One Week Later
The red-masked turtle sent a grin toward downed opponents. The scuffle began and ended in less time than it took to work up a sweat, resulting in a handful of teenage thieves laid out in the alleyway.
There were nights when Raphael desired a greater challenge, but the satisfaction of stopping some ruthless punks in their tracks never really got old. Still wouldn't hurt if they could last a little longer, and give us an actual workout. Shell, we have to spar with each other, just to keep things interesting.
"Are you watching, Raph?" The slightly testy tone Leonardo took made Raphael want to snap at him, but all he did was grit his teeth. "We've seen bigger packs than these guys, not far from the area. Don and Mike have to be close by too. All you need to do is stand at the entrance, and make sure no one else is coming. Think you can handle that while I finish tying them up?"
Raph mentally cursed his brother's superiority complex, but didn't mind the task. It gave him the chance to unobtrusively check the game he'd been wondering about for a few minutes. Leo would normally chew him out for looking at his phone while they were on patrol, but the blue-masked turtle would be none the wiser if he kept it concealed.
Raphael went near the mouth of the alley and scanned the quiet street on the other side. It's about dead now. Too bad. Have to entertain myself some other way.
Lifting the phone from his belt, he opened a browser to check for a score. He barely resisted the urge to pump a fist when he noticed the two extra touchdowns his "team of the week" had over Luke's Tarheels. He'd never seen an entire football game in his life before meeting the man. Now he had the joy of rooting for whoever happened to be playing against them, and giving Doc endless ribbing when his team lost.
He scrolled through the description of recent plays, and reloaded the page to check how much time was left in the game. Six minutes in the fourth quarter. Might be just about time to text him and rub in another loss-
The collision of a brick with the side of his head rudely interrupted before he could bring up a message field. His surroundings blurred for a moment, just before two pairs of heavy boots bore down on top of him at once. One connected solidly with his mouth, while the other rammed repetitively into his side. Murky thoughts couldn't coordinate with muscles, despite noting the danger.
A heavy foot was descending over his face again, when it was suddenly caught and redirected. The teen's entire body followed, cast mercilessly against the side of the building. Raphael heard the swearing of the second, an instant before the kid's body was also flung. The red-masked turtle couldn't see where he landed, but his older brother finally came into view when he crouched over him.
"Raph, are you all right?" The blue-masked turtle sounded concerned, but barely looked at him. Instead his gaze shifted right and left as if they were surrounded. The fact that no one else was around besides the groaning kids made it even more annoying.
It occured to him that he should say thank you, but Raphael was too angry about being caught off guard.
"I'm fine." He sat up with a scowl. "I had it under control."
"Really? So you were what, giving them a hard start on beating you before reacting?"
"I'll beat your shell if you don't get off mine," Raph threatened.
"All you've done tonight is waste our time. Now you're hurt, and you have to go home. Take some responsibility for your actions, once in your life. I'm not always going to be around to save-"
For the second time in less than five minutes, the bastards had the audacity to interrupt. The sight of a baseball bat crashing into Leo's skull was so unexpected, the red-masked turtle blinked bleary eyes several times. While he gaped the blows from the bat continued ruthlessly, despite the way his brother already wasn't moving. One teen somehow morped into three, and the assault intensified against the older turtle.
Hot rage had the effect of waking Raphael up from his near trance. He jerked upright, swaying dangerously as the world crashed and spun. Quickly he planted his feet further apart to keep his balance, and realized he wouldn't be able to move far without issues.
"Big mistake, punks," Raph spat much stronger than he felt. "Why don't you come over here, and let me get a better look of that slugger?"
The kids smirked, clearly enjoying the idea. One of them dashed toward him without any delay. When the teen swung the bat, Raph caught it out of mid-air, and sent the stunned thug flying with a blow to the gut.
As the second rushed in, Raphael yanked a tire iron from his hands before the kid had a chance to raise it. The teen threw a clumsy right hook, which the turtle easily evaded.
"That's not how you hit somebody, moron, " Raph taunted him. "Here's how you throw a punch!"
He connected with the kid's jaw, spinning him completely around before the teen dropped to the pavement.
"Do ya see the difference?" He grinned at the remaining thug, but the smile faded when several more shadows approached to encircle him.
Aw, shell. Guys, where are you?
Raphael coolly eyed the teenagers, his mind racing slightly. "Geez, you people reproduce faster than cockroaches."
He drew his sais, twirling one of them expertly. "Who wants some, huh? Come and get it."
Their laughter was infuriating as they broke out of the threatening formation to accost him. Raph met the closest one with swift kick to chest, and immediately regretted his poor judgement of using his feet.
Already off balance, two more had no problem getting a hand on him. He pitched forward to his knees, and a shattering blow to the plastron knocked him backwards onto his shell. Raphael tried to jump up, halted by a shoe slamming against his throat and momentarily cutting off oxygen.
The brief, crushing sensation was broken by two distinct sounds; the hefty crack of wood striking bone, and an angry growl which was only slightly reminiscent of his youngest brother. He found himself blinking rapidly again, watching Mike's nunchucks swing around as a blur.
Gone was the orange-masked turtle's typical laughter which accompanied knocking some well-deserved heads together, replaced by a dangerous fury. Michelangelo didn't even waste breath making fun of the teens before fiercely repelling them. Raphael was uncomfortably reminded of his little brother's cold violence toward the Dagos the night Donnie had been electrocuted.
The memory was halted by the whistle of Donatello's bo whirling over his head. His weapon snapped sharply in succession as it made contact with three skulls in one pass. Raphael forced his way to his feet again while his brothers dealt out stunning blows, and managed to trip up one of the boys behind Michelangelo. He brought the handle of a sai to bear on the back of the kid's head, dropping him like a rock.
"Aw, I was saving him for last!" Mike complained.
"Shut up and make sure they're down, numbskull," he retorted, swaying.
While Michelangelo checked their work, Donatello bounded over to Leonardo's side. It was then that the red-masked turtle recalled his older brother still hadn't moved. He staggered a couple paces before managing a stride, and stood nervously over Don's shoulder to see the older turtle.
Raphael's breath caught sharply at the blood already covering the purple-masked turtle's hands from probing Leo. The darkness couldn't reveal the extent of his brother's injuries, but it was obvious from the genius' tense posture that Leonardo was in trouble.
"Guys, we have to go. We've gotta get out of here now!" Donnie sent a backward glance towards his brothers.
"How bad is it, bro?" Mike came up on his other side.
Something Don quietly told him made the younger turtle fall back a pace with a shudder. Raphael's own weakness was catching up to him while his legs held a locked position. One moment he was staring on while Donatello continued a quick examination of their brother, and the next, he was on his knees once more.
"Raph, stay where you are," Don ordered. "Mike, look after them. I'm gonna go get the van. Don't try to move Leo yet. I want to get a brace on him first."
Michelangelo gasped. "A brace? Do you think he-"
"I don't know anything for sure yet. I just don't want to take unnecessary risks until I can scan his neck. Keep an eye on them!"
Donatello hurried to get the van backed into the alley. Raphael hated the fact that he needed Mike's help to climb in the Battleshell. He accepted the clean towel Mike pressed against the side of his head, but resisted the younger turtle's efforts to make him lay down.
"Chill for a second, pipsqueak. I gotta see what Don's doing with Leo."
"I'm going to be up there to deal with you in a second," Donnie warned.
"Can it, Genius, and help Leo!"
When he looked down, he realized that Donatello had already applied the brace.
"Mike, come help me please," the purple-masked turtle requested.
Once they carefully transferred Leonardo to the van, Donatello tossed their fifteen-year-old brother the keys.
"You're gonna have to drive, because I need to start going over them. No craziness, all right? A bumpy ride could spell disaster."
"Course not, Donnie, I got this," Mike insisted, and closed up the doors behind them.
Donatello set to work at once, cutting strips of gauze for Leonardo's head. Raphael had a feeling Don was trying to prevent him from seeing the bleeding gash in his temple, but it was impossible to miss before his brother could get it covered.
Donnie was true to his usual form, both calm and efficient in starting to address Leo's injuries, but he was also clearly distracted by Raph.
When the younger turtle's glance landed on him once again, Raphael shook his head. He regretted the motion for how sick it made him feel, but plunged ahead. "Stop worrying about me, Don. How is Leo? Will he be okay?"
"He has some potentially serious injuries, Raph, but we'll deal with them the right way. How is your head?"
"Don't focus on me. I ain't the one about to bleed to death!" His voice soared.
"Neither is he, Raph. Please don't lose it right now, okay? Take a couple of deep breaths, and get the towel back on your head. You're still bleeding too."
"Stupid, that's what I am," Raphael muttered. "I let those punks get the drop on me. On both of us. If I hadn't distracted Leo, this wouldn't have happened."
"Raph, I would prefer for you to be quiet, and stay awake. I need you to keep your heart rate down, but not check out on me yet," Donatello told him firmly, and glanced down at his cellphone.
"You gonna call Sensei?" Raph asked bleakly.
Donnie went over to take the towel from him which still hung loosely in his grip. "Sit forward for a second."
Raphael obeyed, letting Donatello finger his throbbing head with little more than a wince.
"What'd you get hit by?"
"Brick."
"Shell, Raph. Would you please hold this? Focus on applying pressure. I think it will help you stay awake. Here. I'm moving my hand, and you need to take over."
He wasn't sure why Donnie was being so pushy. "It's fine, Genius," he drawled, hand instantly drooping when Donatello removed his. "I'm not that bad. Only need to sleep this off."
"No, I don't want you sleeping yet. Raph, c'mon. Open your eyes."
Weren't they already open? Squinting to locate his brother proved they hadn't been.
"Look at me." Donatello turned stern, and snapped his fingers. "Apply pressure. Stay awake. I'm gonna call Doc."
"It's late, Donnie. What do ya need him for?"
"It's in the contract, Raph. We're supposed to keep him in the loop. Towel, now."
The red-masked turtle dutifully lifted the rag to shut him up, but keeping his eyes open was a bigger chore. In the background, he heard his brother's voice speak up.
"Hey, are you busy right now?"
Raphael widened his eyes, incredulous. "What's it look like, Donnie?"
"I'm not talking to you," Don returned calmly. "Be quiet, Raph. Sorry, Doc. I know it's late. Well, we kinda got into with a few guys, and I could sure use your help. Leo's got a couple minor skull fractures, and Raph has some collateral damage, at the very least. Definitely a head injury on his side too."
Raphael shot upright so fast that he swayed again. "I'm fine, Genius!"
"Raph, shut your freaking mouth, and lay your shell back down! Get the towel on!" Donatello barked at him, then turned back to the phone. "I'm sorry, Doc. Concussion isn't making him any more cooperative. Can you come?"
Raphael sulked silently while resting his head back against the seat. He was pretty sure Don had told him to do something else, but couldn't remember what it was. A light pat on his cheek drew him to open his eyes.
"You gotta fight for a little longer with me, okay?" Don urged. "Stay awake, and I won't yell at you."
Raphael cringed away from the heavier pressure his brother applied, and Donatello caught his shoulder.
"Don't move, Raph." After a beat of hesitation, Don let go of his arm to adjust the phone. "I have him, Doc, but he's struggling to stay awake or follow instructions...No, Leo didn't come around. Barring any issues on the road, Mike should have us home in a few minutes. I will keep on his shell until then."
Raphael managed another small scowl. "Would you get your hands offa me, and check on Leo?"
"I'm keeping an eye on him too, Raph, and Doc is on his way. Everything is gonna be all right, so stop worrying."
Donatello's current reassurance meant nothing to him. The only conclusion muddied thoughts could come to was that another one of his brothers was hurt, and this time it was completely his fault.