Hello! I'm sorry for not updating sooner, but I've been having problems at school, and also my social life is getting a little hectic. But, I hope you enjoy this chapter!
I do not own TMNT or Twilight, just the plot line.
Leo's point of view.
This wasn't meant to happen. Things were supposed to get better after we defeated the Shredder. But instead it feels as if everything is falling apart.
I didn't want to burden my family, put them through more pain than what they were already going through. That's why I have not shared my feelings with my family. I have kept it bottled inside, shadowing my emotions with anger. I am angry, but more than anything I am scared, or I was.
In one instant my family was nearly wiped from existence. At the hands of our most hated enemy we nearly fell.
I cant describe the terror and rage I felt when I saw my family fall around me one by one. The shame and desperation I felt when I crumpled to the ground.
We were willing to give up our lives to stop him, to make sure that no other blood was spilt in the name of the Shredder. Although we knew that there was a chance that the Foot would manage to carry on, without the Shredder to command them they would eventually disperse.
The Utroms were the ones to save us. I will forever be thankful to them, they saved my family when I could not.
I know this does not excuse what I have done now. My only sister is lying on the makeshift bed in front of me, My father at her side, while the rest of my family waits with strained emotions.
We had fought, and I knew that she was only worried about me, which makes me feel even worse about what I said to her. To tell her that I don't need her, after all she has done for me, is something that I will regret for the rest of my life.
There was a slight moan, that immediately caught my attention. It seems that Master Splinter had managed to get hold of Bella, as she was now slowly stirring.
Instantly the attention of everyone in the room was caught. Donnie was hovering over her instantly, shielding her from our view. Words were exchanged in hushed whispers. Donnie quickly gave her the required medicine that April had placed beside him. Father was still kneeling by them, though hunched over considerably. If it had been anything other than this, I would have protested Dons choice of asking our father to assist him, but I can see that it was necessary.
I can only assume that April had been thinking the same as me, as she appeared at his side and gently guided him to a seat in the corner in the room, not that far from where Raph and I were stationed.
"Go to sleep now. One of us will be here when you wake up." Donnie told Bella gently. My vision instantly snapped back to them. Dons hand was gently stroking her forehead. From what I could see, she smiled gently at him, and closed her eyes.
"I will need to tend to everyone's wounds and see that Father is put to bed. Casey, can you look after Bella for awhile?" He pleaded, slowly rising to his feet. Though I had not seen it before, I could now see how terribly tired he was. Donnie's shoulders were hunched over, his muscles tense. For lack of a better word, he looked defeated.
"Sure thing man, I needed an excuse to tell Bell bout all the trouble I've been in" He joked, dragging a chair over and dropping into it. I saw April send him a disapproving look, but Casey paid no attention.
"Everyone else up to bed. And I do mean everyone" Donnie directed the last comment at me, and I was more than happy to oblige. I knew that I would have to explain, and though I would rather not, I owed it to my family.
Slowly we all managed to get to the attic, Mikey and Raph bickering the entire way in hushed whispers. One we were all to our respective places, April and Don made their rounds with the medicine, April had to keep slapping Mikey's hand, as he kept scratching his leg underneath the cast.
"I'm not expecting an explanation from you tonight. I would be much happier if you would rest and have a good nights sleep for a change." I looked to see Don kneeling by the bed, preparing some medicine. When he saw my mouth open in protest, he quickly interrupted me. "I know Leo, and she will be fine. You will have a clearer head in the morning, then you will be able to focus. This has gone on for long enough, and I think we are all ready to discuss and move on."
"I'm sorry" I hung my head, not being able to think of anything else to convey how I felt. My head was starting to become fuzzy, an effect of lack of sleep.
"I know you are, no one blames you for what happened tonight. We all have issues that we need to work out, and tomorrow we will all be able to voice them." He patted my shoulder. "April is seeing to Father, so I'm going to head to bed for a little while, before taking watch over Bella." He went to pull away, but I stopped him before he could.
"You should rest yourself. I can see how tired you are, and it will eventually effect you. Casey and Bella will be fine on their own. With Bella resting, it wont be long before both of them are asleep." I assured him. Though I could tell it went against every instinct of his, he slowly nodded.
"I'll go check with Casey and see if he's okay with this." With a final pat on my shoulder, he left the attic, turning the lights of behind him. I lowered myself to the pillows, fighting against sleep until I heard the familiar footsteps that were Don heading towards his bed.
It wasn't long before darkness claimed me as well.
When I woke the next morning, the sun was already high in the sky, and a glance at the clock confirmed that it was eleven o'clock. It was unusual for me to sleep later than dawn, as training usually begun not long after. So many years of the same routine had me accustomed to waking in the early hours of the morning.
"Finally awake I see. You were more exhausted than I had first thought." Don said from the stairs, leaning against the railings.
"I guess I needed the sleep." I rubbed me head, still slightly fuzzy. I slowly sat up, looking around the room, which was vacant apart from Don and I. "I'm assuming that the others are already awake and downstairs?" Don nodded, a slight smile on his face.
"They woke a few hours ago. Bella is awake also, though I have told her she is not to move from the sofa."
"How many times has she gotten up?" I asked, knowing that she would be fighting tooth and nail to be up and about.
"Three times. I've had to hide her weapons away, and made Raph and Mikey sit on either side of her. She's not very happy with me." He chuckled.
"I would imagine she's not. Especially if she has those two next to her." I laughed quietly. Like all of us, Bella hated to be kept in one place. If you told her she could not train, she would do anything to train. She is not as rebellious as Raph, but a similar fire does drive her. She shares qualities with each of us, so it is hard to compare her to one single person. But if there is one thing I am sure of, its that she was meant to be free.
"You missed breakfast, but lunch should be ready in an hour. In the mean time you can wash and meet us downstairs." While in my thoughts, Don had come to stand next to me, gently pulling me up. I didn't protest, letting him help me down the stairs and into the bathroom. Since our bandages were only to be changed ever other day, or not for six weeks in Mikey's case, we had to be careful while washing.
Once washed, I slowly put my gear on and moved to the kitchen to make myself some tea. Normally I would be in the forest or the barn training by now, but I had promised my family an explanation, and I intended to give them one.
"I'm surprised by your sudden change in attitude" I twisted around to see Bella standing in the door way, dressed in sweat pants and a tank top. She had a small smile on her face, clearly pleased she had managed to catch me unaware.
"I thought you weren't meant to leave the sofa?" I raised an eye ridge at her, not answering her previous statement."What did you bribe Mikey and Raph with?"
"Cookies, April has hidden them high up so neither of them can reach the tin. I know where it is, so I made a deal with them, they get the cookies they want so desperately and I get a few moments alone with you." She walked into the room, reaching onto the higher shelves to retrieve the cookie jar.
"So as I was saying, I'm surprised your not in the forest training by now." She looked at me from the corner of her eye.
"I slept in late. Don is over worked and worried as it is, he doesn't need me adding to that stress any more."
"Hmmmm I agree. I have been worried about Donnie over the last couple of weeks. I think the only thing keeping him ticking is all the coffee. I might make him take a few days off soon, let me and April worry about the medicine for now. After all, its what I have been trained to do." she trailed off thoughtfully. She had stopped moving for a second, looking towards the counter, but I didn't think she was seeing the six cookies she had removed from the tin. As I was about to reach over and shake her, the kettle clicked, telling me that the water had finished boiling. She suddenly snapped out of it, continuing to count the biscuits. I poured the water into the mug, but I didn't make any move to leave.
"I'm sorry for yesterday. I should not have behaved the way I did."
"And neither should I. But I think that last nights events helped us, as stupid as that sounds. We have all come to accept that we need to support each other. I know what Don is planning for today, and I think it is a good idea." She smiled at me, a genuine smile.
"If I asked you to forgive me..." I didn't get to finish my sentence.
"I would reply that there is nothing to forgive." She told me warmly, wrapping her arms around me, laying her head on my right shoulder gently. I moved my arm to wrap around her shoulders, squeezing her lightly.
"As touching as this is, I did order bed rest, dear sister of ours." Don said, hands on hips. Bella looked at him, pulling away slightly, but not entirely, and stuck her tongue out at him.
"You seem to fail to remember who is the resident medic in this household, little brother. I think that I am more than fit enough to give our sibling here a hug, and I also deem myself fit enough to pull you into one also if necessary." She giggled.
"You will never change." I looked down at her and shook my head.
"And that is exactly why you will never stop loving me, so I say we move this little party into the living room before I have to cranky brothers without cookies" She stated, moving away and placing the cookies in question onto a plate.
"You got that right!" Came Mikey's voice from his position on the couch. Bella just laughed, jogging out of the kitchen, just as April came in through the back door. My eyes darted towards to the jar of biscuits that Bella had forgotten to put back in the cupboard. Donnie followed my line of vision, and discreetly moved towards the coffee pot, which was behind the jar. With his body shielding it, April didn't get a glimpse of it.
"Bella and the boys still in the living room?" She asked before she left the room. I looked at Donnie, waiting to see what his answer would be. Don never liked lying to anyone, least of all April.
"Haven't seen them since I last checked on them. I have on the other hand, heard them arguing over the remote." He lied easily, not looking her in the eye, pretending to focus on the coffee machine. I saw April raise an eyebrow, but quickly shrugged and carried on out the door. I heard a sigh from next to me.
"Sometimes I feel like she sees right through me...though sometimes I think all of you can" He wiped a hand over his eyes. I was about to ask him if he was okay, when he shook his head and grabbed the jar and placed it back in the cupboard in its previous position.
"Come on, I fear if we leave those three unattended for too long, we might only have one other sibling left." He grabbed his mug, motioning for me to follow him. As much as I was not looking forward to this 'family meeting', I knew in the long run it would help us heal. I followed Donnie into the living room, seeing that my siblings were all squashed onto the sofa. The sight was almost funny.
"Dude, I know you want to have this deep, emotional talk with all of us, but can it wait for...10 mins? Justice force is on" Mikey pleaded with Don, his eyes widening dramatically.
"May as well wait and let him watch it Don. Otherwise the pea brain wont be able to concentrate, and he will be whining all afternoon." Raph told him, gaining a glare from Mikey, but he soon went back to pleading with Don using his eyes.
Sighing, Don reluctantly agreed "Ten minutes Mikey, but if its not finished, I will turn it off myself" He warned, lowering himself into a chair near the window. There weren't many seats in the room, and most of them had been occupied already, but there was a small bench on the opposite side of the room. It meant that I was out of view of Don and Raph, but this didn't bother me. If anything, I was glad about this fact. Don wasn't the only one who sometimes felt as if the family could see right through him.
And there we have it! Another chapter, and again, sorry for it being late. I hope you enjoyed, and please review!
Pingu xx
