Come Morning Light

I'm Free...

Leo's POV

It's been almost two years since Raphie's death. His death. Why him? He was only 12! Only three years away from being able to go topside with us... a-and see the world. Well, not the entire world, but to him, it would've been the entire world because we were there. To him, he would've seen everything he wanted to see. To him, we, along with New York City, were everything to him. The only things he wanted to see. I haven't left my room much since the... incident, but my family doesn't blame me. Because I was closest to him...  I loved him more than I knew.  And now? It's all crashing down on me... I'm all alone, and there's nothing I can do about it.

But then... I see some rope, and also, a possible way out....

Donnie's POV

I'm in the living room, holding a distraught Mikey, as he cries, since he's still upset about everything that happened nearly two years ago, while Father is holding me. It's nearly time. His anniversary. Raph's death... just two days left, and it'll mark the day he died, two years ago. I sighed as tears ran down my face. I looked up as I heard the door to the lair open to see Vern, Casey, Bebop, and Rocksteady come in, their eyes red, puffy, and bloodshot. Casey and Vern had to go to Japan for a big reporting job, and was gone for about half a year, the same time Raph died. Bebop and Rocksteady, who are now human again, went with them to find an antidote to become human again, which, obviously, was found, and worked.

They all still had three months in Japan left when  we called them to inform them about the incident. When we told them, they were angry at first, yelling at us to stop this prank, and that it wasn't funny. I got angry myself, and yelled at them, saying we would never joke about the death of a family member, and that, we were, unfortunately, being truthful. There was silence on the other side of the line for some time before we heard Bebop's shaky voice.

"W-we have t-to g-go.."

Then the line went dead. I hung up, and I knew that they were crying ever since we told them. Anyway, they were back. I got up,  putting Mikey on Sensei's lap, before walking up to my four human friends, looking at them, with sadness in my eyes, as Rocksteady pulled me into a hug. I hugged back as I saw out of the corner of my eye as Bebop went towards Mikey, and hugged him. I sighed, as my Father left to the kitchen. Most likely going to cook dinner...

It was so hard trying to tell him that his youngest son was dead. We all kept stuttering like we were cold, but we weren't. When we finally told him, he  looked like his tail had been shot endlessly. He then started crying, as he just held us, and cried. He cried for hours, and we just let him. Because it was hard enough for us, to lose a brother. So it was also hard to lose a son, who you never thought you'd lose like this. It was heartbreaking just to think about it. So when it really happens, it's completely earth shattering.

Leo's POV

I was sitting on my bed, the rope in my hands, holding it like it was the most delicate of all silks. I sighed. Should I really do this..? I mean, I know this will affect my family but.. I can't go on like this... I'm falling apart. I can't go on.... not without him... my Raphie... I grab an old grappling hook, unattach the actual hook, get on a chair, and firmly screw it to my ceiling. Then I grab the rope, and tie it to the grappling hook, and I then make a noose. I can't believe I'm going to do this... but, I put my head through the noose anyway... and jump. Then I feel it. I don't bother struggling, kicking my legs. Though it's painful, I feel my body become lighter. 

I'm fading.

I hear choking sounds. Most likely from me. Thank goodness I'm home alone. Everyone was on patrol. I never went on patrol anymore. So Vern took my place. 

Then... I see it... a bright light, and I feel no more pain. I feel warm.. and free. Then I finally see... him... My Raphie. I see him, looking just as young and vibrant as he was the last time I saw him alive, looking at me, smiling. I was speechless, as I just hugged him. I hugged him, and didn't let go...  

I'm free...

Narrator's POV

"Leo! We're home!", Donnie called out, his brother Mikey following him. Along with the rest of his friends, and his Father, Master Splinter. Huh... no reply...., Donnie thought. "Leo?" he called out again. Still no reply. "... I'll check his room" Donnie said after some silence. "You guys put away the items we found please" The others nodded as Donnie made his way to Leo's room. "Leo? Bro, come on out, we're home" Donnie said while knocking on the door. As far as Donnie could tell, there was silence on the other side of the door, which made Donnie suspicious, as he had enough, and entered the room. And screamed. His scream made everyone run to Leo's bedroom, and they all saw it. Leo's body, hanging  from the ceiling by his neck, from a rope. Obviously dead. Well... everyone kind of expected it. Leo was falling apart at the seams. While they silently cried, they took down Leo's body. They gave him a proper funeral, and final goodbye, after laying him to rest. They knew it was for the best. After all, those two, while alive were inseparable.  They were everything to each other. The cutest "pair". Six months later, at 1:23 am, everyone was together, on the rooftop, when an unusual warm breeze went past them. It was strange, considering it was mid December. 

They looked around, but couldn't find anything that could explain the warm breeze. No fireplace, no heater of any sort.. nothing. Then they felt it again. The same warm breeze, but with something else. Laughter. Not creepy, not sad, not fake, but happy, sincere laughter. Then there was a light blue, and red light, that took the form of two very familiar forms. Leo and Raph. The turtles, Master, and friends gasped, and smiled softly. They watched as the two spirits slowly danced for about five minutes before they turned to their friends, and waved. They waved back, without hesitation, as the two spirits disappeared more laughter emitting from the disappearing forms, leaving everyone else smiling.

At least they're happy