Raphael's POV

It's been three weeks since Leo's accident, since my confession. I told Karai I love Leo, she hasn't said anything which is nice.

*sigh* I just can't wait for Leo to wake up. It's the Shredder incident all over again. Why does Leo always get hurt like this? I know he's the leader and all but it doesn't mean he has to almost die every time. 

Don says that his scares are healing well which is good and he doesn't need an oxygen mask to breathe anymore. But what I don't understand, is why he'd go off into the forest? By himself and without his weapons.

I-I can't. I grab Leo's hand and gently stroke the top of it. I can feel tears running down my cheeks.  His shell... It's badly damaged, the cracks are huge and Donny said there might be some internal damage. He said he didn't want to talk about it until he knew for sure, but he gave hints that his spine...

I heard knocking on the door...

Michelangelo's POV

Raph hasn't been doing so well lately, he forgets or refuses to eat, he barely talks and hasn't left Leo's side. Donnie says Leo's gonna be okay but he's hiding something. Don was never good at lying, you don't need to be a genius to figure that out. But the question is, what is Donnie hiding?

I closed the TV and went into the kitchen. I opened the fridge and grabbed some chicken, mashed potatoes and peas. I put on a plate and heat it up in the microwave. I hear someone opening the door, April and Don went to the city to get supplies but they left not even two hours ago and Karai was sleeping. So no one else should be here.

I decide to go stealth, just to be safe. I hid behind the wall in the living room and waited for the person to show their face. A hand on my nunchucks ready to fight, after all, just cause we're at April's farmhouse doesn't mean we're safe.

It was a man by his size and build, he was wearing a black hoodie and had a red duffel bag on his shoulder. He dropped his bag and I decided to act. I wrap my chain around his neck and ask "Who are you? How did you find this place?" the man lifted his had in a sign that he meant no harm and he started... laughing?

"Jeez Mickey, relax it's me" that voice, sounded familiar. "Casey?" I asked, "Yeah, so before ya kill me with your ninja skills, can ya let me go?" I let my chain go, Casey turns to look at me and smiles. "What are you doing here, I thought you were spending time with your dad?" I asked him, "Oh yeah, he uh..." his smile faded, I knew what happened his dad had fallen ill before the holidays, so he spent it with his dad in the hospital.

I grabbed Casey and pulled him in a hug "I'm sorry bro," he hugs me back and thanks me. "So where is everyone?" He asked looking around the house, I explained that Karai was sleeping since she's still not used to our time zone, April and Don were in the city getting supplies. I also told him what happened to Leo.

"And Raph?" He asked a concerned look on his face. "He's with Leo, he hasn't left his side since. I was just about to bring him lunch," I say as I walk to the kitchen and grab the plate from the microwave. "Here let me go talk to him" He grabs the plate from my hands and heads upstairs.

If anyone can make Raph happy again, it was Casey Jones.

Casey's POV

I walk up the stair and head for Leo's room. I knock on the door but there was no answer, so I slowly opened the door. I saw Leo, laying in his bed wrapped in bandages, sleeping and beside him was Raphael. He was crying. It's rare that Raph would cry, so whatever it is, it's gotta be bad.

I grabbed a chair that was sitting in the corner and sat down beside him. He wiped his tears and looks at me, a little smile appeared on his face. "What are ya doin' here? I thought you were with ya dad?" I gave him the plate of food and told him, "He died," Raph gave me a sad sympathy look but I tried to reassure him. "It's alright, he was happy to spend the holidays with me. He died happily and that's what matters" I told him with a little smile while looking at Leo's bandages.

His arms were covered from his shoulder to his wrist. His plastron was covered completely and he had a bandage on his head, the blanket converted him from his waist to his feet. He looked a little pale too. "Is he getting better?" I asked looking at Raph eating, it showed that he hasn't eaten in a while. He was a little skinner then his usual buff self. "Yeah, Don said he'll be fine," He says looking at Leo, I know he's hiding something from me. But I won't pry.

If he wants to tell me he will sooner or later. "Actually, *sigh* Don said Leo's spine might be damaged, he's not sure yet" I could hear the sadness in his voice when he said it. "Leo might be paralyzed?" I asked him, I shouldn't have. He started to cry again, holding Leo's hand tighter. I grabbed my best friend and pulled him into a hug. He let go of Leo's hand and hugged me back tight, crying into my shoulder.

Raphael needed Leo, he hates to admit it but Raph needs him. I hope for Raphs sake that Leonardo wakes up soon. We pull away from the hug and he wipes his tears. Raph puts his face in his hands while leaning on his knees. I know Raph well enough to know when he wants to be alone. I grabbed the plate before it fell to the floor, and got up to leave. Before I could even step out the door, I heard a very faint voice...

I turn around to see it was Leo, he was mumbling like he was trying to say something. He started to tremble and the monitor beside him started beeping. His heart was getting weak. Raphael grabbed Leo's hand and held it tight. "Casey, call Don. Now!" I did as Raph told me, I grabbed my phone and dialled Donatello's number.

Raphael's POV

Leo's heart was failing, again. I grabbed his hand and held it tight, I don't understand Don said he was getting better. He promised he'd be okay, that he'd wake up.

I could feel my blood boiling inside me. He lied to me. Casey hung up his phone and looked at me. "Well? Where the fuck is he?" I yelled impatiently, "He's leaving the city," he tells me. My heart stopped, he won't get back in time.

I felt tears in my eyes. I looked at Leo and gently rubbed his cheek, as I started to cry.

Leo wasn't going to make it.

Leonardo's POV

I open my eyes, it's still pitch black. I tried to get up but I felt a sharp pain in my chest and in my shell. How long have I been here? Where even am I?

All these questions and no one to give me answers. Like who was that girl in the woods? Why did that buck lead me to her? After a while, I notice that there was a small layer of fog creeping up around me. I tried to get up to my feet again but I fell to my knees holding my chest in pain. Why can't I walk?

I started to look around the misty fog and something caught my attention in the corner of my eye. It looked like a figure and I couldn't really tell but I think it was getting closer. I felt a shiver come down my spine and my legs where numb, I couldn't move. I was scared at this point, I couldn't run and I was in too much pain to fight.

Suddenly I felt like I was being watched and I could hear breathing. I lifted my head and looked up, it was the figure I saw in the darkness. It was standing right in front of me. The person was extremely tall and very slim, he was wearing a hooded cloak that covered him from head to toe. I couldn't see his face.

"Who are you?" I asked, still holding my chest in pain. He didn't answer, "Where am I?" I asked again. There was nothing but silence, all I could hear from him was his raspy breathing. What does he want? He was just standing in front of me in silence.

Suddenly his hand was in front of me like he was trying to help me up. I felt the urge to grab his hand and my arm, like it had a mind of its own, slowly lifted to grab his. But the feeling felt wrong and I stopped. Then I noticed, his hands were bones.

I tried to get a good look at his face when he started to get closer. My heart was pounding in my chest and my skin felt cold. He was standing at arms reach from me. My heart dropped and I was scared out of my shell.

He said in the softest voice, "Come rest my child."

His face wasn't a face and I finally understood who it was.

It was Death...

This drawing was made by me for this chapter.