Turtle ER. (tag: Raph and family)

((11pm ish - immediately from Cost of Freedom))

Home work, >,>. Whom ever thought that was a wonderful thing, especially to be doing this time of night - the internal grumblings halted when her phone buzzed - the new device had been on the dresser and as the incoming message alert sound the vibration option made it skitter a little on the smooth white dresser top.

Snatching it and parking her pencil behind her ear Erica swiped her thumb over the screen noting as she did so the image of an big round very reptile eye meaning it was from her best friend. This late though.... She gasps. It could only mean one thing and her suspicions were confirmed immediately.

Leatherhead had found another mutant! and it needed help!

Excitement and fear crashed against the girl as she scrambles off her bed making a mess of her previously neat lay out for homework completion. And simply grabbing a orange hoodie to pull over her nightie she slips her feet into green fake alligator skin flats, snatching her keys to the apartment up at the last moment and hurrying out into the cold outside. Thankfully there was no real foot traffic and no one to see a teenager slip into the alley behind Cafe Noble and with great difficulty yank the man hole cover here aside.

She used her phone for light scurrying along the tunnels ignoring the smells as normal, finding her friends hidden lair and knowing where he will emerge from the wet storm drains closest the old train car he converted into his lab/ work shop of sorts she hurries in to prepare the space. She did not know what the patient needed but she got clean gauze and wrappings ready.

~~~~ ( swim, swim, swim) ~~~~

Okay it was more work to power himself and the turtle through the dark waters, going far faster then he had first planned because he knew the turtle needed care immediately so it was less  then five minutes when they crawled out of the opening storm drain nearest his lab/work and now for the first time infirmary made train car the big alligator actually panted gently as he continued to move on all fours, carrying the turtle to the cart and up the few stairs, ignoring for a moment his busy friend as she prepares the old which he moves towards, turning around with great difficulty to to stand and carefully deposit the turtle in a seat position on the bed. "Erica, Raphael," he introduces before telling her what she could probably see already. "Rapheal, Erica." she looked woefully petite with the pair of them.

"hi!" squeaks the girl in response.

Even though Leatherhead had given him a warning to prepare, Raphael was not ready for this! A million scenarios rushed through his dizzy mind as he took in a deep breath, hoping it would be enough. What if it wasn't?! While he was a Turtle and could hold his breath for longer than average... he could still drown! The Gator had larger lungs and had obviously made this trip enough to know he would be okay, but just how far was it??


Suddenly he was submerged in the cold dark water and he clung onto Leatherhead for dear life, praying this trip would be over soon. Fortunately the trip went without incident, and soon they were reemerging in the mutant Gator's domain and the injured Turtle finally released his breath, then took in another deep one to relieve the tension in his sore, smoke-damaged lungs. He coughed from the effort, wincing at the jostling his lung's violent protests caused.


Soon he was sitting on a bed, and caught sight of the small frame of the woman that Leatherhead had just introduced him to. She was nothing more than a silhouette in his blurred vision, and blinking and rubbing his eyes did nothing to help compose his sight. The blood loss had considerably weakened him, but he struggled to remain conscious. The pull to lean back on the bed was overwhelming, but doing so would only aggravate the injury and make it difficult to access.


"...Hey.." The red-clad Reptile managed to return her greeting, even if it felt like bad timing and awkward coming from his lips, but she had interrupted her night to save his life... he owed her that much, at least.

It became clear the turtle would need more than gauze - and fear tugged at Erica as she looks up at Leatherhead whom steadies the turtle.

"Deep penetrating wound, hemorrhaging and smoke inhalation..." The alligator answers her look smiling at the turtle - "Breath slowly, deeply," He encourages the turtle and stays beside him to support the weakening body.

Leatherhead's calm, and his unofficial training over the years began to kick in and Erica though still frightened - after all their first mutant outreach medical care case was more like a trauma unit case! - and she hurries to gather old, repaired, second hand and some stolen items over - oxygen the turtle was going to require oxygen to help his lungs and then the matter of that sword injury that Erica noted aside from blood loss was actually not as bad as it could have been. As soon as she could get the internal bleeding under control she could then begin to bring his blood pressure back up and give him both pain killers and something to fight infection. So over came the old scuba tank and up into his nostrils went tubing to give his lungs new clean oxygen, Leatherhead providing the stability, her fingers and hands though unpracticed gentle. "this is just to help your lungs clear out the smoke and prevent inflammation..." She spoke to the turtle - whether he heard or not she did not know, but felt she should explain what she was doing.

"Now I must control the internal bleeding and the sword has to come out - this is going to require a laparoscopic surgery to attempt to repair damage and aid in clotting so your body can heal..." She was impressed her own voice did not waver, even if she was very scared - after all this was not a cadaver of a dead animal she was practicing on! but the turtle had no time for her to be scared. So she swallowed it down and focused - leaving the turtle briefly in her friends care to retrieve the repaired laparoscopic instruments the long thin fibre optic camera head and surgical heads one for introducing biological glue, a tiny suction, a suturing end and one tiny clamp - she and Leatherhead had not found or managed to steal any other parts and it was all hooked to a small fat backed portable television haphazardly all perched on a old coat rack with a wheel bases drilled into it. The swords covering came off. Erica slipped on a paper masked and old goggles and having to kneel on the bed beside the big turtle to reach the wound, feeling terrible they had no time for anesthesia and hoping the poor turtle passed out as the sword was finally removed by Leatherhead who kept the turtle supported against his upper body and still, because now she set to work on controlling the internal bleeding with the biological glue, internal dis-solvable stitches and clamping off places at a time to aid clotting cleaning away the blood in the cavity of the wound as she worked from deep inside out to the entry point.

Raphael struggled to remain conscious, even though when the procedure began.. he wished that wasn't the case. The sweet mercy of the adrenaline had worn off and there was nothing to lessen the overwhelming pain. The tubes were placed up his nostrils to help with breathing, but it took a lot of restraint to keep from pulling it out. Then the real pain began as the sword was carefully pulled from his flesh and despite his best efforts, a pained hiss emitted from between tightly clinched teeth and his fingers dug violently into the sheets. The nausea and dizziness became overwhelming, but he was struggling to keep it together. It was a flesh wound... he could take this. He was built for this. Unfortunately it was a very deep and intrusive wound. At least he had size on his side. Not many could have a sword completely embedded into their body and live to tell the tale.

Finally, the sword was out, but now the real work would begin. "Jus'... tape it up..." He told the girl, weakly protesting her efforts. Unfortunately his method wouldn't be enough in this instance, but it was certainly the less exhausting, and painful way. Now his young 'doctor' was setting about, working hard to suction the wound and stop the numerous 'bleeders'...


He tried to focus. Still fighting to remain conscious even though the merciful thing would have been to give in. His unsteady gaze drifted to the sword, inwardly cursing the weapon for ruining his night. Maybe he would take it back to Leo. Surely his brother would enjoy owning something that had gotten the better of him... how ironic it was his weapon of choice....

Erica felt like crying - seriously her first actual hands on with a 'patient'... another mutant like her best friend, and she was causing him the worst sorts of intense pain. And this time her voice did quaver as she answered him, "I am sorry Raphael, I cannot tape it up... but I am half way. Just a bit longer, then the easy stuff..." She tried to inject confidence and reassurance here - whilst torturing the poor turtle no doubt. And she didn't know him personally but her voice was honest none the less for all the good it did him.

But she was in fact moving at a methodical quick pace sealing up the major bleeding outs first, thankfully none were arterial and or major veins, each stitch quick and decisive. Then the cleaning and using it to find the smaller leaks, patching areas with the biological glue. "it is okay if you curse us to the boggy depths of hades," She adds in a very weak attempt at humor her eyes on the fat little television making sure she missed nothing that could rupture, or blood clotting of spilled blood in the cavity that would become an infection, and made sure each leak was dealt with. "Okay almost done, I swear..." And she was, then the entry point she cleaned and tidied, this time with normal sutures - though because of the tougher skin the needle was a little larger and she began pulling the edges tight together. Then to get anti-septic on the area and a patch. Turning off the laparoscopic instruments and placing the bloodied long thin heads on their hooks for the time being, she and Leatherhead would clean when the patient was stable. Slipping off the gloves she had on.

Leatherhead having been mostly a silent partner for most the part so as not to distract his friend spoke as she concentrated, acting both as Raphael's support and a means to keep him still during the procedure. "There will be something for the pain once she is done and fluids are being given to restore your lost blood volume." His deep guttural voice rumbled. He notes the turtle eying the sword and says - in hopes of helping distracting and focusing the turtle - "Did you wish us to clean it for you to keep?" He was meanwhile closest to the iv stuff and as his friend finished up he began prepping a fluid infusion for the turtle. And the pair of them for a transfusion, seeing as they did not yet have enough stock of his reptilian blood to give it was going to have to come from the source, a little at a time to ensure it was not going to cause allergic reactions or be rejected of course. "Is there anyone we should contact for you?" He adds still to distract and focus. As Erica slipped on new gloves moving around to help Leatherhead now, leaving on her mask and goggles for now.

As expected, there would be no taping the wound. Deep down, he knew it wasn't that simple and required more attention than even Donatello could give him. How fortunate that the large Alligator just so happened to be in the area tonight, and felt compelled to help him. Had Leatherhead been watching the chaos unfold? Surely he had. Surely he wouldn't have risked exposing himself to anyone other than a mutant. Then again, the big guy didn't come out of hiding until it was apparent that he needed help. It would have been easy to dwell on the negative in this situation, because tonight had been full of it, but fate had dealt him a helping hand in the form of a large Alligator, and his human friend.



Fortunately Erica was moving at a fast pace, and soon the painful procedure was over and he could finally ease his jaw as the last suture was placed, then a bandage positioned over the once gaping mound. It was amazing that a once severe injury wouldn't look like much now, but damn... he could certainly feel it. One thing was for certain, the Turtle would definitely be sore for awhile. Going home tonight was most likely out of the question. Even the simple task of standing seemed like a horrible idea, and keeping his eyes open was a feat in itself.


Hearing the large Gator's question, Raphael was pulled back from his thoughts, giving a weak nod in response. "Yeah. I think... I think my brother would like it..." He told the mutant, finally leaning back and allowing his shell to brace him against the wall. It hurt, but damn it felt good to finally not have to struggle just to remain sitting up. Then came Leatherhead's next question and the Turtle fell silent for a moment, thinking. He didn't want his family to worry, but if they didn't hear anything, surely Leo would go back for him. He would see the burning building and fear the worst, and who knew what kind of trouble 'Fearless' would get himself into...


"Yeah... my brother..." He said, managing to dig his phone from his belt and slid it over to him. "Name's.. Leo.." He managed in between labored breaths, trying to pace himself to spare his lungs of the discomforting coughs that felt like daggers ripping into the sensitive tissue. Leatherhead should be able to easily find Leo's name in the list of contacts, considering that the list wasn't very extensive. Now that Erica was working more within his line of vision, preparing the IV, he gave her a genuine look of gratitude that was easily conveyed despite his faltering gaze...


"...thank you." Those words never came easy for Raphael, but this girl certainly deserved it.

Leatherhead nods, taking the curious looking phone, "I will call him then once you are comfortable." He assures and seeing Raph rest back he shifts the turtle away from the wall, "Erica... shift the bean bag..." He nods. And she moves it - a much softer cushioning for the turtle to rest against, and in a more reclined, recuperative, level position. He parked himself comfortably as Erica slid a needle into his left arms cephalic vein with practiced ease - he having played her patient in practice runs before in the past. And the big crocodilian had a very high pain threshold so the annoyance of the slightly larger than used on humans needle did not bother him. Filling a baggie with his blood whilst the turtle answered his questions and Erica worked around them both.

Erica smiles back at the turtle, warm brown eyes meeting his fluttering, still unfocused, blood shot gaze, totally at ease with the two mutants even if she was a little wired from her first ever real medical emergency! "Your welcome, though I am sorry I hurt you more just then." Her smaller gloved hands taking his as her gator friend takes the phone. Her tone appreciative of his thanks. Then she lowers her gaze back to finding the turtles' radial branch of the cephalic vein in that much larger hand and wrist for a moment looking and studying, gently moving Raphael's joint then the thumb and fingers individually watching the movements of underlying structures before finally locating what she was looking for! Disinfecting, then introducing the needle catheter into the vein. Then sorting the baggies - one for fluid and Leatherhead's fresh donation, hanging the two off of a pants coat hanger connecting the lines from each baggie to the y port and Raphael's inserted line having to use strips of duct tape to keep tubing against his skin and on Leatherheads when she disconnected the tubing from him leaving in for the moment the catheter after all, if the first donation goes well, more would be needed. And once Raphael appeared less.... weakened she could provide pain relief, antibiotics and something for inflammation, especially important with his stitched deep injury and his irritated, smoked, probably painfully raw lungs. "would you like a little water Raphael?" to add to his fluid intake and help lubricate and cool his mouth and throat after the smoke inhalation. "You can then try to sleep if you like."

Leatherhead sat looking over the phone, learning quickly how to operate it and for the moment studying its features. He would contact 'Leo' as soon as the turtle was resting.

The bean bag was certainly a more welcomed, not to mention comfortable alternative. He leaned back, deciding not to watch as Erica prepped him for the IV. The big guy would never admit, but he wasn't a fan of needles. It wasn't a phobia like his ridiculous fear of bugs, but it was something he preferred to avoid if at all possible. Unfortunately, this wasn't one of those instances so there would be no protest from him. He was still in awe that complete strangers had been so willing to come to his aid, and one was even sharing his blood to save his live. Yeah, these two were pretty exceptional and their actions had quickly earned the most withdrawn Turtle's trust-- not an easy feat. He was indebted to them, and for that they would earn his loyalty.

Fortunately his body accepted the Gator's blood, and so far there were no signs of complications. One thing was for certain, he was slowly beginning to feel a difference, though, still in no condition to attempt to be on his feet. He tried to relax, feeling that he was in no danger with these two. Surely they wouldn't go through all of this just to do something horrible. Besides, Leatherhead was a mutant himself. Yeah, He was in good company, so he finally allowed his heavy eyelids to close, but still struggled to remain conscious, listening as Erica buzzed around the two of them as she worked her medical magic.


Hearing her question, he gave a faint nod and cracked one eye open just enough to see her. "Yeah.. water sounds good."

Switching off the clamp from the now empty blood baggie Erica glances up at Leatherhead, "Got a little bit more for our patient?" She asks.

Leatherhead nods, "You know I have more than enough to spare." He assures. He was an extremely large alligator he had the blood volume.

"Show off," Erica mumbles playfully chuckling moving to rehook Leatherhead up to the empty baggie to fill once more. "Well just one more - then rest for you both." and with a squeeze to the big turtles non needled hand, she says, "I'll just go get the water, Raphael." She leaves them for a moment slipping into the neighboring train car which was a sort of lounge room/ dining/ kitchen room to a small rebuilt fridge to get the water mentally running through what pain medication, anti inflammatory and antibiotics reptiles could have and checking it against what Leatherhead had. It would take her several long minutes of pondering before going with her best estimate given the turtles size and what injuries he had. She had also found a clipboard and paper, it struck her she should keep a record of what she gave Raphael encase something went wrong so she could monitor and fix any issues. And she was using the clip board as a tray placing two recycled water bottles, one for Leatherhead and one for the turtle, a cup for the turtle and a straw so he didn't need to jostle about to drink and more needles. Only these ones she didn't need to poke the turtle with- she could simply use the catheter.

Left with his fellow mutant for the moment, Leatherhead looked over the turtle knowing he was still listening, still not quiet asleep, he himself holding the refilling blood baggie. "Some of your color has returned," faintly, "Erica will be able to give you some pain medication." There would probably be questions for them when the turtle was more alert, and he didn't want to prolong the turtles fall into rest but he had to inquire. "if your brother insists on coming to see you when he is called, did you want me or Erica to wake you when he gets here if you fall asleep?"

On the bright side, it sounded as though he didn't appear as 'dead' as he had whenever he was first brought into the Alligator's lair. Color was good. It meant the blood was doing its job and not working against him.This was also made obvious by the fact that he didn't feel any worse, if that was even possible. So things were definitely on the right track. Finally. Something positive for a change.


It would be good to get something to relieve some of the pain, but the large Turtle did understand that it was important to get his blood pressure up first. Then came Leatherhead's question and Raph once again cracked his eye, giving a faint nod in response. "Yeah.. you can wake me.." He told him, figuring that Leo would do that anyway, if not intentional, then with his big mouth. "I hope... you don't get sick... from givin' so much blood..." Sure, the guy was large, but that didn't mean that this couldn't take its toll on him. He seemed to be holding up pretty well. Hopefully that would remain the case.

Leatherhead nods, "I should be alright, crocodilians have.... naturally strong immune systems." He chuckles reassuringly and as the bag was full and Erica still not with them he un does himself from the baggie clipping it up. "Sides Erica will make sure I get rest, fluids and food to replenish the loss." he adds with a little chuckle. "As she will you." He adds reattaching the tubing and giving the turtle the latest batch.

He had many questions, and wanted to talk more with the other mutant - after all he was aware of the others but until tonight it had been only hints of smells and sightings from far away. This was the first time he'd been on speaking terms with another mutant. And the Cat! he wondered where she was and made a mental note to watch out for her, especially as she apparently had a taste for human. Of course through out his years Leatherhead could have himself at times taken advantage of his immense size and the vulnerability of humans as prey, but it never appealed to him over all, especially as his best friend was human.

He fell quiet but it was not an uncomfortable one over all and if the turtle wanted to talk more even if he shouldn't and should be resting Leatherhead was not going to dissuade him. "I should call your brother n-" he began then paused watching Erica return.

"Actually I will call him Jaws, you have something to drink and relax." Erica interjects as bossily as she could, she'd taken longer than she thought, double checking her collection of medications, she wanted to make sure she was certain. First... she places the clipboard 'tray' down and gives Leatherhead one of the bottles of water then pours a cup out of the other for Raphael putting the straw in and unsure if he needed a hand with with it reaching to squeeze his unneedled hand. "Raphael, I got your water." She brings the cup up with the straw - close to the hand she squeezed so the big turtle could take it if he wished happy to note the added depth to his green complexion.

"In that case, Bomb, I'll ensure our friend gets his water." Leatherhead teases but does not argue taking his water bottle and grasping the plastic in his mouth the open top facing the soft palate at the back of his throat, lifting his head up and simply tipping the entire bottle down in one extended gulp. Handing the phone to Erica as he did so. And shifting to be able to help the turtle if he needed a hand with drinking. "Tell me if you need a hand." He encourages Raphael.

Erica smiles and marveling at the phone for a moment selects the 'Leo' contact trapping the phone between her ear and shoulder, trying to both gather herself for what she was going to say, and taking up the clipboard and few pages of lined paper she'd found writing first a time and date then her patients name and the nature of the injuries... listening to the dialing out tone.

Raphael was on the verge of dozing off when he heard Erica announce that she had the water. Once again, only one eye popped open, blood short and irritated from the smoke. As carefully as an unsteady hand could, he reached for the cup of water, thankful for the convenience that the straw would provide.


"Thanks." He managed, and took a small sip, the coolness welcomed by his dry tongue and irritated throat. Another small sip, and then he practically inhaled the rest of the cup, thankful that it seemed to soothe some of the inner 'burning'.


"Nah, I think I got it." Raph replied to Leatherhead after mastering the task, then placing the now empty cup beside him on the bed. "You never realize how good water is until you need it."

Nodding, amused by the turtles assurances he had the drinking thing handle - after plainly demonstrating he had, Leatherhead takes the cup and refills it moving the little flat top bar stool that was acting as Raps 'bed side table' to bring it to where the turtle could reach it and half filled the cup again, "I agree," he mused, a big clawed hand double checking the tubs an tank of oxygen, "Rest now." he encourages the big turtle and wondered in fact if Erica would let him or 'Leo' disturb her patient from his rest.

An amused chuckle left the alligator as he inwardly thought - 'probably not without a strong disagreement' - he clamped off the again empty blood baggie. Unhooking it. He checks the fluid infusion and satisfied it was dripping at a slow rate and everything looked great he drew back so as not to be a hulking shape beside the turtles bed... Figuring because it got drafty sometimes during the morning hours in this old subway tunnel he would pillage his 'nest' and find something to keep the turtle warm. Keeping an ear on Erica as she waits for Someone to pick up the phone.

Meanwhile Erica thought over the noticable dry, slightly puffy, swollen, redness of the large mutant turtles eyes, as she waits for 'Leo' to answer the phone. Should his eyes show no improvement with rest she'll have a closer look.

Leo wrote:

Leo wanted to see what was going on with Raph. It shouldn't have taken him this long to take care of the ninja. With that thought his phone started to ring. Leo quickly grabbed it and answered it.
Raph?

Erica heard the click that signaled the other end was picking up, and as a deep baritone answered her she slips out int to empty subway so as not to disturb Raph as she spoke to Leo. "Hello, this is Erica Martins, am I speaking with Leo?" after all she couldn't tell! And it occurred to her to be certain this was in fact Leo and not someone whom might try putting another sword in her patient!

She cringed a little, her nerves made her sound so young despite trying to be as calm and 'professional' as possible.

Leo wrote:

Leo frowned not hearing Raph's voice on the other end. But the fact that this girl was asking for him must mean that she possibly had Raph with her. This is Leonardo. Who is this and where is my brother?

Erica took a deep breath, she had to sound kind, calm and reassuring not like a scared first time job seeker. "Leonardo sir, my name is Erica Martins," introducing herself again and this time her voice was firmer, smoother and she stepped further away from the train cars, phone grasped still by her ear and shoulder, filling in as much of a patient report as she could. "Your brother came into my care with in a critical condition about uh-" A glance at her wrist watch, " nearly two hours ago." Whoa! where had that time gone?

She was not sure how much Leonardo needed to know or wanted to know how how good of an understanding of medical jargon he had so she tried to keep it basic. "He is in a stable, resting condition right now, would you like to meet ... me somewhere and come and see him?" she asks feeling the redundancy in the question - of course this Leonardo would!

Leatherhead left Raphael on his own briefly to find a blanket.

Passing his friend on the way out talking - he missed the nervous part, she sounded calm and collected to him. He smiles and moves tot he last train car. They train cars themselves were old bulky chunky ones except for the slightly newer one that was his infirmary and lab. His 'nest' was the last one and was actually an old tram car, an heritage H-Class model to be exact. When one stepped in it was not much, one end the little area that long a conductor might have sat and had been converted, when Erica slept over normally she would sleep in there. There was a collection of sleeping bag and blankets in there, singles. The other end was Leatherheads 'nest' where he slept in a mound of cloths and blankets and sheets. And other stuff that was soft and when he curled up in it all, warm.

Leatherhead deliberated and then simply grabbed an arm load of the blanketing and sleeping bags from Erica's corner and left- she would probably sleep close to her patient in any case to be on hand to provide care should he need it. And Leatherhead would be a tram car away if she needed a hand.

He returns to the infirmary and turtle quietly, not yet sure if the other mutant was yet asleep.

Leo wrote:

Stable condition? what happen!? Where is he!? Leo's eyes narrowed. this was a trap for sure. Where do you want to meet?

Erica actually started a little, dropping the clip board. The insistence in 'Leonardo's' voice slicing away at the calm she had going. She shivers - suddenly unsure she really wanted to meet this fellow...

But he was her patients brother. "It would be easier to tell you in person..." She sighs, okay she supposed she could understand the worry. And guessed given what Raphael was... and Leonardo no doubt she supposed this brother she was calling thought it could be a trap. "If you meet me behind -" She gave the address to her grandmothers Cafe Noble. She would bring 'Leonardo' the way she normally traveled down into Leatherhead's home. "I'll be able to explain and bring to see Raphael."

Leo wrote:

I'll see you there. Leo hung up then looked over at the others. Raph's been kidnapped. I'm suppose to meet some girl to see him. She said Raph was in stable condition, I don't know what that means, she must have done something to him. Mike, Don, you're coming with me. Mel, stay here. Lets go.

Blinking at the now dead line Erica felt herself shiver again - something about meeting this Leonardo now felt like something she should dread. But she was a big girl and she hoped it would be okay.

She bends to retrieve her clip board and brushed off a little of the muck that was on it found her pencil and moved back to where she had seen Leatherhead.

He was carefully covering their patient with a blanket - her 'sleep over' blanket. It was small but this was so she and Leatherhead could get to the iv if needed.

She sidles up quietly not sure if Raphael was asleep or not, whispering very lowly to Leatherhead. "I will go meet Leonardo..."

Leatherhead frowned a little. "You sure? - do you need me to go?" He asks worried about the thought of his friend, a teenaged girl sitting about somewhere in the dark waiting to be found by 'Leonardo'.

Smiling Erica nods, "It'll be okay - we're meeting behind Gran Grans cafe." She nods to Raphael. "Keep an eye on him, I will be back." She decide to do a last quick of the turtle then writing the latest vitals down - which looked very promising she gives the prone, resting turtle pain relief, the anti biotic and anti inflammatory - She took a moment to listen to his breathing - it was hoarse but seemed even and for the moment deep enough. Dragon, keep an eye on his oxygen levels - we need to monitor the health of his lungs." She whispers attaching to the turtles middle finger a hand built pulse oximetry probe. Studying the read out - well it seemed fine for now... she hoped it stayed that way whilst she went to retrieve his brother.

Leatherhead watches her go with a nod and a smile at her nickname for him - worried but with the task of ensuring their mutant patient was fine whilst the doctor was out he sat and stayed. Folding the sleeping bag over the feet of the turtle as a back up.

Too bad for all their smarts neither thought to have Erica change out of the orange hoodie, which had Raphaels scent and blood from the procedure all over it's front.

~~~~~( in the dark dark dark)~~~~~

Hurrying back the way she had come hours ago and parks herself on top of the big bin near the man hole waiting. Trying not to be nervous. And tucking herself up inside her enormous orange hoodie the girl continued writing on her clip board to distract herself.

Raphael had struggled to remain awake, but the pull was just too great. After receiving the pain medication and antibiotics, the large Reptile drifted off to sleep, buried beneath the warm comforts of the graciously provided blankets. It was a sign of both complete exhaustion, and complete trust. Had he suspected his two acquaintances of anything but good, he would have not allowed himself to be so vulnerable. But Erica and Leatherhead had proven their worth... they had saved him.

Shifting himself - again so he was not a hulking shape and form by the resting turtles bedside Leatherhead dimmed the lights so they'd not disturb the turtle or make his shadow cast itself in shapes that would. He curls himself up on on the floor deciding to nap briefly whilst his friend was away - he was a tiny tiny bit lethargic from donating his blood but it was not dangerously so and he knew after a sleep, a meal and plenty of fluids he would be fine.

~~~~~ (in the cold cold cold, dark)~~~~~

Erica shifts back a little, she had been in the bright light that spilled across the bin lid - waiting... cold, cursing the fact she had not jumped into pants and or at least socks on her run out earlier.

But she could handle the chill...

The giant orange hoodie (her fathers) kept her core warm. She was just going to have to live with cold toes and fingers for the moment. But made a strict mental note to have seasonally appropriate clothing on her bedside table at all times for more nights like this.

She returns to the clip board double checking the detailed account of how she had cared for her first patient. Down to how much blood he received from Leatherhead, how much fluids he was getting and how much had been drained when she left, the medicine.

Any noise made her start a little but after a few moments she sighed and began to ignore the ambient noises of the city in the background, a small balled form hidden in the shadows waiting...

Leatherhead felt the buzz of his phone and carefully extracts it, blinking one eye out of the socket and open, though not bothering to draw back the thin white membrane of the nictation eyelid to read the text.

However the text made him sit up in surprise eyelid sliding away to make sure he was really reading what he thought he read -

He was!

- there would be three! healthy, uninjured male mutants in his territory!

Well...

He supposed he could live with that as long as they behaved on his turf!

He was grateful Erica sent warning ahead, he might have reacted badly if she just showed up with them. Even if he was in fact keen to meet other mutants.

He does a quick check of the big sleeping turtle to make sure he was still fine and he seemed to be - no fever running, no restlessness hinting pain or something else was up, and the oximetry probe still showed a good read out. The big alligator made mental notes to add these to Erica's notes when she returned. He ensures the turtle was safe and steps out of his infirmary/ lab to wait for her and the three brothers.

Erica wrote:

She may be cold but she gave off an aura of warmth and friendliness now she had managed to convince them she was not going to hurt them or trap them or had some devious plot in mind and somehow it did not seem that they loomed over her any more. "Come on we can do the proper meet and greet on the way." She begins leading them down into the sewers.

((continued from cost of freedom))

Leo followed Erica down into the sewers. I didn't know anyone else lived down here. How long have you and your friend been down here? And do you know what happen to Raph? I had left him, there was only one female ninja... Leo looked down and shook his head.

I shouldn't have left him alone...

Don had rolled his eyes at Mikey when he asked Erica for her sweater.  In these temperatures, it wasn't a good idea.  He could tell she was cold and would have told Mike to give her the sweater back, but Leo beat him to it.

The idea of a mutant alligator was an intriguing one.  It definitely had Don's curiosity piqued.  He had lots of questions, but he didn't want to overwhelm the poor girl.  Most of them could probably be answered when they met, anyway.

There was one thing that needed to be done yet, and that was a proper introduction from each of them.  She already knew Leo, apparently, but Leo didn't make a move to introduce the others.  "I'm Donatello, by the way."

Mikey skips slightly as they move, following the girl - he blinks... she didn't seem the type to live in the sewers.

And he pouts a little at Donnie's none answer to his question. But shrugs and lets it go - surely they will see what was up with Raph soon. He grins at Donnie's eye roll - meh dude was just jelling he didn't get to smell the scent! He grins and encase the girl forgot in the few seconds since his name was said or didn't hear his name before. "And I'm Michelangelo! - or Mikey."

She barely knew Raphael, or Leonardo... but Erica felt compelled to try and reassure even if she barely knew herself all that had happened. "It wasn't your fault Leonardo, I am sure something unexpected happened. But I cannot tell you for certain, Leatherhead brought Raphael to me, to his home down here, he will have to tell you what happened that lead to that, I don't live here, that alley way we left? that's behind my Gran Grans café and below my family's home, Leatherhead lives... down here, I had to text him before to let him know there were more of you, the storm drains, old subway tunnels and sewers section underneath my home he considers his territory." She explains to Leo looking at the kind voiced purple bandana turtle as he -

introduced himself!

"Erica Martins - so your all named after Renaissance master huh?" Erica smiles at Mikey and at Donatello.

They might not have needed light to travel these tunnels but she did - she used her phone to light her way. She lead them through a very narrow tunnel - forcing them to single file, and then they were in the cavernous abandoned subway corner and it's two subway cars and one tram cart end on end in the middle. And out the front of the newest, and largest was -

"Leonardo, Donatello, Michelangelo, my friend Leatherhead." She gestures for Leatherhead to approach them... this way the boys could do the meet and greet away from the cart where her patient rested!