The Rising (final book of The Call series) ~ TMNT Fanfiction

Chapter 13: To Mend

Leo's POV:

Lexi sleeps the entire ride home. Even when I lift her up to carry her to her room, she still doesn't even stir. It makes me both relieved and angry at the Dark Angels. They've hurt her so much and that's very clear. 

"Keep an eye on him," I tell my brothers wearily, nudging my head towards Shredder, who hardly hears me. "I still don't trust him."

"Dude, then why'd you let him free?" Mikey asks. I shift Lexi in my arms and shake my head at my younger brother.

"Lexi's orders." I glance over at Shredder again, who's now watching me. "Handcuff him or something." I'm not surprised when as Donnie takes the handcuffs out from the glove box, Shredder doesn't do more than blink to defend himself.

He'll do anything to prove himself worthy of our trust, whether trustworthy or not. I still don't trust him.

Or I don't want to.

That's a likely possibility. I don't want to trust Shredder because of all he has done to hurt not only the King Family but my own family. But my own instincts are telling me that it doesn't matter what he did before; what really matters now is that he wants to change.

Still, I can't take the risk.

"Bring him up with us to the apartment, but don't take your eyes off of him." And with that, I carry Lexi up the stairs of the apartment complex. As I'm walking, I hear footsteps catch up to me. I glance over to see who it is, and I notice a head full of bouncy red curls.

"You doing okay, Mal?" I ask, shifting Lexi in my arms again. She has her arms crossed around her chest, as if she's cold. I know that she isn't though, seeing that it's over seventy degrees even now at two in the morning. But I guess we're all feeling cold in one way or another.

"No, not really," she admits. "I mean...I just found my best friend beat up and torn apart. And I really want to rip apart the jerks that did it."

I sigh in empathy and nod my head.

"I...I know how you feel." I don't extend on that. If Mallory knows—if anyone knows, for that matter—all the horrible things I was thinking as I was chained helplessly to the ground, I'd lose my "calm, serene" reputation for sure. In all honesty, I don't blame Mallory. I want to rip Melinda to shreds too.

Once we reach the door, Mallory unlocks it and pushes through. All the lights are off. The smell is familiar. Mallory doesn't leave my side as I push open Lexi's bedroom door and lay her onto the bed, tucking the sheets around her. I don't take my eyes off of her face as I do so, and as soon as I'm done, I take a seat in the chair next to her bed.

She's in terrible condition.

Bruises are on all the parts of her face and she has a black eye and dry blood everywhere. She has cuts and wounds of all sorts, and if she looks this bad from her face, I can't imagine how bad it really is. I'd seen Melinda kick her several times before calling the guards on us. Donnie is going to have to see how bad it is. But for now, I want her to rest.

I don't realize how long I have been staring at her for.

"I think she's still in love with you." Mallory's voice drowns me from my thoughts and I tear my gaze away from the poor girl lying helplessly, yet sound asleep.

"What?"

"I don't know for sure," Mallory says slowly. "We don't talk about it all that much. She kind of avoids the topic. But I think she still loves you." I don't know how to respond, so I just shake my head and look back to Lexi.

"I don't know why she would."

"Because you were in love," she snaps. "You both were."

"I still am," I tell her, biting the inside of my cheek. "And you don't know how hard it is for someone to hate you for saving their life; someone that you have been in love with and you were absolutely convinced that they loved you too."