Raph shifted on his feet, biting his lip as he resisted the urge to pace. His anxious eyes followed Draxum as he examined Leo; the yokai's face was solemn, but considering he usually looked like that it didn't mean much. Even though he hadn't looked around, Raph knew the rest of the family was watching with just as much worry. It wasn't hard to feel the tension in the air.
Finally, Draxum straightened and looked up, and Raph couldn't stand the suspense any longer.
"So, how's he doin'?"
The goat yokai let out a quiet sigh.
"It seems to be as I feared… something is slowing his natural healing, and the longer that continues the more difficult recovery will be." He glanced around at each of them before continuing. "And the less likely that he will recover."
Raph felt a cold fist grip his heart. Even though Draxum's face rarely gave much away, Raph had known the yokai long enough to recognize when he was worried. He also knew that when Draxum was worried, there was good reason for them to be worried too. He heard the quiver in Splinter's voice when he spoke and knew how close his father was to breaking down.
"Can't something be done? Can you find someone in the Forbidden City?"
Rather than show his usual irritation, Draxum gave the rat a sympathetic look.
"If it were a physical problem, perhaps I could. But I suspect that this is not as simple as that."
That brought a frown to Raph's face as he tried to figure out what it meant. But Donnie spoke before anyone else could, his voice heavy with the same skepticism.
"Are you saying it's… in his head?"
"In a manner of speaking," Draxum replied. Raph tilted his head, confused, but Donnie went on before he could say anything.
"What does that mean? Our quick healing comes from our mutated blood… it's a physical effect! It shouldn't be influenced by thought, that isn't logical!"
Despite his tone, Draxum only looked at Donnie with a calm look, and Raph could see the sympathy in it.
"Many things about you four aren't logical. Your very existence defies logic, correct?"
Donnie opened his mouth, but when he didn't say anything, Raph knew Draxum had undermined his argument and the genius just didn't want to admit it. The yokai went on, his voice still soft and calm.
"The mystic energy in all of you is something that I never anticipated. It adds even more complexity to both your physical and mental characteristics. The mind is often linked to the body in ways that can never be anticipated, and this is even more so with you."
When Draxum looked at him, Raph felt his heart sink more as he realized what the yokai wanted to ask him. Feeling ashamed, he dropped his gaze to the floor.
"I've tried connecting with him again. But he doesn't answer… it feels almost like he's, I don't know, lost."
He heard Draxum hum thoughtfully.
"Likely the case, if he's comatose."
That word made Raph look up again, his heart racing as the ever-present fear grew stronger. Deep down, he'd already figured that was the case, but hearing it confirmed somehow made it so much worse.
"It would take a day or two, but I can look for a doctor in the Hidden City," Draxum went on, frowning with thought. "There may not be much they can do, but they can at least confirm how serious the situation is."
That wasn't much comfort to Raph, and he could see the others thought the same thing. But still, Splinter let out a quiet, weary sigh and nodded.
"Any additional information we have can only help." He didn't smile… he hadn't since they brought Leo home, but there was clear gratitude in his eyes. "Thank you."
Draxum nodded in return, that sympathetic look never fading. It seemed the turtles were one of the few things the two could find common ground on.
"So, what should we do until then?" Donnie asked, his voice almost flat. The softshell was worn almost to his limit, physically and emotionally, and it was plain to see Draxum thought that himself. But the yokai only answered his question without voicing that thought.
"I would recommend some of the tactics used in human hospitals… familiar surroundings and voices is believed beneficial to sufferers. I can't guarantee it will do anything, but there is a chance."
Donnie frowned in thought.
"Well, he can breathe on his own, so we should be able to move him to his room."
"I would do that," Draxum said. "Again, I can make no guarantees, but it can only help."
After the yokai had left, the family immediately followed his advice. Under Donnie's tense and somewhat snappish direction, Raph carried Leo out of the med bay. He felt a harsh ache inside at how limp he was, and the ever-present heat coming from him.
"Keep it slow, easy," Donnie urged as Raph carefully laid Leo on his bed. Splinter moved to adjust the pillow as Mikey pulled up the covers, his normally sunshiny face so sad it brought a whole new level of heartache to the already sorrowful atmosphere.
A small part of Raph knew it would help to have a better idea of what Leo's chances were, but the other part of him was terrified to know. What if they said there was no hope? What if it turned out they'd saved Leo's life only to watch him waste away in this insensate state? His eyes began stinging… more so the right one, as always. Draxum had said the easier irritation would most likely be permanent.
Deep down, Raph knew it would always be a reminder of the worst way he had failed his brother. He'd let his worry and irritation get the better of him, blind him to the scared, insecure soul behind Leo's bravado. And they both paid a heavy price for that blindness. Letting out a heavy sigh, the snapper ran the heel of his hand over his eyes.
"So I guess… we just wait till Draxum comes tomorrow."
He heard Donnie scoff, his voice bitter.
"Sure. Why not? That's all we ever do, right?"
Raph looked at his genius brother and slowly reached out.
"Donnie…" he started, but the purple banded turtle only huffed, his face set in a glare. From that, Raph knew physical contact wasn't the best idea now and lowered his hand. But before he could think of anything else to say, Splinter spoke up. His voice was quiet, sad, and as tender as when he soothed their nightmares away as small tots.
"I wanted you boys to have the freedom to choose your own path, and I thought it was the best way to keep you from experiencing the losses I did. But you still found your way to this life on your own." His gaze moved over Donnie, Raph, and Mikey, the look in his eyes a strange combination of grief and pride. "As much as I regret the struggles that choice gave you, no father could be prouder of his sons."
Looking back at Leo, the old rat's ears drooped as he stroked a gentle hand over the unconscious slider's head.
"Leonardo has learned that leadership means being strong for others but has yet to learn that it also means letting others be strong for you. We need to do what we can to show him that now."
"You mean… talk to him?"
Donnie's voice was skeptical, but Raph could hear something else in it… a kind of hope. He gave his younger brother a half smile.
"That's the best we can do right now, brother."
Mikey drew himself up taller, his face taking on that determined, stubborn look he got when he was set on not giving up.
"We're his family, Dee. And knowing his family's here for him might be all he needs t' get through this."
Raph's half grin grew a little wider and he reached out to rub Mikey's head affectionately.
"Dr. Positive's never been wrong before," he said. "Don't see any reason not t' trust him now."