No one's POV
"Leo are you crazy? No, let me rephrase that. You're crazy!"
"You know what Raph, you're right. I am crazy. A looney, a dingbat." snapped the eldest as he carefully placed the small girl in his arms on the couch, taking care to avoid her wound. She was so frail that he was almost afraid that her body would break from his touch. "Donnie, I need a little help in here."
"What is it Leo?" Donnie appeared from his lab, his safety goggles still over his eyes.
"She needs help," he said gesturing to the sleeping girl.
"Aww she's almost as cute as me!" Mikey cooed, "Dude she's thin."
"Leo who is she?"
"She's been stabbed and she needs help."
The scientific turtle gently pressed a finger against her neck and then lifted her shirt ever so carefully to get a better look. "She'll need stitches and I have some pain meds I can give her, but we'll need to move her into my lab."
"Stand back. I'll handle it," the youngest pronounced, but a leafy green hand stopped him.
"Thanks Mikey, but I'll carry her," and Leo proceeded to lift her up bridal style. She was so light that she felt like a skeleton with skin. "If you want to be useful, grab the extra cot from the guest room, some blankets, and a pillow.
"You got it bro," and he bounded off.
"What's the matter Fearless? Don't want your new girlfriend to get cuddled to death?"
"Don't you have anything better to do Raph?" Leo shot back over his shoulder.
"Yeah, like remindin' my delusional brother of the rules that he constantly enforces, but constantly bends."
"Where was she when you found her?" Donnie asked as he retrieved the necessary supplies from the drawers marked "Wound Medics and Treatments."
"That's what I thought was really strange. She was on the very outskirts of Chinatown, not the kind of place where you'd find homeless teenagers."
"Which brings us to an even bigger question. When in your right mind did it register that it's perfectly okay to bring an unknown stranger into our lair, especially one from the worst gang area in the city?"
Leo turned to face him, after setting her on the lab table. "Gosh, well I don't know. Maybe because I decided that I couldn't leave her to be mercilessly stabbed to death Raphael! Maybe just show some compassion for a change."
"Should we do something?" Mikey asked Donnie as he walked in with the supplies for his patient, but purple-masked ninja shook his head and turned back to his work. They were more than interested in the mysterious human on the counter, but the two tense turtles standing over her made them withhold any attempt of interjection. Over the years since they were very young, the both of them had learned if small disputes such as these had broken out between the two oldest, they'd best stay out of it and let them work it out on their own unless things became incredibly violent.
"We have no idea who she is, where she's from, or even who she's working for! She could be a spy, posing as a helpless victim. Ever think of that, Oh so smart and freakin' perfect Leader?"
"She doesn't work for anyone Raph. Sure. A homeless girl cornered by the plum drunk Purple Dragons is definitely a spy of our enemies and was counting on the fact I would show up to save her."
The stubborn hothead scowled at his older brother, unwilling to let him win. "It's called Pre-tend-ing, Fearless. Every hear of it?"
Leo was slowly losing his patience."Well what did you want me to do? Just leave her?"
"Help her, yes. Take her into our home, No."
Leo snorted and angrily stomped his foot hard on the floor to emphasize his point, causing the sleeper to stir in her unconscious state, "No! Innocent or evil, I will NEVER turn my back on people who need me. You of all people should how that is," he said firmly.
"What is going on in here?!" The both of them immediately stopped arguing to face their father and bowed respectfully to him as he strode into the room.
"Sensei, Leo brought a complete stranger into the lair," Raph rapped out, childishly pointing a finger at his brother.
The rat master gave his eldest son a hard look. "Leonardo?"
Leo slowly nodded his head, fumbling for words."Yes Sensei. She's injured. I-I...was on a recon mission in Chinatown. Four Purple Dragons had her cornered and I just couldn't leave her." Picking her up once again, he tucked her up under a blanket on the cot that Mikey had brought and gingerly cradled her head as he placed a pillow under it.
Instead of chastising him as Raph had expected, he peered thoughtfully at the girl sleeping peacefully on the lab floor. "Hmm. We shall see whether she is friend or foe. Until then, we shall care for her. You made the right decision my son."
"Sensei, you can't be serious."
"Raphael! Enough!" The red-masked turtle instantly fell silent and any other argument he had left was gone.
"Yeah, have a heart Raph! She needs our help. And nothin' cured anyone better than my world-famous pizza noodle soup."
"Then make haste Michelangelo. She will need food and much of it." Their father gently caressed her arm with his paw until he locked his fingers over her bony hand and a sorrowful look grew on his face. "She has not eaten well for a long while. Whoever is responsible for this young lady has not shown her kindness. Donatello, you must tend to her wound. Leonardo, fetch water and and a clean washcloth. Raphael, you shall watch over her."
The other two stifled a laugh as their brother turned a dark shade of red. "Me? Why doesn't Leo do that? He brought her down here."
"Because you are ever so eager to defend us from this 'spy' as you call her. You shall guard her."
He groaned as he obediently sat beside the sleeping girl where his father was moments before. Presently, his older brother returned with the water and Splinter washed her face with the damp washcloth. Mikey balanced a full pot of what he called 'soup' in his hands and ladled out several scoops of it into a bowl while Leo helped her sit up. Surprisingly, she gulped down ever drop given to her until the pot was almost completely empty. Raph did nothing but stare at her without a word to anyone as Donnie carefully stitched her wound closed and then bandaged it. Leo watched her all the while as well.
"Leonardo, you must understand that this young lady is now your responsibility.
"Remember to administer a few drops of pain killer every few hours or she may wake up and tear her stitches." He nodded to his younger brother. "If ever want anyone else to take the shift, just tell me. I'll be up late anyway."
He only shook his head. "Splinter put me in charge of her. I'm staying." Never did he take his eyes off of her as Donnie retired to his room. Instead of resenting the job he'd been given, he took the opportunity to investigate the unconscious girl. After the lights had gone out in the living room, he took up the washrag, wrung it out and dabbed it around her face. She looked like she seriously needed a bath. He dared not say it out loud, but he had become slightly interested in the little intruder. Something about her seemed, beside suspicious, sad…. and lonely. Though the thought tugged at his mind, he pushed it aside and refused to let his guard down. Not when a trespasser was present in his house. It was his job as the protector to defend his family and his home. Who was to say that this homeless wench didn't pose a threat to the both of them? Leaning close to her ear, he whispered in low serious voice, "You may or may not be able to hear me, but I will tell you right now. If you ever do anything that proves dangerous to my brothers, or my sensei, the slightest sign of betrayal, I'll make you sorry that you ever even met Leo."