Post by LilNinjaWolf on Jul 24, 2009 23:41:15 GMT -6
Chapter 32
Mikey sat at their makeshift table looking at his hands laying folded on the table. Raph had tried and couldn't get Leo back. Splinter had just tried and had no luck either. Why couldn't Leo just be Leo again? Was he beyond reaching anymore? Had his confidence been that shaken? He sighed. What was it going to take to get Leo back to them? His head slammed down on the table. Leo wasn't coming out of his room any more and ignored almost everyone who knocked. Mikey knew. He had tried multiple times with no success any of the times he had done so.
A chair slid out and scooted in beside him. There was silence for a moment longer before the voice spoke. “Hey.”
Mikey looked over at their tiger friend. He was surprised to see him and not Don or even Splinter. “Hey.”
“You ok?”
“No.”
Rai nodded. “I'm sure Leo will be fine soon.”
“How do you know?” Mikey asked confused. How could Rai possibly know that? There was not way to tell. Not that he knew. Not that Don knew. Not even that Splinter knew. None of them knew. And hurt.
“I don't,” Rai looked Mikey in the eyes. “You just need to keep hoping. Don't give up. Or Leo just might, thinking you've given up on him.”
Mikey looked away nodding. Rai was right. He couldn't give up on Leo. Not now. Not ever. “Thanks.”
Rai smiled and stood. “You're welcome.”
Mikey thought about Rai's words. He had to try to get to Leo. His father and brother had both tried. Splinter had even gotten into Leo's room. Maybe there was some hope that he could as well. He let out a small sigh as he stood and crossed the main room to Leo's door. He knocked tentatively. At first there was no answer, so he knocked again. Finally he got a muttered come in. Walking in, he found Leo huddled in a corner staring away from him, eyes distant, a candle burning beside him. “Leo?”
Leo slowly turned to look at Mikey. “What?” he asked softly, almost too soft to be heard.
Mikey closed the door and sat down in front of Leo. “I just wanted to... I don't know... tell ya that... well...” He sighed. He was having so much trouble with his words.
Leo smiled very faintly and waited.
“Don't give up,” Mikey blurted out. “I want ya back. No matter what happened over that last couple of days... I just want my big brother back.” Unable to say anything more, Mikey just stood and left the room, leaving Leo to stare after him. Mikey hoped what little he had said would help, but he didn't know if it would. He slipped into his own room and continued to hold onto his hope. Maybe he would fall asleep quickly. Then he could focus on breakfast in the morning. Thinking of food, he quickly fell fast asleep, dreaming of things going back to normal. His big brother back to being just that. His big brother.
--------
The door had shut slowly until it clicked. Leo didn't bother looking up as his sensei left. Wasn't his fault? He almost laughed just as it was said. But he hadn't. He didn't know why, but he just couldn't. Could Splinter actually be right? How? And why didn't they blame him? And then Mikey had come in. He almost didn't want him to. He could tell it was Mikey even before his brother entered. The knock was too timid. But he let him in. Finally. He couldn't believe what he heard Mikey say either. It didn't matter to him what had happened. All he wanted was his brother back. He didn't want his brother giving up.
Leo sighed and stood, beginning to pace his room as hours slowly crept by, his mind staying at the subject at hand. No matter how he thought about it, it was still the same. His fault. Yet now that he thought about it, that's not what he saw in the eyes of his family and friends. He saw kindness. He saw concern. He saw.... love. He had even helped rescue them, however small a part it was. He was at least there for them, still keeping them safe. Still by their side even though he was injured.
He sighed and stopped pacing as this last thought crossed his mind. It was true. He was there for them then and he had to be there for them now. He still didn't think Splinter was right. But should he let that stop him from doing all that he should be doing now? Leo shook his head. No. He wasn't going to go that route. Not anymore. He was who he was and he wasn't going to give that up. Not anything the Foot would or could do would change that.
Leo stood at his door and put his ear to it, listening for any sound at all. He heard tired voices and feet shuffling. He blinked. It had to be morning. He yawned, not believing he had stayed up all night to come to his conclusion. He shrugged. Sleep would just have to come later. He pushed his door open and snuck close to the table. It had been pushed to the far corner. He also saw an old stove next to the wall. Leo wondered when they had snagged that. Mikey stood at the stove cooking what Leo though smelled something like eggs. The others sat at the table, not that happy, but not in the depressive mood he had been in for the past... what was it know... week? Leo shrugged that thought off and sat down in an empty chair, wondering how long it would take someone to notice him. Everyone was watching Mikey cook at the moment, seemingly engrossed for some strange reason.
Splinter's head immediately turned.
Leo smiled at him and winked.
Splinter's eyes sparkled, a smiled tugging at his lips. He said nothing just as Leo had hoped. Who would notice next? Leo wondered to himself. He kept silent and listened to them talk.
“Eggs done yet Mike?” Raph asked.
“Almost Raphy boy.” Mikey's voice changed a little lower to that of a old teacher. “You must have patience with the fine art of cooking.”
“Fine art?” Raph mocked.
“Now Raph, you promised to be nice,” April chided.
“Yeah Raph,” Casey chuckled.
“Shut it bone head,” Raph muttered. “Before I make you.”
“Whateva,” Casey laughed.
“I don't think you should be laughing there Casey.”
“Yeah, what Leo said,” Raph said quickly, slamming his fist onto the table.
“Leo?” Everyone but Splinter, Raph, and Leo echoed.
They all turned around to the table. Raph's mouth opening slightly in disbelief.
Leo grinned. “What? Did I miss something?”
Mikey broke free of the silence first, circling the table and wrapping Leo in a one armed death grip.
Leo cringed, feeling the strain on his healing arm. “Mikey....”
His orange banded brother chuckled and stepped back. “Sorry.” He grinned broadly.
Everyone quickly laughed, including Leo and Mikey.
“So, what's going on?” Leo asked tiredly, finding it refreshing to actually laugh with his family.
“Breakfast,” Raph answered. “Glad to see you join us. I'm... sorry for gripping so much at ya last time.”
Leo nodded. “Yeah. I probably needed it.”
Raph shook his head. “I just hated to do it.”
Leo knew what he meant and still didn't wish Raph hadn't yelled at him the last time he saw him. It mostly likely had done him wonders to making him think about his behavior. That and having Splinter and Mikey stop in on him.
“Speaking of breakfast,” Rai interrupted. He sniffed the air. “Is it burning?”
Mikey let out a yeep and quickly returned to the stove. He sighed after a few seconds. “They're just fine.”
Leo shook his head. Just like Mikey to worry so much about food.
“You look tired my son,” Splinter spoke up.
“Yeah. Didn't sleep any last night.” Leo yawned.
“And why is that?” Raph asked, crossing his arms and giving Leo a mock glare.
Leo smiled faintly. “I was thinking.”
“About what?” Don asked.
Leo was exhausted, but he knew this had to be done. “About forgetting what happened. I can't change it so I shouldn't worry or focus on it. I have to focus on now and you guys.”
A lot of tension seemed to leave the room, everyone unintentionally exhaling a held breath.
“That is good my son.” Splinter nodded his approval as Mikey put eggs on the table for everyone.
“Then your back to normal?” Mikey asked hopefully as he began shoveling eggs in his mouth.
Leo nodded and gave a tired smile, starting on his own eggs. “I'll be just fine.”
“Good,” Raph said. “Glad to have you back then.”
“Yeah. Feels good.” Real good Leo thought with a bigger, but still tired smile.
“Just do us a favor though,” Rai said.
“Yes?” Leo asked, halfway through his eggs.
“Get some sleep,” everyone else said at once.
Leo chuckled. “Ok, ok. I will.” He grinned, happy to see his family and friends so happy and agreeing together. He may be out of his mood, but that didn't stop his thoughts of Keith as he finally went back to his room an hour later to sleep. This time he didn't know how angry to be at the Foot soldier. He was only a pawn in Shredder's army, getting his own punishments. But he had still wrecked havoc on his family. And Leo would not hesitate to stop him the next time.
--------------------
Keith limped down the hall in the Foot tower. He had mostly healed from his punishment, but he still had stitches and the limp. The only good side was no broken bones. If a bone was broken during a punishment, it got replaced by a metal limb. He'd never had that happen, but had heard stories of it before. Especially to a certain person named Baxter Stockman. He still hated that guy too. Always taunting him. He growled. He hated everyone. Including those dang turtles and their friends. He snorted and entered Shredder's upper room, bending on one knee with the others in the room before standing.
“Are things being prepared?” Shredder demanded.
“Yes master,” one Elite guard reported. “All is going according to plan. We will be ready to strike again when you have planned.”
Shredder nodded. “Good. And Karai?”
“We don't know yet. The ninja have not returned yet,” another Elite said.
“What?!”
The doors to the room opened and two ninjas slipped in.
“You're late!” Shredder bellowed.
“Y-yes sir,” one said. “But we got the information.”
“And...” Shredder snapped impatiently.
“Karai should be coming into port within the hour. She has sent word that she has the desired object.”
Shredder nodded. “Yes, good. Very good indeed.” He waved his right hand. “Now out of my sight!”
The two late ninjas were grabbed and dragged from the room by the Elite guard.
Keith glared at no one. That was why you were never late to a meeting. It was your end. He head heard the whole story about the explosion with the turtles and friends. He wished that it had killed the Shredder. Or even himself. He didn't know how the Shredder had manage to get out, but he didn't care. He would never know. But he was going to make sure one of their enemies paid for this. Paid for it dearly.
Mikey sat at their makeshift table looking at his hands laying folded on the table. Raph had tried and couldn't get Leo back. Splinter had just tried and had no luck either. Why couldn't Leo just be Leo again? Was he beyond reaching anymore? Had his confidence been that shaken? He sighed. What was it going to take to get Leo back to them? His head slammed down on the table. Leo wasn't coming out of his room any more and ignored almost everyone who knocked. Mikey knew. He had tried multiple times with no success any of the times he had done so.
A chair slid out and scooted in beside him. There was silence for a moment longer before the voice spoke. “Hey.”
Mikey looked over at their tiger friend. He was surprised to see him and not Don or even Splinter. “Hey.”
“You ok?”
“No.”
Rai nodded. “I'm sure Leo will be fine soon.”
“How do you know?” Mikey asked confused. How could Rai possibly know that? There was not way to tell. Not that he knew. Not that Don knew. Not even that Splinter knew. None of them knew. And hurt.
“I don't,” Rai looked Mikey in the eyes. “You just need to keep hoping. Don't give up. Or Leo just might, thinking you've given up on him.”
Mikey looked away nodding. Rai was right. He couldn't give up on Leo. Not now. Not ever. “Thanks.”
Rai smiled and stood. “You're welcome.”
Mikey thought about Rai's words. He had to try to get to Leo. His father and brother had both tried. Splinter had even gotten into Leo's room. Maybe there was some hope that he could as well. He let out a small sigh as he stood and crossed the main room to Leo's door. He knocked tentatively. At first there was no answer, so he knocked again. Finally he got a muttered come in. Walking in, he found Leo huddled in a corner staring away from him, eyes distant, a candle burning beside him. “Leo?”
Leo slowly turned to look at Mikey. “What?” he asked softly, almost too soft to be heard.
Mikey closed the door and sat down in front of Leo. “I just wanted to... I don't know... tell ya that... well...” He sighed. He was having so much trouble with his words.
Leo smiled very faintly and waited.
“Don't give up,” Mikey blurted out. “I want ya back. No matter what happened over that last couple of days... I just want my big brother back.” Unable to say anything more, Mikey just stood and left the room, leaving Leo to stare after him. Mikey hoped what little he had said would help, but he didn't know if it would. He slipped into his own room and continued to hold onto his hope. Maybe he would fall asleep quickly. Then he could focus on breakfast in the morning. Thinking of food, he quickly fell fast asleep, dreaming of things going back to normal. His big brother back to being just that. His big brother.
--------
The door had shut slowly until it clicked. Leo didn't bother looking up as his sensei left. Wasn't his fault? He almost laughed just as it was said. But he hadn't. He didn't know why, but he just couldn't. Could Splinter actually be right? How? And why didn't they blame him? And then Mikey had come in. He almost didn't want him to. He could tell it was Mikey even before his brother entered. The knock was too timid. But he let him in. Finally. He couldn't believe what he heard Mikey say either. It didn't matter to him what had happened. All he wanted was his brother back. He didn't want his brother giving up.
Leo sighed and stood, beginning to pace his room as hours slowly crept by, his mind staying at the subject at hand. No matter how he thought about it, it was still the same. His fault. Yet now that he thought about it, that's not what he saw in the eyes of his family and friends. He saw kindness. He saw concern. He saw.... love. He had even helped rescue them, however small a part it was. He was at least there for them, still keeping them safe. Still by their side even though he was injured.
He sighed and stopped pacing as this last thought crossed his mind. It was true. He was there for them then and he had to be there for them now. He still didn't think Splinter was right. But should he let that stop him from doing all that he should be doing now? Leo shook his head. No. He wasn't going to go that route. Not anymore. He was who he was and he wasn't going to give that up. Not anything the Foot would or could do would change that.
Leo stood at his door and put his ear to it, listening for any sound at all. He heard tired voices and feet shuffling. He blinked. It had to be morning. He yawned, not believing he had stayed up all night to come to his conclusion. He shrugged. Sleep would just have to come later. He pushed his door open and snuck close to the table. It had been pushed to the far corner. He also saw an old stove next to the wall. Leo wondered when they had snagged that. Mikey stood at the stove cooking what Leo though smelled something like eggs. The others sat at the table, not that happy, but not in the depressive mood he had been in for the past... what was it know... week? Leo shrugged that thought off and sat down in an empty chair, wondering how long it would take someone to notice him. Everyone was watching Mikey cook at the moment, seemingly engrossed for some strange reason.
Splinter's head immediately turned.
Leo smiled at him and winked.
Splinter's eyes sparkled, a smiled tugging at his lips. He said nothing just as Leo had hoped. Who would notice next? Leo wondered to himself. He kept silent and listened to them talk.
“Eggs done yet Mike?” Raph asked.
“Almost Raphy boy.” Mikey's voice changed a little lower to that of a old teacher. “You must have patience with the fine art of cooking.”
“Fine art?” Raph mocked.
“Now Raph, you promised to be nice,” April chided.
“Yeah Raph,” Casey chuckled.
“Shut it bone head,” Raph muttered. “Before I make you.”
“Whateva,” Casey laughed.
“I don't think you should be laughing there Casey.”
“Yeah, what Leo said,” Raph said quickly, slamming his fist onto the table.
“Leo?” Everyone but Splinter, Raph, and Leo echoed.
They all turned around to the table. Raph's mouth opening slightly in disbelief.
Leo grinned. “What? Did I miss something?”
Mikey broke free of the silence first, circling the table and wrapping Leo in a one armed death grip.
Leo cringed, feeling the strain on his healing arm. “Mikey....”
His orange banded brother chuckled and stepped back. “Sorry.” He grinned broadly.
Everyone quickly laughed, including Leo and Mikey.
“So, what's going on?” Leo asked tiredly, finding it refreshing to actually laugh with his family.
“Breakfast,” Raph answered. “Glad to see you join us. I'm... sorry for gripping so much at ya last time.”
Leo nodded. “Yeah. I probably needed it.”
Raph shook his head. “I just hated to do it.”
Leo knew what he meant and still didn't wish Raph hadn't yelled at him the last time he saw him. It mostly likely had done him wonders to making him think about his behavior. That and having Splinter and Mikey stop in on him.
“Speaking of breakfast,” Rai interrupted. He sniffed the air. “Is it burning?”
Mikey let out a yeep and quickly returned to the stove. He sighed after a few seconds. “They're just fine.”
Leo shook his head. Just like Mikey to worry so much about food.
“You look tired my son,” Splinter spoke up.
“Yeah. Didn't sleep any last night.” Leo yawned.
“And why is that?” Raph asked, crossing his arms and giving Leo a mock glare.
Leo smiled faintly. “I was thinking.”
“About what?” Don asked.
Leo was exhausted, but he knew this had to be done. “About forgetting what happened. I can't change it so I shouldn't worry or focus on it. I have to focus on now and you guys.”
A lot of tension seemed to leave the room, everyone unintentionally exhaling a held breath.
“That is good my son.” Splinter nodded his approval as Mikey put eggs on the table for everyone.
“Then your back to normal?” Mikey asked hopefully as he began shoveling eggs in his mouth.
Leo nodded and gave a tired smile, starting on his own eggs. “I'll be just fine.”
“Good,” Raph said. “Glad to have you back then.”
“Yeah. Feels good.” Real good Leo thought with a bigger, but still tired smile.
“Just do us a favor though,” Rai said.
“Yes?” Leo asked, halfway through his eggs.
“Get some sleep,” everyone else said at once.
Leo chuckled. “Ok, ok. I will.” He grinned, happy to see his family and friends so happy and agreeing together. He may be out of his mood, but that didn't stop his thoughts of Keith as he finally went back to his room an hour later to sleep. This time he didn't know how angry to be at the Foot soldier. He was only a pawn in Shredder's army, getting his own punishments. But he had still wrecked havoc on his family. And Leo would not hesitate to stop him the next time.
--------------------
Keith limped down the hall in the Foot tower. He had mostly healed from his punishment, but he still had stitches and the limp. The only good side was no broken bones. If a bone was broken during a punishment, it got replaced by a metal limb. He'd never had that happen, but had heard stories of it before. Especially to a certain person named Baxter Stockman. He still hated that guy too. Always taunting him. He growled. He hated everyone. Including those dang turtles and their friends. He snorted and entered Shredder's upper room, bending on one knee with the others in the room before standing.
“Are things being prepared?” Shredder demanded.
“Yes master,” one Elite guard reported. “All is going according to plan. We will be ready to strike again when you have planned.”
Shredder nodded. “Good. And Karai?”
“We don't know yet. The ninja have not returned yet,” another Elite said.
“What?!”
The doors to the room opened and two ninjas slipped in.
“You're late!” Shredder bellowed.
“Y-yes sir,” one said. “But we got the information.”
“And...” Shredder snapped impatiently.
“Karai should be coming into port within the hour. She has sent word that she has the desired object.”
Shredder nodded. “Yes, good. Very good indeed.” He waved his right hand. “Now out of my sight!”
The two late ninjas were grabbed and dragged from the room by the Elite guard.
Keith glared at no one. That was why you were never late to a meeting. It was your end. He head heard the whole story about the explosion with the turtles and friends. He wished that it had killed the Shredder. Or even himself. He didn't know how the Shredder had manage to get out, but he didn't care. He would never know. But he was going to make sure one of their enemies paid for this. Paid for it dearly.
The End