Donnie and Raphael wrapped their arms around an inconsolable Mikey. "There has to be another option, Donnie," Leo said. "Amputation is so final and once that's done, there's no going back."

"I know," Donnie said, looking up, his eyes misty. "But what else can we do? You think I like knowing that's the only viable option? Whatever we do, Mikey's life won't be the same again."

"Stop talking about me, like I'm not here!" Mikey yelled, his blue eyes flashing. "I can hear you and I don't want them amputated."

"It's gonna be okay, Mikey," Raphael soothed, rubbing his shell.

"How can you say that, Raph?" Mikey shouted. "You're not the one, who's going to be a deformed, useless even more of a freak! You're fine and can go on with your life and doing what you love. Me? I won't be able to do a damned thing. Not even wipe my own ass. So fuck you. It's not going to be okay. Not now. Not ever! I'm just a huge burden! And who's going to do the cooking? Leo's useless, Donnie's not that good and your food is barely edible!"

"Yer right. I was lucky I didn't get hurt, but I wish it had been me and not ya, Mikey," Raphael choked out, tears running down his face. "It kills me that my baby brother's sufferin' and I can't ease the pain. All I can do is try and help, but no matter what I do, it will never be enough. And ya ain't a burden, squirt. Don't ever say that. We love ya and will do everythin' we can ta help ya."

"That's right," Leo said. "We're brothers and family and we'll get through this together. You're not alone, little brother. We'll be your strength and rock."

"I wish Sensei were here," Mikey bawled. "I wish he'd come back."

"We all do, Mikey," Donnie said sadly. "But we can't bring him back. He's with his Tang Shen in Heaven. All we can do is try and be strong and hold on to each other. Mikey, I need to disinfect your wounds and start the process before…."

"No!" Raphael yelled.

"Raph," Donnie scolded. "I have to. He can't use his limbs. We've been over this…"

"Yer not touchin' him!" Raphael roared, getting in Donnie's face. "Not until we've discussed things fully."

"We have!"

"No. There has ta be somethin' else we can do," Raphael said stubbornly. "Like get a second opinion."

"And how the shit are we going to do that, Raph?" Leo asked. "We can't go to a hospital looking the way we do. We'll be captured, locked up, tortured. Maybe even killed. And Donnie knows about medicine."

"Donnie knows some things, but he ain't a professional."

"I'm not," Don said.

"Exactly," Raphael said triumphantly. "So there may be another option. Who's the top orthotic and prosthetic doc in the country, Donnie?"

"Like I know the names of all of the doctors," Donnie said acerbically.

"Lose the attitude and look it up if ya don't know."

"I don't see where this is going, but fine." Donnie typed a few words into the Google search engine on his smart phone, got a hit and said, "Cooper Alberts works at Mount Sinai and is world-renowned."

"What are you up to, Raph?" Mikey asked.

Raphael placed a hand on Mikey's shoulder and said, "The dude's gotta go home sometime. I bet he parks in the underground parkin' lot and it's real dark. Even durin' the day."

"You want to kidnap him, Raph?" Leo demanded.

"Ain't kidnappin' as such, Fearless. It's just borrowin' him for a bit ta make a proper assessment of Mikey."

"And he'll see us, know where we stay and tell everyone! That's insane!" Leo shouted, his face darkening.

"No, Leo," Raphael said crossly. "What's insane is choppin' Mikey's limbs off without lookin' at other options. If it were yer limbs, ya would!"

"That's not true. I'd trust Donnie!" Leo insisted.

"BS. Ya would wanna know there was somethin' else we could do first, because bein' a ninja is everythin' ta ya and ya'd go nuts if ya couldn't do it. Don't ya think we owe it ta Mikey ta do the same? Our little, affectionate brother."

Leo sighed and said, "Yes, but kidnapping. That's not us, Raph."

"I don't like it either or takin' the risk and goin' topside in daylight, but if it can help Mikey, then damn it, I'll do it whether anyone else helps me or not! I'll go alone."

"Absolutely not!"

"Hello?" a male voice called from just inside the lair. "You guys okay? What happened?"

"Usagi," Don yelled. "We're in the infirmary."

A few minutes later the rabbit joined them and said, "What happened? My stroll was only half an hour and I come back to a trainwreck. Mikey, Leo? What the heck happened?"

Don quickly filled Usagi in and said, "So that's the whole story."

"Can I go now?" Raphael asked.

"No," Leo said. "You're not going alone, Raph. Take Usagi and Donnie with you. Me and Mikey will be fine doped up on pills until you return. And wear disguises and stay in the shadows."

"Got it."

Donnie gave Leo and Mikey pain pills. Then, he, Raphael and Usagi donned disguises and headed for the hospital.

XXX

Sometime later, they were in the shadows in the underground parking lot, when Raphael spotted a dark haired and eyed middle aged man walking towards a M6. "Is that him, Donnie?"

"Yes. There's no one around, so we have to be quick."

They stealthily crept up on Alberts and Raphael lunged at him, knocking him to the floor. Alberts tried to scream and get away, but Donnie's hand was upon his mouth in a flash, silencing him, and Raphael was too strong. Raphael wrapped his arms around his neck, squeezing. Just enough pressure to cause unconsciousness. Then they lifted him up and headed for the nearest manhole outside the garage. Thankfully, they were undetected, and as they walked back home, Raphael thought, I hope this guy can give us some good news.

XXX

A while later, Alberts woke up and found himself strapped down to a stretcher in what appeared to be an infirmary, with other stretchers and green patients? Green patients? I've lost my mind, he thought, trying to wriggle free and glancing around the room. I'm seeing things. That's a giant turtle. No, two giant turtles. Get a grip, Cooper. They don't exist.

"I'd give up if I were you," Leo said, studying the doctor. "Those binds are secure and you can't escape."

"Who the hell are you?" Alberts demanded. "Aliens and why am I here? Am I a prisoner? If so, why?"

"Not as such. My brothers and I can't go into a hospital looking the way we do and we need your help, so kidnapping you was the only option. I'm sorry for any distress caused."

"What are you? Aliens?"

"Mutant turtles," Mikey said. "And we don't usually go around kidnapping people. Not our style, but like Leo said, we're desperate."

"With what?" Alberts said. "What could you possibly need my help with? I'm a prosthetic and orthotic surgeon and not a vet!"

"Firstly, I'm Leo and that's my brother, Mikey, and that's exactly what we need, Dr. Alberts."

"You know my name?" Alberts said in surprise. "Talking turtles, who know my name. I've seen everything now. What next, talking rabbits?"

As if in answer to his question, the door opened and Usagi, Raphael and Donnie entered, causing Alberts to blink in amazement. They'd been having a snack in the kitchen. "Good. He's awake," Raphael said. "Bout time."

"Good gosh!" Alberts said. "More talking turtles and a rabbit. What a day. I must be dreaming."

"No. Ya ain't, doc!" Raphael said. "Now, listen up. We need yer help. Ya give it and ya might be able ta go back ta yer family. Ya don't, there will be consequences!"

"Don't threaten him, Raph!" Leo said furiously.

"Shut up, Leo. Yer not exactly in a position ta give commands right now," Raphael said and crossed his arms. "I'm in charge. Do ya understand, Doc?" Gazing at the aggressive, burly, emerald eyed turtle, Alberts knew he meant business and nodded. "Good, because I will beat ya up and not feel bad for doin' it. I ain't as nice as my brothers. Speaking of whom, ya've met Leo and Mikey, I presume. This is Donnie. I'm Raphael and this is Donnie's friend, Usagi. Now we all know one another, here's what we want. There were explosions and Leo and Mikey were injured. Leo's leg is just broken and he'll make a full recovery, but Donnie, who's our medic, thinks Mikey's limbs are crushed and need ta be amputated. We want ya ta give yer professional opinion."

"And then you'll let me go home to my family?" Alberts said.

"Probably. Now. I'm gonna untie ya. Don't try and run. It's useless. We're faster than ya and expert ninjas, so do as I say."

"I have a birthday party this evening. My wife's, so you have to release me."

"I don't gotta do nothin'. I mean it, ya run, I won't be so nice," Raphael said, his voice, as cold as steel.

Alberts swallowed hard and said. "I understand."

"Wonderful and just so ya know I mean business, I got these," Raphael said, withdrawing his sai from his obi.

"Are those real?" Alberts said and gasped.

"Absolutely. No sword on earth can match my skill with them. Not even Leo's."

"BS!" Leo said.

Raphael glared at him and said, "It's true. Donnie, release the doc."

Donnie untied Alberts's binds. The doctor sat up, rubbed his wrists and said, "I'll do as you want and then I must go." He approached Mikey's stretcher, pulled back the blankets, and after inspecting Mikey's injuries, said, "The wounds are severe."

"No kiddin', bright spark!" Raphael said sardonically. "We can see that, but how severe? Can his limbs be saved?"

"I'd have to take him to…"

"Ya can't take him anywhere. What's yer professional opinion and gut say?"

"Yes," Mikey said nervously. "Is it as bad as Donnie said?"

"His arms and hands are crushed and unusable," Alberts said. "But his leg could be saved if treated by a professional."

Mikey started to cry and said, "I can't lose them. I just can't. What am I going to do with no arms? I can't do anything!"

"Mikey, we'll help you," Leo said. "We'll do all we can."

Donnie placed a hand on Mikey's shoulder and said, "Thanks, doc. We'll let…"

"Good thing yer here then, Doc," Raphael said, twirling a sai in his fingers.

"So I can go now?" Alberts asked eagerly.

"Nope," Raphael said. "Yer not leavin' until ya make the prosthesis's and fix his leg and ya can help Leo too." And," Raphael growled. "I don't give a fuckin' damn 'bout no party. All I want and all we want is for our brothers ta be okay and ya will make that happen, doc! I won't hesitate ta stick my fuckin' sai up yer ass if ya don't!"