THE TRIAL OF THE LOST
-A/N: It's been a while since the last chapter. I've been busy, and I'll continue to be busy. But I really enjoy writing so I'll carry on. In this chapter there's gonna be some medical blabber; I researched online but still my territory is liberal arts. I know nothing about medicine!
First of all I want to thank the reviewers, dondena and cup-mikey-gertha. And I want to reply to your comments here.
-To dondena: I think Leo and Raph need each other, but it's difficult for them to live with each other after Don and Splinter were no longer around; and they each have their own unresolved issues.
-To cup-mikey-gertha: About Mikey, I'll start writing in his perspective again soon because he's coming back. And about the amputation... I can't say much more but I'll leave the bloodiness out of the story. It will not be so...vivid? The shock will come later. Hope you still find it interesting, though! Oh, and Leo's eyes? I know he wore sunglasses in Same as it Never Was, but I don't think he's blind? So I won't blind him in this story...There's more agony coming though.
To say I don't care about the reception of this stories I'd be lying. I know the pace has been kind of heavy and it's my first fan fiction, so it's not easy to keep reading while not losing interest. So thank you readers for you patience and kindness.
And in this chapter there will be an OC, not exactly an OC since he was only temporarily necessary for this story. He's not so important and he won't reappear in future chapters.
-Based on/inspired by 2003 TV series episode "Same as it never was".
-Disclaimer: I do not own Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
Chapter Seven: Merely Visible
[Humdrum]
Enoch Wong was a middle-aged, tired-looking and rather short man. He was not much a loser, but not a hotshot too. The only thing he did that was to be considered as 'good' was he helped animal. No. He did not help them, not without charge. He did not own the clinic, while his two colleagues did. He had to open the clinic in the morning, and lock it up in the night. He had a family, but never paid much attention to his daughters and wife.
What he cared about was money and his reputation among friends and relatives. Not that anyone cared, though. He wasn't like this when he first aspired to become a vet, but…guess time changes person.
Tonight, a night not much different from any night, Enoch Wong was about to close down the clinic. He just hung up on a phone call and was going to check the 'ward' in which some animals with more serious conditions were to be kept in cages, when he heard some noise from the window facing the fire escape.
"Forget your keys again Jenny?" Thinking maybe the girl who worked part-time at the reception desk had returned to grab her stuff, he asked out loud. But obviously Jenny never came in through the window; the clinic was on the fifth floor of the building.
"Yer the vet right?" was what he got in return. He was stunned by the unfamiliar voice and its roughness and sudden closeness. He turned to look toward the direction of the sound, which was over his left shoulder, but saw nothing.
"Hello?" He asked in an unsure tone.
"Are you a vet? Uh, Mr. W…ong?" Another voice asked. Obviously they were checking his name printed on his coat, but where were they?
"Who are you?" He was practically shouting.
"We brought you a patient."
"Where are you? …Show yourself!" He began to panic, until he remembered the phone call.
O-O-O
The turtle, (the giant mutant freak, thought Wong) which wore a blue mask, introduced himself as Leonardo, the eldest brother of other two freaks, while another turtle, the red-masked one, snorted, "He doesn't have ta know our names, idiot."
They brought with them a third turtle, the unconscious, pale (as pale as a dark-green creature could be) one they called Mikey. ("Gosh, they talk and say they're brothers. They even got names.")
The orange-masked turtle got a bad cut on his left forearm; it ran from wrist to elbow, piercing deep through layers of skins and muscles. And it was infected, with the sign of gangrene.
"Could you treat him?" The blue-banded talking freak asked him rather politely (comparing to the red-masked one).
"H…how long has it… he been unconscious?"
"Since last night." The red-banded giant turtle said gloomily.
"We disinfected the wound, and we gave him some antibiotics. But I guess we're too late." Blue freak said.
Enoch Wong looked at the third, orange-banded turtle whose face was still and frozen in the numbness of agony.
"You are too late." Wong said.
The two talking turtles exchanged glances. ("Turtles don't exchange glance with each other, do they?") The red-masked one snarled.
"Relax, Raph. He hasn't said a word." His brother said, his brow pulling into a frown.
Wong shrugged.
"Now what does that mean?" The turtle named Raphael grunted, grabbed Wong on the shoulder. "You wanna say somethin'? Then fucking say it!"
"Oaaw!…let me go you beast!" He cried.
"What are you going to do with his ARM?" The turtle's beak was an inch from his face, and he could feel its dangerous growl. They're murderous, he thought, his legs starting to shake violently.
"His a…arm needs to be a…amputated." He uttered through his chattering teeth.
The red-masked (and half-blind, now he noticed) turtle's good eye widened in disbelief.
"No." He shook his head, fists clenching tight. Wong stepped back in fear.
"Raph." The blue-masked one said, approaching the other turtle.
"You couldn't do that." The raging turtle hissed.
"I…if the infection keeps worsening and spreading, he…he might not be able to keep the whole arm." Wong tried to explain.
"Can you do it? The operation?" The blue-masked turtle's face was grim, but he asked in a calm voice.
"O…Of course." Wong nodded nervously, "Just…just don't kill me."
"We are not here to threaten your life, Mr. Wong." The calm turtle said. "We're just asking for help."
"Like hell." The red-banded turtle grumbled.
"Raph, you're not helping."
"We'll find some other doctors. I don't trust this guy with Mikey's life."
"We don't have time—"
"Oh yeah? Whose fault was th—"
"—Just shut up." The eldest turtle took a step toward his sibling, his expression stern and cold.
His brother stared at him and was speechless for a second or two; and then he shrugged.
"Now ya wanna play the big brother." Raphael smirked. "Ya made the rules. First sensei and now Mikey. You're risking everybody's life aren't ya?" Glaring at Leonardo, he slowly finished his words.
The elder turtle ignored him, turning back to face Wong. "What do you need to perform this operation?"
Enoch Wong looked at him with pale face. "It… your brother will need blood transfusion after the surgery, so just your blood—"
"Use mine." Raphael interrupted, and then sat down at Mikey's side with his back to the vet and his elder brother.
O-O-O
While Wong set to collect Raph's blood, Leonardo observed the man from the other side of the room.
He did not trust the man either. Something was wrong. He couldn't tell where the notion came from, but somehow the man's gesture and expression were insincere.
But it was their only chance; they could not afford to delay the treatment.
Or the removal, he shivered.
When the vet said that the arm needed to be amputated, he found himself not at all surprised. Maybe he already prepared for the worst to come. Was he already so indifferent to suffering? But it was his little brother they were talking about. Was he already numb because what he had been through? Losing one brother, losing his father, losing an eye, now losing one arm seemed so trivial…
"I know about brothers." A voice said. Leonardo turned to see it was that vet, Wong. Suddenly there were only him and the vet in the room; Mikey and Raph had gone.
"Where are my brothers?" He asked, alert.
"We sent the wounded into the surgery room." Wong said, smiling nervously and strangely. "Brothers rivalry huh? Me and my brother used to fight all the time…now that we all left home I don't have to see that despicable face again…"
"—Don't say it like you know us." Leonardo said harshly. "You don't know anything about my brother." He stared at Wong for a moment, and went straight out of the room.
Wong stood in the center of the room for a while, making sure the turtle had gone, and then he rushed to the phone on the desk to make a call.
Leonardo entered silently the surgery room where Mikey had already been laid on a cold, metal bed, Raph standing by the bedside.
He approached without a sound—not deliberately, but naturally, as years of ninjutsu training had already become his instinct.
Raph did not sense his presence.
Seemingly lost in his thoughts, Raphael's expression was vacant, his often-furrowed brow was now relaxed and his gaze was soft. Leonardo wondered what his hothead brother was thinking about. As he took a step forward to stand by Raph's side, he saw a glistening teardrop rolled down Raph's cheek.
"How are we goin' to tell him." Raph uttered in broken voice, aware of Leo's company, but he did not wipe away or try to hide the tears.
Leonardo watched his brothers, guilt rushing over him. He put an arm around Raph's shoulders. He could feel Raph trembling under his touch, but he did not have the courage to meet his gaze or say comforting words. The emotion was overwhelming, and it wasn't something he was used to. It felt surreal.
"I…"He opened his mouth, but stopped himself instantly. Spinter's dead, Raph. Now we're losing Mikey. I don't know how to make it. A flow of fear and helplessness were welling up inside him, and he suppressed it determinedly. He wanted to tell Raph everything, but knew Raph would not be able to repress an outburst; and their previous arguments hanging in the mid air simply made words harder to pronounce. And he could not afford a breakdown.
All of a sudden Raph jerked away.
Leo started, following Raph's gaze. It was Mikey.
Mikey stirred.
"He's awake." Raph gasped.
"Michelangelo?" Leo called his name softly but clearly.
Mikey's eyelids quivered slightly, but he did not open them.
"Mike." Raph leaned forward.
A series of muffled sound came out from Mikey's throat.
"Ya have to say it again, Mike." Raph said gently, though his expression was eager.
"…'m…I?"
Leo put a hand on Mikey's sweaty forehead. Mikey made an attempt to clear his dry throat but ended up coughing hard. After the horrible sound of his coughing finally faded, he tried once more, face contorting with pain.
"…'ere 'm I…?" Where am I?
"You're safe Mikey. Don't worry. It will get better." Leo said reassuringly.
"…'urs." It hurts.
"I know. I know. The pain will soon be gone." Leo said, resting his palm on Mikey's plastron.
"…'ad a bad 'ream." Had a bad dream.
"You'll be fine, Mikey. It was only a dream. You're safe with us."
"…'know." I know. Still not opening his eyes, Mikey managed a smile. The smile was merely visible and recognizable, but it was there.
The door slammed shut. Started them both. Leo turned and saw Raph's gone. He sighed, troubled.
"Everything's gonna be okay" Leo said, stroking Mikey's head. "Sleep, okay? Don't worry. We're here. You'll be fine." He said it again and again, ignoring the lump in his throat.
O-O-O
"We fucking lied to him."
Leo walked into the corridor after the vet asked him to leave the room. He found Raph standing by the window through which they had come in.
"What else do you expect me to tell him?" Leo said coldly. "That we're going to cut off his forearm?"
"How can ya actin' like ya don't give a damn?" Raph turned and glared at him.
Leonardo disregarded him and walked toward the next room where he could see Wong perform the surgery.
Closing the door behind him, he sighed. He looked around this rather small room, deciding to sit down in a chair in the corner. He could see the surgery room through the big glass on the wall. Wong was busying himself with his tools.
Leonardo found himself wondering what this was leading to. Staring down at his hands, dirty and bloodstained, he felt weary and wavering. Throughout this whole incident, he had been relying on his instincts, hadn't he? It was only now when he sat down next to the operation room in which his brother's fate was determined, he finally began to think.
Was he risking his brother's lives? Did he really care?
A thrill ran down his spine, and he realized that he had been wrong. He remembered Master Splinter asking him what was his heart telling him. He hadn't listen. Not one word. Not even one idea. He had not been meditating for seeking truths; he had only been trying to avoid facing reality.
Reality was what haunted you the most.
So Donnie was gone. He had thought maybe it wouldn't affect them so much; maybe they'd get used to it one day. But he was wrong. The incident had shaken their root as brothers. They changed. Time had changed the family and turned their world into a long dark tunnel with no end to be seen. It was a trail leading to nowhere. To more suffering, maybe. To becoming completely lost. It was not a trail, it was a trial, a test in life, an indifferent smile of destiny…
They could have realized this long time ago, but they were too busy soaking in their misery. They should have turned their back against the void and found the way out, but none of them listened to their own hearts. Now there was only regret.
No, regret isn't going to work.
He clenched his fists.
Raphael refused to witness the scene. Instead, he chose to hang around in the corridor. He paced up and down, up and down, feeling anxiety and irritation smoldering deep inside his body. He felt powerless and he hated it.
What am I goin' to tell Mikey when he wakes up and finds his left arm gone? He will never be able ta wield two nunchakus again, and how will he feel about it? And how can I face him and look him in the eyes, knowin' that it's our fault failin' to protect him?...
He forced himself to stop his thoughts but failed. When he was finally exhausted, he collapsed on a couch in the waiting room. The clinic was still, clean and bright. It belonged to the human world, not their world.
O-O-O
He must have fallen asleep, for he woke up and found the room dark. Was it Leo who turned the light off?
"…I told you…"
It was the sound of voice that had dragged him from his dreams.
"…It was finished…"
Raphael rose to his feet, quietly went into the corridor and saw the light of the office was on. He peeped inside.
The damned vet was talking on a phone.
"...It went successful. You have to give the money to me when you get here, or I'll tell them to go. …Yeah? I can tell them to stay, too! It's weak and can't be moved now; they'll have to wait for the transfusion. ….Alright! Alright! Who's the professional? …Okay. Tell me when and where, okay?... Nice cooperation with you too, sir."
The second Enoch Wong hung up the phone, he felt cold metal pressing against his neck.
"WHOM are ya talkin' to?" The turtle, the unmerciful killer monster had discovered his little secret.
Enoch Wong cried out in pain; he thought his neck was pierced, but it was only his arms being yanked behind his back. He sighed in relief.
"So, yer talkin' ta someone. Who is it?" The red-masked turtle whispered to his ear, and he swore he heard it laugh quietly and viciously. It is going to kill me.
"I…I…I have n…"
"Don't fool me." The point of his sai sank into the vet's skin.
"It was the Purple D…Dragon!" Wong shrieked. "They called yesterday and today, told us to report to them if any strange turtle-like creature show up! I'd…thought it was a joke until you came!"
"They'd pay ya, right?"
"Yes…. Don't kill me! P..Please!" Wong cried, "We can make…make a deal. I can call them again and tell them not to come."
"Could you do that?" Another voice. Leonardo appeared at the doorway.
"Yes, an…and I won't ask t..too much. Just… just give me the fee o..of the surgery and I'll.."
"Well I can choose to kill you." Raphael grunted.
"Mr. Wong, when will these Purple Dragons arrive?" Leonardo said.
"I believe they're right on the roof." Wong said; he could feel blood trail down his neck.
"Then it's too late. Let's move." Leo gestured the front door. "I'll get Mikey. Raph, tie him up; seal his mouth. Don't let him call anyone."
"Don't want me ta kill this scum?" Raph grinned, but his eye wasn't smiling; there were only pure rage and cruelty.
"Don't harm him." Leo narrowed his eyes.
"Coast is clear." Raph mumbled, looking down the staircase.
"My estimation is that we got three minutes." Leo whispered from behind.
"How's Mikey?"
"Fine. You go ahead." Michelangelo was now safely wrapped in a blanket and on Leo's back.
"No." Raph turned back to face his brothers. "This time, ya go first."
Leonardo took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
"All right." He agreed.
They hurried down the stairs. When they were about reaching the second floor, Leo halted abruptly.
"Wh—?" Raph stopped himself as Leo turned around to eye him warily.
The Foot. Leo mouthed silently.
Raph nodded, "We meet at Casey's." And suddenly he was ahead of Leo. Leo wanted to stop him as he realized what he was doing, but it was already too late. Raph had gone out of his sight.
"Come on you goons!" He heard Raph yelling at them. He took a sharp turn and headed straight to the closest window.
O-O-O
He had not think about how much it would affect him to lose one eye, and now was a good time to know.
The blow he just received on his left shoulder was the answer. He growled, thrusting a sai into the nearest ninja. He did not have to finish them all. Just enough time for Leo and Mikey to get away.
Hang in there pal, he told himself.
It was easy to defend the attack coming from his right side, but he could see nothing from his left. Come on. Why are ya thinkin' 'bout defendin'? Where did that word even come from?
He pushed his sai into an enemy, and kicked back just in time to fend off another attacker. A ninja punched him in his chin and he was forced back a few steps; fortunately he did not lose balance. If he fell now, it would be the end of the game.
He would not let that happen.
He hurt his ankle when he jumped out from that window; it slowed them down a little, but luckily no one was behind them.
Leonardo climbed into Casey's apartment. It was so…nice to be in some place safe.
He sighed in relief.
He laid Mikey down on the bed, and sat down beside Mikey.
Come back safely, Raph.
He closed his eyes.
We need you. We need each other. We're all we got now.
No one's watching him now, so he carefully, or even cautiously, let one teardrop fell from one of his eye. But that was all he could do. He was not sure whether he was capable of crying anymore. It felt strange to do so.
Suddenly the smile of Mikey entered his mind. He saw it clearly as if it was happening right now. Mikey smiled as his eyes closed and his brow furrowed in pain. He stared at the window, from which moonlight gently poured in. The scene struck him as beautiful, like the smile.
Hope was merely visible. But it was there.
So he hoped.
—End of chapter seven.
A/N: FYI, I originally planned 9 chapters. This plan may change, or may not change. I'm still considering. Just thought you should know!