Leatherhead sighed as he wrote the last few notes of the day on his clipboard. Today had been especially long at the clinic, as a nasty bout of the flu had ripped its way through the city.

He had been sneezed on by no less than four children, had to hold down a screaming four-year-old who refused to take her medicine, and one child had even bitten his finger when he had moved to give the toddler his flu-shot.

Leatherhead couldn't help but chuckle. It was one of the few times thick reptilian skin had come in handy.

Finishing the last of his notes he placed the pen back on his desk as he made rounds to begin cleaning the small clinic.

Normally he and April would make short work of this, but much to his worry, April had complained of feeling "under the weather" and he had insisted she go home and rest. And while he was glad that she didn't argue with him, he couldn't help but be a bit saddened. It was his birthday after all, and he had been looking forward to spending it with the beautiful redhead once they got home.

Brushing aside his disappointment, the large reptile quickly wiped down the counters before starting the tedious task of sterilizing the other medical equipment. While large hospitals had staff to do menial tasks such as these, he took pride in the labor. He and April had started the small clinic together in the hopes of helping low income families in the heart of New York, pooling their resources and medical knowledge.

It was hard work, but truly, Leatherhead had never been happier. Humming quietly to himself, he realized that he had in fact sterilized and put away the last of the equipment, and was finally ready to head home.

Wearily, Leatherhead hung his white lab coat on the hook before locking up. Shrugging his dark jacket over his scrubs, Leatherhead hefted his bag onto his shoulder.

Making his way across the street, Leatherhead headed towards the massive black truck that was big enough to take up nearly two parking spaces. In all honesty it felt a bit ostentatious to him, but it had been the only vehicle that could house his gargantuan form.

Leatherhead tossed his bag into the passenger seat and pulled out his phone. Hopefully April was feeling better by the time he got home. He was worried when she didn't even put up a fight when he told her that she should go home.

Holding the phone to his ear he listened to the muted ringing.

"Hello?"

"Hello April," he rumbled. "Are you feeling any better?"

"Hey Hon, yeah I'm feeling loads better. Are you on your way home?"

Leatherhead smiled at his girlfriend's chipper voice. How a hulking crocodile such as himself could have landed such an amazing woman he couldn't hazard a guess.

"Yes, I am heading home now. What would you like for me to pick up for dinner?"

There was a muffled rustle as April shifted the phone.

"Oh don't pick anything up! Just come on home!"

The croc frowned.

"You are not cooking tonight my love," he said. "You aren't feeling well and the last thing you need to be doing is fixing dinner."

April laughed lightly on the other end of the line.

"Ok ok grumpy croc I won't cook," she said. "But come on home. We have leftovers."

Leatherhead smiled.

"Alright. I will be home in about 15 minutes," he said. "Love you."

"Love you too," April said happily, hanging up.

Placing his phone back in his bag, Leatherhead slugged his way through New York traffic, eager to get home and relax.

…..

There was no parking! Leatherhead had circled his block at least three times like a vulture and each time there had been no space for his monstrosity of a vehicle. Where had all these cars come from? They were not here this morning when he had left, and they most certainly hadn't been there yesterday.

Leatherhead forced his clenched hands to loosen. He couldn't really afford to replace a bent steering wheel again. A flash of taillights caught his attention, swiftly angling his truck into position.

As he squeezed his giant car into the space (barely an inch to spare on either side), Leatherhead glanced up to his apartment window, surprised to see lights on in nearly every room. He would have thought April would be resting. Maybe she fell asleep while waiting for him?

The cab of the truck creaked as the massive croc stepped out to the curb. Gathering his bag, and coat, Leatherhead made his way up the steps to his apartment. The elevator was still broken, for once not his fault, so he began the slow trudge up four flights of stairs.

By the time he finally reached his door, he wanted nothing more than to collapse onto the couch and sleep for the next 48 hours. Of course once he opened the door, he realized that would be the absolute last thing he would be able to do.

"HAPPY BIRTHDAY BRO!"

Leatherhead barely had enough sense to catch the barreling sea-green cannonball as it crashed into him. Blinking down into bright blue eyes, Leatherhead couldn't help but smile, albeit confusedly.

"Thank you Michelangelo," Leatherhead said, as the young turtle tried to crush him in a bear hug.

"Can't ya let tha guy walk in tha door first?"

Leatherhead's gaze snapped up at the heavy Brooklyn accent. Disengaging himself from Mikey, who was doing a rather impressive imitation of a barnacle, Leatherhead turned to a dark emerald turtle leaning in the hallway. Reaching out his hand, the two shook and the second turtle clapped him on the shoulder.

"Good ta see ya LH."

"And you as well, Raphael."

"Come on man. Ya missin' yer own party."

Following the burly terrapin, Leatherhead could only be more confused. What party?

Turning the corner Leatherhead gasped.

"SURPRISE!"

There in his living room was a conglomeration of friends, with a beaming April O'Neil holding up an enormous vanilla cake.

A toothy grin made its way onto his face as he set down his coat and bag and made his way into the throng of people.

Placing a light kiss on April's cheek the croc couldn't help but tease.

"I see you've been resting."

April giggled as she set down the cake to be cut.

"I'm sorry I had to bail on you this afternoon hun," she said. "But tracking down everyone and coordinating schedules takes at least half a day."

"I'm glad you did," he smiled, passing out the pieces of cake to the crowd.

As the cake was finished being handed out, Leatherhead found himself making mass introductions, often including three or four people in the same breath.

"Michelangelo, please meet Leonardo and Donatello," he said graciously. "Leonardo, Donatello, this is one of my oldest friends, Michelangelo."

"Aw dude just call me Mikey!" the small terrapin grinned, enthusiastically shaking hands with Leo and Donnie. "LH didn't mention he knew other turtles!"

Leo smiled as Mikey nearly shook his arm out of his socket.

"Call me Leo," he said. "How long have you known Leatherhead?"

"Since we were eggs!"

Don blinked.

"You guys aren't…related are you?" he asked, his confusion clearly showing in the furrow of his brow.

Leatherhead quickly intervened. Knowing Mikey, he would milk that storyline for all its worth.

"Michelangelo and I grew up together in the same town," he explained. "However we do not share biological relations."

"Brother from another mother dude!" Mikey chirped happily.

"There's no way a pipsqueak like you could be related to LH," Raph joked as he joined the group, hooking his arm around Mikey in a loose headlock.

"Let go Incredible Bulk!" Mikey struggled to escape from the burly turtle's arm.

Growling low at the younger turtle, Raph brought his other arm around to give Mikey a noogie.

"LH! Help me!" Mikey yelped. "He's squishing my brain!"

Sighing, LH grabbed Raph by the lip of his shell and lifted the big turtle right off the ground.

Feeling his feet in open air, Raph squawked and dropped Mikey, flailing his legs futilely.

"Think you can behave?" LH asked, grinning at his brawny friend.

"Ya ain't a bouncer any more ya walking bicep!" Raph cried indignantly. "Put me down!"

Chuckling to himself, Leatherhead gave Raph a little shake.

"I may not be a bouncer any more, but I still will break up rowdy party goers."

Leo quirked an eyebrow at the giant croc.

"You were a bouncer?"

"Shoulda seen'm at the Purple Dragon," Raph answered as his feet finally touched the ground. "Guy cleaned house almost every night."

Donnie's eyes grew round. Knowing what he did about the large crocodile, he could hardly believe him capable of violence.

"What made you decide to be a bouncer?" Don asked his curiosity piqued.

"He didn't," Mikey piped up. "He got recruited!"

Leatherhead pinched between his eyes. While what Mikey said wasn't exactly wrong, it was still a bit vague.

Donnie leaned forward with keen interest. This was certainly a new side to his friend he had never heard about before.

"I was asked to be a bouncer at the Purple Dragon for a few years," Leatherhead said.

Leo and Donnie waited expectantly, but Leatherhead was more than wiling to end his account at that.

"Aw come on bro!" Mikey whined. "You can't just leave it at that. Start at the beginning!"

LH sighed heavily. When Mikey meant the beginning…he really meant the beginning. Starting with the day his egg was laid.

"Where should I start then Michelangelo?" Leatherhead asked indulgently. His friend may be slightly annoying, but truthfully, Leatherhead had never been able to deny his dear friend anything.

"Well how about what you were doing before you got asked?" Mikey said. "Now that was funny to watch."

Leatherhead looked to the ceiling and groaned. What he had been doing before he was a bouncer…of course Mikey would bring that up.