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Leonardo Pov

Empty halls. Hushed voices. Buzzing machines. Disgusting food. Vending machines. White. Brightness. Chairs. Edginess. Fear. Darkness. Confusion. Curiosity. Anger. Hopefulness. Doubt.

I just described to you what being in this godforsaken hospital is like. My fingers twice and my body shakes as I hold Karai's hand, staring at her unconscious body from a bedside chair. I wish I could say she looks peaceful, but if be lying if I did. Because she looks from it.

With an oxygen mask over her mouth, and tubes slid into her arms, she looks unnatural. Not to mention her unkempt hair, greasy having not been washed in three weeks. Her makeup is off, leaving her face looking pale and, well, pure. She looks exactly how she should—no powder on her face, no curls in her hair—the only issue I have is those stupid fucking tubes. Sure, I understand what they're for. They pump nutrition into her veins so her body doesn't collapse in the defeat of life versus death. Secretly, I like to tell myself that Karai doesn't need a bunch of tubes running through her arms to annihilate death, because she's just that strong.

Nevertheless, here she is. Coma ridden. Stuck in the force field of her mind, unable to move or breathe on her own, just as she has been for the past three weeks. Three weeks.

She's not the only one. The others are in the same state. The others meaning: Raphael, Donatello, April, Dad, and Claire. Me and Mikey were the only ones who made it out in our regular state. Though, we do have a few scratches, gained during our fight with the Shredder. He's gone, yet we know where he is. He's hiding behind his soldiers in that makeshift lair of his, because he's too cowardly to come finish the fight.

I heard a sigh, leaning back in my chair. I can see the clock from where I'm at, and the time of night causes me to suppress yet another heave.

10:25.

In five minutes, I'll be asked to leave for the night, with the promise of coming back in the morning.

I bring Karai's hand to my lips, and press down. "I'll see you tomorrow morning, I promise," I murmur as I stand up. My eyes are stuck on her, filled with pain and misery. I shake my head. No, no stay positive, I instruct myself. "I love you, Karai, and I'll see you when you wake up."

Me and Mikey cross through the front door, indulged in silence. The house is quiet, just as it has been, and just as it remain until the others return home.

I hang my coat on the rack above the shoes, and walk over to the couch. Slumping, I lean my head back, and before I know it, Mikey's head is laying on my chest. I hug him, pulling him right against my body. The warmth the radiates off of him warms to an extent of relaxation.

"Hmm . . . what are we gonna do, Mike?"

"Nothing; there's nothing we can do but wait," Mikey murmurs against shirt.

I furrow my brow, but I don't argue. Maybe Mikey's right, and there is no cure. We just have to be patient.

"How are Raph and Donnie doing? The doctor give any updates?" When at the hospital, Mikey spends the majority of his time in Raph and Donnie's shared room, whilst I spend the day with Karai and April.

"They're good, breathing rates are still, well, about normal. Raphael is completely fine, Doctor said he should awaken any day now. But, Donnie's breathing is still at a slower pace. It's like he holds it all in for a second before exhaling," my little brother explains with a frown.

I shift to the side, Mikey falling into me more at my movement. "You know that Donnie's always had a differing breathing rate . . ."

"Yeah, Leo, of course I know. He's my brother," Michelangelo hisses. I pull away, staring at Mikey in utter shock at his ice cold voice. "I just-I dunno. I mean, I understand that Donnie has a strange breathing pattern, and the doctor said that he could've inhaled more gas then the rest of them because of that. Which, scares me, because, he may not wake up, Leo."

My eyes interlock with Mikey's, sapphire meeting sky like the clash of the ocean against the wind. Both roar with their own sense of resentment, one with passion—love, anger, regret, and determination—the other with aspiration—hopefulness, desire, bravery, faith. It pains me, like a stab to the chest, to know that little Michelangelo is looking up to me once more, for one more war, to save not only him but our brothers as well. Another day, we are on a different battlefield, one that differs completely from the rest. My baby brother—who has looked to me for protection since the beginning of time—expects me to get us all out alive. Little does he realize, despite his blue eyes wide with observation, that a few swings of my swords directed at the bad guys won't end this fight. Because the villain is seeping through my family's veins, poisoning their blood slowly to the point where oxygen won't make it through to their heart and they'll, well, surrender.

For the first time in my life, nothing I say, nothing I do, nothing I try, can help them make it out alive. They're on their own, deep within their minds. Their leader is trapped on the outside, screaming in agony because I've finally let the team down.

I don't say a word as I hug my knees to my chest and bury my face in them. My head shakes slightly. I try to deny the fact that I myself am ready to surrender, ready to leave this life behind just as the others, currently positioned in the hospital, may just do.

But Mikey, ever so optimistic, moves forth from that subject. On to the next one. "How are mom and dad?" Every day we switch off who goes and checks on them. Who's ever day it is will go into their room to get the update from the doctor twice. Today just so happened to be my dad, and I completely forgot about it.

"Oh, crap. Sorry, Mike, it must've slipped my mind," I turn my head, looking at him. But I still hold onto myself tightly, as if I'm the only person left in the world who cares for myself.

Mikey practically leaps off of the couch, flakes of anger and disbelief engulfing him. "You mean you forgot to check on our parents?! Leo, they're hearts could've given out or they're breathing rates could be dramatically low, or even, they could be dead, and we wouldn't know because your too selfish to get off your ass and get the goddamn update from the doctor!" His screams fill house, bouncing off of the furniture and burrowing in the walls, hidden there for the rest of eternity.

I pay no mind to my little brother's foul language. It's become quite common for him to speak like this since our family's hospital admission. His anger is a product of fear, which has been fueling Mikey for the past few weeks, controlling him, consuming him.

My legs fall off the couch, hitting the ground. I throw my hands in the air, eyes wide with disbelief. Then, I can't help it, I'm yelling, feeling more defensive "It was a simple mistake, Mikey!"

"SIMPLE MISTAKE MY ASS!" Mikey shouts, louder than the last outburst. He stomps his foot and heaves a heavy, frustrated sigh. "I just-I don't understand how you can be so selfish during such miserable times!" Mikey's voice is about as helpless as the look in his eyes. Defenseless, fearsome, and, looking so utterly defeated, I stare at my brother in confusion.

"Me? Selfish?" I demand. I can't seem to hold back the sarcastic chuckle that I oh-so want to suppress.

Mikey rolls his eyes, "You think you're so special, don't you? The favorite child, the ninja elite, the leader. The one who's engaged, who impregnated his girlfriend after two months of dating. Apparently, the way you see it, is that because of all of your . . . implications, you're better than us; unable to make mistakes, never doing anything wrong. When in reality, the only thing you do is screw shit up. With Karai. With Raph. With dad. With Donnie. With me."

I stand up, balling my hands into fists. "What are you trying to say," I demand with a hiss.

"That you're self-centered, and short sighted. You don't care about anyone but yourself. Well, yourself and Karai," Mikey corrects his error.

"That's a lie," I whisper. Although, I'm not sure who it's aimed at, myself or Mikey. Despite the vileness of his words, I know it's true. Lately Karai is the only person I care about. But that doesn't mean I don't live my brothers. "I care about you guys, all of you. You're my brothers, I couldn't just not care. Never." Once again, is this me reassuring myself or my baby brother?

"Of course, how could I forget? Because that's obviously why you don't visit them in the hospital, and why you only sit next to Karai, holding her hand and moping around all day. Silly me, mistaking your devotedness for disregard," Sarcasm drips down Mikey's words like slime, poisoning the formerly-calm atmosphere.

"Look, I'm sorry that I haven't exactly been there for Raph and Donnie, but Karai is my fiancée and I'm the only one she has left in the world. You don't understand how important it is that I stay with her."

"Oh, but I do, Leo. I get that you love Karai, and I respect that, but I seriously doubt you even know a thing that happened to either Raph or Donnie within the past year."

The words sting me like a bee, impaling me with toxins similar to the one suffocating my loved ones.

I raise an eyebrow, urging Mikey forward. "You know about Donnie's disorder?"

My jaw drops and I take a few steps forward. "What disorder?" I ask slowly.

"His autism."