I'm being left behind. Stupid injuries and stupid Shredder and stupid fire. Stupid Leo for thinking they'll be fine without me. Well, me and Don, seeing as how he's hanging back, too. And, although it is just a rooftop run for reconnaissance to find foot soldiers for a shake down on information, I'm not thrilled about the idea of sitting out.
Don doesn't really seem to mind, though, because he and April are occupied with trying to fit pieces together. They're doing some intense research on the lab where I saw Baxter and the Shredder and Hun. I'm not entirely sure how far they're getting because their smart speak is like a foreign language - now I know how my brothers feel.
The chair squeaks under me how it had when Mike was spinning. Only I'm not spinning. I'm slumped down, my butt hanging over the edge, completely bored. I keep trying to leave to go do something, but Don finds a way to make me stay. He'll say it's because he wants to know how to spell something (saying his mind is occupied with numbers to think about letters, too), or that he needs me to hand him something or this or that. I know the real reason he won't let me leave is that Leo wants to make sure I stay put. Make sure I don't sneak out and make my arm worse. I may be able to read Splinter like an open book, but I can at least read Leo's front and back covers to get the synopsis of what he's thinking.
I groan for the fifth time in three minutes, no doubt making Don annoyed. I'm hoping for that, anyway. Maybe he'll let me leave. It's not an easy task, and I'll regret it later when I have to try and get on his good side again (the penalties being I'm not allowed in his lab or he'll give me one worded answers so I'll leave him alone - under the pretense that I'll bug him), but I really just want to leave!
"Hey, Lex, can you-"
"I have to go to the bathroom," I stop him from giving me a daunting task like 'hand me that wrench. And stay here, I might need you in a minute,' or 'why don't you read a book? They're educational.' I really hate that second one. Especially since I've read every book we own, all of Mikes comics, all the recipe books, and the label of every can in the joint.
Without waiting for a response, I get up, ready to leave. And then a miracle. Donnie's shell cell goes off and I hesitate. This hesitation, I feel, is where everything goes to heck. Don answers in his usual sing-songy way, "Hello? This is Don spea-"
"Don! We need backup! Bring the van and come to the West Side Garage on Fifth and North!" he's cut off by a frantic Leo, who I can hear shouting from the other side of the lab.
"On it," Don confirms, already moving away from April and the station. Still, the protective side of him takes over as he grabs the keys and rushes past me, "What's this about? Is everything okay?"
"No-" Leo manages to say before a loud bang and sickening slash cut him off; the line goes dead.
"Leo?" Don freezes. He tries again, "Leo? You there?"
"Don, what is it?" I pretend not to know. Maybe he got something I didn't.
"The guys are in trouble," he stuffs the phone in his bag and turns to me, "You stay here and help April, I'm going to go help the guys."
He takes off and I try to follow, "But-"
He shouts over his shoulder, "Stay here, Lex!" I glare at him, my hands forming fists at my side. I hate this. My brothers are in trouble and I'm just supposed to sit by and do no-
"Lexi," April gets my attention from behind me, "You're brothers are tough. They'll be alright."
"You don't know that," I don't turn to her, "Leo sounded in trouble. And he'd never ask Don to come unless it was serious."
"Don will pick them up and they'll be back in no time," she assures, "You'll see." When I don't respond, she tries, "Why don't you and I-"
"I'm going to the bathroom," I interrupt. But I have no intention to do it. It's no longer about pride. My brothers are in trouble and I'll let Baxter experiment on a puppy before I ever sit by and do nothing to help. Knowing fully well that April is looking, I walk to the elevator and ride it up to ground level. I know I'm not old enough, but technically neither is Raph; I take his shell cycle and a spare helmet, taking a shortcut to the warehouse through alleyways.
I glare at the road ahead. It's dark out and there's less chance I'll get pulled over or of anyone seeing my brothers on a rooftop, having an all out fight with men in black. But if someone did see the fight, then what they should see is four mutated turtles and their little sister fighting against evil villains. If someone saw them right now, there would be a certain someone missing from that picture. And it's not good that I'm not there. Mostly because things like tonight are bound to happen when we're not at our normal fighting capacity.
There is no reason Leo should have pulled me. My arm doesn't even hurt. Like I said, I've been kicked in the gut harder. And said time was during the middle of a fight. I remember because it was the only time I'd ever been hit hard enough to throw up. Let's just say I didn't help 'foot' the dry-cleaning bill.
The tires screech on the blacktop as I slam on the breaks. My back tire lifts and I fall back down with a small bounce. I can hear the fighting from out there. Shouts of pain and gun blasts and angered attacks. Is this what it's always like? I don't have another second to think about it before my probably enraged brother backs into the spot beside me in the van. He gets out, slamming the door when he sees me. He growls, opening the back door, "Put the bike in the van and come on." I quickly oblige, knowing I'm being given a real gift right now. Don is ticked and that's even harder to do than irritating him. Trust me, I know.
While he runs to the front door, I quickly rush back down the ramp - leaving the back door open for a quick get away. No one can run the van but us, so no one can really try to steal it. Unless they want a butt whooping. I stop at Don's side and he tells me very sternly, "Don't over exert yourself, don't use your right arm, and above all, don't get hurt. Got it?"
"Sir, yes sir," I nod fast and open the door. We both peak inside to get a scope of the situation. It's better than just rushing in 'head-first' and getting blown to bits. Like the red shirts on Star Trek.
The abandoned warehouse is a disaster zone. Not only foot soldiers, but purple dragons and mousers fight around the area. Not to mention the ever-present Shredder who's facing Leo on the far side of the building and a team up between Karai and Hun who are giving Raph a run for his money. Worst of all, because our oldest brothers are occupied, Mike is basically taking on everyone and everything else. Bullets, lasers, and ninja weapons fly everywhere as my three brothers kick some major butt. But Leo was right to call. They're vastly outnumbered and their strength looks to be fading. And the bad guys know it.
Don and I don't waste another second. We rush in, taking note of the crooks around us. No one really notices we're here until Don kicks a foot soldier to the ground that was about to hit Mikey. "Dude!" Mike beams with exhausted joy, quickly maneuvering to hit another, "You made it!" And then his eyes land on me. I'm pretty sure Mike is the only one in the universe who won't be angry with me for coming. Though, I do see some hesitation as he gives me a lift up with his chucks so I can take down another soldier. It doesn't take long for our trio to get in synch. And no matter who we're against - whether it's Leo and Raph or Splinter himself - the three of us together are unstoppable. No other combination of the five of us is as effective as us three younger kids.
Maybe it's because of how close we are. Maybe it's because we're not too concerned with having the weight of the world on our shoulders as Leo and Raph are. Maybe it's because Don takes care of the logic while Mike takes care of the speed and I take care of the power. Whatever it may be, when Don trips a soldier who gets whipped in the back by Mike and taken down by me, I feel like the three of us are of one body. Plan, execute and finish.
The three of us are able to hold our own and take the offense as the soldiers fall back. Raph is able to get Hun panting but struggles to get Karai to quit. Leo is in the worst of it. He's been going at least five minutes against the Shredder - longer than any of us has ever survived, even beating his previous record - and although he'd never admit defeat, it looks like he could fall down any second. At least, that's how it looks to me. Because I know his expressions. To everyone else, he has a determined gaze that will never falter, a sickening blow that overpowers even the Shredder's, and a duty to protect that could drive even the weakest of creatures to victory. But I know him. Better than anyone, I know his features. His brow crinkles in failing concentration, his hands grip the katana blades in exhaustion, he stays on his toes out of fear, and he arches his shoulders ever so slightly on the defensive. He's going down. And it won't be long.
I breathe evenly, "We have to help Leo."
Mike only glances over a second, nodding. He must see what everyone else does, but he knows me enough to trust that I know what I'm talking about. Sometimes I know my brothers even more than they know themselves. Our trio moves towards the back wall where they're fighting. Don breaks off first, going to Raph's aid. He does a flying kick into Karai that she misses and ends up being pushed to the ground where she smacks her head. I don't see her get up.
Mike and I go back to back, and I keep my promise to Don by taking it easy on my right arm. It's not an easy task, but I manage. Mike and I share a glance and we make a split second plan. I run up a wall, flipping over to the point where I end up behind the Shredder - who's attention is being taken by Leo and Mike. With him looking away, I quietly, but forcefully knock the man off his feet.
The metal menace falls to his butt with a loud, metallic clang. Mike quickly grabs Leo's arm, dragging him towards the exit while Don gets a similar idea with Raph, leading the exhausted hot head away as well. I rush out after them but am quickly taken down as the Shredder reaches out for my foot. I roll over fast, jumping to my feet in time for the Shredder to get to his. This isn't good.