{/It's time for SUDDEN DEATH OVERTIME! XD
Okay, so not really. Here you have the awaited epilogue to Eyes Wide Shut. Once again, I'd like to thank everyone who's reviewed. It makes me feel like a very happy girl and lets me keep writing without any problems... because I know people are waiting to see what's next! ;3
I'll probably do a follow-up story or two to this, depending on the reaction this final part of the story...
Thanks so much for reading! You're all totally awesome!/}
{={Eyes Wide Shut}=}
==Epilogue - In the End==
Nearly a month had passed since Leonardo's incident with Baxter Stockman, and nothing seemed to really have changed. He spent his days moping about the lair, training his body to keep his mind off what he had done.
Raphael and Michelangelo had both made full recoveries and settled into their own ways of coping with the stress... Raphael by going topside to take out thugs with the recovered Casey Jones, and Michelangelo by enveloping himself in doodling or playing video games.
Donatello still held everyone's concern, despite his full awareness. He had woken up a week after his injury, but healing was a slow process... especially for him. His legs were still extremely weak, and when he tried to stand, he still suffered from sudden pangs of pain. He often seemed extremely distraught by his predicament, but Splinter calmly reminded him to be patient... his patience would eventually be rewarded.
So many nights Leonardo had spent wandering through the lair thinking of Donatello and his dilemma. So many nights he had wasted on training when he could have been doing something about it. Tonight just happened to be one of those nights.
He was not sure what drew him to do so, but Leonardo paused as if by instinct next to Donatello's room, peering inside. He was surprised to find his younger brother half-laying on the floor. The oldest brother blinked, then rushed to his sibling's side. "Donny...?! What are you doing? Sensei told you to stay in bed until you were fully recovered, didn't he?"
"I'm sick of this, Leo!" the purple-clad brother shouted, clenching his fists. The outburst was uncharacteristic, but Leonardo fully understood his brother's distress. "I can't do anything on my own! I can't walk, I can't even STAND...!"
Frowning, Leonardo slipped around behind his brother, hooking his arms under Donatello's to help him back into bed. "You have to rest, Don... you can't recover if you don't rest. Master Splinter always tells us that healing takes time."
The younger of the pair growled, trying to squirm away, but he lacked the strength to really fight back. "I don't want to wait, Leonardo. I'm sick of waiting. It's been a month or more!" He jerked his arms away once he was back in bed. "I hate having to make all of you wait on me... I want my life back!"
A pang of guilt shot through Leonardo's mind. It was, in a way, his fault that Donatello was in his current state. "Please, Don... just rest, okay? We only want the best for you... we don't like this any more than you do."
Donatello blinked, then looked away, knowing Leonardo's tone all too well. "I'm sorry, Leo... I just... I hate being laid up like this. C'mon... don't blame yourself..."
"Are you hungry? I'll bring you something if you are." Leonardo was changing the subject. "Or thirsty?" He turned towards the door, ignoring his brother's distressed expression. "Just say the word, bro."
"I want you to stop blaming yourself," Donatello replied softly. "I'm FINE."
Leonardo's fists clenched, and for a moment, he said nothing. "Call if you need me, Don."
He left the room before Donatello could have a chance to retort, retreating to the corner where he would often sit and meditate. The chance to lose himself in nothingness was lost, however, when a warm, furry hand closed on his shoulder. Leonardo tensed almost instinctively, which brought a near automatic frown to Splinter's face. "My son... what troubles you?"
The leader just shook his head. "Nothing that should trouble you, Sensei. This is my fight... my inner struggle."
"It is Raphael who is notorious for keeping his anger inside, Leonardo. Self-hate is the worst foe... even your brother stands in a safer battlefield than yourself." The old rat motioned for Leonardo to sit, then followed suit, resting on his knees. "Donatello does not hate you for what happened."
Leonardo flinched, looking away. "I can't help but feeling at fault."
To this, Splinter nodded. "Perhaps that is true... and that is a battle you must win on your own. But as I have told Raphael many times, do not forget your brothers, and do not forget me. We will always be here, my student... my son." He reached forward to place a gnarled hand on top of Leonard's head as the boy's shoulders shook. "I... will always be here. If not in body, then in spirit. And none of us, neither your brothers nor I, will ever forsake you." He paused as he watched his son's reaction. Leonardo had partly bowed forward, his eyes downcast as he fought to hide from his master the fear and sorrow that had come to his expression. "The world may cast you out. Your brothers may grow angry, and I may grow impatient. Hate threatens to overcome all things. But always know that we are a family, Leonardo."
After a moment, Leonardo nodded dumbly, his voice barely a whisper as he stated, "Of course, Sensei..."
Splinter withdrew his hand, but he did not leave his son's side. If there was one thing he had learned in all of his years serving as the surrogate father to these wayward boys, it was that his job was truly never done... may it be teaching them the way of the ninja or being there when they felt their world shattered.
A few minutes of silence passed before Leonardo stood, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand. "I'm going to check on Donny, Sensei." He bowed respectfully. "...thank you."
"There is nothing to thank me for, my son. I am only doing my duty as a father and a teacher." Splinter smiled, a bit of the humor he held showing through. "But I swear you kids will be the end of my mind someday."
Leonardo allowed a smile to cut across his features and he laughed softly. "Sorry, Sensei."
The old rat just smiled, flicking his fingers to shoo Leonardo on his way. The teen gave another respectful bow and made his way back to Donatello's room. Splinter sighed and shook his head, turning to the door as Raphael made his way back into their lair. He was almost immediately greeted by a jibe from Michelangelo, which ended with the baby brother pinned. The two were fighting again, and at this, Splinter rolled his eyes.
On his way to break up the brawl, he stole a glance as he passed Donatello's room. Leonardo was sitting on the side of Donatello's bed, and the two were talking in silence. Donatello shook his head, said something, and reached up to land a playful punch on Leonardo's shoulder. Leonardo looked as if he might have even laughed a little.
The only concern that remained in his mind was whether or not Donatello would ever regain full use of his legs, but he wished not to trouble his sons with that knowledge just yet. They seemed to be recovering emotionally, and right now, that was all that mattered.
A smile once again broke the old rat's solemn features, and he moved on from the room to give both Raphael and Michelangelo a firm berating.
Perhaps life would never be exactly as it was, but at least they could get through it together.
==End==
Okay, so not really. Here you have the awaited epilogue to Eyes Wide Shut. Once again, I'd like to thank everyone who's reviewed. It makes me feel like a very happy girl and lets me keep writing without any problems... because I know people are waiting to see what's next! ;3
I'll probably do a follow-up story or two to this, depending on the reaction this final part of the story...
Thanks so much for reading! You're all totally awesome!/}
{={Eyes Wide Shut}=}
==Epilogue - In the End==
Nearly a month had passed since Leonardo's incident with Baxter Stockman, and nothing seemed to really have changed. He spent his days moping about the lair, training his body to keep his mind off what he had done.
Raphael and Michelangelo had both made full recoveries and settled into their own ways of coping with the stress... Raphael by going topside to take out thugs with the recovered Casey Jones, and Michelangelo by enveloping himself in doodling or playing video games.
Donatello still held everyone's concern, despite his full awareness. He had woken up a week after his injury, but healing was a slow process... especially for him. His legs were still extremely weak, and when he tried to stand, he still suffered from sudden pangs of pain. He often seemed extremely distraught by his predicament, but Splinter calmly reminded him to be patient... his patience would eventually be rewarded.
So many nights Leonardo had spent wandering through the lair thinking of Donatello and his dilemma. So many nights he had wasted on training when he could have been doing something about it. Tonight just happened to be one of those nights.
He was not sure what drew him to do so, but Leonardo paused as if by instinct next to Donatello's room, peering inside. He was surprised to find his younger brother half-laying on the floor. The oldest brother blinked, then rushed to his sibling's side. "Donny...?! What are you doing? Sensei told you to stay in bed until you were fully recovered, didn't he?"
"I'm sick of this, Leo!" the purple-clad brother shouted, clenching his fists. The outburst was uncharacteristic, but Leonardo fully understood his brother's distress. "I can't do anything on my own! I can't walk, I can't even STAND...!"
Frowning, Leonardo slipped around behind his brother, hooking his arms under Donatello's to help him back into bed. "You have to rest, Don... you can't recover if you don't rest. Master Splinter always tells us that healing takes time."
The younger of the pair growled, trying to squirm away, but he lacked the strength to really fight back. "I don't want to wait, Leonardo. I'm sick of waiting. It's been a month or more!" He jerked his arms away once he was back in bed. "I hate having to make all of you wait on me... I want my life back!"
A pang of guilt shot through Leonardo's mind. It was, in a way, his fault that Donatello was in his current state. "Please, Don... just rest, okay? We only want the best for you... we don't like this any more than you do."
Donatello blinked, then looked away, knowing Leonardo's tone all too well. "I'm sorry, Leo... I just... I hate being laid up like this. C'mon... don't blame yourself..."
"Are you hungry? I'll bring you something if you are." Leonardo was changing the subject. "Or thirsty?" He turned towards the door, ignoring his brother's distressed expression. "Just say the word, bro."
"I want you to stop blaming yourself," Donatello replied softly. "I'm FINE."
Leonardo's fists clenched, and for a moment, he said nothing. "Call if you need me, Don."
He left the room before Donatello could have a chance to retort, retreating to the corner where he would often sit and meditate. The chance to lose himself in nothingness was lost, however, when a warm, furry hand closed on his shoulder. Leonardo tensed almost instinctively, which brought a near automatic frown to Splinter's face. "My son... what troubles you?"
The leader just shook his head. "Nothing that should trouble you, Sensei. This is my fight... my inner struggle."
"It is Raphael who is notorious for keeping his anger inside, Leonardo. Self-hate is the worst foe... even your brother stands in a safer battlefield than yourself." The old rat motioned for Leonardo to sit, then followed suit, resting on his knees. "Donatello does not hate you for what happened."
Leonardo flinched, looking away. "I can't help but feeling at fault."
To this, Splinter nodded. "Perhaps that is true... and that is a battle you must win on your own. But as I have told Raphael many times, do not forget your brothers, and do not forget me. We will always be here, my student... my son." He reached forward to place a gnarled hand on top of Leonard's head as the boy's shoulders shook. "I... will always be here. If not in body, then in spirit. And none of us, neither your brothers nor I, will ever forsake you." He paused as he watched his son's reaction. Leonardo had partly bowed forward, his eyes downcast as he fought to hide from his master the fear and sorrow that had come to his expression. "The world may cast you out. Your brothers may grow angry, and I may grow impatient. Hate threatens to overcome all things. But always know that we are a family, Leonardo."
After a moment, Leonardo nodded dumbly, his voice barely a whisper as he stated, "Of course, Sensei..."
Splinter withdrew his hand, but he did not leave his son's side. If there was one thing he had learned in all of his years serving as the surrogate father to these wayward boys, it was that his job was truly never done... may it be teaching them the way of the ninja or being there when they felt their world shattered.
A few minutes of silence passed before Leonardo stood, rubbing at his eyes with the back of his hand. "I'm going to check on Donny, Sensei." He bowed respectfully. "...thank you."
"There is nothing to thank me for, my son. I am only doing my duty as a father and a teacher." Splinter smiled, a bit of the humor he held showing through. "But I swear you kids will be the end of my mind someday."
Leonardo allowed a smile to cut across his features and he laughed softly. "Sorry, Sensei."
The old rat just smiled, flicking his fingers to shoo Leonardo on his way. The teen gave another respectful bow and made his way back to Donatello's room. Splinter sighed and shook his head, turning to the door as Raphael made his way back into their lair. He was almost immediately greeted by a jibe from Michelangelo, which ended with the baby brother pinned. The two were fighting again, and at this, Splinter rolled his eyes.
On his way to break up the brawl, he stole a glance as he passed Donatello's room. Leonardo was sitting on the side of Donatello's bed, and the two were talking in silence. Donatello shook his head, said something, and reached up to land a playful punch on Leonardo's shoulder. Leonardo looked as if he might have even laughed a little.
The only concern that remained in his mind was whether or not Donatello would ever regain full use of his legs, but he wished not to trouble his sons with that knowledge just yet. They seemed to be recovering emotionally, and right now, that was all that mattered.
A smile once again broke the old rat's solemn features, and he moved on from the room to give both Raphael and Michelangelo a firm berating.
Perhaps life would never be exactly as it was, but at least they could get through it together.
==End==