Before anyone gets angry…YES, I'm working on the next chapter of Kid Stuff, NO, they will not stay human forever. I'm considering Donnie figuring out a way for them to turn human for short spans of time when they want to, but no, I want them to stay our adorable turtle boys.
This chapter….it kind of came out of nowhere and slapped me across the face. I apologize that I haven't updated the past couple weeks, however, between my work schedule and family responsibilities, I haven't had a lot of time to myself.
Enjoy this chapter of angst, fluff, and hurt/comfort!
Ever since I saw the 2003 short that shows Leo sleeping with a teddy bear, I've been obsessed and I just…I needed to write this LOL!
…
4 Years Old
Deep in he sewers of New York, a fierce battle raged. Will against will, twin stubborn streaks faced off in an epic struggle fighting for dominance. A legendary bout, in which there could only be one victor.
In other words, it was bedtime.
Splinter sighed as sapphire eyes sparkled up at him in an endearing pout, the turtle tot pleading silently with his father. The mutant rat struggled to hold out against the onslaught, closing his eyes against the urge to give in, "Leonardo," he repeated, for the umpteenth time that night, "you are a big boy now, you must learn to sleep in your own bed."
"B-But," the child fidgeted, giving an insistent scoot further into the blankets of his father's bed, "it's scawwy,"
"My son," Splinter groaned, "there is nothing to fear, we are safe in our home."
Out of the four tots, Leonardo was the one who seemed the most reluctant to leave the comfort of his parent's bedroll. Raphael was the first to leave, as the most independent, seeking out his own sleeping space, probably due to being slapped awake by Michelangelo's flailing. Donatello had been next, also probably due to sleeping near Michelangelo, but also because it was easier for him to stay up reading his picture books without keeping his family awake. That left the eldest and youngest of the brothers sleeping at Splinter's side, but teasing from Raphael, about being a baby who still slept with Daddy, made Michelangelo find a spot of his own; which left Leonardo as the sole occupant besides Splinter on the worn bedroll. Now, at four, he was starting to get too big for the limited space. It was time for Leonardo to branch out, and conquer the unknown of becoming a big boy in his own big boy bed.
Truthfully, the old rat was just as reluctant for his child to leave, as he treasured the early morning tickle attacks and giggles, the babyish whispers and Leonardo tracing his face with a sleepy hand. Patting his fur, and gently following the line of his long whiskers. Those moments were precious to him, but the time had come for the eldest to follow his brothers in carving out a niche for himself. It broke both their hearts, but it was necessary. Splinter feared coddling his children might make them too weak to survive the harsh dangers of this world, and so here he was, both literally and figuratively pushing Leonardo out of the nest.
If not for the fact that it would have set off his sweet, compassionate son, Splinter would have broken down and wept right there.
Parenting truly sucked sometimes.
"Pwease, Daddy?" Leonardo begged, ocean eyes swimming with tears, "I stay wif you?"
Splinter released another sigh heavy with the anguish of proper parenting, but then his ear gave a sudden twitch as an idea struck him. That's when the rat remembered something, an item he had found whilst scrounging for supplies, something that may very well be the solution to his problem. Turning back to the child, Splinter cupped the chubby face with a fuzzy paw, "Leonardo," he said, voice low so as to not wake the other sleeping family members, "if you go to your bed, I will give you a very special gift. Would you like that?"
The tot considered the offer, little brows furrowed as he weighed his options. The serious look on such a young face, often worn when the child was torn between two opinions, never ceased to make the rat chuckle in fond adoration. Finally, with a grave nod, Leonardo picked himself up from where he'd lay on the bed, and left Splinter's room to go to his own. Splinter lunged from his bedroll, running to his scavenging pack, tearing out the various supplies he'd scrounged until, nestled in the bottom, he found it. A somewhat worn, but lovingly cared for, teddy bear. No doubt, some poor parent of an inconsolable child was frantically searching everywhere for the lost plush, but tonight, he would take the unexpected gift and make use of its magic for his own child.
Clutching it to his chest, Splinter left his sleeping area, and approached the room he had set aside for Leonardo's use. Unfortunately, it was on the bare side. The mutant family not able to have the luxuries of families topside made decorating difficult at best. However, Splinter did what he could to decorate the rooms with items that suited their temperaments. One day, when they were older, his sons could use their rooms as a blank canvas to showcase their differing personalities. For now, they would make do with what the rat could scavenge. Leonardo lay on the bed, a lumpy mattress fished from the junkyard, perched on a rickety children's wooden bed frame, eyes bouncing from shadow to shadow fearfully. A disconsolate whimper whispered from small lips, and the child hunkered down under the blankets.
Splinter sat on the bed, wincing as it gave a creak, then leaned forward, "Here you are, Leonardo," he smiled tenderly, passing the stuffed toy to his eldest. "Your gift, as promised."
The child blinked at the proffered item, curiosity shimmering in the sapphire gaze before tentatively reaching out to grasp it, "A teddy bear!" The tot grinned happily, face beaming with joy at the simple gift.
"Indeed," Splinter nodded, "this bear will keep you safe, and even fight off bad dreams. He's a strong warrior who will defend you as you sleep in your new bed."
"Wike a super hero?"
The rat nodded, "Just like that,"
Leonardo turned back to the bear, memorizing its worn face before giving a happy bob. "Okay,"
Snuggling into his blankets, small arms wrapped securely around the soft toy, Leonardo clung to the teddy bear and soon his breaths had evened out into sleep. Splinter slumped in relief, ears drooping in fatigue. He wished he'd found that toy a week ago, then maybe he wouldn't be so exhausted after several nights fighting against the stubborn determination that was Leonardo. Regardless, it had been found, and now the rat was ready to lay his weary head down on his pillow.
Climbing to his feet, Splinter took one last look at the tot sleeping peacefully with his new toy, and gave one final sigh at how fast his children were growing up. He wasn't sure how long things would stay this sweet and simple, but he prayed he'd be able to enjoy it for as long as possible, before things inevitably changed, as they always do.
…
13 Years Old
Blue and red masked teens stood at attention in the dojo, Donatello and Mikey peeking through the crack in the door, as Splinter gazed on his two eldest. Both young faces were stern with determination, but the adolescent bodies fidgeted with barely restrained excitement. Today was the day their sensei would announce who would lead. He had been thinking and meditating on the decision all year, running all four sons through countless tests and trials. Dark eyes assessing strengths and weaknesses, considering temperaments, and personalities. Michelangelo and Donnie had been removed as leader candidates in the last month, with only Leonardo and Raphael vying for the position.
Finally turning to his children, the master gave a determined nod, "Leonardo, Raphael, you are both strong in mind and body. You both have what it takes to be a leader, however, only one of you can hold that title and the responsibility that it carries. Therefore," Splinter paused, watching his sons practically vibrate with anticipation, "I have decided to make Leonardo team leader,"
Leo jolted, jaw hanging slack as it fell in shock even as his heart hammered in happiness and pride, "M-Me?" He stammered, "But what about-?"
The young teen looked to his right, seeing his immediate younger brother seethe in anger, and deflated guiltily. Raphael wanted to be leader, had said so, and even claimed the position on multiple occasions. Truthfully, so had he, but he had assumed that Raphie would be the one chosen. The red masked teen was bigger than his siblings and much stronger, even at thirteen, capable of carrying greater weights than the other brothers. He was skilled in martial arts, fists unforgiving in the dojo, and Leo had to work hard to stay one step ahead of Raphael in training. Granted, he was a hothead, and would sometimes succumb to fits of temper that would echo through their lair. However, even with that one flaw and despite the blue turtle working just as hard to be made leader, Leonardo had always assumed that Raphael would be the one chosen. It just made sense.
Apparently not.
"I'm goin' ta my room," Raphael snarled, whirling on his heel to stalk away, heedless of the fact that they had not been dismissed.
Leo swayed, his heart urging him to follow his brother and reconcile, his head demanding he stay put till Splinter gave them permission to leave. Pleading sapphire eyes bounced to their father, the slim frame on the cusp of adulthood, only just starting to retain the muscles he worked so hard to achieve, trembling with anxiety. Finally, the old rat nodded his consent, and Leo stumbled from where he stood at attention.
"Raph, wait!"
Blowing past the younger brothers, Leo chased his hotheaded sibling and closest friend. Reaching the door to the red masked turtle's room, Leo pounded on the wood, begging his sibling to answer. "Raphie, I'm sorry! Please, let me in!"
"Leave me alone!"
"I didn't know he'd pick me, I thought he was gonna choose you!" The young leader tried again, heart heavy with grief and guilt. "Honest!"
"I shoulda figured he'd choose ya!" Raphael bellowed behind the closed door, "Yer always his favorite! His perfect son who never does anythin' wrong! His little golden boy clone! Splinter junior! Of course he'd pick ya! Doesn't matter that I'm the strongest, he was gonna pick ya no matter how hard I train!"
"That's not true!"
"Isn't it?!"
"It's not! Please, Raphie, open the door!"
Leo braced his forehead against the door, only to jolt back with a gasp when it opened to reveal the tense furious frame of his brother. Leonardo opened his mouth, ready to apologize, to beg Raphael to not be angry, to forgive him, to let him be leader if it meant not losing his best friend; but the words died in his throat, as liquid gold eyes pierced him with a glare burning with the flame of a thousand suns. Fear, cold as a winter wind, iced over the young leader's heart making him shiver, and Leonardo found himself stepping back.
"Ya aren't good enough ta be leader," the red masked teen snarled, clutching the door with a white knuckled grip. Raphael fell silent for several heartbeats, until he spat in a rumbling growl, "I hate you!"
The door slammed back in Leo's face, and his heart shattered into a thousand pieces at his feet. Shoulders shaking, gulping back heaving sobs crawling up the back of his throat, Leonardo shuffled to his room. Closing his own door for privacy's sake, the lone turtle curled up on his bed. A questing hand reached under his pillow, then pulled a worn teddy bear out, only to clutch it tightly to his plastron. Soundless tears slipped down the distraught face, absorbed by the forgiving fur of the plush toy, and shocked sapphire eyes clenched shut. Pulling the bear ever closer, Leo shook with heart wrenching sobs, muffled by the doll, who, Leonardo was certain, was now his only friend.
….
15 Years Old
Leo followed Donnie into the lair, sapphire eyes cast down and dark with both pain and fury. They had just returned from the Utrom home world after their face off with the Shredder, family badly beaten from the almost interstellar fight, and now they were packing for an extended stay at the farmhouse to heal from their wounds. Well, Leonardo and Donnie were packing, Raphael could barely move, Mikey's legs were broken and Master Splinter had severe burns all over his body. However, their foe, the Shredder, had finally been defeated. The monster, under direction of an interplanetary court, was sentenced to an icy meteor far away from earth. Never would the evil Utrom darken their door again, or threaten the peace they'd worked so hard to attain. Rifling through his belongings, Leonardo mused on how he should be rejoicing, should be celebrating now that his family was well and truly safe from their greatest enemy. It was the day he'd longed for, planned for, hoped would come. However, all the young warrior felt was hollow.
Opening a drawer to the dresser next to his bed, Leo grabbed his journal, and a couple pens, then slammed the drawer shut.
It was all his fault. He wasn't good enough, couldn't save his own family, was injured to the point that their only hope was through self sacrifice. And who made that decision? That's right, him. Splinter's golden child. Some perfect son. He was fully committed to blowing his family up, himself included, to save the rest of the universe from the Shredder. If it weren't for the Utrom saving them at the last possible second, swooping in and beaming them out just as the engines in the spaceship overheated and exploded, they would have died. If he had just been stronger, faster, a better leader, then he would never have had to make such a terrible choice. Would never have had to gamble with fate. He hated that they had been backed into such a corner; hated that when it mattered, they were ultimately defeated, and cast aside like garbage, by the very one they've been training to defeat since they were ten! But most of all, he hated himself.
Bitter fury burned through his veins like snake venom. He should never have been chosen as leader. Raph wouldn't have fallen like he had. He would have fought tooth and nail, and probably come out on top. He wouldn't have been taken in by Karai either, and definitely wouldn't have been stabbed with his own blade in a misguided attempt at compassion. He would have won, and saved everyone to boot. Raphael wasn't weak. Not like he was. Why did Father choose him over Raph? Why? Leonardo's movements became more hurried, trembling and erratic, as he used more force than necessary to pack; breath coming in wheezing gasps even as tears swelled unbidden into raw, strained eyes. Leo stifled the angry sobs that wanted to bubble to the surface, forcing them down hard enough to make himself give a pained cough, as the back of his throat recoiled with an agonized pang.
Turning around, Leo stripped the blankets off his bed, preparing to stuff them into a bag, the force of his pull causing his pillow to flip and reveal an old friend.
Suddenly the world seemed to stop, and everything focused on the tatty bear. Green hands clenched into trembling fists, and the warrior surged forward, lunging across the bed and snatching the toy off the sheets. In a split second, it all made sense. This bear symbolized why they lost, why he failed. He was so inadequate, so pathetic, that he still had to keep a childhood stuffed toy for comfort. He was worthless. Weak. A disgrace. An utter failure. How could he lead his team to victory if he allowed himself such childish luxuries? How could he protect his family if he needed a teddy bear to fight back the nightmares? Raph was right all those years ago, he would never be good enough to be leader.
With an angry roar, Leo threw the teddy bear against the opposite wall, tear drops flying off his cheeks. The salty liquid only incensed the turtle further, calloused hands roughly swiping the moisture off his cheeks with enough force to make his eyelids twitch at the abuse. The blue turtle then made a promise to himself. He would never be weak or soft again. He would never cry again. He was going to be hard as stone, and as indestructible as a mountain. Only then would he be good enough to lead, only then could he truly protect his family.
Leonardo stomped out of his room, his face a dark visage of cold determination. Unbeknownst to the young leader, though, Donnie stepped into the space, brown eyes melting in grief at the toy now discarded on the floor. Stooping down, wincing as his broken arm ached, the purple warrior used his good arm to pick up the teddy bear. Clutching it against his chest, Donnie mourned the change in his big brother, and whispered a prayer into the dark fur, that somehow Leo would come back to them, and heal from the anger consuming him mind, body and soul.
…..
16 Years Old
"There has to be something, please, please let there be something?!"
Leonardo crashed through Donatello's lab, pulling down every book, binder and notepad that looked promising. Deep in the lair, the roars of their double mutated brother echoed off the walls of their new home, making the young leader wince at the reminder.
Donnie was gone. Maybe not physically, as he was currently the monster held captive in the containment unit brought by Leather Head. However, his spirit was definitely missed. The calm brown eyes that would assess a problem and work until they read a solution. The quiet determination that could move mountains. The soothing words that helped his leader decide on the proper mode of attack. It was all gone! How Leo longed for his brother, even as his gut wrenched in consternation at how poorly he'd planned ahead. Leonardo had known this day was coming. Could feel it like a looming prophecy of doom as he watched he and his family grow increasingly dependent on Donatello's genius. Now, here they were, living the nightmare Leo had been dreading for almost three years.
Their family was facing an impossible obstacle, a problem of apocalyptic proportions, and they had no way to solve it. With no Donatello, there was no road to victory. They needed Donnie's uniquely gifted brain. Despite having very intelligent friends, they couldn't make heads or tails of where to begin on fixing Donnie. Even Leather Head was baffled, April was flabbergasted, and now Leonardo was forced to make the decision on whether he should turn to one of their most feared enemies for help; or continue beating their heads against a brick wall in the hope they might solve it themselves, that is, before the changes were irreversible. That choice had Leonardo pacing all over the lair, walking from wall to wall, and eventually leading him to tearing apart his brother's lab, in the hope of finding some clue to help the scientists discover a cure.
God, he felt so powerless. No wonder their future counterparts in that alternate timeline fell apart, without Donatello, their family was sunk!
Giving up on the shelves, the teen warrior began opening drawers in the filing cabinets that Donnie kept so meticulously. Green fingers searched through the Manila folders, pulling anything that mentioned genetics, or mutation. He wasn't sure if any of it would help April or LH, but he had to try. Drawer after drawer slammed shut, Leo's frustration growing with every failure until he opened the very bottom drawer and found a sight that made his entire world freeze. Frame trembling, the young leader fell to his knees and reached into the metal drawer, tenderly drawing out a friend he had thought long lost to the destruction of their old lair, never to be seen again.
Scratched and chipped button eyes peered curiously up at Leonardo, the brown fur still so soft against the calloused fingers, the musky scent of incense clinging to its plush body. He didn't know that Donnie had saved the toy after he'd thrown it away. Wasn't even aware that Don knew of its existence. However, in that moment of uncertainty, with the fear of losing his brother screaming in the back of his brain, the failure to protect his family shattering his heart, and the pain of being forced to make a deal with the devil weighing on his soul, the bear was almost like an answer to prayer. Like Donatello had kept it just for this occasion, knowing that one day Leo would need its comfort while trying not to drown in the grief and terror that was their lives in that very moment. Leonardo leaned forward, pulling the teddy bear close so that they were nose to nose, his body rocking with a guttural sob that exploded from clenched lips.
Tears, the first he'd cried since he'd made that promise to himself, streamed like water breaching a dam down scaly cheeks. Alone in the lab, listening to the bellowing snarls of Donatello in his, now monstrous, form, Leo clutched the teddy bear like a lifeline, convulsing in gulping sobs, feeling very much like a child forced into a war that he had never wanted to fight to begin with.
….
17 Years Old
A fight raged on the rooftops of New York. Mutant turtles versus the Purple Dragons. While the guy who had captured them some months before was no longer around, that didn't mean that others didn't have the same idea. Normally, the brothers would be making jokes about how it was flattering to be such a hot commodity, that the gang banger's felt the only way to prove their strength was to take out the turtles. However, that was before a new guy hit the scene who was actually competent. Scarily, so. This guy had connections, and access to gear that the ninja teens had never seen before. The kind of weapons that quickly proved all too capable of dealing damage, even to turtle tough hides.
Which led to tonight. The brothers were in an all out, everything or nothing, leave it all on the concrete brawl. They'd been fighting for the better part of three hours, and they were running low on energy. Even Michelangelo was panting, nunchucks hanging heavy from trembling hands. Leonardo quickly assessed that his team would not hold out for much longer. And what was worse, the Purple Dragons just brought reinforcements.
"Donnie, how fast can you get the Battle Shell here?"
"With traffic?" The genius began muttering to himself, mentally calculating the quickest route to their position, before announcing, "Ten minutes, at best."
Ten minutes. Not great, but not hopeless either.
"Raph," the leader commanded, never taking his eyes off the fresh wave of bodies running towards them, "we need to vanish. Think you can help me buy enough time for Donnie to get the battle shell in the alley below us?"
"You got it," the brawler growled.
"What about me?" Mikey asked, turning curious blue eyes to his leader.
"Defend Donnie," Leo stated, "make sure he has the time and space to coordinate our escape."
"Ten-four!"
Raphael took his place at Leonardo's right hand side, his shoulders hunching as he shifted into a deep defensive stance, "So, what's the plan, bro?"
The blue ninja smirked, "Honestly? Just keep them away from Donnie, otherwise, go nuts."
The younger brother gave a dark chuckle, topaz eyes twinkling in pleasure, "So, yer sayin' ta see how many skulls I can crack before Donnie gets the Battle Shell inta the alley? Sounds good ta me, I enjoy a good challenge."
Leonardo grinned, twirling his twin katana in a flamboyant show, "Let's go,"
With twin roars, the brothers pelted across the roof, slamming into the reinforcements. Whirling around, Leo and Raphael fought shell to shell, at once attacking their enemy's onslaught and defending each other from damage. The blue turtle couldn't help the happy grin that stretched across his face, even despite the exhaustion weighing down his swords. He loved fighting with Raph. While they were so different in many ways, when they fought back to back, he felt invincible. Raphael was his strong right hand, the brawler capable of taking on entire armies armed with nothing but two sai, and a smile. His crazy younger brother with a lust for battle that was unparalleled in their warrior family. It had taken a few years, but Leo had finally developed an appreciation for Raph's brusque nature, while Raphael had learned how to follow Leonardo and put his rage to good use.
Much to the amusement of Mikey, who made more than a few Hulk jokes at Raph's expense.
However, despite the fact that they were a force to be reckoned with, even the most skilled of warriors have bad days. Moments in time where a slight stumble, slowed reflexes, and the fatigue of hard battles fought and won, are the difference between life and death. Two roofs over, Leo saw the gun being raised, watched as it aimed at Raphael's head, tried to shift himself to warn his brother but found himself bore down by the screaming mass of humans. Mikey couldn't see, he was defending Donatello, who was driving the Battle Shell remotely, brows furrowed in concentration on their escape. Even if he yelled Raph's name, it would be too late. He needed to act, NOW.
Pushing back with one muscled leg, Leonardo shoved himself against his younger brother, allowing his momentum to make the red masked warrior stumble down to one knee. It irritated the brawler, unused to Leo being anything less than graceful during a fight, but the leader didn't have time to feel guilty. He had effectively gotten Raphael's head out of the sniper's crosshairs, and just in time too. The air exploded with a crack, muzzle flash lighting the area around the sniper, and even as Raph's head dipped down, Leo stepped up allowing the bullet to pierce his plastron into his abdomen.
…..
"Raph, let's go!"
The brawler looked up, seeing Donatello and Mikey jumping down from the roof to the street below. Surging to his feet, Raphael gave a grumpy huff to Leonardo for pushing him off balance, but rejoined the fray anyway, "Ya heard the egghead, let's get ta our ride."
"Right!" Leo's reply was breathless, tone almost strained.
Raphael frowned, but decided to push his concern to the side. He was probably exhausted, that would explain why he stumbled into him earlier. They needed to retreat, and fast.
Sai whirling in rapid succession, the red masked ninja created a path, "Hey, Fearless, follow me!"
Leo didn't reply, merely began backing up, fully trusting his sibling to keep his escape route open, while single-handedly holding the full force of the Purple Dragons at bay. It was slow work, but eventually the turtles were able to make their way to the edge and jumped down. Raph landed heavily, his considerable bulk thumping down to street level without its usual silence due to sheer fatigue from fighting a literal army. Leonardo was even worse, the leader used the fire escapes to parkour down, but something seemed off about his movements, like he was favoring his right side. Alarm bells began shrieking in Raphael's brain, only to be confirmed when their leader stumbled in his landing.
The brawler rushed to support Leo, noticing with growing worry how his eyes were fluttering in a desperate need to stay conscious. His breaths were ragged gasps, uneven and whistling from a throat tense with pain. "Leo, ya alright? What's wrong?"
"B-Battle…she-ell," the young leader wheezed, "get….Don-nie,"
That's when Raph had the presence of mind to look down. Topaz eyes widened in shock as a crimson stream dripped from what looked like a gunshot wound.
"Donnie!" Raph bellowed, turning towards where their family medic sat in the vehicle, "Leo's been shot!"
"HE WHAT?!"
The sound of shuffling inside the battle shell signaled that Mikey was now in the driver's seat, while Donatello climbed into the back. Leo staggered forward a couple steps, intent on climbing into their truck himself, but then sapphire blue eyes rolled into the back of his head, and the turtle fainted. Raphael lunged forward, catching his brother just in time before his head met asphalt, pulling him towards the Battle Shell. Shoving Leo into the armored vehicle, Donnie pulling their unconscious leader into his arms and further in, the red masked teen cursed his own stupidity for not noticing the injury sooner. He had thought he heard gunfire, but Leo slamming him down to one knee had distracted him just enough to not register the sound among all the fracas of the fight.
Raphael froze, eyes widening as he realized in one awful second, that Leo hadn't stumbled into him on accident. Simply for the fact that Leo isn't one to stumble in a fight, he's always laser focused on his target, keeping a keen eye on all ally's and enemy combatants alike. That means it had to have been intentional, which also means that Leo likely saved his life by taking a bullet meant for him.
Another round of curses echoed in the alley, before Raph pulled himself into the truck. The genius was already treating Leo, gauging the severity of the wound, and calling their father on the shell cell to prep the infirmary. Mikey turned around, sky blue eyes lined with worry, even as the youngest attempted to lighten the mood, "Be careful Raphie, the swear jar doesn't include the battle shell yet, but Dad is considering the possibility!"
"Just shut up and drive, lamebrain!" Raphael knelt on the floor of the battle shell, taking Leo's left hand into his own, clutching it as Donatello worked on their leader, "How's it look, Don?"
"Actually, not that bad," the genius replied, voice breathless in relief, "because the bullet hit Leo on his plastron, it couldn't penetrate very deeply. Thank God for our natural armor, otherwise it could have been much worse. It's basically a flesh wound, I was able to remove the bullet with little difficulty."
The red masked warrior closed his eyes, releasing a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding till that moment, however, taking another look at Donnie, Raph couldn't shake the feeling that something was still wrong, "I can't help but get the feelin' that he ain't outta the woods yet, what aren't ya sayin', bro?"
Don's shoulders slumped, worried brown eyes rising to meet his sibling's topaz gaze, "The bullet, it wasn't normal. If anything, it's a pellet, and most worrying is that it's hollow."
Hollow. That one word held a myriad of terrifying possibilities. The biggest being poison. Raphael clutched Leo's hand to his chest, liquid gold eyes watching every shaky inhale of his leader, before turning towards the front of the truck, "Pedal to the metal, Mike!"
"Your wish is my command!"
The next ten minutes passed like cold molasses, with Leo quickly developing a fever, proving Donnie correct that there had been something loaded into the bullet. The eldest turtle shook, his body wracked with chills, even as he moaned in pain. Donatello and Raphael could only watch with growing concern, anxious to be out of the battle shell and home in the lair. After an eternity of waiting, Michelangelo pulled into the garage they used for their vehicles, and jumped out of the truck. Donnie began rigging up something they could use as a stretcher, but Raph waved him away.
"I'll carry him," he rumbled, "ya get ta the infirmary and get it ready for Leo."
The genius nodded, not needing to be convinced. Leaping from the back of the battle shell, the turtle raced to the stairs, parkour flipping all the way down to the sewers where they called home. Raphael wrapped a muscular arm around his leader's shoulders, and then slipped his other arm under the blue ninja's knees, cradling his brother against his chest. Heaving up the considerable bulk with a groan, the brawler staggered out of their vehicle and towards the elevator. Within minutes he was down in the lair, and Donnie was completing the finishing touches on the med-bay. Raphael gently deposited their leader onto a cot, one hand brushing the blue masked brow, worriedly checking on the still climbing fever.
"We gotta cool him off," the brawler rasped, eyes dark with fearful concern.
"You're right," Don nodded, swiftly using a syringe to draw blood from Leonardo, which was quickly applied under a microscope, "and as much as I want to give him something to bring it down, I have to resist until I know what exactly is causing the fever. Any number of toxins have violent reactions to even the most basic first aid medication. I don't want to make him worse."
"Right, I'll go get a bowl of water and a rag then."
The brawler left the lab, Mikey and Splinter brushing past him to surround Leo's bedside, both of their faces wreathed in concern. The rat stroked the clammy cheek, pressing a kiss to the furrowed brow, "Oh, my son, what happened?"
"To be honest, I'm not sure," Donatello shook his head, placing the pellet under a microscope and using an incredibly tiny Qtip to extract a black liquid from the inside. "One minute, I'm getting the battle shell to our location, then just as we make it inside, Raph is screaming that Leo was shot."
"I didn't even hear a gunshot," Mikey shook his head mournfully, "it was so loud with how many purple dragons there were. I could barely hear myself think!"
Donnie nodded in agreement, setting the liquid inside a machine he'd rigged up to analyze various substances, "Hopefully, this will give us some answers."
Raphael returned, a bowl of water and a couple washcloths in hand. Passing one washcloth to their father, both dipped their cloths into the water, and began sponging down the struggling eldest. Leonardo whimpered, body curling as the fever washed over him in waves, causing pained moans to drift from lax lips. The broad shoulders trembled pitifully, teeth chattering as chills wracked his frame. Mikey was quick to grab a blanket, pulling it around his leader, and tucking it under his chin. Donatello groaned as preliminary test results began appearing on his computer screen.
"It's definitely a poison," he sighed, brown eyes bouncing back and forth as he continued reading the results, "however, we're actually pretty fortunate. Whatever toxin they used, it isn't very compatible with our genetic structure, in the sense of being able to hurt us. Based on what I'm seeing in Leo's blood, his system is fighting back, and I'm confident that it's winning."
"What does that mean for your brother?" Splinter's aged voice asked.
The genius turned to face his family, face weary but relieved, "I can't be sure yet, but I think he's going to be ok. I'm going to give him some activated charcoal to help his system fight off the poison, but as long as we keep an eye on him through the night, and make sure his fever doesn't spike to dangerous levels, I think he'll be able to muscle his way through it. I'll keep running tests on the poison, just to make sure."
Splinter nodded his grey furred head, relief causing the thin shoulders to slump, "Very good, my son. I'll call miss O'Neil, I have no doubt she would like to know of what happened to Leonardo."
"That's a good idea," Donatello nodded, "ask her if she can stop by the pharmacy, and pick up a basic poison control antidote medical kit. It should have what we'll need, or at least give us a head start while I analyze the poison."
The rat nodded his consent, and made his way out of the lab to call their friend, leaving the three brothers hovering over the shivering form of their brother. Leonardo's head gave a fretful toss, a disconsolate whine riding on a breathy whimper. Sweat poured from the green brow, and Raphael removed the blue mask so he could mop it with the damp wash rag. The eldest leaned into the touch, even as his calloused hands clenched into fists. Leo rolled onto his uninjured side, curling into himself, his fingers opening and closing, before rising to cover the agonized face. A choked sob stuck in the convulsing throat, strangled by tense muscles, and the sick turtle's shivering increased, rattling the bed.
Raphael and Mikey moved to comfort their brother, despite him being unconscious to the action, "I thought ya said he'd be okay, Donnie?!" The brawler growled, "What part of this looks ok?! He's shakin' like crazy!"
The scientist moved to his eldest brother, vigorously shaking a bottle of water that he'd loaded with activated charcoal, "I know, Raph!" He snapped, "But even after the charcoal is administered, I can't do much beyond this. I'll keep doing tests, but whether we like it or not, we're just going to have to wait and see! I wish I could tell you more, but I'm not a doctor, I'm doing the best I can!"
Raph opened his mouth to yell back, but seeing the exhaustion mixed with fearful concern swimming in the brown eyes, backed off. Heaving a sigh, Donnie hoisted Leonardo into a loose sitting position, "This isn't ideal," he grumbled, "but beggars can't be choosy when it comes to medical care."
"Huh?" Michelangelo asked, picking up the washcloth their father had left.
"Technically, you aren't supposed to administer activated charcoal to someone who's passed out," the genius explained, "but we have very few options in this case. Based on what I've seen, he may not even need it, but charcoal is a great antidote that can handle most toxins."
"So, ya wanna do what ya can," Raph nodded, his temper dying down. The muscular turtle helped the genius pull Leo up further, "I'll hold his mouth open for ya."
Donatello nodded his gratitude, "I'll only do small amounts, that way his swallow reflex should kick in without making him choke."
The brothers fell silent, Raphael propping up their leader, one hand gently holding his jaw open. While Donnie poured small streams between the trembling lips.
Leonardo coughed and sputtered, however, made no move of waking up. Soon, the bottle of water was empty, and their leader lain back down onto the cot. The muscled frame continued to shiver, prompting Donnie to readjust the blanket, and toss a second one on for good measure. Mikey leaned close to Leo, sky blue eyes watching his oldest brother. The clenched jaw flexing, as the green eyelids twitched from rapid eye movement.
"I think he's dreaming?" The orange ninja murmured.
"I wouldn't doubt it," Donatello nodded, "the fever alone would be making him hallucinate if he were conscious, I can't imagine the dreams are very pleasant though if his behavior is anything to go by."
As if to emphasize the scientist's point, Leonardo curled up even tighter on the cot, chest heaving with ragged gasps. Green hands clenched, the young leader mewling in agony, brows furrowing as the warrior fought an unseen battle in the dreamscape. "Ma-Make it sto-op," he groaned, "please…please, stop…hurts,"
The youngest winced, unused to hearing his big brother's distressed whimpers, "Isn't there anything we can do?" Mikey pleaded, taking Leo's hand in his own and clutching it like a lifeline.
"No, Mikey," the purple masked teen sighed, "unless you've magically discovered a way to fight bad dreams, there's nothing we can do except try to comfort him until he wakes up."
Raphael sighed, shoulders drooping despondently, before Donnie's statement gave him an idea. Fight bad dreams? Fight bad dreams! The brawler perked up, a determined grin brightening his somber features, as he lunged forward to grab Donatello be the head, "Fight bad dreams!" He exclaimed, shaking the purple masked teen, squishing his cheeks together, "Donnie yer a genius!"
With that, Raphael disappeared, leaving his younger siblings standing in confused shock. Mikey blinked, then blinked again. Turning to face his older brother, the orange ninja opened his mouth slowly, "I don't care how much Raphie has changed since the caves, that was weird." He stated dryly.
Donnie merely nodded, humming his agreement.
Raphael bounded up the stairs towards his brother's room. He knew what he was looking for, and even had idea of its approximate location. Granted, he technically wasn't supposed to know of its existence, but the item had been something of an open secret for years. No one talked about it, not even he dared mention it in a teasing manner. Simply because they all knew how bad nightmares could get, and anything that helped those nights when sleep was elusive due to waking up choking on your own screams, well, those things were sacred. So the fact that their fearless leader had a teddy bear to help him sleep was ignored in general by the brothers. Especially after the caves when the siblings came to understand the battle Leo fought in his mind on a daily basis.
Lunging into his leader's bedroom, Raph jogged to the side of the bed, and felt under the pillow. Sure enough, hidden between the wall and the mattress, was Leo's bear.
Whirling on his heel, the brawler took a running leap, diving off the second floor balcony and landing in the main living area. The ninja stood back up easily, sprinting back to the lab and his brother's bedside. Mikey and Donnie's heads popped up, brow ridges quirked in curiosity. "So," Donatello began, "what was so important that it made you turn into a red hurricane in my lab?"
"Red hurricane," Mikey snickered, "you made me picture Raphie as the Tasmanian devil off looney toons."
Donnie snorted at the image, shaking his head, but still giving their second oldest brother his full attention. Raph merely presented the bear, wordlessly stooping forward to place it between the clenched, shaking fists of their leader. The reaction was instantaneous, immediately the turtle pulled it in, cuddling it under his chin as his breathing evened out and the trembling began to die down. Although still feverish, wracked with chills, and moaning in pain, it seemed that the bear did its job as it instantly soothed the nightmare tormenting their eldest brother. Both purple and orange ninjas watched in silent awe, shoulders slumping in relief as they observed Leo calm and slip into an easier, more restful sleep.
"I didn't," Donnie began, turning to face Raphael, weary body finally settling into a chair nearby the cot, "I didn't know that you knew…about the bear."
The brawler shrugged, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly, "I found it years ago, after the first battle nexus tournament." He explained, "Leo was still getting' over the effects of the poison then, and he kept havin' real bad nightmares. One night I decided ta check on him, and found him sleepin' with that bear. At first I thought it was funny, but then I saw how tired he looked even though he was asleep, so I decided I wouldn't give him any grief over it."
Mikey nodded, "Same with me," he murmured, baby blue gaze watching his eldest brother sleep, "only it was after we got back from the farmhouse that first time. Yeah, we hit the Shredder back hard, and won; but Leo wasn't the same for a while, and he'd get really bad nightmares during thunderstorms."
Don and Raphael nodded, both remembering how their leader would suffer flashbacks of the intense beating he took any time it rained. On nights when the thunder boomed loud enough for the small family to hear, even down in the sewers, the sounds of choked screams and strangled sobs would often echo from their brother's room. It was months before Leonardo could enjoy a run in the rain without flinching or falling into a flashback. The siblings sighed, as they unconsciously all realized that they had failed their leader due to not talking about his struggle with PTSD even then. They, including their father, had swept it under the proverbial rug, pretending that it wasn't happening. Thinking that if they ignored it, it'd go away. How wrong they were. Maybe if they had been more open with Leo in the first place, he'd never have had to go through the tests in the caves.
Silently, the siblings surrounded their leader, Raphael pulling up a spare cot and grabbing a pillow and blanket. The brawler lay down, laying his arm over their leader in a loose hug. Mikey followed suit, laying claim to the space in front of Leo, squeezing his considerable bulk onto the mattress and under the blanket, snuggling the eldest's plastron with his beak. Donnie smiled, and turned back to the tests he had running on the pellet and the substance it had been loaded with. He still had a few more hours of work before he could call it a night, however, the scientist dimmed the lights in his lab so not to disturb his sleepy siblings.
Several hours later, in the darkness of the lab, sapphire eyes fluttered open.
Leo released a silent groan, feeling the ache in his abdomen and the uncomfortable heat of his fever. He wasn't in his bedroom, but he also wasn't somewhere unfamiliar. Leo definitely recognized the cot he was laying on, and the sounds of the sewer echoed in the dark filling the mutant with a feeling of safety and security. A heavy tongue licked dry lips, a brief longing for a cup of water flitting through his thoughts as the teen struggled to lift his head. Craning his neck to identify his location, Leo was unsurprised to find that he was occupying a cot in his brother's lab, or at least the med-bay area. The small movement exhausted the teen terrapin, and Leonardo fell back against his pillow.
Blue eyes closed, clenching as a sharp pain stabbed the back of his eyes and through his temple. He was going to have a doozy of a headache come morning. Releasing another soft moan, the young warrior thought back to how he had gotten here, but found he couldn't remember being brought home. Though his memory was hazy, Leo remembered the highlights of the rooftop fight with the street gang, and even remembered getting shot to save Raph. However, the moment right before he blacked out was the last thing he could recall. No doubt he scared his brothers, but if the rumbling snore in his right ear and heavy arm wrapped around his waist was any indication, then Raphael was safe and Leo would gladly do it all again if it meant keeping his brother alive.
Michelangelo sighed in his sleep, shuffling closer to the blue clad ninja, mouth quirking in a lopsided grin from whatever nonsense he was dreaming. Leonardo couldn't help the fond smile that stretched his mouth, pulling the baby brother into his arms, and nuzzling the top of the orange clad head. Don grunted in his sleep, having pulled up another cot on Leonardo's left side, one hand flailing in the dark until the leader reached out and grabbed it. Donatello smiled, settling back down into his pillow, fingers maintaining a loose grip on Leo's. The blue warrior chuckled, scooting himself backwards until he felt his carapace clack against Raphael's plastron. Satisfied that all three brothers were sound asleep, Leo allowed his head to drift down, and snuggled deeper into the blankets covering him and Mikey.
Sapphire eyes eventually closed, as Leonardo's breaths fell back into an easy rhythm, heart beating in sync with his brothers. The night waned, and as the small family slept, a lone teddy bear continued its dutiful watch above the heads of the four teenage brothers, a soft, furry sentry guarding the guardians as they slept.
What do you think? Like I said, this chapter idea slapped me across the face and I had to write it. I didn't have a choice in the matter! Lol!