Chapter Text
Leo sits hunched over his desk. His hands-no just one hand now- holding his head. He sighs thinking about todays mission.
RUN!
THEYRE HERE!
LEO!
MOOMMM
White flashes his eyes, he shuts them. Voices fill his ears. He tries with his one hand to cover them but it’s futile with just one hand.
“Master Leonardo…..?”
Someone grabs his clothes in a tight grip slightly shaking him.
Leo opens his eyes looking at the person-Casey. Sweet little Casey.
Casey looks up at Leo with tears in his eyes waiting to spill out. He sniffles with his bear in his arms.
The bear that Raph gave him. The only thing left of him-well other than that THING Donnie made halfway.
Leo turns and picks him up into his lap and holds him there.
“Hey there little man. What’s going on?”
Casey sniffs one more time before talking.
“I-I had a nightmare….”
“And? What happened?”
“I-I was waiting f-for you t-to come b-back from a m-mission a-a-and y-you didn’t come back…… I thought…I thought u left….like mom…where’s mom….?”
Leo felt his stomach drop.
He forgot to tell Casey….He forgot…
How could he do that to him. Leo felt hatred and disappointment in himself.
“Casey…your mom…she…”
How could he tell him. Sweet little Casey didn’t deserve this. Cassandra didn’t deserve this. Raph didn’t deserve this. Dad didn’t……
NO. DONT THINK ABOUT IT.
“Casey, I’m sorry…”
“F-For what?”
“Listen Casey. Everyone one earth has a time limit. We are born with limited time here. While it may seem short it is a beautiful time here. Getting to grow into a beautiful strong person. But eventually no matter how much we ignore that limit it will eventually catch up to us. It may be early or late but we can’t pass our limit….”
God what was he even saying. Everything felt so far away. Like he was just watching himself talk. Words just spewing out of his mouth.
“What I’m trying to say is that, your mom reached her limit. While it was very unexpected it’s what can happen to any of us. But don’t worry you’ll get a long happy life to make you mom proud. Your mom is very proud of you right now! I’m proud of you. You are the ball of light for all of us but it’s okay to cry too.”
At this point Casey was full on sobbing now. His face buried into Leo’s neck. Leo could feel the warm tears on his neck. Leo felt the tears in his eyes but he wouldn’t let them fall. Not in front of Casey.
He sighed as he slowly patted Casey’s back. He stood and walked to the make-shift bed on the ground and sat criss-cross, Casey never leaving him.
Leo took a deep breath and slowly he started to rock himself to the rhythm.
You’re okay
Your alright
I’ll never,
Ever leave your side
I will stay
And I will fight
With you
Leo thinks as he hums the repeated rhythm still rocking and holding Casey. The sobbing has stopped but with the still few small tears and sniffles.
Leo thinks about the past.
Fun times with Cassandra.
Like when they went to play hockey all together that one time after a successful mission. It was the first time Leo actually laughed in a long time. He doesn’t think he’ll ever laugh again.
Leo can tell that Casey’s on the verge of dream town so he stars to Finnish up the song. It’s an easy way to make Casey sleep. Sing the song and he’ll be instantly out. An old song his father would sing to him and his brothers when they were just little tots.
One time he sang the song to help Cassandra and seeing how well the song worked she stole it from him. Of corse he let her sing the song as it helped her and Casey get some sleep. She would sing it almost every night to help him sleep. Looks like it’s up to Leonardo now.
You’re okay
You’re alright
I’ll stay here through the darkest night
All the way,
I will fight
With you…
Small snores could be heard from little Casey.
Leo lays down on the bed ready to sleep. He keeps Casey tucked in his arms cuddling him. He takes the one blanket and places it over Casey. He needs it more than Leo does.
“ Don’t worry Cass I’ll take good care of him…I’ll always protect you… ”