"Tess? Tess? Tess…are you alright?"

It wasn't until Raphael's hand descended onto my shoulder that my mind returned to where my body now stood. I flinched violently under his touch, taking a tentative step back as my eyes focused their panicked gaze not on him, but his three-fingered hand that had touched me.

"Whoa…whoa…easy, Tess…It's just me. Calm down…" Raphael's voice had softened quite dramatically, the anger and frustration he'd vented moments before now completely dissipated from his normally gruff tone. He tentatively reached out his hand toward me, but my mind and emotions were so overwhelmed and on edge that I flinched again, taking another step away from him.

"Tess…?"

The twinge of pain in his tone brought my eyes up to his, and I suddenly realized the only emotions now reflecting in his amber gaze were confusion and worry. Still, my mind was spinning over the events of the last 36 hours, and that, combined with a lack of both sleep and nourishment, were beginning to take their toll on my exhausted mind and body.

I staggered to the side, lifting one hand in motion for him to wait, while I used the other to support the sagging weight of my upper body on one bent knee. I bowed my head, taking a few ragged breaths as I tried to stop my head from spinning and quiet my racing thoughts. How did all this happen? Why would the Foot clan be interested in me? I'm just a Veterinary science major with an affinity for reptiles and exotics…I'm no one special! I'm still in school…and I work in a boring lab, doing boring research…. And I'm sure as hell not a criminal! I've never even stolen a candy bar…let alone scientific chemicals and equipment! What the hell is going on? Why the hell is this happening to me?

"Easy Tess…let me help you sit down…."

I heard Raphael's gruff yet calm voice seconds before I felt his presence beside me, and I couldn't stop the involuntary flinch as he gently but firmly wrapped his arm around me and lifted me to a standing position. He then guided me to the foot of Splinter's bed, helping me slip easily down to a sitting position near his Sensei's feet. I simply sat there, in a space somewhere between panic and shock, trying desperately in my mind to make sense of it all. My ears could hear Raphael and Splinter speaking softly, but for some reason, my brain wasn't registering the words they were speaking. After all…they shouldn't be speaking…they shouldn't even exist! They're humanoid animals, and this whole situation is straight out of some sci-fi novel! This has got to be a nightmare…are very long, elaborate nightmare from which I will hopefully be waking up very, very soon….

"Tess…Tess please, focus on me for a sec…."

Like a robot, I lifted my tear-filling eyes toward the sound of Raphael's voice. I felt completely exhausted; tired of trying to figure out what seemed impossible and make it make sense. My shoulders slumped forward slightly as Raphael dropped down to one knee in front of me, bringing our eyes almost level with one another. I didn't want to focus on anything…I just wanted to let my mind drift into a quiet place…but those amber eyes drew me in just as they had the first time I'd seen them.

Raphael placed a reassuring hand on my left arm, while his face betrayed the unease he seemed to be feeling. With a somewhat uncomfortable sigh he dropped his amber gaze from mine, then quickly lifted it again as he spoke in almost a whisper.

"I'm sorry Tess…I didn't mean I thought you were working with the Foot clan. I just thought maybe you might know something…." He paused, casting a quick glance toward Splinter. "…something that might help Sensei get better."

I saw the sorrow and the worry return to his features as he dropped his head with another heavy sigh. I, too, lowered my gaze, and for a moment we all sat there in silence…the only sounds around us being the soft snoring of Michelangelo in his recliner near the door, and the gentle rasping of Splinter's breathing in the bed beside me. I decided to focus on nothing but the latter, and let my mind wander to my veterinary training and what possible causes could be responsible for a respiratory condition such as this. In doing so, I couldn't help but begin asking questions, my mind quickly falling in line with the S.O.A.P processes we used during an initial exam (for those of you unfamiliar this term, it stands for Subjective & Objective observations, Assessment and Plan – we use it a lot in veterinary record-taking when assessing a patient).

"So…how long has he been like this?"

I heard Raphael quickly raised his head, and thought I saw Splinter's ears twitch and his head tilt curiously out of the corner of my eye.

"Uh…a few weeks."

I didn't raise my head. "And he's slowly gotten worse?"

Raphael sighed. "Yes."

I lifted my head slightly toward Splinter, wiping my eyes with the back of my sleeve. "Are you able to eat and drink?"

Splinter regarded me with the same curious gleam in his dark eyes. "Yes…but I cannot say I have much of an appetite."

"Any fever? Dizziness? Shortness of breath…other than when you're coughing, of course?"

Splinter paused for a moment, thinking. "It feels as if I may have a slight fever, off and on. And yes...some dizziness and difficulty breathing."

"Is it getting worse?"

He paused, glancing toward Raphael. "Slowly…yes."

It was my turn to pause. "Chest pains?"

"Yes."

"How often?"

Splinter's gaze sharpened, but I saw his shoulders droop slightly. "They have progressed to several times a day now."

This brought a sharp intake of breath from Raphael, and I saw Splinter quickly raise a hand to quiet him. Trying not to let Raphael's agitation affect me, I dropped my head into my hands, letting my mind quickly take inventory of the equipment I had available to me - including both my own personal emergency kit at my apartment, and supplies I had available in my lab at work. I began mumbling out loud, making a verbal list to help myself remember what I might need.

"Ok…so I'll bring the whole kit from home…IV bags, drip sets, everything…fluids never hurt." I paused, rubbing my forehead. "Stethoscope is with it in the cabinet…hmm…I can get a blood pressure cuff from work…vials for blood work, which I can run at the lab myself – "

"Tess, what are you mumbling about?"

I glanced up, my eyes meeting Raphael's as he gently squeezed my arm. The look he gave me was one of confusion…and nervous excitement. "Can you help him?"

I sighed heavily, then reached out my own hand and placed it reassuringly on his shoulder. "I dunno…but I'm sure as hell gonna try."

"Ok…so I'm going to need a few things...especially if we want to do most of our basic testing here. Do you know if Donnie has a microscope? A compound would be nice, although I can use the phase-contrast microscope in the lab if I need to. Or a centrifuge? And we need some relatively sterilized counter space…. "

Raphael's stare turned from blank to annoyed before I'd even finished speaking. "You're gonna have to talk to Donnie about all that," he interrupted, shaking his head. "He's the only one of us here who speaks nerd."

I made a face. "Really, Raphael? I wasn't talking that nerdy. Besides…there's nothing wrong with being a nerd. I personally enjoy it."

It was Raphael's turn to make a face. "Whatever, Tess. You and Donnie can talk as nerdy as you want when he gets back. Until then…try and keep it to a minimum, will ya?"

I smiled and stuck my tongue out at him. "Well…at least I know I'll get along well with one of your brothers."

Raphael's only response was an annoyed snort.

We had moved our conversation out of Splinter's room to allow both he and the still sleeping Mikey to rest. We were currently milling about the kitchen area as I inspected the plumbing and available counter space.

"Ok…I think we can make this area work…." I paused, pushing an empty pizza box into a nearby trash can. "…With a little cleaning, of course." I turned to Raphael, who was leaned against the counter next to me, fidiging with the toothpick in his mouth. "So…we just need to run back to my apartment so I can pick up my kit and some cleaning supplies, and then swing by my lab at TCRI so I can grab a few extra things I - "

"Whoa Tess…hold on. You do remember you were just attacked by the Foot clan at your apartment, right?"

I blinked. Why no, Captain Obvious…I had no idea.

"Duh. That's why I said we. You can come with me and keep an eye out…just like you have been." I paused, scowling slightly as Raphael rolled his eyes. "Unless of course you have a better idea?"

Raphael growled, "I just think we should –" He suddenly stopped short, his head tilting slightly to the side like my cat when she's heard a bird out on the fire-escape of my apartment building. I listened too, straining my ears until I heard what sounded like a rusting metal hinge squeaking open. I waiting quietly, watching for a signal from Raphael. He was tense for another brief moment, then sighed softly and began fidiging again with the toothpick in his mouth. Apparently he recognized the sound…and the others accompanying it, as my ears suddenly picked up the distinct sound of voices. It sounded like two individuals having a discussion…and I suddenly realized with a nervous shudder that they were headed our way.