They were under strict instructions not to handle the eggs but the doctors told Leonardo that the developing babies inside could hear him. So, every night, Leo would read to them. It was important for them to know the sound of his voice.
When he wasn’t there, he insisted that classical music was played. Occasionally he would play recordings of Raph’s voice. They didn’t have many, but at least the ones they had Raph spoke in an even tone. Even though Raph hadn’t returned, Leo wanted them to know him as well. He still held out hope that Raph would come back. With each passing day, that hope faded and the pain intensified.
Every night, Leo would search the city in hopes of running into Raph. He knew his chances were slim but he had to try, he couldn’t sit around and do nothing. Notes had been left in the lair just in case Raph returned home, so he would know that they had joined the Justice Force. When Splinter meditated, he would search for Raphael on a spiritual level. Unable to pinpoint Raph’s location, all Splinter could sense was turmoil and pain.
Time passed and there was no sign of Raph. Wherever he was, he planned on staying there.
As predicted, one of the eggs collapsed after a few days. If there was ever life in it, it did not last. The other three continued to develop. Small noises could be heard coming from them, ranging from grunts and whimpers to full out crying.
It wasn’t long before the eggs started to move.
“Are they going to hatch soon,” Leo asked the doctor who had come in to check on them.
“It could be a few days or weeks,” the doctor answered. “They will hatch in their own time.” He pointed to one of the eggs. “That one there is going to be the first and it is big. You can see the way the shell is starting to bulge. It’s possible that it will rip its way out soon.”
Were eggs supposed to be able to bulge like that? Feeling a sudden sense of worry, Leo carefully ran his hand over one of the eggs. He could feel that the shell wasn’t as solid as it had originally been. “Is this normal?”
“Yes,” the doctor replied, putting Leo’s mind at ease. “They absorb everything during their development, including the nutrients from the shell, causing it to weaken. When they start to hatch, we’ll have to play it by ear. The fact that they are mutant turtles makes this a learning experience for all of us.”
After spending a few more minutes with the eggs, Leo turned on some music and started on his way out to search for Raph. As he made his way down the hall, Donny approached him.
“How long are you going to continue doing this,” he asked, coming up to walk beside him.
Leo glanced over at his brother and shrugged. “Until I find him.”
“And then what?” Grabbing Leo’s hand, Donny forced him to stop.
“I don’t know,” Leo admitted, pulling his hand out of his brother’s grip, “but I have to try. Those eggs are going to hatch any day now.”
Donny scoffed. “Raph doesn’t want to be here for that. He doesn’t want anything to do with them. He’s made that perfectly clear.”
“He wasn’t thinking clearly,” Leo argued, struggling to keep his emotions in check. “Everything had happened so fast. He was scared and confused.”
Shaking his head, Donny replied, “He’s had plenty of time to think. You have to come to terms with the fact that he does not want to be found.”
“Maybe he wants to come home but he’s afraid,” Leo said, still not willing to give up. “The more time that passes, the harder it is for him. If I find him and let him know that everything will be okay….”
“You need to stop doing this to yourself,” Donny stated plainly. “When the babies hatch, they are going to need you here. Not out frivolously searching for Raph.”
“I can’t give up,” Leo choked out, turning away in an attempt to hide his tears. It was hard for him to show any sign of weakness. But, he was worn down, making it almost impossible to stop.
Stepping around Leo, Donny stood in front of him to look him in the eyes. “He’ll come home when he’s ready. Come on. You need to get some sleep.” It was strange hearing those words from Donny, who was notorious for staying up late.
Physically and emotionally exhausted, Leo gave in and allowed Donny to lead him down the hall. What was one night? He will indulge his brother tonight and set out again tomorrow.
He was expecting Donny to take him to his room but they passed it and continued to Mikey’s room. Confused, Leo looked at Donny. “Why are we here?”
“To sleep,” Donny answered as a matter of fact, opening the door. “We thought it would be best if you weren’t alone. Physical contact with another, even something as basic as a hug, can greatly help relieve… a great many things.”
Mikey had been pacing the room and ran to them when they entered. “Oh, good. You convinced him to stay!” The look of relief faded into one of sorrow as he pulled Leo into a warm hug. “We’re here for you, Leo.”
It did feel good to be hugged and his pain subsided, just a little. Leo allowed himself to be lost in the moment.
When they parted, Leo looked around Mikey’s room and noticed a few of Donny’s things scattered around. This included a book on physics sitting on a small table next to the bed. From the looks of it, Donny’s things had been here for a while. “Do you guys usually sleep together?”
“Every night for the past few months,” Donny said.
“We’re a couple now,” Mikey added and Leo felt his jaw go slack.
“How…?” Leo had a hard time wrapping his mind around such a thing. “When did you guys decide to get together?”
While Donny helped Leo out of his gear, Mikey turned down the sheets. “When you and Raph started your relationship. I got it into my head that I wanted to be in one too. So, I started pursuing Donny.”
The bed was a large tatami. This was preferable for Mikey since he had a tendency to roll off the bed. If he rolled off a tatami, at least he didn’t fall on his way to the floor. How Donny managed to sleep next to someone who moved so much was beyond Leo’s comprehension.
“Mikey was horrible at flirting.” Donny chuckled softly while he recalled the memory. “I thought all he wanted was a partner for sex so I turned him down.”
“What changed your mind,” Leo asked, genuinely intrigued. If any two were polar opposites, it was Mikey and Donny.
Donny shrugged. “He convinced me that he wanted more.”
Mikey flopped down on the bed. “We had to date for a while before anything physical could happen. We just spent time together, doing stuff. I liked it. We found out we liked a lot of the same things.”
Sitting on the bed, Leo thought of his relationship with Raph and he struggled with a new set of tears that threatened to fall. “Maybe that’s all I was for Raph, someone to go to for sex. That’s why it was so easy for him to leave. He never truly loved me.”
“Well then he doesn’t deserve you,” Mikey snapped.
“Mikey,” Donny chided, sitting on the bed.
“What?” Mikey shot back.
“It’s okay,” Leo said, before the two of them could start arguing. “I don’t want what’s happened between me and Raph to come between the two of you.” Raw emotions had led Leo to say too much. He had to get out of there before he said more. “I appreciate what you’re trying to do but I don’t want to intrude.”
“You’re not,” Donny insisted. When Leo moved to get up, Donny grabbed hold of him. “We both want you to stay, for as long as you like.”
“We love you, Leo,” Mikey added. “You shouldn’t be alone.”
Unsure if he was reading more into their words than they had intended to say, Leo stumbled over his words. “I’m… uh… not ready.”
Understanding flashed in Donny’s eyes and he shook his head. “All we want is for you to sleep. Nothing more. We’re here for you, Leo.”
“I don’t know if this is appropriate,” Leo argued.
Lifting an eye ridge, Donny asked, “Why?”
“I’m your leader,” Leo replied.
“You’re our brother first,” Mikey pointed out. “And, as your brothers, you’re allowed to open up to us. You’re allowed to be vulnerable.”
“Allowing us to care for you now, will not change our ability to follow you later,” Donny stated.
“Alright,” Leo agreed and the rest of the walls came down. “To be honest, I would appreciate the company.”
They positioned themselves so that Leo was in the middle. Once again Leo thought about how Mikey tended to move in his sleep and began to wonder if he had made the right decision.
“He was only restless because he was sleeping alone,” Donny whispered as if he could read Leo’s thoughts. “He’s slept peacefully since I’ve started sleeping next to him. Remember how still he used to be when we were kids, huddled together on a pile of tattered blankets?”
“I missed those days,” Mikey wistfully mumbled.
“He’s also quick to fall asleep,” Donny chuckled. “I find myself sleeping better too. I actually look forward to it now. This relationship is good for us both. Even Splinter has noticed our improvements.”
“I’m happy for you,” Leo said in earnest. Sleep usually didn’t come easy for him but as soon as he settled into a comfortable position, he was out.
