A/N nope, ya can't make me say it- I won't say it!
ok...ok... I don't own the turtles. (sob, wail...)
so, this's the last chapter! i hope ya liked it. please read and review- it's awesome when I get reviews, makes my day- so... anyway, this's been great fun to write, and I hope you guys enjoyed reading it!
Chapter Nine - Promises and full body casts
Michaelangelo staggered back from a particularly powerful attack from one Elite. But he continued flailing backwards.
Leo.
Donnatello's arms dropped unwillingly- leaving him wide open to the Elite he was fighting. Raphael cut a look to both of them, the pain in his side vanished. "Oh, shell." He croaked out, an aching, gnawing emptiness taking up space in his chest.
The three remaining Elite shared a look, then collectively vanished. Raphael frowned- but didn't dwell on it, he didn't care- what he cared about right now- was Leo- and Mikey and Donny.
"Don? Mike- are you..."
"Can you feel it?" Donnatello asked weakly. Raphael's breath quickened. No. I refuse- no way. Not Leo. I refuse to believe it- Raphael thought violently, everything he had inside of him fighting against the knowledge that- Leo- Leo... isn't coming home...
Michaelangelo's breathing quickened as he began to panic. "No- not Leo-!" He gasped, chest rising and falling too fast.
"Mikey-" Donnatello whispered, voice failing him. "Oh... god- it feels... I feel so empty- I can't feel him anymore!"
"Don, Mike." Raphael began, swallowing down his own pain, ignoring his own desire to sit in a helpless mess beside Donnatello and Michaelangelo. Leo wouldn't. Leo would pull us together. He'd get us up and looking for... But Leo isn't here! "Donnatello! Michaelangelo!" Raphael shouted, sounding enough like Leo for both of them to fix their attention on Raphael. "Pull it together! Leo wil- is fine- we just have to find him, and bring him home. OK?!"
Donnatello swallowed hard. "Yeah." He stood slowly. "Yeah..."
Michaelangelo nodded mutely.
"Good. Now, Leo should still have his shell cell. So, Donny, activate your tracker. We'll find him that way. Do you..." Raphael trailed off- I don't know how to do this- "Do you have your..."
"Medical Kit? Only a few basics." Donnatello rescued Raphael. He forced a smile.
"He'll be OK, Mikey. This's Leo. You know what Leo's like. Just when you think it's over, just when you think he cannot possibly have anything left to give, he pulls through. He'll be OK. He's always OK." Raphael said as comfortingly as possible. Michaelangelo nodded again, blinking helpless tears from his eyes. He gives everything, but he never gives up. Raphael almost smiled. Mikey said that... a long time ago... But he's right. Leo gives everything, but he never gives up. We can't either.
"OK. I've got 'im. Let's go." Donnatello said, saving Raphael from trying to find anything else to say.
You had better be OK, Leo. If you ain't... shell. I'll bring ya back, just ta kill ya! Raphael sent out a silent plea to his older brother. You have ta be OK. Not for me... For Donny and Mikey... They'll loose hope without you. And I can't lead 'em. Not like you do.
"Wait-" Michaelangelo said suddenly, and ran back.
"Mikey!" Raphael shouted. But, less than a minute later, Michaelangelo reappeared, with Leo's swords. Oh... how could I forget? I've never forgotten Leo's ninjaken's before...
"He'll need these, right?" Michaelangelo whispered.
"Yeah, sure he will." Raphael said weakly. I've never forgotten them... How could I forget...?
"He won't be using them for a long time." Donnatello said sternly.
"What- why?" Michaelangelo cried.
"He's hurt, remember? I've been meaning to make him relax so he can recover for a while, his body is pretty worn out." Donnatello explained. "So, I was thinking we could keep him in bed, for oh, I don't know. 6 months?"
Michaelangelo smiled. "6 months? You'll be lucky." Michaelangelo paused as they leapt over buildings, trying to ignore that horrible sinking feeling. "So, how are you planning on getting him to stay in bed for that long?"
"Full body cast sounds like a good idea." Donnatello replied mildly. Michaelangelo's smile turned into a grin. But then his face fell again.
"But... what if he's..."
"Don't even think it, Mikey. Leo is fine. He'll be fine." Raphael interupted, he and Donnatello shared a worried look over Michaelangelo's head. "You know Leo would never be irresponsible enough to go and get himself killed. How would he drive us nuts?" Raphael forced a smile. "How would be lecture me? You know Leo ain't gonna give up so easy."
"Yeah, I know." Michaelangelo said softly, staring at his brothers discarded swords. "But... if... if he's not OK... it'll be our fault."
Raphael faltered. "What? why?" Donnatello demanded.
"These." Michaelangelo said, in the same, soft, sad tone. "He made sure we would be safe. Threw his swords, you know how much he hates doing that."
"It will not be our fault, Mikey! Leo did it to protect us- it was his choice!" Raphael snapped. Why... shouldn't I be defending him? But- it isn't our fault! We can't... We can't take the blame for something like this- Leo does it... and it's killing him. I won't let that happen to us. "Now, shut up and let's go get Fearless."
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"LEO!" Michaelangelo cried out, speeding up- leaving Raphael and Donnatello behind. Leo turned slowly, slouched over slightly, covered in blood.
"...Mike?" He gasped- Michaelangelo caught him as he started to fall.
"Leo- you're OK! I thought- we thought- you left us! I couldn't feel you- I thought you were dead-" Michaelangelo shouted.
"Mikey... you're making... no sense." Leo sighed.
"Mikey- move!" Donnatello ordered, dropping down beside Michaelangelo and Leo. "Leo- you... what happened?"
"I... uh..." Leo struggled for breath, he cleared his throat. He tried to speak again.
"No, don't worry, Leo. Just... don't let go, alright?" Donnatello said weakly.
Raphael sauntered over to Satoshi- there was nothing he could do to help Donny. Michaelangelo was there anyway. Truth be told, Raphael couldn't stand looking at his older brother when Leo was so... weak. Hurt. Because Raphael always wanted to kill whoever had hurt him.
But, just like this time, despite being hurt and wounded and weak and near-death, Leo had avenged himself. Raphael inspected Satoshi- the shattered blade- the force it must have taken to break this blade! Raphael marveled. He checked for Satoshi's pulse.
Nothing.
Raphael sighed heavily- he was too worried for Leo, for Donny and Mikey- to be angry anymore. Too tired, too scared. He walked back over slowly.
"Raph... I need you to carry Leo. But be gentle, OK?" Donnatello ordered. "He's OK, but badly hurt."
"Sure thing, doc." Raphael shook his head, and knelt down beside Leo.
"Donny, I'm fine- I can walk... I'm not an invalid." Leo sighed, trying to brush Raphael away. Raphael cracked a smile. He's OK. I know Donny said he was OK... but I never really believe it until Leo says something like that.
"Quit ya whining, Leo." Raphael said flatly, and picked Leo up.
"I'm..." Leo said no more, just sighed heavily, resigning himself to his fate. "Are... you three aren't hurt, are you?"
Yeah, he's fine. Raphael hid his smile. When you get better Leo, I'm gonna beat the crap outta you for scarin' us so bad.
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"Leo- you should still be in bed!" Donnatello cried out in surprise.
"Donny, I'm going stir-crazy just lying there all day." Leo said, looking pale and exhausted from the trip downstairs. He sat heavily in the chair opposite Donnatello.
"What happened to you?" Donnatello asked, after sighing and glaring at his brother for a few minutes. He knew Leo wasn't going to give- and he was downstairs, so he might as well find out what happened. Besides, I can always have Raph man-handle him back up to bed in a bit.
Leo shook his head. "Bout the usual. Did you see Satoshi's body?"
"No, but Raph did. Why?"
"When I... when I stabbed him- Satoshi... I don't know... Released his hold on my mind, or memories, I suppose. And I... the world faded out. So... I wasn't... wasn't sure that Satoshi was dead." Leo said, as if admitting it had been difficult.
"Raph would have said... So- what did you remember?" Donnatello pressed, now curious. Leo had told them what Satoshi had made him think had happened.
"Not much. Remember wakin' up, Satoshi being there- and I guess that's when he got into my head, because a few minutes later... I must have passed out. Everything else is just a blur of pain, and vague shapes, clips of memories. Then, you and Mikey in the battle shell." Leo sighed.
"What the shell are ya doing outta bed?!" Raphael exploded. Leo jumped, then hissed and held his side.
"Damnit Raph!" Leo cried. Raphael snorted, hid a smile, composed himself, and folded his arms.
"Well? What're ya doin' outta bed?" Raphael repeated. Leo shook his head.
Donnatello grinned widely. Raphael cut him a look. "Don't worry, Raph. You know what Leo's like. He actually lasted longer in bed than I thought he would." Donnatello replied to Raphael's look.
"I still think we shouldda gone with the full-body cast." Raphael grumbled, sitting between them.
"You... what?" Leo asked mildly.
"We were discussing ways to keep you in bed for 6 months." Donnatello explained. "Raph suggested a full body cast."
"6 months?" Leo repeated.
"Yeah- and don't complain! Or I might just arrange it." Donnatello threatened. Leo grimaced and held his hands up in surrender.
"OK, OK. I swear, I shall nev-"
"Leo! You're up- when'd you get out of bed?" Michaelangelo asked.
"Bout 10 minutes ago." Leo replied.
"How're ya feeling?" Raphael asked, Michaelangelo drew a chair up, moving it closer to Leo.
"A little worried. A full body cast?" Leo scowled. Donnatello cut him a warning look. Leo held his hands up again. "Fine. Sore. But fine. Hey, Raph- Donny said you saw... Satoshi's body. He was... dead, wasn't he?"
Raphael frowned. "Yeah, I mean, as far as I could tell. I checked for a pulse, but didn't get one. Why?"
Leo shook his head. "Just... being cautious." Leo stood weakly.
"Where ya going?" Michaelangelo asked quickly.
"To the dojo." Leo rolled his eyes, both Donnatello and Raphael leapt up.
"I'll knock 'im out, you get the casting mix ready." Raphael began. Leo laughed.
"I'm joking. I'm joking." Leo shook his head. "Besides, if I was going to go to the dojo to train, I'd do it at night, when you were all asleep."
"Watch duty, from now on." Raphael said in the same tone.
Leo shook his head. Michaelangelo laughed. "Relax. The idea of a full body cast... is disturbing. I'll stay in bed."
"I'll buy that for 2 minutes." Raphael muttered and followed Leo all the way up to his bedroom.
"Oh, man, I feel like I'm being walked up to the firing squad. What, ya think I'm gonna make a run for the dojo?" Leo grinned.
"Wouldn't put it past ya." Raphael paused. "Trainin' is your vice."
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Leo sat up, he had no idea what time it was, but the lair was silent. Apart from the sound of the TV in the living room. Leo slowly slipped from bed, masking a groan of pain with a sigh. He moved to the door silently and pulled it open.
He closed the door again quickly.
I thought they were joking... Leo muttered. Raphael was asleep outside. Leo shook his head. And they think I'm protective and over-bearing... Leo shook his head, and slipped outside, past Raphael.
He made his way silently downstairs, into the living room. Michaelangelo was watching some late-night horror movie.
"You know they give you nightmares." Leo sighed, sitting beside Michaelangelo.
"Dude- you shouldn't-"
"Sshh." Leo whispered.
Michaelangelo grinned. "Snuck past the night guard then, eh?" Leo nodded. Michaelangelo smiled. "Man, is Raph gonna kill you."
"Real helpful, Mikey."
"An' you're too sick to run away." Michaelangelo continued. "You're doomed, bro."
They sat in silence for a while, Leo trying to accept his fate, and Michaelangelo trying to think of something to say, it was a first, for Mikey. To be speechless.
"Bro... I... we were so worried about you." Michaelangelo said finally. Leo nodded grimly.
"I'm sorry." Leo said softly, putting an arm around Mikey's shoulders. "I'm sorry I worried you."
Michaelangelo shook his head, and hugged his brother.
Raphael stood silently in the door way- he had been about to burst in, throw Leo over his shoulder and cart him off back to bed, but had stopped, watching, listening instead.
Michaelangelo was holding onto Leo as if he was drowning, and Leo was his life raft.
"Leo... Satoshi's dead, right?" Michaelangelo whispered. Leo swallowed.
Granted... defeating him wasn't easy... but... I can't believe it's over yet...
"Promise me it's over." Michaelangelo repeated, the silence from his brother worried him, and he looked at Leo. But- he was still there, frowning hard, staring at the ground. "Promise me."
Raphael swallowed. Why isn't Leo answering him? Damnit Leo- why aren't you...
Raphael's thought trailed off, as he realised why Leo wasn't answering Mikey, or promising Mikey it was over, that Satoshi was dead.
Leo doesn't like to lie.
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duh duh duh!
don't hate me.
maybe Leo just wants to be better safe than sorry!
or maybe, I'm a cow and wanted to leave you hanging! take it or leave it, lol.
woot, I think I'll upload my outline... cos it's... kind of funny, or scary, whichever way ya wanna look at it. I have no excuse, I was sober, and not high, when I wrote it... it just goes to show how short my attention span is...
hehehehe.
so, I hope ya enjoyed, I hope I managed to kind of keep 'em all in character.
Oh, and one last thing, i just decided that Leo spent the next 6 months in a full body cast.
hahaha! mwahahahaha! don't mess with Donny- or Raph... for that matter. because they WILL have their revenge.