Chapter 46 Finding Resolve
"What happened, head feels like it got crushed like the blueberry" Rocksteady rubbed his head questionably, his face scrunched up in confusion.
"Mr. Steranko!" Bebop rushed forward to tackle his returned friend in a hug. I smiled and my heart warmed at the sight. I knew Rocksteady would be a little unsteady on his feat at first, but I had no doubt that he'd be just fine.
"As touching as this is," Donnie interjected looking up from his screen with a frown. "Let's finish this reunine elsewhere, we've already overstayed our welcome." As much as I regretted rushing the two returned friends, I understood Donetello's logic. With the time it took waiting for Rocksteady to wake up, we were already pushing it pretty close. It would be dawn in another hour and knowing the schedule of the staff, a crew should be here soon to check on and feed the animals.
We knew it was going to be close, but there was nowhere else we could go. It wasn't easy to transport a rhino, even if we had a place to go. And trying to move the unconscious re-mutated Rocksteady was a no-go. Thus, we waited for him to wake up. Now that he was awake, we needed to get underground. ASAP. There would be questions when they noticed a missing Rhino but there would be more if they saw Rocksteady now. Plus, I really didn't want to add four turtles and a pig to their inhabitants at the zoo.
"Come on Mr. Steranko, I'll explain everything on the way dogg" Bebop prompted, leading his friend toward the exit.
"Aahh, right when I thought life could get no more complicated." Rocksteady growled his footsteps heavy as he no less followed his friend.
I let out a heavy sigh as I took caboose, my instincts on high alert as our overly loud group vacated the premises. To my relief no one seemed to be around. No one except one on edge scientist outside the zoo gate.
I suddenly felt torn, Baxter and I hadn't really had an opportunity to talk since everything. Not really talk. That's a hard to obtain feat when you have three overprotective hovering brothers around. A nearly impossible feat when those three overprotective brothers also happen to be ninjas. I shake my head. It's no excuse. I know Bax will be leaving here soon, returning to his normal life. The life we had built. I needed to talk to him before he left. It was a hard path to navigate but it needed to be done. Despite everything he's still my brother and I don't want him leaving with things unsaid. With a sigh of resignation, I made a decision. I'd talk to him tonight.
The moonlight peeking through the clouds above illuminated the rough landscape. Although it was no-longer strewn with rubble the vacant lot still had an oddly ominous feel. Though most of the rouble had been cleared away, a few larger boulders and a myriad of smaller stones still scattered throughout the empty space. The empty lot was like a hole in the middle of the busy city, just as it stood as a hole in the middle of many lives. I let my scaled hand drift over the large boulder beside me, it was a miracle that one of these hadn't ended my life that night.
"Seems like a creepy place to meet doesn't it?" Baxter laughed humorously as he emerged seamlessly through the darkness.
I shrugged, a blush tinting my cheeks. "Yeah I guess it is" I rubbed the back of my neck. It was just…I needed to actually talk with my older brother and the lair felt so crowded. With everything going on we needed to meet on common ground and if we were back..in the town we'd been living in, I would have suggested the bowling alley or our favorite walking path. But here…this was the only place we seemed to have in common.
Although this place seemed to represent the rubble of former lives, it also was a starting point to build something new. It felt symbolic in a way.
I looked over to the new foundation, wondering what new building was going to rise up and inhabit this space. With the rubble mostly cleared away, construction was underway, it was amazing to think about how life moved on like that. Something new being built in place of what was lost.
"Pete..I mean Leo" Baxter let out a breath. "Look, the counterpart RM is done, it works and all that was broken has been fixed.." Baxter's gaze was distant, his arms crossed in front of him. "I know my presence was a sore spot to begin with so, I guess what I'm trying to say here is that..it's time for me to head out."
"Baxter" I took a step forward.
"No" the genius raised a hand. "I understand, Okay." His brick brown eyes were clouded with tears but sincere. "I promise I won't interfere with your life. I broke this family once and I promise I won't do it again. I have this second chance now and..I'm not going to waste it."
I looked over at the figure in front of me, the sincerity and openness in his teary eyes, the way his shoulders were hunched in surender yet his arms were crossed in front of him like he was trying to hold himself together. Letting my feet carry me forward I walked over and embraced the person I had known as family for the last year, holding him tight against my plastron.
He hugged back just as fierce, burying his face on my shoulder, his fists clenched around the front of my shell.
"I'm so sorry, Leo" it came out barely above a whisper.
"I know" I hugged him closer.
I closed my eyes. I knew things would be different from here on out. I had my memories from two lives. Leo's and Peter's I couldn't change that and I didn't want to. As the big brother and fearless leader I had a family to protect, something I would never want to change. But part of me would always be Peter; the scared lost kid who'd created a new life out of the rubble, facing the world alongside his older brother, who was just as lost and confused as he was.
I let out a breath. Two totally different lives, merged into one.
I know Baxter couldn't stay here permanently, and that he wouldn't want to. He'd return to his life, the one we'd built. But I hoped he'd stay in touch. He had Marcus and Mrs. Tribionly. But…I wanted him to know he had me too. Although, I'm still mad at him…I really liked having an older brother and I don't want to lose that.
My shoulders stiffened and I fought the tears back.
"I forgive you Baxter"
"You shouldn't" came the whisper.
"I know"
The warm purple sweater wrapped around me squeezing me impossibly tighter.
"I love you little brother, don't you ever forget that okay?"
I nodded mutley not trusting myself to speak.
"Look, I know it's not much, I wasn't the best older brother but..If you ever need me. If any of you ever need anything..I'll be there okay. I'm only a phone call away" His voice cracked with emotion as Baxter clung to me even tighter.
"Bax" my voice was soft. He pulled back to meet my eyes. "You're not alone anymore okay." My voice didn't waver as I met his gaze needing him to hear this. "I'm here for you."
A choked sob broke past his lips as he hugged me closer. "Why?! I did everything wrong."
"Love is a gift, it isn't something you earn."
I didn't think it was possible but my big brother hugged me even tighter. I let out a fond chuckle as I hugged him back.
"And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose"(Romans 8:28)
