Five days.
Five days since Raph ran into Luca again. Five days since he and Don figured out that Luca was being drugged. Five days since they came up with a plan with Leo and Mikey. Five days since they stormed the mansion that held his lover. Five days since they found him face down in his bed. And five days since he's been in hospital unconscious.
During this time, officials had arrested Luca's step-mother and half the family for wrongful imprisonment and manipulation of power, along with blackmail and kidnapping. With these charges, the younger family members only saw 5 to 6 years to prison where as the eldest son and mother were facing close to 15 for being the main manipulators of the entire situation.
Also during those five days, Raph has been beside the young reptiles side, refusing to leave the room for any reason. Mikey and Casey often come with food and a change of clothes for the stubborn turtle. More than once did Don suggest he go home for rest. And the occasional prompting from April and Leo to at least go for a walk to clear his head was given as well.
But all those times he was prompted to leave, he refused. The hothead was determined to be the first thing Luca saw when he woke. And with this stubborn behavior, the tension from Luca not waking started to take its toll on the turtle. He often find nights where he couldn't sleep. He couldn't get out of his head what the doctors asked and said during the evening of the first night.
XXX
Four days earlier.....
``Come again?'' Raphael asked with a hesitant smile on his face that was also laced with pin of the situation.
``I said that this young man is showing signs of late pregnancy. So I was wondering if you were the father and if you knew how far along he was?'' the doctor states calmly.
``I-I don't know.....he was taken about two months ago.......he wasn't pregnant then......I-is there a way to see who the father is?'' Raph inquired nervously, glancing down at his unconscious mate.
``Well, a blood test would do it, but it will have to be after the child is born because reptiles infants are in an egg until birth, so it would be difficult to get a blood sample from the child before then.,'' the professional explains while adjusting the glasses on the bridge of his nose.
``So, can I stay with him until the baby is born? As far as I'm aware, I'm the last one he's mated with,'' Raph pleaded to the man, looking at Luca nervously as the thought of someone else's child resides in his lover.
``I suppose that can be arranged. We'll give him a week then,'' the doctor said with an air of finality.
``Before what?'' the older terrapin questioned at the lingering note of thought in the doctors tone.
``Before we may have to removed the clutch surgically or else both of them will perish due to lack of nutrients for the eggs and the decomposition inside his body should the eggs die,'' the doctor clarified solemnly while gazing at the unconscious reptile.
Raph's eyes widen at the news, taking in the understanding if the doctors don't interfere, he could loose both precious lives. Taking a deep breath, Raph nods in understanding and gently cups Luca's hands with both of his as he sits down besides his lover, urging him to wake.
XXX
Present
Raph jolted awake, having started dozing while his mind wandered onto the recent events. He sighs heavily and glances at Luca. He remained as he was, unmoving and showing no signs of waking. Raph groans softly as he eases himself out of the hospital chair to gently lay across Luca's legs, wanting some form of contact with his lover to show he was here.
Ever so gently, he rests his head onto the smaller reptiles stomach and concentrates. He understood he wouldn't feel anything because the children were in eggs, but he hoped he could at least hear a heart beat. So there he laid, silently for nearly an hour.
Tears started to roll down his cheeks as he fears the worst. That his unborn children had passed because of Luca's inability to eat proper nutrition. He was about to raise his head off then he hears something soft, almost impossible to hear if you weren't paying attention.
Th-thump
th-thump
Eyes wide with shock, Raph lays his head back down and concentrates, checking to be sure he wasn't hearing things.
Th-thump
th-thump
Raph chokes on his tears as a wide grin spreads across his lips. `They're alive.......they have beating hearts......'
``Oh Luca, if only you could be awake to hear this. This beautiful music that's growing inside you.......please, wake up and listen to their heart beats,'' Raph pleaded, embracing Luca's limp body, rocking him gently.
Almost as if he heard his calls, the smaller reptile's eyes flutter before he inhales a deep breath and hums softly. ``I wish I could wake up like this every morning.......'' he whispers out, his voice hoarse from being dry.
Raph jolted back and looks at Luca with misty eyes, jaw slack as he realizes his lover is awake. With a cry of pure delight, Raph pulls Luca back into a deeper hug, refusing to release him at all, even when the nurse came in to do a check up. It took a team of nurses and doctors to separate Raph from Luca so they can do a full check over the young hybrid and ask him a series of questions. Almost as soon as the last nurse pulled away from Luca, Raph was in the bed and holding Luca in a possessive hold.
``AH! Easy Raph!! Not so rough! I'm an invalid now, you gotta be gentle with me,'' Luca joked playfully with Raph as he was pulled into the fierce terrapins lap, snuggled close and protective.
``Mine......'' Raph whispers against Luca's temple, keeping him close and protected.
All Luca could do was roll his eyes and get comfortable in the hold, sighing happily that the nightmare was over.
For now.....
