A/N: Okay, I just felt like I should try to get you guys through all the sad stuff, so we can move on with the juicy stuff. Keep the tissue handy through the end of this chapter and the beginning of the next.
The drive to the old farmhouse was long and quiet. No one really felt like talking, though from time to time they'd exchange looks. Leo leaned against the back of the passenger's seat with his eyes closed. He had only taken a few bites of the muffin before abandoning it on the floor. Normally Mikey would have pounced on the muffin, but he didn't move from his spot in the back corner. He stared blankly ahead, his knees pulled up to his chest and his chin resting on his arms. He wished he'd had more time to say goodbye to Splinter, more time to show him how dear he was to him. But there wasn't. He wished he could hug him again and hear his voice again. But he couldn't.
Donnie sat across from him staring at the motionless form of their father. He still felt there was so much more he could have learned from him. He recalled the many hours they had spent discussing philosophy, life in both its corporeal state and its spiritual. In truth he hadn't believed a lot of the spiritual part until he'd found Sarah again. Now he understood it, perhaps even better than his father. He truly believed there was existence beyond the physical form and it gave him comfort to know that somewhere his father was watching over them.
Raph watched the road before him stretch outward like an unending river. It reminded him something Splinter had told him once. "There are many paths in life and we mush each chose our own. But choose wisely, for each path that leads to happiness there is another that leads to destruction. Our journey in particular is a difficult one and it will always remain so. But if we continue to choose the path of honor and not of revenge, it will make our journey smoother."
Raph sighed. He hadn't really understood what Splinter had meant at the time. He had still been very young and was upset that one of his brothers had broken his toy. Now as he looked back, he understood. Splinter had been speaking of forgiveness. Raph glanced over his shoulder at Leo. He was still a bit angry with his brother for wanting to run off, but he understood that it was the honorable thing to do. He also understood that Leo needed them as much as they needed him. Raph resigned himself to forgive his brother as long as he came back.
The vans pulled up in front of the old farmhouse and everyone climbed out. Mira gazed in wonderment around them. This was her first trip to the secluded home. It was the late autumn and there was already a chill in the air. The leaves in the many trees were changing colors and the grass wore varying shades of green and brown. It had taken most of the day to reach the farm and it was already late afternoon.
The guys carried Splinter into the barn and then went to gather dry wood for the fire. The girls spoke in quiet tones as the prepared the house for the night.
Mira was curious about the new environment and went to explore around the house and barn. But Sarah warned her to stay close, otherwise she might get lost in the deep woods that surrounded them. She had quickly nodded and reassured her mother she wouldn't wander far. The small turtle walked about the yard, looking at the large trees and empty birds nest high in their branches, their occupants flown south for the winter.
Mira rubbed at her arms. Although she wasn't as sensitive to the cold as her mother and aunts were, she did seem to be more sensitive than her father and uncles. She took a deep breath, drawing in the scents of the trees and grass. The air here was clean and crisp, nothing like the sewer lair. She spotted a grasshopper bounding across the yard a few feet away. She chased after it, jumping alongside it. That's when she saw the long fuzzy ears, poking up out of the long grass.
She grinned. "A bunny!" She ran forward and stopped no more than a foot away. She frowned. The rabbit barely moved and it blinked at her once. It was small probably no more than a year old. It kicked and clawed at the ground with its front paws a little, but its back legs were unmoving. Mira's frown deepened. It was obviously hurt and possibly dying.
She glanced over her shoulder at the barn. Sofu would know what to do if he were here. But Mommy and Daddy say he's not coming back. That he's gone on to heaven. She looked back down at the bunny and tears began to roll down her cheeks. It's not right! It's not fair! Why did he have to go?
Setting her jaw with determination, she picked up the small rabbit. "I won't let you die." She ran a hand over its fur and more tears fell as she was reminded her grandfather's warm embrace. She turned and ran back toward the house. "Mommy! Mommy!"
Sarah came onto the porch as Mira ran up the steps. "What is it, sweetie?"
"Mommy, you need to help it. It's hurt."
Sarah knelt in front of her daughter to examine the bundle in her arms. She suppressed a sigh. "I don't know if there is much we can do for him. It looks like he's been injured by a fox or some other predator."
Tears began to fall from Mira's big brown eyes again. "Please, Mama, please help him."
Sarah could feel the great sadness in her daughter and knew it was not just for the rabbit. She was feeling confused and powerless. She needed to feel like she had some control. Slowly, Sarah nodded and took the tiny animal from her daughter. "I'll do what I can, sweetie, but he still may not make it. Do you understand?"
Mira nodded and gave a small smile. "Yes. Thank you, Mommy."
Sarah regarded the tiny rabbit and he blinked at her. "Now, we need to find you somewhere safe and warm to sleep." She stood and carried him inside, Mira trotting after her.
Cat paused in her sweeping of the hall to stare at them. "What's that?"
"A bunny." Mira provided with a little smile.
The two women exchanged a look and Sarah shook her head slightly before turning towards the kitchen where April was. As they entered, April turned to look at them. She blinked at the small white and brown object in Sarah's arms. "April, do you have a box and some old newspapers?"
She gave them a small sad smile. "Sure."
After she returned with the paper, Sarah spread some on the table and set about giving the little fellow a more thorough exam. There were some tiny teeth marks on his back, but they were fairly superficial. She noticed too that his back legs weren't as hurt as they first appeared. He could move them with a bit of effort and they still seemed to have sensation in them. It was likely they had only been sprained in the attack. But had the little bunny been left outside it would not have survived the night, because he would have been even more vulnerable to predators.
At last she smiled down at Mira. "He'll be okay. A little rest and food, and he'll be good as new."
Mira grinned. "Really?"
"Yes, but he will need someone to help watch over him."
"I will!" Mira bounced a little with excitement.
Sarah smiled a little as she handed him back to her and began lining the box with the paper. They carried the box into the living room and set it against the wall. Mira laid him inside. Sarah rubbed her shell. "Now, why don't we see if we can find him something to eat?"
Outside, the guys kept piling wood, branches and even small trees until they had built a large pyre. The sun was beginning to set as they retrieved Splinter's body and lay it on top. Donnie was the one that returned to the farmhouse to collect the others.
Sarah frowned at his appearance. He looked tired and worn. Even his emotions seemed dulled by exhaustion. She had a feeling his brothers looked the same. As they left the house, Mira ran over and grabbed a handful of flowers that were growing nearby. "For Sofu?"
Donnie smiled slightly. "Yes, for Sofu." When they arrived at the pyre, he lifted her up so she could lay flowers beside him on top.
Leo took a large branch and lit it, laying it in a barrel beside him. Mira squirmed in her father's arms. "Daddy, won't the fire hurt Sofu?"
Donnie gazed at the place his father's remains lay. "No, sweetie. Your grandfather is no longer there. This is only an empty vessel. Like the box after you take the present out. Everything that once made it important is gone."
After a few quiet moments, Leo stepped out in front. He turned and met each bother's eyes before attempting to speak.
"I know I should say something right now, but I don't really know how to express what I'm feeling. Master Splinter has always been there to guide me through this sort of thing. We all share the same memories, the same love. He took us in and cared for us when no one else in the world would have. He feed us and bathed us, dried our tears and cleaned our wounds. He taught us to be strong and brave. He taught us honor and loyalty. He's always been there." He took a deep breath. "Sometimes he was strict, especially when we broke the rules, and sometimes we got angry with him because we thought what he did or said was unfair. But no matter the trouble we caused or the punishment he served we always knew he loved us. And he knew that we loved him."
Leo gave a small sad smile. "Father lived a long life and he has left us as his legacy. It is up to us to carry on with the same honor and dignity as him. It is up to us to build upon what he started for us. To grow and learn, so that we can keep our future generation safe." His eyes landed on a Mira and he paused before continuing. "To show our children the same love and dedication he showed us."
He lifted his eyes to the nearly dark sky with specks of light appearing in it. "So, Master, I'd like to thank you for everything you have given us. I know you'll continue to watch over us in spirit."
He turned and picked up the large branch that was burning in the barrel beside him. Slowly he approached the large pyre. But he stopped as his hands began to shake and he lost his grip, the branch falling to the ground. As he reached to retrieve it, another green hand landed beside his. He looked up into intense dark eyes. Raphael put his free hand on his shoulder. "You're not alone." Suddenly Michelangelo and Donatello were there too, their hands wrapped around the base of the branch. "We'll do this like we always have. Together."
Leonardo nodded, a single tear trickling down his face and reflecting in the light of the branch's fire. Together they stepped forward to light the pyre that would consume their father's remains. For a long time the four stood side by side as the flames leapt into the night sky.
Behind them the girls stood together, wiping their own tears. Sarah cuddled Mira against her as the young turtle sobbed. She hoped that her daughter would remember Splinter as she grew and all that he had meant to them. For Sarah she continued to suppress the desire to weep outright. Right now her family needed her, not just her daughter and spouse but their entire family. She needed to help them continue, to go back to life as best they could. There would be a time for own grief later.
As the night grew late, April suggested that they return to the farmhouse, leaving the brothers to watch after their father. Inside April put on a pot of tea as the others settled around the kitchen table. Sarah laid Mira on the couch and covered her with a small blanket. The youngster had cried herself to sleep. Now her mother stepped into the small kitchen and to the window. In the distance you could see the orange glow through the trees.
"I know how they feel." Kala said softly, staring at her empty cup. "My parents died barely two years ago."
"Mine have been gone a very long time. I was so young when it happened that I can hardly remember their faces anymore." Cat's shoulder's sagged. At least they hadn't lost one of their brothers too. That may have been even more painful than the loss of her parents.
April sighed as she took the pot from the stove and began to fill their cups. "My father died a long time ago too, but I still have my mother. I probably don't see her as often as I should, though."
Kala looked over at Sarah. "What about you, Sarah? Do you still have family somewhere?"
The small brunette turned from the window, her dark brown eyes seemed even darker. "I've lost too many parents to bother to count. I have a biological father somewhere on the other side of the galaxy that I've never met. But he doesn't know I'm alive and if he did, he'd try to kill me again. So, no. The only man that was ever a true father to me was Splinter. He remained in my life the longest and treated me as though I was one of his children. He is the only father I ever really had." She turned back to the window, her mind focused on her mate and the pain he was in.
Cat sighed. "So, between all of us there is only one parent left." She lifted her eyes to April. "You're lucky to have her."
Tears began to stream from April's eyes and she set down her cup. "You're right. I think I'll go call her."
As April left, Kala buried her face in her hands. Sarah put a hand on her shoulder. "How are you and Mikey doing?"
Kala shook her head. "He didn't sleep last night and he's barely ate a thing."
Cat sighed. "Neither did Raph."
She looked up at Sarah and the girl shook her head. "I was only able to get Donnie to sleep a few minutes but I was able to coax a muffin down him this morning."
Cat's eyes moved to the small bundle on the couch. "What about Mira?"
Sarah smiled slightly. "She'll be okay. Right now she is just being overwhelmed by her emotions as well as everyone else's. Once things settle a bit she'll bounce back."
Kala frowned. "And what about you?" She hadn't seen Sarah shed more than a few tears. She looked to be calm, cool and collected. But what Kala didn't know was that Sarah was raging an internal battle to remain so.
"There will be time enough for my tears later. Right now I have to stay calm and level-headed for Donnie." She glanced out the window and sighed. "I think I'll take them some tea. Will you keep an eye on Mira for me?" Both Kala and Cat nodded as she left.
A/N: I hope I did a good job on the eulogy. I don't think Leo would have said much more than that. Let me know if you liked it.
