Note: Shout out to Tyroth Darkstorm for his help in writing this chapter! Also references to his fanfics 'Mutants Misplaced' and 'Nemesis' appear in this chapter!
Chapter Eight
Working Tirelessly
In the hours that past after Pandora had fled the Sickbay in devastation over her father's injuries, and the rest of the Hamato Clan and their friends had left, save for Kemeko who still needed to recover and be observed, and Leonardo who remained by her side, James and Dahlia continued to work and watch over their patients, checking their progress and making notes.
Jake as much as he wanted to watch over his sister, he knew he needed to let James and Dahlia work and he along with the help of Amber left the sickbay, but promised he would return the next night to check on progress.
April also remained behind to assist as well as look over Kemeko and Devina who was still feeling ill after being affected by Tyroth's heat in the final battle at the Foot Headquarters.
After Pandora had left, James couldn't help but feel worried and sad for the girl.
He could only remember a few times in his human days when he had to give bad news to the loved ones of his patients.
All their reactions had been different, some just took the news in their stride, others would react worse, either crying, going into shocked silence, or with anger.
Seeing Pandora's react was no different to what he had seen in the past, but it still felt like freezing water pouring over him and making his blood run cold.
As much as he took pride in his work, both then and now, it was always hard to deliver bad news, and since the Hamato Clan had come into their lives, and they couldn't rely on the magical well for healing, he had to use his skills and knowledge to help if they got hurt.
There had been many incidents, and many he wasn't fond of remembering, even if he did like the fact he was properly needed.
And now, this was one of these times when himself and Dahlia had to rely on every medical skill they needed, to save their friends lives.
Dahlia noticed her mentor's look as she was checking Donatello's well-being as well as the machines he was hooked up to and she stood up straight.
"Doctor?" she asked to which James turned to her "Are you alright?"
"I am fine my dear." James sighed "I just…I always hate giving bad news."
"I feel the same." Dahlia replied, "I can only remember my days when I witnessed the doctors and surgeons giving bad news, it was always so heart wrenching!"
"I can only hope that we won't deliver more." James said looking at the still forms of Monalisa, Donatello and Raphael.
The Chimpanzee looked over the red masked turtle and stroked the dressings on Raphael's throat.
"I can only hope the damage is not permanent." He prayed softly "After seeing Pandora's reaction, as well as the others…I can only imagine what Monalisa's reaction will be."
He looked over at the sleeping Lizard Lady and sighed sadly.
Meanwhile in the other room, Devina opened her eyes as she sat up in her bed in the sickbay and looked around trying to see where she was.
"Oh Seven Hells," she cursed "My head!" she rubbed her forehead then turned to see April looking over her.
"Heya." The red headed woman smiled, yet Devina could see it was almost forced "Welcome back!"
"April!" The Vampiress cried "How long have you been there?"
"A while." April replied, "How are you feeling?"
"Alright I guess." Devina answered, "What happened?"
"Well, according to Tyroth you tried to help him at the Foot Headquarters…" April began then as she recalled the whole story, Devina gasped and her skin went even more pale that ever had been.
"Oh, my undead soul!" she cried "Damn! Damn! Damn! Seven Hells on me! I shouldn't have followed him!"
The Vampiress tugged at her hair as she thought about it and remembered how vulnerable she was to heat.
She remembered the first time she had met the Hamato Clan, Tyroth and Sephie and how she had reminded them that Vampires were vulnerable to heat and after Sephie had become a vampire due to a run-in with blood mages when they had been accidently teleported to Skyrim, she had given them all the know all about how to keep the Gecko safe, yet she wasn't able to practice what she had preached to them, and she felt like a fool.
"I wanted to make sure he was alright, but I should have remembered he would be fine! After all he went through with Vulstrun, I should have stayed away!"
April noticed the undead woman's distress and she walked over.
"Hey, Hey, hey! Calm down!" she said placing a hand on Devina's shoulder "It's okay really! You only wanted to help a friend."
"I know but, What help was I went the heat knocked me out cold! How long have I been out!?" Devina demanded.
"About two days." April reported.
"Two days!" Devina cried as she sat bolt upright "How is everyone else? Did everyone get out safe? Is anyone dead? Are they hurt!?"
"Whoa Whoa!" April raised her hands "Whoa there Vampiress!"
Devina then saw Kemeko not far away with Leonardo laying his head on the bed fast asleep.
"Kemeko? Leonardo?"
"They're okay!" April cried "Kemeko had a lucky escape, especially after she tried to commit seppuku." She said with force.
"WHAT!?" Devina shrieked until April shushed her again.
"Just settle yourself!" she said "Look, I'll get us some drinks and I'll tell you everything, alright?"
"Alright." Devina replied as she relaxed back on her bed.
As April walked away, she knocked on the door to the next room and Dahlia answered.
"Miss O'Neil?" she asked.
"Devina's awake." April reported.
"She is!?" Dahlia cried then turned to James to inform him.
The Chimpanzee who had been checking Monalisa's progress instantly informed the wolf to check on the Vampiress to which Dahlia agreed and walked over to Devina to check on her.
April instantly went to get some drinks from the Canteen.
Dahlia checked Devina all over and nodded.
"You've healed well." She said, "Not surprised, given your endurance and resilience as a vampire/werewolf, but you should have remembered how vulnerable you were when you tried to help the dragon."
Devina sighed.
"Ugghhh, I do!" she said, "But I only wanted to assist a friend!"
"And one deserves praise for it." Dahlia comforted.
"How are the others?" Devina asked "The turtles? Monalisa, Pandora?"
Dahlia sucked in a breath.
"Pandora, Leonardo, and Splinter are well, they suffered deep cuts that we were able to treat easily with disinfectant and stitching, Michelangelo suffered a dislocated shoulder and broken left arm, yet…"
Dahlia sighed.
"What?" Devina asked in an anxious voice.
At the same time, April returned with a coffee for herself along with a cup of pig's blood for Devina.
"It's warm." April assured the Vampiress and after thanking the red headed women took a sip and she felt more revived, yet she looked back at the wolf.
"What's happened to the others?" she asked.
Dahlia sighed then told Devina about how Donatello and Monalisa had been poisoned by Black Mamba and Komodo Dragon and how Raphael had been stabbed in the throat and now had damage to his vocal cords.
"By the Gods!" Devina gasped "You mean he'll never be able to speak again?"
Dahlia shook her head.
"It's early days." She said, "But we're hoping it is not the case!"
Devina placed her head in her hands.
"Oh Seven Hells! Damn me to it! I should have been watching over them! Maybe I should have followed Sephie and the others and used my magic to help them rather than gone after Tyroth! What a fool I am!" she wept.
"Devina!" April knelt before the Vampiress "Don't blame yourself!"
Devina looked up at April, tears flowing from her eyes.
"April, Miss O'Neil, may I see them?" she asked.
April looked up at Dahlia, her eyes asking the question to which the wolf nodded.
April delivered the answer and Devina stood up before walking over to the next room and entered where she was confronted by the still forms of Donatello, Monalisa and Raphael.
As she entered, the Vampiress was speechless with shock and sadness.
"Oh no…" she murmured "Oh no!"
She brought her hands to her face and pressed her fingers just below her eyes and rocking back and forth as thoughts ran through her head.
If she had just gone with Sephie and the others, she might have been able to use her healing powers to help those who needed it most, rather than go after Tyroth who could have clearly handled the Shredder alone.
"I'm such a fool!" she cursed "Such a damned fool! Maybe I could have helped them?"
Yet as she thought, she remembered the limitation to her powers.
She was able to heal wounds, yet she couldn't cleanse the body of poisons, but Raphael, maybe she could heal him, yet because he had been injured for a while, she wasn't sure how much she could do to help.
"Devina?" James's voice brought her back to earth.
Devina looked up.
"James?" she said, "Will you give me the chance to try my luck with using my powers to heal them?"
James's eyes widened.
"Please!" Devina begged "I feel awful I wasn't' there when I was needed, and I want to make it up."
She walked over to Raphael and looked at him.
"Oh Raph!" she wept "I'm so sorry! I should have been there to help! I wasn't there to heal you when you needed it!"
She placed her hand on the dressings and a warm light appeared and hovered over Raphael's throat.
April, Dahlia, and James watched then Devina staggered as she felt her energy fail.
James ran over to check the machines.
As he did, he saw that Raphael's brain activity had picked up as well as his heartbeat.
"James?" Dahlia asked hopefully.
James said nothing for a while as he analysed the machines.
"Seeing the results, I believe we might be able to get him out of his coma." He spoke in a hopefully tone.
April and Dahlia looked shocked.
Devina looked over, hope welling in her breast.
"You sure James?" she asked.
James nodded.
"Everything seems to be well, according to the machines." He said, "I think we can start the process of bringing him out."
Devina felt a lump in her throat as she listened, and April looked hopeful.
"He's gonna be okay?" Devina asked desperately.
Dahlia looked at the Vampiress.
"Your magic has helped, but we won't know until he awakens if all is well."
Devina looked forlorn and turned away.
"Then if it didn't work?" she asked, "I have failed?" she lamented "Oh Gods!"
April followed Devina as she left the room, meanwhile James and Dahlia looked over Raphael as they proceeded to gently wake him from his induced coma.
So Devina has awakened and is feeling regrets choosing one path than another when she was needed, yet she wants to help with what she can!
Again a huge thanks to Tyroth Darkstorm for his help in this chapter!