El sighed in silent relief after Donnie finished treating her tail. She did not want to admit how much it had been throbbing, but only now that the pain had gone away did the amount of pain that had been building up the last few months really hit her. The responsibility of being a single parent while hurt and otherwise alone is what tipped the scales, causing her to become feral.
Stopping that thought because El was afraid it would lead down the rabbit hole she looked to Leo who was now on the floor with the twins as they wrestled. The line 'True gentleness is having the power to hurt, and making the choice not to,' came to her mind as if often did watching Leo with the boys. Davy was still clinging to her like a lifeline, so she held him to her.
The twins tired out soon and were nearly falling asleep on Leo's plasteron as they played the new game Squish the Leo. Davy had already fallen asleep so El tucked him in and then went to pick up one of the twins so Leo could sit up easier. But El got another smile as Leo wrapped his arms around both boys and stood up carefully so as to not jostle them too much.
Leo did well on the way over to the pack and play when he stopped, looking down at the children in his arms obviously at a loss. El decided to help and stepped beside him and carefully slipped Timmy from his arms and held the child when he immediately latched onto her. Meanwhile Leo was able to put Charlie down next to his little brother where the older boy immediately wrapped an arm around the little guy. There were little contented chirps before there were whines as they realized there was a sibling missing.
Timmy opened his sleepy little eyes to look at his brothers. Then El was able to settle him down next to them as they chirped and cooed to each other, all falling asleep in a pile. A true, relieved smile lit up her face as she took in the sight while Leo fiddled with something before leading her out of the room. Oh yeah, they had gotten a baby monitor so it would be alright to sit in the living room for a bit before coming back to the boys. El rubbed her eyes, she needed to sleep.
Leo could almost feel the tiredness coming off El in waves as they walked down the short hall to the living room. She had been running at one hundred for months, and was still making sure the Hamatos were safe enough around the children. Heck, she hadn't even met Mikey or Raph yet! At least, not since she came out of her Feral state two days before.
At least, it would be day for humans. It was the middle of the night for the nocturnal turtles, and the only reason Leo had been up was because he was used to splitting his time between night time patrols and helping El take care of the kids. And El had been sleeping at whatever time her three sick kids would give her, but that was not enough.
Leo had learned from their conversations about tea that fruit ones were her favorites; he made a passionfruit with rosehips and orange peel. When he was done with putting it together he brought the tray out to the living room and set it on the table by the couch where El was sitting, leaning her head against the back of it. Her eyes were closed but they opened when he entered and she looked at him as he set down the try, "I thought we could use some tea," he answered her unspoken question.
A weary smile in response, "Thanks." When he poured and passed her cup she lifted it to her nose and sniffed, "Passion Fruit," looking at him, "I thought you didn't like it."
"It's not that I don't like it, it's just not my favorite." Leo answered as he sat down on the couch, "Besides, I thought you could use some." Tapping the pot lightly, "And there's plenty for both of us, so don't feel bad about refilling."
El surprised him by sighing through the nose, "So it's going to be one of those talks." Seeing his confusion, "Johnny is the oldest in our family and when one of us is hurting he always makes our favorite drink." Tilting her head slightly, "I think it's a comfort thing, anyway it is always just the two and he lets us either rant or sit quietly to work through it." Smiling at the memory, "I have always loved that he never forced us to talk, but was always there for us when we were ready."
Trying not to let his hands shake while pouring his tea Leo answered, "He sounds like a great brother."
It was almost painful to see El's face light up, "He's the best." Then her shoulders slumped, "He had to be, because he had to fill in for our dad as well as being our brother." Looking deep into her cup she spoke before Leo could, "It's alright, it's been years." Then she took a breath, "Johnny was mutated first, and I was one of the last of us to be mutated making eight in all."
"Do you know who did it?" Leo asked quietly as the silence started to linger.
Shaking her head no El took a drink of the tea, "Our protector was killed about a year after I was mutated." Knowing the question in Leo's eyes, "I have no memory of him, but Johnny took up the role of protector and parent." Her shoulders slumped, "He had already been the big brother and the main helper as he was almost three years older than SJ who was also helping but it's a lot to take on when you're barely thirteen."
Nodding, Leo agreed to that statement. The two quietly drank tea for a few minutes and El refilled her cup for the second time. Finally Leo spoke, "Is everyone captured by that Clan?" He motioned to her tail.
El shook her head, "Two left to live their own lives on the West coast, one went to Gothem." Looking down, "And two died protecting our nephews." That left two, Johnny who had been captured and one unnamed sibling. Signing through her nose, "I don't know about the others, but SJ is just fine on an island near Seattle and if George disappeared half the Bat-family would be after him."
Her hands were shaking, and Leo put his hand over them after putting the teacups on the table. Gently he asked, "And the others?"
There was fear in her eyes as she answered, "I don't know." Swallowing, "I've been trying to contact them with the phone Donnie gave me but they're not answering."
El looked lost, alone, and scared. So when she suddenly dove into his arms for a hug, clinging to him Leo held on to the shaking young woman feeling her tears run down his plasteron from where her head was against his shoulder. As he rubbed her shell between the spikes her shaking calmed, and when they had stopped he realized that she had fallen asleep on him which was fine with him. Leo would watch over her to make sure her rest was uninterrupted, and would only move when the kids needed him.