Disclaimer: no....."mumbles irrittably"

Chapter 5: Journey

April glanced into the back of the van, Leo was sound asleep, cradled between Don and Mike, the journey thus far had been hard on him, he was weaker than he had been and could hardly open his eyes anymore. Raph was bedded down on the floor, preventing Leo from hitting the hard floor if he started to roll. Hitting Raph would be bad enough, but the floor...it could break Leo's fragile bones.

April sighed and glanced at Casey, he'd fallen asleep about a half hour ago. They were getting close to their destination, about an hour out. Sioux City, Iowa. They had one of the best Cancer Centers in the Country (that is a true fact folks, we've got a great rating). She just hoped Tara was ready to treat a giant turtle. Taking a chance, April pulled off at an empty rest stop and got out, rushing inside to use the bathroom. hoping no one would pull up and the guys would stay asleep.

Raph jerks awake as she gets back in.

"Apr'l?" He yawns.

"Shhh, go back to sleep Raph," April said gently.

"Nah...I'm good," Raph replied, sitting up carefully, checking Leo over without touching him.

"Hang in there bro," he whispers.

An hour later April pulled into the parking lot of June E. Lynn Cancer Center. There was someone waiting outside.

April got out and walked over, after a second she returned the woman following her.

"Oh my..." the woman gasped, "You weren't kidding when you said he was different," Tara murmmered.

"Can ya 'elp him?" Raph whispered. Tara looked at him and nodded.

"I'll try my best...we better get him inside," she said softly. Raph got up slowly and wrapping Leo in the thick blankets he carefully picked Leo up. A weak moan came from Leo.

"Easy bro," Raph murmered. Don and Mikey quickly slipped out after Raph and Casey got out of the front. Minutes later Leo was laying in a bed wrapped in blankets and Tara was going over blood samples from him and his brothers.

"Mikey...or Raph are the closest...for the transplant," Tara said as she read the paper. Don nodded.

"We need to get this in him fast, he's only going to get weaker and he needs as much help as I can give him..." Tara said firmly.

Twenty Minutes later, after Mikey paniced at the sight of the needle that was being used, Raph was laying on his side as Tara removed the precious bone marrow from his hip. Raph gritted his teeth and grunted...no pain killer, they couldn't take chances on Leo reacting badly to it. Tara sat the second syringe down and pressed gauze to Raph's hip.

"Hold this," she said gently. Raph pressed his hand to it, wincing as the tender area protested the touch. Raph sat still, hoping, praying that the transplant would go well, hoping Leo could pull through. The next morning they all sat at Leo's side and waited, hoping that Leo would give it one last fight, so far there had been no change and thankfully Leo's body hadn't rejected Raph's bone marrow...a good sign.

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