Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT

A/N: I had recieved word that putting review responses at the beginning of the chapter is illegal in this website, and then they let me know about review responses! (idiot, I know) Hope that you enjoy this chapter!

Chapter 3

Green Team

You know when you are buying something at the store and you see some issue of the National Inquirer? I'm one of those people who flip through it and put it back without buying it just to see what kind of ridiculous stuff they can come up with.

That's kinda how I felt at the moment.

Four human sized green talking 'ninja' turtles just had their situation explained to me by a three foot talking rat named Splinterwho taught them 'ninjitsu' and is also their father (not related, of course). Just as bizzare is that each of them are unique. I've already figured the one called Michelangelo as a clown, Donatello as the smart guy, Raphael as a hothead, and Leonardo as the Leader. Not only that but they're all teenagers.

I have to admit, I was pretty much silent during pretty much the whole story. It's because I was just a teeny bit freaked out. Yeah. Who wouldn't? I heard and understood every word that he said, don't get me wrong. And yes I believed it. I mean, after seeing these guys you were willing to hear any story about how they came to be, right? Well, from what they said it sounded plausible.

Of course I had questions, questions that Splinter wouldn't answer just yet. How did he know ninjitsu? 'All would be answered in due time' was all he said. I understood. Sure, I need an explanation, but that doesn't mean that he has to spill his life story to a perfect stranger, especially one who was a potential threat to their well being.

They made that abundantly clear with his first question.

"Joseph," I eyed the rat warily. He smiled warmly, though the look in his eyes was dead serious. "I need to ask you that you not mention our existence to anyone."

My eyes widened despite the fact that it made perfect sense. Of course they wouldn't want anyone to know! I knew my answer before I said it. "Yes."

"How do we know that we can believe you?" This gruff question came from the red turtle, Raphael, who'd been eyeing me suspiciously throughout the explanation.

I stared him right in the eyes. He stared right back and glowered. His mood hadn't improved ever since his fight with Leonardo apparently. "I swear on my honor."

Apparently this was the right thing to say because everyone diffused like a fat lady sitting on a whoopie cushion. I wondered exactly what it was that I said to make them relax automatically like that but I suppose that it didn't really matter. As long as they're calm.

I shifted myself in the mattress and winced.

Immediately Don stood up. "Alright, it's been 24 hours since I last changed the dressings so I need everyone out." Everyone started complaining immediately.

"Awwwwww! But I wanna talk with him!" Mikey leaned past his brother to look at me with a grin. "You good at video games?"

Raphael seemed all too happy to get out at the moment while Leonardo thought that we should continue the questioning.

Splinter disagreed."No, he is fine for the moment. Let us give him some privacy." He peered at me. "I hope to see you again soon, it was pleasant talking to you."

With that they were out.

Donatello had arrived with a heavy duffel bag and when he opened it I saw that it was filled with any medic's paradise. Guaze, wrappings, 5 different kinds of tape, syringes, needles, catheters, vials, tubes, you name it. I peered at the turtle as he was obviously preoccupied with his rummagings. "Where'd you get all that stuff?"

He seemed startled by the question, like he forgot where he was, then he looked at me and gave a shy grin. "Here and there. Half of it's stolen, honestly. But when it comes down to that I always do research and take from a facility that's over-stocked in whatever I'm looking for. Other than that..." he shrugged. "Half the thugs that we bap on a daily basis carry stuff like this. Most of them are used for drug paraphanelia, of course, but naturally I only use the untouched items and properly dispose of the others in adequate sharps containers. Wouldn't want anyone to be spreading AIDS or something like that from reusing needles, after all."

Suddenly he glanced at me and I was surprised to see a slight blush rise in is cheeks. "Sorry, sometimes I do that. I ramble on and on about stuff. It's like I forget that I'm the only one interested."

I couldn't help but grin. "Well, you're wrong there! I was a medic in the Army before I, uh, ran into some trouble overseas."

If I'd of shown him the true meaning of life I couldn't have brightened his face up any more than it did right now. "Well really, is that so?" Snatching all his needed supplies out of his bag he scooted over to me, his features still alight. He was like a kid at Christmas. "What kind of training did you do? What kind of experience did you get? Were you able to help out on any interesting procedures? What did you do on a normal basis?"

My grin grew wider. Don noticed and blushed again, looking down slightly. He opened his mouth, I presumed to apologize but I stopped him. "Naw, it's alright. I have no problem with, uh, most questions. Let's see here," I leaned back as Don checked the smaller bandages on my side and my face. He was probably saving my leg for last. I let myself relax in the meantime; I hadn't feltlike this inat least a couple years! "My training was basic, bare minimum. I mean, we were capable of doing most lifesaving procedures but other than that most of the training that really counted was on the job stuff. And the experiences, oh man, I could pair that up with 'interesting procedures' any day."

"Really!" He looked at me, his eyes dancing with curiosity. If my grin got any bigger it'd cleave my face in half.

"For example, there was one case where some guy got drunk so he decided to attach a scuba tank with a pick ax." I chuckled. "He was all right, but not only did he have to geta cast on for a number of months, he also had to have a metal rod inserted into his femur because of the damage that it di there. And he's going to need a knee replacement sooner than most people."

Don gave a grin of his own. I snickered. This got him going and then before I knew it we were both chuckling. It was that amusement that you see on cartoons, where someone gets hurt and you find it funny. Medical personnel use it a lot. I guess that it's sort of a diffuser so that you don't explode with everything that you see on a daily basis. I know how long it took to get over my first death, and laughter helped me with that.

"Where did you get these injuries? Was it overseas?" He said as he squirted one of the deeper gashes with a sterile saline solution and then bathed it in a little betadine.

I froze at his friendly inquiry. He was using the same tactic that I'd used many times, get the patient distracted with talking so he wouldn't notice the treatment as much. Suddenly he noticed my silence and his face fell.

"Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't mean about...well you don't have to tell if you don't..."

"It's alright." That was all I said on the subject.

For a moment there was an awkward silence, then Don moved to my leg. I winced as he eased the compress off the stump, but I didn't make a sound. Don looked at the stump and clucked his tongue.

"What is it?"

"Your, uh, leg still has those adhesions on it from where your prosthesis stabbed into it. Plus, you're forming a blister on the outer edges." He looked at me. "Whoever rounded off the bone and the tissue did a good job, but what I just can't understand is why they gave you such a poor prosthesis."

I cleared my throat. "Yeah, he was one of the top surgeons at the military hospital. It helped a lot when the medical personnel gave such good care to it after I, uh, lost it in Iraq. The prosthesis thing...well that's more my fault than anyone elses."

He looked surprised. "Your fault?"

I squirmed a bit. We were getting onto a touchy subject. "Yeah. I was kinda in a rush and left before they could properly fit me for a sturdier one."

"Why were you in a rush?"

Damn. I knew he was going to ask that. I sighed. Might as well, "I was in a rush so that I could see my fiance."

He blew air out of his mouth, and then turned to get some more cleaning solutions. "We need to get you out of here, then. She'll be missing you."

"Yeah, I'm sure she will eventually."

He looked suspicious but continued. "How long have you been looking for her?"

I shifted, ignoring the dull thudding of pain. This turtle's numbing creams were working nicely. "If you include the time that I lost her, er she dissappeared, then about a year."

I could tell he didn't quite believe it, but that's all that I was willing to say at the moment. My dear Emily...Instead of prying, though, he just continued off of another branch of conversation. I was grateful.

"So, how's your family?"

I shook my head. "None to speak of, really. I was raised in an orphanage."

"Oh, I'm sorry!"

"Don't be! They treated us well."

He started to finish his patch up job. "Any friends?" I just coughed and looked away. "Other relatives?" I shook my head. He sighed. "I know that this will sound mean and selfish, but anyone who might have missed you while you were here?"

I shook my head again. "Nope."

He looked at me oddly (or at least I think it was odd for his turtle face) and quickly started to finish up.

I looked at him. "What was your brother so upset about?"

Don grinned. "Oh, you mean Raph? Well, a week ago Leo went snooping in his room and found a small stash of, ah,'questionable'magazines. Of course Raph got in trouble, but ever since then Leo has been looking over his shoulder, or, ah, being careful around him. Raph does have a tendency to hold a grudge, and, well, Leo's actions haven't really been helping to cool it." He shrugged. "They've basically been at each other's throats all week. I'm just waiting for them to get in a fight, then after the chaos is over, things will finally calm down. That's how it usually goes."

I nodded and grinned. "I knew a couple of boys like that in my home town."

"Where's that?"

"Colorado Springs."

He nodded and then smiled at me, but looked at me with all seriousness. "Well, what do you want to do?"

I knew what he was talking about. Was I going to stay here for a while? It's not like I really had anywhere to go. And I was looking in New York for Emily...my mind knew the truth. Se didn't want me to find her. Otherwise her parents, her sister, and both her brothers wouldn't have turned me away at their door. My mind knew this...but my heart didn't. I know that it sounds cheesy and gullible, but she was my only love. It's not like I can give that up.

But it's not like I can take a break from looking, either. It's not like I had any real belongings to worry about. Pretty much everything of value I had was in that pack. I had money in the bank, and more coming bi-monthly from the military. I lived incredibly cheap, pretty much at poverty line. But the reason for that was because I had unconsciously chose to. I had done something to betray Emily. I knew it, it must be my fault. I don't know what it was, I loved her for all I was worth but it must be my fault, right? Basically I was punishing myself by not caring. I really didn't care.

There was something about these guys. Don't get me wrong, they were wierd. (Yeah, what was your first clue?) But there was definetly something about them. I knew what it was, whether it was consciously or unconsciously...

They were a family. They might have their quirks, that much was obvious, and they might have their problems but I could already tell that they were a close knit family that would do anything for each other. The reason that I could tell was that I never experienced one myself. 'Sometimes you have to experience the darkness before you can appreciate the sunshine', that was what John had told me. And it was true.

Not only that, but they were the only one's that I've met so far this trip that cared. I mean truly cared. It wasn't a 'Aw, you were injured in Iraq! Poor little thing!' Trust me, if you're not used to recieving it, kindness sprung from pure sympathy and no true caring can get extremely wearing. These, people, who were cast off from society were the type of family that you saw on TV shows.

I knew my answer before I said a word.

I think that Don did too.

He just smiled. "We're having dinner in a half-hour, if you're interested. Just call if you need any help."

I nooded and grinned. It made no sense whatsoever. Anyone who would see this would probably think that I'd gone off my rocker, but the decision was made. I was going to spend some time with a family of mutant turtles and a rat.

A/N: Everyone will probably beat me, but I hope that you enjoyed that chapter. Hope that the ending wasn't too unbelievable or cheesy. I wanted it to be kind of spontaneous. Hope that I achieved that effect.

Remember, if you Read it, Review it!

Toodles!