Chapter Twelve:

Ticking

A sudden glitch as I close my eyes
And I just crashed into the sky
And thought of the moon as it flew by
Now I lay here and watch you sleep

-Wake Up, Plan Three

[Raph]

"Are we getting close?"

The Shellrazor rumbles over the wet streets. The rain has stopped, but the sky is still shrouded in a heavy gray.

Donnie checks the beeping tracker. I feel like I've been staring at that tiny, faint yellow dot for hours.

Leo.

"We're a few minutes away." His brow furrows. "Looks like he's…by the pier."

Mikey sticks his head up over my shoulder to watch. "The pier? Why would he be there?"

"Who cares?" I snap. "It doesn't matter where he is—just matters that he's okay."

"Well, he activated the GPS on his T-phone, so we know he's alive," Donnie mutters.

My grip tightens on the back of Donnie's seat. "That's enough."

The vehicle groans as Donnie pulls it into a sharp turn. Water splashes above the wheels, spraying the sidewalks. Covered by a dark, narrow alleyway, Donnie parks and opens the door.

"Be careful," he chides. "Move slow, be stealthy—we don't know who might be out here with him."

I whip out my sai. "But we know they're not gonna get away."

We sneak out the Shellrazor with the pier in sight. It's empty and quiet, save for the waves sloshing along the docks. Donnie nods at us and we split up. I go to the right, pressing my back against the large metal shipping containers. Mikey slips off to the left, and Donnie keeps centered.

We're silent as we move down the pier. My frown deepens—I don't see anything—

"Pst."

I glance at Donnie. He motions toward a stack of rusted, peeling crates I stop and wait for him and Mikey to slink to my side.

"Over there," Donnie whispers. The light blinks, steady on the screen. "Mikey, climb up the top. Raph and I will go around the sides."

"Got it, D."

Mikey's movements are fluid as always—well, almost always—as he effortlessly hoists himself up on the bottom crate and scales the rest. He turns back from his point of surveillance and gives a thumbs up. Donnie and I move, splitting up to either side, shells against the old metal. I stop at the corner and count under my breath.

One…two…go—

Donnie and I whip around the corners of the crates at the same time as Mikey drops down. I'm not sure what we were expecting—Shredder, an army, an ambush of some kind—but all we see if Leo curled up against the farthest wall, clutching his T-phone to his chest.

"Leo!" Mikey drops his nun chucks and runs into the opened crate. I lunge after him and snatch him by the back of his shell, yanking him behind me.

"Hey—"

"He's bleeding, Donnie!" I shout. A deep cut on his forehead glistens with fresh blood. His eyes are clenched shut.

"Mikey, move," Donnie huffs as he shoulders our brother aside. "Let me see him."

He kneels beside Leo and examines the plethora of scratches and welts. "Leo, can you hear me?"

A low groan is the only response. The crease between Donnie's eyes deepens.

"Raph, can you—"

"I got him." I'm at Leo's side in an instant, tucking my hands gently beneath his arms to lift him over my shoulder. He's whispering something under his breath, but it doesn't sound coherent. I pat his shell and swallow past the lump in my throat.

"You're okay, Fearless," I mutter. "We've got you now."

...

[Mikey]

"That looks good, Mikey."

I glance up from my trance to see Donnie across the exam table, nodding at the sutures I've been painstakingly placing through the gash on Leo's thigh.

"You're getting better."

I smile despite the grim compliment. I'm honestly just glad Donnie's letting me help. He never used to let me do anything—but after all we've been through, we've come to an understanding.

"Thanks. I think I'm getting the hang of it."

My smile slips when I look at Raph sitting at the head of the table, both hands firmly holding Leo's face still.

"You guys almost done?" he mumbles. "It's hurting him."

I don't know if Leo is conscious or not. He hasn't said anything yet—it's mostly been grumbles and a low groan every once in a while. But the expression of pain etched on his face makes my stomach sink.

Donnie sighs. "Just a few more…"

We go back to stitching. I catch myself moving too slow, and remember Donnie's instructions. Slow is bad—slow makes the pain last longer, even if you think you're being gentle. I tighten my jaw and pick up it up to a steady pace. Steady is good.

I close the gap and tie the thread just as Donnie finishes up with the cut on Leo's arm.

"You're all set, Leo." I give his knee a soft pat. "Does he rest in here D, or are we gonna set him up in his room?"

Donnie shakes his head. "He should stay here – especially for the next 24 hours…just in case."

The air absorbs the weight of that "just in case." Raph closes his eyes for a moment and the muscles in his jaw tighten further.

"I'll stay with him," he says after a moment. "You two need to get some sleep."

"We all need rest." Donnie glances at us both. "We'll take shifts."

"I'll take the first—"

Donnie gently lifts his hand. "No, Raph. I know you want to, but these next few hours are important medically. I need to be the one that's here and watching his vitals."

Raph stands to his feet, ready to argue. "But—"

"No 'buts,' Raph. You need sleep just as much as the rest of us. I'm taking the first shift, and once I'm sure he's stable, you can watch him."

His eyes are green fire, but Donnie stares right back. Patient and firm. It's a wordless battle that ends after a few seconds of tension, before Raph's shoulders slump in defeat and he looks back down at Leo.

"Okay," he says softly. "Okay, fine… But wake me up if anything happens, got it?"

Donnie nods. "I promise, Raph. I'll come get you both if his condition changes."

"Good." He stares at Leo for a few more seconds like he's trying to convince his brain that Leo is actually here, safe and alive. "Thanks, Donnie."

He turns away and leaves the lab. I go to follow when Donnie puts a sudden hand on my shoulder.

"Make sure he gets some sleep for me, okay?"

I offer a tired smile. "You got it, D."

...

[Donnie]

The lab is quiet save for the steady, comforting beep from the monitor. I stare at the EKG and watch his heart move through each phase as the electrical activity translates on screen in consistent waves. Everything looks normal despite the slight fever. No tachycardia or any premature ventricular contractions. Blood pressure's normal. He likely suffered a concussion if the welt and gash on his head are anything to go by, but there's not much I can do at this point. We don't even know how long he was unconscious out there. I hope when he wakes up, he remembers what the hell happened to him.

"How is he, my son?"

Splinter's voice startles me. I jolt in my seat and sit up, clearing my throat.

"He's good, as far as I can tell. Just a little beat up, a few stitches here and there…but certainly better off than we thought."

Splinter nods and joins me at the tableside, a soft, peaceful gleam in his otherwise weary eyes. The age is showing on his face more and more now. Years of tragedy, battle, and pain are etched into his face, and every line, groove, and wrinkle form a chapter of the life he has lived, the struggles he has endured. I thought for sure that us coming home without Leo again would push him over the edge. We could've lost them both…

I shake my head and point at the monitor. "All his vitals are stable. Raph will be watching him for the next shift."

"Good." He puts a hand on my shoulder and smiles. "You have all worked hard – you deserve to rest…"

I didn't realize how tired I was until Raph and Mikey left. My whole body feels like lead and my brain is somehow heavier.

"…Donatello?"

I blink hard and rub my eyes. Damn, I'm already dozing off.

"Yes, Sensei—sorry, I guess I just—"

His hand tightens on my shoulder a bit. "Go on, my son. I will watch over Leonardo. Go be with your brothers and rest."

I look at Leo for another moment, watching the steady rise and fall of his chest. It's fine. Everything's fine. Sensei is more than capable of watching him or a few hours, and I'm sure he wants time alone with Leo more than anything.

I double-check the monitor but it's the same. Vitals are holding. He's normal – he's okay. Everything is okay.

"Thank you, Sensei."

I slide off of the lab chair and arch my back in a much-needed stretch. "Let me know if any of those numbers turn yellow or red, okay?"

Sensei watches the monitor and nods. "Of course."

I stand in the doorway as if I'm trying to burn the image in my mind of Sensei resting his hand on Leo's in the dim light of the lab, with the comforting hum of machinery in the background. Leo will wake up in the next few hours, and all of the ache and panic of the previous night will be outweighed by the sound of Space Heroes, Mikey and Raph bickering over pizza and popcorn, and Leo spouting out 'behind the scenes' fun-facts about the episode that no one ever wanted or needed to know.

A smile softens my face, and I leave Leo under Sensei's care with a sigh of relief, knowing the worst is behind us.