Still going!! Get me off this roller coaster! Wait... no. I think I love it! Haha. Well uh... back to the fic. Enjoy.
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Chapter 16
Don moaned and turned over. The cut across his shoulder blazed a burning pain through his neck. Maybe massaging it would help. What could he have gotten into to get this much pain? He lifted his right hand... Tried to. His eyes popped open. He struggled against the bonds holding his wrists together. He tugged and pulled, only succeeding in rubbing his wrists raw. He shook his head and sat up. Looked around the room. Mikey was to his right, left arm broken, but splinted and held in a sling and bound behind him to his other hand. To his left Splinter sat straight, sad eyes on him and Mikey. Arms bound behind him, right leg broken and in a splint. Don looked at his shoulder where the source of his pain was. And was surprised. It was bandaged also. Don was perplexed that the Foot had gone to such lengths to keep them alive.
His heart fell. He knew why they were still alive. Shredder was going to be the one to finish them. And he was probably waiting for the others. Just so they could watch their own family members die.
"How is your shoulder Donatello?" Splinter asked.
Don gazed sadly at his sensei. "Sore. But how are we going to get out of here sensei?"
"We will find a way."
The doors to the room swished open.
Don and Splinter looked over to the noise, saying nothing, each looking grim.
Two ninjas came in carrying Raph and Casey, bound by rope. They set them near Don, Splinter, and Mikey with a thump. They sneered at Don and Splinter, and stalked off out of the room.
"Raphael?" Don asked. "Casey?"
Neither stirred. They just lay there unmoving. Each a little beat up, but with Raph looking a little worse. Though both were bandaged where they needed to be.
"Are they..." Mikey's voice asked.
Don turned to find Mikey sitting up and looking and their brother and friend. "I don't think so." He watched them, seeing their chests rise and fall after awhile. "No. They're just unconscious."
"Guys," Mikey said his voice breaking.
Don looked at Mikey, alarmed at the fragile sound of his brother's voice.
Tears were streaming down Mikey's cheeks. "Leo... he's..." He swallowed. "He's dead."
Don stared at his brother in shock. Leo dead? No that couldn't be. That wouldn't just happen. Leo hadn't been back to the lair when they were attacked by Keith, so Mikey couldn't have seen that. No. Unless Keith himself told him that Leo was dead... But he had to know. "Why do you think that?"
"I don't think. I know," Mikey insisted.
"Ok. How do you know?"
Mikey swallowed. "I woke up awhile ago, but the Foot that had come in here didn't know I was awake. They started saying things and..."
Splinter moved to sit next to Mikey and in front of Don, forming a little circle. Pain could be seen in his eyes of hearing about his eldest son.
Don didn't want to hear what was next, but knew he had to know. He had to be strong. He had to know for sure Leo was dead before he believed it. "What did they say?"
Mikey didn't speak for awhile, but when he did, his voice was so soft Don had to strain to hear him. "Shredder came in and saw us. He asked where Leo was." He paused, then went on. "The Elite ninja said he was dead. There was an accident. Shredder was furious, but only left the room. Even the ninjas seemed to be afraid of what that news would do to them. And Shredder was mad. Big time. Threw a few things by the sound of it."
Don let that sink in. Looked at Raph and Case. His heart aching. It was true. Foot ninjas would never lie about a dead turtle. They would never protect one of them. With Leo gone, Rai was the only one still out there. And April. But he didn't even know if April would know about the situation they were in. Or if Rai would risk bringing her along. There were a lot of ninjas here. But she was good at sneaking around. Better than Casey.
Raph stirred and Casey moaned. Like they had heard the news. But Don knew they didn't.
Mikey sobbed quietly.
Don couldn't help the tears rolling down his own cheeks. He always thought Leo would always be there for them. And he knew if it was up to Leo he would always be there. He looked up at Splinter, who seemed to be meditating. "What are you doing?"
"Trying to find out if what they said is true," Splinter said softly. "To see if I can feel Leonardo."
The door swished open. Keith's frame filled the doorway. A smirk snaking across his face. He crossed his arms and leaned against the door frame. "I see most of you are awake. Good. Things should get rolling pretty soon then."
Splinter opened his eyes and stared at Keith, gaze bordering on a hard glare.
"Looks like you heard the news too," Keith went on. "Never did like Leonardo. Too much of a good leader for his own good. Led himself right into a trap." He shrugged. "But that's his downfall. Now we're just waiting on Raison. I'll just have April's place broken into in a few hours. After you all are dead." He laughed. "Shredder will be in as soon as the tiger gets here. And here's where I say my final good bye, but that'd be too cliqued." He snickered and pushed himself off the door frame, leaving the room. The door shutting with a resounding swoosh.