Leonardo has spent the remainder of the week sharing his brothers’ bed. Admittedly, it helped with his anxieties and each morning he woke feeling refreshed.
It was odd, sleeping between lovers, knowing that, even though they didn’t out right say it, they wanted him to be part of their relationship. It wasn’t that he was opposed to the idea. He simply couldn’t bring himself to do it without Raphael.
A compromise had been reached with Donatello. The search would continue, just not every night. It helped to know that the whole of the Justice Force was assisting in the search. If they were ever to spot Raphael, they were to contact Leo immediately.
Leonardo knew that Donny wanted him to let Raph go, but he wasn’t capable of doing that. There was a nagging in the back of his mind that told him that he needed to find him and Splinter agreed. Their father wanted Raph found as much as Leo.
As Leo readied himself to go out on patrol, one of the doctors rushed up to him. “One of the eggs is hatching!”
Filled with a strange mix of emotions, the world seemed to stop. He had hoped to find Raph before they hatched. Despite everything he held on to the belief that they could be happy together. It pained him that Raph was not here for this joyous moment.
Leaving his swords, Leo followed the doctor. It felt surreal, knowing that he was on his way to see a child he created. “Which one is hatching,” Leo asked.
“The big one,” the doctor answered. “We think his movement is what caused the shell to rip.”
The cries of the hatching baby echoed down the corridor. The clarity of them led Leo to believe that, at the very least, the face was exposed. Spurred by desire, Leo’s fast walk turned into a trot.
Splinter, Mikey, and Don were already in the nursery, watching from a distance. They had all agreed that they would do their best to make sure Leo would be the first person the babies see.
“Good thing you got here so fast,” another doctor said. “He is making quick work shredding that shell. He wants out.”
A nurse pulled Leo aside before he had the chance to rush over to his son. “Wash your hands,” she instructed. When Leo hesitated, she insisted. “He’s not going anywhere. You don’t want him to get sick, do you?”
Begrudgingly, Leo did as he was instructed. The whole time Leo scrubbed his hands and arms, his heart pounded. When the nurse was satisfied, she handed Leo a towel. “Now go see your baby.”
With his stomach in knots, Leo crossed the room. The shell was almost completely ripped apart, exposing most of the baby within. It cried out in frustration as it fought against the remains.
Looking down at it, Leo felt himself filled with an intense amount of love. He had no idea that such a feeling was possible. He would gladly give his life for the small creature in front of him while, at the same time, feeling as if he had a renewed desire to live.
His body moved on its own, carefully picking the rest of the shell off the baby. Terrified and elated, Leo slid his hand under its head and bottom and lifted it up.
There was a delicate balance to holding a squirming baby. He needed to be firm enough not to drop it but gentle enough not to harm.
“Hey,” Leo whispered, realizing that he had yet to say anything.
The baby stilled, its green eyes trying to focus on him, and cooed. Leo wondered if it was simply responding to his voice or it recognized it.
A doctor appeared at Leo’s side. “Let me give it a look over.” When Leo turned to hand the baby over, the doctor shook his head. “You can still hold it, for now,” he said as he put the stethoscope in his ears. “I’ll take him in a second to weigh him.”
The doctor looked the baby over from head to toe. As he gently pressed on the baby’s belly, the plastron parted. A tiny penis emerged and the doctor managed to cover it with a towel before the baby relieved himself.
“Well,” the doctor chuckled. “It’s a boy.”
The doctor relieved Leo of the baby so that he could finish his checkup. As soon as he was out of Leo’s hands, the baby started to cry again. Once it was cleaned, weighed, and fitted with a diaper, the doctor handed him back to Leo.
He had read that skin to skin contact was important for a developing child so Leo held him against his chest and the disgruntled cries once again faded. Kissing his head, Leo took in his son’s scent.
“Can we come see him now,” Mikey asked.
Leonardo had been so wrapped up in the moment that he had forgotten about them. “Yeah,” he said and made his way to them. He turned so that they could look at the baby but wasn’t ready to relinquish him to them yet.
“He’s beautiful,” Splinter said, placing a hand on the small carapace.
Mikey tilted his head and moved in for a closer look. “I think he looks more like you. His skin seems to match yours. With the arrival of this guy, does that mean you’ll be staying in tonight?”
Leo nodded. “I guess I’ll go tomorrow night.”
“What if one of the other eggs hatches tomorrow night?” Donny pointed out.
Leo looked back at the other two eggs. “I’m not giving up on Raph.”
“I know you don’t want to,” Donny sighed. “But, it’s been months. We don’t know where he is and, if he hasn’t returned by now….”
“I know he is still close,” Splinter said. “But his mind is too turbulent so I cannot sense where.”
“It’s because he doesn’t wat you to find him,” Donny argued.
“I will find him,” Leo said, looking Donatello in the eyes.
“I hope you do,” Donny replied, though his doubts bled into his words.
…..
Sleep, with a newborn, is an elusive thing. Every noise had Leo alert and ready to get up at a moment’s notice. It was a rough first night.
It was fortunate for Leonardo that he had help. Donatello offered to watch the baby so he could catch up on his sleep, though his desire to be with his child kept him from it. The best he could manage was a light doze.
After his unsuccessful nap, Leonardo spent some quality time with his child. Wanting to keep him engaged, Leo continued to speak about anything and everything. He kept his tone level and soft, making sure to speak clearly.
“I think I’ve come up with a name for you,” Leo said as he changed the baby’s diaper, taking care not to aggravate the yolk sack. “Savio. I have decided to stick with the Italian theme.”
Savio’s green eyes stayed fixed on Leo and he cooed in response.
“You like that name?” Leo smiled down at his son when he cooed again. “Good,” Leo chuckled.
“I like it too,” Donny said from the doorway, causing Leo to turn.
“Hey,” Leo greeted his brother.
“You seem to be taking to fatherhood well,” Donny said with a smile. “I expected as much.”
“Thank you, for… helping me,” Leo said. “I don’t think I would be able to do this alone.”
“I don’t want to just help,” Donny stated. “You don’t have to try to do it yourself and only come to us when you need it. Mikey and I want to be as involved with the children as you are; to care for and love them as if they were our own.”
Donny walked over to stand close to Leo and looked down at Savio. “I never thought love could come so easily.”
“I know what you mean,” Leo said, keeping his eyes fixed on his child. “It’s almost overwhelming.” A wave of sorrow overcame Leo and he had to blink to keep his vision clear. “I wish Raph was here to see him. Maybe he’d feel the same.”
Leaning in, Don nuzzled Leo. “I wish there was something I could do to end your pain. I hate seeing you suffer like this.”
“I’m glad you’re here,” Leo whispered.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Donny promised.
As Leo turned his head, Donny tilted his so that their lips met. It was brief. It would have been easy to turn it into something more but Leo turned his head away.
“I’m sorry,” Donny quickly said.
“It’s alright,” Leo said and picked up Savio. “I would like to explore this more. I’m just… not ready.”
“I know,” Donny said apologetically. “But, when you are, Mikey and I… would be more than happy to share our love with you.”
Leo looked at Donny and lifted an eye ridge. “You’ve really talked to Splinter about this?” When Donny nodded his head, Leo shook his. “How on Earth did you convince him to be okay with it? He gave me strict rules when I talked to him about starting a relationship with Raph.”
“Simple.” A sly smile graced Don’s face. “I’m a genius.”
“You’re incorrigible,” Leo laughed.
Donny simply shrugged in response.
Splinter entered the room. There was a look of urgency on his face mixed with worry and Leo knew that his father wasn’t there to inform him that another egg was hatching. “Silver Sentry has news about your brother,” he said and then turned to leave, expecting Leo and Don to follow.
“Maybe we can finally get you some closure,” Donny said before following Splinter.
Silver Sentry was waiting for them in a briefing room along with Mikey, who was staring intently at his hero. It was apparent that Silver Sentry was waiting for everyone to show before saying anything and it was driving Mikey crazy.
“Have a seat,” Silver Sentry said as they entered the room.
“Father said that you had news about Raph,” Leo said as he sat down in one of the many chars. Savio rested quietly in his lap.
Silver sentry nodded. “I’m afraid that it is not good.”
“Did you find him,” Mikey asked, unable to stay seated.
“I am afraid that we do not know where he is,” Silver Sentry replied. “What we do know is that… Hun has him. He’s had him all this time but it was only recently that one of our informants found out.”
Leonardo felt his heart sink into his stomach. The reason Raphael hadn’t come home was because he was being held captive. His mind rushed with all the terrible things that Hun could be doing to him. They all knew that he blamed Raph for his mutation.
“You don’t know where Hun might be holding him,” Splinter asked.
Silver Sentry shook his head. “Hun knows how to hide things from even me. My guess is that he has Raphael hidden in one of his many warehouses. It’s possible that he moves him to keep anyone but his most trusted Dragons from knowing where he is.”
“Are you sure he’s still alive?” Mikey choked out.
“I would know if he was dead,” Splinter insisted.
“According to my informant, he is still alive,” Silver Sentry replied. “Hun wants Raphael alive.”
“To prolong his suffering,” Leo added as he stared blankly at nothing. The idea of Raph being held by that monster left Leo numb.
Donny dropped to his knees in front of Leo, placing his hands over Leo’s. “I’m so sorry,” he wept. “I’m sorry I ever doubted him. I will redouble my efforts. I will find him.”
Although there was determination in Donny’s words. Leo couldn’t help but lose hope.
….
Raphael often dreamed about home. He could hear his father’s voice in the distance but he lacked the strength to call back.
A musky odor invaded his senses. At first his dream interpreted it as his father’s incense but as he started to wake he realized that the smell was marijuana. Hun was there.
The drug further clouded his already muggy mind. Raphael opened his eyes to see Hun only inches away, blowing smoke in his face. A dark smile spread across Hun’s face. “Found out something interesting today.”
“I don’t care,” Raph mumbled.
Every time Raph’s brothers disrupt the Purple Dragon’s operations, Hun takes it out on Raph. The worse the beating the greater the loss suffered by the gang. Raph found comfort in that fact and it kept him from falling into despair.
“My doctors know I want you alive,” Hun said after taking a long drag from his blunt. “After that last beating, they wanted to make sure that I didn’t do any internal damage.”
“That’s so kind of them,” Raph said, sifting against his restraints. “Remind me to thank them later.” He glanced over at Hun. “You have any food. The second hand high you’re giving me has given me the munchies.”
“Do you know what they found?” Hun continued, ignoring Raph’s words.
“That you’re pathetic,” Raph replied with a smile.
Hun blew more smoke in Raph’s face. “You are a girl.”
“What?” A heavy weight of despair pressed down on Raph.
“I haven’t been able to be with a woman since you did this to me.” Hun grabbed Raph’s thigh and forced his legs apart. “I think I’ve found a way to finally break you.”
