April blinked groggily at her alarm clock glowing 3:12 in bold, red letters. Sitting up, she shoved the blankets off wondering briefly why she had woken. Then she realized her throat was achingly parched. She swung her legs over the side of the bed and suddenly paused seeing a light shining through the strip of her door. Who would be up at this ungodly hour?

After groping in the darkness, April shrugged a robe on and ventured out into the kitchen. Her thirst abruptly forgotten, she stopped in the doorway. A pale glow from a light over the sink slathered one of the turtles with a ghost-like sheen. She couldn't quite make out which of the brothers it was since his bandana and pads were missing. His bare elbows were propped on the table, and his hands covered his face as he wept. Her heart nearly stopped beating, and her chest seemed to implode hearing his quiet sobs. Positive that he already knew of her presence, she stepped in and sat in a neighboring chair. April tenderly removed his hands from his face. Maskless, dull, and waterlogged eyes focused on her.

"Leo?" she recognized the sky-blue eyes.

He looked away, but she caught his cheek with one hand and forced him too look directly at her. "What's wrong?"

Leo was quiet a moment.

"He's getting worse," he finally whispered. April was about to say something, but he reached from under the table and shoved something over. It was a garbage can. Scooting closer, her eyes went wide seeing a whole stash of bloody tissues.

She covered her mouth to stifle a gasp. "Oh God...Splinter..."

"I was cleaning up around him...thought I wouldn't wake him this early," his eyes turned to the garbage can, "This- this is very serious, April. I thought he just had the flu, maybe even pneumonia, but this...I don't know."

He wiped his face dry with his arm, but seeing April's tears only created more.

"Is he asleep?" April asked.

"Yes, but he can hardly breathe. He's fighting for air. I didn't know- I thought," Leo trailed off looking oddly frightened and fragmented.

"I'm so sorry." She took his thick, calloused hand into her own. Touch seemed to communicate more for her then words. He squeezed back gratefully.

They shared a silent moment together until Leo become restless and agitated again. Suddenly standing, he released his grip on her hand and moved off toward the sink. April watched him carefully feeling slightly rejected. He spread his arms and leaned on the edge of the sink while looking out the window.

"Raph and Don haven't come back yet either," he said to his dark reflection in the glass.

"That's not like them." April's eyebrows knitted together.

Leo leaned toward a nearby cupboard and pulled out a cup. Hearing the running water, April immediately remembered her thirst. He came back to his seat and set the glass down in front of her.

"No. It's not."

This town was much easier for a ninja to get around in, Raphael decided. Security was low. Street lights were few and far between. Most of the buildings were built with wood or textured materials and shingles to aid his grip on the rooftops. Plus people actually slept here unlike New York. Only the fewer number of manholes made him nervous

The turtle in red leapt to another neighboring roof. At last, he stood on North Hampton hospital. There seemed to be little activity, but his guard was tight nonetheless. It was quiet despite a few roaming trucks and dogs barking in the distance. Satisfied that it was clear, he jumped a short ways to the ground. The lawn's stiff and perfectly cut grass felt wonderful under his bare feet. Ignoring the pleasure, he leapt into a bush just below a window. There he pushed the screen out and bust the window in with his elbow. Nothing happened. Encouraged, he slipped in and eyed every crevasse and corner of the dark room. Counters bordered almost every wall with numerous supplies and gadgets. He didn't even know what Donny was looking for. Glancing over the stuff carefully, he saw nothing of immediate use.

Turning around, Raphael halted in front of a table in the center. A thin sheet of paper was stretched across the padding. On one edge resided two empty stirrups. Raph smirked knowing full-well what they were. Ever since Mikey had become obsessed with those hospital dramas, he'd picked up at least a thing or two.

Raphael abandoned the table and approached the only door. He turned the handle silently and peeked out. The halls were dark and empty. He slipped out and closed the door. A chuckle escaped him seeing 'DELIVERY ROOM' printed in bold on the other side. As far as he knew, Splinter wasn't about to have a baby. He immediately moved on to other doors. Seeing 'SUPPLIES' printed on one, Raph turned in its direction and entered.

Finally. A maze of shelves stuffed with all sorts of goodies awaited his plundering. His keen and well-honed night vision enabled him to do just that. While loading his arms with bandages, tissues, and aspirins a noise behind the turtle caused him to stiffen. He shoved it all back on the shelf and hid just as the door swung open. A bulky figure stepped in.

"Raph? You in here?"

Raphael relaxed, and jumped down from the top of a shelf.

"Decided to join me, huh?"

"Y-yeah, I guess." Donny looked agitated.

"I knew you'd eventually see it my way," he paused seeing his brother fidget, "Hey, relax. Everything we need's in here."

"No, it's not that. I think we were followed here, Raph."

"Wadda ya' mean?"

"Someone came with us to North Hampton."

"Who?" Raphael raised an eye ridge.

Don opened his hand revealing a shuriken star with a Foot symbol neatly branded on the metal.

"Where'd you get that?"

"I threw it at him," a deep, rumbling voice came suddenly from the door, "Pity it missed."

They were too stunned to react.

"I'll remedy that."

There was a glint of metal before blackness engulfed them both.