Unexpected Gift

Chap 38

While Raph was watching Leo, Don had taken Tang Shin to the lab and put her into the incubator. She was cleaned up and wrapped up in blankets to help keep her warmer. She was pretty small, but she was close to nearly being full term. But, at least now, Leo's pregnancy and pains were over with now!

Leo had dealt with stomach pains for so long that when he woke up, even though he would be sore for awhile from the surgery, but once that wore off, he wouldn't be having any more stomach pains. Don would be keeping him on pain medication though to keep the toughest pain to a minimum.

The family couldn't resist staring at how small Tang Shin was. She was breathing just fine on her own, and had managed to cry. At least her vocal cords worked too. If she had been born around the dreaded 28th week that had passed by now, she wouldn't even have been able to cry with her first breath.

The baby turtle was nearly a dead ringer for her father. And, being a girl, she was much more likely to take on many of his traits. A possible love for the ninja arts one day, being patient, and turning into a great warrior. She would have heart.

-

Back in the infirmary, Raph was real concerned if Leo was ever going to wake up.

Raph was holding Leo's hand while he was still sleeping off the sedative. "I know I ain't much for talk, Leo." He said. "But, like what just happened, this had been what I was dreadin'. I didn't want this to happen to ya. Now that I have seen yur' daughter, she is cute and perdy. She looks like ya. I know you'll be a good dad. Betta than I would be. I know I said a lot of bad things to ya about her when you were carrying her, but I want ya to stay with us."

Leo's breathing was steady, but then he gave a moan in his sleep. Raph perked up. Was he starting to wake up? Maybe Leo had heard him.

"Leo?" Raph said calmly.

Another moan.

"Guys! I think he's waking up!" Raph called.

The others knew the baby was okay for now. They all went to check in on Leo. Don went especially to check his vitals, which were still good and stable.

Leo groaned and his fingers began to move more on their own. Then, shortly after that, he finally opened his eyes.

"Leo?" Don asked.

Leo's vision was blurry, but he recognized the voice and saw purple on green. "Don." He managed.

"You're finally coming around." Don smiled.

"What happened?" Leo asked.

"You went into labor, Bro. You have a beautiful girl!" Mikey blurted out.

"A girl?" Leo asked. His vision finally focused.

"She looks like ya, Leo." Raph said.

"How is she? Where is she?" Leo asked. He was looking and didn't see her anywhere.

"She's fine Leo. She's in her incubator." Don said. "A bit small, but she can cry, and she's breathing on her own. But, how do you feel?"

"Tired." Leo replied.

"Well, I have you on pain medicine Leo. And you just woke up. You're going to be tired. Your stomach is also doing fine. Later on, we'll wrap some bandages around it to make sure the patch stays on. Before you hold your daughter, you should be a little more awake first, so you should get some rest. And when you wake up again, we'll get you situated so you can see and hold her for the first time." Don explained.

"I want to see her now." Leo said.

"You really should get some rest, Leonardo." Splinter agreed with Donatello.

"Even if I can't hold her now, I just want to know for sure she's fine. Please, let me see her?" Leo pleaded.

Leo had pulled off Mikey's sad puppy dog act.

"Alright, but then you are going to sleep right after." Don said. He left and soon rolled the incubator into the room.

Leo slowly sat up. He was finally going to see the little miracle that had been inside him for so long.

As the incubator was pulled up alongside the table he was still on, Leo saw how small the baby was. She was sleeping, wrapped in blankets. She had his color of green. Leo put his right hand out to the plastic covering. He wanted to feel and hold her. "Hey, Tang Shin. Daddy's here. I really want to hold you." Leo said.

Everyone admired Leo's feelings of love for his daughter, but he needed more rest before he would be allowed to hold her. He was still too tired to hold her.

"I'll tell you what, Leo. I'll leave her in here as long as you promise to get some sleep." Don said.

Leo looked at his bro. "I'd love that, Don." He smiled.

"But you have to go back to sleep." Don demandingly ordered.

"I will." Leo said.

"Okay. Now you have seen her up close. She's going to be right over here. Your reward of going to sleep will be holding her when you wake up and we get some bandages on you first." Don said.

"Alright Don! I'll go back to sleep." Leo said.

"Good."

"I'll stay with him." Mikey said. "I'll make sure he sleeps."

"Alright Mikey, but don't be playing with the baby. Leo needs his sleep." Don said.

"I won't." Mikey said.

Mikey prepared to stay in the room while all the others left and Leo settled down to sleep again. He had felt a little pain in his stomach. Leo lifted the blankets up to see his belly.

There was a patch on it and glue holding it down. His stomach had also gone down too, but there was still some fat on it. But he would lose that in time, after his recovery.

It sure had been one exciting day. Now it was time to take a break from the excitement.