Castoff
part 9
Michelangelo slept with the teddy bear tucked under his chin. The little stuffed animal he'd gotten for Shilo was ultra-soft and made Mikey think of the precious baby as he fell asleep.
He kept the bear close for another reason as well; he wanted to ensure that it carried his scent. Mikey instinctively felt that Shilo would be comforted by the bear if it smelled like a turtle rather than whatever manufacturing plant had cranked it out.
It was probably the excitement of presenting the bear to Shilo that caused Mikey to wake earlier than his brothers. As he got out of bed, he heard Shilo just beginning to snuffle and move around.
Lifting the box Shilo was in, Mikey took him into the kitchen and quickly prepared a bottle of his formula. Carrying the box, the bottle, and the teddy bear, Mikey went into the living area.
After changing Shilo's diaper, Mikey fed him. While Shilo greedily sucked away at his bottle, Mikey began telling him stories. Most were tales of the family's adventures, with Mikey changing his voice to play out each of the different characters involved.
Shilo stared at Mikey the entire time, as though fascinated by the 'uncle' with the fluctuating voice. For his part, Mikey enjoyed having an audience who seemed to hang on his every word.
Donatello woke some time later and the first thing he did after putting on his glasses was to look down to where Shilo's box usually sat. Seeing that the baby was gone, he got up, noting that Mikey was also missing.
The murmur of his brother's voice drew Don down the stairs, but rather than going directly to the living area, Don silently worked his way around to his lab, stopping once he had a good view of Mikey.
His younger brother was leaning over Shilo, who lay on the couch next to him. Shilo's hand was on Mikey's cheek, his eyes glued to the hovering turtle's face. Mikey's arms were curved around Shilo and he appeared to be talking to the baby, though the words were too low for Don to hear.
It was a priceless scene and one Don was loath to interrupt. Mikey had been enamored of the baby turtle from the moment Shilo was mutated.
Of the four of them, Mikey had always been the one who was the least content with their secluded existence. Perhaps Shilo was fulfilling something for Mikey that he yearned for; a younger generation.
Mikey must have sensed his presence because he glanced up and grinned at his brother. Don walked over to join him.
"Look Don," Mikey said with a touch of glee in his voice, "he's smiling at me!"
"That's probably gas," Don replied, even though Shilo did seem to be smiling.
Mikey turned back to Shilo. "Mommy Donnie is jealous," he said in a sing-song voice. "You're giving me all your smiles and he can't have any."
"'Mommy'? How did I get that moniker?" Don asked.
"You're totally this little guy's mom," Mikey said as he tickled Shilo under his chin. "You gave him the breath of life."
"I gave him my blood," Don said.
"Same thing," Mikey said. "Point is, you gave him a part of you so that makes you his mother."
"I'm a guy, Mikey," Don said. "Wouldn't I be his dad?"
"Nope," Mikey answered, rubbing the teddy bear against Shilo's tummy. "Leo feels more like the Daddy type. I'm the fun uncle and Raph's the gruff uncle."
"Did the fun uncle feed his nephew?" Don asked.
"I fed him," Mikey said. "I also changed him twice. Now I know why he needs a bottle so often. Everything goes right through him."
"That's normal," Don told him. "I can't believe he's only a couple of days old. His muscle development seems a bit more advanced than that of a human baby's."
"'Cause he's awesome. Right Shilo? You're awesome and better than any other baby," Mikey crooned.
"And Uncle Mikey will not teach you to call me 'Mom'," Don said. "Not unless Uncle Mikey wants to be my next science experiment."
"Fair enough," Mikey said quickly. "Shilo can have two dads, two uncles, one aunt, and one grandfather. We have to figure out titles for Casey and Vern."
"I know what we can call them," Raph said as he walked over.
"We have to be able to say them in front of the baby," Mikey replied.
Raph grinned. "How is the little guy this morning?"
"Well fed," Don said. "We should probably give him a bath today."
Mikey's eyes lit up. "Ooh, ooh, I want to do it!"
"We'll do it together," Don said. He appreciated Mikey's enthusiasm, but some instinct made Don want to be included in each of Shilo's 'firsts'.
"Does anyone want breakfast?" Leo called from the kitchen.
Scooping Shilo into his arms, Mikey stood up and walked towards the kitchen, followed by Raph and Don.
"I'm giving Shilo a bath," Mikey announced.
"After we eat," Leo said, standing at the railing and waving a spatula at him. "Scrambled eggs."
"So what do we do, Donnie? Dunk him in the tide pool?" Raph asked.
"No Raph, he's a baby," Don said, striving for patience. "We'll use the kitchen sink and fill it with clean, warm water. There's a bottle of baby wash amongst the things April brought us."
"Ya' gotta use a special kind of soap?" Raph asked.
"A baby's skin dries out easily, so you have to use something that won't irritate it," Don answered. "There are also impurities that only a specialized cleanser will remove."
Raph gave his brother an incredulous look. "Did Master Splinter have to do all of that for us?"
"Yes I did, Raphael," Master Splinter said, appearing suddenly. "I did not have all of the niceties that April has provided, so I made do with a bar of soap. You were often displeased with the temperature of the bath water, but that I could not help."
"Raph, come help me with the toast," Leo called out as he pushed a pile of eggs around in a skillet. "You know the toaster doesn't like me."
"Ya' just don't have the right kind of delicate touch," Raph teased, climbing the stairs.
"You get that kind of touch from knitting, right Raph?" Mikey asked with a mischievous grin.
"Shut up," Raph responded good-naturedly.
"Good morning, Shilo," Master Splinter said, gently squeezing one of the infant's chubby legs.
"Good morning Grandpa," Mikey replied in a mock baby voice.
The sound of Mikey's voice against the side of his face made Shilo lift his head before dropping it back onto his uncle's shoulder.
"Did you see that?" Don asked his father. "He appears to have more muscle control than is normal for an infant who is only two days old. Did we develop at that rate?"
"I had no frame of reference for mutant turtles, but you all did develop at a good pace," Master Splinter said. "Your speed and coordination at an early age was astonishing."
"They grow so fast," Mikey said with a sigh. "Before you know it, he'll be sparring with nunchucks against his favorite uncle."
"You've hit yourself in the head with those 'chucks too many times if you think he's following in your footsteps, Mikey," Raph said. "Besides, I'm gonna be his favorite uncle."
"How about we sit down to a good family breakfast and fight over Shilo later," Leo said as he began piling eggs onto plates.
"Spoken like a true dad," Mikey said as he went up to the kitchen still clutching Shilo against his chest.
Leo shook his head, setting plates in front of Mikey and Master Splinter. Mikey ate using one hand, the other keeping Shilo against his shoulder during the meal. Don buttered toast for him, slapping on a large helping of jelly at his brother's request.
Once breakfast was over, Don ran water into the sink, testing the temperature against the inside of his wrist. Raph fetched the baby wash while Leo helped Mikey remove Shilo's clothes and diaper.
Standing shoulder to shoulder, Don and Mikey gave Shilo his first bath. Leo stood just behind Mikey, using an old camcorder that Don had repaired in order to record the event.
Shilo was very at ease in the bath, cooing as his family cleaned every crevice of his small body. While Mikey supported Shilo's body, Don used a toothbrush to gently cleanse his carapace.
When Don took Shilo out of the water and turned, he found Raph waiting there with a towel. Wrapping the baby so he would stay warm, Raph lowered him onto the table that had been cleared of breakfast things. After thoroughly drying Shilo, Raph diapered him and then Leo dressed him in clean pajamas.
Master Splinter looked on, a smile on his face as he watched his sons minister to their tiny new family member. As with most things they did, caring for the child was a team effort.
Shilo was clearly sleepy at that point and Raph cradled him in one large arm, carrying him to his box and placing him inside. The baby fell fast asleep.
Leaving him in the living area, the brothers went about their daily routine. They had a practice session and then Don checked his computers to see if any Foot or Bebop and Rocksteady activity had been observed during the night.
When Shilo woke later, fussing about a dirty diaper, Leo changed him. Raph prepared his bottle and handed it to Leo, who had been waiting on the couch with the infant.
While Leo was feeding Shilo, April and Casey arrived. They brought with them pizza and one very large box.
"What's that?" Mikey asked, tossing the pizza onto a kitchen table.
"Thank you for the pizza April," Don said, glancing pointedly at his younger brother.
"Oh yeah, thanks April," Mikey said dutifully. "What's in the box?"
"It's a bassinet," Vern said, walking into the lair with another large box in his arms. "Thanks for waiting for me guys."
"You'll have to put the bassinet together," April said. "I got one with rollers and a handle for easy carrying since this place has stairs."
Setting his box down, Vern asked, "Where is this miracle baby turtle?"
"He's on the couch with Leo, having his lunch," Don said.
The trio of humans walked with him into the living area. Leo smiled at them in greeting and Vern swooped down next to him on the couch.
"Wow," Vern said, leaning over to stare at the infant. "He really is a baby turtle. I thought April was pulling my leg when she told me. How did this happen?"
"It was the unintended consequences of a blood transfusion," Leo said. "Don used his blood to save the baby's life, but it also mutated him."
"He's a cute little guy," Vern said. "Can I . . . can I hold him?"
"Sure," Leo said, carefully transferring Shilo and his bottle over to Vern.
"Who's a good little boy? Who's a good little hungry boy?" Vern murmured, expertly balancing the baby while feeding him.
"Wow Vern, I never knew you were so good with babies," April said with surprise.
Vern tossed her a cocky grin. "I've got nieces and nephews. From the loins of the Fenwick clan, greatness is born."
"And then there's you," Raph said. "Gotta be an exception to every rule."
Casey rubbed his hands together. "Let's get this baby thing put together. By the way, I picked up two vehicles at auction today. The transmission is shot on the car and the truck needs an overhaul and some body work. I can haul them both here tonight if you've got a place where I can put them."
"There are four work spaces off of the garage tunnel," Don said. "We can park the vehicles in them."
"Are they big enough?" Casey asked.
"Yes," Don said. "I made them specifically to house a collection of vehicles. The turtle van is parked in one of them."
Raph brought both boxes into the clear space next to the living area. Between him and Leo, they got them open and began to empty the contents.
"Are there supposed to be this many parts?" Leo asked in disbelief.
"Here," Raph said, handing the instructions to Donatello. "Read off how we put this thing together."
"Pizza's getting cold," Mikey said.
"We'll eat after we finish with the bassinet," Leo said. "How long could it possibly take?"
Thereafter followed the funniest thing April thought she had ever seen. While Vern and Master Splinter watched over Shilo, the other five guys labored to assemble the bassinet.
"I've got it", "That doesn't go there", "Is that part supposed to stick up like that?", "Don't force it!", "I don't think we're supposed to have leftover pieces," "I can't find the thingy-ma-bob", "You're doing it wrong," "No, no, not like that!", "Will you please listen?", "For the love of … just stick it in there!", "You're a genius, figure this out!", "You jabbed my hand!", "Seriously, I think that's upside down."
Ten minutes into the comedy of errors, April noticed the camcorder. Snatching it up, she began to record the scene, trying not to laugh too hard in order to keep the camera steady.
"Don't you guys think this might be a case of too many cooks in the kitchen?" Vern finally asked.
Raph growled, dropping the piece he was holding and getting up off his knees. "If ya' think ya' can do it, help yourself."
"Okay kids, step aside," Vern said, walking over to the work area and stripping off his jacket. "Let me see those instructions."
Don handed them to him and after quickly scanning the page, Vern set to work. Within twelve minutes he had assembled the bassinet.
Casey and the four turtles stood around him, their mouth's hanging open. They had spent the better part of an hour trying to put the thing together.
Even April was impressed. "Way to go, Vern."
Vern shrugged. "I told you I had nieces and nephews. I've had practice," he said with false modesty.
"Ya' could have told us that an hour ago," Raph grumbled.
"What? And spoil your fun?" Vern countered with a smug grin.
"Can we eat now?" Mikey asked.
"Warm up the pizza," Leo said.
Mikey dashed off to the kitchen and Don took Shilo from his father. "You've got a new bed," Don told the baby. "Let's try it out."
Casey pushed the carrying handle down as Don lowered Shilo into the bassinet. The bassinet had rolling casters and Leo made sure they were locked. There was a storage basket underneath, an electronic mobile with spinning toys, a canopy, and a skirt. It looked vastly out of place in the lair and was a stark reminder of just how much the mutant family's lives had changed.
Shilo lay on the small mattress staring up at the mobile. Since there were no batteries in it yet, it wasn't moving, but somehow the three plush animals held his attention.
"You'll need batteries for the mobile," April said. "I've got some in my bag. It also has a built in night light, and the control not only makes the animals turn, but there's a button that can gently rock the bassinet from side to side or make it vibrate. It also plays music."
"Geez, I'm surprised it doesn't feed and change the baby too," Raph said.
Casey turned to Don. "What time do you want me to deliver those vehicles? I can't leave them parked . . . ."
Before he could finish the sentence, Shilo began to cry. Leo reached into the bassinet and felt his diaper.
"He's wet," Leo announced. "Time for a change."
"Don't look at me," Raph said quickly. "I told ya' I don't do dirty diapers. I will go get the supplies though."
Leo and Don changed Shilo's diaper while he lay in the bassinet. While they did that, Raph placed extra diapers and other related items into the storage basket underneath. April took some clothing from bags and folded them to fit into the remaining space.
Now dry and clean, Shilo quieted down. "I think we're getting the hang of this," Leo said.
No sooner were the words out of his mouth when Shilo began to wail.
"Ya' just had to jinx it," Raph said.
"He finished a meal only a short time ago," Master Splinter called out. "Perhaps he has gas."
"I got this," Raph said, lifting Shilo from the bassinet. Laying the baby plastron down on his arm, he gave Shilo's carapace a few firm thumps and received a nice pair of burps in return.
"Back into the bassinet," Don said. "He has to learn to fall asleep without us having to hold him."
"Someone's been doing his research," April teased as Raph lowered Shilo into his new bed.
"Does around eleven work for you?" Don asked Casey. "The street near the tunnel entrance should be clear enough by then."
"How are ya' hauling them in?" Raph asked.
"I'm pulling the car with the truck," Casey said. "I hope. Be on stand-by in case the truck breaks down."
"We can pull both of them with the garbage . . . ." Leo began.
Shilo's loud cries interrupted him. As one, the group stared into the bassinet, watching as Shilo's face reddened and his wailing cry vibrated his tiny tongue.
"What the hell's wrong now?" Raph asked of no one in particular.
"Let's try this," April said as she attempted to coax Shilo into taking a pacifier. He refused to latch on despite her efforts.
"He's overstimulated," Vern said. "Too much activity, too many people . . . uh, and turtles."
"I swear I'm gonna use my sai to puncture my own ear drums," Raph announced.
Mikey was in the process of removing the warmed pizza from the oven. Staring at the food lovingly, he tossed a glance towards the group surrounding the crying infant. Torn by indecision for several minutes, he finally gave up, saluted the pizza, and jogged down to the living area.
Scooping up the teddy bear, Mikey went over to the bassinet and tucked the stuffed animal in next to Shilo. Leaning over the bassinet, Mikey began to rock it gently and sing.
In seconds Shilo stopped crying and his little eyes closed. Lifting one hand, Mikey shooed everyone away from the bassinet.
"Figures that one kid would know how to soothe the other," Raph said, going up to the kitchen.
"Save him some pizza or we'll never hear the end of it," Leo told him.
They didn't have to worry about saving him any because in a few minutes Mikey joined them. Plopping into a chair, he stacked two slices of pizza atop each other, sprinkled them with hot sauce, and took a big bite.
"He's asleep," Mikey said, talking around a mouth full of food.
Leo heated a bowl of leftover rice and gave it to Master Splinter before helping himself to pizza. "Thanks for the bassinet, April. Once we get these two vehicles fixed and sold, we'll be able to start paying you back."
"No hurry, my credit cards can stand the strain for a little while," April said.
"You know, since I uh, have money from my 'Falcon' merchandise, I can buy Shilo some of the things he needs," Vern said. "I sort of owe you guys anyway."
"Ya' think?" Raph asked.
"He could use a changing table and a crib," April said. "We'll go shopping together so I can make sure you get the right ones."
"We're a great family for Shilo, aren't we? We're not messing him up or anything and we're actually pretty good at this, right?" Mikey asked out of the blue.
Don's brow furrowed as he looked at his younger brother. "Of course we are. Why would you even ask that?"
"I mean, we're proving we can handle having a baby," Mikey said. "I wonder how many other babies are out there that are unwanted, or sick, or have some kind of thing wrong with them that's gonna kill them. Couldn't we save some more of them?"
The group fell silent, all of them staring at Mikey with varying expressions of disbelief. It was clear from his question that Mikey wanted a baby born of his blood too.
"My son, most of these ailing children are in hospitals," Master Splinter said, setting a hand on Mikey's shoulder. "Would it be good if we could rescue them from death? The answer is of course yes. Your heart is in the right place, but I am afraid another such opportunity as we have experienced with Shilo may never present itself."
Mikey sighed. "Yeah, I know. But if it did, you'd be okay with it, wouldn't you Sensei?"
"To watching my family grow?" Master Splinter asked. "How could I ever argue with that? Look around you at the extended family we have now. It is a blessing."
"Family is everything," Raph said.
Leo nodded, lifting his glass of water. "Family."
"To family," the others replied, touching their glasses all around.
Shilo snorted in his sleep, as if in agreement, and dozed on.
TBC….