The Thing Part 18
Leo, Donnie and Mikey froze, sat on the dirt floor, staring at the pile of broken wood and the contents of the crate, guns. It was all one big pile half covering the bottom crate it had been resting on. There was a slight dust cloud where the dirt from the floor had been lifted into the air as the crate caused a slight wind as it had fell. The three turtles just stared.
April and Casey, on the walkway, stared. They could see what had happened. They heard the name Leo had shouted to a pile of wood, and they knew what had happened. Casey shook his head, mouth open, not believing it. April stared, mouth open also. Before she knew it she was walking slowly down to where the three brothers sat. It seemed forever to get there, but when she did, it seemed only a few seconds ago she was on the walkway. Mikey and Donnie slowly lifted their eyes from the wood wreck and settled them on April. She hadn't realised until then that there were tears streaming down her face. She dropped to her knees and was hugged by Donnie and Mikey. Leo still hadn't taken his eyes off the wood.
The whole place was quiet. Nothing moved except the six beings all swaying slightly. Everything looked different now. It was totally different from the slow motion. It made Leo wonder that he could have done something. That the slow motion was there to tell him he could have done something. But he hadn't. He hadn't acted quick enough. His brothers had pulled him back. Leo hadn't blinked since that wood came down. Now his eyes were tearful and he let them run down his dust- covered face. He felt a sting on his check where the tears had ran down. He still had a graze there. He then became aware of his exhausted body, and the pain of wounds he hadn't realised he had. These were sent to his fore mind, where unimportant matters go and only just make themselves present to him.
Donnie hugged April. He could feel Mikey next to him doing the same. Everything seemed to have frozen now. He was frozen holding April. He was left with the thoughts 'it was my fault'. He had come up with the idea to break the crate. He had stupidly forgot his brother was also in the way of the heavy wood. He was been drunk with determination to defeat Shredder he had forgot about his own flesh and blood. It was his fault. ¦It's my fault . . . It's my fault . . .¦
Mikey let the tears well and then stream down his face, making tracks in the dust on his checks. He muzzled April's hair, eyes closed. He could feel his brother Donnie, who wasn't moving, next to him. He didn't know what Leo was doing, but guessed he was just sat staring. Mikey's mind, his brain, his head was numb with shock. He didn't want this to happen. He didn't want to have to go home now, only a three. He didn't want to carry on life without his best friend. He wanted to rewind everything. To be able to pull his brother out from under the crate. To celebrate their victory over Shredder with him.
April held them close. She just wished she could be holding all four of them again. Her tears streamed down her face, running onto Mikey's shoulder. He didn't move. He didn't seem to notice. April didn't like this. It was torture. She wanted to stand up and scream about how unfair the world is. She wanted to let all of her grief out and not feel anything. Feeling this was awful. It must have been worse for the three turtles to have been there and were unable to help, watching their brother disappear under so much heavy wood, and be crushed. April's tears didn't stop. They fell, making trails on her face, on Mikey's shoulder and down his arms where they dripped to the ground.
Casey watched it all from the walkway. He watched April hug Donnie and Mikey. He watched Leo just stare at the wood. He stared at the wood. His best buddy was under there. Casey never really noticed his strong feelings. But now he felt them. They just screamed to burst out. Casey had to be strong. His buddy wouldn't want him to crack down and neither did he. Casey just stared. He would move when the others were stable to move. He didn't think that would be for a long time.
The whole quietness of the basement was too much. Leo could see everything except the wood, spinning. He hadn't realised that his eye ridges were furrowing. Turning down.
"NNNOOOO!"
Leo's scream had made everyone jump and turn to face him. He ignored them and scrambled to his feet. He dropped back to the ground at the wood and began to throw pieces off, digging into them. He moved like a madman.
His actions were definitely upsetting. Mikey and Donnie turned to watch him. Donnie slowly got up and laid a hand on his brother's shoulder. Leo carried on; probably unaware there was a hand on his shoulder. Donnie wanted to see his brother, but he didn't. The impact and the weight would have left their dead brother unrecognisable. Donnie didn't want Leo to see it. Leo would probably go mad. He might anyway, whether he saw the body or not. Donnie turned his brother forcefully around to face him and shook his head.
Leo looked at him. His brother's face warned him not to dig him up. Leo was not stable enough to see the body. Donnie decided they should go now. This place was killing Leo.
The two turtles stared at each other and Donnie got up, he pulled Leo to his feet as well.
"We have to go." Donnie said, his tone was flat and empty. But he looked at Leo, telling him he shouldn't argue.
Leo knew why Donnie stopped him. He was thankful, but not.
Donnie turned to Mikey and April, who were still on the floor. He looked at them the same way he had with Leo. He watched as they both climbed to their feet, slowly, and for Mikey, tiredly. They followed Donnie and Leo up to the stairs and onto the walkway. Casey stood behind them. Donnie turned to him.
"I'm . . . Gunna get . . . M'reagro," Casey half whispered.
"Don't Casey," Donnie chocked out, referring to Casey's excuse to get their brother out. "He . . . Won't be . . . Like . . ." Donnie faded off, and Casey nodded.
Donnie turned and led April and Mikey up where they had come into this hellhole; holding up Leo.
Casey watched them go, disappear round the corner and up the stairs. He stayed there until he could no longer hear them. Then he went to the door the Foot soldiers and M'reagro had taken. He charged into a long corridor, littered with dead bodies. ¦Looks like M'reagro got these gits . . .¦ He walked to the end of the corridor, which was lit by battery powered lights on the walls. At the end was one room. It was quite big but was empty apart from M'reagro and about sixty dead Foot member bodies. M'reagro was sat in the middle of it all, as if he had been waiting for Casey to come in. Casey stared at him and the beast got up and trotted, determined like, out of the room and back the way Casey had come. Casey followed him. M'reagro led him through the corridor and back into the huge basement where he leapt off the walkway and made his way to the wood. Casey couldn't see as the other crates were in the way, but he walked down the stairs and found M'reagro digging into the wood.
"Augh . . . Don't do that . . .Please . . ." Casey turned and began to walk away, but a soft, but loud growl made him turn around. M'reagro was staring at him. His eyes seemed to be accusing him of leaving his friend here.
Casey shook his head, tears welling up now. "He's dead . . .Okay? Drop it . . . Stop digging . . . And if you even THINK of eating him or doing any of your foul things you can answer to me!"
M'reagro only stared and growled again, then continued digging, throwing big parts of wood behind him and digging the rest aside.
For some reason Casey was drawn back to the wood. He didn't know why, but he had the feeling his had to get his friend out, no matter what. Casey slowly walked up to M'reagro, who growled softly at him. Casey watched the beast pull thick chunks of wood from the pile and toss them aside. After a minute, Casey started to help, knowing that if his new feeling was wrong, Donnie would play hell at him, or never talk to him again. But Casey got the feeling that . . .
M'reagro lifted a huge piece of wood out the way and threw it away. He stopped and growled very softly at something in the wood. Casey followed his gaze and his heart skipped. His feeling was right! He started to shift and throw wood out of the way, and within a minute of his help, the beast managed to life a battered, bruised and bloody looking, but recognisable, turtle from the pile.
Casey knew he shouldn't feel happy seeing his dead friend, but he was in one piece and not mangled. He knew why straight away when he saw Raph. The turtle had been lying on his stomach, and therefore his shell had protected him from getting to mangled. Casey still couldn't help but feel even more of an emptiness inside of him. ¦At least yer get a better burial, buddy¦
"C - c'mon . . . Let's get him home . . ." Casey said, not recognising his voice.
He and the beast now started the journey to the lair. The walk down the corridors and up the stairs were the longest Casey had ever walked. It seemed to take forever to get out, but when they did, they found the night sky was black and it was pouring it down. A clap of thunder scared M'reagro, who froze and carried on a litter more quickly. He would have been quicker but he was using only three feet. They were both soaked after a few minutes and didn't even bother to dart behind dumpsters or in alleyways as cars went by. He heard someone shout to him, but he ignored them. He didn't feel like opening his mouth, and M'reagro must have felt the same. After a while of walking, Casey looked back at M'reagro. He had always realised that the beast could show feelings and some expressions, and right now, he looked not upset, or forlorn, but determined somehow: As though he was about to do something really heroic, probably not live and be proud of it. Casey got all that from this creature's face, and yet he couldn't even tell what April's expressions were sometimes. Before he knew it, and before he liked, Casey was pulling up the only grate big enough for M'reagro to fit down. They quickly dropped into the sewers, and Casey had to wait for M'reagro so he could shut the grate again. Casey looked at his dead pal. He forced himself to look away and carry on. He went the long was round, so they would arrive through the door at the bottom of the lair and not have to come down the ladder. When he saw the door he breathed heavily, not really wanting to go in. He could feel the sad atmosphere from out here. But he forced himself and walked through.
Leo, Donnie, Mikey, April, Splinter and Frakly all looked up at him from their forlorn trances. They had all been shedding tears and obviously none had said anything except explain to Splinter and Frakly what had happened. They stared at him and then shifted their gazes to M'reagro as he followed in behind Casey.
"We can give the poor guy a proper burial now . . ." Casey said as he saw them all look in horror at Raph's body. M'reagro still held it, and growled something to his Master.
Frakly heard what his pet said, but he was a little too shocked to respond at once. M'reagro growled at him again and the professor shook himself mentally and looked at his pet, who growled for the third time.
"Are you . . . Sure?" Frakly spoke to his pet.
The others all watched, too shocked to speak or do anything.
M'reagro growled and moved in to the middle of them all. He laid Raph down and they all felt a fresh wave of tears roll down their faces.
"It is . . . Up to you, my pet." Frakly talked back. "Your choice . . ."
" . . . What . . .?" Casey asked.
"M'reagro . . . Is going to try and do something . . . Something drastic."
They all watched M'reagro, flickering in the candle light, as the beast bent over the body of Raph. One clawed hand went to Raph's throat, and the middle claw pressed down do that it penetrated the skin. A trickle of blood made a thin stream down his neck.
Leo jumped up. "No!" He was pulled down by Frakly, who shook his head. Leo turned back to stare at the beast and his brother.
A low, long humming sound filled the lair, and a wind blew around, picking up so much that April's hair flew about her face. They realised that the noise was coming from M'reagro. It was like the hum of electric, cross with the hum of a long growl. It grew slightly louder. The whole den was flying. Papers, pillows, anything small was being thrown my this mysterious wind. April closed her eyes as something hit her. Through her eyelids she saw light. She opened her eyes and looked at the scene in front of her. M'reagro and Raph were both glowing in soft blue light. They were surrounded by their aura. It glowed. M'reagro's was so bright and spaced from him; Raph's was growing, and while it was, M'reagro's shrunk. The wind picked up fiercely than ever. It seemed to rustle up everything but M'reagro and Raph. They watched, fascinated, as M'reagro's aura grew small and dim, while Raph's grew brighter and bigger. It kept going until there was only the smallest light coming from M'reagro. The wind gave a sudden howl and disappeared. All the papers and things fell to the floor and hair and bandannas dropped from the air. They all looked back, slowly to the middle of the floor, after shielding their faces from the bits of wind. They stared at M'reagro, who lay as still as stone on the floor; and then at Raph who lay just the same. Then the beast, without moving, whined a high pitched note and was silent. Raph suddenly heaved and started coughing. The others stared, way too shocked to move. Then Leo got up and moved to the floor.
" . . . Raph . . .?" Leo didn't touch his brother. He knelt down beside him.
Raph looked up and frowned.
Leo's jaw dropped and he grabbed his brother, checking him, running his hand over his face, and hugged him so tight he could have crushed him again. Leo felt the tears fall down his checks, but he didn't care. He had his brother back and that was all that mattered.
The others had regained their proper selves and joined him on the floor. They kept saying his name, asking Leo if it was real, hugging Raph. They all had smudges of Raph's blood on them.
April looked up at Casey, who was still stood where he came in. He grinned. April smiled back and turned back to Raph, who was frowning.
"Er, guys . . . What . . . Are we doing on the floor? Why are you acting -" Cough. - "Like you ain't seen me in ages?" Raph looked at them. There were tear marks on their faces. ¦Did I miss something?¦ He then realised how painful his body was. He looked at his arms. They were covered with nasty slices, and his throat was killing him. He put a hand to his throat and looked at his fingers. They were covered with blood.
"Guys . . ." He said, before feeling amazingly dizzy and limp. His body swayed and leaned to the floor, but Leo caught him before he could hit it.
"Donnie get the medic supplies now!" Leo said. Everyone now backed away to let Donnie through, who came back from the kitchen with a box.
Splinter, from stood near the couch, watched as Donnie patched up his brother. Splinter had never felt so much grief turn suddenly into happiness. It was a miracle his son was alive and before him.
Donnie finished patching his brothers' worst wounds, but there were still many more crisscrossing over his body that needed to be seen to.
"I think you better put him in bed . . ." Donnie said, looking at Leo. His voice was slightly different to what it usually sounded like.
Leo nodded and he and Mikey lifted Raph. They took him into his and Mikey's car, and laid him on Mikey's bunk instead of his own, which was too high. They stood, staring at him.
"We got him back, Leo," Mikey whispered. "He's back . . ." He turned and hugged Leo.
April had followed them in. She hugged them both; a few stray tears fell down her checks.
Donnie came in and put a hand on Leo and Mikey's shoulders. He bent down with the box and started to fix Raph's other wounds.
Splinter and Casey joined them now. Casey took hold of April's hand, and she wrapped him in a hug, laying her head on his chest.
"I think we must all get some rest now," Splinter spoke. "It has been a very tiring day."
They all agreed, though in their heads. Casey pulled April out of the room.
Mikey climbed up onto Raph's bunk and Splinter went back into the main area. Frakly and M'reagro were nowhere to be seen. Splinter smiled. ¦Thank you, friend¦. He told April and Casey they could stay here, in Donnie's lab or on the couch. They thanked him and made themselves comfortable on the couch. Splinter made his way to the kitchen. He was weary and a cup of tea would do him nicely. He couldn't stop thinking about what had happened today. One of his sons had died. Now he was safe and well in his bed. Splinter smiled, he still felt tears trying to let loose. He made his tea and was about to go to bed, but he stopped and walked back to Raph and Mike's car. He looked in and shook his head, smiling. Leo and Donnie were both asleep on the floor by Raph's side. Their heads resting on their arms, on the bed.
"Goodnight, my sons . . ." Splinter closed the car door and went back to his own room, shutting the lights off.
Okay, so..I'm not sure about this chapter . . . Tell me what you think . . . Story's gunna end soon. Sorry I think I put a bit too much babble at the beginning. This was a second version I did. The first version of part 18 was . . . Well, I didn't much like it so I did this one . . . Hope you like, and thanks for the reviews . . . Thank you so much for the reviews! (Ow, who's screaming, lol).
Leo, Donnie and Mikey froze, sat on the dirt floor, staring at the pile of broken wood and the contents of the crate, guns. It was all one big pile half covering the bottom crate it had been resting on. There was a slight dust cloud where the dirt from the floor had been lifted into the air as the crate caused a slight wind as it had fell. The three turtles just stared.
April and Casey, on the walkway, stared. They could see what had happened. They heard the name Leo had shouted to a pile of wood, and they knew what had happened. Casey shook his head, mouth open, not believing it. April stared, mouth open also. Before she knew it she was walking slowly down to where the three brothers sat. It seemed forever to get there, but when she did, it seemed only a few seconds ago she was on the walkway. Mikey and Donnie slowly lifted their eyes from the wood wreck and settled them on April. She hadn't realised until then that there were tears streaming down her face. She dropped to her knees and was hugged by Donnie and Mikey. Leo still hadn't taken his eyes off the wood.
The whole place was quiet. Nothing moved except the six beings all swaying slightly. Everything looked different now. It was totally different from the slow motion. It made Leo wonder that he could have done something. That the slow motion was there to tell him he could have done something. But he hadn't. He hadn't acted quick enough. His brothers had pulled him back. Leo hadn't blinked since that wood came down. Now his eyes were tearful and he let them run down his dust- covered face. He felt a sting on his check where the tears had ran down. He still had a graze there. He then became aware of his exhausted body, and the pain of wounds he hadn't realised he had. These were sent to his fore mind, where unimportant matters go and only just make themselves present to him.
Donnie hugged April. He could feel Mikey next to him doing the same. Everything seemed to have frozen now. He was frozen holding April. He was left with the thoughts 'it was my fault'. He had come up with the idea to break the crate. He had stupidly forgot his brother was also in the way of the heavy wood. He was been drunk with determination to defeat Shredder he had forgot about his own flesh and blood. It was his fault. ¦It's my fault . . . It's my fault . . .¦
Mikey let the tears well and then stream down his face, making tracks in the dust on his checks. He muzzled April's hair, eyes closed. He could feel his brother Donnie, who wasn't moving, next to him. He didn't know what Leo was doing, but guessed he was just sat staring. Mikey's mind, his brain, his head was numb with shock. He didn't want this to happen. He didn't want to have to go home now, only a three. He didn't want to carry on life without his best friend. He wanted to rewind everything. To be able to pull his brother out from under the crate. To celebrate their victory over Shredder with him.
April held them close. She just wished she could be holding all four of them again. Her tears streamed down her face, running onto Mikey's shoulder. He didn't move. He didn't seem to notice. April didn't like this. It was torture. She wanted to stand up and scream about how unfair the world is. She wanted to let all of her grief out and not feel anything. Feeling this was awful. It must have been worse for the three turtles to have been there and were unable to help, watching their brother disappear under so much heavy wood, and be crushed. April's tears didn't stop. They fell, making trails on her face, on Mikey's shoulder and down his arms where they dripped to the ground.
Casey watched it all from the walkway. He watched April hug Donnie and Mikey. He watched Leo just stare at the wood. He stared at the wood. His best buddy was under there. Casey never really noticed his strong feelings. But now he felt them. They just screamed to burst out. Casey had to be strong. His buddy wouldn't want him to crack down and neither did he. Casey just stared. He would move when the others were stable to move. He didn't think that would be for a long time.
The whole quietness of the basement was too much. Leo could see everything except the wood, spinning. He hadn't realised that his eye ridges were furrowing. Turning down.
"NNNOOOO!"
Leo's scream had made everyone jump and turn to face him. He ignored them and scrambled to his feet. He dropped back to the ground at the wood and began to throw pieces off, digging into them. He moved like a madman.
His actions were definitely upsetting. Mikey and Donnie turned to watch him. Donnie slowly got up and laid a hand on his brother's shoulder. Leo carried on; probably unaware there was a hand on his shoulder. Donnie wanted to see his brother, but he didn't. The impact and the weight would have left their dead brother unrecognisable. Donnie didn't want Leo to see it. Leo would probably go mad. He might anyway, whether he saw the body or not. Donnie turned his brother forcefully around to face him and shook his head.
Leo looked at him. His brother's face warned him not to dig him up. Leo was not stable enough to see the body. Donnie decided they should go now. This place was killing Leo.
The two turtles stared at each other and Donnie got up, he pulled Leo to his feet as well.
"We have to go." Donnie said, his tone was flat and empty. But he looked at Leo, telling him he shouldn't argue.
Leo knew why Donnie stopped him. He was thankful, but not.
Donnie turned to Mikey and April, who were still on the floor. He looked at them the same way he had with Leo. He watched as they both climbed to their feet, slowly, and for Mikey, tiredly. They followed Donnie and Leo up to the stairs and onto the walkway. Casey stood behind them. Donnie turned to him.
"I'm . . . Gunna get . . . M'reagro," Casey half whispered.
"Don't Casey," Donnie chocked out, referring to Casey's excuse to get their brother out. "He . . . Won't be . . . Like . . ." Donnie faded off, and Casey nodded.
Donnie turned and led April and Mikey up where they had come into this hellhole; holding up Leo.
Casey watched them go, disappear round the corner and up the stairs. He stayed there until he could no longer hear them. Then he went to the door the Foot soldiers and M'reagro had taken. He charged into a long corridor, littered with dead bodies. ¦Looks like M'reagro got these gits . . .¦ He walked to the end of the corridor, which was lit by battery powered lights on the walls. At the end was one room. It was quite big but was empty apart from M'reagro and about sixty dead Foot member bodies. M'reagro was sat in the middle of it all, as if he had been waiting for Casey to come in. Casey stared at him and the beast got up and trotted, determined like, out of the room and back the way Casey had come. Casey followed him. M'reagro led him through the corridor and back into the huge basement where he leapt off the walkway and made his way to the wood. Casey couldn't see as the other crates were in the way, but he walked down the stairs and found M'reagro digging into the wood.
"Augh . . . Don't do that . . .Please . . ." Casey turned and began to walk away, but a soft, but loud growl made him turn around. M'reagro was staring at him. His eyes seemed to be accusing him of leaving his friend here.
Casey shook his head, tears welling up now. "He's dead . . .Okay? Drop it . . . Stop digging . . . And if you even THINK of eating him or doing any of your foul things you can answer to me!"
M'reagro only stared and growled again, then continued digging, throwing big parts of wood behind him and digging the rest aside.
For some reason Casey was drawn back to the wood. He didn't know why, but he had the feeling his had to get his friend out, no matter what. Casey slowly walked up to M'reagro, who growled softly at him. Casey watched the beast pull thick chunks of wood from the pile and toss them aside. After a minute, Casey started to help, knowing that if his new feeling was wrong, Donnie would play hell at him, or never talk to him again. But Casey got the feeling that . . .
M'reagro lifted a huge piece of wood out the way and threw it away. He stopped and growled very softly at something in the wood. Casey followed his gaze and his heart skipped. His feeling was right! He started to shift and throw wood out of the way, and within a minute of his help, the beast managed to life a battered, bruised and bloody looking, but recognisable, turtle from the pile.
Casey knew he shouldn't feel happy seeing his dead friend, but he was in one piece and not mangled. He knew why straight away when he saw Raph. The turtle had been lying on his stomach, and therefore his shell had protected him from getting to mangled. Casey still couldn't help but feel even more of an emptiness inside of him. ¦At least yer get a better burial, buddy¦
"C - c'mon . . . Let's get him home . . ." Casey said, not recognising his voice.
He and the beast now started the journey to the lair. The walk down the corridors and up the stairs were the longest Casey had ever walked. It seemed to take forever to get out, but when they did, they found the night sky was black and it was pouring it down. A clap of thunder scared M'reagro, who froze and carried on a litter more quickly. He would have been quicker but he was using only three feet. They were both soaked after a few minutes and didn't even bother to dart behind dumpsters or in alleyways as cars went by. He heard someone shout to him, but he ignored them. He didn't feel like opening his mouth, and M'reagro must have felt the same. After a while of walking, Casey looked back at M'reagro. He had always realised that the beast could show feelings and some expressions, and right now, he looked not upset, or forlorn, but determined somehow: As though he was about to do something really heroic, probably not live and be proud of it. Casey got all that from this creature's face, and yet he couldn't even tell what April's expressions were sometimes. Before he knew it, and before he liked, Casey was pulling up the only grate big enough for M'reagro to fit down. They quickly dropped into the sewers, and Casey had to wait for M'reagro so he could shut the grate again. Casey looked at his dead pal. He forced himself to look away and carry on. He went the long was round, so they would arrive through the door at the bottom of the lair and not have to come down the ladder. When he saw the door he breathed heavily, not really wanting to go in. He could feel the sad atmosphere from out here. But he forced himself and walked through.
Leo, Donnie, Mikey, April, Splinter and Frakly all looked up at him from their forlorn trances. They had all been shedding tears and obviously none had said anything except explain to Splinter and Frakly what had happened. They stared at him and then shifted their gazes to M'reagro as he followed in behind Casey.
"We can give the poor guy a proper burial now . . ." Casey said as he saw them all look in horror at Raph's body. M'reagro still held it, and growled something to his Master.
Frakly heard what his pet said, but he was a little too shocked to respond at once. M'reagro growled at him again and the professor shook himself mentally and looked at his pet, who growled for the third time.
"Are you . . . Sure?" Frakly spoke to his pet.
The others all watched, too shocked to speak or do anything.
M'reagro growled and moved in to the middle of them all. He laid Raph down and they all felt a fresh wave of tears roll down their faces.
"It is . . . Up to you, my pet." Frakly talked back. "Your choice . . ."
" . . . What . . .?" Casey asked.
"M'reagro . . . Is going to try and do something . . . Something drastic."
They all watched M'reagro, flickering in the candle light, as the beast bent over the body of Raph. One clawed hand went to Raph's throat, and the middle claw pressed down do that it penetrated the skin. A trickle of blood made a thin stream down his neck.
Leo jumped up. "No!" He was pulled down by Frakly, who shook his head. Leo turned back to stare at the beast and his brother.
A low, long humming sound filled the lair, and a wind blew around, picking up so much that April's hair flew about her face. They realised that the noise was coming from M'reagro. It was like the hum of electric, cross with the hum of a long growl. It grew slightly louder. The whole den was flying. Papers, pillows, anything small was being thrown my this mysterious wind. April closed her eyes as something hit her. Through her eyelids she saw light. She opened her eyes and looked at the scene in front of her. M'reagro and Raph were both glowing in soft blue light. They were surrounded by their aura. It glowed. M'reagro's was so bright and spaced from him; Raph's was growing, and while it was, M'reagro's shrunk. The wind picked up fiercely than ever. It seemed to rustle up everything but M'reagro and Raph. They watched, fascinated, as M'reagro's aura grew small and dim, while Raph's grew brighter and bigger. It kept going until there was only the smallest light coming from M'reagro. The wind gave a sudden howl and disappeared. All the papers and things fell to the floor and hair and bandannas dropped from the air. They all looked back, slowly to the middle of the floor, after shielding their faces from the bits of wind. They stared at M'reagro, who lay as still as stone on the floor; and then at Raph who lay just the same. Then the beast, without moving, whined a high pitched note and was silent. Raph suddenly heaved and started coughing. The others stared, way too shocked to move. Then Leo got up and moved to the floor.
" . . . Raph . . .?" Leo didn't touch his brother. He knelt down beside him.
Raph looked up and frowned.
Leo's jaw dropped and he grabbed his brother, checking him, running his hand over his face, and hugged him so tight he could have crushed him again. Leo felt the tears fall down his checks, but he didn't care. He had his brother back and that was all that mattered.
The others had regained their proper selves and joined him on the floor. They kept saying his name, asking Leo if it was real, hugging Raph. They all had smudges of Raph's blood on them.
April looked up at Casey, who was still stood where he came in. He grinned. April smiled back and turned back to Raph, who was frowning.
"Er, guys . . . What . . . Are we doing on the floor? Why are you acting -" Cough. - "Like you ain't seen me in ages?" Raph looked at them. There were tear marks on their faces. ¦Did I miss something?¦ He then realised how painful his body was. He looked at his arms. They were covered with nasty slices, and his throat was killing him. He put a hand to his throat and looked at his fingers. They were covered with blood.
"Guys . . ." He said, before feeling amazingly dizzy and limp. His body swayed and leaned to the floor, but Leo caught him before he could hit it.
"Donnie get the medic supplies now!" Leo said. Everyone now backed away to let Donnie through, who came back from the kitchen with a box.
Splinter, from stood near the couch, watched as Donnie patched up his brother. Splinter had never felt so much grief turn suddenly into happiness. It was a miracle his son was alive and before him.
Donnie finished patching his brothers' worst wounds, but there were still many more crisscrossing over his body that needed to be seen to.
"I think you better put him in bed . . ." Donnie said, looking at Leo. His voice was slightly different to what it usually sounded like.
Leo nodded and he and Mikey lifted Raph. They took him into his and Mikey's car, and laid him on Mikey's bunk instead of his own, which was too high. They stood, staring at him.
"We got him back, Leo," Mikey whispered. "He's back . . ." He turned and hugged Leo.
April had followed them in. She hugged them both; a few stray tears fell down her checks.
Donnie came in and put a hand on Leo and Mikey's shoulders. He bent down with the box and started to fix Raph's other wounds.
Splinter and Casey joined them now. Casey took hold of April's hand, and she wrapped him in a hug, laying her head on his chest.
"I think we must all get some rest now," Splinter spoke. "It has been a very tiring day."
They all agreed, though in their heads. Casey pulled April out of the room.
Mikey climbed up onto Raph's bunk and Splinter went back into the main area. Frakly and M'reagro were nowhere to be seen. Splinter smiled. ¦Thank you, friend¦. He told April and Casey they could stay here, in Donnie's lab or on the couch. They thanked him and made themselves comfortable on the couch. Splinter made his way to the kitchen. He was weary and a cup of tea would do him nicely. He couldn't stop thinking about what had happened today. One of his sons had died. Now he was safe and well in his bed. Splinter smiled, he still felt tears trying to let loose. He made his tea and was about to go to bed, but he stopped and walked back to Raph and Mike's car. He looked in and shook his head, smiling. Leo and Donnie were both asleep on the floor by Raph's side. Their heads resting on their arms, on the bed.
"Goodnight, my sons . . ." Splinter closed the car door and went back to his own room, shutting the lights off.
Okay, so..I'm not sure about this chapter . . . Tell me what you think . . . Story's gunna end soon. Sorry I think I put a bit too much babble at the beginning. This was a second version I did. The first version of part 18 was . . . Well, I didn't much like it so I did this one . . . Hope you like, and thanks for the reviews . . . Thank you so much for the reviews! (Ow, who's screaming, lol).