Bet ya didn't think I'd get this one up so soon did ya? Haha. Well I did and it feels good. And just so ya know, this chapter goes back just a little bit in time to just as Raph wakes up and what happens at the lair while he's been gone in the previous chapter.
And on another note, there was a mistake in the tenth paragraph in ch. 18 where Raph is forced to look down at Leo. Yeah, Leo can't curl into himself if he's still strapped down now can he? … yeah so now that's fixed if ya want to go read that small edit. Only the first four who read and reviewed actually read it with the mistake. Sorry about that. It got fixed right after that. Arrg... Can't believe I missed that. Oh well... live and learn right? Good. Now enough of that, enjoy this next chapter.
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Chapter 19
Don sipped at his full cup of coffee. He had gotten it an hour ago, yet it was still full. He had no idea what to do anymore. There really was nothing he could do. Leo had to remember them on their own. There was no way to force the right memories to the forefront to make Leo remember who he was or who his family is. It would just take time. Yet even that thought was depressing to the brainy turtle. He longed for his older brother to be fully back. It had been so long. He was elated when they had found out Shade was Leo. His brother wasn't dead. Yet in a way, he was. With no memory of them, Don was horrified at first. Flustered at the fact that Leo thought they were his enemies. Don took another sip of the coffee and sighed. The beverage just didn't seem to be helping him today.
"It will be alright my son," Splinter spoke up from across the table, cradling a tea cup in his hands.
Don nods mutely. He knew it would be. He was just worried. What if he cracked from worry about this before Leo came fully back to them? What if Raph got too impatient and snapped? Would Mikey make it through this if Leo never remembered them. He knew it could possibly be true that Leo would never remember them. He didn't have the heart to tell the others that small detail. He didn't even know what to do if that came true. He only hoped that Leo would indeed remember them. And soon would be nice too.
"Will Leo wake up soon?" Mikey asked. A pile of chips sat in front of him, but had been untouched for the whole hour the three of them had been sitting at the table.
"Yeah. He should," Don said slowly. "Raph should wake up soon as well."
"Don't think he's gonna be too happy about what Leo tried to do to him," Mikey whispered.
Don sighed. "Yeah. I know." He slowly stood. "I think I'll go check on them. Maybe one of them is awake."
Splinter nodded. "We will stay here my son. Do not worry. We will all gather around Leonardo until he remembers us and stick with him always."
Don nodded again. He knew it was true and was glad for it, yet it didn't really help him feel better right now. He turned and walked out of the kitchen, leaving his coffee behind. He really didn't feel like drinking it anymore. Halfway to the lab he stopped, thinking that he had heard something. Listening a little closer it sounded like soft crying, which suddenly got a little louder. He blinked wondering who was crying. He started walking again, quickening his pace and peered into the lab. What he saw widened his eyes and almost froze him in his spot. Raph was awake and holding a thick glass bottle over his head like he was going to hit Leo with it. Below him, Leo head was turned away as he sobbed. Blinking, he jerked into action and ran forward, time slowing as Raph's arm came down. Grabbing Raph's wrist with mere inches to spare before the bottle hit Leo's head. Don sighed relieved then yelled at Raph. "Raphael! Are you out of your mind?!"
Raph's head slowly turned to glare at Don, his knuckles turning white on the bottle.
Don glared back at him and jerked the bottle out of Raph's hand with a hard yank before Raph could blink.
"I want him back Donatello! I want him to stop stealing my sai!" Raph's voice lowered dangerously. "And I'll do anything to get him back!"
"Dang it Raph! He is back!" Don glared at him. What was Raph thinking? He couldn't force Leo to remember by whacking him on the head. He could have killed Leo with that act. His blood pulsing through him with his anger, his heart beat in his ears, he barely heard Splinter and Mikey rush to the lab, stopping at the doorway.
Raph scowled at his brother after Don yelled the second time. Crossing his arm, his glare turned just a bit less lethal. "What do you mean?"
"Why don't you have a look my son," Splinter said softly, but firmly.
Raph sighed and looked over at where Leo lay. He seemed surprised at what he saw.
Don turned his gaze down to Leo, who was crying harder now, head turned to the wall, weakly pulling at the straps that still held him down. Don's heart broke at the sight. They had to help him. They just had to. Before he could make another move, Raph was running past him and out of the lab.
"Raphael!" Splinter yelled.
"Come back Raph!" Mikey called.
Don turned and stared at the retreating form of his brother. "Raph," he whispered calming down, not being one to hold onto his anger. "Raph!" he called louder. Though it was no use, the red banded turtle had disappeared into the sewers without another word. Sighing, Don turned back around to turn his attention to Leo. They had to calm him down. After that they would figure out what to do about Raph. He swallowed, knowing this would not be easy. "Leo," he tried carefully.
Leo didn't seem to hear him and continued lightly pulling at the straps, trying to pull away from them.
"Calm down Leo," Don said softly, putting a hand on Leo's wrist, trying to soothe him. "We'll get you undone. It's ok. You're safe."
Leo continued to twist around, acting as if he hadn't heard them.
Splinter came up beside Leo and put his hand on Leo's forehead. "Leonardo. My son." He sighed softly. "It is alright. Be still so Donatello can undue the straps." He put his other hand on Leo's hand and squeezed it.
Leo looked up at Splinter with dull eyes, biting his lip. He stopped crying so hard, but some tears still trickled down, his breathing hard and raspy.
Don moved fast, getting Leo free. He was afraid Leo might hyperventilate with how he was still breathing hard, but he had to get Leo free first so he could calm down. "Mikey, help me."
"Ok," Mikey nodded and started at Leo's other side, going as fast as Don, but fumbling with the straps, which slowed him down a little.
As soon as Leo was free, Don knelt down next to Leo and put his hand on Leo's arm. "Leo. Leo look at me." Waiting until Leo did so Don continued. "It's going to be alright. Ok? You're safe."
Leo nodded very slightly.
"My son, you must calm down," Splinter said softly.
"I don't want you to hyperventilate. It's not good on your body," Don said concerned. "Just take a deep breath."
Leo did so, managing to mostly stop all his crying so only a tear or two escaped down his cheek.
Splinter then reached over and wrapped his son in his furry embrace.
Don looked over at Mikey's teary eyes through his own teary gaze he hadn't realized he had and leaned down, joining in on the hug. He quickly felt Mikey join in as well. Don bit his lip to keep from crying. This was so hard. It was going to be just as hard the next few days. Heck, the next few moments were going to be just a struggle as right now was. He couldn't fathom being in Leo's position.
After another minute, they all pulled away and Leo looked up at them sniffling. He chewed on his lip, much calmer by appearance, but they all knew he was far from being calm.
"Where's Raph?" Leo asked hoarsely.
Don looked at Mikey and Splinter before returning his gaze to Leo. "We don't know."
"What do you mean?"
"He just left as soon as he..." Don stopped not knowing what to say. He didn't want to tell Leo that Raph almost killed him if he didn't already know that.
"He ran up topside," Mikey said quickly.
"He's afraid of me," Leo whispered.
"No. No that's not it," Don said quickly. This was quickly turning from bad to worse.
"Then why isn't he here?" Leo whimpered.
"My son," Splinter spoke up. "He is only hurting and missing you very much."
Leo shook his head. "He left. He barely looked at me. I saw him. I heard you yell at him Donny."
Don stood there slack jawed. He had heard. Leo had heard what he said to Raph. He knew what Raph had tried to do to him.
Leo turned over on his side, facing away from them and curled into a ball, silently shaking.
Don's heart broke even more at the sight. How were they going to fix this? He didn't have a clue. Leo knew everything. There was no doubt in his mind by this reaction from Leo that he knew of everything he had done while he thought he was Shade.
"Michelangelo, go get a blanket," Splinter said softly. "Then meet Donatello and I in the kitchen."
Mikey nodded and raced out of the lab.
'Kitchen?' Don mouthed to Splinter.
Splinter nodded.
Don hoped Splinter had an idea, because he was fresh out of them.
As soon as Mikey got back, Splinter took the blanket from him and gently laid it on Leo's shaking form. "Get some rest my son."
Leo didn't answer.
Don bit his lip once more and looked at Splinter, who cocked his head to the doorway. He nodded to his sensei and turned to Leo. "We'll be in the kitchen if you need anything Leo."
Still no answer from Leo, not even a twitch to let them know he heard.
"Leo?" Mikey asked.
"Ok," Leo finally whispered.
Don silently walked out of the lab, his head down, following closely behind Mikey and Splinter. Once in the kitchen, he dropped down into a chair at the table. He rubbed a hand over his face. "This is such a mess," he moaned softly.
"I know," Mikey said, plopping down beside Don. "What do we do sensei?"
Splinter stood next to the table, both hands resting on his walking stick. He stared down at the grain in the wood table. "I believe the first step to healing is to allay Leonardo's fear that Raphael is afraid of him. To do that, you both must bring Raphael home."
"That would probably be best," Don agreed. "Leo doesn't really want to listen to us."
"What makes you think he'd listen to Raph?" Mikey asked.
Don thought about that. It was a good question. The two fought so much before Leo disappeared, he also had to wonder if this would work. The other thought that worried him was trying to get Raph to come home to comfort Leo. That was just as hard a task as getting Leo to calm down just seconds ago.
"He is in need to hear your brother's reassurances that he does not fear him," Splinter answered.
"I guess anything is worth a try if it gets Leo back," Don finally said.
"Yeah, guess so," Mikey said sadly. "But why not just call him?"
Don sighed. "You know Raph. He doesn't answer his cell when he's upset."
Mikey chuckled dryly. "Yeah. That's true." He quickly sobered. "So how do we find him?"
"I'll get my tracker and we'll trace the signal in his cell."
"Ok. I'll meet ya by the door," Mikey said.
Don nodded and stood.
"Good luck my sons," Splinter encouraged them.
"Thanks sensei," both turtles said in unison.
Splinter nodded with hope in his eyes.
Don turned and left the kitchen, hoping as well that this would work. If it didn't, he didn't know what would. Back in the lab, he quickly grabbed his tracker and stopped next to Leo. The blue banded turtle didn't move. Don was almost afraid Leo had stopped breathing, but watching his chest, it still rose and fell smoothly. "We'll bring Raph back," he said softly. Swallowing hard, he left the lab and joined Mikey at the door. "Let's go," he whispered.
Mikey sighed and nodded as the two of them headed out into the sewers to find their red banded brother. "I hope this works."
"Me too Mikey. Me too," Don answered dejectedly.
