Chapter III: The Choices We Make
April had news from Leo.
"It's good to hear from you, April." Don smiled, "How was South America."
"Hot and humid." April sighed over the phone. "I found the last statue for Max Winters, though. So that's good news. I also have news from Leo."
Don blinked, as he sounded surprised. "Really? I haven't heard from him in six months."
"Yeah" April sounded sad. "Anyway, he's healthy. I found him in the jungle near the village he's been protecting. He sends his love."
Don laughed, "Sorry, April, but I can't really see Leo saying that."
April laughed, "Okay, so he didn't say that exactly. You know he means well. It's just the postal service is down for the season."
Did the season last six months or what? Don frowned at his own anger. Where did that come from? "Did he…say anything about coming home?"
"I should level with you, Don. I told him things at home haven't been…good. I think that got him worried." Don closed his eyes and grimiest. Great, now Leo's worried? Don had just put a bandage on the old wound on his family, and now the prodigal son is worried?
Things were healing at home for the third time. Don still held hope that this time the wall between Raph and his brothers was finally down. Having Leo rushing home was…not necessary. It might actually make things worse since Raph blamed Leo for leaving. Things were getting more complicated.
"Don?"
Don shock his head, "Sorry, April. I'm just…glad." That was a half-truth, half-lie. "Things are getting better here. Honestly."
"You sure?" April asked with concern in her voice.
Don nodded, and acted his best to be happy. "Yeah! Seriously, thanks for everything you and Casey have done. This year...just hasn't been the greatest."
"No need to thank us, Don." April smiled. "That's what family is for. Hey, I've got another shipment. I'll call if I hear anything from Leo."
"Okay, bye, April." Don hung up the phone and stared at it. There was no real evidence that Leo would come home, was there?
Maybe Don's pessimistic attitude just needed a time out. Mikey was just the right prescription for a cloudy disposition.
Ordered to have a sick day, Mikey wasn't found on the sofa. The game controls and remote were oddly untouched. Normally, Mikey would have a field day with the entertainment center.
Walking to Mike's room, Don found him on his bed where Raph found him after practice that mourning. Here it was a little after seven at night, and Mikey was writing? In his lap was a worn journal Don had seen near Mike's bed often in the past months.
"Hey!" Don came in, and sat on the bed. "April called. She's back from Argentina."
Mikey brightened, but didn't look up. "Did she have a good time?"
"Yep." Mikey was sitting in the far corner, against the wall. So Don lied down on the rest of the bed. Man, did his back hurt. He had to stretch more between calls or something. "She found Leo."
Mikey looked up from his journal. "Really? How is he?" His voice was hopeful and happy.
"He's fine." Don yawned, "He's still protecting that village." Don opened his eyes to the ceiling. "She told him things aren't…good at home."
Mikey scoffed, "That's an understatement, but things are good now, right?"
Don nodded and smiled. "I really think Raph will turn around this time."
"Me too!" Mikey smiled, closed his journal and tossed it to his comic books. He stretched out next to his brother which sparked another memory in Don's mind. The memory was of all four of them laying together on an old blanket, staring at the ceiling and just talking. Man did he miss those times.
"Feeling better?" Don asked, turning his head and bumping it into Mikey's forehead.
Mike grinned big. "Dude, I haven't felt better in weeks!"
Don laughed, "Me either! Months actually."
A few peaceful moments of silence passed before Mikey said. "You know they'll find out about you-know-who?"
"I know." Don said solemnly.
Mikey turned a little, and said. "Why don't we…um…break the news before the Nightwatcher movie comes out?"
Don blinked at this. "Are you saying we should tell Splinter about the Nightwatcher?"
"Yeah, that might…you know…lessen the punishment a bit."
"Mike, we can't just tell Splinter that the Nightwatcher is a personal associate of his. Do you know the ramifications of that?"
Mike sat up, "They're going to find out sooner or later. Why not shut off the fan before everything hits the fan. Who knows, maybe Splinter will understand."
Don sat up, "Yeah, like how he understood last time?"
"Dude, Raph just left with the cycle and the NW garb. Us knowing solved nothing."
"I disagree." Don didn't know where this was coming from. Was this was Raph feared? "Raph seems serious about changing this time."
Mikey glared directly at Don and mocked, "Yeah? Like last time or the time before that?"
"Where is this coming from, Mikey? Is this because of your fight between Raph? That was six months ago."
Mikey was obviously still bitter. "I'm not the one playing vigilantly. I'm not the one who lied three times to his brothers about the same darn thing. Face it, Don. He's doing it again. We're coving up for him again. I only want to tell Splinter because I'm concerned for his safety." Now Mikey was being defensive and bitter.
"I'm worried too, Mikey." Don said softly as Mikey glared at the floor. "I know it's hard to forgive him. Especially since this has happened before, but we have to. He's our brother."
Mikey took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Don. I just…The Nightwatcher was such a hero to me. Raph is too. But their heroes in different reason. The Nightwatcher is the loner hero, and my brother is the one who's there for us, you know? It's like finding out that your father is Superman. It's awesome, but then he misses your graduation and baseball games because he was busy fighting stopping a robbery or something."
In Mikey's own way, he explained perfectly what the Nightwatcher situation did to him. Raph, Mikey's Superman, wasn't being a brother before being the Nightwatcher. Don never thought about that in that light, and it made him sick.
Pulling Mikey into a one arm embrace, Don sighed, "It's going to get better, Mikey. Have you told him about how you felt?"
Scoffing, Mikey leaned his head onto Don's shoulder. "Yeah, right. We hardly talk anymore. Why should the first thing I say be, 'Hey, Raph, are you too busy being the Nightwatcher to be my brother? I'll even let you choice the movie, big bro.' Sorry, Don, but I'm done playing the sad baby brother. I just…want things the way they use to be."
"Me too." Don sighed, "Me too."
Leo was leaving. What April told him about how the family was needing him hit hard in Leo's chest. After her plane disappeared into an azure sky, Leo turned to the temple to pack. Mostly he picked a few souvenirs. His bag was ripped, dirty, and sad looking, but it was still useful. Leo was looking forward to a closed shower and water that he could control the tempature of.
He thought about visiting the village one more time, but what would he say? Would he say anything? Could he just leave? They still held hopes that the Ghost of the Jungle would never leave. The Ghost of the Jungle would always be there to protect their village.
Guilt. It's a funny thing. Leo felt like being split in two. Half wanting to stay; half wanting to go. He couldn't have it both ways. Sadly he entertained the thought of having his family brought to him in the jungle. They would love it here, he sadly noted. Yet, New York City was always home for them, and Leo couldn't be that selfish.
Leo had wrestled with this predicament two millions times in the past year. Each month on the 14th, he held a special meditating session in where he would concentrate on his family. Each time he broke down with homesickness, but the homesickness lessened each month.
It scared Leo that a part of him wanted to stay in the jungle forever. It scared and fascinated him. He was terrified of the village's fate once he left. The soldiers were staying away for the most part, but they would be back once the danger was away. Then the village would…
No! Leo had to get home. He had to be the leader, the brother.
Zipping up the rusty zipper, Leo hoisted the bag over his shoulder next to his swords. His family needed him, so he was going to be there.
There was nothing complicated about that.
Raph tied up the last thug for the night. The police arrived to see his handiwork, and Raph grinned at this. It was an easy night. Crime was down because of the Nightwatcher factor. Raph found honor and pride in his efforts. When he fought, he could forget how complicated his life. All thought disappeared in a fight. There was only action and reaction. Punch, kick, kick, stab, repeat. These things were simple and easy to understand.
What wasn't so easy or simple was Raph's thoughts after that night's battle.
Guilt. It's a funny thing. Mikey and Don had forgiven him…again. Still his conscience still gnawed at him. This was the third time he mess up, damn it! Third time he broke their hearts with another set of lies. When was it going to end?
Raph had almost wished they had acted in anger. Anger was something Raph was an expert in understanding. Forgiveness and tears just rubbed against the grain, in Raph's opinion. He wanted Don to slap him; Mikey to yell at him again. Do anything but forgive and still love.
Why? Because Raph was far from forgiving himself.
But, that's the ramification of the choice he made.
Short chapter. It needs to be because the next chapter is...bigger? Sure, let's go with that. LOL.
Anway, thanks for reading.
-Weezellee