in his arms. "Don't be afraid," he told her, "She's going to be fine." Lauren had complete trust in him, but still wouldn't let herself fall asleep. "You're going to have to sleep sometime," Donny said. Lauren shook her head. She didn't want anything to happen while she was asleep. Donny didn't argue with her. He just held her and waited for her to fall asleep. Finally Lauren's head nodded to one side. He put his head up against hers. Then he was hit with a thought. What if this had happened to Lauren? What would he have done? Man, Raph was good at hiding his feelings. He and Raph had never been close, but since they started dating Kelen and Lauren, they had gotten closer and done more stuff together. Donny gently placed Lauren on the ground with her back against the wall. Then he walked over to the other side of the bed and sat next to Raph. They were both silent a moment. "You really love her, don't you?" Donny asked. Raph looked like he might yell at him, but changed his mind and nodded. Donny smiled. Never would they have guessed that Raph would fall in love. With a human, no less. And they had really never guessed she would love him back. "You love Lauren?" Raph asked. Donny nodded. "You told her?" he asked. Donny blushed a little, but nodded again. Raph nodded, too. After another moment of silence, he asked, "Is Kelen gonna be okay?" Donny sighed and looked Raph straight in the eye. "I hope so. I think so," he told him honestly. Raph thought this over for a while. When he turned back to Donny, he had fallen asleep. 'I guess I would too," Raph thought. He looked over to Leo. His breathing had slowed and was a little slumped over, asleep. Raph was the only one left awake. He shifted positions and looked at Kelen. He took her hand and looked at her. He couldn't have thought she was more beautiful. "God, Kelen," he said to her, "I love you so much. Please wake up. I think I might die without you. I promise to take good care of you. I'll never let that guy hurt again, just please, please wake up." He looked at her for a minute, but nothing happened. Her eyes remained closed and her body was shut down. He let go of her hand and turned back around. He couldn't fall asleep. If something happened, no one would be there. He walked into the kitchen and got himself a cup of coffee. He sat down at the kitchen table for a good half hour just thinking about her and what would happen if she didn't wake up. He looked over to thee small clock in the kitchen. It was 3:30. He had had a rough night last night too when Kelen had told them all what really happened. He gulped down the last of the coffee and returned to Kelen. He stood over her bed looking down at her. He put his hand on her arm but immediately jerked it away from reflex. Her arm was hot. Really hot. He started to feel her arms, neck and face. She was burning with fever. "Donny!" he yelled, waking everyone up. Donny jumped to his feet and went over to him. "What is it?" he asked worriedly. Raph took Donny's hand and put it on her forehead. Donny too pulled it away. "Oh my God," he said. He ran out of the room to get cold water and washcloths. Everyone else was now wide awake and beside Kelen. "She's got a fever," Raph told them without looking up. "Kelen," Mikey said starting to tear up, "Kelen, please wake up now so we can make you better." But Kelen didn't move.
Inside, Kelen was still surrounded by peace. Every once in a while, she heard a voice or felt a hand, but she quickly excused them. She didn't want to come back yet. She was feeling so good and didn't want to give that up. She remembered what had happened and knew if she woke up she was going to feel pain. And she didn't want to feel pain. She was so content where she was. So pushed away all the little things she felt and sunk herself deeper into the calmness and the dark.
Kelen was settling in to the darkness when she was flushed with a hot feeling. She didn't want to have feeling. She tried to dismiss it, but couldn't. It was stronger than her. She tried to fight it back, but it consumed her being. She wanted to scream. She wanted to throw up. She wanted it to go away. But when she heard Mikey's voice so clearly, she almost wanted to cry. He wanted her to come back. They all did. She realized she had been selfish in pushing away all their pleas. But she had sunk into the darkness to deeply to come back. All at once, her body temperature changed drastically. Cool water was covering her. She felt better, but still, she didn't feel right. She realized for her to get better, she had to wake up. Although she loved them all, she knew how much it was going to hurt, and wasn't ready for that. But she had made up her mind. She fought back the peacefulness and pushed away all calm feelings surrounding her. She strained to hear voices and feel things. She stared to remember more clearly what had happened, and knew she was almost there.
Donny sighed and looked at her, unaware of the internal battle she was fighting. "Whatever just happened is probably going to keep her down for another couple of days," he said turning to the group. But they weren't looking at him, they were focused, jaws dropped, on Kelen. Donny turned to find her moving her arms a little, struggling. Then her eyelids fluttered and opened. She groaned and wished she was back in her world of no feeling. But everyone was talking all at once. They were smiling and crying at the same time. Raph was down on one side of her bed, with his placed gently on her shoulder. Her brother was on the other side, holding her hand and kissing her cheek. She managed to squeeze his hand a little. And it was all worth it.