"Actually," Alberts said. "He can't have prosthesis's now and…"

"Why the fuck not?" Raphael demanded. "Ya amputate, one has that done. Ain't that how it's done?"

"Yes, but I first need to take measurements of his limbs before the operation, so I can know what exact sizes he needs. Only several weeks after the surgery and once the wound has had a chance to heal and the swelling has gone down, can I make a plaster mold of the residual limb. The mold then serves as a template for making a duplicate of the residual limb."

"I get it," Don said. "The duplicate of the residual limb is then used to test the fit of the prosthetic limb as it's being built, right?"

Alberts nodded and said, "Yes. Newer technologies allow computerized digital measurements to be taken as well. Careful attention is also paid to the structure of the patient's residual limb, including the location of any muscles, tendons and bones. The health of the patient and condition of the skin are other factors taken into account when designing the prosthesis."

"Several weeks with a stump?" Mikey said in dismay. "How the hell am I going to do anything?"

"We'll look after ya, Mikey," Raphael said, patting his brother's shoulder. "Whatever ya need."

"No offence, Raph, but I don't want you cleaning my ass!"

"Kiddo, look, I know it'll be embarrassin' for ya, but would ya rather sit in yer own shit?"

"Thank you, Dr. Raph," Don said acerbically. "You made your point."

"No," Mikey said. "But it'll be embarrassing being so reliant on you all."

"We're sorry about that," Leo said. "But it's only temporary, Mikey. Until your prosthesis's are ready and they'll be the coolest ever. The doctor and Don will see to that. I promise. You'll be bionic Mikey, a force to be reckoned with and you'll look even more awesome."

"Will I be able to be a ninja again, Leo?" Mikey asked hopefully.

"Time will tell, bro, but you'll definitely be able to wipe your own butt, play video games and everything you love, so try to have faith and let the good doctor do his work, okay? We're all here for you and love you."

"And I love you all," Mikey sniffed, a tear coursing down his cheek.

Raphael squeezed his shoulder and said, "Yer gonna be fine, Mikey. Yer in good hands. He's the best doc there is, okay? Told ya we'd get the best."

"Can I continue?" Alberts asked.

Don nodded and said, "Go ahead."

"Therapy is extremely vital," Alberts said. "And should be done be daily. Now getting back to my job, I pay especially close attention to the interface between the patient's residual limb and the prosthetic socket. After an amputation, a patient's residual limb will typically shrink over the course of several months as swelling diminishes and muscles begin to atrophy, or shrink from lack of use. It's possible that new sockets may need to be fitted to accommodate the reduction in size. Layers of sock-like dressings can also be varied to accommodate for the changing size of the residual limb, which also changes over the years."

"So, what yer sayin', doc," Raphael said. "Is that he'll need ta see ya throughout his life, because he'll need new fittings, as his residual limb size changes."

"Exactly that. I'll do the measurements and the operation. Then, I must leave. My wife will be furious if I'm not there. It's her fiftieth and she's been planning the party for months. All of our friends will be there and…"

"Ya really call yerself a fuckin' doc?" Raphael growled, green eyes blazing. "Ya care more 'bout a fuckin' party than 'bout yer patients, my brothers! Ya selfish prick! I don't give a shit 'bout yer wife and yer rich pals. I want my brothers fixed. Now. And ya ain't goin' anywhere. Ya will do the measurements, the operations on my brothers and then ya will leave once Mikey's healed and has his prosthesis's."

"That could be eight weeks!" Alberts said in alarm. "You can't do that! That's imprisonment!"

"What do ya think, guys?"

"Lock the door, Donnie," Leo said. "It's going to be a long few weeks, but don't worry, doc, you're safe, as long as you listen."

"Can I at least call my wife to let her know I'm all right?" Alberts asked.

"No," Usagi chimed in, as Don locked the door. "You'll just tell her all about us. Get to work."

"You can't treat me this way!" Alberts screamed. "I'm a famous doctor and deserve respect."

Raphael snorted contemptuously and said, "Respect is earned, doc, and that temper tantrum ain't gonna work. Get ta work. Tick-tock or would ya like my sai up yer ass?"

"You're a savage beast!"

"So I've been told, but I'm savage ta people that piss me off and ya don't wanna see me pissed off. Ya will come off second best. Every single time, ain't that right, Leo?"

"Right."

"Wanna hear how many I've slaughtered?"

"I get the message," Alberts said. "I'll do as you ask. Just stay away from me."

"So glad ya understand me," Raphael said and winked at Leo, as he added, "Would hate for ya ta be the sixty-first person I've killed."

Mikey and Don chuckled inwardly and Leo returned the wink and said, "We don't call you Raphael the brute for nothing. You're legendary for all the wrong reasons. I'm so proud to call you my brother and I hope to overtake you someday."

Alberts' eyes widened in fear and he thought, what the hell did I deserve to be kidnapped by a bunch of psycho mutant turtles? Maybe I was a bad person in a past life. Little did he know, but it was only scare tactics. Raphael hadn't killed that many, he certainly didn't enjoy it and only did it out of necessity. But the emerald skinned turtle did feel a sense of satisfaction, as the doctor's face paled. He loathed the man, thought him a pompous piece of trash and would gladly have beaten the crap out of him if they didn't need his services.

Alberts then took some measuring instruments of Don's and measured Mikey's arms and checked for a pulse near the area he had to cut. When that was done, he said, "I need to perform general anesthetic. Do you have that for me to use?"

Don nodded, placed some in a syringe and handed it to the doctor.

"How the heck did you acquire this?" Alberts asked in amazement.

"Doesn't matter," Raphael snapped. "Inject Mikey. Mikey, bro, we're here and we're gonna stay here until ya wake up, okay?"

"I'm scared," Mikey whimpered, his eyes filling with tears.

"I know, buddy," Raphael said and squeezed his hand. "But we're here and it'll soon be over. What would ya like me ta make ya for dinner later?"

"You're a bad cook, Raph."

"I can improve. How 'bout pizza? Choc chip?"

"Sounds great. I'd like that."

"Whatever ya want."

"You're going to be fine, Mikey," Leo said. "I promise. And when you wake up, we're going to spoil you rotten, okay? I love you."

"We will," Don said. "Everything will go well, Mikey. Love you."

"He's a terrific doc," Usagi said. "So have faith, Mikey."

"And I love ya too," Raphael said. "I'll hold yer hand while he injects ya, okay?"

"Thank you, Raph," Mikey said and shuddered, thinking of all the things that could wrong:sepsis and death."

Raphael continued to hold Mikey's hand, as Alberts injected him. It wasn't long before Mikey was out and using the medical instruments Donnie handed him, Alberts began to remove the diseased tissue and any crushed bone. Raphael stood to one side, his arms crossed, trying not to wince, as the bone tissue was placed into a bowl. He hated operations, especially on his brothers, because he felt so helpless and loathed seeing them so infirm. When the diseased tissue had been excised, Alberts then began to smooth the uneven areas of bone and sealed off the blood vessels.

"How's it going there?" Leo asked.

"Fine," Alberts said. "So far, but can you be quiet? I don't need distractions."

Alberts then cut and shaped the muscles, so that the stumps would be able to have the prosthesis's attached to them.

"It went well?" Raphael asked, when Alberts stood up, wiping his brow.

"Looks like. I just have to splint his leg, wrap his arms in gauze and then I'm done with him and can work on your other brother."

"Awesome news!" Raphael said with a smile.

Alberts splinted Mikey's leg. When he'd finished that, he wrapped Mikey's arms in gauze and said, "I'll clean it every few hours to ensure infection doesn't set in and he'll need medicine. I assume you have anti biotics?"

"Some," Don said. "What we don't have, we can get. Just tell us what."

"Good. Now, let's look at you, turtle," Alberts said, glancing at Leo.

"He's got a name," Raphael said crossly. "Leo and make sure ya do a damn good job, otherwise ya will feel my wrath."

"You're so protective of them. Anyone would think you're lovers," Alberts said snidely.

"What we do or what we feel ain't yer business," Raphael snarled. "Fix him. That's yer job and don't hurt him neither."

"Gosh. You're a temperamental thug, aren't you?"

"Now," Raphael said, grabbing Leo's hand. He squeezed it, kissed his brother's temple and added, "Yer gonna be okay too, Leo."

"Thanks for being here, Raph. Hey, can we talk later? I need to tell you something."

"Sure, Leo."

Alberts got to work splinting Leo's leg and when he was finished, he said, "Leo, you should recover in six to eight weeks and will make a full recovery."

"Thank you, doc."

"And Mikey?" Don asked.

Alberts sighed wearily and said, "His leg will recover too and he will wake in a bit. I am tired and hungry. Can you get me something?"

"Whatever happened ta please?" Raphael said.

"Cut him some slack, Raph," Don said. "He did what we wanted. I'll go make something. You stay here with him."

"So, how did you boys come to be?" Alberts asked. "And you live all by yourselves? How have you evaded peoples' detection?"

"Ya don't need ta know shit 'bout us," Raphael said. "When Mikey's better, ya can fuck off, but if ya ever open yer trap and tell anyone 'bout us, I'll come and find ya and I got ways and means of knowin'."

"You know," Alberts said. "You and Leo would make a cute couple. Cute for mutants, I guess. You seem so fond of him. Kissing and touching."

Raphael and Leo both flushed and Raphael covered his embarrassment up by saying, "Yer mad, doc. He's just my brother. I got a sweet, beautiful girlfriend, who I'm gonna see soon, so shut yer mouth."

"I think you're in denial, Raphael," Alberts said, as Leo's heart sank. He knew he had to tell Raphael the truth and he planned to later that day. It was time to end the charade.

"Stop goading him," Leo hissed. "Raph's just my brother and if you don't want to lose some teeth, I suggest you shut up now. His fuse is extremely short and I won't and can't protect you."

"You have a girlfriend? Why on earth would anyone want you, Raphael?" Alberts asked. "You're ugly, rude and a freak? Even if you have one, I'm sure it's just sex on her part. No one could love you!"

Raphael's blood boiled and unable to ignore the man's jeers anymore, he swung a punch, hitting Alberts squarely in the jaw and sending him to the ground, knocking out three teeth that lay beside him.

Raphael smirked in satisfaction and thought, maybe he does have a point. Maybe I like Leo and not Alex? Seeing Leo so small and frail in that bed cuts me up bad more than seein' the others like that and I enjoy fussin' over him and touchin' him. Fuck. Even Alberts senses that I love Leo. Fuck. But it don't matter anyway. Leo doesn't love me and I have Alex, so I'm gonna focus on her and try not ta be so touchy with Leo and I'll hide my feelings. Alex. Wonder when I'll hear from her again and I wonder if the phone works. Gonna try when Donnie gets back here with shitface's food. I need ta hear Alex's voice and ta know she loves me. Miss her like crazy.