DISCLAIMER: do not own the turtles, only the story plot line.
WARNING: maybe a bit out-of-character for the turtles, but once again, this is how I imagine them to be. Also, there may be some blood, torture, angst, etc...but hey, it's my story!
Have fun reading it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Italics: flashback to when the turtles were 5.
Oh, and note: No story of mine is done unless I say so. For example: In Sickness and In Health. That one is still continuing.
Oh, and another warning:
WARNING #2: THIS WILL BE A VERY BLOODY/GORY/SAD CHAPTER. IF ANY OF THAT YOU DON'T LIKE, PLEASE DON'T READ. There. I warned you. Now if you do read it, don't write any flames, 'cause it was your choice to do so. Oh, and I love Leo, he's my favorite character. But I have a horrid habit of putting too much of my soul into the character and then boom! You have a bloody/gory/angsty story. Anyways, I think that's it. Yeah.
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Leo looked out of the window. The sun was setting. Bruck had just taken a break in the story telling.
Leo stood up. "I want to go for a run before evening sets in." he explained, bowing to Splinter. Splinter nodded and wished him good luck.
Fang immediately jumped to her feet and wagging her tail, barked. Leo laughed before stroking the dog's head. "Can she come?" He asked Bruck. Bruck nodded.
Fang wagged her tail even more furiously, before bounding out the door. Leo laughed and followed, making sure to close the door behind him.
Bruck chuckled as Leo went out the door. "Fang's taken to 'im a lot." He remarked to no one in particular.
Casey looked confused. "But why? I mean in the story ya told, no offense, but your dog's tried to tear him apart!"
Bruck threw his head back and laughed. "Yea'." He agreed before laughing again. "That's true, lad. But times change, and after all, no anger lasts forever." He murmured.
Silence followed the last few words before April asked Bruck to continue with the flashback.
Leo ignored the pain and the blood that was now trickling down his right shoulder, leg, and his side where the dog had managed to bite him. But right now, the priority was his brothers.
Leo bit his lip and pushed himself to go faster. Suddenly, he caught a glint in the left side of the truck. Leo jumped away, avoiding the bullet that was shot at him. Leo grimaced. They weren't going to give up. Well, neither was he.
Leo jumped over a small frozen puddle, before landing on the snow. Luckily, cars and trucks had treaded down the snow so that it was hard.
But Leo couldn't help but notice that the snow was falling harder now. He had to get to his brothers before the snow covered the road again.
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Bruck watched as the small turtle neared. Jake had shot at him, but the turtle just jumped away.
Yep. Bruck thought. Definitely reminds me of someone. Someone who never gives up, is determined, unafraid, willing to go through any means of protecting his loved ones, and has an internal fire burning inside him.
Bruck shifted, before eyeing the door in the back of the truck that led to the cargo area. He stood up, carefully balancing himself, and told the others that he needed something from the cargo area.
Jake had shrugged. Jamie growled. "Just be careful with 'em. They're worth millions."
Bruck rolled his eyes and opened the door to the cargo area before stepping inside and quickly closing the door.
Fang, who was lying near the door, raised her head, whined, and then wagged her tail. Bruck nodded to her, and she dropped her head again.
Bruck went to the back of the cargo area, and sat down a bit further away from the cage that kept the turtles.
One of them shifted. "Watdya want?" It asked rudely, glaring at him.
Bruck chuckled. "I wouldn't be so damn rude to your captors. After all, they 'old your life in their 'ands."
The turtle snorted. "And? Is that supposed to scare me?"
That was one of them spoke up. "Raph...I think the human's right..."
The first one, Raph, whirled around and glared at the turtle that spoke. "What's that supposed to mean, Donny? Whose side are you on anyways?"
Donny huffed. "Just the side with common sense."
Raph growled. "Are you saying I'm stupid."
"Nope. That's what you said."
"Why you—"
That was when the smallest one began to cry. "I wanna go home!!!" He whimpered, curling up near the second turtle, Donny.
That was when Bruck spoke up again. "Well, if you hadn't wandered off, then you'd not be in this mess."
Raph growled and rounded to him. "No one asked you human! Now let us outta here!!!"
Bruck chuckled. This one had a fire in him too. But a different fire than the elder one. A more rash and daring fire. The other had a wise and dangerous fire in him. "Can't do that, turtle."
The other turtle behind Raph, growled. "Donny. I would prefer if you use our names."
Bruck raised an eyebrow. "Why should I? By this time tomorrow, ya'll be in an observatory thing. It won't matter whether ya'll 'ave names or not."
The smallest turtle sniffled, but said bravely, "Not if Leo can help it!"
Bruck looked at them. "Leo? That's what ya'll call the other one?"
Donny hissed and hit the smallest turtle over the head. "Nice going, stupid. Now he's onto Leo too!" He hissed, looking angry.
Bruck laughed. "Ah, don't worry about 'im. 'e's following behind right now." Just then, a gunshot sounded, followed by a second and a third shot. Bruck nodded outside. "But I wouldn't bet on 'im freein' ya'll."
Raph grinned. "You don't know Leo. He'll tear you apart before you can take another breath!"
Bruck chuckled. This one reminded him of himself. "I won't take that as a threat. 'Cause if I did," He nodded towards Fang, "I would've set my dog on ya long ago."
Raph scoffed, but stayed quiet.
Bruck chuckled before standing up. "Enjoy your freedom while it lasts."
As he left, he heard Raph muttering, "what freedom?"
Bruck chuckled.
He entered the truck. "Any luck?"
Jake growled as he turned the steering wheel to avoid another frozen puddle. Jamie kept his eyes on the mirrors as he answered. "Damn that thing. It's still followin' us."
Bruck shrugged. "Shake 'im off"
Jake growled. "That's what I'm tryin' to do!!!" Then, he quickly turned the wheel sharply to the right, turning into an old small road.
"Sit tight" He warned as he pumped the gas. "It's gonna be a bumpy ride."
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Leo hissed in anger. The truck had suddenly swerved to the right, down a little road.
Leo growled. He jumped over a log, but landed onto a frozen puddle and slipped.
Leo bit his lip to keep from crying out in pain. I think I twisted my ankle. Leo thought, rubbing his ankle.
But he took a deep breath and calmed himself. My priority is to get my brothers to safety. He thought, before standing up. As soon as he stood, Leo gasped in pain and fell down again. Damn. He cursed silently. But he stood again, and this time put his weight onto his other leg. And he didn't fall.
Leo bit his lip again, this time so much that it began to bleed.
But Leo ignored the pain and forced himself to take a step. Then another and another, faster and faster, until he was running once again.
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Jamie looked out the window. "I think we lost him!!!" He said joyously.
Bruck said nothing, and let nothing show on his face. Actually, he felt kind of sad. He had wanted to see how far the turtle would follow before it realized that the situation was hopeless. But of course, he mustn't forget that the turtle was an animal. And animals were keen on giving up quickly—
That was when Jake interrupted his thoughts. "I don't believe it!!!"
Jamie looked at him. "What?"
"Look outta your window."
Both Jamie and Bruck looked out of the window. There, running after them, was the turtle.
Jamie cursed, while clumsily reloading the gun with his one hand that wasn't broken, but Bruck let himself smile just a little. Maybe this one was like him after all...
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Splinter sighed deeply. Once again, his sons had wandered off. But this time, they did not come back.
Splinter had been searching for five hours now, before he came upon the ruins of a human camp. Sniffing around, he realized that the humans had been gone for about an hour now. But also...Splinter took a sniff again. His sons had been here.
Splinter looked around, before catching a faint glint in the corner of his eye. There. On the ground. There lay Raphael's two Sais that he always carried with him. Not so far from it lay the Bo staff and the Nun chucks. Splinter felt his fur bristle. He knew immediately what this meant. They had been captured.
Splinter gently scooped up the weapons, before tucking them safely into his pocket inside his cloak.
Then he looked around again. So far, he smelled Leonardo, but did not see any evidence pointing to his capture. Splinter felt himself relax. At least one of his sons wasn't with the humans...but then where was he? He felt his fur bristle again as he wandered what could have happened to his eldest.
But then his eyes caught a pair of footprints heading fast after a pair of tire tracks. Splinter almost laughed in relief. His eldest son was following them.
But as he began to run, he paused as his eyes caught a faint red color on the pale white snow. Bending down, he caught the scent of whose blood it was. Leonardo.
This time, Splinter couldn't help but shiver.
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Leo closed his eyes in pain before opening them again. He was getting dizzy. He couldn't help but feel the pain increasing with every step he took. But he must keep going.
Once again, Leo jumped away as another shot was fired at him. But this time, he was too slow and the bullet buried itself into his left shoulder. Leo cried out in pain and collapsed, clutching his shoulder. He felt blood seep through his finger tips.
But Leo staggered to his feet, unwilling to give up. And once again, the chase was on.
Once again, bullets shot past Leo, but Leo made sure to try to avoid them. But now his movements were slower. And once again, a bullet grazed his left shoulder, near the previous wound. Leo cried out again, this time louder, and dropped to the ground.
But this time, he couldn't get up. The pain was to strong. Closing his eyes, he tried to calm himself, to try to force the pain into the farthest part of his mind. After a few minutes, he opened them again.
But the truck was nowhere to be seen.
Yet, Leo didn't panic. He knew where his brothers were. Once again, he thanked whoever watched over him that he had the gift to find anyone anywhere and fast. But this time, he needed a change in strategy.
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Jamie laughed as he watched the turtle collapse the second time. "Serves you right you fuckin' little piece of shit!!!" He called back before laughing.
Bruck pursed his lips. He wasn't sure this was such a good idea anymore. This was reminding him too much of—no. He mustn't think about that.
Bruck closed his eyes before opening them again. Some things are not meant to be remembered. He reminded himself. Besides. That was just another dumb animal. They didn't have feelings...
But somehow, he found himself questioning that, which had been his belief for about twelve years now.
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Perhaps this was just another one of his stupid ideas. Or perhaps it was just a desperate one, brought about as the last means of fighting back...but Leo didn't care.
He found himself running seconds later in the woods, hidden by trees after the truck. He had by now managed to surpass it.
Then, as he got further from the truck, he jumped out in front of the road and swirled around to face the truck. He drew his Katanas. They may not be real, but they were sharp. And Leo knew that Splinter was following. He could feel it.
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"What the hell????!!!!" Jake shouted as the turtle they thought they had left behind, jumped out in front of the truck.
Without thinking, Jake's foot went to slam on the brakes, when Jamie shouted. "Don't!!! Let's make him road kill!!!"
Bruck grimaced. Now THAT was going too far. He thought. But then he caught the eyes of the creature.
They were staring at him with such determination, that Bruck suddenly realized what it was going to do. Bruck grinned secretly.
This one definitely was the reincarnation of—
There he goes again. Bruck shook his head. He mustn't think about that.
Jake, meanwhile, stomped onto the gas pedal.
But the turtle just stood its ground.
Jake gritted his teeth. "So ya wanna play chicken huh?" he growled, stomping onto the gas more.
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Leo bit his bloody lip. Come on...
He silently urged the truck.
Come on...
Then, just as the truck was about to hit him, Leo jumped up and landed onto the top of the truck, before whimpering in pain. His leg hurt. But that wasn't the point right now.
Leo dropped onto the top of the truck before starting to climb down the back of it, making sure to keep out of the line of sight.
He knew he couldn't rescue his brothers in this shape. He was too weak right now. But Master Splinter could. And Leo could help.
Leo quickly crawled down the back of the truck, before swinging down under the truck. He climbed across the bottom, getting many tiny cuts and bruises from the various machinery underneath, before he reached what he wanted.
There, there was the pipe that he wanted. An oil pipe.
Leo raised his katana and swung it. The sword hit the pipe and the pipe cracked.
Leo gritted his teeth. If only he had his real swords!
But this was no time to wish for things. Leo raised his katana again, ready to swing, when suddenly, the truck swerved hard to the left, before it swerved back to the right. The truck's wheels had slipped on an ice puddle.
But that was enough for Leo to loose his hold.
Leo fell down, before hitting the icy ground hard, and rolling across it. He came to a halt about five feet from where he had hit the ground. Leo moaned as he got to his knees.
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Jamie looked back before gritting his teeth. "That damn little piece of shit cracked our oil pipe!"
Jake froze. "WHAT??!!!" He whispered, looking at Jamie.
"Keep your eyes on the damn road!" Jamie snapped, before leaning out the window. "I'll handle him."
Bruck suddenly understood. The turtle had realized that he wouldn't be able to get his brothers out by himself, but he must've realized that their parents or guardians or whatever were tracking them.
Bruck smirked. That turtle was more like him than he thought. Definitely the reincarnation.
Meanwhile, Jamie aimed at the fallen turtle. It was trying to stand, but it fell down again.
Jamie smirked. "Payback time..." he whispered, before pulling the trigger.
And pulled it again. And again and again. But each time, there was a sick click-ing sound. Jamie cursed. He was out of ammo.
Bruck couldn't help but grin. But he quickly smothered it with a frown. Opening the back door, he called Fang to his side and he grabbed his gun.
"Let me off 'ere." He told Jake.
Jake took one look at his gun and nodded. "Make road-kill outta him. Otherwise, he won't stay down." He warned.
Bruck grinned and nodded before hopping out of the truck.
Fang followed.
"We'll be at the gas station! Ya now where!!!" Jamie called after him. Bruck waved to show he heard.
The truck disappeared out of sight around the corner.
Bruck grinned. The fools. He wasn't going back there ever again.
Bruck turned and walked back down the road to where the turtle was. Fang bounded ahead of him, wagging her tail excitedly. But Bruck wasn't worried. Fang wouldn't hurt a fly without Bruck telling her too.
Fang bound ahead of Bruck and rushed to where the turtle was. It had managed to stand, but looked on the verge of collapsing.
Bruck loaded his gun. He was going to get this over with.
The turtle seemed to have heard the gun being loaded, because it looked up, before its legs gave away and he fell down to his knees. A look of pain was quickly masked though.
Bruck had to admire this one. It acted more like a human than an animal. More like those samurai things of the old stories from Japanese legends he used to love so much. Bruck raised his gun and aimed.
The turtle's eyes bore into his own. They held no fear, only determination.
Bruck paused. Floyd always used to say that animals are much smarter than you think. Not in the intelligent form, but in wisdom. They could tell your feelings and thoughts just by looking into your eyes. They could tell what kind of person you were.
Bruck had always thought that this was stupid. An animal was an animal. They were dumb and useless. But now, the older he got, and the longer he was around animals, the more he found that what Floyd said was true.
Floyd had always loved animals. He was the one who found and raised Fang.
Bruck sighed before lowering his weapon. No. he couldn't do it. This turtle reminded him too much of him. He couldn't bare to kill it.
The turtle dropped his gaze and let himself go unconscious.
Bruck watched the turtle fall. He kneeled beside it, before taking off his coat and wrapping the turtle in it. Then, he picked the turtle up and began walking down the road again, this time west, away from both the direction from were they came and were the truck had gone.
"This one reminds me of him." He voiced to Fang, who had cocked his head, and was looking at the turtle with a surprised look.
Fang paused as if thinking, before bobbing her head. Bruck laughed. He always had a feeling that Fang knew more than he did.
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Well that's it. Hope you enjoyed it. Tune in for the next chappie!!!!
R&R!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
