Book Two: The Red Desire

Chapter 1: Road to Recovery

"Ngh!" another bullet was pulled out of your haggard form. Minutes ago you were placed on top of the table. April was wiping your sweat, you were breaking into a fever at the amount of the burden on your body.

"Donnie, can you help her?" Raph asked worriedly. Mikey was also next to your head, whispering kind words that the pain will soon be over.

"I can, once I take out all the bullets. The issue is the bullet fragments. It can cause lead toxicity. If any of the pieces move into her joints she can become acutely ill."

"Just do what you can, D" your head slightly turns to make eye contact. "..I trust you." he gives a nod and starts performing the process with a pair of tweezers.

"Raph I'm going to need you to get a knife from the kitchen for me." he calmly states.

"For what?"

"...I need it for the gash on her hands, If I dont do it, it'll get infected and she'll lose limbs."

"I thought she could heal faster than normal?" Raph questioned.

"She can but she sustained so many injuries she can't heal them all as fast, her body is equally spreading the healing response making it slower and riskier for it to get infected."

Raph looked at your pained expression, he gulped knowing what was going to happen. "April...take Mikey out of the room." she nods. Raph had faith you'd get better though, he knew something like this can't take you down.

The usually hot-headed turtle sighed, rubbing the corner of his eyes. He was still taking care of a wounded Leo, thinking he had seen enough of blood and pain but then you arrived at their doorstep. April called for help and he was greeted by a hug from Kaneko.

At the moment, Casey was in the living room with her, trying to entertain her. Raph retrieved the knife and brought it back to Donnie, he also brought a candle and cloth. There was a tray already full of bullets, covered in blood.

Sure enough, you passed out when the knife seared your skin, it was the only way to close it up. Donnie quickly wrapped your hand and bruised knuckles in gauze. April helped hydrate you by pouring water carefully into your mouth, you did respond and drink it so that was good. You got the treatment you deserved after the hell you've been through. ———————————————————————————

A few days later you awoke around evening. You sat up quickly from your bed, a tad jumpy from a dream you can't remember. The room you were in was the same room you and April slept in as kids.

Standing up was a hard task, you were positive you were on the 2nd floor meaning there were stairs to walk down. Groggily, you made your way to the hall and grabbed the stair railing.

A sudden yawn stops you in your silent steps. The door to the bathroom was creaked open ever so slightly. When you peeked in you spotted a tired Raph leaning his head on his hand and slouching forward against the bathtub, his shell facing the doorway.

The tub's water had an odd reflection of green in it. "You can come in Yknow instead of standing there." You flinch at Raph's soft but irritated tone. Knowing him he hasn't been sleeping, worried by his brother's state. The door creaks as you enter in slowly, Raph doesn't turn his head to you but focused on the figure in the tub.

"Leo..." you take shaky steps over to him. He was without a mask and majority of his body was submerged in water. Your fists clenched, at the sight, he had scars more so than he did before, scars that will last his lifetime. Not to mention the mental scars he'll have. It's probably why he's still not awake, his body was so shaken he lost connection with it. "Why is he in the tub?"