Copyrights to TMNT story and characters belong to nickelodeon. This story is non for profit. This is a WHI (what happened in between) story from the original story titled Consciousness that was written by fanfiction writer Ranngl. Credit for the original story idea goes to Ranngl. Please excuse grammatical errors as I am not a professional writer I just write for fun. Thank you.

The first hours after Donnie performed the surgery to remove the bullet were tough. Even though Raph was no longer bleeding out the tensions in the lair were still high. Master Splinter continued to wipe Raph's forehead and face while repeating, "Please remain awake my son." I could do little except to hand Master Splinter and Donnie whatever they requested.

Raph continued to shake even after we covered him with almost every blanket we could find. Mikey hadn't stopped pacing the length of the couch and Donnie grew more anxious every minute that Raph's blood pressure wouldn't improve. "His blood pressure is too low he needs a blood transfusion," Donnie said disappearing into his lab.

Mikey almost hyperventilated when he heard the words blood transfusion. I finally had to get up from the coffee table and pull Mikey away from Raph. "But Leo!" Mikey yelled in an attempt to make me let him stay. "Your panicking has not helped Raph. Right now he needs us to be strong for him." I looked back to see Raph watching us with his good eye. "I can tell you're exhausted Mikey so please go to your room and get some sleep. I will wake you if anything changes." Mikey nodded his head and obediently went upstairs.

When I turned around Donnie had already begun setting up the IV. Master Splinter was in the kitchen making tea and Raph was now watching Donnie. Raph hated needles but the fact that he was not fighting Donnie proved to me that he was not doing well. Before I knew it Donnie had skillfully inserted the needle and placed a piece of medical tape to hold the needle in its place. Hearing movement I looked back to see Sensei carrying a tray of tea upstairs and I assumed it was to help Mikey calm down.

I sat down again on the coffee table in front of Raph who was still very quiet. Raph looked at me and I wondered if I asked him about the pain would give me an honest answer. Taking the cloth from the bowl Master Splinter left behind I began to wipe the sweat from Raph's forehead. I stopped when he hissed the words, "thirsty." I looked at Donnie and said, "I think he said he's thirsty."

Donnie leaned over Raph still fiddling with the IV line. "I'm sorry Raph we can't give you anything to drink until your blood pressure stabilizes. If we give you something now it could dilute the blood you have left and or your stomach could get sick causing you to lose more vital fluids. The IV fluids I'm giving you now will help you feel better so that we can give you something to drink."

Raph evenly stopped shaking but his body continued to twitch randomly. Occasionally he grunted from the pain the movement caused. I could see the internal battle he was having against the sleep that threatened to drag him into the dark void of unconsciousness. When both IV bags were empty Donnie deemed it safe to give him something to drink.

Except by then, Raph refused to drink more than a few sips of whatever was offered to him. I thought maybe he was no longer thirsty, but maybe it was because Raph has always hated being the center of attention. We can't even sing him Happy Birthday without him storming off and wanting to go topside. It's been extremely hard to watch Raph suffer. It's hard for me to watch any of my family members suffer.

We have been by Raph's side for almost 20 hours somehow we managed to keep him awake. Master Splinter has been holding Raph's hand for the last three of those hours. Tapping the back of Raph's hand every time his good eye remained closed longer than a few minutes. Sensi occasionally had to use smelling salts to waken Raph but he hated seeing the startled reaction of my brother every time the salts neared Raph's nose. So, he stopped and returned to the tapping of his hands.

My brother's face seemingly remained etched with a pained expression. We'd ask him questions to try to keep him awake. Initially, he would whisper or grunt his responses eventually he just remained still. It was a testament to how weak he really was. "Raphael," Master Splinter said loudly. He tapped Raphael's hand then his shoulder. "My son please wake up."

Donnie who had fallen asleep on the armchair next to us woke up when he heard Master Splinter's panicked voice. "What's happening? Is Raph ok?" Donnie said as I stood up and got out of the way to let Donnie do his doctoring. "His blood pressure has improved, pupils are still sluggish but his breathing has evened out indicating he is no longer in distress. The bandage on his leg will need to be changed soon but other than that he's stable and just sleeping. "But didn't you say he needed to be awake at least 24 hours?" I said looking at Raph with concern.

Donnie stretched his achy muscles and replied, "Some doctors recommend the patient remain awake for 24 hours and some say it's ok to let the patient sleep as long as they are woken every 2 hours. In Raph's case, he lost a lot of blood on top of some major injuries so I wanted to be certain he didn't fall into a coma. If there were any complications from the concussion they would have presented themselves by now. For now, it's ok to let him sleep. And If it's ok with you two I am going to go take a nap myself. If Raph wakes or anything changes please come get me." Master Splinter thanked Donnie and returned to his watch over Raph.

Raph remained in a deep healing sleep for the next 12 hours. He woke briefly when Donnie was changing his bandages and then he nodded off again. I snuck in a nap myself Sometime in between Mikey waking up and insisting on watching Raph. Master Splinter had left Raph's side when Mikey took over. When I woke up three hours later I saw Donnie hanging another IV bag on the pole. Mikey was leaning over the back of the couch holding an ice pack to Raph's swollen eye. As soon as I got a glance from Donnie I asked, "Is Raph ok?" Donnie replied, "Oh hey Leo can we talk in the kitchen?"

I followed Donnie to the kitchen he spoke in a low voice, "Raph is developing a fever and the wound is looking infected. I'm going to call April to see she can help us get some antibiotics and saline solution to clean the wound." I looked back at Raph and thought 'Gees it's not enough to get shot now he has an infection.' Returning to Raph's side he was lying so eerily still. I glanced at Mikey who was reading Raph a comic book and then I quickly looked to Donnie who was on the phone with April.

"Hey, April."

"Hey, Donnie, Casey, and I are on our way to see you guys. It's been two days since we've heard from yous. Is everything ok?

"Well..."

April chuckled, "At first I thought maybe you guys just needed a break from us but then I started to get worried."

"Well... two days ago after we stopped some goons from robbing a couple Raph got shot."

"Raph got shot! Why didn't you call me!? Is he ok? Please tell me he's ok!"

Casey in the background yells, "what do you mean Raph's got shot!? Is he ok!?"

"We're two blocks away. Wait do you need us to pick up anything?

"Please calm down April Raph is ok he's stable I managed to get the bullet out and stop the bleeding. He needed a blood transfusion but I am running low on supplies and he's developed a fever and an infection. We need some antibiotics and saline to clean the wound."

"Okay, that's good to know. Calm down Casey Raph's alive. That's not a problem Donnie I can help you get the antibiotics and whatever else is needed. I also have some groceries for you guys. Just let me drop those and Casey off before he has a heart attack." We're here so I will see you in a few minutes."

"Ok April see you in a few"

Donnie hung up the phone and then went to his lab. Before we knew it April and Casey walked in. "Hey, guys!" Mikey said standing up to embrace them. "Ooo what are those?!" Mikey said grabbing the bags from Casey's hands. "hey April," I said from where I was seated. Casey was completely unaware of Mikey taking hold of the grocery bags. He was too busy scanning the room for Raph. He looked at me and then slowly walked up to the couch and then looked down. "what did they do to you pal?" April followed Casey to the couch she lightly touched Raph's shoulder.

"How long has he been unconscious?" she said looking up to me.

"He's been out for about a day and a half," I replied.

Casey scanned Raph before placing a hand on the couch. He seemed afraid to touch Raph. "Did... Did he get shot in the head?" Casey asked with caution still staring at the large bandage just above Raph's left eye. "oh shell no," I said while standing I didn't realize how frantic I sounded until I saw everyone staring at me. The thought of my brother being shot in the head scared me. April was quickly at my side with her hand on my arm she gently said, "Can you tell us where he was shot?" I took a deep breath, "He was shot in the leg the head wound is from a hit with a crowbar."

"I'm to blame for that," Donnie said as he suddenly appeared all geared up and ready to head out. "I was caught off guard and he took the hit for me." Everyone looked at Raph before our attention got torn away by Master Splinter who had just entered the main room.

"It is good to see you, Miss. O'Neil. Mr. Jones."

"Hello, Sensei." They both said simultaneously.

"We stopped by to drop off some groceries."

"Thank you, Miss. O'Neil."

April turned to Donnie, "I spoke with one of my friends before coming down. She was able to call in antibiotics for Raph."

"Thank you," Donnie said while lifting an eyebrow at Mikey who was stuffing his face with popcorn.

"Are you coming with us Leo?" asked April

I was surprised at first because I had not even thought about the fact that we would have to leave to get what Raph needed.

"I think Mikey could use the fresh air," I said as I sat back down in front of Raph. Mikey nearly choked looking up from the popcorn bag. The light in his eyes returned when he realized they were going topside. "Alright! Let's go!" I chuckled at Mikey before a sound from Raph caught my attention.

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