What Could Go Wrong?

About this story: Based on a dream I had on 6-23-2006. In my storylines of the TMNT, I'll say it happens in the late summer and early fall of 2005. In case you were wondering, I did watch the "Fast Forward" and "Back to the Sewers" seasons of the 2k3 cartoon, but I didn't like them as much as I liked the regular 2k3 series. I also watched (and liked!) the 2007 movie. I may have included most of the elements from 2k3 cartoon and 2007 movie, but possibly left out stuff from the FF and BTTS series, and instead put in my own stuff. And I'm sure you're still wondering about why I mentioned the timeline to my storyline? Well, since the TMNT started (as a comic book series by Mirage Studios) in 1984, I'm going to "assume" that in that year in my storyline, that's when the TMNT were born/hatched/mutated, so this would mean that in 2005, the TMNT would be 21 years old. Rated T (PG-13), since drinking is mentioned, and some medical descriptions (not too graphic!).

Warnings about this chapter: Some hints of gender-specific humor, drinking, and medical stuff. There's also some brotherly love, which is not meant to be slashy, but I thought I would warn anyone with extreme "slash-phobia".

Pairings: Raph/Leo


Chapter 4: In Recovery

"Raph? Raph?..."

Raph blinked as the sound of his name became clearer and the lights in his field of vision came more into focus. He found himself staring into Don's brown eyes.

"Hey, Raph, are you feeling better?" Don gave Raph's right hand a squeeze.

At first, Raph just blinked at Don. When Raph finally felt like talking, he slowly muttered, "Hey, Donnie, what happened?"

Don smiled, "Well, your appendix ruptured, and you are now recovering from surgery at the teaching hospital with some IV meds in your other arm. You're doing great, Raph."

Raph saw April peering over Don's left shoulder. "Donnie and I stayed with you the whole time. Doctor Sydney—er, Almost Doctor Sydney says you can rest and recuperate in this room. It might be easier for you to stay lying down with your head slightly reclined, like you are right now, and wait at least a few hours before you try sitting up. Are you comfortable?"

"I guess…" Raph began, "I feel kinda disoriented and sleepy. I don't think I wanna move for a while, anyway. Thanks for staying with me."

April continued, "It really wasn't a problem, since I was already awake."

Don turned to her, "I remember you were worried about getting nauseated while watching Raph's surgery, but you seemed to handle it very well."

"Yeah?" She smiled, "It was very educational for me. I've never seen a human appendix in person before, but now I've seen a mutant turtle appendix."

Don looked back at Raph, "I hope our talking isn't bothering you. We can be quieter if you'd like."

Raph made a small half-smile, "It's OK. Actually, it's kinda soothing to hear both of your voices. Like sometimes when you talk in your techno-geek mumbo-jumbo late at night, and I have no idea what you're saying, I just feel like I'm listening to a lullaby in a foreign language. And I mean that as a compliment, not as if I'm tuning you out or trying to ignore you."

"I know, Raphie," Don patted Raph's arm, "I sometimes feel like that when I hear you and Casey talking about sports. But I'm completely tuned in when you tell me about personal stuff."

There was a light knock at the door. April turned to open it a few inches before saying, "I'm sorry, no visitors, family only…and since you guys are immediate family, come on in. He's awake."

Leo walked into the room, with Mikey loosely holding onto his arm for moral support. "Hey there, Tough Guy," Leo began, "How're you doin'?"

Raph smiled up at him, "Been better. But I feel much better than I did back in the dojo, or when I first got to the hospital."

Mikey smiled at Raph from the foot of the bed, "You look great, Bro. Did you lose weight?" He winked.

Raph chuckled, "I've only been lying here, so it's hard to feel the full benefit of being a few pounds lighter without my appendix."

Don cut in, "A few ounces, actually. In fact…" He turned to retrieve something under his chair. When he returned to sitting upright, he had a closed jar in his hands about the size of a grapefruit. His hands still covered most of the glass of the jar.

"You didn't…" Leo's eyes widened.

"Well, we couldn't very well have a mutant turtle's appendix fall in the hands of strangers in the pathology lab." Don began, "If it won't freak you out, I could move my hands out of the way and let you see it."

"Unless you're afraid it'll bite you…" April giggled.

A slightly cocky smile came to Raph's face. "It was mine, so I kinda wanna see it."

"Okay," Don shrugged as he gently set the jar down on the bed so that Raph could see it without needing to move. "Cool, huh?"

"Ewww, gross…" Mikey made a disgusted face, but continued to study the jar.

Leo shivered, "That looks like a prop from some old…space-alien horror movie."

Raph seemed to study it for a while, "That's my appendix? The thing that's been giving me shell since I left Casey's place? It's only this big?" He held up his hand with about two inches of space between his index finger and thumb.

"Kinda disappointing," Don empathized, "Is it smaller than you were expecting?"

"Yeah," Raph mumbled, still studying the jar. "I thought it would be at least the size of a cantaloupe—or a bowling ball, considering how much pain it caused me."

April chuckled, "Guys sure are obsessed with size. Why don't the rest of you get yours removed, so you could compare whose is the biggest?"

The turtles all rolled their eyes and groaned, while April continued laughing.

Mikey shook his head, "I have a better idea—let's not all go under the knife, and just say Raph wins that contest. Okay?"

"I can live with that." Leo nodded. He turned back to Raph, "All I can say to you right now is how much I admire you. You're the first brother of us to undergo actual surgery at a hospital. I take for granted just how brave you are."

"Yeah, Bro," Mikey thumped himself three times with his right fist in the middle of his chest, then gun-pointed to Raph with the same hand, slightly bowing his head. "Total respect."

Raph beamed at the others, "You guys are the best brothers—and sister—ever. I don't know how I'll make it up to you for staying with me."

Donnie yawned, "Well, I'm awfully sleepy right now…" He also returned the jar under his chair.

April opened a small closet, wheeling out a folded-up cot with sheets on it, "Would you like to sleep on this, Donnie?"

"Oh, thanks, April." He stood up to help her set up the cot to Raph's right, where he was sitting when Raph woke up. "What about you? Where are you gonna sleep?"

"I'll take that recliner on the other side of the bed." She replied.

Leo wandered toward a small love seat under the window. He started removing the cushions, discovering that it had a hide-a-bed in it. "Hey, Mikey, we could share this, if you'd like."

"Okay, Leo, just try not to kick me or scream and wake me up this time." Mikey said as he climbed into bed beside his big brother.

Raph chuckled once the lights were off, "Yay! A slumber party! Can somebody sing me to sleep? Donnie?" He glanced to his right, where Don was getting under the cot's sheets.

"Huh? Oh, Raph, you know I'm not the singing type. Mikey knows more songs than I do." Don shook his head.

"I'll sing if everyone else sings with me." Mikey stated. He then started singing, and the others joined in before drifting off to sleep for the group nap, "We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine. We all live in a yellow submarine, yellow submarine, yellow submarine…"


"I'm sorry, sir," the nurse at the nurse's station explained to the stubborn visitor, "I don't know if the Hamato room is taking visitors, they barely even let the other nurses check on them. All I can do is call them and wait for someone to answer."

"Look, lady—er, ma'am, my girlfriend called me and told me that my friend had surgery. I know they'll see me." The man explained.

"Casey?" April peered around the corner. "I thought that was you harassing the nurses…"

"April! Babe!" Casey turned back to the nurse, "Oh, sorry about the trouble earlier. Thanks for helping me find the Hamato family."

"Sure, you're welcome," she turned back to her work.

Casey walked over to embrace April. "Hey, you look so cute in scrubs. Considering a career change?"

April smiled, shook her head, and playfully slapped Casey's shoulder. "I'm so glad you could make it. Come in and see him."

Casey shrugged, "Well, I really just came to see you, but since Raph is also here, I might as well say hi."

As they walked in, Leo was helping Raph sit up in bed. Seeing the grimace on Raph's face, Leo cautioned, "Well, you don't have to push yourself too hard, Raph. If it's too uncomfortable for you to sit up, you can lie back down. We'll try sitting up later."

Raph actually started smiling, "Hey, Casey's here!" He held out his right hand so Casey could slap it and hang on to it a little longer for some semblance of a secret handshake.

"So, Raph, what's this I hear about you having surgery?" Casey started, "Did you finally get a suitable brain-donor for that brain implant?"

"Ha, ha, very funny, Casey." Raph looked downward, and moved the sheets away from his right side to show off the bandages.

"Whoa, Raph, aren't you a little young to have male enhancement surgery?"

Raph laughed, "Oh, no, nothing like that. Your girlfriend said I didn't need any enhancement in that area."

"What?...!" Casey and April both looked shocked, but Casey was looking at April with a questioning look, while April was angrily glaring at Raph.

"OK, just kidding," Raph defended himself. "April has done a great job taking care of me, and helping me keep a low profile here at the hospital since I had my appendix removed. She and Donnie also stayed with me the whole time during my surgery."

Casey looked back at Raph, "Your appendix?"

"Yeah," Raph replied to Casey, but then looked at Leo, "Could you help me lay back down, again?"

Leo nodded and complied. "Take it easy, OK, Bro?" He patted Raph's chest as he tucked him under the sheet.

"Thanks, Leo," Raph smiled at Leo, who continued to pat him. Looking back at Casey, Raph explained, "I started hurting about the time I left your house last night. I was really in pain and throwing up when I got home. My bros called April so we could get into the hospital. We ran into an old friend who is in med school, she ordered a few tests, and found that my appendix ruptured. I had a surgery this morning, we had a group nap, Mikey and Donnie had class and filled in at April's shop, and Leo and April have been with me for most of the afternoon."

"It's been better now that Raph got out of surgery OK." Leo explained, "We've been watching TV, playing cards, and trying to help Raph sit up, and maybe take a bite or two. He's making progress here and there." He rubbed Raph's shoulder, while Raph smiled back at him.

Casey shrugged, "Sheesh, Raph, one minute you're out drinking with a guy, and the next thing you know, he's having his appendix taken out…"

"What?" Leo glared at Casey, then glanced at Raph, who had a "busted" look on his face.

Raph explained, "Casey and I did not go 'out drinking' last night, Leo. What happened was we were working at the baseball stadium, and Casey and I confiscated a keg from some wild, roughhousing tailgaters. After work, we took the keg back to Casey's place. It was just the two of us at Casey's place, watching movies, playing foosball, hitting the heavy bag, and having some pizza and beer. I didn't actually feel like eating or drinking much, though."

"Come to think of it, Raph," Casey began, "You barely nibbled at your pizza, and I drank a lot more than you last night. How is it you got sick to where you needed surgery, and all I got was a mild hangover?"

April cut in, "One of the things our med student doctor explained to us was that sometimes appendicitis can be idiopathic—can happen without an apparent cause. So it may not have been anything Raph had to eat or drink that caused his appendix to get infected and rupture."

"That's not so much what concerns me," Leo noted, looking at Raph, "I thought you told me you would keep a low profile when you went with Casey, but drinking alcoholic beverages may cause you to compromise that, lowering your inhibitions to where you won't be able to avoid fights."

"But I didn't drink or eat much," Raph stammered, "I know it was because I was already feeling sick, rather than because I was using the responsible restraint that my big brother instilled in me when he imparted other wisdom and values…"

"Raph, I'm not mad at you," Leo apologized to his brother's fake pouty-faced lip, "You've been punished enough, even though you haven't really done anything." He rubbed Raph's shoulder again. He stood up and looked at Casey, "Casey, could I have a word with you, in private?"

"Like where?" Casey asked, "The bathroom?"

"That'll work." Leo headed into the bathroom with Casey.

April giggled, "How many guys does it take to use the bathroom together?"

Casey played along, "Sorry, Leo, I'm all out of tampons you can borrow…"

"Whatever, Casey…" Leo laughed as they closed the door behind them. He turned to face squarely with Casey, "And the question I have for you is—why are you trying to encourage Raph to drink and party? That only leads him to make poor decisions about his health, which endangers the safety of our family."

"How do I do that, again?"

"Let me break it down for you—Raph drinks with you, something ticks him off, the alcohol shuts up his rational thinking, which leads to him getting into fights and acting dangerously without a second thought about it. This puts him at risk for injury to himself and others. Since Splinter is out of town, he can't rescue Raph once he gets in trouble. You also know that I'm not quite as understanding as Splinter, since I'm not Raph's father. And right now I'm responsible for Raph's well-being, as I am with all my brothers when Splinter isn't available…"

"Wait!" Casey interrupted, "Raph told me that you are in charge when Splinter is away. He knows that you are under a lot of pressure as leader, big brother, and substitute father. He told me there is also pressure on him, since he knows that if he butts heads with you, that Splinter's not there to help make peace between the two of you. That's one reason why Raph and I took the keg in the first place. And we went back to my place, rather than drink it in a public place. This way, he could relax with a friend, without worrying about getting into bar fights or anything like that. I'm sorry if it seems to you like I'm encouraging Raph to be more rebellious, and undermine your authority. I intended to do the complete opposite of that by just trying to help him take it easy, and give you and him a break from each other."

"I'm not accusing you of being a bad influence on Raph. I mean, he looks up to you, and looks forward to hanging out with you. I'm sure it's because he can't wait to get away from me, or drink so that he can forget about his problems with me. So if Raph ever develops a drinking problem, then I'm the one who is at the root of it, not you."

"That's not entirely true. I mean, sure he needs some space away from you every once in a while. But when the two of you are actually on good terms, the way he talks about you, it almost makes me jealous of you."

"Really?"

"And it wouldn't be the first time I felt like a mutant turtle had an edge over me."

When Leo gave him a puzzled look, Casey elaborated, "April used to seem more comfortable around Donnie than when she was with me. Donnie still has a lot more in common with her than I do, but I digress. Raph getting along with me is not much of an accomplishment; but when Raph is able to get along with you, it means more to him. I can tell it means more than he'll ever admit, and you know he tells me a lot. I can also tell when he's had a bad argument with you, because it's like he's even madder at himself and everything else. Almost as if his entire mood is hinging on how well he gets along with you."

Leo blinked. "Whoa… I guess I never realized how important my role is in Raph's life. Come to think of it, I don't remember any times he was able to get along with me, while at the same time being at odds with any other friends of ours. Thanks for your help, Casey."

"With what?" Casey still looked confused.

"To be honest, I thought I was gonna give you a lecture on how not to be a bad influence on Raph, blah, blah, blah… Instead, I think you ended up teaching me a lesson on how to be a good influence on him. I didn't know you had it in you. Ironic, huh?"

"Yeah, it was. I didn't even know I had it in me. But if you and Raph are ever at odds while Splinter is away, I'll try to help you be cool with each other again."

"Alright." Leo patted Casey on the shoulder as a way of showing thanks.

"Oh, come here, you!" Casey pulled Leo into a quick bear hug, and Leo finally relented.

As the two of them came out of the bathroom, Sydney was talking to Raph and April.

"Oh, Sydney, this is my boyfriend, Casey. He and Raph work and hang out together a lot." April motioned to Casey. "And, Casey, this is Sydney. She's Raph's doctor, who is still in med school, and she's also a friend of the Turtles."

Sydney and Casey shook hands and exchanged "hellos", before Sydney explained, "I was just coming in to check on Raphael. He may want to stay here a few nights, but if he continues to progress at this rate, he can go home in a few days. And I'll give you my contact information, so he can keep a low profile and see me for any additional follow-up appointments."

"Uh, follow-up appointments?" Raph looked puzzled.

"To make sure the antibiotics and other meds did the job." Sydney explained. "I'll see you in two weeks after discharge. If all goes well at that appointment, we can wait two months until what is hopefully the last appointment for your post-appendectomy."

"And I can be home between these appointments, not in the hospital?" Raph asked.

"Yes, in just a few days." Sydney explained.

"Although, considering where you live," April said looking at Raph, "It may be better if you stayed at my apartment for at least a few days after that." April volunteered, "And you're welcome to let your brothers stay, too."

Raph smiled, "Thanks, April. It seems our slumber party just doesn't stop!"


"Well, welcome home, Raph…sort of." Casey smiled as he and Leo helped carry Raph between them, so he could sit on the couch in April's living room.

"Thanks, Case." Raph patted him on the shoulder.

"How did walking feel for you?" Leo asked.

"Not bad, half of the time." Raph shrugged.

"Half of the time?" Leo had a puzzled look on his face. "The half before or after the stairs?"

"Actually, the half when I could put my weight on my left leg wasn't bad, but let's just say that I'm glad I took that extra Vicodin as I left the hospital." Raph patted the bandages on his right hip, "I definitely don't feel like going anywhere for a while."

"There's no reason for you to go anywhere." Casey shrugged, "I mean, I'll be covering for you at the stadium for a few days, and I'll make sure anyone who needs to see your doctor's excuse note sees it. All you do is stay here and rest."

April walked in with an armful of stuff, and set it on the kitchen counter.

"Do you need any help with that, Babe?" Casey asked. When April raised an eyebrow, he corrected his choice of words, "…Or whatever endearing pet-name you prefer, April."

"Oh, thanks, Dear." April motioned to the pile of stuff she just placed on the counter, "You might see if any of this stuff is yours."

"What is it, anyway?"

"Let's see…a bag of Raph's medication, and a lot of the clothes and 'props' that the Turtles and I used to get in and blend in to the hospital. Hmmm…I may need to wash these in case we need to use them again." She looked over at Leo and Raph, "That couch is also a sleeper, if you think that may be more comfortable."

Leo looked at Raph, who shrugged, "OK. I'd like that."

"You can sit in the chair while I get the sleeper ready." Leo suggested as he helped Raph stand and take a few steps to sit in the recliner.

Casey joined Leo in prepping the sleeper-couch. When it was ready, he helped Raph lie down in it. "Here you go, Raph. April and I will probably be in and out of this place throughout the day, going to get stuff to eat and such. Mikey and Donnie are either working down in the shop with Angel, or doing class stuff. So it'll only be the two of you for a while. Just call us if you need anything."

"Thanks, Man." Raph gave Casey a thumbs-up as he left.

Leo patted Casey's shoulder on his way out, "Yeah, thanks, Casey." He waved to April, "And we greatly appreciate your help, April, and couldn't have made it without you."

"Of course, you guys are family to me." April waved back as she and Casey slipped out the door.

Leo reclined on the sleeper mattress to Raph's left, "Well, I guess it's just the two of us for a while."

Raph sighed, "Yep…"

There was a moment of awkward silence between them, before Raph started, "I don't know if I ever really thanked you for making the call to send me into surgery. I can't imagine how much pressure was riding on you at the time, but I understand it wasn't easy for you. So, thanks."

"Well," Leo shrugged, "Splinter did tell me to be responsible for you. It sure wouldn't be very responsible of me to do nothing while letting you suffer." He put his right arm around Raph's shoulders.

Raph first smiled at Leo's gesture, then he leaned his head so that it was resting on Leo's shoulder. "So, you were just doing your 'big-brotherly duty', huh?"

Leo chuckled, and used his right hand to pat and stroke Raph's right arm. "Sure. I try."

Raph looked up at Leo, "Speaking of 'brotherly duties', that reminds me—I've been slacking off with mine."

Leo tried to keep Raph from sitting up, "You couldn't help it, you needed your appendix removed. Just stay right there and take your time to heal…"

Raph kept his head on Leo's shoulder, "I wasn't talking about my chores. I was talking about what Splinter told me, right before he left. He told me to listen to you, so you don't get any headaches or panic attacks. I'm pretty sure you've already had plenty of headaches and panic attacks because of me."

"It wasn't your fault, Raph. It's not like you gave me any attitude this time."

"Still, I feel as if I should try to…make it up to you somehow. Would you like me to give you a massage?"

"What? Seriously?" Leo looked puzzled.

"Sure, just turn face-down." Raph propped his head up against his left arm, as Leo turned toward Raph and onto his stomach, with his head still slightly turned toward Raph on the sleeper-couch. Raph moved so that he was partly up on Leo's shell, but mostly lying on his left side. "There, just relax…" Raph said as his hands made their way to Leo's shoulders and neck.

"Oh, Raph, that feels so good. I didn't know you were such a great massage therapist."

"Well, I've learned a few things from working around athletes."

"No kidding. And to think this is how good a massage you give when you don't have all your strength back."

"I've kinda wanted to do this after a really intense training session, but this was also a good time."

"Thanks, Raph, this is such a treat."

"Sure, anytime, Leo."

There were a few moments of peaceful silence, before they could hear some steps approaching via the spiral staircase.

"Raph? Leo?" Called Donnie's voice.

"Are you guys asleep?" Mikey asked quietly, right behind Don.

"Not yet," Leo replied, still slightly muffled by the mattress, "But I'm getting there."

Don started taking off the human disguise he was wearing, "We just came to check on you guys."

"Yeah," Mikey said as he took off his disguise, "We never know if it could be a disaster waiting to happen, just by leaving you two alone together."

"We're cool." Raph replied, "And Fearless is a lot less tense now, than he was fifteen minutes ago."

"Mmm, Hmmm…" Leo's voice mumbled. "Even though I miss Splinter when he's away, I enjoy my time with the three of you. It's great to grow closer together as brothers as we learn to take care of each other. Although, after-school special aside, I hope the rest of this time with Splinter away we can maintain a low profile. Please, no more rupturing appendixes."

"I think the plural is 'appendices'." Don corrected.

Leo chuckled, "Yeah, OK. Sorry I butchered the wording, just please don't rupture them anymore."

"I learned my lesson," Raph smiled, still rubbing Leo's shoulders, "It won't happen again."

Leo nudged his head into Raph's shoulder, as if patting him using his head instead of his hands. "Just to be sure, Donnie confiscated your appendix for safekeeping in his lab."

Don leaned over and said to Raph, "Unless you want to put it under your pillow for the 'Appendix Fairy'."

The brothers all had a good laugh before Raph shook his head, "Nah. You keep it, Donnie. Maybe it'll be like my contribution to science, if you and Leatherhead wanna study it or something. Don't say I never gave you anything 'science-y'."

"Wow. Thanks, Raph!" Don rubbed Raph's shell in a brief, but sincere show of gratitude.

Mikey cleared his throat as he sat down on the other side of the sleeper-couch, next to Leo. When he had the others' attention, he motioned to the shoulder massage. "So, Raph, when is it my turn?"

Raph smirked, "If you wanna massage Leo, too, just jump right in."

"No, I meant making an appointment with you, Raph. Leo seems so happy and relaxed, like you're doing a great job with him." He nodded in Donnie's direction. "And I'm sure that will feel great during the week of our midterms coming up in a few weeks."

Raph thought about it, "Well, by then I should have most of my strength back. Sure, I'll give you and Donnie some massages during midterms. And you're welcome to wait until after I'm done with Leo to get a smaller one today. You know, just to say, 'Thanks for helping me through all my medical drama of the past week'."

"Thanks, Raph. I'd really like that." Mikey smiled, but changed his tone, "So, is it my turn, yet?"


A/N: I'm also a fan of the TV series "Big Bang Theory", and I was originally going to have them sing the "Soft Kitty" song to Raph when they were taking the post-surgery group nap. The problem was the timeline of the story, which takes place in 2005. "Big Bang Theory" didn't air until 2008 (neither did "Soft Kitty"). Instead, I went with "Yellow Submarine" by the Beatles. Oh well, maybe I'll let the TMNT sing "Soft Kitty" in another fanfic…