Disclaimer: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is the property of Viacom, Nickelodeon, Kevin Eastman, Peter Laird and all organizations associated with said names. This is non-profit.
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Exile
by BrownEyedBirdie
Author's Note: Welcome to all readers, both new and regulars! A guest asked if this story will cover all of season three or just up to a certain point. Well, the answer is kind of tricky because if I explain, it might give away too much of my plot. I'll leave it with saying that I am only covering the time Leo was unconscious. This chapter is a Casey focused chapter because I like challenging myself and Casey is a very tough character for me to write for. Weiterlesen!
Chapter 14 – Muscle
Casey woke up earlier than the rest of the house. At least so he thought. As he climbed out of bed, he noticed the absence of Raph from his mat on the floor. Mikey slept deeply and Donnie, who slept light, opened an eye to see Casey getting up. He closed his eye again.
"I'll be quiet," Casey said. Donnie's response was a soft hum.
Casey strolled down the stairs and grabbed the heavy coat. Although he was sure he wouldn't need it before long. With what he had planned, he'd work up quite a sweat. When Raph had said they'd wanted to use the barn for training, he knew it would need a thorough organizing. As he stepped outside, he was hit with a warm breeze.
"What's that saying?" Casey said, "March and lions go bam."
"March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb," Raph said from the entrance to the barn. He wore no coat. Casey eyed him sharply.
"That's a little bold," Casey said, "It's not that warm yet."
"Raph blinked sleepily at him.
"If you'd been out here sooner," Raph said, "We could both be warm inside."
"Let's go then," Casey said, "Don't let me stop you."
Inside, the bales of hay sat stacked across the floor, with only a space wide enough for a person to maneuver towards the back of the barn, where space was clear. Scatters of hay and sand were strewn across the floor.
"You get started already?" Casey asked.
"No, that was from the other day," Raph replied, "I needed to blow off some steam."
"The hay never stood a chance," Casey said sarcastically.
They got to work, lifting hay bales and stacking them into new towers against the walls. Raph took a few minutes to clear the room in the area at the back for Donnie's lab. Casey finished his first stack and joined Raph, carrying a large jug of water. He handed it to Raph and set up the tables.
"How's Leo doing?" Casey asked.
"He's still pretty sick," Raph said, "Donnie says that he's got an infection from his leg being dislocated, but the medicine should help."
"That's good," Casey said.
"The biggest worry is keeping him hydrated," Raph said, "The fever is really taking a toll."
Can you get fluids in him?" Raph shook his head.
"Something about output vs. input," Raph said, "It's all geek speak to me."
He resumed his throwing of hay with an added vigor. Casey was tactful enough not to mention the tears. Eventually Casey went to another section to work, giving Raph privacy.
As he continued to stack the hay, Casey thought about his own family. He imagined what he would go through if it was his little sister hurt so badly without proper medical care.
"Not sure I could handle it as well," he thought.
Life was not exactly kind to Casey's family, but he was a survivor and made sure his father and little sister were able to also. But they were missing. New York was in complete information blackout, thanks to the Kraang. He wondered if his family was mutated or if they had escaped. Had they gone into hiding out here? Out of state? He shook his head. He did not want to think about this. He began to understand Raph's sudden drive to clean up the barn and he started throwing hay onto the stacks.
After a few hours, Mikey came out with scrambled eggs, toast and another gallon of water.
"Donnie says Leo's putting out fluids," Mikey said, "But his fever is climbing slowly." Raph's fist clenched.
"Donnie's going to try and do an icepack," Mikey continued, "He's happy about …," Mikey scrunched up his brow, "...tissue and organ not failing but wants to do some muscle work to prevent troyphying."
"Atrophy," Raph corrected in a hollow voice, "We'll be done in a few more hours."
Mikey nodded and left. Casey and Raph said nothing as they returned to work. Casey removed his outer shirt and heaved another bale. His stacks were twice his height and he was still barely halfway through
"Why would Mr. O'Neil need so much hay?" Casey grumbled.
"Sell it," Raph said and Casey jumped nearly as high as his bale stacks.
"What are you trying to do, give me heart failure?" Casey snarled.
"Big bad vigilante scared of a turtle?" Raph taunted.
Casey opened his mouth to retort when he noticed the bloodshot eyes watering.
"You okay?" Casey asked.
"Think I'm allergic to this stuff," Raph said, "Feel like a break?"
"Sure," Casey said, "Casey Jones could use a good workout."
"So could I," Raph said, "But I'll have to use you."
Casey punched him good naturedly. The two took positions, punching out at each other and blocking for another hour. Finally, Casey crashed to the floor as Raph flipped him.
"I'm done," Casey said, "Hope you feel better at least."
Raph glared at him. "You let me kick your butt."
"What? No way!" Casey said.
"Don't give me that, Jones," Raph said, "I've seen you last longer fighting Kraang."
"Well, I'm a bit out of shape," Casey said, "Isn't that what we were sparring for?"
Raph continued to glare. Casey knew he didn't believe him, but Raph turned his gaze.
"I've felt better," Raph said, answering the previous question, "Fighting you is better than fighting Donnie or Mikey, but the only one who could give me a challenge was Leo."
"Hey, don't talk like he's gone, man," Casey said, "Leo's tough. He'll pull through."
"And if he doesn't?" Raph asked.
"He will," Casey said, "But that won't ever change how tough the rest of you are."
"I used to think being tough was enough," Raph said, "I really thought muscle was all it took. But now I don't know."
Casey watched as Raph walked slowly back to the house.
A sudden gut-twisting fear filled him for his own family. He grabbed hold of a bale and threw it.
"Casey!"
Casey looked behind him as a shovel full of snow flew into the yard. His little sister stood in the doorway. She was bundled head to toe for outdoors. Only her huge brown eyes could be viewed in her winter pale face.
"What's up, Cami?" Casey asked tiredly.
"Daddy said you gonna take me sledding," she said. She pulled her sled out from behind her and ran up to him. Three feet shorter than her brother, Cami stared up into Casey's flushed face. Casey drew a gloved hand across his sweating brow and frowned.
"Right now?" Casey said, "I'm busy shoveling. It'll be dark by the time we get to the park."
"Please!" Cami said, "I was good at school all day yesterday and all my friends are going."
"Cami, why didn't you tell me about this before I started working on the front walk?" Casey said, "I've got three more walks to do for the neighbors."
Cami looked down and twiddled her mittens. Casey gave a heavy sigh.
"How about going tomorrow?" Casey said, "With the money I earn, we can get hot cocoa too."
"But Mandy is having a party at the park today," Cami said. Casey flinched.
"Mandy," he asked, "As in Mandy Morgan?"
"Yes," Cami said quietly. She looked nervously into his eyes. Casey rolled his eyes skyward.
"Will Nick be there?" Casey asked. Nick Morgan, Mandy's older brother, was on the same hockey team as Casey and had been Casey's best friend since 2nd grade. Cami's downturned face was the only answer he needed.
"Sorry, Cam," Casey said, "No chance."
Cami's eyes pooled with tears.
"Cami, I'm sorry," Casey said, trying to figure out how to comfort the young girl.
"I know," Cami said, "And I should have told you. I just wanted to go so badly."
Casey looked around for any sort of help. The only thing he could see was snow to shovel. Suddenly, Casey got an idea.
"Cami, I've gotta get back at this," Casey said, "How about I at least take you for hot cocoa after I'm done."
Cami nodded sadly and went back inside. Casey waited for the door to shut and ran up the street to a neighbor. After a couple of hours, he went back into the house and knocking on Cami's bedroom door.
"Hey, ready for you cocoa?" he asked. Cami nodded and pulled on her coat. Casey lead her down the hall and out the door. Casey watched as Cami's face when from sad to confused to overjoyed in less than two seconds. Waiting for her was a mound of snow running from one end of the yard to the other. A space was dug to form a bridge which would allow people to walk out.
"For me?" Cami said softly.
"For you and all the kids in the building, if they want?" Casey said. He glanced up at the windows and saw several hopeful faces peering out. Parents were looking on as well. Casey waved a hand to show they could join the fun. Eyes went wide and whipped away from the windows.
"Better get ready," Casey said, "I think you've got a party coming to you."
Cami grinned and ran back inside. A few moments later, she and half a dozen kids were climbing up the makeshift hill and sledding. Parents carried out mugs of hot cocoa for the kids and someone handed Casey a warm drink.
"You done good, boy-o," a lady said as she watched her children slide down the hill. Casey grinned and took a drink of warm apple cider. He grabbed his shovel and threw another pile of snow up.
"Casey," April called, "Are you coming into dinner?"
Casey blinked and looked around. He was lying on the now cleared floor of the barn. His bare arms were scratched and bleeding. He had dirt and hay in his hair.
April poked her head through the barn door. Outside, the day was slowly ending as the first of March sun set.
"You never came in for lunch," April said, "You must be…what happened?"
Casey looked up at her worried face and grinned.
"Just displaying the awesome skills that only Casey Jones can do," he said.
"Well, before we have more displayed, let's get you cleaned up," April said and pushed out the door. The chilly air gave his heated skin chills and bit at the scratches.
"Hey, lemme put my shirt on at least," he said. April smirked.
"Pipe down and move your butt," she said, "I swear Jones, you have no clue how to take care of yourself."
"Probably true," Casey said, "But the job gets done."
"Only downside will be when Raph finds out you didn't leave him any work to do," April said.
"You think he'll be mad?" Casey asked.
"Hey, don't worry, I'll still fix you up afterwards," she replied. Casey came to a dead halt and stared after her.
"You're kidding, right?" Casey said. April kept walking.
"Hey, Red, come on," Casey said, "That's not funny." He tore up the steps. He stopped once he reached the door and glanced behind him. The sun bathed the yard in orange and yellow. Inside, he could hear laughing and the grunting complaint as April delivered the news. And it may have just been his imagination, but he thought he could smell hot cocoa and cider in the breeze.
"I'll see you soon, Cami," Casey whispered, "I have to believe that."
*()()()*
What do you think? Cami is my canon name for Casey's sister, so I guess I sort of own her. This story was inspired by my next door neighbors who build a snow fort in their front yard every winter. They borrow snow from all the yards to make it. I'll see you all next week for chapter 15.