April's POV
I was running as fast as I could along the sewer tunnels to the lair. I don't know why I was running since I was exhausted. I'd just found out that one of my best friends was being abused, then take him to a hospital where I had to wait all night for him in the operating room them lie to the nurses as to how he got those injuries all while having a raging headache due to having used my alien physic powers. But yet I kept running, and running, and running and running until finally I made it to the lair's entrance.
I stopped and felt my body swaying. I stood behind the turnstiles and watched as the Turtles playing a board game. They were so happy and care free, just mucking around like the kids they were. It was such a contrast to all the horror I'd seen today.
Eventually Leo noticed me and smiled before realising the state I was in.
"April are you OK?" he asked. Immediately him and his brothers came over to me with concern in their eyes and their arms wide open. Something that Casey doesn't have.
I couldn't take it anymore and my knees gave way as I let put the tears that I had been holding back for the past hours. I heard the guys rush towards me. Donnie reached me first and started rubbing my back to calm me down and I couldn't stop my my head resting on his shoulder. I couldn't see through my tears but I could hear Leo's questions, Donnie's soothing sounds, Raph promising numerous tortures to anyone who had tried to hurt me and Mikey assuring me that everything was going to be alright. I tried to control myself but all the obvious love they were showing me only made it harder. Eventually I was able to calm down so that my painful cries were only choking sobs. My make up had run down my face making me appear like a demented clown and I was certain I stank worse then the sewer. But I was beyond caring. Others had experienced worse. I wiped my tears away to see Leo's worried face near mine.
"April?" he whispered "What happened?"
I took a deep breath to steady myself before saying "It's Casey" and then I told them the story.
I watched a their expressions changed from confusion to worry, to sadness and anger. When I had finished they all were silent in shock, lost in their own thoughts.
Raph was the first to recover. His eyes were so ablaze with fury that they burned white and in them I could see murder.
"I'm going to kill him!" he shouted, his voice shaking with rage "I'M GOING TO KILL THAT BASTARD!"
"Raph wait it's daytime and Casey wouldn't-" but my words fell on death ears as he let out an almost primal roar before sprinting off down the sewer tunnel.
"Don't worry I'll go follow him to make sure he doesn't do anything stupid" Leo said before turning to Donnie "Take April to the infirmary and make sure she's ok"
Donnie nodded then Leo took off after Raph. My head was still on Donnie's shoulder so he looked down at me and asked if I was ok to walk. I tried but I was to drained so I shook my head. He blushed before hooking his arm under my legs so he could carry me bridal style to the the infirmary. Mikey shouted to say he was going to tell master Splinter what had happened and to make his 'world famous speciality pizza' to cheer everyone up. But even Mikey who was always so cheerful, smile was a little bit fainter, and step had a little less bounce.
In the infirmary I lay down on the bed while Donnie checked my vitals. After a few minutes he seemed satisfied that I wasn't about to die on the spot.
"Well" he said "You have no physical injuries that I can see but you do appear to be dehydrated and exhausted. I suggest that you have a glass of water then get some sleep"
I smiled but then shook my head "Sorry Donnie but I need to stay awake"
He frowned then nodded "Well in that case I prescribe you a warm cup of coffee" he said giving me the one on his desk.
I smiled gratefully as I took a long sip. As far as I know I'm the only one Donnie's ever let share his coffee. I'd heard lots of tales from his brothers about what happened I'd one of them even looked at his coffee. None of them ended well.
I looked at Donnie as he slowly put his medical supplies away. But I could tell that he wasn't really focused on the task at hand. Also I could see a sad far away look in his eyes.
"Donnie?" I said
Donnie's POV
I heard her say my name from the bed but I didn't look up. I was too ashamed. It was no secret that I never liked Casey but I never wanted anything like this to happen to him. But I'd hated him before I'd even met him, before I even knew his name, just because he a 'boy' friend to April. What kind of horrible person am I?
"Are you alright?" she asked.
I turned to face her but I couldn't look her in the eye. I didn't want her to hate me. She gave me a concerned look then got of the bed and started to walk towards me. The doctor in me was about to tell her to sit down again when she wrapped me into a hug. I wanted to push her away but I was lost against her touch. I didn't deserve her care. I was mean and hurtful towards someone who was being abused all because I was jealous over a silly crush. If I'd known I wouldn't have acted like such a jerk. If April knew then she'd hate me forever.
"I'm so sorry" I whispered
"Why?" she asked confused
"I should have been nicer to Casey. I was always so hostile towards him."
"Hey" she said breaking the hug then putting her finger under my chin so I had to look at her "Don't blame yourself. It wasn't your fault"
"But I couldn't have helped either" I murmured.
"Look if your going to apologise to someone then say it to Casey when he gets out of hospital. But right now I need to go back to Casey's place and pick up Shadow" She turned to leave but I grabbed her arm. Was she serious?!
"April you can't go back to that madman's home all by yourself!"
She snatched her hand away "Relax Donnie, I'll be fine. Look when I was there with Casey, before we went anywhere he made me drop off Shadows at his next door neighbours. He told me to pick her up and take her down to the lair as soon as I had a chance. And I don't want to leave her in that place any longer then I have to."
I saw that stubborn glint in her eye that I loved so much and knew that nothing I said was going to change her mind.
I sighed "Ok just let me follow you on the rooftops so I can look out for you and watch you from Casey's apartment. I don't want that man to hurt you too"
"Ok" she agreed before leaving the room. I grabbed my bo staff and followed after her. I wasn't going to let anything or anyone harm April.
Raph's POV
I was flying across the roof tops. I could feel the adrenaline furled by fury cursing through my veins allowing me to run faster then I ever had before. As soon as I found that pathetic bastard he's going to wish that he'd never been born.
"Raph! Wait up!" I heard 'Fearless' yell from behind me. I growled. I wasn't in the mood to deal with Leo and his stuck up ass right now.
"DON'T YOU DARE TRY AND STOP ME LEO!" I shouted over my shoulder. He just doesn't get it! I just found out that someone had constantly been using my friend as their own personal punching bag and I swear that I was going to-
Suddenly a large force hit me from the side of my head and I splayed across the rooftop till I hit an air vent. I sprang back up expecting to see the foot or the kraang only to find Leo standing above me.
"WHAT THE HELL!" I shouted in his face but Leo ignored me.
"Raph, you need to calm down" he said.
I threw my head back and laughed maniacally " Calm down! Ha! I'd like to see how calm you could be if found out that ya 'new best friend' Karai was bein' abused under ya own freaking nose!"
My breathes were ragged and my chest was rising and falling unevenly. The anger inside of me was reaching breaking point. If I didn't beat the crap outa something right now I was going to explode.
I was about to run off when Leo yanked me by the shoulder, forcing me to face him. It was taking all of what little self control I had left not to beat his face to a pulp.
"Raph I know your upset, we all are but this isn't the right thing to do about it"
I shoved him away "Oh yeah great plan Fearless. You got any other grand ideas" I said my voice dripping in sarcasm.
He put his hands on his hips "You want to help Casey don't you?"
"What do you think?!"
"Well don't you think that seeing his best friend in his time of need might help him a little bit"
DAMN! I screamed inside my head as I kicked an air vent so hard it flew off the roof. Why does Leo always have to be so god damn right? I'm such a bonehead. I should be there for Casey not wanting to bust some guy's head in.
"Come on" he said "I'll text April to see which room he's in and we'll go and see him"
He ran off in the direction of the hospital and I followed him till we got to a fire escape on the side of the hospital building.
"April said its this one. I'll wait here" Leo said. I nodded in the closest way to a thank you that he was ever going to get then climbed in through the window. Only to find Casey fully dressed, putting on his skates in the chair at the corner of the room. Ain't that meathead supposed ta be resting?
"Err... What are ya doing?" I asked.
He jumped at my voice but then relaxed when he realised that it was me "Hey Raph! Great timing buddy, let's get outa here" he tried to stand up but as soon as he did a flash of pain slapped across his face and he clutched his side as his knees gave way.
"Casey!" I yelled as a raced across the room to catch him before he hit the floor.
"You OK?" I asked. He nodded but I could still see the pain in his face so I helped him to the hospital bed.
"Yeah, don't sweat it man. I'm cool." He said trying to get off the bed but before he could I grabbed him back.
"Casey. Either you stay in that bed or I'll make you!" I threatened. For a moment I thought that he was going to retaliate but fortunately for him he thought better of it and grudgingly sat back down.
"Look it was just a purple dragon that got lucky ok? You should see the other guy" he said chuckling.
I rubbed the back my neck awkwardly as I sat down at the end of his bed "April told us what happened" I said kinda apologetically.
His face fell as he reveal his true broken self that he his so well behind the mask of cockiness and arrogance. I'd only seen him like this a few times before but he always covered it up quickly with a smirk and a punch.
I sat awkwardly at the end of his bed. We kept giving weird looks at each other since neither was good with all this mushy emotional crud. The last person I ever expected that I'd be talking about feeling with would be Casey.
"So... When did the doctors say you could leave?" I asked to stop this long silence.
He looked a bit confused at the question then shrugged "Dunno. A coupla days maybe"
"Okay" we sat there in silence for a few more moments since neither of us knew what to say.
After a while Casey stretched but when he did his shirt lifted up to reveal his midriff. It was completely wrapped in bandages that were drenched in blood and was oozing green puss. I could feel my blood starting to boil in rage as I gripped the bed so hard that my knuckles had turned white. How DARE someone hurt Casey like this!
"Casey ya gotta tell someone!" I shouted at him.
But he just shook his head "No way man! You know what I told April. I can't tell the police!"
"Fine!" I screamed as I jumped up and stormed towards the window. "If you aint gonna do something about it, then I will!"
"What do ya mean?" he asked very concerned.
"I'm going ta teach that son of a bitch a lesson that he ain't going ta forget!" I wielded my sais to emphasis my point.
"NO!" I heard Casey cry. I looked to see a desperate plea in his eyes that I hope I'll never have to see again.
"Listen man. I won't let you do this. No matter what the dudes done he's still my Dad. He's still the guy who taught me how to ride my bike, play hockey, fight. And when I was younger if I had a nightmare he'd hold me close and say that he'd protect me from whatever dangers there were in the world. In the mornings after he's calmed down I can still see that man sometimes. I can tell that deep down he doesn't want to hurt me or Shadow. He just can't help himself."
I stayed glued to the spot stunned by what he said. I ain't entirely convinced that it wasn't just the drugs talking but why cant he see that that man he's talking about doesn't exist anymore.
"Yeah sure" I scoffed "Tell me something, if he's such a swell guy then why are ya lying in a hospital bed with a broken rib?!"
He scowled at me "I'm serious! Don't hurt him or as soon as I get outa this prison I'll kill ya!"
"Fine! At least then that creep you call 'Father' won't be able to hurt you no more!"
He groaned then he collapsed against the pillow then turned his head to face me again. "If ya lay a finger on him then I'll bust outa here and go to the darkest corner of New York City to take on every single street gang I can find"
Arrrhhh! I gripped the window frame in frustration so hard that I left an imprint. Why does Casey have to such a phyco that unfortunately I know that he really would go off and fight with a broken rib.
"Fine" I spat. I'll do as the homicidal maniac asks but that doesn't mean I have to like it.
He smiled sadly "Thanks Raph. Look after Shadow will ya?"
I was too wound up to answer so I nodded and leaped out of the window onto the fire escape where Leo was waiting. I could tell by his concerned expression that he'd heard all of it.
"Are you Ok?" he asked.
I shrugged. I went to Casey to try and help him but I feel like I only made everything worse.
"Lets go back to the lair" Leo said. I numbly followed him with a sinking feeling growing in my chest