Juu-roku...
Don looked around the snowy hill as a bitter wind whipped around them. The urgency of now heavy on his mind, he knelt back down to Leo. The trip out to their horses turned out to be longer than expected, since the hike gave Leo dizzy spells.
The older turtle rose from the snow again. He took in a deep breath as he looked at Don, making sure that sparkling pixy dust didn't dance around him.
"Able to go on?" Don supported him anyway.
He nodded yes.
Don put his arm around Leo's shoulders this time as they plowed through the powdery snow. The wind made his thighs, fingers, and cheeks sting with cold. It's probably making Leo feel even worse, after the reduction of his blood. Damn... the wind chill has to be 10 below.
"Keep going…" Leo looked up the short prelude of a hill that was part of a much bigger one. Don still fell a step behind to push him as they climbed.
They paused a moment where it leveled off a bit. "What about the other guy we left there?"
"We'll… take him back, somehow…" Leo mumbled, before continuing.
They fell silent again, each step feeling like such a physical excursion in their weary state. That all to familiar feeling of fatigue that sets in when the trial was about over. Don cursed at the heavy rubberized boots he wore too.
An anticipated whinny from Trinity caught their attention. The two other horses were tied further back. Don noticed the stout mare, standing alone by one tree. Her neck was stretched up slightly, with an inquisitive expression on her face. The snow at her feet had been packed down and turned brown from mud and manure. He looked back to Leo, a brief smile on his face. "She's wondering where the hay we've been."
Leo shook his eye, studying the area through squinted eyes. He put a hand on Don's arm. "He's gone, the Japanese man."
The news didn't really seem to affect Don, even though he froze. They already closed down the main operation and finished its administrators. How should one powerless man mess things up? His eyes scanned the area without moving position.
"His tracks are covered." Leo straightened up.
"Could he still be around…?"
"Probably went back to the cave, to warn them… after we left him. I.. don't think we should worry."
"Um, yeah." Don rubbed his neck, trying to not sound too discouraged by the other possibilities. Leo must really be out of it to not even worry.
Always watching our backs…it never ends.
"Still want to ride Eclypse?" Leo changed the topic.
Don nodded yes. "Don't feel like riding Trinity?"
"Just as much as I want to ride a heifer…" Leo knelt down to dig the saddlebags and tack from a covering of snow. He pulled out the mares' bridles for Don. To his disappointment, the apple Leo found next felt frozen. If that was the case, the beef jerky would be rock hard, while everything else needed a fire to prepare. He tossed the apple back in the pack and rocked back to his heels.
Also wishing for something to eat, Eclypse nickered softly to Don and Leo. She watched Don briefly, then studied the things Leo did with the saddlebags. Don paced as he held an icy, metal bit in each hand. Eclypse's pleads for attention succeeded in capturing his. The turtle gripped the bridle bits in his numb hands, before walking up to the red mare's shoulder. "Maybe you can help." He pressed the bits against her warm, furry shoulder.
Leo gathered the scratched up hunt-seat saddle and saddle bags for Trinity. "Need to put Tally's saddle on too."
Don picked up on his hint and tucked the two bridles inside his coat. The saddling up part was easy. At least he didn't have to bridle up that pony this time. When in truth, Ryan ended up doing most of the bridling for them. The part about sticking a thumb in the horse's mouth to slip the bit in was the problem for him and Mike. Or keeping the bit in the mouth long enough to get the bridle over the ears. He was lucky Leo could do it.
"Dammit…" Leo stood on his toes bring her head back down. Evading the bit and bridle became Trinity's favorite game as of late. She was one Ryan ended up bridling without a doubt. "I wonder how Raph put up--"
"I'll help," Don tucked Eclypse's reins in his elbow to grab her halter and hold her head down..
Ryan squinted when the sun came out from the clouds again. The snow covered trees around them shown in glorious white. They found a foot trail that lead to a particular road-side rest stop, to get back. Earlier, he also asked Steve on the phone to meet them there as soon as possible. Ryan gripped the rope to Tally, and slowed Danza's walk so he could turn around in his saddle. The others did their best to keep up, as they had full loads as well. Don rode in tandem with Mike on Eclypse, as he led the dark mare. Likewise, Leo rode with Raph behind him and Delilah in tow, since those two mares did get along.
Don only met Ryan's worried glance with an equally concerned one. He sighed and shortened the reins gathered in his left hand again. He didn't even care that Mike smelled worse than any sewer. Only the close grip Mike had around his shell and his warm breath on his neck comforted Don that his brother was conscious. Alive. "We're almost there…" he whispered his assurances again. Don meant the words for all of them too. Raph's condition had gotten a lot worse when he and Leo returned with the horses. At least Raph clung onto consciousness just enough to pester Leo to the very end.
"Leo…" Raph's voice barely came above a whisper. "More leg… less hand. Can't fight…"
"She doesn't listen with the reins in one hand, how can I give her 'less hand'?" Leo argued, only worsened by the fact he didn't understand Raph's point. He already had his hands full with Trinity ignoring him, and Delilah wanting to stop and graze every few strides.
"She testin' you ... " Raph straightened up to cough.
Don shook his head. They'd been circling on that issue for a long time, it seemed.
Donnie… Mike's whisper touched his senses. His breathing sounded shallower. Lift me up…
"No Mikey, hang on." Don whispered, but he felt Mike's grip weaken. The movement of the horse also made him slip to the right. Don hoped the saddle bags Mike sat on would help support him.
"Feel like pukin'… can't breathe…"
"No Mike. You'll be okay." Don put the lead rope in his rein hand, then tucked Mike's cold, bare leg under his to put his brother back in balance. "Hang on to me."
Mike swallowed hard a few times, trying to fight off the swelling in his throat. He hugged Don tight and concentrated on the sound of the hooves hitting the earth again. It seemed harder now, to hold onto his strength as long. So damn cold…can't…
Mike's breathing grew more audible, sounding like Darth Vader to his ears. Don loosened the reins so he could embrace Mike's arms for a moment. His voice came as a soft whisper that only Mike could hear. "Don't…be like that."
Sorry… Mike swallowed again, when he heard Don start humming Lean on Me. He squinted his eyes at the tacky humor, like as if he wasn't suffering enough. "Donnie… ? Stop…"
Don smirked. Be obliged I didn't hum Barney's song. The sound of tires splashing through slush alerted his senses. He looked up from the small ravine they rode through in search of the road.
"Are we close, Ryan?" Leo called from behind.
"Yeah… Looks like it's up there."
"Good."
"C'mon Raph, stay with me."
"Mhh… fuck…off…" Raph leaned back on the picnic table's edge, his head nodding from side to side in disorientation.
"Raph, don't…" Leo gripped his shoulders.
"…please look…" Mike sat hunched over on the picnic table seat.
Don finally left the table in search of a flashlight. Maggots that still could be in Mike's wounds became his latest fear, but to the point of absurdity. "You don't have maggots in your throat, Mikey." The possibility gave Don the creeps anyway.
"Open up, and say ahhh…" He bent down to shine the light into Mike's mouth.
Mike rose an eyeridge in anticipation.
"Negative. I told you, you're clean. Just got a really red, sore throat." Don turned the light off and set it in the snow on top of the picnic table.
"Hard to breathe…" He brought a hand to his throat.
"Yeah…" Don continued checking his brother for any other parasites. "But y' know what, Mike, maggots aren't all that bad. They help clean out the dead tissue and dirt too." He pushed back the trench coat to see more of the laser blast on Mike's shoulder. Disgusting…
He turned away from Don to give Leo a "save me from him" look. However, the truck and trailer pulling into the parking lot gained more of Leo's attention.
Steve stepped out of the Ford with a look of disbelief. The horses didn't look as bad as she feared, but the five looked horrible. Covered in mud and blood. She was quick to notice the strange, bay horse instead of the gray one however. Ryan approached her with a solemn look on his face. "Ryan, " she gently laid a hand on his shoulder. "What is it? It's about Jon, yes?" Her eyes seemed to be drawn to his black eye and bruised lips as well.
He decided not to tell her about his face. "He's dead…" Ryan frowned. "Thought it would be better if I told you in person."
Steve held her tongue, looking beyond to the four at the picnic table. Two of them looked really bad. She recognized Leo, after he saw her looking at them. Looked like it was Raph he was trying to get moving.
"Leo's very sorry about it. The attack was so sudden… Jon was shot." Ryan continued.
The news about Jon didn't seem to take much effect yet. Seeing the injured before her felt more shocking. "I'll understand… but Ryan, let us take these guys back. Get them some aid."
Ryan looked back to the four-horse trailer, realizing they would have to take two trips.
"Put Danza, Tally, Delilah and Trinity in the trailer. Someone not hurt will have to stay behind to baby sit the last two horses. I'll help these guys into the truck."
Ryan quietly nodded and headed over to the tied horses.
She approached the picnic table, taking in what she could of the situation. It was Raph that looked to be the worst, while Leo and Don were the most able. "You need help, I can see that."
"Yeah," Don stood with Mike's arm around his shoulder. "Raph can't stay conscious…"
Steve sighed. That dull, unseeing look in Mike's eyes disturbed her. "Can you walk him up to the truck yourself?"
"Yeah," Don turned to leave.
"Go on if you can." Steve turned to Leo. "I'll help you get Raph to the truck. Did… he get shot too?"
"Yeah… trying to help Mike." Leo sighed. He had to get his worst burden off his chest though. "Steve, I feel really bad about Jon. We did what we could…"
She didn't say anything yet. Only took up Raph's heavy arm to put around her neck. "He was a good horse… but, well, you did what you could. I shouldn't blame you, just myself…"
Leo tried to bear more of Raph's weight to make it easier for her. Raph was hardly walking anyway. He held a silent stare on the truck and trailer.
"I couldn't believe I let you five go out here. I heard about the snow in the forecast, and I was silly to think you would be back in a day. We called the police after you left, and nothing happened. They just pulled a bluff. Shows how fear is so controlling."
"No… it's all our fault. We asked for it." It felt like something he told April, after the first time the Foot tore her life apart. Every time they get to know someone, they end up dragging them down into their conflicts. "You didn't have to help us, Steve. You had every right to say no to all our requests. Don't worry. We're used to the battle... we're ninja. But you didn't need to suffer loss, you don't deserve-."
"I don't feel it should be that way." Steve readjusted Raph's arm to relieve the tiring muscles in her shoulder. "Only hope you'll be okay in the end."
Don sat on the picnic table, watching the tall, dark mare and Eclypse. Leo decided it was better if he went the others, so he could care for them at the house. That left Don to be the odd one out. He didn't want to feel cheated on the matter. He just didn't want to miss out on anything with his brothers. At least they offered him some Advil for his headache. Steve also talked them into letting their vet look at Raph and Mike. It won't be too much trouble since she already called Dr. Abalone before leaving, just so they could have Delilah's baby checked. The curiosity about how their veterinarian would react to his brothers burned in his head. Or how she would treat such unnatural wounds, like Raph's laser holes and Mike's wild imagination.
The combination of boredom and impatience made his mind wander as well. That Japanese rider that got away from them may just come back to haunt him. He also figured he would be there for about an hour, freezing his tail off. And he so much wanted caffeine, or sleep, to just get through this "test".
Don looked at the bay mare searching through the snow for grass. If Steve would keep you, you need a name. She and Eclypse seemed to get along the whole time they had them together too.
Total eclipse…like an astronomy theme. How about…Jupiter, for being so big? Yeah. Or Venus, for your beauty? But definitely not Neptune, or Pluto, no... not after Mickey Mouse's dog. Asteroid? Moon Shadow… errr, what am I thinking? It shall be Saturn, spelled with a 'y' as well! The bay mare looked up and cleared her nasal passages with a snort.
"I dub thee… Satyrn." Don whispered to her, with a nod. Then he rubbed his face, realizing how goofy he was getting lately. Oh god, help me…I'm being affectionate toward animals now.
Raphael came to in darkness. The whole experience riding away from that damn cave felt like a dream now. He felt so confused - he thought they left it, but it still looked like the cave. Then points of sparking light, resembling stars in outer space, came into focus. Raphael still couldn't see himself though. An orange glow of fire often appeared in the corner of his eyes, as if it was behind him. When he tried to look for the source, however, it couldn't be seen. How did he get there, or was it where someone went when they were about to die? At least his mind felt that way. His body felt numb and airy, like he was floating. Waiting for a force to take him somewhere.
"Do you want to die this way?"
A chilling voice suddenly echoed from everywhere. Alarm rushed through Raphael upon hearing the words.
The blue, translucent form of his master appeared. "The decision rest in your heart and soul, my son. Your soul…" Splinter raised his cupped hands to reveal a glowing ember. He softly blew on it to rekindle its heat.
The back door to the house swung open, and Ryan and Leo came in with Raph between them. Steve told them to lay him down on the kitchen floor, so the blood could easily be cleaned up later. As soon as Leo laid Raph back, he went to the task of resuscitating him. Raph stopped breathing a few minutes before they arrived.
Ryan turned to help Steve get Mike inside. Steve left him with Ryan, so she could get the vet. Dr. Abalone stood outside her truck when they pulled in.
"Galapagos tortoises too, huh? I told you before on the phone, exotics are not my specialty. Just large farm animals." She pushed aside some strands of her dark hair.
"Yes, I know. But please, just this time? The… tortoises are in need of aid. One is in critical condition." Steve looked back to the house
"What brought you into rescuing exotic reptiles all of a sudden?" Dr. Abalone began to collect more equipment from her truck. She wondered if she would need to send her assistant back to the shop for more items.
"Well, it was a hobby that just 'came' to me." Steve played along with her jest for a moment. "But seriously, Diane, these 'exotics' aren't exactly what you'd expect. A well kept secret of nature's bizarre."
The vet handed some medical supplies in a metal bucket to her assistant, Amy. "Nature's bizarre, huh? Exotics all the same."
"And they'd like to remain secret. They're actually… mutated turtles - half human." Steve took them over to the back of the house.
Dr. Abalone stopped in the hallway before the kitchen. At first, she wondered what happened to Ryan and this other kid in a tattered trench coat. Steve had mentioned he helped rescue her horses from horse thieves, but it now sounded very peculiar. Abalone realized the one sitting on the stairs was not human at all. Despite the dirt and grit, the reptilian face and green skin were hard to miss. Amy whispered something under her breath too.
"Um, he's the one with respiratory problems and one gun shot. But it's… Raphael you should see first." Steve showed them to the kitchen.
Two more human-sized creatures in mud-caked, bloody clothes were on the floor. They looked so savage, but this act of one breathing into the other displayed higher intelligence. Her eyes were drawn to the sword handles sticking from holes in the coat of one turtle. "Amy, see if I have a respirator on my truck. And some IV supplies and an EKG machine."
"How is he?" Steve stepped up to Leo.
"Nothing." He didn't look up.
Steve noticed the doctor's curious expression. "Oh... this is Leo, and that's his brother Raphael."
Abalone nodded, kneeling down on the other side of Raphael. Sense of identity, family connections, speech - how did this come to be? As she pulled on a pair of arm length rubber gloves, the vet studied the bloody jersey, noticing the holes in it. Definitely shot… where did they come from…?
"I need to go back and pick up the last of the horses. Can you handle this without my help, Diane?" Steve paused in the hallway. A part of her wanted to stay, but she knew Don would not be happy left out there too long.
"I think we could." The vet assumed her confidence. She hoped these creatures didn't turn on her, however. And Steve said they were mutated. How safe was it to be exposed to their blood?
"And Ryan will be here to help as well." She stepped out the back door.
Feelings of uncertainty came over her after Steve left. She was used to just restraining the animal and doing what needed to be done. Her mind searched hard for a plan to handle this. But this reptilian creature, with the mind of a human, made her wonder if she should treat him with more respect. Abalone stopped herself from those thoughts. There wasn't time to think about that. "He's been shot, and I need to see where."
Leo looked up between breaths, but didn't say anything.
Shrugging off his indifferent eyes, she pulled out her scissors. Never met an animal that trusted a vet yet. "I'm going to cut the shirt open, okay?" She told Leo just in case the act alarmed him. Then the reality of this emergency hit her. The vet wasn't familiar with reptiles at all. What if she had to get bullets out from within the shell?
Abalone had cut half way up the jersey when Raphael moved. She promptly withdrew just as his arms rose up, but Raph only pushed Leo away from his face. The turtle coughed before catching onto his own breath. Dr. Abalone came back to Raph, holding the scissors closed in her hand. "Okay, good, that's a boy. Breath for us." She looked up to Leo. "I like to take over."
Satisfied only that Raph was breathing, Leo sat back on his haunches to watch. He slowly nodded his okay.
Despite his nagging cough, the vet finished cutting away the wet jersey to see the damage. The turtle had been shot four times, but since he's still awake, they somehow missed direct hits with the vital organs. She couldn't be sure about anything though, since he was something she never seen before. The bullets could have nicked a lung, the liver, and a kidney. No doubt that there was internal bleeding somewhere. She needed to take x-rays to find out for sure. If they needed to cut him open, she also had to take him back to the animal hospital.
"Mhh… who are…" Raph raised an arm, upon feeling pressure from her hands on his shell front.
Leo pressed his arm down, whispering calming words.
Abalone looked up, to see his weary eyes touch hers for a moment. "Did the shots go through?"
"Yeah… they're from a laser gun."
A laser gun? "Hmm, good. No need to look for bullets through a one inch hole." She told him with relief, even though it wasn't what she really would have done. This meant she didn't have to consider extensive plans for an operation. Dr. Abalone retrieved some medical supplies to inspect the holes. "More time to concentrate on stabilizing him and patching up the wounds." And just from habit, she also asked if Raphael had a tetanus shot.
Leo twisted his face before realizing what she meant. "A tetanus vaccination? Not… no."
"You don't want me to take him in?" She checked. Those swords he carried were enough that she was not about to push the issue.
"No. Try... do what you can here." Leo frowned. Even though he tried to not show it, her suggestion made him very uncomfortable. Too many people they would be exposed to. Too many science people. He collected that wariness from the science shows on TV and warnings from Splinter. Science equaled Death. Leave no trace… the rule wasn't just to hone their ninja skills.
The assistant returned with some equipment, pausing in the doorway to the kitchen. "Diane, we don't have the respirator or EKG."
Abalone turned on the balls of her feet to face Amy. "Well, fortunately, he's breathing now." She turned back to Leo with the hopes he would cooperate. "We can take care of him here, so if you could… step aside."
He hesitated before rising to his feet. Probably a good idea to check on Mike now. He'd be back to see what they would be doing to Raph soon. As much as he envied modern medicine, the primal part of him despised its ways of technology and chemicals. As he headed up the stairs, Leo heard her make a call on the phone for someone to send more supplies.
Don hastily set the grate down on the barbecue grill when he heard the truck and trailer approach.
"Thanks for waiting." Steve closed the door. "You must be frozen by now!"
He pocketed his Leatherman tool and shrugged. "How are they, Raph and Mikey?"
"Well, I think they're in good hands." Steve lied as they went over tot he mares. She didn't want to worry him too much more until they returned.
They quickly loaded the horses on, and pulled back out on the road. Don's skin just tingled from the heat that came from the truck's heater. He felt like he forgot what heat was. Don glanced over to Steve, seeing the worry come out through wrinkles on her face. They better be okay.
They didn't say much for the next fifteen minutes. The comforting heat almost made Don doze off. He wanted to stay awake though. He felt like if he went to sleep now, he wouldn't wake up. Then he remembered something Ryan told him at the cave, before they left.
"Steve,"
She too seemed to come out of a trance.
"How would you feel about… getting another foal?"
The woman glanced over to him, confused. "What do you mean?"
"Well, um, Ryan told me the FB-- uh, the police, might give your farm this baby. Like a sort of reward, or a thank you for our help. But, I mean, they would keep it and make it a police horse, if you're not interested."
They were getting close to the farm. Steve just rubbed her chin in thought. "We'll see."
Don noticed already, another horse and trailer pulling into the drive. A couple police cars escorted it as well. "Thought I'd warn you." He smiled at her.
Evening fell over them at last. In reality, a day was always 24 hours. This one, however, felt like one of those with extended time. They finally saw its end. Leo and Don went up stairs, and were not seen again. Ryan also stuck around, despite Steve's insisting that he should go to an ER to be checked over. He rather just spend the night there. Not only to help her out with the turtles, but also to check up on the new horses. They decided to keep the special baby and Satyrn.
They also moved Raphael, IV bags and all, over to an air mattress in the living room. They felt confident as long as he remained in a stable condition. As for Mike, he felt a little better after spending an hour in the shower scrubbing the stench away. The vet also prescribed anti-flammatory steroids to help the swelling in his throat. She concluded it had been caused from irritation from inhaling the fumes. Mike also got a "whiner's award" from Don about the few maggots Abalone picked off of Mike. She admitted to Steve she and Amy had a hard time trying not to laugh about Mike's exaggerations. Leo did get hold of April earlier, to ask if she could come by tomorrow to pick them up.
Ryan and Mike watched TV, trying to ignore the beep from the EKG monitor hooked to Raph's heart. The noise because like a painful reminder to his condition. Nothing seemed to disturb Raph from his sleep though, thanks to the sedatives. Mike had sacked out on the couch, leaving a little room on one end for Ryan. But they still remained pretty much awake despite their exhaustion.
Todd finally slipped past Steve to the living room. He came up to Mike and leaned on the seat cushion. "Feelin' better?" he asked in a soft voice, like his mom does for him.
Mike opened his eyes from dozing, and rested his head on his elbow. "You want me too?" his voice was still rough.
"Sorry guys…" Steve followed close behind.
"I wanna see Charlie Brown." Todd whined.
"I know, honey--"
Mike sat up a little more. "Don't mind if he wants."
"You're not trying to sleep?"
Ryan shook his head. "Just talking and channel surfing."
"Don't think Raph would care either. If that durn beepin' isn't bothering him..." Mike yawned.
Ryan looked at Mike, and grinned. You sound like a friggin' chain smoker, Mikey.
Mike shot him a glance.
Steve put the tape in a left. Todd climbed up on the couch and snuggled up to Mike. How many times have I seen this one on TV? You make me feel old, kid. He had to admit, the show seemed longer then. Must have been the commercials they stuck in between.
Then the part where Charlie Brown gets fed up with play, people's attitudes, and the superficial commercialism came up. The question of what Christmas was really about. Linus asked for a moment on the stage, his face composed.
Lights please… And there were in the same country, shepherds abiding in the fields, keeping watch over their flocks by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them. The glory of the Lord shone around them. And they were so afraid. And the angel said unto them "Fear not. For behold, I bring you great tidings of great joy, which to be for all people. For unto you a child is born this day in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And this should be a sign unto you, you shall find the baby wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly, there was with the Angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying glory to God in the highest and to earth, peace and goodwill toward men."
A hush falls upon the stage. Then Linus told Charlie Brown, "And that's what Christmas is all about."
Mike looked to Ryan at the other end of the couch, then back to the TV. He's heard that story many a time before. But this time seemed to make an impact. Perhaps after what they just been through, it made much more sense. Jesus…
They look at each other. You got that right.
A few more minutes when on, as the poor like sapling is turned into a beautiful Christmas tree. Ryan noticed Mike was falling asleep again. He had to admit, that turtle and Todd looked cute together. But anyway, he had to get some sleep. Beep… beep… beep… beep… beep…
Mike opened his eyes and stared at Ryan. Would you kindly mind?
Don told me to be a pain in your ass for him. Ryan chuckled as he headed upstairs.
Once upon a time I was faithless, running blind thru the Vallley of the Lost
So now you find it rather strange
When you hear me call the name of the One who bears the cross…
Michael W. Smith "I Believe in You Now"
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