A/N - Sorry guys! I tried to post this yesterday but the site was being really weird and wouldn't load. Thanks to the people who have reviewed this story so far!

Panic Stations: April

I can't help but feel a bit overwhelmed with how much trust the guys have in me. When Don had called earlier needing a scanner I wasted no time in helping him. In fact it was half assembled when he got here. When he told me why they needed it, worry filled me as much as it did them; I wanted to help in any way I could.

I didn't expect to see Donatello turn up at my apartment not 20 minutes later with a badly injured Splinter. He was panicking in his own quiet way and looking for someone to help him. Poor guy, he's only a teenager and I'd do anything to help all of them.

But, this time I don't think it will be enough. We'd both gone to work immediately and decided caring for Splinter would be easier in the bathroom where we could wash the blood off. We pulled open his robe and removed the makeshift padding that was bound around his shoulder. I nearly gagged at the horrific injury. I could see bones moving in his shoulder, and my heart broke for Splinter. Poor guy must be in agony. At first I felt kind of uncomfortable helping Don care for his Father, since Splinters is always so reserved and at most I've got the occasional hug out of him; it seemed strange to be taking care of him. But seeing the injury, and how weak his pulse was getting, made me understand why they wanted my help. I can't help but feel flattered they trust me to look after him, but I'm not sure how much we can actually do.

Since Don got here, the others arrived not long after and have been banished to the living room while we work. They're all so worried, and Raph seems really out of it. I've hardly heard him make a sound out there and he'd normally be shoving his way in here demanding to do something. From Donnie's visit earlier I knew the basics of what had happened between Raph and Splinter but how it led to this I don't know.

I turn my attention back to the current problem and find Donnie had prepared some of the tools we're likely to need. Thankfully, I now keep emergency medical supplies here just in case, but caring for an injury like this on the bathroom floor is hardly ideal. Already the blood has soaked through a couple of towels and I hate the fact this is the best we can do. He should be getting proper treatment where he's safe and has access to pain medication. Not dying on a bathroom floor while his son tries to fix him!

"How's it looking April?" asks Donatello with a slight shake in his voice. I took the more gruesome job of inspecting the injury while Donnie cleaned his Father up a bit. Truthfully, I'm surprised Splinter is still alive. The injury is horrific and I shudder to think how much it hurt him.

Carefully, I pull back the jagged hole and shine a small light inside. Splinters lost so much blood, but we have to close the wound somehow and can't afford to miss something.

"Not too good, Donnie" I say softly, and feel the teen tense next to me "we need to sew up some of this internal damage, and set the broken bones. The bullet caused a lot of damage and managed to break the collarbone and damage the shoulder blade. He's lost way too much blood as well"

Silence greets my assessment and I feel bad for being so blunt with him, I've never seen him so unsure of what to do but I guess he doesn't usually have to fix damage of this level.

"He's tough, Don. If we fix him up and he rests, I'm sure he'll be ok" I try to reassure him "hand me the tools and I'll do the stitches"

"Thanks April" breathed Don, moving in position to help me. Splinters smaller than the turtles and the stitching will be quite intricate; so I don't think Donnie's large hands or shaky nerves will be the best thing at the moment.

As I worked, I tried not to think of Splinter as part of my family. I tried to disassociate myself and think clinically, but at the moment I was failing miserably. I've patched all the guys up from time to time but Splinters never really needed much help.

We both put on surgical gloves, and by the time I finish all the stitches they're slick with blood and I'm exhausted. We stopped the bleeding but his heart beat is still shaky from blood loss and we still need to set the shoulder.

I feel like we've been in the bathroom a lifetime when we clean Splinters fur again and bind his shoulder tightly in bandages. The wound in his shoulder still looks a mess but since closing it up, Don seems to have regained control of his nerves.

"We should probably put that arm in a sling too" he suggests as we carefully move Splinter upright.

"Broken shoulders are very painful and he can't risk pulling the stitches, he will be on bed rest for a while. We'll have to make sure he stays very still, any movement could jostle the bones until they start mending. He won't be able to use that arm for a while" I agree, silently thinking how he won't be doing anything for a while. Though I can't help but wonder if the muscle and nerve damage will affect his use of that arm anyway.

"I don't know what we'd do without you April" said Don, turning a watery gaze to me. I can see relief in his eyes that the worst part is over for now, and I can't bring myself to contradict him. Truthfully, Splinter is nowhere near safe yet.

'You guys are family" I reply fondly "he should stay here for a bit though. We can't risk the wound getting infected in the sewers"

"That's why I brought him straight here rather than the lair" said Donatello, as he finished securing Splinters arm, "you know he'll hate imposing on you though"

"I'll tie him to the bed if I have to" I answer solemnly and finally get a small grin from Donatello "now come on, we can put him on the couch for now. Besides, how many times do I have to tell you guys you're family"

Although, I'd tried to keep Donnie focused on the positives. I had a lot of questions and concerns. We'd done our best but that was no guarantee Splinter would recover, considering he had lost so much blood and the extent of the injury. He hadn't so much as moved since we started working on him, and if he woke up would be in enough agony that was sure to upset the turtles. What exactly had happened with him and Raphael that led to all this?

As we slowly carry Splinter out of my blood stained bathroom, I feel anxious. Hopefully Raph can tell us what happened...