Broken

Chapter 13- Sanctuary

POV: Leonardo
I was woken with a start as I felt the vehicle jerk to a stop. I was hurting and developed a spitting headache. I felt like shit. It was a strain to open my eyes, my eyelids were still weighed down by sleep. But my curiosity got the better of me. I cracked my eyes and saw a large apartment complex in front of us. It was very dark out, meaning that we've been on the road for quite some time. I guessed we were at Raquel's friend's place, which meant we were in Raquel's home town of Catawissa.
Without telling me what was happening, Ray got out of the car and went up the one of the apartment doors. She probably figured I was still sleeping.
She knocked a few times and waited. Not long after the door cracked open and exposed a teenage girl, probably around Ray's age, dressed in jeans and a black panda hoodie. Her hair was boy-cut short and dyed black with blue highlights. As soon as she opened the door the girl's eyes welled up with tears behind her glasses and threw herself into Raquel's arms. Ray was quick to return the hug, tears rimming her own eyes. They started talking to each other, but I couldn't make out what hey were saying. Then Raquel suddenly pointed to the car and directed the girl's attention over to me.
I froze.
The girl came walking up to passanger side of the car and opened the door, making me jump back. I had no idea the doors were unlocked. Though I irritated my injured arm. I grimanced in pain. My chest rose and fell heavily as I stared at her with unblinking eyes.
"Oh, oh, I'm sorry!" The girl raised her hands so I could see them, looking as innocent as possible. "I didn't mean to scare you, Ray said you were sleeping. Don't be afraid. I'm Kendra by the way, me and Raquel are friends from way back..." Kendra began to look over me. "Raquel said you were hurt?"
I nodded and exposed my bleeding shoulder to her.
"M-m-my arm..."
Her freckled nose wrinkled and drew in a sharp breath. "Ew, that looks terrible! Hurry, come inside. My mom is a nurse at Geisinger, she'll patch you up."
I shakily staggered out of the car and leaned my shell against it, trying to clear my head from the sudden dizziness. Kendra took a step back to give me space. She stared up at me with wide eyes, though she didn't look all that surprised to see...someone like me. She looked at me in awe, admiration in her deep brown eyes.
"Wow..." She breathed. Kendra noticed I was also staring at her and she blinked out of her trance. "I-I'm sorry, I don't mean to stare. It's just...well..."
"Yeah, I know." I turned away from her gaze. "I've heard it before."
"No, I didn't mean that...I meant you look pretty awesome for a mutant turtle. That and you are frickin' ripped man!" Kendra exclaimed, her eyes darting at my arms. "I mean, do you live in a wreck room?"
I let a wide smirk curve my lips and a mild chuckle escaped. My cheeks heated up at her comment.
"Well, n-not actually..." I rubbed my arms nervously.
"So...Leonardo right? Ray said I could just call you Leo. She filled me in a little bit about you."
Ah, soo they were talking about me earlier.
I turned and narrowed my eyes at Raquel.
"How much did you tell her?"
"Enough."
I rolled my eyes. "Hrmph..."
Both girls helped me inside the apartment. It was small and cramped. The living room was a small room only capable of holding a two-seater couch and an armchair facing a TV stand next to the stairs. I sat down on the couch a little harder then I intended and accidentally bumped my shoulder, sending seering pain in my arm down to my fingertips.
"OW!" I cried as I bent over and clutched my arm. My eyes squeezed shut against the pain. I began to rock back and forth, assuring myself that it would pass.
"Kendra, are you alright? Who's in there with you?" And unknown voice spoke from the kitchen. I turned to see a heavy set woman with a cup in her hand. She froze in her step at the sight of me. She looked almost like Kendra, dark brown eyes and big glasses. I heard the sound of glass shatter on the floor. I flinched at her horrified expression. She looked as if she was about to scream...such is my life, I was expecting it. But before the woman can even open her mouth, Kendra got up and stood in front of me.
"No mom! Wait! It's okay! He's a friend of Raquel!" She then dragged Ray over to her side. "Look, Raquel came back."
The woman's eyes softened at the sight of Ray and managed to smile.
"Oh, Raquel hello. It's been a while since we've seen you..." Kendra's mom came up to her and gave her a back to me. "He is your friend?" She asked in a rather disgusted tone.
I just lowered my gaze to the floor.
"Yes he is. He needs your help." Raquel said quickly, "He's been shot! Please Jackie, you have to help him!"
Jackie looked from Raquel down to me. I could feel here eyes on me, just drilling at me. I looked up. I didn't see criticism or hate in her eyes, but pity and compassion. She came and knelt in front of me. She lifted my chin to meet her eyes.
"What's your name honey?"
"L-Leonardo." I whispered.
Jackie turned her eyes to Ray. "Is this the work of TCRI?"
Ray nodded.
The woman shook her head, as if frustrated with the whole situation, but her face softened once she looked back at me.
"How old are you?"
"I'm seventeen ma'am."
Jackie's face fell and she shook her head once more.
"Only seventeen?..." Her voice was barely above a whisper, Jackie peered at my shoulder, which was still covered in blood soaked paper towels. She looked up expectantly at me. "May I?"
I nodded and she carefully unwrapped the towels as the two girls stood and watched. Revealing the nasty hole that was already beginning to worsen. Though the bleeding was subsiding, the torn flesh was starting to swell and turning shades of dark purple peppered with scabs starting to form over top. The bullet was near the surface and visable. Jackie traced her small fingers gingerly over the wound. I gritted my teeth and forced myself not to hiss in pain.
"How bad is it Jackie?" Raquel asked worriedly.
She drew a long breath, examining over the wound. "Well, there's no signs of bone damage to his collar bone. It looks inflamed. The tissue is definately infected. You're lucky you came to me when you did. I'll have to get the bullet out, but that will require a small operation.
I used a few moments to think on the matter. I eventually gave in. I bent over with my elbows resting on my knees and drew out a sigh. "You have my permission."
"Well I sure hope I so. Don't take this the wrong way sweetie, but you're not gonna find anyone else who would wanna do it."
"When-when are you planning on doing it?" I asked her nervously, I couldn't help the ball of uneasiness form in my stomach.
"As soon as possible would be the best."
A wave of fear rushed over me, making me shudder. "You mean right now?"
"Yes."
Shit.
"Leo, are you okay?" Raquel rushed to my side, "you look pale."
I sank back into the couch, my body felt like it was about to liquefy and wash away. I was drenched in sweat.
"I...I don't feel good. " I said as I tried to swallow a lump that formed in my throat.
Jackie reached out her hand to my flushed face, "You're developing a fever. It's prone to happen after something such as a gunshot. It lowers the ammune system. "I suddenly felt myself being lifted off the couch and onto my feet. Jackie managed to pull me up and brace her hands on my plastron. She turned her attention to the girls.
"I will take Leonardo into the kitchen, you two can find something to do while I work on Leo. I don't want you both down here when I get started.
"Yes mom...C'mon Ray." Kendra walked towards the stairs, tugging on the sleeve of Ray's jacket to follow.
"Take care of him okay?" Raquel let out a small whine.
Jackie smiled, "I will honey. Now go."
Ray nodded and followed Kendra upstairs.
I was oblivious to what Jackie was doing. I was more focused on my churning stomach. Jackie sat me in the chair next to the round dinning table and left the room. My attention was brought back as she returned with a case and opened it to uncover cutting tools and surgical scissors. My eyes widened at the sight of the box as she placed it right next to me on the table, taking out a knife and a small needle filled with clear fluid. She quickly inserted the needle in my arm. I hissed.
"Sorry sweetheart. It will help numb the pain."
I began to relax and eased deeper in the chair. My y shoulder tingled, it felt pleasureable as the pain slowly vanished to a faint numbing sensation. I barely felt Jackie's two fingers poke around my shoulder. Boy that drug worked pretty quick.
"Do you feel anything?"
I rolled my shoulder just to be sure. "Mmm...Vaguely. "
"Alright. Now we can get started."

POV: Raquel
Me and Kendra went up stairs up to her room. Knowing her, no matter how long I was gone, Kendra's room was still a mess. Dirty clothes all over the floor, ripped up Twenty One Piolets posters hanging on the walls...yep, it's never changed.
Kendra plopped on the edge of her bed and sighed. I sat along side her.
Kendra suddenly looked at me wish a weasely smirk on her face, with a raised eyebrow. I stared back awkwardly.
"Whaat?..."
"So, are you and Leo like...a thing? Or...?"
My eyes blew up. I felt my cheeks heated up, no doubt I was seriously blushing like mad. Kendra knew it too. Her suspicious eyes began to board deep into the back of my mind, as if to read my inner thoughts.
"No, no. Were not a couple!" I didn't mean for my word to come out in a jumble. "It's just... we've been through a lot together is all."
"Uh huh, suuuure." Kendra rolled her eyes and nudged me in the arm.
I shake my head and flopped backwards on the bed with my arms extended.
"So how did you two meet anyway?"
"That's a long story."
"You're gonna be here for a while anyway. I've got time."
I groaned and rose up again to face Kendra. "Fine...I was kidnapped by the Foot at one of TCRI's secret headquarters and...I was mutated into, we'll what Leo looks like."
"A turtle." Kendra replied in a smart alicy tone.
"Not really. I never grew a shell. They said I was deformed. Thats when I found out they transferred Leo's bood into my blood streem, turning me into a mutant. The mutagen that Eric Sacks created, that changed me, was injected into Leo and his three brothers when they were only babies. He's one of the test subjects that was thought to be lost in that fire 17 years ago. They somehow turned me back to normal and we managed to escape...twice. But I don't doubt they're still hunting us down. They want Leo back. That's why we came here. I know it sounds very far fetched Kendra, but it's true."
"Woah, woah, woah...back up girl." Kendra made a time-out motion with her hands. "You mean to tell me he's from that Project Renaissance that TCRI was cooking up?"
I nodded. "Yup."
"You never told me that."
"Well, now you know."
Kendra ran her hands over her head and whistled. "This is big shit man, big shit."
I snorted. "Mhm."
"Anything else I should know?" She asked sarcastically.
"Um...well like I said, he has three brothers and uhhh...I'm helping him find them and were gonna rescue them."
Kendra nodded, her hand resting over her mouth. She looked as calm as she could possibly be. She leaned back on the bed and looked to the ceiling, chewing the inside of her cheek.
"Ray Ray, you're my best friend right? And you know I'm with ya all the way...but as you friend, let me ask you this...HAVE YOU COMPLETELY LOST IT!"
I wasn't all that surprised at her reaction, she was always known to be overly dramatic.
"Well, maybe I have." I replied confidently.
Kendra pinched the bridge of her nose, shaking her head. "Raquel, this is dangerous shit man, okay? You've been gone for months, without a trace. No phone calls no nothing, and after seeing a giant mutated turtle in my house I do believe you. But this is too much for a teen like you to handle on your own, and now you're telling me that those goons might still be hunting you?"
"Kendra, you don't undestand," My voice was pleading. "Leo needs my help. You don't know what those people put him through, ever since he was born, there's a bigger picture here Kendra. There using human beings as test subjects. To create living, breathing war weapons. In order to do that, TCRI needs all four of the turtles to continue the mutagen process. They've tried getting their hands on Leonardo, but we escaped. We need to rescue his brother's and put Sacks, Quinn and TCRI down for good!"
Kendra stared blankly at me, I could tell she was trying to let all of my explanation soak into her brain. She blinked a few times before replying.
"You really wanna go through with this?"
I nodded. "Yes."
She sighed, but gave me a tired smile. "Fine, then I want in."
I was taken aback. "Im sorry, what?"
"You heard me, besides, you've already dragged me into the situation by coming here anyway."
"Good point."
Groans of discomfort seeped up through the floorboards. And sounds of struggling came from downstairs.
"Sounds like my mom's working on Leo know."
I stared down at the floor, knowing Leo was right under my feet somewhere. "I hope he'll be okay. He said he wasn't feeling good before they started."
I was scared for him. I know it was only a small operation, but anything that envolves cutting you open I consider terrifying. And besides, like Jackie said, Leo is only a teenager. But for being only 17, he sure was doing a remarkable job at coping with everything, far better then any normal teenager would. Having being tortured, drained of blood and two surgeries in only a few months would have anyone driven to coplete insanity at this point.
"Eh, don't worry Ray, my mom's a pro. She'll fix your boyfriend up."
I was snapped out of my thoughts and looked at Kendra. I got off the bed and raggedy walked around the room, my arms crossed. "We've just gone over this Kendra, I told you, he's not my boyfriend."
"Oh please, enough with the playing dumb act. I'm not stupid Ray, maybe a little blind," Kendra adjusted her glasses farther up her nose, "but not stupid. I know ya like him."
I came to a stop and remained still by the bed, I could feel my face burn and my cheeks were no doubtingly turning pink. I knew Kendra noticed due to that victorious look on her face.
"Oh, don't get so defensive. I gotta hand it to ya...he's cute. Ya know...for a turtle. And you've always been attracted to the abnormal anyway sooo-"
"Shut up." I took a pillow from the bed and threw it at Kendra's face, earning loud chuckles from her.
She took another pillow and jumped on the bed with me and began attacking me as we both engaged in a pillow fight.
Haha...just like old times.