Changing The Past

Chapter 2

He groaned, opening his eyes to see blaring lights overhead. Everything felt saturated, and blurry, and like he was being licked by colours. This was awful. His body was tied down, but he didn't have the strength to move. Opening his eyes was hard. His whole body burned. "Careful there Nardo, you're going to do some damage if your not careful." His eyes glazed up to Donatello that stood in front of him, walking between monitors with S.H.E.L.D.O.N hovering above their head "Where... am I?" "You're in the Private infirmary. The venom must be doing a number on you for you to forget that." He saw his brother's face, worn but not as bad as his own. Purple lines traced from his chin down passed his jaw in vertical lines, bags beneath his eyes as usual with his black visor strapped to the top of his head. A small scar diagonally slanted toward his jaw on the most right side of his bottom lip. He still had his permanently drawn on eyebrows. "Don... nie." He called as his brother walked over, pulling up the broken stool to sit by his head "Are you in pain?" Leonardo huffed a wheeze, Donatello looking at him worriedly. His hand rested on his plastron, soothing him and gently patting the restraints. Black compression sleeves ran down from his upper arm to his fingers, only letting the top of them show. "I'm sorry, we're out of pain killers." He apologised, looking around the metallic room at their limited supplies. His black and purple hood was down, collecting around his neck and draping down over his battle shell; a slick black titanium with a purple lining and hexagonal pattern. It had many features and a black widow with a violet mark painted on in the corner courtesy of their youngest brother. Leonardo saw the compression leggings that rode up under his plastron and went to his feet, he saw the metal plating strapped to his limbs as a means of protection, he saw the small utility belt around his waist, and he saw the yellow scrap of fabric wrapped around his bicep. April.

Leonardo coughed, pain blooming in his chest as Donatello got up to look for something to help. He found a canteen with stale water, and seeing as it was the best they could do he helped Leonardo slip it. He gasped after drinking, but it upset his stomach. It was so hot. His body ached. "You'll be ok in a few hours Leon. I promise."

Casey looked at his Sensei worried, watching as his head looked around the room with lidded eyes. In Casey's hands were his Ōdachi and he kept staring at the ribbons plaited against the hilt, the familiar red and purple masks of his brothers. Casey reached into the pants he had been lended and unfolded the tangerine bandana and frowned, his fists trembling. Why did everyone die around him? He wore a loose blue shirt and baggy grey pants, it was the most intact and clean clothes he had ever seen given, and his one body felt refreshed after having his first shower. They had offered him food but he refused, opting to be by his Sensei's side. His hair was tied back into a ponytail, small and curled and wet from his bathing. He didn't smell anymore either. Casey untied the hilt to reveal the raw metal used to construct the sword, then he weaved the third mask into the pattern, and when he was done he had a single Ōdachi threaded with the masks of the fallen brothers. Casey pulled his legs to his chest, frowning as he looked at his delirious mentor. Everything was a mess, anything that could have gone wrong has gone wrong. At least he wasn't alone. At least he managed to pull his Sensei in with him, grabbing his scaly hand and pulling him with all of his strength before that horrid red beam disintegrated him. He just lost Master Michelangelo, he didn't want to loose his Sensei.

Casey looked up hearing Leonardo startled himself awake, groaning and looking around weakly "Hel... lo?" "Sensei." Casey got up, walking in the borrowed socks up to his mentor. His head rested on a pillow he was provided, and though he was no longer restrained a blanket was draped over his frame. He was laying on his left shoulder "I'm here." He spoke out quietly, whispering to not assault his brain "Where...?" "We're in the past. Apparently the year is 2020." Casey shared, pulling his chair closer so he could sit with his mentor. He changed the rag, the older turtle sighing at the temperature "Mi... key? Where's... Mikey?" Casey was quiet. He watched his Sensei look at him, seeing his troubled expression, and Leonardo knew. "Oh." Is all he said, eyes screwing tight with a pained expression "Oh Mikey." "I'm so sorry Sensei." Casey whispered, standing up to hug him lightly, careful of his condition.

Leonardo was laying on the table in the medbay, on his side to not put pressure on his cobwebbed plastron or cracked carapace that was filled with a plaster solution Casey had been taught. His legs curled up, head bowed in grief as Casey tried to give him comfort, and he only felt like he was doing it right when his scaly green hand curled around his own. Casey briefly broke away and handed him the sword, displaying the intertwined hilt. "I'm sorry." Leonardo didn't reply, just silently reached for the sword with his mechanical hand and saw the ribbons. He pulled it close, curling up around it like he could feel his deceased brothers in his weapon. Leonardo cried tearlessly and soundlessly, but soon after passed out again; curled up and miserable. Casey held his hand, his own tears brewing from the emotional stress.