Chapter 53: Slipping Through The Cracks

Elisabeth walks into the lair, brushing a loose strand of hair behind her ear. The home is a little more alive than usual, seeing as it's the evening and everyone is home from whatever they were doing. There was a sleepover planned for tonight, hence why Elisabeth and all the other friends are there.

Copeland sits on the bench in front of the TV, petting Tiki while he's in his dog form. The fluffy black and white animal cuddles against her, giving her a rare sort of comfort. Dakota, Lukas, and Asher sit together on sleeping bags that are laid out on the floor, Dakota between the two boys. Mitch and Nixie play Pokémon on her handheld gaming system, groaning or celebrating when the need comes. Venus and Blake play Tic-Tac-Toe on their own sleeping bags, the boy still relatively silent.

For a moment, Elisabeth remembers the sleepover that they had back in grade nine when they were all just becoming friends. With her cheeks heating up a little, she remembers the Spin the Bottle game that earned her her first kiss.

Tiki makes a little barking noise and he bats his paws on Copeland's plastron.

"What?" she mumbles.

He sits down on his haunches and tilts his head, narrowing his eyes at her.

"You got me out here, be happy you even got that," she huffs. "I was just going to stay with Dean."

Tiki sighs heavily, returning to his human form in a flash. He adjusts his hat and brushes his clothes off, wrapping an arm around his friend's shoulder.

"You need to find some way to cheer up," he tells her gently.

"Then get Dean to wake up. Simple," she answers briskly. "Let's watch cartoons or something. Anything but Space Heroes."

The other friends look up at her briefly, their faces falling. Nixie nudges Mitch, trying to distract him with her game again. He manages a weak smile.

Elisabeth turns and heads down the hallway, wanting to see Dean before she joins in on the hanging out. As she nears his room, the sound of someone's voice reaches her. She stops outside the door, which is slightly ajar, peeking in through the small crack.

Leonardo kneels next to Dean's bed, holding his son's hand with his forehead resting on his chest. Soft cries shake his body, his tears soaking his mask.

"I'm so sorry, Dean," he whispers. "I'm so sorry I gave up on you. I'm sorry that I'm a terrible father." He looks up, watching the wolf-raven's still face. "Please...please wake up. Your mother and I...we're already on thin ice with each other. Losing you will be that final push off the edge...and I'll lose you both. Venus...she needs her big brother to be there to help her fight. Your cousins need you to be their leader. We...I...I just..."

He breaks down further, sobbing into the mattress. Elisabeth pushes the door open gently and inches towards the distraught turtle.

"Mr Hamato?" she whispers.

He jumps, looking over his shoulder. Upon seeing the girl, he sniffs hurriedly and snorts unattractively in the process as he gets to his feet.

"Uh...h-hey Elisabeth. I...I didn't see you come in," he mumbles. "I'll go."

He moves past her, and she reaches out and gently touches his shell. He stops, his muscles tightening reflexively.

"Copeland told me about everything that's been happening," she murmurs. "You and Destiny fighting...almost turning off the machines..."

"That was a mistake," the blue-masked turtle says thickly.

"What kind of a father are you?" Copeland's voice echoes in his memories, making him cringe.

"I can see why you would do it though," she adds, looking towards Dean. "I mean...it's been so long. There's a good chance he won't get better."

"I know."

"But...he's a warrior. He'll come back." She manages a smile. "We just have to be patient and hope for the best."

Leo's lips twitch into a half smile and he gently squeezes her shoulder in gratitude. He turns and leaves the room, allowing Elisabeth to move to Dean's side and settle down.

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Dean feels like he's floating, suspended by darkness. For a moment, he thinks that he's dead, but he denies that thought swiftly. Death isn't this painful.

His wings feel like they've been torn apart and then badly put back together, his legs tingling and burning as if little tongues of fire are racing up and down them. His arms, chest, and face feel like they've been shredded, every bone in his body weighing ten tons.

He's scared, something he doesn't like. The agony he's in makes him want to just close his eyes and sleep, but something is keeping him anchored. His family flashes in his mind; Copeland singing, Elisabeth's soft voice, the heartbroken crying of his sister and mother, Asher's violin...all the things he'd miss if he lets himself go to sleep.

He tries to move, searching for something to grab on to, anything to keep him here.

His hand secures around two thick fingers, and Dean instantly recognizes the strong grasp of his father. He relaxes, his hand going limp again. A few tears slip down his cheeks, feeling as though the pain is growing.

Please...let me sleep, he pleads into the void. I just want to rest.

Every breath makes him feel like he's inhaling burning embers and ash, his heart straining to beat and the weak rhythm echoing in his ears. He grits his teeth, feeling weak cries leave his mouth as he falls deeper and deeper into the darkness surrounding him.

Anything would be easier than living right now. If he just slipped away, let his heart stop and ceased his breaths, it would be so much better. His pain would end, he would finally be free to run and fly again.

"Please wake up, Fearless. I love you too much to lose you. Of course...just as family, you dork."

"I'm proud of you, Dean. I'm sorry I got you dragged into this mess."

"Come on, Leo Junior. Our team can't lose you. You're our leader."

"Venus...your brother isn't getting better-"

"But he will! I know he will! Copeland told me. We have to give him a chance to recover!"

"I...as much as I told you I wanted to lead, or when I argued with you about it when we were little...I know I could never be the leader you are. I'm not courageous like you, or somewhat selfless...or even all that brave. I'm scared right now, Dean. I'm just hotheaded...like my father before me, and like you and your father before you, you're our leader, our Captain Ryan."

"You can't do that! He's our leader, we can't lose him!"

"We know he's hurt, but he'll come back. He has to."

"Come on, you stubborn shell-for-brains...keep fighting. I know you will."

"I'm so sorry, Dean. I'm so sorry I gave up on you. I'm sorry that I'm a terrible father. Please...please wake up. Your mother and I...we're already on thin ice with each other. Losing you will be that final push off the edge...and I'll lose you both. Venus...she needs her big brother to be there to help her fight. Your cousins need you to be their leader. We...I...I just..."

His family, words swirling inside his head against the pounding of his brain. It's all a jumble of voices, but they all have the same meaning; don't give up. Come back to them.

His father's words about Destiny, about Venus...about giving up. Those words make Dean's weakened heart seize up with fear. The last thing he wants is for his family to fall apart, for his father to lose hope.

Then, the pristine, clear voice of Copeland breaks through, bringing everything to a standstill.

"I'm still not giving up on you."

Stars seem to appear in the blackness. He shuts his eyes, clearing his mind, trying to forget.

A halo of light seems to surround him, momentarily numbing the fierce stabs of pain crossing his fragile body. He manages a weak smile, taking a deep breath.

"I'm going home."

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Copeland sleeps, slumped on the edge of Dean's bed with her face buried in her arms. Another month has passed, further straining the family and their emotions. Destiny and Leonardo don't even share the same bed anymore, the turtle sleeping in the dojo in Master Splinter's old room. The other three couples are doing fine, considering how worried they are for Destiny and Leo.

A soft groan sounds in the quiet of the room, making Copeland snort a little as she wakes up. She blinks wearily, looking at Dean. His fingers twitch, making her perk up and slowly get to her feet.

"D-Dean?" she whispers, hoping that the movement isn't just some reflex or muscle spasm.

There's another pained groan, his lips moving a little with the noise. The pink-masked turtle's eyes fill with tears as she steps closer. Slowly, like the doors of a treasure vault that hasn't been opened in hundreds of years, his eyes open. The sapphire of them is clouded with pain, but if his eyelids are the doors to a vault, Copeland sees his eyes as the treasure within.

Those wild eyes swivel to her, the slitted pupils adjusting to the dark as best they can. His chapped lips curl into a weak smile, showing off the points of his fangs in the process.

"Hey Copeland," he croaks.

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