Liz: A TMNT Story

Chapter 10

(Photo based off original story by Suzukiwee1357)

Leo's P.O.V.

My heart dropped into my stomach as Liz screamed. Donnie sprang into action beside me, restraining her against the wall so she wouldn't hurt herself further. Her eyes were closed, a river of tears escaping them.

I watched as she struggled against my brother, her face full of anguish. I barely knew her, but just watching her shaking form, her fearful state... Something inside me felt like it was shattering into a million pieces...

"Leo!" Donnie snapped, as Liz suddenly slumped against him, "A little help here would be good!"

I blinked a few times, realizing after a moment that I had forgotten to breathe, taking Liz's arms and helping Donnie carry her into his lab.

"She must've hyperventilated," Donnie muttered to himself, beginning to go into his doctor-mode, "Oh gosh, some of these gashes look infected..."

Mikey and Raph trailed after us, filling the silence with obnoxious interrogations.

"Leo, who IS she?!" Raph demanded.

"How'd you know her, bro?" Mikey quipped.

"Was she always a mutant?"

"Is she good or bad?"

"Did she--"

"ENOUGH!" I shouted, making everyone jump, "Can't you see there's an injured person here who's clearly been through a lot?!"

At that, my brothers shut their mouths. Donnie instructed me silently to set Liz down on the counter as he rubbed away the dusty layer on his laptop, eyes narrowing as he rebooted the system.

I took a second to examine Liz's injuries and tried not to grimace. Her ankle was badly swollen to almost three times the size it should've been, bound in an unkempt splint, and a makeshift sling held her left arm in place against her body. Several bruises covered her, and I attempted not to gawk at the laser burns that had pierced her skin, beginning to show signs of infection.

Donnie hurried back over with some antiseptic and bandages, gently easing her out of the old sling. Even unconscious, Liz flinched as she was forced to move. A commotion from the doorway made all four of us look up, to see April and Casey, slack jawed as they stared at the injured mutant girl. I looked over at Raph, who gave me a curt nod and ushered Mikey, April, and Casey out of the room. 

Donnie tried to place Liz's arm to the side as gently as possible, before taking out the supplies to clean her wounds.

"Leo," He mumbled as his eyes swept over the laser burns, "I might need you to hold her down."

My eyes widened a little, but I consented, gently placing my hands against Liz's shoulders. Donnie readied a cloth with the antiseptic and began dabbing at the burns.

Liz's eyes flew open in a panic, as she yelped in agony. I held your down as she struggled away from the source of pain. 

"Liz," I pleaded, trying to calm her down, "Liz, please, listen to me! We're trying to help you--"

"STAY AWAY FROM ME!" she screamed, making me jump, "DON'T HURT ME! I DIDN'T DO ANYTHING TO YOU! WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?!"

I glanced over at Donnie anxiously, searching his face for an explanation.

"She must be experiencing post traumatic stress disorder," he explained quickly, trying to make quick work of cleansing the burns, "Whatever she's been through must be coming back to her in the form of fear-filled delusions--"

"I know what PTSD is, Donnie!" 

"Sorry! You know I go on tangents when I'm trying to concentrate!"

I rolled my eyes, not paying any attention to my brother as Liz continued to shout. Tears gushed from her gray eyes as she thrashed against me, trying to claw at Donnie and I several times before she gave up and sobbed quietly, occasionally whimpering, "Don't hurt me, don't hurt me..."

Donnie finally finished cleaning and bandaging the wounds, looking nervously at Liz's injured ankle. I braced myself for another one of her emotional onslaughts as Donnie began to ease the splint off her foot. Liz's back arched, so I had to hold her more firmly against the counter. She gasped in pain as Donnie maneuvered her foot into a new position, her bouts of struggling coming at longer intervals, until she finally passed out again. I slumped against the counter as Donnie wrapped Liz's foot in a layer of bandages. 

Her breathing had finally evened out, as I watched her chest rise and fall, her inhales and exhales a little ragged, but that was to be expected after that painful ordeal. Even in sleep, her brows were slightly knitted together, the tension seeming to never fully leave her.

"We should move her onto the cot," Donnie decided, leaning next to me, "Probably get her something other than rags to wear..."

"...How long do you think she was alone?" I asked, still lost in my thoughts.

D was caught a bit off guard by the question, but he thought for a moment, finally muttering, "The infections were in one of the beginning stages in the wounds, so... she was most likely attacked during or after the invasion..."

I was reminded of Fishface chasing Liz away that day on the rooftops, and flinched inwardly as I tried to put the pieces of what seemed like a horrifying puzzle together. I pushed myself away from the counter, gesturing for Donnie to help support her weight as I gently lifted her off the counter and onto the cot, covering her with a blanket.

"I'll uh...I'll go ask April if she has any clothes to spare for her...," Donnie walked out of the lab, looking back for a moment before disappearing out the door. 

I sighed and turned to leave as well, but couldn't help dancing over my shoulder at Liz.

Her face had relaxed a little, though the ghost of an anguished look still lingered along her features. Her matted hair framed her face as she settled into a slightly more comfortable rest. The hard line that was her lips softened, and despite myself, a small smile crept across my face.

I trudged to the door, gazing at her one last time as I closed the lab door. 

The smile was still on my face as the door shut. Because, although she was undoubtedly effected by the terrible things that happened, and her new mutation.. she was still unbelievably beautiful.