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

Chapter 20: Hard Things

Blood, sinking into the tile, the chairs, and the counters. Dark red blood. But what makes me cry out the most is that my mother is lying on the tile, seemingly knocked unconscious. Hopefully just knocked unconscious. My heart is racing as I approach my mother. I kneel and find that her hair has streaks of dried blood. She's been here a while.

I shake her. "Mom...Mom..." I mumble. "Mom, please wake up."

Nothing.

Tears well up in my eyes, and I force myself to stay calm. I hold my breath and listen carefully.

Faintly, so faintly that I almost don't believe it's there, I can hear her breathing.

I let out a breath and close my eyes. She's still alive. Things are going to be okay.

I pick up my phone and notice myself shaking as I do it. I mean to call the turtles, but I find myself dialing Rose's number instead. She answers within two rings.

"Hello?"

"Rose. Where are you?"

"With some friends at Target. Why?"

At first, I don't know what to say. Too many things rushing through my head. So many things to say but I don't know which is the most vital for her to know.

"Blood," I choke out. "Mom. Apartment. She's bleeding. There's blood. I don't know what happened." My words barely make any sense. They're just that: words.

"I'll be right over. Stay where you are."

She arrives in less than ten minutes. When she opens the door, she stops dead in her tracks. After just a few moments, she jumps into action.

"Grab the first aid kid. I'll get some towels and wet them down. We'll take care of her first before anything else."

Without hesitation or questions, I follow her orders. I find the First Aid kit we keep in the bathroom and grab some rags from the cupboards. When I get back, she's already cleaning Mom's wounds. I hand her the First Aid Kid without a word. I stand there awkwardly for a few seconds. I always feel like I'm in the way or I have no way of helping. I know how to treat wounds, but it seems like Rose has it all under control.

"I'm going to call the turtles." I don't wait for her reply before I hurry away to dial their home phone.

It rings three times before being answered.

"Hello, Hamato Residence speaking," Mikey's perky voice says. "And just may I say...how you doin'?"

"Not now Flynn Rider," I say. "Can I talk to serious Mikey right now? Or is he not home?"

"Nah, he's here." Mikey's tone changes a bit. "What's up, babe? Everything okay?"

"Well my mom is unconscious."

"Oh crap!" Mikey shouts. "What happened, Lex?"

"I don't know. I came into the apartment, and she was unconscious. There's blood everywhere."

"Why are you so calm about this?" Mikey exclaims.

"Well would you rather me call you screaming?"

"That would be reasonable."

"Just get over here, please. Bring your brothers. This wasn't supposed to be a conversation. It was supposed to be a cry for help."

"Sorry, I'm not good at answering those," Mikey says, sheepishly.

I sigh. "Then don't answer the landline, Mike."

After hanging up with Mikey, I go back to Rose. Most of Mom's wounds have been cleaned, and Rose is dabbing a cloth on Mom's forehead.