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She had already been here several hours. Climbing her way up. Sneaking around broken furniture and rubble. Jumping broken staircases and pushing down rubble in attempts to shake off multiple Krang hounds. Successful enough to reach where she was now. Somewhere high and dry. Now, she was in what seemed to be an old apartment or office space within the old building. Door closed and barricaded with whatever she could find at hand. Breathing heavy. Hoping she hadn't left too much of a trail behind for the beasts to massively search for her, for her water had broken when she was still outside fighting them all off before getting in here.
She had known it had started then. But she had ignored it. Had to.
The building shook and creaked again. Dust flew up everywhere, as the sounds of metallic roaring echoed within the very walls left on the building. Daring to move her head upwards and over a pile of concrete slabs, tall enough to hide her from the window view, she quickly dove back down. Red lights and more roaring moved, to take a look inside.
Disappearing... Reappearing. Disappearing again. Glass breaking and bricks being torn off the outside wall all happened not too far from where she was. She could hear it all.
Shit.
The damn thing was circling.
It just. Wouldn't. LEAVE.
Just the one thing she could not use. Sure, she would fight if off with everything she was worth if she absolutely had to, but damn it! Why did they have to be here now?
The other side wasn't safe with dogs. Now this.
How far was it to the nearest camp?
Or base, or, really, anything at all where she wouldn't be all alone.
It was impossible to say. The only thing she knew for certain, was that there were signs of those places possibly being close. Relatively close, that was. In these days, traveling times of several weeks were no strange occurrence, when it came to finding camps left standing.
It was already bad enough she was all alone now. It sucked, but she could deal. But why did this baby decide to come now?!
It wasn't too early for it to be a safe date. It should be well developed enough to be able to survive. But she definitely wouldn't have minded it being two weeks later. When she actually had found a safe place. And wasn’t surrounded by every type of enemy she hated.
As she ran from all the bots earlier, she had already felt the cramps coming in. Even before her water broke. Had noticed them already when she had woken up from what little sleep she allowed herself in the early nightly hours. Always on guard. Being here, was her best option right now and she knew it. These cramps were incredibly painful, especially now that she was lying down here. They had caused her legs to finally give out from all the running and jumping.
Accepting it for what it was, was all she could reasonably do.
So now, she waited. Clenched her teeth with every new wave of pain. Hard. Sounds were no option here. She could not afford giving herself away to her enemies, that wanted all too badly to find her, for the damage she could do.
"Just keep breathing Casey..." She told herself. "Just stay alert. The time will come to try hard."
She was battle hardened and had seen a thing or two in people trying their best to survive. She had seen broken bones, and bad injuries. Had heard people give birth in the distance in all her years going places to fight back and save whatever she could. Only for those sounds to be their last mistake, more often than not. It couldn't be helped. She just couldn't always be everywhere in time, even if she wanted to. Two times, she had actually watched, and helped. Those experiences caused her to panic less now, despite the situation around her. She could hear angry growls, even at the floors above her.
She hissed in pain at a particularly painful wave of contractions, combined with a kick, she was certain.
"Ouch! Son of a..." She swore under her breath.
The whole event was simultaneous to a set of robotic claws entering the glass window behind her, knocking out glass and pieces of wall as it reached its ugly head in. She heard the ugly alien steering it make its ugly noises. It was born here. They often cared little about actually using human language.
She didn't move a muscle. Just listened in. Modified hockey stick at the ready beside her. One hand at the blade of a knife just in case anything else showed up. She knew it knew she was somewhere. It was trying to lure her out. It was all a tactic. Not to be underestimated.
A distraction from the pain somewhat, and another wave of wanted adrenaline for her.
She heard the bot steam, as she didn't yield, then heard it pull back with annoyed screeching at the lack of signs of life. Continuing the search. The red lights disappearing once again.
She sighed.
The occasional howling of dogs below was heard. They were still looking, but for now, they were distant.
It would have to do. This baby was on its way and she knew she should help it along.
And everything went fast for her. She knew it was almost time to try hard. Give it her all and get this baby here.
Discarding every piece of clothing that stood in her way of preventing this baby from coming, she focused on breathing. Just calm, but real deep breaths. Letting it flow over her, and not force anything.
Doing everything in absolute silence was HARD. She was sweating, and felt hot all over. Her ears were ringing and she struggled to find a somewhat comfortable position with everything she could feel. She wanted to scream, to punch something as her contractions knocked the wind out of her and she felt it all over her back and legs. She kept her gaze on the door at all times, and ignored the urge to push as she saw streaks of red light enter the building time and again. Multiple Krang bots were on the prowl, she knew now.
Such a strange ambience, it was fitting for a horror movie if she wasn't actually living it. The red lights illuminated the walls and ceiling behind the concrete where she lay hidden. But the red of light wasn't the only red there. The red of blood, was also there. Steadily dripping. Not good. It was definitely time to help out now.
Her time in waiting had helped get her used to a rhythm. Now, she listened to it. Pushing hard as the walls around her creaked and the wind howled through the open window. It took some serious effort, and lots of frustrated teeth clenching and clawing, but in the end, she was rewarded. She could feel it come as she had switched to a squatting position. Catching the baby as it was ready, and holding it against her swiftly as it did. A boy. Looking alright as could be in the circumstances he faced. He had every part he should have for his time cooing inside her.
A Jones, born under the red lights of danger. What more was to come?
The baby made silent sounds of crying in protest, but Casey was able to get him quiet, real fast. Shushing him against her. She knew she was extremely lucky with that. She had known it to be different for many other new mothers.
"You certainly chose an interesting time to come meet me, little guy. Couldn't you have picked that better?" She dared speak. Soft and silent. So only he could hear her. Wasting no time, she cut the chord that tied him and bound it with a piece of string she had.
She rubbed him dry as best as she could with a small towel she kept on her at all times, then stroked him softly through his black hair. Satisfied with that, she leaned in and looked down at the... damage.
The red light of bots weren't the only red thing she saw, reflected in the concrete. She had been bleeding indeed.
Not good.
It seemed to have stopped, and she knew that these amounts weren't likely enough to be immediately life threatening. But she understood it had been enough to make her feel lightheaded as she was. Rob her of her energy to do pretty much anything anymore. And could still potentially get worse if she did too much.
She pulled a dark cloak she had with her over both of them, and leaned back.
Then, she started to think about what next. And, whilst feeling the aftermath of the birth itself, it didn't at all make her feel like she was on cloud nine anymore.
There were two immediate problems with this whole situation. The first, was that she was very weak now, no matter how strong she wanted to be for this baby. Weak from blood loss. Tired and running on nothing but hormones and a remaining trace of adrenaline from being on watch so long. Having no food on her, as she had to leave that behind in her escape. If they were both attacked at any point, with whatever creatures were outside still, and who knew which were coming after them, she would want to try and fight. But she knew she would have no chance of saving him like this. And a death by any of those beasts, scared and alone and not understanding, wasn't what she wanted for him. He did not deserve that. Even less deserved, was the chance for those pink bastards to turn him into a zombie to do their bidding.
The second problem, was that, if her strength wouldn't come back enough with the way things were going... Without food, and having lost so much blood already, which could still get worse, she knew she could soon fall away into darkness, and become unconscious. Then he would starve here, with no one there for him. No one to save him.
And then, in the back of her mind, in a very dark place she didn't want to ever go, she found a third problem.
If she lived. Somehow. And if this child would cry, no matter where she went, if she could escape this place at all... He would give her location away and she wouldn't be able to take the search for protection in a cautious manner. She would have to fight way more than necessary, with way more risks than necessary for survival for either of them. Especially for she was alone. She could already hear the chaos of the beasts outside again. Loud and clear. The dogs from below were climbing up. They would come back. They always came back to try and find her. It was how she had lost her companions in travel. So many friends.
All things considered, it was risk, after risk, after risk. And with costs sky high. How was that fair? So she made a decision she had never thought she would.
She pulled him as close to her fully clothed chest as she could, and held him tight as she cuddled and kissed him, sharing her warmth. The only reassurance she could give him here. She could barely even hold onto him, with the way her arms were threatening to give out. If this was what she chose, she would have to do it now.
"I'm sorry, little one. It will be better for you."
The baby didn't make a single noise too much. Only small breaths, and tiny fingers trying to feel and grab whichever they could.
Casey could feel tears prickling, but kept her cool.
She held the pointy knife she had against his jugular vein. Tried not to watch. She knew how to do this. She had given such mercy to animals aplenty before. Even some zombies. Quick and in one go, there was no struggle, and no pain at all. This knife was sharp.
She did feel confident about this.
But that was, until she didn't.
Because her hands started shaking and she felt super dizzy as she tried to force herself to act. More than she had prior.
She threw the knife away as hard as she could before she could change her mind again, letting the conflicted side take over.
For a second, not caring about the monsters hearing.
“No...”
"No, I won't let you go that easy. You will live, you hear me?! You have so many wonderful people to meet yet. So many things you will do in this life of yours. Don't you dare disappoint me, little man! Don't you dare die just yet."
She pulled him in tight, and cried silent tears of love she felt for him and him alone. Because damnit all, did she love this child.
It was against her better knowledge. Against every bit of ratio she had had, to make this decision in the first place.
She knew it was not wise to let him live. The odds were so low he'd live.
Turned out though, her motherly instincts were much stronger than that. The fighter side of her, that never wanted to give up.
For a while, she just held him close to her. Lived through the remaining cramps, necessary to get rid of the afterbirth. The child had fallen asleep in her arms, only murmuring on occasion. And Casey tried. Tried hard to stay awake. To think about what next, and if there even was one.
But it was so cold, with the now smashed open window. It was only getting harder to think.
And, although she knew she wasn't bleeding too much anymore, she knew she had lost enough blood for her body to refuse to listen to most her commands. Even the grip of her arms was weak. So, so weak. She just barely managed to pull her cloak over both of them. Shivering.
She had hardly noticed the red lights weren’t so prevalent anymore. She thought she had heard screeching of Krang dogs outside, but as the sounds of them grew closer, she had her gaze on that door again. She heard thumping, and slamming. Shrieks of defeat of those dogs. She reached for the modified hockey stick, and pulled the cloak tight over both of them.
Watching.
Her gaze was fierce, as the door was slammed open, right through everything she had used to keep it shut. Revealing a figure standing fiercely in the dust.
Quickly revealing itself to be... Leonardo.
Just him.
There was immediate recognition from his side. Him, she could only just make out. But when she did, she felt some clarity come right back to her.
Leo scanned the room for any threats, then judged the situation Casey was in. Seeing the red on the floor. Seeing her crouched down, shivering.
At first, he thought she was merely injured badly. A bad gash or a broken bone perhaps. Hiding in here because of that. All alone.
Then, he saw two curious eyes open as a dark haired head rose somewhat above the cloak.
"Holy shit, Cassandra... I didn't know you were..."
"Trust me... We hadn't exactly planned this. His father's gone. A good man, Leo. Strong, kind and honest. This kid will be good. I was lucky to have known the man when I did."
Leo listened to her as he approached her.
"It just happened, didn't it? You climbed all the way up here... Those are some serious gaps you breached."
"Wasn't easy, being very pregnant and all." She joked.
She had barely managed to catch herself on the other side of the stairs several times. Kicks and cramps hadn't made that easier.
She saw his worried look.
"I know what you're thinking. It's stopped bleeding. Just waiting for everything to be done with. Shouldn't be long. He's okay, Leo."
Leo wasn't all that convinced of her being okay.
"Casey, I can’t do much for you. But you must eat something. This much blood loss isn't good on anyone. You'll need some strength back."
"Hmn. Yeah. Sounds nice."
As Leo reached to grab her something, Casey made a remark.
"How... How did you even know I was here?"
"Your signal. I picked it up as I was near, on patrol. There's lots of Krang activity going on here these days and I wanted to find out just how far they stretched. Then I saw your signal appear. I sent the others out back to camp, so I could go look for you."
"No, Blue, HOW?"
"Eheh..." He said as he scratched his head. "Donnie."
"Of course..."
Of course it had been him...
And was she glad for the purple masked scientist to insist on such an invasion of privacy, apparently. When had he even done that? An impressively strong signal, to be able to last that long whilst she was out there in no man's land fighting. It had been several years since she'd seen them.
"I know you were surrounded by all those things. I fought them all off, so we are safe here for now. You can rest some, if you need to. Here, eat this."
She took the piece of bread he handed to her gladly, and tried to sit up.
"How far is base, Blue? Leo... How far?"
He can see it on her. Hear it in her voice. Just how tired she is.
He sighs.
"Four days. At best. On foot."
"... And I take it you can't portal us out of here, huh? You would have done so, or called up the others. But you're alone here, just like me."
He remains silent for a while.
"Unfortunately, I cannot. I can call to base, Casey. If the others come to us, they may be able to drive us the last miles."
"That's good."
"So, how did everything go? Sorry if that's... a little invasive to ask. I worry, you know."
She did feel better with food in her stomach, and a distraction. It even alleviated some of the cramping. Maybe she was already done, just hadn't noticed yet.
"Birth was... Very intense. You have no idea. We were so lucky, both of us. Lucky everything went right."
Leo smiled and watched at the curious eyes staring back at him.
"Then he was here, finally, and I kinda blacked out... And then..."
Leo saw the way she stared at the side of the room. At a knife, lying against the far wall. It told him enough.
"I almost..."
"Hey, don't talk yourself down like that. He's here, and he's safe. And if it's the last thing I'll do, I'll help keep him that way. It would not have been a wrong decision, Casey, and you know that too. It would have been just as right as the one you decided to make in the end. I'm sure you thought about it good enough. I may not have seen you in awhile, but I know you."
Ratio won many times over feelings of the heart. Risk analysis was a part of choosing between life or death that came with the apocalypse. And Leo was right.
And she knew.
"Thanks, Blue."
Leo laughed a little at Casey's alternate use of his name and his nickname.
"Hang on, okay? I'll see what I can do."
She nods as Leo types in something on a system he has installed on his wrist.
"April, hey. ... Yes, I know. Yes, I'm fine. Found the signal, and found Casey. Fought off several bots and dogs surrounding her.... Wait, you're not at base?! Hold on."
He puts the communication device on speaker mode, so Cassandra can hear April as well. He thought she might feel need for another familiar voice right now. Especially a friend's.
"No, I'm not at base Leo. Had to help the returning troops you sent on for a bit and decided to go and wait you out when I sent them on their way again. I'm not far from you by now. Is Cassandra okay?"
"Yes. Well, she will be. But she has some little extra hands to keep safe, and could use some warm clothes and good food to get her back on her feet."
"What? She's with other travelers?"
"Uh... April, Cassandra is a mother now. Just happened. A healthy boy, as far as we can tell. And if we leave as soon as possible, we'll make it to you in four days at most. She's lost quite some blood and is weakened and tired, but with my help she'll be okay."
April stayed quiet.
Real quiet.
Far too quiet for just processing the fact they'd be taking in a long time friend and a baby, Leo thought.
".. Uh... April..? You there, or?"
"Leo..." April said quietly. "Do you have anything for him at all? Does he latch at all?"
Leo looked at Casey, who had turned white at the realization of what April just said. And why it was important. But for Leo, this was all a bit much to process all in one go.
Cassandra helped him out.
"Leo, I need your help feeding him."
Leo turned beet red as he understood just what she meant. And what April meant. He knew some biology, of course. But he had never seen female breasts without bikinis or bras in real life. Just some wounds he had stitched up, every now and then, that were slightly above or below them. It was still very different. He had never seen anyone actually feed a baby, let alone help someone with the whole process. Especially hands on. Especially for someone he knew... Casey saw his worry, but she snapped him out of it as best as she could.
"Please. He needs to eat. I don't have anything else to feed him him with, and I'm not strong enough to do this on my own. I can already barely hold him."
"Leo, I'm close to you. I can rush out and help... It'll be a few hours at most." April said over the comm line.
"No, I can do this, April, Casey... If he is to survive these few days at least, then we have to at least try. I will help. And April, Keep yourself and the others safe out there and return to base, alright? Get them ready for us. We'll be there in a couple days."
"How about the Krang?"
"I know a safe route back. This area was pretty crowded, but south should be okay."
"Okay, Leo. But call if you need me!"
"Yeah. Will do."
"Cassandra, many congrats! We'll catch up when you get here. Keep safe out there! I look forward to meeting you and the little guy!"
"Thanks, April. It's good hearing you again."
With that, the line closes.
"Alright, Cass. Tell me where you need me."
He was still a little red in the face, but he manned up enough to complete the task he was to do.
"Take him over, yeah, just like that."
The baby isn't happy at the loss of contact and warmth he was just known to. Complaining in small hiccups, before crying more steadily.
"I know, little guy. But you won't have to wait long." Casey says.
Leo is enthralled just by how small this human is. Such fragile life. Brown eyes, resembling those of his mother.
Hands shaking, Cassandra pulls down her sweater and bra. Reaching out for Leo to guide the baby to where she wants him.
Leo swallows, still flustered, but does as she asks.
He lowers the baby so he is with his belly flat on her chest. Cassandra guides his head to find the nipple.
Both are hyper focused on the task. Hoping he knows what to do. Hoping he does what he has to, if he is to survive.
Both sighing in relief, when he feels around, and then latches on.
Several more moments go by, of them holding their breath. Then Casey laughs, teary eyed.
"It's working, Leo. It's really working! He wants to live. Thank you. Thank you!"
Leo can't help but smile. It is such a sweet sight.
He took a responsibility out of Casey's hands, without her having to ask. He holds him steady against her, so she can just watch, and feel him.
He hands her more food, to gain her strength for the journey ahead.
"Do you have a name yet?" He asks.
"Do I? Let's see... He resembles me. Already, I can tell. That same bravery. The will to live, and to try no matter the circumstances. A fine, strong boy. So... Jack Jones?"
"Pffft. It's your choice. But might I suggest... (Especially since the number of Jacks he had known at base was already dizzying) Casey Jones... Junior?"
"That's tricky of you to dare suggest, Blue... But, you know what... it's perfect!"
Take us home whenever you're ready, Leo. We have much work to do.
And so, Leonardo carried Cassandra, and little Casey Jones Junior, off to base. A journey of several days, through a cold environment, that knew snow. Kept them both cloaked and helped her whenever she needed. Within two days, even with little food rations, Cassandra was back on her feet. Walked several miles, carrying her son in her arms, wrapped in the cloak that kept them warm in that abandoned building.
They were welcomed at base with arms wide open. Because everyone knew. Cassandra was someone special. And as she was, so would her son be.