{/It's time for the mandatory author's note!
Yeah, I'm getting really cruel with this. I can only imagine what Leo's psyche is going to look like when I'm done. This is also the chapter I got done quickest... want to know why?
I spent most of the day I was on cart at work yesterday writing the entire first part on receipt paper! Of course, it's edited, but y'know how it is.
Anyway, we're drawing closer and closer to the end. Part 5 is the final installment before the epilogue, but I'll warn you ahead of time... don't expect it to be a happy ending!
Thanks to all of you who are still reading and supporting this story, sticking through all the angst to find out the conclusion. I appreciate your support!/}
{={Eyes Wide Shut}=}
==Part 4: Too Late for Fury==
"Don't worry, Raph. I'll take care of Mikey."
April's words were calm and held an air of confidence she rarely could show. The conversation had somehow finally drifted to whether or not Raphael should go after his brothers and Casey, who had been missing for well over four hours now... in all of their minds, that was far too long.
Splinter did not want him to go, but in the end, it seemed to simply come down to Leonardo, Donatello, and Casey's safety. With Leonardo being controlled by someone in the shadows, the damage he could do to his brother and their human ally was unfathomable.
The explanation had been almost too simple. "In waking, Leonardo is stout of mind and follows the warrior's code of honorable combat without question," Splinter stated quietly. "However, in sleep, one dreams... and those dreams play upon the truth of a warrior's convictions... exploiting what he truly feels towards a hated enemy, unleashing potential locked away by the waking mind, and releasing the rage that lies within all our hearts."
At this, Raphael flinched. After their first encounter with the Shredder, he had heard - for countless nights, wandering restlessly past his brother's room - Leonardo mumbling horrid, inhumane threats in his sleep... things horrible enough to make even Raphael's skin crawl.
His mind was made up at that point. Leonardo was dangerous, both to himself and to others at this point, and he would not lose his family to this. "Master, I'll bring 'em home," he swore. "I promise."
A moment passed before Splinter's hand tightened on his walking stick, making it perfectly obvious that he did not fancy the thought of his son rushing into danger headlong as he tended to. However, he knew that this was for the good of them all, and in the end, he gave a tired sigh and nodded. "Mind your injuries and go with care... return to me safely, my son... find your brothers and Mr. Jones and bring them home safely as well."
Raphael almost stopped, not wanting to leave his father with so much happening. Slowly, he nodded, and with an iron conviction that had driven him away from his brothers on countless occasions, he made his way out the window to find both them and his wayward friend.
=====
The area of the sewer into which Raphael descended held an unnatural sense of dread for the young turtle. The air felt heavy... something wasn't right.
He nearly leapt five clean feet in the air when his foot brushed something on the walkway. Growling, he drew back his foot to kick the obstacle when his vision finally adjusted to the dark, and he saw just what was there. Instantly, he wished he was just having some horrible nightmare... that he would wake up any minute, and what he was seeing would turn out to be an illusion.
"Donny...?!" he managed to gasp as his breath caught in his throat. He swallowed back a sudden, unfamiliar swell of fear, kneeling to carefully cradle his little brother. "Don, speak t'me..."
The younger of the pair groaned, opening his eyes with a great deal of effort as he choked out in a near-delirious tone, "Raphy...? Issat you...?"
Raphael swallowed again, forcing out one of his cocky smiles. "Yeah... it's me, Donny... c'mon, y'gotta talk t'me more th'n that, little bro... who did this to ya?"
Donatello choked weakly, almost unable to find the strength to force out his words. But he did, and his words struck Raphael to the core. "S'not his fault, Raphy... Leo, he... he couldn't help it..."
Raphael felt his heart skip a beat... he swore he did. "Leo? Leo did this?" he managed to choke out.
The younger brother tried to respond, but instead he shuddered, gagging and coughing. Raphael was quick but careful, leaning Donatello over the sewer water as his stomach emptied itself rather violently.
"God, Donny..." He felt panic rising, threatening to overcome rational thought. Donatello had told him once that with bad head injuries, the injured would often become nauseous and throw up. "We gotta get someplace safe... you need help."
Weakly, Donatello shook his head. "Gotta help Casey... went after Leo... Shredder's tower..."
As he spoke, his sentences became more and more broken and disjointed, the blow - or blows, from what Raphael could surmise - to the head far more serious than he had originally suspected. Raphael frowned, gritting his teeth against the pain his own body reminded him of as he gently lifted Donatello. "C'mon, little bro... I'll help Casey and Leo, I promise. I just gotta get you somewhere safe." Trying his hardest to balance climbing and carrying, Raphael made his way slowly back up the ladder. "Damn, April's gonna drop a brick..."
=====
April felt her heart sink right into her stomach when Raphael came back through the window far too soon after leaving. She didn't want to acknowledge the battered figure he held in his arms, but she couldn't help it. The purple bandana was the biggest clue, for the teen he carried was fully unconscious... and it was a safe bet that his current state was not a good thing.
She saw Splinter gape, moving forward uncertainly, still a bit dizzy from his injuries. Quick eyes darted over his son's form before he stated, in a tone that led April to believe that even the master was having trouble holding back the flood of emotions that threatened to break through, "Quickly, my son. Lay him down and bring cold water and a cloth. Miss O'Neil, have you anything that could be used to splint his broken limbs?"
Broken out of her thoughts by the sound of Splinter's voice, the woman nodded and jogged towards her bathroom. She had gotten into the habit of purchasing medical supplies whenever she could, and saving others that had been used by Casey. She was lucky to have an air cast for at least one leg, and splints and bandages for the other leg and arm.
This made everyone. Every last turtle had been injured in this fight... even Leonardo, who had done the PHYSICAL damage.
Michelangelo and Raphael would recover, Raphael far more easily. Leonardo would take time... if they managed to rescue him; the psychological damage after having been forced to attack his own family would be immense. It was Donatello whose health held the most uncertainty.
April gave a gentle sigh as she returned to her living room, setting about placing splints to set Donatello's broken bones. The job would be a rather bang-up one, but it was better than letting the bones settle in injury. The concussion he had suffered, as well as the damage to his legs, worried her far more than his arm and the other bruises and lacerations, however. If he managed to - by some miracle - survive, he may never recover full use of his legs.
A jolt of terror snaked its way rather suddenly up her spine. What if... what if he DIED?
That was a thought April couldn't bear, but she could not shake it from her head, no matter how far back she pushed it. Almost since she had met them, April had played both mom AND big sister to the boys. Just thinking about losing any one of them tore into her heart like a fillet knife.
She could only imagine how Splinter felt.
The rat in mention was instructing Raphael on what to do, finally sending him to check on Michelangelo, whose condition had finally started to improve. Splinter moved his focus now to April and Donatello. April wrung her hands tightly together after she had completed her tasks, watching Splinter's expression change. Finally, the master lowered his head... to April, it almost looked as if he was conceding defeat.
"Master Splinter...?" she questioned softly.
Splinter blinked, looking at her before he shook his head, unable to even conjure up one of the encouraging smiles he might give to his sons. "In this mindless state, Leonardo is a far more potent enemy than even the Shredder himself. He will kill without remorse, unknowing of his actions... and should he learn of what he has done, it could very well destroy him." He looked at Donatello again, obviously worried by how quiet and still the teen remained. "Raphael and Michelangelo will make full recoveries, I trust... however, Donatello was never blessed with the fortitude his brothers share. I fear for his life, Miss O'Neil... I fear now more than I have in many, many years."
The two remained silent for a while, even as Raphael informed them rather bluntly that with Michelangelo out of danger and Donatello in good hands, he was going to find Casey and Leonardo. Once he was out of sight, the woman let her eyes drift to the rat beside her, and despite her better judgement, she swore she saw an unfamiliar gleam in his focused eyes. Tears?
Somehow, April felt like she knew where he stood.
=====
Pangs of guilt stabbed at Casey's gut as he ran along after Leonardo, who seemed to be moving much quicker than the human had ever seen him move. The hockey-masked vigilante was uncertain where this Shredder's skyscraper was, but whoever was controlling Leonardo obviously did, and was leading him off in the direction he needed to be going without a single pit-stop.
His mind drifted to his friend back in the sewer, and his stomach twisted at the thought that Donatello was alone back there... his injuries were pretty bad, even if he couldn't make them out. He would have to hope that someone had found him.
Casey allowed his thoughts to return to reality as Leonardo finally came to a stop near a building the human did not recognize. It came as a shock to him when Leonardo suddenly collapsed, falling to the pavement in an unmoving heap. The men that came out to drag him inside, however, he did recognize.
Foot Ninja!
A deep-rooted hatred flared up again and the man forgot his original intentions. He started to move forward when a hand came to rest on his shoulder, and instantly, he spun, hockey stick stopping inches from the side of a familiar face.
"Whataya tryin' t'do, numbskull? Ruin my beautiful complexion?" the red-clad hothead sneered, sarcasm dripping from his every word.
Casey blinked, then drew the hockey stick back as he smirked. "I woulda knocked your block clean off, Raph."
Raphael snorted in reply, not bothering to fire back a retort as he turned to look up at the building. "So... this is where he came in the end, huh...? Probably that bastard Stockman's work."
"You know who did this?" Casey questioned, tilting his head to one side.
A chuckle. "Y'might say that." He looked up at the building again, then narrowed his eyes as he saw a hulking figure start to exit. "Don't look now, Space Case... but we got company."
In response to his words, Casey's eyes turned towards the building and instantly widened. Hatred stabbed through him sharply, and he hissed, "It's Hun."
Raphael growled, reaching for his sai as the mountain of a man approached, speaking as if he had known they would come. "Put down your weapons, both of you, and the freak inside might live to see another day."
"You wouldn't hurt my brother," Raphael hissed. "The Shredder wants him alive... it's the rest of us he could give a flying fuck about!"
If it had been anyone else, Casey would not have believed that those words would have come out of their mouth to the behemoth. However, this was Raphael... and he knew that Raphael was never one to back down from any sort of fight. Hun was not impressed by the show of bravado. "Perhaps," he replied in a growl. "However, I have no such compunctions about your fellows. Your brothers were badly wounded, and my sources tell me your master was injured as well. They are alone and helpless with that little red-haired witch... and with a snap of my fingers, I could have them all massacred."
Something snapped in the back of Casey's mind. "Did you just call her a witch?" he growled lowly. "Nobody insults her around me, Hun. NOBODY."
"Oh?" The brute seemed amused by Casey's anger. "And I suppose you plan to make me pay for my words?"
Raphael tensed. This wasn't going well. "Yo, Case, cool it. Both of us gotta use our heads this time, a'ight?"
There was a pause before Casey's sharp blue eyes, darkened from anger, shifted to the turtle. "Oh, I'll use my head all right. I'll use it ta bust his!"
Hun smirked, almost as if he had seen the entire thing coming. He had pushed the buttons he knew would produce the desired effect, and he got what he wanted. Casey Jones lost control of his temper and lunged, hockey stick drawn back for the strike.
What he got was instead a crack across the jaw, backhanded into the sidewalk rather easily by Hun. That was all it took to really get Raphael goaded into the fight... he would not allow anyone else to harm his family and friends! He would fight the whole damn lot of the Shredder's crew if it meant saving them... and that included Hun.
The young turtle spun his sai in his hands. He would not let his family fall under any circumstances... especially not this one!
=====
Leonardo's mind registered a lazy sense of time loss as he started to return to awareness. The room he was in was unfamiliar... it looked nothing like the sewers, and certainly wasn't April's apartment or the lair. The room was far too sterile.
Then, it sunk in with a dreadful heaviness. This was a laboratory.
Hands shaking with the sudden sense of apprehension that overcame his senses, Leonardo turned in a full circle. How had he gotten here? Why could he remember almost nothing of the past few days? Where were his brothers? He vaguely recalled someone attacking Michelangelo... was he all right?!
His eyes drifted slowly over the room, and the evidence of where he was seemed to be tattooed everywhere for him to see. The Foot symbol branded everything, seemingly permeated into the very heart of the whole building.
The voice that spoke to him from the shadows struck him with a haunting sort of familiarity. "Welcome, Leonardo," chuckled the scientist. "You are an honored guest here."
Stunned, Leonardo slowly turned, eyes falling on what was left of Baxter Stockman. "Stockman...?! You're alive...!"
=====
Raphael should have known that trying to face Hun angry and hurt was a bad idea, but things like that rarely registered to the berzerker until it was too late. This was one of those times. He had realized far too late that he and Casey should have backed off... planned their attack better. However, as he stood holding one sai loosely in his left hand, he could only really tell himself that hindsight - as Splinter had often told him - was 20/20.
Casey slammed into the ground next to him, something in the back of his mind telling him the same thing. He was covered with bruises, scrapes, and lacerations, but from what he could tell, none of his injuries were too severe. "Raph," he panted, "we are gettin' our asses royally hammered."
"No... ya think?!"
The pair dodged just in time to avoid a fist crushing them both, and Raphael instantly moved to brace Casey, who was starting to tire. As much as Raphael hated to admit it, they may have to make a retreat. He did not want to leave Leonardo alone, but there was nothing that could be done just then.
Bracing Casey against his side, the turtle began to make his escape, listening to Hun laugh mockingly as they left. He felt that familiar rage building inside him, but it was useless now. He had to, just this once, keep his head on straight if they were going to survive to save Leonardo.
What they needed was Donatello... and only a miracle was going to bring his help to them now.
=====
When Casey and Raphael dragged themselves back into April's apartment, the entire place was quiet. Michelangelo had shifted positions, and it was obvious he had done so on his own. One weight lifted from Raphael's shoulders, knowing his baby brother was obviously greatly improved from his previous condition.
After helping Casey to sit nearby, Raphael slowly limped to Donatello's side, where April and Splinter still knelt quietly beside him. He cleared his throat quietly, then murmured. "Sensei...? April...? How is 'e?"
April just shook her head. "If he wakes up--..."
"When," Raphael interrupted forcefully. "WHEN he wakes up."
Swallowing, the woman corrected herself, not wanting to push Raphael's temper. "When he wakes up, it'll be a long road to recovery... he may never regain full use of his legs..."
That, however, was quite enough to push him nearly past his limits. "Donny's neva given up before! I refuse ta believe he would now!"
"Calm yourself, Raphael," Splinter instructed quietly as he stood, steadying his movements with his cane. "Miss O'Neil will do all that she can for Donatello. What have you and Mr. Jones found concerning Leonardo?"
Raphael turned fully to face his father, his fists clenched at his sides. He swallowed, then spoke. "Whoeva's got his mind, they took 'im straight to the Shredder."
"What?!" April exclaimed, standing up almost instantly. But why there?!"
"Ta get 'im ta join 'em. Why else?" Raphael was barely reigning in his anger, wanting desperately to run in and rescue his brother from the clutches of the evil megalomaniac. While Leonardo was not the closest to him out of the brothers, he was always there for HIM... why shouldn't he do the same? "It ain't gonna be easy, but we hafta get in there and find a way to get Leo..."
His words fell short when slowly, solemnly, Splinter shook his head. "If it is indeed the Shredder demanding Leonardo's allegiance, this may be a battle he must fight on his own."
The room sank into silence once again until a groan alerted the group that Donatello was drifting back into the waking realm. His eyes flickered open and he looked over the group standing by him, his attention - as much as he could muster - finally focusing on Raphael as he mumbled softly, "Didj' save Leo...?"
Raphael tensed, shaking his head. "No... but we will, Donny."
The teen on the couch mumbled something, trying to sit up. April knelt beside him, trying to coax him to lay back down. "Shh, Donny, just lay still, okay?"
"Y'think maybe he's tryin' t' tell ya somethin'?" Casey questioned, finally limping his way over to Donatello's side with the others.
Donatello mumbled again, finally managing to stammer out, "Machine... full... full power... try... button on side..."
His form tensed, and before he could say another word, he fell limp again. Raphael's fists clenched. "What's he talkin' about?"
Splinter's brow furrowed, his hand coming to rest against his son's forehead as his whiskers flicked forward, ears tilting back. "I am uncertain..."
"I think I might know," April interrupted, standing up. "The machine he built to block whoever was messing with Leo before... we have to turn it up to full power and push one of the buttons on the side. It might cause some sort of reaction in the machine the Shredder's goons are using." She swallowed hard. "Maybe I should get the smelling salts and ask him--..."
"No." Splinter stood straight, and the expression on his face told April that the situation was far grimmer than she had suspected. "The smelling salts will do no good. My son..." The rat paused to take a breath, steadying his thoughts. "My son's condition has greatly worsened, just in these past few minutes..." He lowered his head, looking towards Donatello with more grief than April thought it possible for anyone to express. "It is likely... he will not survive..."
==To Be Continued==
Yeah, I'm getting really cruel with this. I can only imagine what Leo's psyche is going to look like when I'm done. This is also the chapter I got done quickest... want to know why?
I spent most of the day I was on cart at work yesterday writing the entire first part on receipt paper! Of course, it's edited, but y'know how it is.
Anyway, we're drawing closer and closer to the end. Part 5 is the final installment before the epilogue, but I'll warn you ahead of time... don't expect it to be a happy ending!
Thanks to all of you who are still reading and supporting this story, sticking through all the angst to find out the conclusion. I appreciate your support!/}
{={Eyes Wide Shut}=}
==Part 4: Too Late for Fury==
"Don't worry, Raph. I'll take care of Mikey."
April's words were calm and held an air of confidence she rarely could show. The conversation had somehow finally drifted to whether or not Raphael should go after his brothers and Casey, who had been missing for well over four hours now... in all of their minds, that was far too long.
Splinter did not want him to go, but in the end, it seemed to simply come down to Leonardo, Donatello, and Casey's safety. With Leonardo being controlled by someone in the shadows, the damage he could do to his brother and their human ally was unfathomable.
The explanation had been almost too simple. "In waking, Leonardo is stout of mind and follows the warrior's code of honorable combat without question," Splinter stated quietly. "However, in sleep, one dreams... and those dreams play upon the truth of a warrior's convictions... exploiting what he truly feels towards a hated enemy, unleashing potential locked away by the waking mind, and releasing the rage that lies within all our hearts."
At this, Raphael flinched. After their first encounter with the Shredder, he had heard - for countless nights, wandering restlessly past his brother's room - Leonardo mumbling horrid, inhumane threats in his sleep... things horrible enough to make even Raphael's skin crawl.
His mind was made up at that point. Leonardo was dangerous, both to himself and to others at this point, and he would not lose his family to this. "Master, I'll bring 'em home," he swore. "I promise."
A moment passed before Splinter's hand tightened on his walking stick, making it perfectly obvious that he did not fancy the thought of his son rushing into danger headlong as he tended to. However, he knew that this was for the good of them all, and in the end, he gave a tired sigh and nodded. "Mind your injuries and go with care... return to me safely, my son... find your brothers and Mr. Jones and bring them home safely as well."
Raphael almost stopped, not wanting to leave his father with so much happening. Slowly, he nodded, and with an iron conviction that had driven him away from his brothers on countless occasions, he made his way out the window to find both them and his wayward friend.
=====
The area of the sewer into which Raphael descended held an unnatural sense of dread for the young turtle. The air felt heavy... something wasn't right.
He nearly leapt five clean feet in the air when his foot brushed something on the walkway. Growling, he drew back his foot to kick the obstacle when his vision finally adjusted to the dark, and he saw just what was there. Instantly, he wished he was just having some horrible nightmare... that he would wake up any minute, and what he was seeing would turn out to be an illusion.
"Donny...?!" he managed to gasp as his breath caught in his throat. He swallowed back a sudden, unfamiliar swell of fear, kneeling to carefully cradle his little brother. "Don, speak t'me..."
The younger of the pair groaned, opening his eyes with a great deal of effort as he choked out in a near-delirious tone, "Raphy...? Issat you...?"
Raphael swallowed again, forcing out one of his cocky smiles. "Yeah... it's me, Donny... c'mon, y'gotta talk t'me more th'n that, little bro... who did this to ya?"
Donatello choked weakly, almost unable to find the strength to force out his words. But he did, and his words struck Raphael to the core. "S'not his fault, Raphy... Leo, he... he couldn't help it..."
Raphael felt his heart skip a beat... he swore he did. "Leo? Leo did this?" he managed to choke out.
The younger brother tried to respond, but instead he shuddered, gagging and coughing. Raphael was quick but careful, leaning Donatello over the sewer water as his stomach emptied itself rather violently.
"God, Donny..." He felt panic rising, threatening to overcome rational thought. Donatello had told him once that with bad head injuries, the injured would often become nauseous and throw up. "We gotta get someplace safe... you need help."
Weakly, Donatello shook his head. "Gotta help Casey... went after Leo... Shredder's tower..."
As he spoke, his sentences became more and more broken and disjointed, the blow - or blows, from what Raphael could surmise - to the head far more serious than he had originally suspected. Raphael frowned, gritting his teeth against the pain his own body reminded him of as he gently lifted Donatello. "C'mon, little bro... I'll help Casey and Leo, I promise. I just gotta get you somewhere safe." Trying his hardest to balance climbing and carrying, Raphael made his way slowly back up the ladder. "Damn, April's gonna drop a brick..."
=====
April felt her heart sink right into her stomach when Raphael came back through the window far too soon after leaving. She didn't want to acknowledge the battered figure he held in his arms, but she couldn't help it. The purple bandana was the biggest clue, for the teen he carried was fully unconscious... and it was a safe bet that his current state was not a good thing.
She saw Splinter gape, moving forward uncertainly, still a bit dizzy from his injuries. Quick eyes darted over his son's form before he stated, in a tone that led April to believe that even the master was having trouble holding back the flood of emotions that threatened to break through, "Quickly, my son. Lay him down and bring cold water and a cloth. Miss O'Neil, have you anything that could be used to splint his broken limbs?"
Broken out of her thoughts by the sound of Splinter's voice, the woman nodded and jogged towards her bathroom. She had gotten into the habit of purchasing medical supplies whenever she could, and saving others that had been used by Casey. She was lucky to have an air cast for at least one leg, and splints and bandages for the other leg and arm.
This made everyone. Every last turtle had been injured in this fight... even Leonardo, who had done the PHYSICAL damage.
Michelangelo and Raphael would recover, Raphael far more easily. Leonardo would take time... if they managed to rescue him; the psychological damage after having been forced to attack his own family would be immense. It was Donatello whose health held the most uncertainty.
April gave a gentle sigh as she returned to her living room, setting about placing splints to set Donatello's broken bones. The job would be a rather bang-up one, but it was better than letting the bones settle in injury. The concussion he had suffered, as well as the damage to his legs, worried her far more than his arm and the other bruises and lacerations, however. If he managed to - by some miracle - survive, he may never recover full use of his legs.
A jolt of terror snaked its way rather suddenly up her spine. What if... what if he DIED?
That was a thought April couldn't bear, but she could not shake it from her head, no matter how far back she pushed it. Almost since she had met them, April had played both mom AND big sister to the boys. Just thinking about losing any one of them tore into her heart like a fillet knife.
She could only imagine how Splinter felt.
The rat in mention was instructing Raphael on what to do, finally sending him to check on Michelangelo, whose condition had finally started to improve. Splinter moved his focus now to April and Donatello. April wrung her hands tightly together after she had completed her tasks, watching Splinter's expression change. Finally, the master lowered his head... to April, it almost looked as if he was conceding defeat.
"Master Splinter...?" she questioned softly.
Splinter blinked, looking at her before he shook his head, unable to even conjure up one of the encouraging smiles he might give to his sons. "In this mindless state, Leonardo is a far more potent enemy than even the Shredder himself. He will kill without remorse, unknowing of his actions... and should he learn of what he has done, it could very well destroy him." He looked at Donatello again, obviously worried by how quiet and still the teen remained. "Raphael and Michelangelo will make full recoveries, I trust... however, Donatello was never blessed with the fortitude his brothers share. I fear for his life, Miss O'Neil... I fear now more than I have in many, many years."
The two remained silent for a while, even as Raphael informed them rather bluntly that with Michelangelo out of danger and Donatello in good hands, he was going to find Casey and Leonardo. Once he was out of sight, the woman let her eyes drift to the rat beside her, and despite her better judgement, she swore she saw an unfamiliar gleam in his focused eyes. Tears?
Somehow, April felt like she knew where he stood.
=====
Pangs of guilt stabbed at Casey's gut as he ran along after Leonardo, who seemed to be moving much quicker than the human had ever seen him move. The hockey-masked vigilante was uncertain where this Shredder's skyscraper was, but whoever was controlling Leonardo obviously did, and was leading him off in the direction he needed to be going without a single pit-stop.
His mind drifted to his friend back in the sewer, and his stomach twisted at the thought that Donatello was alone back there... his injuries were pretty bad, even if he couldn't make them out. He would have to hope that someone had found him.
Casey allowed his thoughts to return to reality as Leonardo finally came to a stop near a building the human did not recognize. It came as a shock to him when Leonardo suddenly collapsed, falling to the pavement in an unmoving heap. The men that came out to drag him inside, however, he did recognize.
Foot Ninja!
A deep-rooted hatred flared up again and the man forgot his original intentions. He started to move forward when a hand came to rest on his shoulder, and instantly, he spun, hockey stick stopping inches from the side of a familiar face.
"Whataya tryin' t'do, numbskull? Ruin my beautiful complexion?" the red-clad hothead sneered, sarcasm dripping from his every word.
Casey blinked, then drew the hockey stick back as he smirked. "I woulda knocked your block clean off, Raph."
Raphael snorted in reply, not bothering to fire back a retort as he turned to look up at the building. "So... this is where he came in the end, huh...? Probably that bastard Stockman's work."
"You know who did this?" Casey questioned, tilting his head to one side.
A chuckle. "Y'might say that." He looked up at the building again, then narrowed his eyes as he saw a hulking figure start to exit. "Don't look now, Space Case... but we got company."
In response to his words, Casey's eyes turned towards the building and instantly widened. Hatred stabbed through him sharply, and he hissed, "It's Hun."
Raphael growled, reaching for his sai as the mountain of a man approached, speaking as if he had known they would come. "Put down your weapons, both of you, and the freak inside might live to see another day."
"You wouldn't hurt my brother," Raphael hissed. "The Shredder wants him alive... it's the rest of us he could give a flying fuck about!"
If it had been anyone else, Casey would not have believed that those words would have come out of their mouth to the behemoth. However, this was Raphael... and he knew that Raphael was never one to back down from any sort of fight. Hun was not impressed by the show of bravado. "Perhaps," he replied in a growl. "However, I have no such compunctions about your fellows. Your brothers were badly wounded, and my sources tell me your master was injured as well. They are alone and helpless with that little red-haired witch... and with a snap of my fingers, I could have them all massacred."
Something snapped in the back of Casey's mind. "Did you just call her a witch?" he growled lowly. "Nobody insults her around me, Hun. NOBODY."
"Oh?" The brute seemed amused by Casey's anger. "And I suppose you plan to make me pay for my words?"
Raphael tensed. This wasn't going well. "Yo, Case, cool it. Both of us gotta use our heads this time, a'ight?"
There was a pause before Casey's sharp blue eyes, darkened from anger, shifted to the turtle. "Oh, I'll use my head all right. I'll use it ta bust his!"
Hun smirked, almost as if he had seen the entire thing coming. He had pushed the buttons he knew would produce the desired effect, and he got what he wanted. Casey Jones lost control of his temper and lunged, hockey stick drawn back for the strike.
What he got was instead a crack across the jaw, backhanded into the sidewalk rather easily by Hun. That was all it took to really get Raphael goaded into the fight... he would not allow anyone else to harm his family and friends! He would fight the whole damn lot of the Shredder's crew if it meant saving them... and that included Hun.
The young turtle spun his sai in his hands. He would not let his family fall under any circumstances... especially not this one!
=====
Leonardo's mind registered a lazy sense of time loss as he started to return to awareness. The room he was in was unfamiliar... it looked nothing like the sewers, and certainly wasn't April's apartment or the lair. The room was far too sterile.
Then, it sunk in with a dreadful heaviness. This was a laboratory.
Hands shaking with the sudden sense of apprehension that overcame his senses, Leonardo turned in a full circle. How had he gotten here? Why could he remember almost nothing of the past few days? Where were his brothers? He vaguely recalled someone attacking Michelangelo... was he all right?!
His eyes drifted slowly over the room, and the evidence of where he was seemed to be tattooed everywhere for him to see. The Foot symbol branded everything, seemingly permeated into the very heart of the whole building.
The voice that spoke to him from the shadows struck him with a haunting sort of familiarity. "Welcome, Leonardo," chuckled the scientist. "You are an honored guest here."
Stunned, Leonardo slowly turned, eyes falling on what was left of Baxter Stockman. "Stockman...?! You're alive...!"
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Raphael should have known that trying to face Hun angry and hurt was a bad idea, but things like that rarely registered to the berzerker until it was too late. This was one of those times. He had realized far too late that he and Casey should have backed off... planned their attack better. However, as he stood holding one sai loosely in his left hand, he could only really tell himself that hindsight - as Splinter had often told him - was 20/20.
Casey slammed into the ground next to him, something in the back of his mind telling him the same thing. He was covered with bruises, scrapes, and lacerations, but from what he could tell, none of his injuries were too severe. "Raph," he panted, "we are gettin' our asses royally hammered."
"No... ya think?!"
The pair dodged just in time to avoid a fist crushing them both, and Raphael instantly moved to brace Casey, who was starting to tire. As much as Raphael hated to admit it, they may have to make a retreat. He did not want to leave Leonardo alone, but there was nothing that could be done just then.
Bracing Casey against his side, the turtle began to make his escape, listening to Hun laugh mockingly as they left. He felt that familiar rage building inside him, but it was useless now. He had to, just this once, keep his head on straight if they were going to survive to save Leonardo.
What they needed was Donatello... and only a miracle was going to bring his help to them now.
=====
When Casey and Raphael dragged themselves back into April's apartment, the entire place was quiet. Michelangelo had shifted positions, and it was obvious he had done so on his own. One weight lifted from Raphael's shoulders, knowing his baby brother was obviously greatly improved from his previous condition.
After helping Casey to sit nearby, Raphael slowly limped to Donatello's side, where April and Splinter still knelt quietly beside him. He cleared his throat quietly, then murmured. "Sensei...? April...? How is 'e?"
April just shook her head. "If he wakes up--..."
"When," Raphael interrupted forcefully. "WHEN he wakes up."
Swallowing, the woman corrected herself, not wanting to push Raphael's temper. "When he wakes up, it'll be a long road to recovery... he may never regain full use of his legs..."
That, however, was quite enough to push him nearly past his limits. "Donny's neva given up before! I refuse ta believe he would now!"
"Calm yourself, Raphael," Splinter instructed quietly as he stood, steadying his movements with his cane. "Miss O'Neil will do all that she can for Donatello. What have you and Mr. Jones found concerning Leonardo?"
Raphael turned fully to face his father, his fists clenched at his sides. He swallowed, then spoke. "Whoeva's got his mind, they took 'im straight to the Shredder."
"What?!" April exclaimed, standing up almost instantly. But why there?!"
"Ta get 'im ta join 'em. Why else?" Raphael was barely reigning in his anger, wanting desperately to run in and rescue his brother from the clutches of the evil megalomaniac. While Leonardo was not the closest to him out of the brothers, he was always there for HIM... why shouldn't he do the same? "It ain't gonna be easy, but we hafta get in there and find a way to get Leo..."
His words fell short when slowly, solemnly, Splinter shook his head. "If it is indeed the Shredder demanding Leonardo's allegiance, this may be a battle he must fight on his own."
The room sank into silence once again until a groan alerted the group that Donatello was drifting back into the waking realm. His eyes flickered open and he looked over the group standing by him, his attention - as much as he could muster - finally focusing on Raphael as he mumbled softly, "Didj' save Leo...?"
Raphael tensed, shaking his head. "No... but we will, Donny."
The teen on the couch mumbled something, trying to sit up. April knelt beside him, trying to coax him to lay back down. "Shh, Donny, just lay still, okay?"
"Y'think maybe he's tryin' t' tell ya somethin'?" Casey questioned, finally limping his way over to Donatello's side with the others.
Donatello mumbled again, finally managing to stammer out, "Machine... full... full power... try... button on side..."
His form tensed, and before he could say another word, he fell limp again. Raphael's fists clenched. "What's he talkin' about?"
Splinter's brow furrowed, his hand coming to rest against his son's forehead as his whiskers flicked forward, ears tilting back. "I am uncertain..."
"I think I might know," April interrupted, standing up. "The machine he built to block whoever was messing with Leo before... we have to turn it up to full power and push one of the buttons on the side. It might cause some sort of reaction in the machine the Shredder's goons are using." She swallowed hard. "Maybe I should get the smelling salts and ask him--..."
"No." Splinter stood straight, and the expression on his face told April that the situation was far grimmer than she had suspected. "The smelling salts will do no good. My son..." The rat paused to take a breath, steadying his thoughts. "My son's condition has greatly worsened, just in these past few minutes..." He lowered his head, looking towards Donatello with more grief than April thought it possible for anyone to express. "It is likely... he will not survive..."
==To Be Continued==