My Best Friend

Author Ishi Tatsu

Chapter 15

Oh shell, I promised myself I wouldn't do this anymore. I thought as I fought to keep my breathing under control and hope to lose the sob like quality. I've always been more prone to tears than my brothers, even Michelangelo. But if anyone asked about this particular moment right now it was a combination of physical and emotional pain.

I directed Michelangelo's fall as much as possible so he didn't hit his head. Leo stumbled but managed to stagger up to his feet. He winced as he got his breathing under control. If that band of purple-brown bruising above his belt meant anything, he was lucky if a rib wasn't broken. "Are you okay?" I asked glad my voice was as steady as it was.

"Yea," the older turtle wheezed out, his gaze calculating and voice distracted.

I wiped at my eyes silently cursing the painkillers I took before bed. I wanted to blame the sting at my eyes on the usually lethargic inducing drug telling myself that it only enhanced my crybaby-ness; as Mikey would put it. "What happened?" shell my voice was shaky again.

"Come on," Leo's voice was soft as he tried to collect Michelangelo to his chest, "I'll tell you after we take care of Mikey, he might not be himself when he wakes up. We also have to change those bandages."

I was glad I had installed fold out cots that attached to the wall. Pull a cord and that was it; resting or restraining up to five. I pulled one down next to Raph as Leo abbreviated what happened.

After Mikey was secured Leo sat me down and I tried to think about the implications of what he told me.

Wow, I thought flexing one reviled digit and watching the injured flesh flex and fold. I almost needed stitches some of those are pretty deep.

Leonardo's voice cut through my internal ramblings, "I'm sorry."

"For what?" I asked when I notice he wasn't looking me in the eye.

"I forgot about your hands when I asked you to take care of Raphael," he didn't so much as glance up. I sighed.

"What else?" I coxed.

He glanced up and smiled slightly, "I could never fool you."

"It's when you don't look me in the eye," I said.

Meeting my eyes he gently squeezed the uninjured part of my forearm answering with, "Just useless musings and self-recriminations." The drugs must have really been affecting me because he continued before I understood what he meant. "But it doesn't matter we can't do anything until Raph wakes up."

"Not necessarily we could try to retrieve the last post on my laptop. Find out what he was told," I offered.

"I'll type, your hands can't take much more especially on those pain killers," Leonardo offered.

"But someone has to monitor Mikey his pulse, respirations and blood pressure could drop dangerously low. I mean, we don't know what's going on and what if there's some drug in his system and he has a bad reaction and... and... " I nearly panicked, tears welling up again. Oh how I hated drugs.

"Don, Donnie calm down," Leo said softly cupping my cheeks in his hands, "We'll bring the laptop in here. That way we'll be here when Raphael wakes up too." One of his thumbs wiped at a trail of moisture, "We will find a way to help our brothers." The steal in those golden brown eyes calmed the chemicaly amplified fear.

"I know Leo, thanks." I said with a calming smile.

"Great now that we got that covered could someone tell me what the shell happened?" Raph's sudden voice caused us to jump and look over to the cot.

He struggled to a sitting position and one look at his cast started him growling. "Donnie what the shell are you doing castin my arm with your hands da way they are?" His voice rose at the end causing me to flinch.

Leonardo answered though, "It's not his fault."

"Oh so you made him do it?" Raphael challenged angrily.

"No, thats what you said before you passed out. 'It's not his fault.' You knew something was wrong with Michelangelo and you didn't say anything. Why?" Leo returned the challenge.

"Cause ya wouldn't believe me, cause you don't 'believe in ghosts'," he made quotation motions with his free hand.

"It would help if you told me what happened." Leonardo offered.

Raphael looked away first this time obviously disturbed by the memory. Taking a deep breath he spoke, "It started just after you two went in. Mikey wasn't letn' me leave 'im. I saw a little girl and I thought she was lost ya know, from like the tour group.

She was on the front steps, lookin' scared. I thought I'd just be in and out, take her to the group where she'll find her parents or somethin'. But when I just got in the house Mikey said no one was there and the door slammed shut. For a moment I could hear Mikey beating on the door cryin' out for me."

He struggled through the story and finished with, "By the time I got out there he was talkin' to himself arguin' and spinin' around like trying to face himself. I Grabbed him to hold him still and when that guy in there said I couldn't reach my brother... I lifted him to shake out some answers and you showed up."

"Who said you couldn't reach Michelangelo?" Leo asked confused.

"Damn it Leo some ghosts at that place got to him okay?" Raph nearly shouted.

And the room fell silent.

To Be Continued...