Ch 5 A Shot In The Dark
Leo sat up in bed quickly, his eyes darting around wildly. His heart raced and sweat poured down his face. He took a deep calming breath and forced himself to relax. The screams from the nightmare echoed in his head along with the frighting images of a building on fire. Throughout the strange dream, he kept hearing his mother's voice telling him to beware of someone coming after him.
Leo got out of bed and walked quickly to the living room, he made his way to the wall where he had seen his mother's apparition several weeks earlier. He smoothed his hand over the wall and thought back on that moment. "What are you trying to tell me mom?" He whispered to himself. "Who is coming, who must I beware of?" He closed his eyes and turned to walk back to his room.
As he made his way across the living room, voices from his Aunt's room made him stop. He looked over at the clock on the TV. It was just after one am and as far as he knew, since it was a school night, Vern had not stayed over. He silently walked over and pressed his ear to the door. Silence at first then...
"Can't you find someone else?" His aunt asked, she sounded anxious. Another long moment of silence. "How could you want to do this?" She whispered harshly. "He's just a boy and he's your son after all." More silence as the voice on the other end spoke. "You can't hold that over me forever, it was an accident after all." Leo could hear his aunt's breathing quicken. "Fine! But you need to give me more time, I can't do what you want right now." Another long moment of silence. "Please, just give me till school is out. I'll..." Silence again. Leo suddenly heard a loud bang and then the sound of his aunt sobbing. He wanted to knock on her door but something held him back.
The sound of his aunt leaving her bed and coming to her door had Leo quickly and silently making his way back to his room. He closed the door and made his way to his bed. He quickly got under the covers and turned his shell toward the door. He forced himself to remain calm and listened as footsteps from the hallway came toward his room. They stopped outside for a moment before turning away and making their way toward the kitchen.
He let out a breath and thought about the conversation he had overheard. Who would she be talking to this early in the morning? It sounded to him like she was in trouble and possibly being blackmailed. Should he speak to her about it? He shook his head and thought about his nightmare and his aunt. He supposed it could have something to do with her work but she was just a librarian. She wouldn't have anything to do with a student's work or anything like that, or so he thought. Leo took a deep breath and decided he would speak to Raph about it when he came home from school. Doing it before would only make him worry as well. He closed his eyes and attempted to go back to sleep.
At eight, Leo tried to make his way out his aunt's apartment without trying to see her. But no luck, his aunt was in the kitchen like always when he left.
"No breakfast Leonardo?" She called out to him.
He jumped slightly before composing himself and smiling at her. "Oh, I'm, uh, not really that hungry." He forced himself to stay calm. He noticed she gave him a curious look. "Um, see you tonight."
"Don't forget your Valentine's day present for Raphael." She reminded him. "It's on the table."
Leo's eyes widen, he had forgotten today was Valentine's day. He made his way to the kitchen to get the present. His aunt was seated at the table drinking coffee and staring in the distance. She looked up at him and smiled.
"Are you okay hon?" She looked at him strangely. "You look a little more green then usual."
Leo laughed nervously. "I'm fine auntie...are, um, you okay?" He wanted so desperately to ask her about the phone call he overheard.
Irma let out a huge sigh and got a far away look in her eyes. "I'm fine sweetheart." She told him. She looked at him again and smiles."It's just there is so much to think about with Vern." She looked down at her coffee. "He was married once before and now he's talking marriage with me but there's so much with him and his son going on." She shook her head. "I just don't know if I'm ready for it yet."
Leo nodded. It made sense he supposed, but there was so much more to the phone call that didn't sound right. The way she sounded last night did not sound like someone deciding to marry or not. No, Leo knew there was something else.
"Well, you better get going if your going to see Raphael before he has to get to school." Irma's voice brought him out of his musings.
He looked up and saw it was five after eight. "Oh yeah, bye auntie." He grabbed the brightly red wrapped box off the table and quickly took off. He hadn't noticed the frown on his aunt's face as he ran out the door.
He stepped outside and shivered slightly. He looked up at the sky and frowned. It was a very cold February day, it was also very dismal. As much as he liked New York and the east coast, he was tired of the cold and hated how short the days were. The darkness came all too soon and he found himself craving the sunshine. Spring would be here soon, he told himself, walking quickly, and maybe then he would start looking for a place to call his own. He loved his aunt but something just didn't sit right with what was going on, and it was making him very nervous. He got to Raph's home in record time and as always, Raph was waiting in the family truck for him. He smiled when he saw him and was just about to get out when Leo waved at him to stay inside.
"Sorry I'm late." He said breathing hard, he ran up to the driver side window and stuck his head in. He gave him a quick kiss. "Can we talk when you get home?"
Raph smiled. "Don't we always?"
Leo shook his head. "I mean really talk." He stressed. "I need to speak with you, it's important."
Raph frowned. "Sure Leo." He told him. "I'll see you at four thirty like always and we'll talk."
Leo nodded, gave Raph another kiss and went inside. He tried to act like all was fine throughout the day but Splinter could see there was something on his mind. After the last class, as always, Leo cleaned the dojo. He was just finishing up when Splinter came in.
"Leonardo, my son." Leo smiled and looked over at Splinter. No one ever called him 'son' before and he loved hearing it. Splinter walked in with two cups of hot tea on a tray. He sat down on the floor and waved his hand in front of him motioning for Leo to join him.
Leo did as told and sat across from Splinter. "You wish to speak with me Sensei?"
"You seem distracted Leonardo." Splinter gazed at him curiously. "Is everything alright?"
"I'm not sure Sensei." Leo confessed. "I was going to talk with Raph when he got home about something going on at home." He took a sip and looked away. "It may have something to do with Aunt Irma and possibly Vern."
Splinter smiled and nodded. "It's always hard when two people want more out of a relationship." He said chuckling. Leo nodded and smiled. He decided to just let Splinter continue thinking that way.
They finished their tea and went out into the living room where Donnie, Mona, Mikey and Renet were setting up for the party. It was just going to be them since it was a weekday and everyone had either school or work the next day, but still, they went all out. Raph would be home soon and Leo looked forward to talking to him. There was so much confusion he needed to deal with.
A few minutes later, Raph walked into the living room, Leo ran over to him and kissed him deeply. "Can we talk somewhere privately?" He asked eagerly.
Raph looked at Leo nervously. "Uh, can you give me just a moment. I just want to go clean myself up a bit." He began to walk over to the kitchen. He smiled back at Leo who was following him. "You just stay here, I'll be back in a moment." Leo frowned as Raph started toward the stairs. He turned back to join the others who were laughing and talking about their day. No one noticed Mona sneaking into the kitchen after Leo came out.
Mikey had just placed a tray of snacks on the table and was fixing it up when he realized he had forgotten to put paprika on the deviled eggs. "I'll get it." Leo told them. In the kitchen, directly across from the stairs was a walk-in pantry with a door. Leo went in leaving the door slightly ajar so he could listen for Raph, and began his search for the paprika.
Meanwhile, Mona had walked up the stairs and bumped into Raph coming down, a small box wrapped in blue paper with a red ribbon on top was in his hands.
"Raphael." Mona stepped aside and let him pass. "I was hoping to talk with you."
"Sorry Mona." Raph told her. "I need to talk to Leo."
Mona looked at the box in Raph's hand. "Please Raphael, please hear me out first and if after we're done talking you still wish to speak with Leonardo, then I promise you I'll step aside for good."
Raph looked at her and huffed. "I thought you loved Donnie." He said as they entered the kitchen.
"No Raphael." Mona said, she grabbed his arm and brought his face close hers. "You know that is not true." She looked deep into his eyes and leaned close. "You and I were always meant to be together, we know each other inside and out. Our secrets, our past. We don't hide from each other like you do with Leo." Mona searched Raph's face. "Do you not remember our first Valentine's day?" She asked. "You told me you would always be grateful for what I did for you."
"I remember Mona but..."
Mona put a finger on Raph's lips. "I meant what I said Raphael. I love you, and you know I've always loved you." She place a hand on his cheek. "And somewhere inside your heart, I know you still love me too." She pressed her lips to his and gave him a passionate kiss.
"Mona." Raph groaned into her mouth and leaned into the kiss. He suddenly realized what he was doing and was just about to push her away when a loud voice could be heard coming into the kitchen.
"Hey Leo, did you find the paprika?" Donnie's voice startled them apart and Raph's eyes widen in fear when he saw Leo standing just outside the pantry, tears running down his face. Donnie walked in and upon seeing Leo, turned to see what he was looking at. Hurt, anger and shock crossed his face as Leo let the spice drop to the floor and run past him.
"Ah crap!" Raph yelled and ran after him. "LEO WAIT!"
Mona and Donnie stood still, staring at each other. She had planned on telling Donnie but not till after she knew she and Raph were going to be together. But now it was too late. Now, the hurt look on Donnie's face was more then she could bare. She placed a hand over her mouth to stifle the sobs and ran past him.
Out in the living room, Splinter, Mikey and Renet watched in bewilderment as Leo, tears falling from his face, ran out of the kitchen followed by Raph. Leo grabbed the door leading to the outside, just as he attempted to to open it, Raph grabbed his arm.
"Leo, please let me talk to you." Raph begged.
"Let me go Raph!" Leo cried, trying to wrestle himself out of Raph's grip.
"Not till you talk to me." Raph demanded. Suddenly, all occupants in the room gasped as Raph went flying across the room after being thrown over Leo's shoulder.
"I said let me go!" Leo screamed again. He got the door open and ran outside into the frozen night. A few seconds later, Mona followed, tears also falling down her face. Donnie slowly came out of the kitchen, a dumbfounded look on his face. He turned and watched as Raph slowly got to his feet with the assistance of Mikey and Splinter. The two stared at each other, anger evident in Donnie's eyes.
"Dudes, I don't know what's going on, but you need to go after them!" Mikey exclaimed.
Donnie shook his head. "I'm done Mikey." He turned away from the family. "So is Mona."
Mikey looked from Donnie to Raph. "What about you Raph?" He asked. "Aren't you going after Leo?"
Raph shook his head. He looked down and saw on the floor the small blue wrapped box. He bent down and picked it up, shame in his eyes. He walked over to the table and saw a bright red box with his name on it. He stared up at Mike in confusion and disbelief, uncertain what to do at this time.
"Well I am!" Mikey ran out of the house determined to get Leo to come back.
Leo walked down the street, tears steaming from his eyes, his body shaking as he sobbed hard. He was so consumed with anger and hurt he failed to notice the sound of footsteps coming up behind him. As he passed an alleyway, a large hand was suddenly placed over his mouth and an even larger arm wrapped around him tightly. He was dragged into the alley and forced down on a mattress. His hands quickly grabbed and forced over his head with someone heavy leaning on them with their knees while their hands held down his wrist, another person sat on his chest while a third sat on his legs.
"Let me go!" He screamed out. He attempted to struggle out of his captors grasp but they held him down tight.
"Get his pants off!" A familiar voice said.
"I'm trying." The one on Leo's legs replied.
"Open your mouth turtle, let me show you what a real man taste like." The first voice said.
"Yeah bitch, we've got a message for your boyfriend." A third voice said. "You tell him no one says no to the Purple Dragons."
Leo could feel the one at his legs fighting to pull his pants and boots off him, he wanted to scream out but the sound of a zipper being pulled down in front of his face made him keep his jaw clenched shut. He continued to struggle but to no avail. His attackers had taken him completely by surprised and held him down hard.
He felt his boots come off and then his pants slide down. He began to whimper as rough hands began to rip his shorts apart. He again tried to fight the man at his legs by thrashing them about but a hard slap across the face caused him to momentarily stop struggling allowing his would be rapist to pull the shorts down.
Leo kept his mouth clenched shut and thrashed his head back and forth as the man at his hands and the one on his chest continued to slap him repeatedly in an attempt to get him to open his mouth. At one point, his attacker's hand managed to get in between his lips and Leo opened his mouth and bit down hard, tasting blood. The dragon he bit cursed loudly and pulled his hand roughly out of Leo's mouth. "Damn you slut!" The dragon pulled his fist back and slammed it down hard on Leo's cheek. Leo's head swam and he could feel darkness closing in around him as rough hands began to pull on his tail and another pair of rough hands pinch his mouth open. He had all but given up hope when a sudden yell sounded throughout the alley.
"GET OFF OF HIM YOU BASTARDS!" Mikey heard the commotion and flung himself at the PD on Leo's legs. Leo felt the pressure lift off and he continue to fight and try to force the men on his chest and hands to get off him.
Mikey finished with the one dragon and pushed the other two off Leo. He took a moment to check on Leo to make sure he was okay. As he did, a sudden loud bang sounded throughout the alley, it was followed by a flash of bright light and Mikey suddenly fell into Leo's arms. "MIKEY!" Leo screamed while the purple dragons took off. He began to frantically search for his cell phone with one hand while he kept his other pressed against the bullet wound on Mikey's head.