Hunted

By

Hannio

Chapter Eleven

Drifting Away

Disclaimer – None of the characters mentioned in the story below belong to me in any form or fashion. I am merely using them for my own entertainment purposes.

Author Note – Sorry for the delay in getting the chapter up! Please enjoy!

He should have been in more pain.

He wasn't stupid, he had sat through all of Donatello's first aid lectures making sure he never missed one so he would never feel as though he had left his brothers down. Whatever injury they had he would be able to deal with it, at least that was what Donatello had promised him.

He was well aware of just how dire his situation truly was and that with each passing second his chances of surviving his wound were growing slimmer.

He had known the minute he had felt the sword pierce his plastron, the cracking sound reverberating through his head as the resistance the front part of his shell offered broke and agony filled all his senses. He couldn't bring himself to tell Leonardo the truth instead he had lied, pretending that it wasn't anything to worry about and that if they got to Donatello then Donatello could fix it.

Really he had just wanted to make sure that Leonardo wouldn't be left by himself in the sewer tunnels, at least this way he would have back up if the need arose and Raphael was sure it would. He had wanted to give Leonardo something to focus on, something to give him hope and to stop himself being overwhelmed by the guilt which Raphael knew he would be experiencing. He found it so easy to read his brother, just like a well loved book read over and over again.

It seemed easier that way, to hide the truth to protect his brothers from what he thought they couldn't cope with. It was something he had always done since the day he realised it was his place to protect them and he would continue doing it until he took his last breathe whether that was today or in fifty years time.

He could hear the sound of Leonardo and Donatello talking over him, their voices mingling and rushing together until the sound became a comforting hum in his ears reminding him of when they were younger and Leonardo and Donatello had spoken over him in whispers when they thought he was asleep.

They would come up with some genius plan to get them all out of there. It was something he had always admired about the pair of them, their ability to remain calm under extreme pressure. No matter what the situation was they would cope with it. They weren't like him or Michelangelo who always jumped into trouble feet first.

Act first, think later had been the motto he and Michelangelo had jokingly decided to use one time after Leonardo had lectured them over something. He couldn't remember what it was now, only that he had been annoyed at the time and Michelangelo had made him laugh. They had switched it to think first, act later for Leonardo and Donatello keeping it a secret for them just to share.

He wondered whether he had ever told them that before, that he admired them and how when he was younger he had always wished that he was more like them.

They must have been down to half a team, meaning that Michelangelo was still out cold. He wanted to open his eyes so he could check for himself but regardless of his command for them to open they remained closed. The effort of trying had tired him out. The darkness was surprisingly comforting though, like when he had had a nightmare and Master Splinter would hold him in his arms rocking him until he slept. He felt the same way now, peaceful. He wished he could see their dad, just so he could know he was safe and nothing had gotten him. Their dad was untouchable, he was a former battle nexus champion, nothing would be able to hurt him.

He hoped Michelangelo was alright. He hated it when one of his brothers was sick but he especially hated it when it was his youngest brother. Everything revolted inside of him at the mere thought of him being injured. If anything hurt him then Raphael would destroy them, it was as simple as that in his mind.

Were they taking care of him?

Leonardo and Donatello had to get him out of the dank sewer air before it settled in his chest. They should have listened to April when she suggested that Michelangelo stayed with her while he recovered but they had decided against it. Michelangelo's place had been with them, If only they had listened then at least Michelangelo would be safe wouldn't he?

Was the surface safe? Were April and Casey ok?

He frowned slightly as he heard Leonardo's voice rise, the tone desperate as he argued with Donatello over something. He wished he could catch the words but that required concentration which he didn't have at that moment.

He wanted to reassure them the way he always did when he was injured or sick. He wanted to tell them that he was going to be ok and that it would take more then being stabbed in the stomach with a sword to take him out. All he needed was a short time to rest and then he would be up and ready for action and yet the words he desperately wanted to say were trapped in his throat, almost choking him.

Everything seemed beyond him.

He felt drowsy, his limbs too heavy to move and the pain which has been so unbearable a short time ago had simply melted away into a bearable ache. He felt cold but he could put up with being cold.

All he needed was rest.

Author Note – I'm going to try and update a lot sooner this time! Please review but now flames.