49Hello! Thanks again for the reviews! I will thank everyone properly later- this one is a bit long. I hope I don't disappoint. Oh, and I'm supposed to tell you the following: TMNT belongs to Mirage, who would NEVER own something like Mew Mew Power, Winx Club, or the soon-to-be unleashed upon us BRATZ! As you can tell, I'm posting this during 4Kids' Sneak Peak Party- God help me- so I can catch a glimpse of the coming season of TMNT! Who, did I tell you, are owned solely by Mirage?
Day Three: Early morning, before others are out of bed.
Mike: Leo's rehab began the third morning, and he didn't seem excited about the program.
Don: Of course, he should have been grateful that Master Splinter was allowing this to go on in the first place. During the night, Fearless Leader had finally dodged his guards and escaped the Lair.
Leo can not believe his luck! He has actually made it out the front door without waking Casey, who is sleeping in his room on a borrowed cot, and April, who is on the sofa.
"And now, to check that alarm and see if anyone's been around," he says to himself, going as quickly as his back allows.
In spite of his injured back, he is able to get to the outer perimeter and the alarm in question in relatively good time. He clicks on the flashlight he's brought with him, keeping it low to the ground in order to check for any signs.
He freezes as the light reveals to him two familiar, furry feet.
Gulp.
"I suppose you have an excellent explanation for being out here, Leonardo."
Raph: Splinter was angry! He's not the type to yell, but he woke us all up with the lecture he was giving Leo once he was back in bed. But he still allowed Leo up in the morning to begin his rehab, though, as Mikey said, our brother wasn't thrilled at all with what Casey had planned.
"Now, Leo, this first exercise is very simple but it will help your lower back flexibility." Casey says, after he has made sure Leo has warmed up ten minutes by walking with him around the main room. He lays on the floor to demonstrate. "Knee raises are the best way to start. Lie on your back with your legs extended, and then bring your left knee toward your chest and grasp it. Pull the left knee as close to your chest as the pain lets you, and hold for about 10 to 15 seconds, letting your hamstrings and lower back muscles 'unkink'. Then, return to the starting position and do the same thing with your right leg. Return to the starting position to complete one rep; we'll start with 10 reps, okay?"
"But Casey, that's so- so- easy!" Leo complains, balking at doing such a simple exercise. "Besides, my back feels a hundred percent better!" And he stands up straight and walks without wincing. "See?"
"Leo, I may not be a Ninjitsu master, but I know muscle injuries and how to heal them," Casey says. "Now lay down and just let's do this simple easy one first. Ready?"
Leo sighs, slowly lays down on the floor next to Casey, and dutifully performs ten reps, as Casey counts them off.
"Now, while we're down here, let's try some presses to strengthen your lower back. Just lie on your back with your hands behind your head. Then, tighten your stomach muscles, and press the small of your back to the floor- or whatever counts for the small of your back. I always forget about your shell. Anyway, hold the small of your whatever on the floor for about 12 seconds, return to the starting position, and relax for a few seconds. We'll perform this cycle 12 times, rest for a moment, and then follow up with 12 more 'presses'."
"Casey, come on-"
"Leo, if you would rather do this with April it's fine by me."
Leo sighs and does the presses with Casey. After that cycle is complete, Casey has him stand up.
"Okay, one more- maybe you'll be more willing to do this one," Casey says, guiding Leo to the wall. "It's called 'Warrior at the Wall', and it's good for lower back strength and flexibility- two birds with one stone. It even has all that breathing stuff Master Splinter is so fond of."
Mikey: About this time we were all up to witness Fearless Leader being ordered around by Casey. It was funny!
Raph: Not for long, though.
"First, stand up tall but relaxed with your feet at hip width; your arms should be hanging at your sides, with palms turned toward your legs," Casey directs, demonstrating and having Leo do it at the same time. "Look straight ahead, like this, facing a blank wall- we should be standing about three feet away. First, as you breathe out, bend forward from your hips and extend your arms forward until your fingertips are touching the wall. No, Leo, not the palms, just the fingertips. You should be standing so your legs are perpendicular to the floor and your arms and upper body are absolutely parallel with the ground. Then, as you breathe in, raise your left leg backward and up until it is parallel with the ground. Hold your left leg up for about eight breaths, and then repeat with the opposite leg. Repeat this several times with each leg."
Leo once again does as he is told, though he is bored with such simple exercises.
"Okay, not bad for the first official day out of bed. How's the pain? You look like you're moving okay, but be honest, how's the pain?"
"It's fine, I keep telling you both it doesn't hurt anymore," Leo lies.
Casey looks at him as if he doesn't believe him, but decides not to push the point.
"Okay. We'll stop for now. You can sit up for a while on the couch. Too much bed rest is bad for your back."
"But don't think this means you can start moving around a lot just because you've done a few exercises," April kicks in her two cents worth. "You still need to watch that head injury."
Don: So Leo went and sat on the couch like a good little turtle- but he kept his eye on April and Casey, and the rest of us. We had just gone into breakfast, when Leo thought he saw his chance.
"Now, to check the perimeters, and see if Don's mysterious 'someone or something' has been around."
He makes it to the door without drawing any attention to himself, until-
"Leonardo, I don't think this is sitting on the couch," April sternly says behind him, just before he can leave. She is bringing him his breakfast (much faster than he had expected, judging from the look on his face), and Master Splinter is with her, looking at his son with stern disapproval. "Perhaps you should stay in your room, after all. Maybe I need to ground you!"
"April, I don't even have a headache any more," Leo argues. "It's fine- I'm fine! Two days in bed and I feel like great! Honestly!"
"Leonardo, I am sure you feel better but-" Master Splinter begins, but Leo cuts him off.
"Sensei, I'm fine, really! I feel like a new turtle! Watch this," he tells Sensei and April, as Casey and the guys join them...
Raph: Yeah, he sure felt like a new turtle. For approximately twenty seconds.
... and he does three kicks, a twisting double punch jump, a front flip and a backflip- and lands on the toy car on the floor that he doesn't see-
"Leo! Leo, can you hear me?" April says.
"Wow! When did Don put all those shiny stars on the ceiling?"
Mike: Well, I thought I'd picked it up.
"Leonardo, you are sorely trying my patience!" Splinter later lectures him yet again, once his head clears and he is coherent. "Mr. Jones and Ms. O'Neal have been of enormous help to me because they bring practical advice and experience to help heal you, and yet you insist on trying to prove to everyone that you are indispensable."
"But Sensei, that's not what I meant to- I mean, sure I don't like sitting idle, but not because I think- I mean- sigh- man..."
"You will do as they say. You will do as I say. You will stop hindering all of us. You will stay in bed!"
"Yes, Master Splinter."
"Okay, rest, Leo," April says as she darkens the room. "You are going to lay quietly with cold compresses, soft music- and an armed guard".
And the last thing he sees before he closes his eyes is Casey sitting next to the door, arms folded, smiling at him.
"Man..." he mumbles, and goes to sleep.
Raph: Today was finally my day! This was gonna be great!
"Now, boys, it's time to follow the Leader!" Raph rubs his hands with glee. "Training run time!"
Raph: Of course, in my excitement, I forgot that Master Splinter had other plans.
"Not quite yet, Raphael," Splinter says, following us from Leo's room. "First you and I must inventory the supplies, inspect the upper levels, and then meditate."
"Meditate? But Sensei, when is meditation a chore?"
"When I have to force you all to do it," Splinter remarks. "But since you must know, Leonardo has been learning the art of astral projection - it is an important skill for a leader. But, if you find this beyond your abilities-"
"No, Sensei! I just- I know that I won't be able to do it like Leo, but I will do my best," he actually says, as if surrendering.
"That is all I want from any of you, my son. Donatello, Michelangelo- you need to do your chores, and then help April and Casey keep an eye on your brother until practice time. He is being willful, and it is setting back his healing."
"Yes, Sensei," they answer in chorus.
"Oh, and Michelangelo- throw that toy car away before I throw it away, along with some other of your most prized possessions."
"I've already recycled it, Sensei," Michelangelo says, telling him how he left it topside where this kid has already found it.
"Good. You are learning well, my son."
Raph: Inventory wasn't so bad, though a bit tedious. I mean, Don may think caring for the weapons is a mind-numbing job, but counting supplies comes close. Still, I managed to get it done without losing count more that three times.
"How did we end up with so many boxes of this stuff?" Raph wonders aloud, looking at the umpteenth picture of the toucan on the cereal box. As far as he knows, no one eats it. Except...
Mike: Um- for emergencies? Like if there's an earthquake and we can't get supplies...
Raph: And inspecting the upper levels for signs of intrusion or recent use by others wasn't such a chore, either, especially as I sometimes go with Leo when he's doing this. I have to admit, however, I'd hate to have to do this on a regular basis. And on top of it all, we still have training, so I'm finally seeing that Leo has less time to himself than the rest of us do. I mean, I knew it, but I didn't really KNOW it.
On their return, Raph decides that they should check the particular alarm that someone has been tampering with. This time it looks as if it is still in working order. Yet something is bothering Raph.
"What is it, my son?" Splinter questions.
"I dunno, Sensei," he replies, looking around, down the tunnel in both directions. "It's just that this alarm isn't exactly located in a spot for easy access."
"What do you mean?"
"Well, see, there's no direct entrance nearby. I mean, to get to this one, you pretty much have to pass at least seven others, and those would have gone off. So why is this one the only one being messed with?"
Raph looks down the tunnel again, thinking.
"The only way to get to it without passing the other alarms is to come from Leatherhead's place, and since Don also alarmed up his area- it just don't make sense, Sensei."
"You have observed a very important point," Splinter nods his approval. "Not only must we discover who is attempting to tamper with the alarm, but how they got here. Perhaps your brother's camera has found something?
Raph calls Don on his phone.
"Hey, Don, has your extra camera picked up anyone around here yet?"
"Nope- other than a really sweet yet silent encounter between Master Splinter and Leo," he replies, as he and Mike replay that part over and over, laughing heartily at the look on Leo's face when he sees his Master's feet.
Raph: So, besides wondering how someone could be doing this, checking that kind of stuff really wasn't much of a problem.
But the meditation...
"My son, the art of Astral Projection is not to be undertaken lightly," Splinter says. "Remember what I have already taught you."
Raph: He ran the lesson as if I were Leo, not me. I had to finally remind him of this.
"My apologies, my son. I forgot that this is your first time with this sort of activity. Very well, we begin with a basic meditation, concentrating on our breathing. After ten minutes, I will make the attempt to project a thought to you, and wait for a response. It is like having a conversation in our minds."
"How did Mikey do with this?"
Hesitation, then:
"I decided that you and Donatello would be more temperamentally suited to this particular 'chore'."
Raph: So, for several minutes I meditated- on racing across the roof tops with my brothers and Casey; perhaps running into a few handy Foot ninja just begging to have the shell kicked out of them! Or some long-over due payback to ol' Hun! That would be so sweet-"
Focus!
The sharp command in his head startled him so much he mentally turned around, and found himself floating away- it felt like- at a high speed. He felt as if trapped in rushing water, headed straight for a whirlpool, and he struggled mightily to reach the shore- and he went down the middle of the whirlpool- and Leo and Splinter were both lying at the bottom, injured or worse, and standing over them was-
"Raphael! Raphael!" Splinter slaps him hard to rouse him.
Raph finds himself lying on the floor, feeling as if he's been in a battle and lost.
The vision comes back to him sharply, and he bolts into a sitting position, alarmed.
"Shredder! Sensei, Shredder is back! He's alive! He's going to attack you and Leo! We gotta do something!"
"Raphael, my son, calm down," Splinter soothes him, and Raph finally gets himself under control. "My son, tell me what you saw."
So Raph, shaking from what he's seen, explains what he's experienced, and Splinter listens closely.
Then he thinks about what his son has gone through.
"We know that the return of Shredder is impossible," he finally says. "I believe that your vision is not literal, but a warning of some type- warning, perhaps, of a potential enemy who could become as dangerous as Shredder was. I do not believe you had a literal vision, my son. It is all right. Do not worry about it. We can consider it later. Do not worry. Let us take a few minutes to calm our spirits."
And he carefully monitors Raph's calming meditation, then dismisses him and goes to check on Leonardo.
"Everything is going smoothly, Master Splinter," April cheerfully informs him. Leo is lying on his stomach as Casey is removing the latest heat pack and helping him turn over. "I think he's finally realized that we mean business. He's been very cooperative."
"Good. But I would be on extra alert. When he is most compliant, he is usually thinking of a way to escape."
"Aww, Sensei, I'm not going to cause any more trouble," he sighs.
"I guarantee it, my son. Otherwise, I may have to resort to a most severe discipline for you. You know of what I speak." And his eyes stray to the place where Leo's katanas are resting.
Leo, following his father's gaze with his own, pales noticeably, then sighs again, looking duly chastised.
"Sensei, I promise."
Splinter nods.
"Very well, my son."
Raph, Don, and Mike join them during this time and smile at their submissive brother sympathetically.
"Don't worry, Leo, you'll be up and around in no time," Raph says. "You should make the most of this down time."
"Easy advice from someone who's planning a training run," Leo grumbles.
"Speaking of, may we go on the training run now, Sensei?" Raph asks politely.
"Yes, my son, you all have done well. Have a good run. But Raphael- be cautious! I am, I admit, vaguely concerned about that vision you had today."
Raph is about to say "No sweat, Sensei" but bites it back, bows, and promises they will be extra careful.
They head out, the echo of Leo's voice following them:
"Vision? What vision? What's going on? What vision?"
"Leonardo!" they hear three irate voices shout in unison. "Get back in bed!"