Alright I'm sorry for the late update, I really am. But I had like 5 tests I had to study for and the only thing I've done the last 5 days was learning and learning.
Gawd this chapter sucks too, but you know why now x.x
And I really waited for this day I could finally write again! Well hope you enjoy it anyways.
"You won't live to see your world destroyed." Hecarim, the Shadow of War
Nobody said something on their way outside. Nobody trusted the situation. They all thought it wasn't possible for someone to just let them go. But they did. The moment Splinter had broken into the room they just gave them up. They just let them go. 'Because they were broken'.
Casey was still awkwardly carrying Raph's shell. With more care they'd ever seen Casey handle things. He too understood the severe situation. April was slightly supporting Mikey but out of all 4 he was the least injured.
Donnie was still carefully tugged inside Splinter's red kimoto and Splinter supported his son with one hand while holding Leo up with his other hand. They really expected some sort of an ambush but they just really let them go. The walk towards their shell raiser was just as quiet as the walk outside. Nobody said something and in the meantime Donnie had fallen asleep too.
Splinter carefully placed his sons in the back of the van and went over to the wheel. Since both Casey and April didn't know how to drive.
"Casey, can you clean Raph's wounds? I have to look for Leo and Don" April whispered as she placed Mikey on the backseat and did his belt for him. Mikey nodded slightly as a thank you but didn't say anything.
"You sure red? I have never actually done it" Casey protested. April had thought him many times about basic medical knowledge but Casey had never actually had to use it in real life. "Never mind" He muttered when April glanced over to him and quickly pulled out the first aid kit. Casey frowned slightly. It was until he saw Raph's plastron clearly he could see the actual extent of his wounds. Deep cuts were made on his plastron. Reaching the tender skin beneath it.
A flash of guilt went over him but he shrugged it off. He couldn't hesitate now. Raph needed him. Carefully he cleaned the wounds and dipped them carefully with alcohol to disinfect them.
Casey frowned slightly when he noticed Raph wasn't even stirring the slightest bit when he cleaned his cuts. Raph had been hurt multiple times and he would always complain or stir when Donnie would patch him up.
"You can come out Raph. It's over" Casey whispered towards Raph but as expected Raph didn't stir or respond. He sighed slightly before pulling his shell up and wrapping his whole plastron in bandages. After that he secured Raph's shell so he wouldn't trip while driving and whipped his head around. Mikey was still silently sitting on his chair.
A few tears were streaming down his face and his hands were still wrapped with the duct tape. Then he looked over to April. Who had tugged Donnie in with a blanket and was currently working on applying a cream over Leo's bruises. Casey sighed again and patted Raph carefully before standing up. He lowered next to April and stopped her before she could help Leo again.
"I'll take over, Mikey needs you" He whispered so Mikey couldn't hear it and signed towards the small turtle. Casey was never a sentimental person, April was and right now that was something Mikey would need. He wasn't physically hurt, but he was mentally.
April nodded before handing Casey the cream and standing up too. On other days she would be so proud of Casey. He had actually listened to her when she was explaining some basic medical knowledge, but right now that was the last thing April was thinking about.
"Hey Mikey" April whispered and sat down next to Mikey. Mikey quickly glanced over to her but didn't say anything. Mikey shivered slightly and looked towards Casey treating his oldest brother "They are going to be alright Mikey" April offered and smiled slightly.
Mikey nodded again and looked to the floor again.
"April?" He whispered in a small voice after a few seconds. "Can you…. C-can you help me?" He cracked, dropping a few more tears and held up his arms. Which were still wrapped in the duct tape. April immediately felt a pang of guilt when she realized she forgot to help Mikey.
"I'm sorry Mikey. Of course" She rushed and gently grabbed Mikey's left hand. Mikey shivered slightly and shrugged. Holding Mikey's hand with one hand she reached out for the medical kit and grabbed a small scissor to cut away the tape. Mikey shivered again and looked away when April carefully began to cut away the duct tape.
A muffled cry came from Mikey when April pulled the tape as gently as possible off his hand. "I'm sorry" April whispered and threw the tape away. Mikey unintentionally began to move his fingers again and a small smile made his way on his face but quickly disappeared again. April glanced over to Mikey and began to cut free the last hand.
Even before April was done cutting the tape away the van stopped driving and not even seconds later the backdoor opened. Revealing a concerned Splinter.
"T-thanks" Mikey cracked before silently walking outside the shellraiser. Walking past his father, keeping his head low. Splinter glanced over to April but she shook her head to say he shouldn't mention it. Splinter's heart began to ache badly as he watched the depressed mood of his usual enthusiastic son but shrugged it off very soon.
He had to stay strong for now. He had to be there for his sons.
"Casey, I'm sorry to ask but it is possible for you to carry Raphael?" Splinter asked, heading towards Casey.
"Don't worry" Casey assured him and carefully lifted up the bandaged shell. Splinter nodded gracefully and allowed Casey outside the shellraiser and went to lift up Donatello. April was already outside, escorting Mikey towards the infirmary and setting it up. They would need it to examine his sons.
"My son" Splinter whispered as he slowly picked up Donnie's sleeping form. And even in his sleep he had a troubled look on his face. "My poor sons" He whispered before picking up Leo too and helping them towards the infirmary.
Leo was their first concern. His bone had been broken and it was clear it wasn't in the right position. Due to the odd bump in it. He had been silent all the way but you could see in his eyes that he was hurting, badly. Raph has been placed in his own bed, a familiar place would encourage him to come out of his shell.
Casey volunteered to watch over him, which they'd all gratefully accepted. April was needed in the infirmary to treat the wounds along with Splinter, and his brothers obviously couldn't help either.
Donnie was on one of the beds in the infirmary, curled up in a ball and staring blankly towards the wall. Mikey sat on a chair, keeping his eyes fixed on the ground. Trying to ignore the burning feeling in his arm and the collar around his neck. Leo was sitting on another chair, Splinter next to him, gently holding his arm.
And even though Splinter was really careful Leo couldn't help himself but to whimper slightly because of the pain. Splinter frowned slightly when he examined the break and sighed after a while.
"I am really sorry my son but I have to relocate your bone" Splinter explained. Mikey sobbed from the other side of the room but quickly covered it up. Returning the attention to Leo's arm.
"J-Just do it" Leo cracked almost unable to hear. Splinter and April quickly exchanged some glances before Splinter grabbed Leo's arm with both hands. One hand above the crack and one under the crack. He glanced over to his son for the last time before slowly bending Leo's bone into his normal place.
A few tears escaped Leo's mouth but the only sound came from Leo's bone popping back into place. He whimpered slightly and sank slightly in the chair. Panting heavily and shuddering from the pain. Splinter sighed when he knew he had set Leonardo's bone and began to wrap it carefully.
April and Casey had already treated his bruises and there was nothing more he could do. He handed Leonardo some painkillers which he swallowed gratefully.
"April, could you escort Leonardo to his room?" Splinter said, turning towards April. She quickly glanced over to Donnie and Mikey before nodding. She stood up and walked over to Leo, offering to help him but Leo stood up without her help.
"No need. Help Mikey and Donnie" He whispered, his voice cracking slightly and walked out the infirmary. Slightly shaking on his legs. A few tears escaping his eyes. He had already failed his brothers, he couldn't accept any more help. He was supposed to be the leader. He shouldn't rely on others. He should be able to handle this, without any help.
Splinter forced his own tears back. It hurt him seeing his oldest like this. So lost and hurt. Whatever his sons went through the last days had hurt them, both physically and mentally.
"Master Splinter, we have to look after the others" April whispered, snapping Splinter out of his trance. He blinked a few times and glanced over to his two remaining sons. Mikey was still nervously sitting on the edge of the bed. Needlessly moving his fingers. Donnie was still curled up in a ball but instead of facing the wall he was now staring with red eyes towards his father.
"Michelangelo" Splinter frowned. "Do you feel any pain? Is anything hurting?" There were no visible injuries apart from the burn mark on his arm but he wanted to be sure.
"No sensei" He cracked and lifted his head, meeting his father's eyes. Slowly he trailed his hands towards collar. "I….i just w-want it off" He whispered and stared at the floor again. Splinter's face dropped and walked over to Mikey's chair. Kneeling down so he was on the same level as his youngest son.
"I know my son, and we will eventually" Splinter assured him and patted his shoulder slightly. The collar was made of some kind of alloy. Making it very hard to break. It wouldn't be easy to cut it through, but he wouldn't rest before it was off.
Mikey nodded but didn't move. Splinter, knowing he shouldn't strain his son, stood up and looked over to Donnie.
"Donatello" Splinter started and walked over to his second youngest son. "I'm afraid I have to look after your wounds" he added with a painted expression. He didn't know what exactly had happened but from the blood between his legs he could already guess.
Donnie's eyes widened and began to shake heavily. Shaking his head in denial. "N-No" He squeaked and curled up even more. Desperately trying to cover his whole body. And suddenly he felt so exposed on the bed. He just wanted to be alone.
"My son, if you would like I could give you something to calm you" Splinter offered, watching his second youngest son crying. He took Donatello's upper body in his arms and began to stroke him slightly. Donnie stayed tense in his arms but eventually also relaxed slightly.
In the meanwhile April had approached him carefully and pinched him with the sedative. Donnie cried out slightly but the sedative quickly relaxed him. Splinter carefully lowered him on his shell and kept holding his hand. Continuously stroking it.
"April, I think it is better if you take Michelangelo outside the infirmary" Splinter inquired and glanced over to his youngest son. Distressed watching his almost unconscious brother. April nodded indicating she understood. She too knew what has happened to Donnie. She could tell what they'd done to him. And she wasn't the person who should be there when Splinter treated him. And certainly not Mikey.
"Come on Mikey" She offered and extended her hand. Doubting slightly Mikey took April's hand. She smiled slightly as she helped Mikey up and took him outside the infirmary. Looking over to Splinter hovering over the now unconscious Donnie before closing the door.
She scanned the living room. Casey wasn't here, which meant he was still with Raph, which meant he was still in his shell. Raph's room was firmly shut, just as Leo's room. A few muffled sounds came from the infirmary where Splinter was treating Donnie. Mikey wiped away a few tears.
His freckles seemed so dim and his usual bright eyes were dull and almost a shade of grey.
Without even knowing April suddenly found herself before Mikey's room. Mikey was behind her, still his eyes focused on the ground. April sighed again and pushed the door slightly open. She winced slightly when she saw the mess in his room but Mikey didn't seem to mind since he directly walked over to his bed and climbed in it.
The collar pressing uncomfortably in his neck. Before April could do anything Mikey was already carefully tugged under the blanket, his shell towards April.
They were scarred. April knew it. They were scarred and scared. Whatever they had been through had hurt them physically, but most importantly mentally. And April knew they were broken. She just hoped with the help of each other they could help themselves. But they had to accept each other's help.
And that was probably the whole problem.
Ah man, this feels so good, to write again :D
And I've got many more ideas ^^ also for other stories.