Donatello found Splinter waiting on edge for them when they arrived, having partially prepared the Lab with his instructions. Michelangelo helped Don carry Leo inside first, and then the orange-masked turtle ran back out to the Slider to help their other brother.
The rat started his own assessment of the blue-masked turtle, but still wanted Donnie's. "What do we know?"
"I need to upload his scans to the big monitor. I'm not positive about his neck. I didn't feel any outright breaks, but I don't have your hands either, Master. I just wanted to be on the safe side with him. Doc is coming, and Mike's gonna pick him up."
As if on cue, the younger turtle's voice suddenly carried from the living area.
"Donnie, we've got a little problem!"
Donatello ducked out of the Lab, to find Michelangelo with their older brother slung over one shoulder. He hurried to help get Raph from the other side, and they handled him together into the next room.
"He got out of the Slider on his own, Don. I found Raph on the ground, and he didn't answer me when I tried to help him up."
"All right. Go get Doc," Donnie instructed, and turned his attention to probing Raphael closer.
Michelangelo had no sooner disappeared, when the red-masked turtle was stirring with a bit of a groan. As he tried to sit up, Donatello leveled a hand against his chest to keep him pinned.
"Forget it, Raph. I don't want you to move an inch."
Amber eyes appeared a little dazed at first. The massive wince he followed up with had Don moving quickly to redirect the closest light out of Raphael's face. Then he noticed the back of his head seeping again, and scooped up another roll of fresh gauze to staunch the injury.
"Why are you messin' with me?" he murmured, confused. "What 'bout Leo?"
"Sensei is going over him for the moment. I don't want to proceed any further with Leo until Doc gets here. You're bleeding worse than before, bro. What part of 'stay put', didn't you understand?"
"Shut up, Genius."
"The second you start listening to me, I will."
"Have you ever met me, Don?"
Donatello was relieved to see Luke a few minutes later. The man took a little time to examine Leonardo, before going to see the scans Donnie had taken.
"This machine of yours is incredible, Donnie. The absolute clarity is like nothing I've ever seen. Your scanner could revolutionize the medical world," Luke said with a twinge of awe.
"But back to situation at hand..." Donatello quietly reminded.
"Right, of course. We're looking at a hairline fracture of his neck. He has no real separation, so that's a relief. The bones are still aligned in his skull too. The good news is we shouldn't have to open him completely up, not unless there are fragments close to his brain. I can't imagine doing something like that down here. Have you designed a sedative?"
"You've seen all the formulas I have in the hopper, Doc. I've played with sedation before, just not with great results."
"We're have to work on it together, you know, Donnie? We need options available for situations like this."
"We do have certain herbal elements..."
"Which don't contain the potency nor the predictability which is required. All I'm saying is, we have a lot of work to do. For the present, we need to try an minimize as much of the swelling in his head as possible. Let's start him on a cold/hot compress cycle. That's the first step to take. We should begin icing down both points of impact for at least half an hour at a time-"
"And follow with fifteen minutes of heat," Donatello filled in.
"Yes, exactly. Keeping the swelling down is half the battle, and it will eliminate a ton of possible complications. You've already got him hooked up to the IV, but how is your back-up blood supply?"
"It's good, we've recovered. I don't allow us to run below a certain amount. The stabilizers help keep it consistent longer than traditional storage does."
"You really don't belong down here, Donnie. What I wouldn't give to pull you out of this situation completely."
"I can see me going to med school, can't you? Let the dissection begin." Donnie smiled in spite of himself, and then cast a glance back at Raphael. "I can start fixing the compresses for Leo, if you don't mind taking a look at Raph."
"Why would I mind?"
"He's just a tad sensitive."
"Only a tad? I'll watch myself. Make sure the ice-"
"Doesn't come in contact with his skin."
"I keep forgetting I don't have to tell you everything. Go ahead and get on it. I'll check with Raph."
Luke released a deep breath, and went across the room to see the red-masked turtle.
"Hey, Raph. Can you open your eyes for me, as wide as you can? I need to test a few things."
Raphael's grunt wasn't reassuring. "Why are you guys bothering with this?"
"Because you have a head injury and you're demonstrating obvious signs of a concussion, in addition to passing out. All of those symptoms requires attention, Raphael."
"It ain't like I've never been knocked out before. Seriously, what's the big deal?"
"The big deal is, your head's not designed to take an unlimited amount of damage. Complications can rise from too many concussions, and too many head injuries.
"Now I know you're worried about Leonardo, so you don't want me to focus on you. But we have to concentrate on keeping the swelling down on him, before we can do anything else. Donnie is here to see to that task, which leaves me free to look after you. Understand how this works?"
"I guess."
"So are you going to be a good patient for me, or do I need to get a tranquilizer?" Luke offered tongue-in-cheek.
"There are faster ways to kill me, you know?" Raph muttered, clearly not amused. "Where did Donnie go?"
"He's grabbing components for hot and cold compresses," Luke told him, not bothering to mention the red-masked turtle should have already known. "Raph, where were you tonight?"
"Patrolling, Doc. It was no big deal. Didn't Don tell ya this?"
"I want to hear it from you. Do you remember what you had for dinner?"
"I really ain't hungry, man."
"No, what did you eat? You already had dinner tonight."
"Um...it was pizza. Only leftovers though. Wasn't that good."
"What was on it?"
"How many questions you gonna ask me, Doc?"
"As many as I feel like."
"Well, I got a question too. Who won the fricking game?"
Luke chuckled, startled. "I sort of forgot."
"Why dontcha check the score?"
The doctor had a sinking feeling while reaching for his phone. He knew what he was likely going to find, but the fact that Raphael remembered to ask was a good sign. He brought up the appropriate window and refreshed to find the updated score. "There are two minutes left in the fourth."
"And?"
"Georgia is up by three touchdowns," he grumbled.
The turtle started to snort, and then groaned. "I'm such an idiot."
"Because the Tarheels are losing...?"
"Because I caused this whole stupid thing. Sorry you have to bail our shells out, Doc."
"I'd prefer none of you to be hurt, Raph. But I will gladly 'bail out your shells' as many times as necessary."
"Doc, you got no clue what you're getting into."
When Splinter came out of the Lab, it was difficult to take in the sight of his youngest son looking so forlorn. The orange-masked turtle was sitting alone on the couch.
"Michelangelo. Would you like some tea?"
He didn't look up at him, merely shaking his head. "No thanks, Sensei."
Splinter came over to sit beside him. "I know it is not easy to simply wait. If you need anything..."
Michelangelo shook his head again. "I feel so useless sometimes. You'd think, with the amount of time I've spent with Donnie, somethin' would rub off on me."
"You are far from useless, my son. What makes you feel this way?"
"It was being back in the alley. I took one look at the hole in Leo's head, and it made me wanna throw up. But it's like nothing to Donnie. He doesn't even flinch."
"For starters, Michelangelo, you are not your brother. It is unfair to try and compare yourself to him. Secondly, you seem to be forgetting all the events from a couple months ago. You led your brothers to Donatello when he went missing, and helped Doctor Barrows get acquainted with the Lab. You were also the one who assisted Leonardo, the night he was injured during your first attempt to return Miss Richards to her parents.
"Whether or not you are comfortable dealing with physical injuries, it is not the measure of your particular usefulness in this family."
The turtle opened his mouth as if to say something, and then closed it.
"What is it, Michelangelo? What do you wish to say?"
"Nothing. It's stupid and pointless."
"Tell me."
"It's just...Donnie and Doc have so much in common. He's never had somebody who actually understood all of his brainy stuff before. I don't think I can, um..."
"You can what?"
"I can't compete with Doc, Master Splinter. Like, not at all."
"Why would you need to compete with anyone?"
"I'm not saying I literally need to fight to keep a place with Don. But I'm worried stuff might change more than I want it to. I don't wanna lose my brother."
"You are not losing your brother," Splinter reassured gently. "I know certain changes require...adjustments. But it doesn't mean all of your past is forgotten. Donatello needs you, Michelangelo, as much as you need him. I see it very clearly, but if you need further clarification, then talk to him. I know you are not afraid to do that."
"No, Master, I can. I'll wait for things to settle down again."
Splinter drew an arm around his shoulder. "All of us have need of you, my son. You should never discount your own importance to our clan. Your spirit and talents are vital for our wellbeing."
The orange-masked turtle shrugged, and it pained Splinter's heart. "All of us are vital, aren't we? Leo will be okay, right?"
"He is in the best hands he can be, Michelangelo. I have confidence in your brother and Doctor Barrows, and you know you can as well."