It had been an accident.
Nothing more could explain what happened once they had reached the docks and had the little girl jump out of the battleshell and run across the pavement screaming for her parents before any of them could stop her. But they had followed nevertheless. Heedless of the consequences. It wasn't until they finally managed to catch up with her that they realized they were too late.
There standing at the edge of the docks was the girl, staring down into the dark murky waters that were now mixed with the blood of the two adults floating face down there with part of the back of their skulls missing.
Don was the first to reach her, his warm brown eyes going wide in horror at the sight of pale lifeless skin painted with various colors from bruising and burns and blood. Reaching out automatically he grabbed the little girl around the waist and swung her around so that she couldn't see the two corpses as his brothers skidded to a stop just within arms reach of him, each with horrified looks on their faces.
"Oh man-" Mikey said as all color drained from his face, leaving it a sickly chalky grey-green color.
"Be quiet." Raph snapped at him, his body fairly shaking with rage as he fisted his hands at his sides.
Leo turned his back on the scene for a moment, unable to stand seeing the humans in such a pitiful state before turning to Don whom was still holding onto the girl, his expression sad as he whispered something to her and started to hide her eyes with his free hand when she buried her face against his shoulder and wailed in grief.
God what were they going to do with her? Leo wondered as he told Don to set her down for a moment. His younger brother looked at him strangely but complied as Leo knelt down and asked her quietly,
"Do you have any other family? Someone that we can call to take care of you?" She hiccupped and looked at him through red rimmed eyes. Eyes that had seen far too much for one so young, and finally shook her head no. There was no one.
She was alone now.
The thought of her living on the streets, foraging for food, fighting for her life didn't sit well with Leo as he reached out and very gently wrapped her in his arms and hugged her. Feeling that if there was ever any time someone needed a hug- it was now.
"Okay. Okay, I get it. Let me make some calls and we'll find someone to take care of you." He said gently before letting her go and letting Don pick her back up again and then ordered Mikey to place a call to the police.
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That had been a little over an hour ago before they had found themselves on their way to Aprils so that they could get the little girl out of her wet clothes before she caught a cold or something. Once the battleshell was parked in front of April's building, the four mutants climbed out of the vehicle with Leo carrying the girl whom had started to go into shock.
Moving quickly, the four scaled the fire escape and managed to get up to April's window where the red head was waiting for them with towels and some fresh, dry clothing for their little passenger. Climbing through the window, Leo gave April a disheartened greeting and set the girl down. April took a quick look at her before kneeling down and draping a towel over her head and saying.
"Hi sweetheart. My friends tell me that you've had a rough night."
The girl looked at the red head blankly. Almost as to say, 'duh' as Leo asked politely, "Could you make her a cup of hot chocolate while Don and I see to her wound and stuff?"
"Oh, sure. Do you want me to make some for you guys too?"
"If it isn't too much trouble."
"Alright. Let me just put the clean clothes I dug out for her in the bathroom first." April said as she got up and left the room as the other turtles were coming in.