Well, I wrote this whole thing this morning. Thanks to a word war with a friend on Facebook. I hope you like it?
PLEASE read the A/N at the bottom. I need feedback.
"You've been having nightmares, Leo?" Raph asks, always looking out for him. Leo had called up when Heather was preoccupied with helping Steve look for his mysterious friend. He was hoping to talk to all of them, but only Raph answered.
"Yeah, but whenever I'm around Heather at night, they go away," Leo defends, trying to change the subject, "So, I'm alright."
"You know that won't work forever, Leo. What about when you get big? She won't treat you like a kid then." Leo internally cringes at how right Raph is.
"Maybe they'll go away by then," he suggests. A silence comes between them. Leo averts his eyes from Raph so it doesn't feel awkward. Raph clears his throat and reverts back to their 'filler question.'
"Anything else happening topside?"
"I've been watching Space Heroes," Leo answers. Raph groans.
"Mikey had found it after you mentioned it before. It looks so annoying!" Leo wants to object, but the mention of his younger brother brings a question to mind.
"Where is Mikey? I didn't see him last time I called."
"Yeah, um.." Raph stalls. Leo suddenly becomes worried.
"What's wrong?"
"Huh? Nothing! Nothing's wrong. Mikey's just been sleeping in. The shell head makes us do most of the chores."
"Uh Raph?" Leo asks, getting more nervous, "It's in the middle of the day." Raph stares at Leo and then sighs.
"He's sick, Leo. Donnie says he's got something like the flu and it won't go away."
"..How long has he had it?"
"About a week, Donnie realized it after you last called. You know, when only he was around?" Leo squirms in his spot.
"C-Can I see him? Can you move the computer so I can see him?"
"Donnie told me that only he should see Mikey. He doesn't want it to spread. But he'll get better." Leo nods numbly. "I was really hoping to start training with everybody."
Leo looks up at that, "Training? What kind of training?"
"Well, now that I think about it, I am the only one that is even starting now. They have to wait-"
"What are you talking about?" Leo repeats.
"Ninja training. Dad said when we reach a certain age, we would learn how to be ninjas. You know, to protect us from the world." Raph looks at Leo's face as he tries to process it all, "Was he ever going to teach you?"
"I don't think so.." Leo says, "Well, have fun and work hard. Tell Mikey to get better soon."
"Will do. I love ya."
"I love you too." Leo exits out of the video and closes the computer. He stands up and walks out of his room. "Heather!?" He calls. Heather comes running.
"Yeah, Leo? What is it?" Leo had been holding back, being strong for himself, but at the question, a few tears fall.
"It's Mikey.." he says, "Mikey's sick and he can't leave his room."
"How do you know?" Heather looks into the room and sees her laptop on his bed, "You called? On your own?"
"I wanted to talk to at least one of them. Raph said-"
"Leo, let's sit down," Heather guides him down the rest of the hallway. He reaches up, asking silently if she would hold him. She complies and he moves his head so he can hear her heartbeat. She walks past the table and sits down on the couch where Steve is positioned with his laptop.
"What happened?" He asks.
"Mikey, the youngest, is sick. Leo, did Raph say what he sickness had?"
"Uh, he said it is some kind of flu.. Heather, can you go down and help him feel better? Like you helped me?"
"I don't know. Steve goes off to work and there is no one to watch you. Plus, I don't think he will like me being down there again."
"But we have Skype. You can ask him. He'll do anything for Mikey. He loves Mikey," Leo tries. Heather sighs, smiling at him warmly.
"I'll see what I can do. But, again, you wouldn't have anyone to watch you." Leo looks down and fidgets in his spot.
"I could go.. with?" Heather is stunned by the suggestion.
"Leo, I don't think you are ready to face him again. And I don't know what he'd do if he saw you."
"I need to overcome this fear. You told me that. I want to try."
Heather had gone to her room and taken her laptop with her. "Splinter," she says, once he appears on the screen. The rat stares at her, menacingly.
"What do you want?"
"I heard that your youngest is sick," she says, getting right to the point.
"Yes, Michelangelo is ill. But Donatello is treating him."
"Donnie may be a genius kid, but there is a lot about medicine that he doesn't know," Heather says, keeping the threatening tone out of her voice. Splinter looks behind him at the entrance to Mikey's room. "I can help."
"Only to help him. Nothing else. And you will not take any of my sons this time. Understand?"
"Yes sir, I do. One thing though."
"What?" He growls.
"..Leo is coming with. He has no one to watch him while I am gone." Splinter's face scrunches up into a ball of fury. "You have to promise that you will not harm him. He can see Mikey, and his brothers, but you have to stay away."
Splinter looks at Heather for the longest time. If he declines, Heather will have to cancel the deal. He is staking Mikey on this. He huffs, "Fine. He will not be harmed."
"Thank you. We'll be there before supper."
Leo stands next to the front door. This is his first time out of the apartment building. Heather comes over with her backpack. "You ready?"
"Mmhm," Leo says, nodding. Heather takes the hood of his jacket and flips it up. Leo had no clue why he had to wear clothes, but Heather told him that being a turtle, the weather outside, as it was late winter, would make him sick. And they don't want that. What she didn't tell him is it's also hiding his appearance from people.
Heather holds out her hand and Leo takes it. She opens the door and they step out for a second as she locks it closed. Then she takes up Leo's hand again and they walk down a long hallway and turn a corner into another one. Then they come to a cross roads.
"Do you want to take the stairs, or the elevator?" Heather asks.
"What's an elevator?" Leo asks. Heather explains it as basic and non frightening as she can, but Leo resolves to taking the stairs, just to be safe. So they take a door to the right of the metal doors and walk down three flights of stairs. The front door waits for them, but Heather makes Leo stop.
"I just want to check." Heather makes sure his jacket is zipped, the vest over it is snug, his hood is close to his head, and his boots are laced. Then she smiles at him. "All set."
She pushes open the door and they are met by a blast of freezing air. Leo winces and ducks his head down away from the coldness. Heather leads him to the truck and he sits in the passenger seat. "That's cold," he stutters.
"It would have been colder, if you weren't wearing all of that." Heather starts up the engine and drives down the street. It's the evening, but it's also New York, so there are lights on every building. They aren't even near the skyscrapers, but it's still bright. Leo looks in awe at everything he passes.
Heather finds the river and she parks where Steve did before. She helps Leo out, shielding him from the wind as best she can. They walk down the slope and Leo picks up a chunk of snow in his mittened hand. He looks at it curiously. But when he touches his beak to it, he drops it in surprise.
"That's cold," he mutters. Heather chuckles. They get to the bottom and face the entrance to the sewers. Leo looks at it, remembering everything that happened inside.
"Leo? Will you be okay?" Heather asks. Leo looks up at her and nods. She leads him through the tunnels, coming to the stairs before they know it. Heather quickly shields Leo's eyes.
Right at the base of the stairs is the exact same scene as she saw when she was first here. Leo's blood and chain are on the floor, untouched.
"Leo? Look at me, alright? Don't look at anything but my eyes," Heather instructs. Leo looks up and listens to her as the walk through the entrance.
"Leo?" Raph asks, seeing them instantly. He's seen Leo in his pj's before, but his older brother decked out in full winter gear surprises him. Leo sees his brother run over to him and barely has any time to prepare for impact. His hood falls off. "Leo! It's so good to see you again!"
"But.. we see each other on the computer all the time," Leo says, not understanding.
"I know, but in person. Last time.." The turtles fall silent.
"Where's Mikey?" Leo asks. Raph points behind him, at the bedrooms. Heather takes a step forward.
"Splinter is in there right now. With Donnie," Raph adds.
"Can you tell them we are here?" Heather asks. Raph nods and bolts to the others. Heather kneels down and holds Leo's shoulders so he can't look away. "Leo, are you sure?"
"I, I think so.."
"If you feel threatened, or uncomfortable, you have to tell me, okay?" Leo nods. "Good." Donnie comes over and gets right to the point. He leads Heather over to Mikey, telling his symptoms and what he's tried. Leo follows directly behind them, keeping a firm grip on Heather's hand. When they reach the room, Heather gives Leo's hand to Donnie. "Can you stay out here and watch him?" She asks.
Donnie is a little stunned by him needing to watch his older brother, but he still nods. Heather goes into Mikey's room to look at the ill turtle. When they are alone, Donnie pulls Leo into a hug. "I missed you, brother!" He says. Leo returns the gesture.
"I missed you too."
"Is it cold up there? Are you getting enough nutrients?" Donnie asks. Even if it has been a while since he's been injured, Donnie still frets about him. Maybe it's due to what Splinter told them of the topside world.
"It's only cold if I go outside and yes, I'm eating," Leo answers. Donnie insists that he examine Leo to be sure, but by then, Heather comes back out.
"Leo? Would you like to see your brother?" She asks. Leo gulps and looks into the room. Splinter is there, in the corner closest to the bed. He looks at the bed and sees Mikey, his face is pale, but his eyes are still bright. Bright with the anticipation of seeing his brother again.
"Sure," Leo takes Heather's hand and walks with her over to Mikey. "Hey Mikey. How are you feeling?"
"Leo..?" Mikey asks. Leo becomes worried. Mikey sounds terrible.
"Now Mikey, stop fooling around," Heather says. Mikey holds in a laugh.
"I'm just kiddy, bro. I'm fine, really. They say I got a fly-"
"Flu," Heather corrects.
"But I just feel a little dizzy. And warm. But," Mikey sees Leo staring at him. He has the look of an older brother that sees through his younger brother's facade.
"May I talk to Mikey alone, please?" Leo asks. Heather nods and she looks at the rat man that was sitting silently. He too gets up and walks out the door. "Mikey, how are you really feeling?"
Mikey looks at him, but has to look away. His beak starts to tremble and a tear escapes his bright blue eye, "I missed you Leo. I wanted you back here. It, hurt with you gone.. But I don't-" Mikey stops. Leo rubs his arm to comfort him. "I don't want you to get hurt again. I got sick, I don't know why. I just kept thinking of everything."
"Okay, okay.. you'll get better Mikey. I know you will. I look forward to our video chats and miss you when you aren't there."
"Really?" Mikey says, surprise in his voice. Leo nods.
"Really. I do, Mikey. You're my little brother, I could I not?"
"I, I thought, that you liked the up world that you wouldn't, care or think about me anymore.."
"Oh Mikey, I need you guys. I can't do anything without thinking of you." Mikey smiles and some brightness returns to his eyes.
"I love you Leo." Leo risks kissing Mikey on the forehead, like Heather had done so many times to him. Someone walks in and Leo turns around, hoping it is Heather.
But it is Splinter. He glares at the turtle comforting his son. 'It should be me reassuring Mikey, not Leo.' Leo freezes at the image of Splinter in the doorway.
'I'm going to be punished now aren't I? Where's Heather? Is she still here? Did she leave me?' Splinter takes a step into the room and Leo flinches.
"Leo?" Heather calls. Splinter steps to the side and Heather enters the room. "Are you two done?" Leo nods and Heather goes over Mikey's symptoms again and tries to figure out what it is. She prescribes rest and plenty of water. She cautions against giving him to much solid food, otherwise he may throw it up. Donnie takes this all down on paper.
"Thank you Heather. I'll tell you how he's doing when you call next," Donnie says. Leo says goodbye to his two brothers and then walks out with Heather. She can tell he is tense. Splinter follows them out, but at a distance.
"Where's Raph?" Leo says, looking around.
"Raphael is in the dojo," Splinter's voice says, hoping they get out as soon as possible, "but he is busy."
"With what?" Heather asks.
"Training," Leo answers. He walks over to the entrance of the dojo, "Have fun, Raph!" He tells his brother. Raph is in the dojo, practicing a kata. He takes a moment to smile and wave at his brother, then gets back to focusing.
"Raphael must focus on his training," Splinter says again, "I think it is time that you leave." Heather looks at him and slowly directs Leo so he is behind her.
"I agree. C'mon buddy. Let's go home." Heather turns around and keeps Leo in front of her, so she is always between him and Splinter. They reach the stairs and the tension Heather felt come from Leo escalates like crazy when she forgets to cover his eyes. He starts breathing rapidly and is frozen in his spot.
Heather covers his eyes and picks him up. He immediately finds her heartbeat. She walks back to the truck, silently cooing gentle thoughts into his ear.
"I- I couldn't do it Heather," Leo admits, "It was really scary being around him. Being there."
"But you did do it Leo. You were there the whole time," Heather says as she walks up the hill. She sets him on his seat and she gets behind the wheel. "But now it is over." Leo nods, but he is still filled with fear.
"I.. I thought.." Leo looks away from Heather, ashamed, "I didn't mean to! I knew it wasn't true! I couldn't help but think-"
"Think what?" Heather says.
"..That you left me there.. when he came in-I know you would never do that. But I couldn't think of anything else-!" Heather hugs him, stopping his words.
"Fear makes us do weird things Leo. It's okay. I understand. I don't blame you for having those thoughts." She buckles him in and then drives home.
Okay, few questions.
(I fixed some of the dialogue.)
-Also, is there anything that I could improve on, other than /\?
And for non-editing purposes..
-Guess what is coming next! Guess! This is the second R of R&R!