*Would you look at that? We're halfway through Refuge. What on earth could be in store for the next 50 chapters, you ask? The following five days will be telling. Thanks for reading, reviewing, and making this experience so gratifying for me.

Raphael's head was already on the verge of exploding, but he fought to keep his voice calm. "Using the smallest words possible, do you think you can explain what this contraption is actually for?" He'd already been moved up to the third floor earlier that morning, to prepare for what would be taking place the next day, and the dark -haired doctor was giving him a brief run-through of the procedure.

Marcus nodded without the smallest sign of impatience.

Shell, he's gotta be one of the most understanding people I know, Raphael thought distractedly.

"The method I want to use on you is called external fixation, Raph. The purpose of the mechanism is to help hold the fractured bone segments securely in place while they're healing, providing for the best possible position."

"What are you going to do on the inside tomorrow?"

"I'm going to address any scar tissue first, but the real bulk of the work will involve bringing the surface of the bone into compression by using what's called 'skinny wires'. It's almost like sewing with a needle and thread, only in this case, I'm going to be threading the wires through the opposite ends of the fractured pieces to pull them into alignment. The ends of the wires are then anchored to the external fixator using half-pins that go through the skin, and screw into the bone. The fixator will have special rings above and below the breaks, which are further stabilized by rods."

"And how long does the fixator stay on?"

"Until the fractures are healed, which could be anywhere from 3-6 months. External fixation is used as a last resort by many surgeons in the US, but that isn't the case with the rest of the world. I've seen them used with a lot of success, and I'd really like to go this extra mile with you, to make certain the bones are aligned properly. I want you to have the best possibility of returning to full mobility, and I believe this is it.

"The fixator is completely stable and self-supporting, which means you could even be walking on it in a matter of seven or eight weeks. Physical therapy will begin as soon after surgery as possible, so that you don't lose as much muscular structure," Marc finished.

The man didn't say anything else for the moment, but his expression concerned Raphael.

"What's up, Marc? Is there something you're not telling me?"

"I'm staying," he said firmly. "I know you don't like it, but I'm not going to just perform the surgery and walk away from you."

"Marc, what about April? What about your patients?"

"April will join us in a matter of weeks. As far as other patients...in the near future, they're going to have to use someone else. I'm not going to argue about it with you, Raph. My mind is made up. Besides wanting to be here for you, we have to devise and implement the plan for Rebecca's pregnancy, and deal with Michelangelo's issues. There's a lot on Luke and Donny's plates, and we need all hands on deck. Do you want me to leave the others too?"

"What I want ain't the point, Doc." Raphael suddenly felt more tired. "I'm not gonna try and talk you out of it. I want everything to be okay with Mike and Becky's kid, and I want Mike to be okay."

The red-masked turtle stared at the ceiling for a good ten seconds, waiting to see if Marcus would speak. When the man said nothing, he turned to look at him. "Y'know I'm actually relieved you're here, don't you? It makes me feel safer, I just...I wouldn't wanna make that kind of demand of you."

Marcus startled him by laughing out loud. "You guys are priceless, every single one of you. It's okay for you to push yourselves to the brink and beyond, but God forbid someone else sacrifice anything for you."

Raphael shrugged because he couldn't think of an argument, and Marcus went on.

"I could think of worse places to be stranded, right?"

The red-masked turtle cracked his first smile of the afternoon. "I can think of worse people to be stuck with," he returned. "When are you leaving for town?"

"Not for a few hours," he answered.

"And when you come back, you'll have everything you need to do the surgery?"

Marcus nodded.

"Well, okay then. Get back here soon," he said gruffly.

There was a light knock on the door to the Lab, and Raphael saw the silhouette of one of his brothers appear when it opened. Mike shuffled into the room, and looked sheepish when his blue eyes fell on Marcus.

"Sorry, I'm not interrupting, am I?"

"I was about to head downstairs, so you have good timing, Mike." Marc's tone was normal, but Raphael noticed the hawk-eyed precision with which the man studied his youngest brother.

Shell, I know that look by now. He must not believe this thing with Mikey is letting up any time soon.

"Did you eat?" Marcus asked Mike.

The orange-masked turtle nodded. "Cross my heart. I think Leo was looking for you, Marc."

"All the more reason to get downstairs. I'll come back up before I leave, Raph."

Raphael raised a hand as he left, and then focused on his grinning brother.

"I pity the person who thought it was a good idea to arm Karina and Jen with a credit card in a grocery store. That place is going to be out of stock on half their merchandise before those girls get done shopping," Mike joked.

"And we'll be eating like kings," Raph said slyly. "They're the ones to send, Mike, believe me."

Michelangelo dropped into the low stool that was sitting to the right of the bed. "How are you feeling, bro?"

"Okay," Raph replied. "I'm in that fantastic place where I can't feel much of the pain, but my head isn't flying off into another universe. That stage doesn't last long enough."

Mike snickered. "If your head floats off too far, I'll be sure and get it back for you, Raphy." His smile faded as he shifted his hands onto his knees. "Tomorrow's gonna be a big day for you, huh?"

"I can't wait. I wish it was today."

"Do you really?"

"Well, sure, 'cause that would mean it's already almost over." The red-masked turtle flashed him a grin, and Mike returned the smile faintly. "Have you seen anything interesting around here yet?"

"Outside, you mean? No. Leo and Don did a little sight-seeing, but they couldn't invite the infirm along with them."

Raphael peered at his brother, trying to figure out if Mike was being serious.

"All they found was a troop of missing Girl Scouts who wandered away from their camp," Mike said. "Leo volunteered to be their new leader."

Raphael rolled his eyes but also breathed an inward sigh of relief. He enjoyed hearing Mike sounding more like himself, even if he wasn't up to his old tricks. He eagerly fastened onto the familiar element of his brother's personality.

"Are they gonna make you their mascot?"

"Only because I told them you were unavailable."

Raphael snorted in return. "You're not gonna need to wrangle a bunch of little girls, Mikey. We're gonna be living in a mad house when your kid comes along."

Mike chuckled. "That's probably true."

"If you turn both rugrats against me, I'm gonna bury your shell so far underground it'll take a week for anyone to find you."

"Sounds like fun, bro. Should I start digging a hole now and get a head start for you?"

A contented feeling alighted on Raphael's mind, causing even the pain in the background in fade in intensity. As far as they'd traveled in the last couple of days, hanging out with his brother made him feel like he was at home.

"You're just lucky I'm as nice as I am," Mike said deviously. "I could have taken major advantage of this situation."

"Right, and if Kari didn't kill you, I'd finish the job 6 months from now."

Mike's smile faltered again. "Six months? Is that what Marc is saying?"

"He doesn't really know, Mike. It all depends on how the bones heal. You remember what it was like with Don, don't you, bro? It didn't keep him down forever, and it won't stop me either."

"I know," he said with a certainty. "I just need to figure out how many days I have until I can pull my next prank."

"Only if I don't get you first, shell-head. I'm gonna have the sympathy of everyone on my side too, you better remember that."

Mike grinned. "I know how to get sympathy of my own. It sure hasn't been hard to lately. It's getting people off my shell that's the problem."

"You know they're just worried about you, Mike."

His brother shrugged, and a shadow of weariness reappeared on his face. "I can't wait for Donny or Doc to figure this out, so we can all get on with our lives."

Raphael cocked his head, hesitating. "What does it feel like? This thing with your lungs, that is. Is it there all the time, or does it ever ease up?"

Michelangelo stared into space for an instant. "It's weird. I felt normal most of the time, to start with anyway. It was never too difficult to breathe unless I started coughing badly, but now..."

"Now, what?"

"Now it just happens, without any warning. It seems like it's worse at night, but that might just be because of lying down. Sleeping propped up helps, most of the time. Things like climbing a hill, walking upstairs...they're harder than they should be. I feel like I could sleep for about 20 hours a day, but who wouldn't like to do that?" he finished jokingly.

Raphael didn't see it as a laughing matter. "You're such a bonehead," he muttered, leaning his head back against the pillow. He was getting more tired too, which he didn't want to admit out loud.

What the shell do I have to be tired for? I haven't done anything in days.

He noticed the sympathetic look he was getting from Mike's direction, and scowled in return. "Don't you be getting any ideas if I fall asleep in front of you."

"Aw, Raphy...I'm not really gonna torture you. I wouldn't do that."

"I'd rather hear your fake threats than have you feeling sorry for me, Mike. You don't want the pity either, right? Let's make a pact, here and now. I won't treat you like some broken down piece of junk, if you agree not to see me that way."

"Deal, Raph."

A low cry echoed from the nearby staircase, and Mike got to his feet. "It sounds like somebody misses their daddy."

Raphael forgot about being tired, and braced both arms on either side of him so he could shove his way up further. He was already waiting expectantly when Karina walked through the open door with Olivia. Mike made a show of stretching and cast him a wink before he headed for the door.

"Hey, sis," he greeted Karina. "Is Liv ready for her dad to spoil her?"

"You're the one who spoils the kids, Mikey." Raphael scoffed.

His brother gave him a parting smile and tapped Olivia's shell affectionately as he went by.

Raphael could feel his eyes brightening as he stared at the young woman holding his daughter. Karina's bronze hair was down, hanging in soft angular layers over her shoulders. The loose strands caressed her cheekbones in a way that made him wish he could get up and brush them aside. Karina was the essence of female to him; he'd always thought so, from the first moment that he remembered meeting her.

Karina looked back at him strangely as he stared. "What is it, Raph? Are you all right?"

"'Course I am. The docs gave me enough painkillers to lay out a horse."

At her concerned expression, he shook his head. "Not seriously, Kari. What's going on with my two girls?"

Karina smiled as she held Olivia out toward the bed. "She misses her daddy."

"I miss her too. You can put her down if you want, Kari. I won't let her climb the railing or anything."

"I know you won't, Raph, I just don't want her to accidentally hurt you. You know how she is. Liv does have your genes after all, and she barely knows her own strength."

Nevertheless, Karina put the baby down next to him, so Raphael could get his arms around her.

"She's gonna learn about her strength, Chica, and then she's gonna save it all so she can beat up her Uncle Mikey."

"I suppose there's little hope of her growing up in lace and tutus, is there?" Karina smiled.

Raphael rested a hand on top of the baby's head. "That's up to her, Kari. I want to make sure the girl can defend herself. If she wants to do it in a tutu, that's her business."

The young woman laughed. "That would be quite a picture."

Raphael nodded, grinning down at Olivia as she grasped her fingers over his arm. When the little turtle gripped him, he could feel the promise of the strength that was to come. As the baby's curiosity began to be drawn lower to the devices that were immobilizing his legs, Karina bent down to pick her up.

"Aw, you don't have to do that, Kari."

"I'm not going to let her have free rein near your legs, Raph. Not for a few months."

Raphael sighed heavily. "Yeah. I guess 'free rein' is off for you and me too. You have no idea what that feels like."

"What are you talking about, Tortuga?"

"Watching you day in and day out without being able to have you. I'm telling you, it's gonna be depressing."

"No one said you couldn't have me," she said quietly.

"You know what I mean. You walk around here so beautiful, and you're gonna drive me crazy."

In a swift move she bent over to kiss him, and he was engulfed in the sweet spicy scent of patchouli that reminded him so much of their wedding night.

"I'm not going to let you feel deprived, Raph."