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

Chapter 19: 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 only knocked unconscious. My heart is racing as I approach my mother. I kneel down and find that her hair has streaks of dried blood. She's been here a while then.

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. Okay, she's alive. 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 and tell her and spill 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 hangs up.

She arrives in less than ten minutes. When she opens the door, she stops dead in her tracks. I can see her tense up. And then, she does something I'm very, very surprised at.

The Rosalie from a year ago would have seen the right in front of her and broken down into tears. She would probably begin hyperventilating and look around for someone to fix the situation at hand.

But this Rosalie is stronger. She simply maintains her composure, and comes over and kneels down next to me.

"Grab the first aid kid. I'll get some towels and wet them down. We'll take care of her first and then we'll get to the damage done on the apartment."

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 rolling my eyes. "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."