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You sat on the couch and blew the steam from your cup of cocoa. You allowed the warmth to seep into your skin and closed your eyes to breathe in the deep scent of chocolate. It had been a long week at work and you were so glad to finally have a few days off to recover. This winter storm had been brutal and people were constantly flowing in and out of the ER with broken bones, concussions, frostbite, and hypothermia. You felt the exhaustion seep into your body.
Picking up your phone you went to your favorite chat to check in with your friends. They had all been abnormally silent the last few days and with your schedule you began to worry that something had happened.
Sent (9:32 PM):
Everything OK Fam? It’s been a little too quiet.
April (9:33 PM):
You read my mind. Vern and I have been busy covering this storm so I haven’t been able to check in and things have been too quiet.
Casey (9:33 PM):
Likewise. The city that doesn’t sleep has been causing me to not get any. And Mikey is never this quiet.
You sipped your cocoa and waited for the telltale dots to appear showing that a response was forthcoming, but your screen went dark. Finishing your drink, you washed your mug and prepped your coffee pot to brew in the morning. Hearing the ding from the living room, you quickly returned to your spot on the couch.
Mikey (9:45 PM):
rude
Casey (9:47 PM):
Is that all you’ve got? Rude??
Mikey (9:59 PM):
yup
Your concern, which had been steadily growing as the minutes passed in between responses, now jumped into overdrive. You immediately dialed your top contact. You heard when he picked up, but there was no response.
“Leo…Leo are you there?”
You could hear him breathing and your heart went into overdrive. Something was wrong.
“Leo…is everything OK?”
Jumping up you headed to your room and began throwing on clothes. He must have heard you struggling to get your boots on.
“Don’t…don’t come down,” he whispered.
“Why? Why shouldn’t I come down when something is obviously wrong?”
You didn’t stop your furious pace of getting dressed.
“Please…don’t,” he whispered. “It’s too…cold…you’ll get…sick.”
“Too cold? Leo what are you talking about? Donnie has a heating system that rivals the best buildings in Manhattan. What’s going on?”
“Stopped working…Donnie’s been too cold to reboot it…our bodies…we’re going into…brum…brumation.”
“Brumation?” You asked, putting him on speaker and texting April, Casey, and Vern. April had the same idea as you and had called Donnie.
April (10:05 PM):
The guys are going into hibernation mode. Their bodies are shutting down because of the cold.
Sent (10:05 PM):
Talking to Leo now and he just confirmed. We’ve got to get them out of the sewer and warmed up.
“My body…is shutting down…because of the cold. Hi…hibernate,” he stammered. You could hear the effort he was making to try and keep the conversation going.
April (10:05 PM):
Time to tag team and claim a turtle. Dibs on Donnie. He’s working on getting everyone up and moving now.
Sent (10:05 PM):
I’ll take Leo. Splinter always comes with him.
Casey (10:05 PM):
Raph
“Leo, listen to me,” you could hear him groaning as Donnie rambled about moving. “You’ve got to move. Come to me. Stay with me until you guys recover and can get your system fixed.”
“We…we won’t all fit…in your apartment,” he slurred.
“Donnie is going to April’s. Casey said Raph could come to him. That means Mikey goes to Vern’s. Now get Splinter and get to me. Do you hear me?”
“We’ll…we’ll be…fi..fine.”
“Leo. If you don’t get your shell moving right now, then I am coming down there and moving you all into that giant dump truck and moving you myself. And you know I’ll do it.”
There was a beat of silence as he registered your words, then a resigned sigh. You could hear Donnie rousing everyone, he didn’t sound as bad. Raph was slurring like Leo and Mikey was grumpy, but talking.
Vern (10:10 PM):
Wait! Why do I get stuck with the messy one?
“See you soon,” he whispered and the line went dead.
Sent (10:11 PM):
Snooze ya lose Vern.
Now this is what I need everyone to do. Get towels and a change of the guy’s clothes and throw them in your dryer. When they get there you’re going to have to help massage warmth back into them so take the towels and rub their arms, legs, hands, and feet. Once they’re warmed up, have them change clothes into the heated ones.
Have hot tea, cocoa, or coffee ready. Or ramen. If they’ve been suffering as long as they’ve been silent, we may be dealing with more than just hypothermia. Text me immediately when they arrive.
April (10:11 PM):
On it
Casey (10:11 PM):
✅
Vern (10:11 PM):
I am not rubbing him.
April (10:11 PM):
🔪
Vern (10:11 PM):
Fine 😒
You jumped into action and started a kettle boiling and the coffee pot brewing. Grabbing all your towels, you threw them into your mini dryer and started the fluff cycle to warm them up. You found the stash of clothes the guys kept at each of your apartments and grabbed a pair of cargos and a hoodie, throwing those in the dryer as well. Shoving your coffee table out of the way, you opened your sofa bed and plugged in your heated blanket setting it to high. Now came the waiting…your least favorite thing. While you waited you looked up brumation and tried to educate yourself on what the guys were experiencing. The problem was you didn’t know how it would affect a mutated humanoid version of the species.
Vern (10:45 PM):
Mike and Splinter are here. They’re dropping Leo off next.
Sent (10:45 PM):
Wait, Splinter is with Mikey?? Why? He always comes with Leo.
Splinter (10:45 PM):
My dear, while I appreciate your hospitality in offering me a place to stay in your home, I am most concerned about why my youngest is referred to as “the messy one”. So I have come to ensure he does not take advantage of Vern’s gracious hospitality.
Mikey (10:45 PM):
Donnie fixed it! It wasn’t my fault!
Vern (10:45 PM):
You broke my TV and put a hole in the drywall.
Splinter (10:46 PM):
While I would have been pleased to join my eldest as his situation is the most dire, Michelangelo required my full attention. Please give him your expertise as he is the closest to entering his brumation.
Mikey (10:46 PM):
Which is a total brummer. 😜
Shaking your head, you figured Mikey must be feeling better if he was able to crack jokes and argue, but it left you wondering why Leo was in worse condition. You changed back into your flannel pajamas and began pacing while watching out the window.
Donnie (11:20 PM):
Incoming. Have the balcony open.
Running to the door, you opened your balcony and went back to grab all the towels from the dryer. Throwing them on your sofa bed, you grabbed the biggest, fluffiest towel and braced for impact. A few seconds later your balcony shuddered with the thud of their landing. Raph and Donnie had Leo braced between them and he was clearly unconscious.
They lowered him into the nest of warmth you had created and you immediately covered his shell and began rubbing warmth back into his body. Raph and Donnie grabbed towels and began to rub his arms and legs trying to bring him back to consciousness.
“He passed out about twenty minutes ago. His body just couldn’t take it anymore,” Raph said as he rubbed Leo’s feet roughly.
“I don’t understand, why is he so much worse than you guys?” You asked, trying to stay calm, but hearing the panic rise in your voice.
“Leo takes his eldest title seriously. When we made our turtle pile to stay warm he stayed on the outside and kept the rest of us insulated with the blankets,” Donnie said while rubbing his arms.
“Turtle pile?” You questioned.
“Something we did as kids to keep warm in the winter. Get in a big ole’ pile on the floor, lotta blankets and pillows and insulate. It ain’t always fun, especially when Mikey has gas, but it does the job,” Raph answered gruffly.
“Except this time, we weren’t expecting my heating system to go out or the deep freeze that settled in the sewers. We really were getting to a critical point when you called,” Donnie added.
Hearing a groan beneath you, you picked up a fresh towel, still warm, and began massaging Leo’s cheeks and head.
“Leo,” you whispered. “Leo, come back to us.”
His eye cracked open and you could see the glassiness in his gaze. He slurred out your name and his lids slid closed.
“I’m going to go and turn on my shower and get the hot water running. Can you guys get him into the bathroom and undressed?” You asked jumping up and already moving.
“Uhhhh, I don’t know how comfortable Leo would be with being undressed around you,” Donnie stammered.
“Donatello, I’m a nurse. Naked is nothing new. Now get him undressed and get him in here. I’ll step out and let you two handle him if it makes you feel better, but I’m telling you to move it. Now,” you commanded and didn’t wait for them to argue.
Walking quickly into your bathroom you were once again thankful that your super had sprung for large showers in each of the units. Nice bathrooms meant happy tenants. Jacking the water to the hottest setting you started the shower and watched as the bathroom filled up with steam. The two brothers hobbled after you. They had wrapped one of the towels around Leo’s waist and you rolled your eyes as you walked out and left them to warm up their brother. Grabbing the remaining towels from the nest you once more tossed them into the dryer to fluff. You took out the change of clothes and set them, without looking, into the open doorway of the bathroom calling out that they were there. Going into the kitchen you took the kettle of hot water and added it to three ramen cups, waiting for it to work it’s magic.
A few minutes later you heard the sounds of arguing and knew that Leo must be conscious. His voice was gravely and low, slurred and raspy. The heavy shuffling of feet sounded down the hall as the brothers slowly made their way to your kitchen. You had never seen Leo look so slack and weak. He was the steadfast one. The wall. The mountain that didn’t move. It was jarring.
“Eat up boys,” you said trying to put forth a positive attitude so they couldn’t see you stressing. “This will warm you up from the inside out.”
Raph and Donnie helped ease Leo into one of the seats at the bar and then took a seat and began slurping their noodles and broth quickly. Leo picked up his cup and you noticed the way it quaked in his grip. Walking around the counter you grabbed his wrist and offered support as you helped bring it to his mouth gently. His eyes were so tired, but the gratefulness that shone from them was undeniable.
His brothers finished quickly and you silently nodded to the coffee pot on the counter. Donnie may or may not have shoved Raphael out of the way to get to it, causing you to sputter out a giggle and check it quickly when the red brute cut his eyes at you. Picking up the napkin you dabbed at Leo’s mouth when you noticed he needed some help after finishing his noodle cup. He closed his eyes as if in pain and your hand reached out to cup his cheek.
“Leo,” you asked, waiting until he opened his eyes and made contact with yours. “What do you need?”
“Tired,” he slurred.
“Guys, can you give me a hand and help get him into the sofa bed?” You questioned.
The four of you shuffled slowly over the couch and they carefully lowered Leo into the nest of pillows and blankets you had crafted. He groaned lowly when the heated blanket covered his cold scales. Donnie and Raph stood there unsure of what to do and you knew it was time to take over the situation.
“Alright, leave him to me. You two need to get a move on and out of this cold for good. I’ll text April and Casey and let them know you’re coming,” you said pulling out your phone and texting. “And Raph, remember what happened last time and don’t get so loud over a hockey game.”
“It was one time and no one lets me forget it,” he groused.
“Everyone on the floor thought you two were murdering each other and the NYPD received ten separate, simultaneous calls,” Donnie deadpanned. “You just better be glad it was Vincent who realized what was happening and showed up.”
“And you,” you said turning to Donnie and pinning him with a stern look. “You’ve got the whole weekend just you and April and one hundred reasons to snuggle. Make your move Genius, I’m tired of the pining out of both of you.”
Donnie squawked as Raph’s hearty laugh filled the apartment. “She’s got ya there Don. Come on lover boy, let’s hit the streets.”
The two hulking terrapins made their way to your balcony before turning and offering their own advice.
“Since you’re in the mood to offer relationship advice, might I suggest that you take a page from your own book and make a move now that you have the opportunity,” Donnie smirked, having regained himself.
“Excuse me?!” You whisper yelled.
“You heard him Doc. We seen how YOU pine after Fearless. What you don’t see is how he pines for you. So while you got him at your mercy, do something about it and go for a climb,” Raph laughed.
“He does not pine…does he?” You asked.
“Like a tree,” Raph confirmed, then glanced over your shoulder to where Leo was laying. Turning rapidly to make sure none of your conversation was being overheard you were pleased to see that Leo was still out cold under the mound of blankets. “Just give it a shot shorty. We want to make you a permanent part of the family tree if ya know what I mean.”
You took a swipe at him for that, but he danced away from your hit with a laugh as he and Donnie leapt off into the night.
A few moments after the occupancy in your apartment went from four to two the quiet breathing of Leonardo drew you back to his side. He was still slightly shivering under the blankets so you went to the dryer and took out the towels you had been spinning since he had gotten into the shower. You lifted the blanket back and tucked them in close, lining his body with them in an outline before once more covering him with the heated blanket. Grabbing the duvet off of your bed, you added an extra layer and finally felt satisfied that he was warm enough.
Grabbing a book from your TBR stack and pouring a cup of tea to steep, you grabbed your wool blanket and settled down on top of the duvet to read while keeping watch on your friend. Every now and then you would reach your hand out and brush it across his face which you had left peeking out of the mountain. April and Casey had text the arrival of their company and everything finally began to catch up with you. These past few weeks at work with no break had been a LOT and mentally you were stretched way too thin. Seeing your best friend at his weakest had been your breaking point…and yet, you couldn’t break. You had to be the strong one for once.
You closed your eyes and took some calming breaths as Leo had taught you to do years ago when things became too much. But behind your lids all you could see was the failing strength of the strongest man you knew. You didn’t realize you were crying until cold skin connected with your cheek and with a gasp you opened your eyes. Leo had extended his arm from the veritable blanket fort you had built around him and was wiping the tears from your cheeks. His hands still felt way too cold.
“Don’t…cry,” he rasped. “I’ll be…OK.”
“Leo,” you hiccuped. “What can I do?”
“Hold,” he whispered and lifted the edge of the blanket.
Face flushing bright red you grasped what he was suggesting and blinked rapidly. Wiping your cheeks, you stood quickly.
“OK, I will, just, uh, let me go to the bathroom really quick and I’ll be right back,” you stuttered as he lowered the blanket and closed his eyes.
Walking to the bathroom you went through your pre-bed routine and mentally prepared yourself for what he was asking. He wanted to hold you. Close. All night. Feeling your face flame, you splashed some cold water on your cheeks and began brushing your teeth and rationalizing his behavior. He was cold, he needed warmth. Body heat was the best way to heat and maintain his body temperature. Never mind that it would send yours to the surface of the sun. You had only been dreaming of being held in his arms like this for literal years. Tampering down the fluttering of your heart and putting on your rational brain you calmed yourself down and made your way back to the living room.
Hearing you enter, you saw Leo once more raise a cover of the blanket back. Throwing your wool blanket over the top and pulling out some of the towels, you slid under the covers and into the circle of his arms as he lowered the blanket. You weren’t sure what to do or where to place your hands. Sure you had been close to Leonardo before, hugged plenty of times, but you had never been held. He solved the problem for you, much to your embarrassment and surprise. Pulling your body into his, he shimmied down and buried his face into your neck, his breath hot against your skin. His hands skimmed under your shirt and up your back in a move that had you squeak with surprise as he pulled your legs between his own. binding you to him. Within moments his breathing went slack and the weight around you became heavy and he finally began to warm up.
The indescribable warmth of being held so tightly by the one who held your heart and feeling him breathing in your arms finally coaxed your eyes to close and sleep to find you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You felt like you were on fire and couldn’t breathe when consciousness finally returned. There was a weight pressing your body down and you could feel sweat running down your back and legs. In a word, you felt overheated and gross.
Opening your eyes you were met with the sight of sunlight streaming in through your windows and Leo pressing you down into the bedding. He had somehow managed to cocoon you within the nest. Little puffs of air warmed your neck in ways you couldn’t allow your brain to focus on if you wanted any of your emotions to stay in check. His hands had drifted up the back of your shirt and your brain cringed at the thought of him realizing how sweaty you were. Flannel pajamas and the turtle nest you had built had backfired on you personally.
Easing your legs from between Leo’s, you grabbed his arms and began the process of untangling your two bodies. Leo was quite the cuddle bug when given the opportunity it seemed. You weren’t as stealthy as you had hoped however. Leo groaned and gripped you more tightly to him, burying his face into your neck. Rolling your eyes to the ceiling you searched for what little self control you had left and felt it evaporate the moment his hot mouth began leaving snuffling kisses up the column of your throat.
“Leo…” you gasped, pulling at his arms. “Leo…you need to wake up!”
“And what makes you think I’m not,” he grumbled into your skin as his mouth went back to it’s previous task.
At a loss you could only blink rapidly as the heat under the covers began building up to an inferno internally. What was he doing? Was he actually awake? Were you dreaming?
“Leo, please, I don’t,” pausing to gasp as he delivered a hot bite to your throat, “I don’t understand.”
Lifting his head from your throat he looked down into your heated face and smirked. “What’s not to understand? I’m taking Raph and Donnie’s advice and making a move.”
“You heard all of that?!”
“My brother’s are many things, subtle isn’t one of them, and I’ve finally got you right where I want you,” he said as he returned to your neck, his hands securing themselves to your heated waist.
“Where’s that?” You gasped as he bit down on a particularly tender spot.
“Under me,” he growled.
It would be a long time before either of you moved from the sofa bed, far too caught up in the building fire you created between you. When you finally emerged, sated and sore you realized you both had a whole series of texts from the group chat you had missed. You quickly noted that Donnie and April’s texts were also missing from the conversation leaving you to smirk as Leo moved around behind you in the kitchen preparing a recovery snack. Hearing you giggle as you caught up on the conversation, he looked over your shoulder and peeled back the corner of your bathrobe to lave your shoulder in kisses.
“What’s so funny love?” He asked.
“I think we weren’t the only ones to make a move,” you said, turning your head and kissing him soundly.
“Did Donnie finally get out of his shell and into April’s?” Leo laughed, kissing you on the nose before returning to his snack prep.
“I think the lack of conversation from them both is telling. Think they’ll ever confirm it?” You asked, pouring you both a cup of coffee and getting down a bottle of Advil.
“If I know Don, he’s not going to shut up about it,” Leo said smiling as he took his cup from you and wrapped his arm around your waist and pulling you in to his plastron. “I know I plan to sing it from the rooftops first chance I get.”
“Really?” You asked, feeling your heart go mushy.
“Really,” he confirmed. Pulling out his phone, he angled it to frame the two of you and snapped a picture before sending it out in the chat with the phrase ‘Mission Accomplished.’ When the rapid fire texts from Michelangelo started you couldn’t help the giggles that erupted over his excitement, but it was Splinter’s that had both you and Leo spitting coffee out as you choked.
Splinter (8:37 AM):
Congratulations are in order my Son. She is a jewel. Please note, that I would very much enjoy a few grandchildren to add to our den.
Staring at the conversation and trying to recover from the coffee going down wrong, you could only blink stupidly. It seems, however, that Leo recovered much faster.
“Well, you heard him,” he said happily as he picked you up and threw you over his shoulder before going back to the nest. It would be awhile before either of your responded to the storm of incoming messages.