I do not own TMNT

Chapter is rated T

Don was doing his best to steady his shaking hands as he tried to line the IV needle up with the vein in Leo's arm but he had already lost so much the veins were hard to find let alone hit and he'd be damned if he couldn't get his hands to stop shaking.

"Don here I'll get that you go wash" April said leaving him no room for argument. She must have noticed his moment of weakness. Don inwardly cursed himself for it as he moved to let her in and went to wash up again.

April sat down and inserted the IV in the vein on the back of Leo's hand, set up a bag of fluids, and blood transfusion bag to help replenish the large amount he had lost and was still losing.

While they did that, Raphael set to cleaning the wounds so they were ready to treat. Don soon rejoined them, setting to the task at hand of clamping off the artery that had been damaged in Leo's forearm.

When the bones ripped through the flesh of Leo's arm and leg, Don took great care in resetting the bones, screwing them in place, then tenderly sewing up the wounds. Moving on, Don went to stitch the other deep gashes to help stop the blood loss.

April had gone through almost all the blood supply by the time Don was ready to address the broken bones and the tears related to them. Raphael was working at stitching the lesser wounds while April watched the vitals and manned the IV.

"Guys I'm on the last bag of blood here..." April informed them worriedly.

Cursing, Raphael dropped what he was doing and ran out to get his younger sibling.

"Mikey, we need ya to donate! Get yer ass in here!" Raphael bellowed.

Mikey, who was trying to lend strength to splinter and keep his spirits up, jumped; startled by the sudden shout. Quickly gathering his wits, he gave Splinter the best hopeful smile he could muster and ran to the infirmary.

"Mikey, take a seat right beside Leo. I'm gonna hook you straight up to his IV to save time." Don explained.

Pulling a chair over, he sat down where Don had to him to. His rear had barely touch the chair and Don was already on his arm, wiping the crock of the elbow down with alcohol and jabbing him with a needle "Ouch! Hey, careful! You know I bruise easy," Mikey complained teasingly, trying to hide his concern.

Don simply ignored him and carried on. Once it was all hooked up, he relinquished control of the IV and monitor station back to April and got to work. He needed to operate on the broken arm so he could set it and pin it...same with the Leo's leg.

Once the bleeding had stopped and Mike had given all he could safely give, Don unhooked him and April helped him out to the kitchen just to make sure he didn't get dizzy and fall over. Before April went back to the infirmary, she set Mikey in a kitchen chair with some orange juice and a bag of cookies while she gave the top of his head a fast kiss.

Splinter tiredly shuffled towards Mike and took a seat across from him. "How is he doing, my son...?" He asked looking a good 3 times his actual age. If Mike didn't know better, he'd say he now had twice the grey fur that he had before
Mike sighed and rubbed his hands over his face, "He'll survive. Beyond that you'll have to ask Don when he's done," Mike explained tiredly.

Splinter breathed out a sigh of relief. Leonardo would survive and that's what was important.
"Hey...Is Myth still in the lab?" Mike asked looking around and not seeing her.
Splinter nodded "Yes, last I checked she had it almost all packed...She is very efficient and we should be ready to go as soon as Leonardo can be moved safely."

Mike nodded and picked at the cookies. He hated cookies when he got them this way...He sat there staring into his cup of orange juice, thinking.
Donatello...any Donatello, would never be cruel...Let alone cruel to someone who would simply be a hindrance to his overall goal. It went against everything he and his brothers were. He could see him killing Leo if he thought he had to to get Don...but to be so cruel? No. Something just wasn't adding up. Even if he was completely insane, Mikey could see cold and calculating but never this cruel. There was something else to this...but what?

By the time all was said and done it took a little over 10 hours to put Leo back together. It had taken 2 pins in Leonardo's arm and 3 in his leg. Once the swelling went down the break in his cheek bone hadn't been that bad.
After putting the finishing touches on the resin to repair the shell damage to Leonardo's plastron, Don was exhausted. Raph set the resin bowl aside and leaned with his elbows on the counter. "I'll take first watch if you wanna go tell em da news and get some rest".

Don knew better then to argue at this point with his red banded brother. He had been up for nearly 72 hours straight.
Don nodded and after washing his hands he headed out to the main room.

When Don appeared in the doorway, Splinter was instantly to his side guiding his obviously exhausted son to a chair. "Tell me, how are Leonardo's injuries? ...Will he recover?"
Don flopped into the chair, "It'll take time and physical therapy but he should fully recover"

Master Splinter breathed out a sigh of relief, "How soon till he awakens" he asked making Don a cup of coffee.
Don took the cup gratefully "Thank you Sensei. It will be about 12 - 24 hours give or take." Don explained.
"That is good news. I am thankful Leonardo will survive." Splinter said taking his seat again

Don sighed "Wheres Mikey?"
"He went to bed about 2 hours ago," April said coming into the kitchen after checking on her husband and child.

"...and Elmythia?" Don asked.
"She finished packing your lab...Last I checked she was sitting on the floor in there," Splinter said.

"Perhaps I should check on the young woman again, it has been a while. Oh dear, I haven't even thought of a place for her to sleep while she stays." Splinter said frowning

"It's alright Sensei, she can stay in the lab I don't think I need to worry about her getting into anything since she packed everything. I was gonna head to bed anyway and it's on the way," Don said tiredly, setting the cup down and rubbing his face with both hands.

Splinter nodded. "Is it alright if I go in and see Leonardo now?" Splinter asked, anxious to see to his sons well being with his own eyes and to set his mind at ease that Leonardo was indeed alive.
Don nodded. "Of course Sensei," Don said as he stood.

Splinter nodded rising with him "Rest well my son... you deserve it." Setting an old paw on Don's shoulder, Splinter gave him a reassuring squeeze before moving off towards the infirmary. April gave him an encouraging smile. "Get some sleep Donnie you need it"

Don nodded drinking down the last of his coffee quickly now that it had cooled a bit. Setting his cup in the sink Don headed to the lab, stopping to lean against the door frame.

Elmythia was sitting on a wooden crate looking at an old locket lost in her own thoughts. Don stood there watching her for several minutes before clearing his throat to announce his presence. Elmythia snapped the large locket shut instantly, looking up a little startled. "I have got to stop getting lost with in my own mind...This is the second time one of you have snuck up on me," she said.

"Oh? Who got you the first time?" Don asked curiously
Elmythia gave him a small smile, "Michelangelo." she replied.
"Oh... You really must have been out of it." Don said with a wince and a chuckle. "What are you thinking about?" he asked

Elmythia smiled softly "...Home"