Always Be There

"Chosen one"

I couldn't hold back my tears, since I had so stupidly used up damn near the last of my strength to grab Casey's arm. I don't know why I did, was it to feel a sort of comfort? Maybe to be reassured he was actually there? Was it to make sure I knew he hadn't fallen back into the hands of April? I wasn't sure, and I don't think I'll ever be.

That dream I had felt all too real, I could almost feel the pain- as if it were really happening- I question why it had turned out like that, since that event had never happened. Maybe it was some sort of alternate outcome, something that had changed by me simply saying something different than what I had. Had that dream actually come true, I'd surely be dust, and Casey wouldn't be that far off from suffering a similar fate, if not worse. . . .

Oh how I've fucked things up, and I could never stress enough how sorry I am. Guilt washed over me like a tidal wave, flooding over every other emotion I had. I was apologizing as much as my broken voice could, though barely anything seemed to sound even remotely close to the apology I was trying to convey. Great, another thing I've fucked up. . .

-----

Casey was quiet most of the time during the turtle's sob session. He could hear the broken apologies the genius was attempting, and it pulled at his heart strings to hear.
"I- 'm s- s- orry j- jonesss-" The turtle choked out finally, a steady stream of blood beginning to leak from his gap toothed mouth. He accidentally hissed the S in Jones, yet it was an error that had went unnoticed by the boy.
"Hey, Hey, no. No apologizing dude. Stop it. You aren't even supposed to be speaking right now. Sensei and the others strictly forbade it until you stop bleeding. You're straining your throat too much, dude. I can hear it." Jones replied softly, feeling the blood begin to seep into his shirt. He was unsure of what to do, worried that attempting to move the turtle would result in further injury to him.
The genius surprisingly obliged, stopping his desperate apologies and continuing to sob uncontrollably into the teens shoulder.

It hurt, it hurt so bad. Why couldn't he just go back to feeling numb? Just like when he was apparently comatose the past week or so. He hated the constant agonizing pain in his body, shell and neck especially. Some part of him wanted to go right back to being unconscious so he didn't have to deal with the constant pain he was currently in. Though the other part wanted to make sure he was awake, make sure he could be ready to get up and protect Jones at any minute, any cost. He had been apparently practically useless in everything else, so he might as well make it up by protecting the one other person the girl was after. Afterall, this was his fault, supposedly.
Jones sighed, lightly touching the back of the turtles neck for only a second before pulling away as he felt the terrapin jerk away at the sudden contact. He wasn't sure if it was from being startled, or from pain, but he hoped it wasn't the latter. He hated seeing Donnie in pain, even if he was his former rival. He couldn't deny he cared for the genius turtle, not at all. Because that would be a lie if he did.

Slowly, he placed his hand on the back of Donnie's neck again, smiling as he began to soothingly rub the turtles neck in attempts to calm him.
Surprisingly it had worked. The turtle's sobs had died down into more rough, muffled sniffles. A sense of relief washed over the boy, and he cracked a smile. He was glad it had worked, the last thing he wanted was to make matters worse.
Soon enough, the turtle fell limp again in Jones's arms, his cries completely dying out.
Casey had quickly realized the turtle had fallen back into a restful slumber. He hoped that he wouldn't be plagued by the horrible dreams again. He already knew what he was dreaming previously, somehow. As if it wasn't obvious. It wasn't like the turtle was dreaming about cupcakes and rainbows 24/7. No, that was more of a Mikey thing.

-----

April sighed, sitting on her bed and staring up at the off white popcorn ceiling. She was unsure of what to do, and didn't want to go to the lair unless she was instructed or allowed to. She had decided to go for a walk, sitting up and carefully pushing herself off of the bed. She walked over to her closet, pulling out her shoes and slipping them on.