a/n
Raph: Wow I'm doin' these this week? Its bad enough Charmy fell asleep in the middle of writin' Interestin' anyway, not sure if we told ya this before, but I know this stories been pretty consitent with the updates and such, but we're goin' to start focusing on the other storie's we have, just so she aint neglecting them. You know how crazy people are, anyway, enjoy the chapter. Yada yada yada, thats all folks
The Street Doctor
The breaking of ceramics filled the air; hot liquid from the ruined tea pot stung the bottoms of his feet. He could barely feel the large hand resting up on his shoulder.
He couldn't even see the rest of the lair; it lay in a shroud of darkness from his own mind, all eyes on him, concern, worry, confusion. Leo only knew of Leatherheads' eyes in that moment. Brown incased in yellow, to most people, such eyes would be unnerving. But he often found Leatherheads eyes full of softness and kindness.
Except in his moment
They were full of pity, empathy.
Anguish
"Say that again."
The words fell dead from his lips, barely even a whisper and barely supported by his voice. Leatherhead's eyebrows creased in the middle, begging for the choice not to repeat his statement
Expect that wasn't an option in the moment
Leo felt his lips curl, and burning his throat, his hand grabbing the one on his shoulder, despite the size, his fingers dug into the hard scales of his hand, it was probably not the best reaction, and the muscles in his fingers tightening as though hoping to break "Say that again."
"I'm sorry Leonardo-"
"Don't apologize; fix It." for a moment he was able to turn his gaze, acknowledging the presence of Honeycutt on Leatherheads side. Robotic eyes glancing between Leatherhead and himself. Worried, perhaps even scared. He wouldn't put it past the timid robot, his bounds of bravery undone by internal conflict. Then his eyes crossed over to Leatherheads other side, to the person now gripping his arm in a desperate attempt to free Leatherheads wrist, the frantic face of his second youngest brother, pleading with his oldest brother.
"You three make up the most brilliant people in the world. That's why we called you, that's' why we needed your HELP. That's why HE needed your help."
"And we have," Finally Leatherhead decided to speak up for himself, his voice so low that he could feel it resonating up the wrist that Leo had a grip on to be truthful he was quite grateful for Leatherheads grip on his temper, "Within our power we have done what we can. Procedure dictates that we give him antibiotics, that we did. As we have for a week –"
"So keep trying, don't just give up-"
"We aren't." so now his 'brother' was speaking up? Fingers digging into his own hand, "we tried, but we're not doctor's Leo. We never were. The antibiotics were our best shot-"
"You'll come up with something else. You always do. You always do. Between the three of you, you've done the impossible before. You've all done amazing things, with your mind alone, ." he glared to Honeycutt, "you fought an entire government to keep them from using your mind " his gaze went to Leatherhead"You saved my little brother, when his genes were falling apart, "then his eyes turned around again, falling on his brother.
Unlike with Honeycutt or Leatherhead, Don didn't look away the instant Leo had bore his eyes in his direction, "And you, you've made miracles cause you 'couldn't give up'." He felt his gaze begin to soften, his eyes begin to burn as he released Leatherheads wrist long enough to take a hold of the hand holding his own. He couldn't bring himself to squeeze it with the same strength but rather held it, that callused hand that had built so many things, "One of the few people I count on."
A frown caressed Don's face, before his eyes closed his head bowing
"I'm sorry, I tried. we can hope that he finally reacts to the antibiotics, but after this long," there was a pause, regained eye contact that brimmed with tears, "WE can make him comfortable, but-"
NO, he knew those words he knew what those words meant. He yanked his hand from his brother's grip his steps carrying back away from the three who he had depended on. The rest of the company seemed to form around him. He could hear the shadows of their voice with no real clarity. But he knew the routine; he knew what they were saying
It'll be ok Leo
I'm so sorry Leo
He's still fighting
Don't give up-
A soft clawed hand brushed his arm, flexing to hold on to it. A hand he knew better than anyone. Ti was the same hand that would wipe his tears away as a child, when his fears were too much for him to handle
"My son-"
Leo's arm yanked from his grip, turning and making space between him and the 'optimist'.
For the first time in a long time, he couldn't bare to see their faces.
The door to the med door slammed behind him. He found himself almost daring for his 'family' to comfort him. But what else could they say?
We can make him comfortable
He knew what that meant
Leo closed his eyes for a moment, stuffing the stinging sensation that threatened the heated anger that lingered on his skin.
A weak coughed caused his eyes to open again to fall on the small form lying under the blanket he had drug from his room. The small hiss of the nebulizer almost covered up the sound, Leo forced his eyes closed again.
We can make him comfortable
Was there a more horrible sentence?
Was there amore obvious death sentence-
NO
The word forced itself through the false comforts of his families. Soft words with empty meanings.
He turned back to the cabinet, a vial of antibiotics and the syringe by it. How many vials had they gone through? If they only had an IV, it would have made injecting so much easier. How many of these vials had they gone through?
Leo didn't ant to think about it
He had already drawn out the clear liquid. Eyes running up the length of the syringe for a moment before looking back over to the bed. Moving over to sit upon its edge with a hand reaching out, touching the warm skin of his face with the tips of his fingers, "Half-shell? It's time for antibiotics alright?" though he didn't not expect an answer. He hadn't seen the child's eyes open in so long, a week? The last he had seen them they had been glazed with anger and hurt. At his trickery to get food down his throat
But Leo had no choice that was the promise he had made
He had grown so thin….
A rare fear quaked his heart
A fear that had not felt in so long
He pulled the blanket back slowly, before taking Little Don's arm, rolling the sleeve back to reveal his thin wrist. Then his shoulder pressing the tip of the needle into his flesh
The form flinched lightly at the touch, but Leo's grip on his arm kept the needle from jerking through his skin, a small shush going through his lips, "I know, I know." Was this the 'comfortable' that his family had said they should make? Every time Leo was forced to apply the medicine, the discomfort would come, the flinch that indicated pain and agony. He pulled the needle out and the blanket was pulled back over to tuck under Don's chin. A sight of a small olive hand lay outside of the sheet, having escaped the blanket; he lifted it for a moment ready to put back in the warmth of the blanket.
A pause when through him, slowly laying his fingers like a fan , the smaller hand in his lined up with his, the tips barley brushing against the line of his knuckles.
We can make him comfortable
NO
He put the hand back under the blanket before removing the cloth and dipping it into the bowl on the bedside and getting the cold water into the worn rag before placing it back on his brow
HE was going to be fine
You're so small
But you're so strong
(#)(#)(#)(#)
His dreams normally were a place of sanctuary, the ones that didn't claim his brother's death,
But this was neither paradise nor hell. The cold floor underneath him neither stone nor any substance did he knows. But it seemed to be the source of the mist. He pushed up with trembling hands, trembling? He looked them over as he rose up to his knees now bathed in the white mist, around his waist like an ocean. Or a gentle stream. Where were the colors? Where was the sky? Where were the walls of this prison?
The best description?
There was a flash, filling the air and bringing his arms over his eyes to guard them from the oncoming attack, his free hand flow to his back to grasp the leather hilts he knew so well-
His fingers grasped empty air. A shock of horror went through him, his fingers grasped again only for no reward, his other hand risked his vision to feel his back. Not even the seethes, wait, his hands went to his waist only to feel no belt even-
His hand shot up to his face, the blissful familiar fabric of his mask was absorbed into his fingers. Alteast he wasn't completely naked-
Wait
What about the light?
Leo turned his head around, the overbearing yellow light that glared at him; no it was mixed with brown, the two colors reflecting off one another like a balance-
The light faded for a minute, dimming and twisting, falling from its space till it rested on the ground, fading into a dark hue, the light returning. A light blue that flooded the green of his skin. The same blue that hinged his charges lips….
Wait
Someone was there
They stood just beyond the fire, their height reached his shoulder, but they were slouched, like an elderly man, he could just see they were resting on a cane-
A shiver ran up the back of his neck in an age old reflex that sent him flying to his feet spinning around.
A dark cloaked figure stood behind him. Their height overcoming his but a few inches. The ends of the cloak floating over the mist, carried along the current.
Leo threw his hip, his foot flying around only to be deflected by a wrist. Leo drew back, his other foot fly up, but it was pushed aside, and each blow and hit was cast away. As though he was a kitten and the person was a giant….
"It's alright Gakusie."
Gakusie, that meant student. Who was this creature? To call him such a childish name? His fist flew up again, but it landed against a sturdy palm built like a wall. The light of the blue fire revealing a 4 fingered hand. Covered in brown fur, speckled by white like snow.
Fur?
His fist was released, barely a bruise over skin other than the impact itself. The Flame seemed to grow, surging brighter.
The depths of the person hood were filled, just as the same hand drew it back.
Long black hair fell from the cloak, tightened in a ponytail tied by string. Her muzzle long, copying the same pattern as the hand that caught his fist. Though white lines in her fur ran underneath her eyes and over her brow, black eyes pierced at him. The darkest he had ever seen, but they held no rage or anger. There was strength there, but sadness.
Leo stumbled back away from the badger, his knees adopting a quake he didn't know
Where was he?
Who was this woman?
The badger smirked ever so lightly, her brows furrowing in a smirk before her lips parted, "I did not expect to see you here."
Was she talking to him? No, her eyes went past his to the figure he had forgotten. He spun back around,
He was overpowered.
He would never be able to defeat the woman-
The shorter figure started to move forward, towards the fire and towards him. Something behind gripped his shoulder ever so gently, he tried to turn and face the badger, but she steered him forward. But her touch was not cruel.
No
It was soft, like a mother urging her frightened child forward, till the light covered him entirely. Out of the corner of his heel, he watched the woman move around dim, to stand to the other side of the blue fire. A small smile going across her lips.
"Leonardo."
He knew that voice. Leo spun back towards the fire, the short figure was slowly cast in light, the first to come into view, a long knobby staff, and a grey hand, its claws short but lines across it indicated scars, deep and dark, slowly revealing a bare arm, the same scars ran up the length. As though they had been reopened time and time again, a slow torture.
But he knew those arms
They used to rock him to sleep
They'd hold him in his nightmares
But that was impossible
Slowly the light filled more of the creature. Dark brown robes, sleeves rolled up to his elbow but were clearly too big for his thin body. Dark grey fur and a long fur that almost reached his waist, an old rat. A former prisoner
A Rat he didn't' know
But knew too well
Eyes smiled back at him, as though amused by the confusion wracking his body, "Did not expect to see you here either, I did not think you had the skill."
"Master Spinster is a very good teacher." there was a chuckle behind that voice, a soft chuckle, "well, not You Master Splinter," Leo looked up in time to see a thumb point in his direction, "His Master Splinter. I was aiming for the soul that had brushed against Don's the most. And would you know it, it's a naked Leo."
His master splinter? If this wasn't Master Splinter then who was he? He looked back to the old prisoner. His lounge escaping his lips for a merman to wet them, "I-I do not understand."
"My name is Master Splinter, kodomo. Perhaps not such a kodomo. "He laughed lightly, "but still one. I am not your Master Splinter, one of another world so unlike yours."
"oh." was that going tube his best response? Gasping like a fish? "you're, Halfshell' father. Don's father."
"You have been calling him that?" it was that woman again, why was she laughing? Maybe it was more of an insult that her laugh was so soft, "Halfshell, it's such a cute nickname. I might have to remember that. I know Raph won't when tell him."
Raph? Her Raph? How did she know Raph? How did she fit in to all this? "What do you want from me?"
"I know my son is ill, very much so." There was Master Splinter again, he moved closer to the fire, his eyes casting on it for a moment to have his eye shimmer before turning back to him," He was always the smallest son. Always the easiest to get ill, as he is now."
Leo nodded softly, his head bowing
"I have been reaching for his soul ever since he was taken. Hoping to find some news that would quail the sobs of my youngest, and the anxiety of my angriest. It has not been easy." Master Splinters head bowed ever so lightly, "The worlds are not right, it is as if someone has cast a sheet over them, to prevent crossing and other such necessity we have needed of late. But it seems, "hi sees turned to the companion, the badger, his lips twitching, "I was not the only one trying, and our efforts have not been in vain. And now feel his soul, amongst million others. But I feel the strain. I feel it draining."
"He is not doing well." Leo bowed his head again, "I have tried my friends have tried, but I fear I am failing."
"I can feel that. Just as I can feel Donatello's feelings, his fear of burdening you, his fear of never returning to the arms of his brothers. But we must treat one thing as a time, for I fear our presence is becoming known,"
Leo felt a cold breeze run over his skin, drawing his hands over them to try and rub the cold out, stinging his legs-
The light grew, as though pulsing for a moment. Drawing the cold away from him-
"You're wife has a hell of a soul Master Splinter."
Wait what? Leo looked over to the badger for a moment before to the flame that was a soul? The soul of Master Splinter's wife? "Why-why is she like this?"
"She offered to be the 'shield' for our talk, to allow us to be protected in the veil of our worlds. She can only do so in this form." Master Splinter's hand caressed the flame for a moment. If Leo didn't know any better, he would have sworn the flames circle around the Masters hand, caressing it with the same affection.
Maybe he should know better
"You can save my son, Leonardo."
Wait he was talking to him? Leo raised his chin up ever so slightly looking to the old rat, his eyes back on him, "You mean Halfshell? I'm trying my best, but he's not reacting to the medicine. He's getting thin, I-I don't know how to save him-"
"But you know someone who can-"
"I'm not going to the foot clan." his voice bit over the empty space, echoing back at him as though to show him the disrespect of his tone. His hand drew back and covered his face, "I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
"Don't be, I don't expect you to go to this 'Clan of Feet', I hear they are quite unpleasant. But there is someone else who can save him. Someone who you have thought about taking him to too many times, someone you trust."
Leo looked back, glancing between the two 'spirit animals' (what else was he supposed to call them? This was ridicules), before bowing it lightly, chewing his bottom lip, "I want to, I know Able would help,"
"And you trust 'Able'?"
"Yeah, with my brothers lives even. I but I can't tell my family. That's the only issue."
The cold wind came back whipping back around his feet; the mist began to blow over, over his arms and skin. His hands shot up to stop the stinging on the sides of his head, eyes squeezed shut
"Save my son, I did not break out of prison to bury his body."
"Save my son,"
"Save him."
(#)(#)(#)(#)
Leo shot up into a sitting position from his chair; the book splayed across his lap hit the floor pages down and forever losing his spot. His feet finally hit the ground again and he flew up to a standing position, his hands already pulling out the sword from his back as eh scanned the room. His heart racing through his veins and causing an ache through his head.
One moment
Two moments
Finally his heartbeat began to die down, his free hand touching the side of Little Don's bed for a moment to run over the blankets. He was still breathing, though painfully.
But alive.
Leo ran his hand over the blankets again before glancing down to his watch; the settle beeping matched the nebulizer. Though dented it still read strong.
For now
It was a strong enough reading that gave him the go to go get some tea, and Lord did he need some. Leo glanced back for a moment and walked out of the room. The Lair was cast in darkness, indicating the sleeping hours. He wasn't' sure where Leatherhead and Honeycutt were sleeping, but he really didn't care at the moment. Before he remembered he had shattered the teapot earlier that day.
Shell
That sucked.
Leo sighed before slapping his palm against the counter. Not loud enough to wake anyone, but enough to make his palm sting ever slightly before sting down at the dinner table. Eyes going to the monitor on his wrist.
He should have done this to begin with.
When they had been picking rooms, Leo had picked the one closest to the center of attention, merely so he could react if needed to. To come to his families aid.
That and the sound of running water below him hurried across the steel crisscross of the floor and shoved his shoulder through the door. His fingers going under the edges of his mattress and feeling around…where was it…
His fingers caught onto a plastic he knew too well before dragging out a small flip phone. Leo folded it open before pressing the 8' number for speed dial. He waited a few seconds before clicking end and hurrying back out to the kitchen, if only to make sure there was no one else out there.
The phone in his hand vibrated angrily demanding his attention. He sat down on the couch before raising the phone to his ear, "C?" he could just hear his voices reverberations in the other end, shell voice disguising made his call 'receiver voice painful',
"Hey Da'Vinci Code, is this a 'you need me to unlock the gym for you', cause you have the key to it. Unless this is a '"Crimson Rager" pissed me off again 'and I need a place to crash."
"This is a different type of call." Leo looked back towards the med bay, before running his eyes over the doors to make sure there was no movement, "My little brothers' sick, he's really bad."
"Sick? Which one? Dr. Tesla or the Mousekteer? Or is it Mr. Miyagi wait, not that's your Dad right-"
"It's not any of them, well it is." Dam that was going to be a long story to tell, "He has Pneumonia, and he's' not doing well, can you see him?"
"Da'Vinci," the disguised voice really was annoying eh wished he hadn't even asked Don to build it into the phone, "I'm not a doctor, and how many times do I have to tell you that? I don't have a lot of experience with stuff like that."
"That's bull, definite bull. You're the Street Doctor, you were in medical school, and you were in the Marine Corp TREATING people. You HELP people."
A grating sound filled the phone; he could tell C was getting mad. That was good though, "You knew the freaking smartest people in the world. And none of them can help?"
"They don't have medical experience, he needs a doctor. A real one-"
a beeping sound file the air, Leo almost jumped out of his skin till his eyes fell to his wrist and the red light ringing through it.
Halfshell
He barely could see the phone hit the ground, but he had already left it far behind as he ran forward, throwing the door to the medroom.
The nebulizer was flashing frantically in a show of 'dysfunction. The child on the bed was now gasping, hacking loudly.
Leo ran over and grabbed the machine, the screen flashing numbers and symbols that didn't make sense, a clear sign of dysfunction , his palm slapped the machine , "COME ON!" he shouted, slapping it again The breathing machine was flashing brightly Don's hands and gripped his neck tightly, he ran over and kicked the breathing machined, slapping it on the side a few times till Donnie was sitting up again, hacking heavily," WORK!"
A growl of irritation and a well-aimed kick sent the machine flying across the room, his hand grabbing the tube that connected to Don's mask and grabbed the portable oxygen tank and flew forward attaching the tube to the tank-
Leo ran around the bed and grabbing Little don by the shoulders and almost lifting him off the bed, the form flinched heavily at his touch, "Breathe!" before hugging him tightly to his chest, hand pressing to his scalp, squeezing him as tightly as he could, the form in his arms was trembling in his grasp, """ssssshhh it's alright it's alright you're fine." He lowered his head, his cheek meeting the child's scalp, "I-I'm so sorry Halfshell I-I was just going to get tea, I shouldn't of left, "I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry. I-I didn't even know your breathing machine had stopped t-till my watch had gone off."
He had been hoping to hear his voice, any indication that he was alright. Maybe hear that his 'incessant kicking' and thrashing had created some sort of 'cure' in the nebulizer. Instead he felt his charge press his face into his chest and a shaking small hand taking his.
He ran his hand down Don's scalp for a moment "I'm sorry." he whispered again, he felt the boy's head tilt upward, as though trying to see his face, but he pressed his head more into his chest,
"I'm sorry I'm so sorry." Leo whispered, he felt his eyes burn again, "I'm so sorry. "He had promised to protect him, to keep him safe. HE had made that oath over and over again, every day as to not forget it. Just like the one to test his family at all times.
He had to do something.
Leo squeezed Don tightly to his chest before pulling away slowly. Trying to ignore the painfully sad grip that had tightened around his hand. As he was lowering Donnie back onto the bed, he saw that the child had finally opened his eyes, though watery with fever, they begged with him, pleaded. Leo gave him a small look that he hoped would convey his feelings before hurrying out of the room.
The sound of static filling the air of the Lair confused him for a moment; tile the strange noise began to form….words?
"-DON'T PICK UP THE PHONE THIS GOD DAM MOMENT-"
Shit! Able! Leo quickly fell to his knees, hands going over the floor, "C!"
"-GUNS BLAZING SO PICK UP THE-"
The phone had somehow found its way stuck under one of the table chairs, he snatched the phone up , juggling it for a moment between his hands, if only to keep the earpiece away, "Son of a Bitch Le-, "another groan filled the phone , "Da'Vinci, don't scare the shit out of me like that. Don't think I wouldn't of climbed down there I WOULD."
"I KNOW I know," he hurried across the Lair returning his to his room and the empty closet, "I'm taking my brother to you, our machines are failing, he needs help, "he yanked out the long trench coat and pulled his arm through it, he knew he had another one for Little Don. It might just be a little too big for him, but that was the least of his trouble, yanking a wide brimmed hat onto his head, "Please look at him. Please, brother. Please look at him."
There was a pause, and for a moment Leo thought they had lost connection he heard a slow broth be released through the phone
"Bring him through the garage. And bring the car you borrowed from me, it'll be less conspicuous then that tank you guys drive." before the phone was hung up
Leo took a long deep breath allowing some relief to fill him for a moment before he threw the extra coat over his arm and ran back the way he had come. Donatello had stayed where he commanded, Leo took him byte arms for a moment or pulls him into a sitting position, "Let's go, come on Halfshell," he whispered, pulling his arms through the sleeves, "Let's go, you'll be ok, I promise bud, but you need to stay quiet alright?" Leo glanced around him for a moment if only to ensure no one had awoken during the chaos of C's 'shouting, "alright? Alright." he took the oxygen tank and pulled his arm through the strap, and pulling the blanket off to heave over his shoulder, "There, we need to hurry." He pulled up the child's hood before lifting him up to cradle against his chest, despite his pained whimpers," ssssshhh." He hurried out of the room. Turning for a moment to scan the room. Good everyone was still asleep.
He didn't want to explain what was going on to his family
Only pray that they would understand.
Leo walked into the elevator, his foot catching the button as he rested his shell against the elevator wall.
C would know what to do.
HE should done this the first night Don had arrived.
The door finally opened, revealing the garage.
Leo had only one place to hide C's car. And that was between behind the Battle-Shell, underneath a dark cloth. Leo yanked the tarp off to reveal an old green explorer. Pulling the back door open. He wasn't' sure why C had placed a metal slab over the back seats, but he had to assume they were a 'Street Doctor's' purpose. He slowly moved to lay Don on the slab
"T-Tai-sho-"
He squeezed his eyes shut to shush him lightly. No noise, they couldn't wake up anyone. He paused for a moment, if only to remind himself that the body in his arms was still alive
And it was going to stay that way.
The boy was lowered onto the slab, he reached to take the seatbelt and pull it across him before setting the oxygen tank by him. He pulled away and slammed the door shut.
"Leo?"
His bones nearly jumped out of his skin, his hand shooting out to grab the voice just inches from his head. But a hand caught his wrist, a three fingered hand, Leo slowly raised his gaze. Up the olive green up, greased with motor oil up to his elbows even smearing his purple mask but his eyes remained those curious light brown eyes.
No
Worried
He quickly pulled his fist away, "D-Don, what are you doing up? You should be asleep, like the others."
"I couldn't sleep. You know how it is. And working calms my mind." his lips twitched tiredly. Leos' eyes trailed down to Don's belt. He could just see the top of an inhaler sticking out, the worn stickers giving it away more than the actual device
"You know you should rest after your attacks."
"I am, but then I heard you on the phone, talking to some 'robot'." crap, why did the smart one have to be awake? Why not a sleepwalking Mikey? Alteast he could convince the youngest to go to bed, "Where are you taking Mini-Me? He's exhausted and weak, its not good for him to be out."
"Just go to bed-"
"LEO."
A flinch crawled across Don's face he looked to the car for a moment. Closing them slowly before turning to his brightest brother
"He needs help Don; he's not going to get better unless I get it for him."
"Where are you taking him? Last I checked, there aren't any mutant turtle hospitals."
"I-I have someone. It's better than nothing."
Leo watched his brothers eyes look back over to the car, why did he have to look so concerned? It brought burning into his eyes. The eyes met his again, "Bro, I'm trying, you know I am. I'm trying to help him."
"I-I know. "the disappointment, Leo could see it, the pain he took a step forward, his hand gong over to grip his brothers shoulder, "That's why you had an asthma attack isn't it?" the muscles in his hands flexed, he swallowed the guilt, "I didn't mean to stress you so bad, I'm sorry little brother. I'll be back in a few days; you can tell the others that,"
"But I-"
He wrapped his arm around Don's shoulders to hug him tightly to his chest. Maybe he had a secret OCD; maybe he couldn't hug one "Don" without having to hug the other? But that was something Mikey would say, but instead he hugged his brother all the tighter, "I trust you with my life Donnie, and we've tried the antibiotics. I made a promise to him I would take him home, that I would find a way." his felt his arms tighten, "And I don't' want to take him home in a casket and explain to his family how I failed him."
He couldn't deny his disappointment when he didn't feel the arms return the favor. But after a few seconds, he felt a pair of arms warp around his shell
"I trust you bro."
"Thanks bro." he squeezed Don tighter before drawing away
"Can you alteast tell me who you're going to? Please?"
OH shell, "It's a person I know they're known as the Street Doctor, "
"Ok, can I assume this is their car? And the reason for the cell phone you had me modify"
"You can assume correctly." ok, now he knew how his brothers felt when they were expecting a lecture. He had to remember that for later. Especially as Don shook his head tiredly before his arms crossed over themselves (reminding Leo he now had oil all over his shell, but it was worth the heart to heart hug)
"Tell your friend they have new wheels, their oil's been changed and not to press the little red button next to the air button."
Oh? Oh! That was Don of ryos, he smiled before reaching to rub his scalp, and "We'll be back. But go to bed, alright?"
"Alright." though they both knew better. Leo moved over to the car again, climbing into the driver's seat and his hat low.
This was going to be a long night
(#)(#)(#)(#)
He could remember the number of nights he had needed to desperately get to a place other than the Lair. On nights when the arguments between him and Raph grew beyond bearable and he would leave his home to embrace the dark of night.
Course after running around for hours, he would get tired. One the rare nights he couldn't go back to home. Or even to Aprils.
So C's place it was
Luckily C's couch was always comfortable, her gym was always at his disposal and she always had extra pizza she'd set aside for him. Hell she even bought a tooth brush for him incase another 'week of a thousand fights' happened again.
Like the night of Don's asthma attack.
He could still remember that night, after the battle, when Don's succumbed to his asthma and he realized that his little brother had failed to refill his inhaler.
He remembered going to the pharmacy, breaking in to refill Don's old faded inhaler, the relief he had felt when he had finally refilled the inhaler and got it to his brother.
But it still hadn't worked.
And time was running out.
It took one phone call on a burner, for the very same car to drive up to the Pharmacy, and a lifesaving technique that he practiced over and over again.
Crap, wasn't he supposed to be driving?! He barely remembered in time to slam his brakes for a stop sign. The car heaved in protest before the weight finally slid back onto both wheels, his hands gripping the wheels with the came consistency as how he had seen Klink cling to the sofa after the stereo scared it out of sleep.
"Shell. He cursed angrily, maybe he was more tired then he thought. And the fact no one had bothered do change the street lights on this street for years now.
He had never realized how crappy of a neighborhood they lived in up until now. They hadn't even bothered to fix the hole into eh road that Little Don had created
Crap!
Little Don!
He turned in his seat, reaching back for a moment to poke the child lying under the blanket. A slight tremor going through him indicating he was still asleep (and still shivering) but alive. "Sorry about that Buddy." he ran his hand over the blanket, "We'll be there soon." taking the blanket and pulling it up further his body, "C'll knows what to do."
"MH."
"You got that right." It was almost sad that he was using Donnie's pained grunts as conversation. He was about to sit up in his seat to face forward again when he glanced back through the back window.
He didn't quite know what drove him to keep glancing out that back window. It seemed to be a reaction any time he got into a vehicle, maybe he was used to being shot at or bore on by gangsters, Triceratops, foot ninja and all other creatures of hell, yeah that was it. No, it was the chase from Bishop in the sewers that spooked him. Not knowing if Bishop had been searching for the Rat King or source of the whole in the street (aka, the turtle he was trying to save). He glanced forward again, searching the buildings ahead of him. Everything looked so different from street level, His eyes caught on to Neon orange level, (probably the oldest feature on the brick building). That read "Able's Gym"
That had to be it.
Leo looked both ways before turning the wheel and driving down the narrow alley (how C drove down this road, he had no idea). He could just see the faint light coming from under that garage door; he looked back the back seat, "I'll be back buddy," before opening the car door and sliding out. His fingers running over the front of his coat again before kneeling by the garage, hands under the foldable wall and lifting it up-
A splashing sound came from behind him, he flew around his fist denting against the metal of the garage door, and an angry shout filling the air with the sound of crashing trashcans over the ground as a familiar figure lay on the ground, a clear dodge movement if there was one, he wasn't even sure what he had done till a very angry voice reminded him
"What the HELL Leo?! Are you TRYING to cave my head in!?"
"Crap! Oh crap! I'm sorry! I didn't know it was you Claire-"
"Who ELSE would approach a hipster in a fedora in a trench coat at 2:30 in the morning?!" she demanded, the glare was harsh, but then again, he wasn't the one line lying in a pile of trash. Her black Marine Corp sweater covered in pizza box grease and her baseball cap in a pile of (well, he didn't know what it was but it smelled HORRIBLE). His hand shot out and was received by hers, "Sorry again." he pulled her up to her feet.
"Yeah yeah." Green eyes glared at him for a moment before her blue baseball cap was snatched off her head and slapped against her knee a few times, "I don't suppose you carry a hanky in your belt?"
"No, sorry."
"Would you stop apologizing?" the hat was pulled back into place, the smell almost gone at this point, "Ok so where's the patient?"
"Back here." He pulled off his fedora to toss into the open window, and rounding the car, pulling open the back door his hand finding the seatbelt , and lifting the boy, oxygen tank and all, into his arms turning to her.
His friend's eyes widen for a moment, stepping forward, "You said it was bad, you didn't say his couldn't breath on his own."
"I didn't know what else to do. We've tried everything"
"You should have probably brought him sooner" her eyes went to his for a moment, "You know the route, get him to the guest bedroom."
"Thank you, THANK YOU." Leo moved and ducked into the garage, he could hear the care rev on behind him as he opened the door to small hallway. He had been here enough time to know the door to the actual gym lay to the front. He turned his head and searched the ceiling for a small door. His toes bouncing hard enough for him to grab the drawstring and bull it down. AS the door opened, the ladder unfolded with it, he slowly heaved his charge over his shoulder, slowly as to not irritate his lungs, his hand catching the rope railing and pull him up.
Upon living in the sewers his whole life, he remembered thinking that April's apartment was a bit on the 'dinky' side. But April had told him that she had gotten lucky with such a large apartment, but most apartments were barley the size of his bedroom. But the "Street Doctor's "apartment was the dinkiest of them all. The living/kitchen was barely the size of HALF of April's bedroom, the small square dining room table was pressed against the back of the couch, all aimed for a flat screen TV on the wall. There was barley any counter space for anything other than the toaster, but every bare space (floor or otherwise) was covered in thick books ranging from Military History, to Medical text books (and one stack of Harry Potter books). Every time he came here, the stacks were changed to indicate rapid reading and trips to half price book store. Maybe the worst part was the fact that a) Claire goes touchy when someone moved her stacks or b) she had a habit of leaving the lights off unless she knew she was getting a visitor from the roof tops. Luckily he knew where Claire stacked her books at his point, so it was just a matter of pointing his toes like a ballerina and move around VERY slowly
He took the doorknob he knew would lead to the guest bedroom and pushed it open (careful not to knock over any of Claire's' precious books). The 'guest bed room' was about the only space not cramped with books, he moved over to the queen sized. He was grateful he didn't drop his charge when Claire ran past him, pulling back the crisp unused sheets and giving him space to lay him back on the sheets.
A light touch pushed him away from the before stepping out of the way of a charging blonde, she had already kneeled down on the bed, a flashlight in one hand, "turn on the light "
"Oh so NOW you want it on."
"I need all the sight I can get, you know that."
Leo moved over to the wall, he knew better than most the deal with Claire's impeded eye sight. His hand ran up the wall and brushed over a familiar plastic and switched it on.
Claire and already taken out a briefcase from under the bed. Drawing out a stethoscope and a flashlight as he unclipped the fronts of Little Don's trench coat then the front of his shirt. Leo hurried over to the window to look out it for the moment, the sound of scissors cutting through thick hoody material reached his ears, "how-how is he?"
"I don't know yet Da'Vinci, "
He turned back around to head towards the other side of the room glancing back. She had her stethoscope out now, pressing it against his sides and the base of his neck, "C-can I help?"
Green eyes glared at him for a moment before looking back to her work "You can go sit down."
"What? Why?! You've let me stay in the room when you deal with patients before-"
"Not when its your brothers. I've ALWAYS made you sit outside when I treat your brothers"
"But-"
Claire stood up from her spot on the floor, facing him with an angry look on her face
No not angry
Exasperated
"Leo, I know you, and you know me. You know I don't like friends or family of patients watching me while I work. And you're stressed. If you want me to be able to focus on your brother, and I can't have you distracting me."
"But-"
"Go get some tea, go sit down or something-"
"He NEEDS me; I'm the only person he has. I'm the only family he HAS-"
"LEO."
His face was beginning to ache from flinching; bur alteast Don hadn't been glaring at him as hard as this' jar head' was. He couldn't even look back to her
"He needs you, you might be right. You've taken good care of him, but part of taking responsibility for someone, is knowing when you have to step aside."
"I can't-"
"You CAN. You're the last person I expect excuse's from. "
What the hell kind of excuse was that?! He didn't want to leave the side of the child he had been carrying for three weeks now?! Holding him when he was scared, cold, being his only confidant. The only person who the younger would even talk to? Who wouldn't even eat unless Leo was there to eat with him?
Whose very father strained against time and space to beg for his help?
Sobs of my youngest,
The anxiety of my angriest
His hand found its way to pinch between his eyes, burning and fighting the anger boiling his stomach
He would not refuse Donnie's side
He would not
He would NEVER-'
A hand tapped his shoulder, not in the 'if you don't listen I'm going to punch face in 'ay he was used to from Raph but enough to get his attention. It took a considerable amount of personal strength not to shove that hand away from himself.
But he had too much respect for Claire Able
Slowly he looked back to the 'poker'. It was rare to see frustration truly go from her damaged eyes. But the hand returned, resting on his shoulder for a moment
"You're my friend Leo, you're exhausted, you're pushing yourself past your limit-"
"I'm fine-"
"You can't pull that bullshit with me." oh crap, well the frustration was back, "Kid," not the stupdi name calling either. he wasn't sure if it was because HE was frustrated, but he was in no mood for that right now,"You want me to help him right?"
"Right…"
"You want me to give him the best treatment possible?"
"Yes…."
"Then I can't be spending my energy worrying about both of you." her hand pointed to the guest bedroom door, "Then go get some hot tea eat some cold pizza and eggrolls. I'll join you as soon as I'm done."
No. That was the reaction that automatically went through his mind. No. Absolute refusal. No reason and on purpose, he was not leaving Donnie's side.
But he had to.
Slowly he closed his eyes, drawing in a few meditative breaths. He knew she was right. But he didn't want to admit it. Slowly he walked forward, lowering himself on one knee by the bed and lifting that small hand back up to hold into both of his.
Too warm
Too small
"I-I'll be right outside Half-shell." he whispered lightly, "If you need me, I'll be right there." but the existence of no answer kept his chest aching.
He wanted a miracle
He wanted someone to tell him this boy would be alright
He drew himself back up onto his feet. Tearing his eyes from the sight of Don's shirt open for an examination. From his own personal failure to prevent his sickens. Looking back to his friend, "Please call me in if he wakes up, he'll be scared, he gets nervous when I'm not around."
"I promise." and a promise from the Street Doctor was never one to be taken lightly. And they both knew just that. Leo walked for the bedroom door, sliding it open and barely feeling the pat of a hand on his shoulder before closing it after him.
Tired
He was too tired.
But to succumb to sleep was to risk returning that the 'plane' that that badger (did they say her name was Kaede? HE really didn't remember) and Master Splinter 2 had drug him to.
Mediation would be better
It would quail his heart even for a bit.
He allowed himself but a moment, to turn his head and look back to the bedroom. Don's life now rested in her hands.
And there was nothing he could do to help
Translations:
Gakusei: Student
Kodomo: Child