*Disclaimer: I do not own the characters Donatello, Leonardo, Michaelangelo, Raphael, Splinter, April O'Neil, or Casey Jones.  The rest of them are mine; please don't borrow them without permission.  Thanks!

Chapter 8

Athena:

I'd never seen the man before in my life, but it was obvious he wanted me dead and I wasn't going down without a fight.  We'd been battling each other for what felt like hours.  I was tired and drenched in sweat.  My katana felt heavy in my grip and I was having a hard time wielding it.  He lunged at me again, and I ducked away, narrowly missing the tip of his sai.  I jumped into a reverse spin kick and suddenly found myself on my back.  It happened so fast I wasn't sure how.  I moved to get up, but he was on top of me already.  When did he get so fast?  He was above me, laughing.  I suddenly had the worst pounding in my head.  The more I tried to block his laughter, the louder it became.  I tried to get up, but he had me pinned.  I didn't have my katana and I couldn't see it anywhere.  I kicked my legs with no effect.  His hands went around my neck and suddenly I couldn't breathe.  I pulled as hard as I could, but couldn't break free from his grasp.  I gave a futile gasp for air.  I felt dizzy and I suddenly heard a noise…it was distant but it sounded like it was getting closer…a soft beeping…

I bolted upright in bed, the sheets and covers thrown this way and that around me.  I took a few breaths and appreciated the cool air in my lungs.  I felt like I'd been choking and remembered my dream.  My dream…what was that all about?  That certainly wasn't a typical nightmare for me, it almost felt like…suddenly it hit me and I couldn't get out the door fast enough.

I sprinted down the hallway screaming at the computer to open the lift door.  It opened just enough by the time I got to it and I squeezed inside, ordering it to the basement.  I had never known that lift to go so slow in my whole life.  My veins were surging with adrenaline.  The doors opened and I ran out, hitting a full tilt run as I rounded the corner, nearly plowing over Michaelangelo.
"What the hell?"  I looked at him in amazement.  "What are you doing out of bed?"

"We heard a noise…"

I looked over and saw Raphael and Donatello standing by the doors to the room where we had Leonardo.  They looked worried, but not nearly as worried as I was. 

"Open B2!"  The doors slid open at my command.  "Lights!"  The lights came up and I saw that my concern was justified.  Leonardo was thrashing on the bed, only half-conscious and trying to breathe around the tube that was down his throat.  The monitors were screeching like crazy all around him.  I was beside him in two seconds, pulling every tube and wire off and out of him.  I wasn't even sure that was what I was supposed to be doing, but it seemed like the right thing at the time.  He choked and coughed, trying to get air.  I knelt on the bed, pulling him up and turning him to the side.  His body convulsed as though he were trying to vomit, but nothing came.  I didn't know what else to do, so I just held him, rubbing his back and whispering for him to relax.  A minute or so later, he did just that.  His chest heaved with each breath, but he was quiet and still.

Michaelangelo moved beside the bed and lowered himself into his brother's line of vision.

"Hey man, glad you could join us."  He gave him a smile that made my heart melt.

"Hi Mike."  His voice was low and scratchy.

"Heh, and I thought we were in bad shape!"  Raphael chuckled to himself as he looked at his brother, but he was obviously relieved that he was okay.

I moved Leonardo to lie back on the bed so that he could see his brothers.  It was then that he noticed me.

"Hi…I'm Athena."

"Hi."  He looked up and down over me and it was only then that I realized I hadn't bothered to put a robe or anything on when I'd left my bedroom.  Thank god I'd decided to sleep with my underwear on tonight, or this could have been extremely embarrassing, as opposed to just really embarrassing.  I blushed a little and lowered my head. 

"Can I get you anything…water, tea?"

"Actually, tea would be really good."

Thank god--an excuse to leave.

"No problem, I'll go get it and I'll leave it to you three to just fill him in."

I smiled at them, and got three rather mischievous smiles in return.  I didn't even glance again at Leonardo and quickly turned and walked out, trying to ignore the four sets of eyes burning holes in my backside…