Disclaimer: I own the characters Diana, Sarah, Joseph and Leeroy. Bonesteel, Venus and Silver belong to Saban while the other turtles belong to Mirage studios… I think… Raphael, I guess, belongs to me as well!
Chapter 12: Silver vs. Bonesteel.
Two weeks later. London, England. Hospital room 176.
Bonesteel groggily stared at the food tray on his lap, trying to focus his mind before attempting the fateful task. He had tried most of the food that lay before him and knew that they were rather disgusting, all except for one; the orange juice cup. Bonesteel attempted to reach for it with his right arm, but once again he forgot about the IV drip, painfully yanking it about on his forearm. He snarled and waited for the pain to subside. Bonesteel began to glare at the juice cup.
Moving his unaffected left arm forwards, he tried to carefully pry open the slick aluminum foil lid, yet it wouldn't budge. Snarling once again, he picked it up and brought it to his right hand, thinking that he needed two hands for the task. Yet his fingers were weak, leaving the juice cup unopened. Still snarling, he brought the cup to his mouth and tried to puncture the lid with his teeth. It didn't work. 'Do they super glue these things?' Bonesteel thought while emitting a growl. With his left arm he slammed the unharmed juice cup back onto the food tray, giving up for the time being.
Feeling the familiar uncomfortable swelling in his bladder, the hunter pressed a button hidden amongst his bed sheets in order to call the nurse to help him go to the toilet. He hated this place. While waiting for assistance, he rested his chin against his chest to observe the large scar diagonally across his torso. He didn't really mind it, he thought of it as another battle trophy.
Bonesteel smiled with relief when a nurse appeared at his door, but he soon found out that she wasn't there to help. She smiled to the visitor behind her before leaving to do other things. The waiting man entered the room. "How you going Simon?" Leeroy asked, sitting at the end of his bed.
"Better," Bonesteel mumbled in reply. "I'll be better when I catch those turtles," he added. Leeroy sighed, remembering their last encounter with the overgrown reptiles.
It had been a mad panic for the ambulance officers when they finally arrived at the warehouse after Leeroy had phoned them about the incident. On the brink of death, Bonesteel was sped to the hospital emergency room where he was operated on for hours at a time. Leonardo's strike had moderately damaged some of the hunter's internal organs, yet the biggest worry was the amount of blood lost; Leeroy had to donate some of his blood in order for Bonesteel to live on. But it didn't finish there. After having several operations, Bonesteel's massive wound contracted a secondary infection, prolonging his stay in the hospital, no matter how much he argued that he was fine.
Leeroy gave Bonesteel a friendly smile; a façade of his true feelings. "You know… I was thinking. Maybe you should take a break from hunting them," Leeroy suggested. Bonesteel gave him a dark look. Leeroy returned the gaze with a stern stare, regrettably knowing how stubborn Simon was. "Look. As much as I hate to say this, you're seriously injured. You're already going to spend both Christmas and New Years in here. Don't you have any family to spend time with?" Leeroy asked. Bonesteel shook his head. "Girlfriend?" he asked, only to get the same response.
"Hunting is my life," Bonesteel said with seriousness.
"I understand that just… a lot of people are chasing after the turtles. They'll get caught, don't worry. I'm thinking that maybe you should move on from them. There are other animals to hunt," Leeroy explained. He knew that the turtles were worth a lot of money, but he also knew that the chances of catching them first now were slim to none. Bonesteel only grunted in response. "Just think it over," Leeroy finished.
The two men stared at each other for a while without saying a word. Bonesteel's eyes rested on the unopened juice cup still in front of him. "Can you open that?" he asked grudgingly, pointing to it with his left hand. With a nod, Leeroy picked it up and attempted to open it. After failing the first time, he tried again with the different approach of using his other hand. Suddenly the lid popped open spilling orange juice all over the bed and floor. Leeory gave the disgruntled Bonesteel a sheepish smile.
*****
A few days later. Sydney, Australia. New Years Eve.
Donatello pulled his fedora further down as he shuffled through the enormous crowds at Circular Quay. A five minute walk away to his left was the Sydney Opera House, while ten minutes to the right was the Harbour Bridge; naturally the area was packed with people eager to watch the midnight fireworks.
Don smiled to himself as he remembered the New Years Eves he spent with his family back in New York. They would all travel for hours to find the perfect spot in Times Square to see the silver glittering ball drop. Don sighed. It was another year he would celebrate alone.
Donatello slowly made his way to a decent spot to see the fireworks, being careful that nobody saw his face, even though he was certain that people's attention would be occupied elsewhere. He still couldn't believe the amount of excitement and anticipation that was in the air. Sydney, compared to New York was a very quiet city, yet it was nights like these when everyone gathered together and made the town come alive with commotion. Even though it was rather dangerous being out in the public eye, Donatello appreciated the company of many sightseers that greatly contrasted his lonely lifestyle.
A loud chant began as the countdown to the New Year started. Donatello stared up at the sky as multicoloured fireworks were shot off into the air from the Harbour Bridge. Everyone in the audience fell silent as they watched the sparkling light show; the only noise being a radio where the station played the music that was supposedly coordinated with the fireworks.
After a lengthy display of pyrotechnics, a waterfall of golden sparks fell underneath the bridge; an effect that happened every year and was now considered to be a New Year's tradition. One last massive single firework finished the show and shortly after the whole crowd moved off to the nearest available train station.
Donatello sighed once again, wishing that his family had been with him to see the show. He had heard about Bonesteel's hospitalisation and knew that his family must have run into trouble somewhere along the line. Don wanted to help them, but he didn't know how, nor did he want to get into trouble himself. What really confused him though, was Bonesteel's report that there were five turtles. Five? Were they including him? Or did Venus have another child, and if so, who was the father? Donatello shook his head, knowing that he wouldn't receive an answer.
He had decided long ago that it was Leo's responsibility to find him, not the other way around. Don didn't know where he came up with that reasoning, but it was most because he was scared; too afraid to leave the safety of his humble abode. He had set up a life for himself, developed a routine, and he had established a stable lair. As much as he hated to admit it, he knew that his family's days were numbered. Don had reached the stage where he wished to see them, yet all the same, he could keep on living without, as lonely as that was.
Noticing that the crowds had thinned drastically, Donatello gave the moonlit harbour one more glance before slowly heading home. "Happy New Year" Donatello greeted himself.
*****
A few hours later. New Years Eve. London, England.
"Can't we see the fireworks?" Raphael whined for the umpteenth time.
"No Raph," Leo answered shortly. The boy turned to his mother, seeing if she would give another answer.
"Mummy, can we?" Raphael asked again. Venus sadly shook her head before giving him a hug and a kiss on the head for comfort.
After Bonesteel was attacked, the turtles were classified as highly dangerous animals. The public was in an uproar at the authority's irresponsibility in keeping the community safe; no one felt comfortable knowing that harmful mutant turtles took residence under the city. In response to the angry citizens, many scientists flocked to London to help in the capture of the reptilian beasts, hoping to get a hand in the enormous reward.
Leonardo and Mikey frowned as Raphael sulked beside his mother. They too wished they could see the large golden fireworks that beautifully illuminated the Thames, considering that they did nothing special for Christmas that year. But they all knew that it was way too dangerous with thousands of humans being out on the streets. Even though it was a public holiday, Leo was certain that people would be still searching the sewers for them, so they had to stay quiet in their tight concrete hiding spot.
Some movement caught Leo's eye. Venus placed his restless daughter on the ground and they all watched with admiration as the baby began to crawl forward for the first time. A large smile appeared on Diana's delightful face as she clumsily plodded over into her father's arms. Leo picked her up and gave her a grin of praise, yet there was still regret behind his excited expression. He feared their future as he knew their time of freedom was slowly coming to an end.
With Diana still being an uncontrollable baby, taking her with them on a plane, ferry or carrier ship was a highly risky solution to their problem, as they would be found while in transit. Stuck in the sewers hiding like criminals was not the way Leo wanted to raise his child, yet unfortunately they had no control over their future. Instead they hoped for the unrealistic, that after a while things would die down and they could live in peace. But Leo knew that it would be a long time to come.
*****
A few days later. London, England.
Bonesteel smiled to himself as he signed the last of his hospital papers. After weeks of being bedridden and going through rehabilitation, Simon Bonesteel was finally allowed to leave. With a bottle of proscribed medication in his hand, he walked out the door and breathed in the fresh air.
He sighed, not really knowing what to do. Bonesteel knew what Leeroy had meant in taking a break from hunting the turtles. The city authorities seemed to have them on the run, so it was rather pointless to join the chase, as there was a high chance that they'd be caught by someone else, therefore being a poor investment and a waste of time. Although it was extremely rare for him to give up on a hunt, Bonesteel always had another project as a backup.
Ten minutes after Bonesteel had been released from hospital, he made a phone call to organise a flight to New York.
*****
A few weeks later. New York City.
Silver scrambled up the stairs of one of his many lairs located in New York City. He hurriedly looked behind to see if the hunter was coming. The silvery furred ape stood silent as he tried to listen to his surroundings. Nothing was heard, yet Silver knew that Bonesteel was near; watching and waiting for his perfect moment to strike. Although Silver always thought his goons were incompetent, it was times like these where he really missed them.
Silver was still bitter about his defeat with the turtles. He remembered the days where he could take anything he wanted, when he wanted it, particularly rare items, mainly because he felt he deserved them due to his pain and endurance of truly being the last of his kind. However the turtles changed his luxurious lifestyle by making sure that the police arrested every single one of his low IQ goons. How he missed them now.
After the turtles were caught and taken to the zoo years ago, Bonesteel, being bored, quickly made Silver his new hunting target. For months he was chased, but unlike the unfortunate sewer dwelling reptiles, Silver had numerous lairs to fall back on. Although the intelligent ape hated the turtles, he rejoiced when they escaped the zoo as Bonesteel quickly went back to his old hunting target, leaving him alone in peace for years to come. Yet now it seemed Bonesteel had changed targets again, most likely because he wanted a break from the overly hunted green mutants.
Silver flinched when he heard a small noise downstairs. Not wanting to take his chances with the crazed hunter, Silver headed into an upstairs room as quietly as he could. Standing still once more, Silver swore he heard one of the floorboards creak. The ape frantically looked around for a hiding place, knowing that the hunter was coming up the stairs to get him. Out of desperation, Silver crawled into a nearby wardrobe, trying to close the doors as best he could. There he waited.
His heart tightened when a definite footstep was heard. Another bout of silence occurred soon after. A heavy tension filled the room. The ape tried his best to peer through the small crack left in-between the wardrobe doors, but nothing could be seen. A sudden rush of anger flooded his brain, hating the feeling of fear. Silver's fists curled up, patiently waiting for his chance to turn the tables on the hunter.
Suddenly the doors swung open and Silver blindly leaped out hoping to hit the nearby human, but his limbs never made contact with Bonesteel's flesh. A tranquil had embedded itself into Silver's back before he had the chance to make another swing. Vision quickly blurring, Silver looked into the eyes of his attacker and pledged to himself that he would get revenge, knowing the outcome of his future.
As the large silver ape dropped to the floor in unconsciousness, Bonesteel calmly smiled to himself in accomplishment. The human reached into his jacket pocket to receive his cell phone and proudly made a call to the New York zoo.
A/N: Sorry about the lateness in the posting of this chapter. I've started back at school so I don't have as much free time. So unfortunately updates will most likely become once a week… It also doesn't help when fanfiction.net doesn't let me sign in!! Anyway, I'll try to update whenever I can. Oh, and just a warning: next chapter will include another one of my massive time jumps, so be prepared.