Summary: The Final Battle with Shredder is approaching…can the Turtles stop him once and for all? And will they be able to keep the group together through the pain?
Disclaimer: I want them all yet I own none…all credit and all hail to the creators of TMNT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
A/N: - Hello! Enjoy this story! Please READ AND REVIEW! If you do then I will update as soon as I can! Thank you so much…if you've read this far then I like you already! See you at the next chapter….xxxxxxxx…………
"Mikey! What are you doing?" Raphael yelled at his brother.
"Trying to fix the T.V…Donnatello won't do it. He's too busy to even think about helping me." Michelangelo replied.
"Ok, and what's Donnie doing?"
"Talking to Leo and Master Splinter."
"And we're not to be included…why?"
"Because Master Splinter only wanted to speak to them…it's 'cause they're the clever ones, I bet!"
"Yeah, probably…but something's not right about this…"
"MIKEY! RAPH! COME ON!" Leo rushed past, Katanas already strapped to his back. Donnie wasn't far behind him. Raph and Mikey grabbed their weapons, bewildered, and ran after their brothers.
Little did any of them know, they were about to face the biggest battle of their lives……………
The Turtles arrived at an old warehouse. It was large and unsteady, it's rusting metal doors creaking as the wind blew them open slightly. The whistling of the wind and the spattering of the rain did little to make the Turtles feel braver. They were frightened of what might be waiting for them in such a large place. Stepping cautiously inside, they moved forward…but suddenly, the door slammed shut behind them and about fifty dark shadows began to close in around them.
"GOT YOU!" a voice echoed round the building, "At last, I have all four of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles…it has been too long!" Shredder revealed himself, "I have hired a company of ninjas to fight you for me. It's a bit of extra training for them, and I'm sure it will be interesting to finally see your skills matched! NINJAS, ATTACK THEM! KILL THEM ALL!" and Shredder fled, leaving the Turtles alone to face his ninja army.
The fight began and all the brothers were split from one another as they tried to fend off the ninjas. There were many different canisters of oil lying around, as well as old staircases made from a now rusting metal; shelves piled high with glass bottles and jars; tanks filled with fuels and other toxic substances and many more health hazards.
Michelangelo was in a heated battle with one ninja who didn't want to die! The ninja repeatedly aimed for Michelangelo's head with a long Bo staff. Mikey continued to duck as two more ninjas joined the fray. Leo, seeing about twenty more ninjas heading for his unfortunate brother, called over and about fifteen of the ninjas went chasing after him. Mikey gazed up at his brother and gave him a nod of gratitude.
Meanwhile, Donnatello was fighting off thirteen ninjas and more were appearing every second. He received a nasty blow to the head and went down, ninjas kicking at him and hitting him with their Bo sticks…his own was out of reach as it had been knocked out of his hand. He knew the death blow would be coming any time soon. He tried to curl into a more protective position but couldn't find the strength. Suddenly, an angry yell pierced the air and Raphael stormed into the centre of the cluster of ninjas that were in the process of beating up his brother.
"NOOOOOOO!" Raph screeched as he threw off each ninja in turn; there was no stopping Raphael when he was this angry...
Two staircases up, Leonardo was trying to prevent himself from being pushed over the edge and into all the canisters of oil a long way below, on the same level as the others. Leo struck another fatal blow with his left Katana before being caught off guard with a sharp whack across the back off the head. He shook himself out of his daze but found he was completely surrounded on all sides.
Below him, Michelangelo noticed what was going on and began fighting his way towards the stairs. He had to reach Leo before the ninjas beat him. He began climbing the stairs, engaging in a short battle with every ninja that tried to stop him and throwing them off. But, as he reached the top and started making his way towards his struggling brother, Leonardo was beaten to the floor by a flurry of blades and staffs. Leo wasn't to be beaten that easily, though. The Turtle swung his Katanas round and slashed at the ninjas attacking him…but was knocked off balance by a ninja springing at him. Hanging over the edge, Leonardo was barely able to strap his Katanas onto his back but he had to so he could get a firmer grip and pull himself to safety. The ninja, however, had other ideas; He raised his staff and brought it down on Leo's head. Things began to spin as Michelangelo distracted the ninja's attention, giving Leo a chance to pull himself back up…but he couldn't. His head ached and everything was out of focus. His hands slipped and he fell into the massive piles of canisters below him. They toppled and fell, burying Leo and causing a deafening noise.
The remaining ninjas fled and Shredder was nowhere to be seen. Donnatello had regained consciousness and took on the job of finding Leonardo. The others joined the search and they found a battered, unconscious and barely alive Leo trapped underneath a huge canister. Desperate to free him, they panicked and did not realise that a fire had been started and that if they remained at the canisters much longer then they would be blown up by an enormous raging fireball. They finally freed Leonardo and Raphael supported him as they tried to find a way out. The flames were dancing in front of them at the main exit so they headed towards the back of the warehouse. Leo could barely walk and was having trouble breathing as they tried to get out of the burning warehouse. They had about a minute before the place would be blown up by the ignition of the toxic substances that would have been used to power the Techno-drome. They finally found a window and managed to get out of the warehouse and behind a large lorry split seconds before the building blew up.
"Phew! That was so close!" Mikey laughed in relief, temporarily forgetting Leo.
"Guys?" Raphael interjected, "We need to get back to the lair…and fast…I don't know how much longer Leo will be able to hold out…his time is running out."
As if on cue, Leo's legs completely gave out and he slumped against Raphael, gasping shallowly for air.
"Let's go!" Donnie said, jumping up a little too fast and swaying on the spot. Mikey grabbed him and the four Turtles made their way slowly back to their lair in the sewers.
"My Goodness!" Master Splinter exclaimed upon seeing Mikey and Donnie return, "What happened? Did you defeat Shredder and destroy the Techno-drome fuel?"
"Yes, Master Splinter, we did…but at a price."
"Where are Raphael and Leonardo? Are they alright?"
"Raphael is fine but Leonardo…well…isn't…" Mikey stammered as the other two Turtles stumbled through the door. Raph just about managed to help Leo onto the couch before he collapsed in an armchair, exhausted.
"Leonardo! What on Earth happened to him?" Master Splinter's face was creased in concern for his student.
"He fell…" gasped Raph, "Is he gonna be ok?"
"I'm not sure…he may have suffered internal damage and he has already lost too much blood. I cannot do much for him. I will do what I can but after that he will have to heal himself."
"Raph…?" Leo groaned, wincing as he tried to move.
"What is it?" Raph asked.
"Did…Shredder…?"
"Get away? Yeah, he did, but he's gonna pay for what him and his stupid army have done to you!" Raph clenched his fists in rage. Leo tried to smile but couldn't find the strength. He coughed and choked slightly and then fell into a state representing a coma more than anything else. Master Splinter gestured for the other Turtles to leave. Donnie and Mikey went to find April while Raph decided he needed to talk to Casey and said he would meet them back at the lair in a couple of hours.
"April? You in?" Donnie called, knocking on the door.
"Yeah, come on in, guys." April opened the door for them and they seated themselves on her couch. Donnie put his head in his hands and Mikey went to raid the fridge, which made April a little annoyed as he hadn't even asked if he could go and raid her kitchen. She moved to say something but a little voice inside her head was telling her she shouldn't stop him and that he needed the comfort food. So, she left them to their own devices. She had a shower and came back afterwards to find both of her Mutant friends sat in silence…Mikey was just staring at the food and not eating it while Donnatello just stared at a wall.
"Ok, guys, what's going on? You come here and then just sit in silence…if you want to meditate and stare at food then can't you do it in the lair? I mean, it's not that I don't like your company but, at the moment, you're not exactly being co-operative! Lighten up! Where are Raphael and Leonardo?"
"Raph went to talk to Casey and Leo's back at the lair."
"Oh, so they didn't want to visit me," April joked, but it wasn't funny, "I'm insulted…what am I? Boring to talk to?"
"Nah, Casey is the only one who will let Raph fight him today and it's better if Raph let's all his anger out…if he was here it would just be building up."
"But you have a training place, and a fridge, at the lair!"
"We got thrown out by Master Splinter."
"Then why's Leo still there? Unless he's being a suck-up or sitting outside the lair in protest, I can't see why he'd stay."
Donnie got up and muttered something about needing fresh air and left Mikey to tell April…not a job Mikey relished very much!
"Mikey? What's happened?"
"We were at an old warehouse to stop Shredder from getting his hands on the toxic substance that could be used as a fuel for the Techno-drome."
"And?" April urged him on.
"We were ambushed by Shredder and a load of ninjas…they were everywhere; Up the stairs, behind tanks…there was no getting out. Leo was on a platform with a load of them and they were closing in. I tried to get there but I wasn't fast enough. I guess it's my fault, what happened."
"And what did happen?"
"They forced him over the edge and he fell…into loads of oil canisters which buried him. The ninjas fled and started a fire on their way out. We found Leo trapped under a massive canister. We freed him and got out the back entrance and hid behind a lorry until the warehouse had blown up…then we returned to the lair."
"Oh my God! Is he gonna be ok?"
"We don't know; Master Splinter is with him now."
Raphael was sat in Casey's lounge. He had beaten the punch-bag and was waiting for Casey to arrive home.
"Raphael! To what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
"Haha, Casey, I'm splitting my sides."
"That's not the only thing you've split!" Casey glanced at the punch-bag mournfully and sat next to his friend. When Raphael had explained everything Casey grabbed him and they started towards April's house to join the other Turtles.
Master Splinter was taking a short break from his Turtle-sitting and was in the kitchen getting a drink. He suddenly felt a strange sensation in the pit of his stomach…something was wrong...
"Leonardo!" he gasped rushing to his injured student's side. Leo's breathing was slowing and he was struggling more and more with every breath he took. Splinter had to do something…and fast! He sat down and began reaching for his student's mind. He found it but Leo was slipping away. Somewhere in the distance, a door opened. The others were back.
Donnie quickly understood what was happening and held his brothers and their human friends back, keeping them silent. After about half an hour, Splinter gave a long sigh and collapsed on the spot. Raphael picked up his Master and put him in a chair. Donnie and Mikey edged cautiously towards their comatose brother, fearing the worst. To their relief, Leonardo was breathing, albeit shallowly, but he still looked as if he was fighting a battle against the pain which was threatening his life. Donnie turned back to April and Casey, who were frozen in horror a little way off. Casey's eyes were burning with the same anger Raphael had held earlier. April's eyes, however, were glistening with tears. She had nearly cried when Donnie and Mikey had turned up at her apartment with Donnie completely covered in cuts and bruises, but now she was too shocked to do, or say, anything. Raphael put a hand on Casey's shoulder and then moved to join his two other despairing brothers, who were sat by the bed. Sure, Leo was a bit too bossy sometimes and he was clever, funny, strong (emotionally and physically), foolish in moderation, obsessive, interesting and talented which annoyed the others seeing as Leo was a total suck-up to their teacher; but he was their brother and they loved him too much to let him go…they would make him recover…but they weren't sure how!!!!
"I'm sorry, Raphael," Casey sighed later that night when he awoke to the sound of his friend's cursing (he tripped over an old pizza box and was insulting Michelangelo with every curse there was!!!!), "I know it must be really hard for you at the moment, what with Leonardo and everything, but I want you to admit you need help and accept mine. I know you're proud and you have honour but you've even been refusing the help of your brothers…and you might want to pay a little more attention to Donnatello…"
"What do you mean by that?" Raph spun round.
"He's not sleeping well at nights; I've heard him. His bruises are not healing as well as they should due to lack of sleep and malnutrition…he's suffering more than you know."
"What?"
"He needs your help, Raph. Mikey's trying his best and so are April and Master Splinter but you need to help as well." Casey turned to go back to his room but had a small afterthought, "and don't think I haven't noticed..."
"Noticed what?"
"Just get some sleep Raph…we all know you need it!" Casey left, smiling. If that didn't get to him then he didn't know what would!
"Morning, everyone," April yawned.
"Morning," came the chorus of replies.
"Where's Master Splinter?"
"Meditating," Donnatello shrugged absent-mindedly. His hands were shaking as he attempted to pour tea for everyone. With a quick glance at Casey, Raphael got up and went to his aid. Donnie looked surprised but thankful, nevertheless.
"Donnie, go get some sleep!" Raph pushed his brother in the direction of the bedrooms, "then you're going to have a proper meal…not pizza…and some water and then you're going to sleep again, or at least relax in front of the T.V. or something instead of doing so much work."
"But -----"
"No buts," Raph shut Donnie in his room and went back to the table, "what?" he asked the amused onlookers.
"I can see it now, man," Mikey grinned, "Raphael, the caring mother hen…never thought I'd be able to put those words in a sentence together without a negative!"
"Aw, shuttit, Mikey!" Raphael threw a pizza slice at Mikey, who ducked and came up laughing. Donnie had stayed in his room which meant, for once, he had decided that there was no point in pushing it further…and he was exhausted…
"MIKEY! COME HERE, RIGHT NOW!" Donnie and Raph screeched later that afternoon. They were staring, wide-eyed, at the television screen when Michelangelo came running into the room, flanked by Casey, Master Splinter and April.
"What is it, my turtles?" Master Splinter inquired.
"The warehouse…it's on T.V.!"
"Oh, yeah, sorry," April stammered slowly, "I did a report on the fire for Channel 6!"
"WHAT?!" yelled Donnie, Raph and Mikey, glaring at her.
"I thought it would be a good story! And, anyway, what's wrong? I didn't mention you or the real cause of the fire, so why are you upset?"
"April, it's a sensitive subject! We all nearly died there and you're joking about it in the report as if it was all just another fire. You said 'no-body got hurt' and that 'with the scum we've got in this city, then who would care anyway?' You even said you, personally, wouldn't care! I can't believe you!"
"Look, Raph, I'm sorry, ok? I thought you wouldn't mind and I wouldn't care if any of the druggies that usually hang round dumps like that got killed or injured! But I never said anything about you!"
"But you must've realised it would hurt to see it on T.V. with Leo on the edge of death in the very same room!"
"I didn't think you'd be watching!"
"Oh, so now it's a behind our backs thing, is it? You thought you might stop us watching when it was on, did you?"
"No…Look, I promise that next time --------"
"THERE WON'T BE A 'NEXT TIME', APRIL! LEO MIGHT NOT EVEN MAKE IT THROUGH 'THIS TIME!' WHY CAN'T YOU RESPECT OUR FEELINGS? IS IT BECAUSE WE'RE MUTANTS?"
"NO!" April screamed at Raph and then turned on her heels and flounced out.
"Way to go, Raph," Mikey muttered sarcastically but his enraged brother had already pushed past him and into their training room, where he attacked the punch-bag so viciously that it would've have been sent flying by the blows had it not been securely attached to the ceiling.
That night, Donnie couldn't sleep. He kept remembering the scene at the warehouse. He saw the ninjas; he saw Leo fall. He remembered digging through the canisters except, this time, when he found Leo he wasn't breathing. Donnatello cried out into the emptiness of the night. If things were normal, Leonardo would've been sleeping in the bunk below him, but now, when Donnie looked as he climbed down the ladder, it was empty.
He made his way out into the living area and over to Leonardo, who looked no better, and sat down on the bed. Taking one of Leo's cold hands into his own, Donnie tried to fight back the tears that wanted to be released. When he could hold them back no longer, they overflowed, blurring his vision. Donnie didn't even see Raphael come in. He only noticed the presence of his brother in red when a comforting hand was laid on his shoulder. Looking round, Donnie managed a shaky smile which was, equally shakily, returned. Suddenly, and most unexpectedly, they heard a small rustle and a moan behind them. Donnie grabbed Leo's hand again and span round while Raph nearly fell off the bed in surprise. Donnatello sent Raphael to fetch Michelangelo, Casey and Master Splinter.
"Leo, can you hear me?" Donnie whispered.
No answer but Donnie felt his hand squeezed tightly. Master Splinter was in the room now and was reaching out for his injured student's mind once more.
Leonardo, come back to us.
Why? It will only hurt more than it does now.
Because your brothers need you; you have had us in a mad frenzy since they brought you back from the warehouse.
I can't…it hurts when I try…
Stop being so foolish and just come back…we can help ease your physical pain but the emotional pain you are putting yourself and the others through at the moment is not necessary.
"Master Splinter?" Leo's voice was hoarse as he opened his eyes, blearily.
"Welcome back, Leonardo," his Master said, smiling softly at his student.
"Leo! You're ok!" Donnie sighed in relief, relaxing his stance.
"Ok isn't exactly the word I'd use……" Mikey said, looking at the tired and pain-filled eyes of his brother in blue.
"Awake, then," Donnie corrected almost irritably, "But we thought you were gonna die!" Donnie said to his brother, sitting beside him, tears threatening to come again.
"Well, I didn't, did I?" Leo winced and smiled at the same time, recognising the danger signs of a Donnatello despair disaster. Mikey let out the breath he had been holding, thanking Leonardo silently for sparing them from another blubbering session; Donnie always had been the over-emotional one when it came to things like this…or maybe Mikey just had more faith in their Master's healing abilities…
"It was an unfair bet!" Raph argued at Casey, who was holding his hand out expectantly.
"No, it wasn't. Now, you owe me ten bucks, Raphael!" Casey noticed the others all watching, "What? I bet ten bucks that Leonardo would live and I was right, wasn't I?"
"Yeah," Raph moaned, "but I was in a really bad mental state of desperation, so it wasn't fair! You didn't even see how bad it was at the warehouse!" Raph reluctantly handed over the ten bucks he owed Casey and saw Leo's eyes filled with agony from the memories. Realising what he'd just said, Raph clamped a hand over his mouth, "Sorry, Leo, I didn't mean to --------"
"It's ok," Leo smiled, tiredly, "Do you think I could get some sleep now?"
"Aw, I wanted to watch T.V.!" Mikey protested.
"Ok, well, I'll go back to my room." He made as if to stand up and Donnie rushed in for support. There was no way Leonardo would be able to walk on his own after days of not doing it and being covered in injuries. Leo clung to Donnie as if his life depended on it and the made their way slowly to their room and, once in bed, Leo was asleep in seconds. Donnie smiled at his sleeping brother, who had turned onto his front with his head towards the wall. It made him feel better to know his brother was conscious again and not in a coma anymore; but for Leonardo the pain was about to get much, much worse……