The Perfect Son
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult, or adolescent, transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Chapter Six- Reunion
Raphael:
I hadn't toled the others where I had found Leo's mask and his broken katana. It had been in this very alley, in that same blasted dumpster that the lady, was stickin' to as if feared fer her life and it made sense wit the Black Adders and all.
I just wanted to take care of the scuzz balls and get the hell outta there. I stood on the fire escape, grittin' my teeth waitin' fer Mike to finish bein' all friendly and typically Mikey.
I was sure that Mike, no matter how cautious he was, wasn't gonna be seen. Last thin we needed was for her to see what he was and freak big time. Freakin' and faintin' were about the only ways females evah responded on first seeing us.
Instead I heard her say "You're like him", I heard it and I knew that meant she had at, know something about Leo. I narrowed my eyes and moved in determined to learn right here and now, that what evah she knew bout Leo she'd be telling us right here and now.
I moved fast pinning her hard under the light, letting her get a good look at, who and what I was. "Where the hell is Leo and what do you, know about him?" I barked at her.
I felt Mike's hands on my arm, "Raph what are you doing? Let her go, you're scaring her," he pleaded anxiously.
"She knows something about Leo, Mike." I growled at my brother, not moving, or easing my hold in any way, "and she is going tell us what she knows."
"Raph, you are going about this the wrong way. Will you let her go! She won't tell us a darn thing if you keep this up." He insisted frantically, he was almost babbling -only thin' was he was actually makin' sense, which meant he weren't quite at the babble stage yet. "Come on Raph, ease up and let her go, you won't learn anything by force," he coaxed.
Finally, his common sense reached through to me, but even as I eased my hold on the lady, I knew I had probably messed everything up. I crossed my arms over my plastron, grimacing darkly at my own stupidity, and not carin' how it looked to the others. All I could do now was hope Mike could repair the damage.
"You're a lunatic," the lady snapped at me.
I snorted, like I hadn't heard that one before.
"Are you always this insane?" She fumed glaring hard at me.
"Hell no! Sometimes I'm worse" I replied, feeling she could puzzle that one out for herself.
"Raph will you just shut the fuck up" Mike snarled my way.
It wasn't normal for Mike to swear, he saved it for special occasions and he was probably the only one who could swear at me in that way and get away with it.
Mike turned back to the lady, giving her his most charming smile, "Listen, um, sorry about my Bro, here he gets a little out of hand at times. He acts without thinking," he explained, "he really didn't mean to scare you."
Sure I did. I meant to scare her, but I wasn't gonna tell him or her that.
"It's just we've been under a lot of pressure lately, it's been hard on all of us. See, we had this brother Leo, who disappeared bout a month back, and at first we thought some old enemies of ours might have him," Mike began, giving his mournful eyes. "We've looked, like everywhere for him -being worried sick about him and we think he might be dead."
Mike swallowed hard and sniffed a little. "Our brother wouldn't worry us, he is very responsible, so it wasn't like him. We want to know he is safe, but we fear the worse. We are hoping you know something, Raph sure thinks so. I mean you did say I looked like him."
"Raph?" She interrupted my brother.
I rolled my eyes, don't tell me that for once Mike's charm wasn't working?
"Yeah, my insane brother Raphael. We usually just call him Raph. I'm Michaelangelo, but I much prefer Mike, or Mikey. What's your name?" He wondered, giving her a lop sided innocent grin.
"Christine." She answered.
"Nice name," Mike agreed with a nod.
I sighed, glancing around. I was not feeling comfortable standing around here waiting for them to finish their chat.
"Anyway, after Leo disappeared, our father ended up dying. He had a …heart attack," Mike's voice faltered, "So we sort of lost two members of our family in one day. It hurts," he confessed. "We are sorry about scaring you, but if you do know anything about Leo, it would mean a great deal to us, to just know something…anything," he pleaded.
His voice had been getting more chocked up and his eyes were all watery by this point, but he kept a close eye on Christine as he tried to convince her to help us. He seemed to be using all his tricks, the very ones that had worked on Splinter numerous times.
The funny thing was Mike wasn't all that innocent never had been. But there was something about him that made him seem, just so gullible and younger then the rest of us. I guess, that was why we had always pegged him as our 'little' brother. He did play that part so well.
Christine stared at Mike then me, "He's not going go crazy again is he?" she asked uncertainly.
"No Raph, will behave himself…"Mike vowed.
Like hell I will! I thought to myself.
"Please, we helped you out, we'd just like a little information in return from you, if possible. We'd really appreciate it." Mike urged.
"Well…" She mumbled and stopped, as if wanting to consider her options before responding.
I knew we should have done things my way!
"Come on Christine, give our family a little peace of mind. If you know just tell us," Mike wheedled, "We really need to know, and you're the only one who can help us."
"All right," she gave in, "you talked me into it, in spite of your brother."
Oh, Mike you did it again! You really are the best!
"What I know is I found a turtle, much like yourself, badly beaten and in this dumpster. Being a vet, I took him in and did what I could for him, though I was afraid that it would be a case of, too little too late." She told us, "Surprisingly he lived, and recuperated quite well, all things considered."
"Then why hasn't Leo come home or contacted us?" I asked sharply, "It's not like him to do that."
"He hasn't fully recovered yet. He suffered a lot of head trauma, and considering how close to death he was…well, to put it simply he doesn't even know who he is. " Christine replied, "He has amnesia and remembers very little about who he was before or where he came from. There are things he knows, like he has a family but that is where his information ends."
She paused and moved from the dumpster towards the door of her apartment building, "He knew the name Raph but he also knew it wasn't his name, however since he really didn't know who he was, I've been calling him by Raph."
Mike brightened at her words, "Leo had been out looking for Raph when he disappeared, he must have been thinking of Raph a lot. Can we see Leo please?"
Christine hesitated.
"Look, not that we doan't 'preciate what you've done fer him and all, but we are his brothers," I pointed out in a no nonsense way, "we can remind him of who he is far bettah then you could. I know we owe ya big time fer all you did for Leo," I admitted, trying to relax and ease my stance a little. "But you can't give him memories that you don't know."
I gave a small smirk, as I took a breath, "Sides I all ready promised to be a good boy, what more do ya want?"
"My keys might be good," She replied.
"Hey, I got them here Doll," Mike said opening his hand.
"DOLL?" She snapped.
I couldn't help but snicker a little as Mike quickly back pedalled.
He held up his hands to placate her, "Ah…sorry bout that. Um, so you will let us go see Leo, right?" He said as he dropped the keys into her open palm.
She sighed and rolled her eyes slightly, then smiled. "You win. You do know more about him then I do and could probably get his memory back faster."
Mike leaped in the air, "Aw, yes! Lead on" he encouraged.
"Just a couple of things you have to promise me first…"
Damn, I knew she had to have some sort of catch there somewhere.
"Let me talk to him first before you two go after him, and also take it easy with him. You can't expect him to remember everything all at once, so be patient," She urged protectively, "Give him a chance to accept you on his terms."
"Yeah, like we aren't used to that all ready," I muttered sarcastically, until she shot me a withering stare. I resigned and nodded my head in agreement, "Fine, sure whatever you say. Just let's see him all ready."
She brought us up to her apartment and left us standing in the hall, near the front door, while she moved further into her apartment. I leaned against the door, arms crossed. Mike shifted from one foot to another in his excitement to see Leo, his fingers tapped a beat on the walls.
I strained my ears, trying to hear what she might be telling him. But all I could hear was the drumming of Mike's blasted fingers, and the low murmur of voices, coming from the other room.
Darn, I hated waiting. Not that there was much I could do about it, and I sure as hell wasn't going start fidgeting like him.
"Look they thought you were dead, so just come see them all right?" Christine's voice sounded a little closer.
"What if I don't remember them, even when I see them?" came a reply, it was Leo's voice and sounding strangely uncertain, but otherwise it was his voice.
"They might be able to help you. Even if you don't remember anything right away, it might come quicker by being around them. It is what you wanted, to know who you are right?" She coaxed, "they know and they do care about you. Listen, they do want to see you, it is only right to see them and if you don't come. I'll sic them on you."
I grinned at that comment.
"All right," he agreed.
Christine came around the corner and beckoned us to follow her into the living room, and there was Leo standing by a chair looking our way. He had a few new scars and marks, but it was still Leo. He seemed a little uncomfortable, and he bit his lip slightly.
Christine smiled, "Don't tell me that you don't see the family resemblance Leo," she stressed the name Leo.
He grimaced slightly, a perplexed look on his face, "Are you sure that is even my name? It's not even vaguely familiar."
Mike rushed by me, and wrapped his arms around Leo. "But it's you Leo, we thought you were dead. Donny's gonna be so happy when he learns, and aw Leo it is great seeing you again."
Leo gave a confused look at Mike and tried to detach Mike from him, but the leech that Mike could be at times was stuck fast to his host. "Is he often like this?" He inquired.
"Only when he gets excited, which, with Mikey is a good percentage of the time. Your name is Leonardo, I'm Raphael and that is Michaelangelo. Donatello is at home," I informed him.
I then turned my attention to Mike, "back off Mike and give Leo some breathing space, for pity's sake. You don't have to smother him."
Mike laughed, and released his grip, "Sorry Leo. It's just…." Mike didn't bother finishing his sentence.
All the while Leo sat there with a confused, uncertain look on his face and not even the tiniest glimmer of recognition in his eyes, or on his face. This wasn't gonna be easy.
You could tell that he thought of us as complete strangers, you could almost hear him thinking 'who are you guys, where the hell do you come from? And of course, most importantly, they have nothing to do with me!'
I rubbed a hand over my face as we all sat down, clearly just seeing us, and hearing our names hadn't done anything. So, that left us with playing the game of, can you remember?
We told Leo everything we thought would help him, how we mutated, our training sessions when we were little kids, the first fight we ever had topside, how we met our first human friends April and Casey.
Christine brought us some drinks and a few little treats, while Leo sat there with a look on his face that said, it was very interesting and nice. But it had nothing whatsoever to do with him.
It was getting to the point to where I was almost ready to pick a fight with him, just to see if he would naturally respond the way he always had before. I mean, maybe that is what it would take because the stroll down memory lane seemed to be a dead end.
Suddenly, I jumped out of my chair. I knew what might help "Mikey, stay here. I'm going bring Leo a little something from home. Maybe, it will help." I left by the balcony door way and took off for home at full speed.
We had spare weapons at home, and I was going bring Leo his katana. He'd been training with them since before he was nine years old, the swords were almost as much a part of him as his shell was. He'd have to respond to it.
Maybe, just the sight, the feel of his chosen weapon in his own hands would remind him just who he was.
Suddenly, I recalled a dumb line from the stupid Lion King movie that Mike had pestered the hell out of us with -that is until I broke it in many numerous bits with my sai. The line was simple one of the lions to another 'Remember who you are.' It was great advice and Leo could sure take that advice bout now.
When I got to the lair, Don was in the living room a dark scowl on his face, he turned and gave me a dark glare, "Where the hell were yo.." he paused, "MIKE?" He yelled frantically, his eyes turning from concerned to frightened followed quite quickly be determination.
I had almost forgot about Don while we'd been busy with Leo, we had told him we'd only be gone for a couple of hours. "It's all right Don, he's safe. I promise," I hastened to assure him, "So is Leo…sort of."
"Leo?" Don echoed, "You found Leo?" He asked in disbelief.
"Yes, come on. I'll explain on the way over there, just let me grab a katana and we'll be on our way."
I told Don everything on our return to Christine's apartment, and entered it by way of the balcony.
Leo looked over and saw Don with me, "So I take it that this is the other brother?"
"Yeah," I said, "this is Don, Donny the genius or the geek, whatever you want to call him he is it. Remember anything yet Leonardo?"
Mike gave a shake of his head, "We are nowhere near batting a thousand Raph."
"I'd be happy if he even batted just one Mike," I grumped.
"I don't think baseball is his game bro," Mike replied.
"Well, maybe I have something that will be his game." I declared firmly, I took off the katana, still in their sheaths, and held them flat out in out stretched hands, "Leo these are yours. Take them."
Leo jumped out of his seat and backed away from all of us. I could swear that I could see fear in his eyes, like he was scared. Leo, scared, of his own katana?
I don't think I've ever seen Leo show out right fear at anything, maybe just a little glimmer here or there, it was natural but Leo never allowed the fear he felt to surface.
"Leo take them." I pleaded.
"I don't want anything to do with them," Leo insisted while still backing away from us. He looked like I was going attack him with the swords, even though they were still housed safely in the scabbards, not to mention I wasn't even holding them in any way, that could be considered an attacking position.
"Leo you've been using these for years, they are a part of you." I told him.
"I don't think so," He stated drily. His tone was firm and hard, telling me he had made up his mind on that count. "Maybe, I'm not who you think I am."
I had just about enough! "You can say that again," I snarled at him. He sure as hell wasn't the Leo I had grown up with that was for sure.
He crossed his arms over his plastron, "At least we agree on that much. Take those," he gestured at the swords, "and your brothers, and leave." He ordered.
"Leo we are your brothers too," Mike protested.
"I do not know you. I've never known any of you. I think I would have recalled something if I had been your brother."
Just like that he denied us, turned his back on us.
"Then how did you know about the name Raph?" I demanded of him.
"I don't know, coincidence, maybe. That doesn't concern me." He shook his head slightly, "But I do know who I am not. I have heard you out. Now, leave."
My face turned dark, my blood began to race. Don reached out and took my arm, "Don't Raph, just give Leo some time. Maybe if we leave him alone for a little while, something just might click later on when he has a chance to consider things."
"Fine, we'll leave but we're not going leave you alone," I growled at him, "We are going be coming back, and visiting you often whether you want us to or not. That isn't your choice Leo. If I have to, I might even give you a lecture on responsibility Leo-Nardo."
Don smiled towards Leo, "It is good to see you alive Leo. Raph, has a point though we can't leave you like this. You are our brother, and leaving you like this isn't fair to you or to us."
I was almost shocked to hear Don backing me up, "Mike come on let's go home. Trust me, Leo you are going see a lot more of us, far more then you want us to." I threatened him, it was one threat I planned on carrying out.
As we headed towards home a few things kept running around in my mind. His obvious lack of recognition towards us, his fear on sight of his weapons, and worse of all his constant denials.
I don't know you. I've never known you. Maybe, I'm not who you think I am.
Why did I feel a cold feeling in the pit of my stomach? Why did I feel that Leo may never remember who he was? Why did I feel that even though he wasn't dead, he was just as lost to us, as if he had been?
TBC