Muddled
***
A cage, it opened.
An expanse filled with crumpled bodies.
Knives shining against the light, and the pain follows.
Vision dims, and darkness encroaches.
A cold, wet feeling surrounds.
---
Leatherhead walked through the sewer tunnels, the same route he always took going to and from certain city level areas to return home. His search for necessary parts to complete his next project had provided little to work with. He mused to himself whether or not he should consider expanding where he searched. The large, mutant croc shook his head, better to not risk being seen, least he summon unwanted attention to the sewers, himself, and his sewer dwelling neighbors, the turtles.
He had recently called Donatello, talking boisterously with him about a few collaborations he had been considering. The purple clad turtle joined in his enthusiasm at the prospect of what their genius could produce. Mulling over these thoughts, he looked to the sewer water, watching as the pieces of trash or wreckage drifted through the current. However, something among all the forgotten caught his eyes.
He adorned a pair of glasses he kept with him, in order to confirm what it was, and gasped when it was true. He quickly set down what little he had to carry, and dove into the water. He swam to the heap in the water, which happened to be a body. But not a human body, a mutant, a mutant turtle adrift, injured, and breathing very harshly. There was no time for hesitation; Leatherhead lifted himself and the turtle from the water, hurriedly gathered his materials and rushed towards his home.
He prayed he’d be in time to bring this mutant back from the brink.
---
When Donatello got the video call from Leatherhead he’d found a mutant drifting unconscious down the sewer canals, he was at first, skeptical. The chances of there being signs of anything resembling a mutant were slim. The Utroms had returned to their homeworld some years ago, their TCRI facility and mutagen vaporized off the face of the map due to an explosion caused by their old nemesis the Shredder, and the mutant crisis caused by Bishop seemed to be their last true encounter with anything mutant. However, once the camera shifted to a cot and the form lying in it, Donatello’s eyes widened as he found himself looking at another mutant turtle, hooked up to surgical machinery. They ended the call with Don saying he would be there as soon as possible.
He gathered up a few vials of medicine, packs of blood, and his duffel bag and shot out of the lab with the keys to the hovercraft. Leo, of course, inquired as to where Don was going in such a hurry, and upon hearing the answer, told Don he’d drive. Don nodded, and as he and Leo left the lair, he made sure Michelangelo and Raphael kept their Shell-Cells close, in case he needed more supplies.
The two hopped into the Sewer Skimmer and drove off to Leatherhead’s lair.
The croc was waiting outside his home for the turtles, Don hopping out of the vehicle before Leo could settle it to a full stop. The two spoke quickly, concisely, LH giving Don the rundown about the injured mutants current state of health, severity of injuries, as well as vitals. Entering the train cars, they walked back through several connecting doors till they reached Leatherhead’s sickbay. Don’s eyes almost immediately fell on the turtle connected to the medical machinery. Seeing him personally, Don was able to take note of some other injuries he couldn’t spot through his computer screen.
“My god, what could have done this…” Don murmured, approaching the bedside and pulling back the blankets.
“I located several bullets in his shell, as well as burn marks on his skin. Two were embedded in his left arm, and I have already removed them. His right leg is broken, and the bone will have to be physically put back into place. He seems to have suffered no cranial injuries, however, taking into account the injuries on his plastron, some of his internal organs may have been damaged.” Leatherhead spoke out the information, pointing to the areas that were cause for concern.
Don nodded. “How he’s alive is something of a miracle, if any of us suffered injuries like these, we’d be hard pressed to survive. Although we have taken our share of hard knocks through life.”
“Indeed, there is also the fact he was drifting in the sewer water, I have taken to disinfecting the wounds as best I can, but we will need to make sure we account for any infectant.”
“I’ve brought as much extra as I could carry, do we have a blood type?”
“O positive. I’d say that was a lucky break, but considering the circumstances…”
“Humor can wait, best we get to work now, he’s hanging on the edge, and I’ll like to pull him up from it.”
“Then we shall begin immediately.” Leatherhead said with a nod, grabbing a pair of gloves for Donatello and himself, as well as offering him a lab coat and mask to cover his mouth. They had much work to do.
***
Leonardo set the Sewer Skimmer down, turned off the ignition and leapt from the vehicle after his brother and Leatherhead. He could see by how fast they were moving this was a serious case, and was not to be taken lightly. He would need to be present in case he needed to relay information to Raphael and Michelangelo about any extra necessary supplies to be retrieved from a hospital or pharmacy.
As he reached the door to Leatherhead’s sickbay, he saw that the two were already set to work on the turtle’s right leg. Broken bone it looked like, and it needed to be put back in its rightful place. He kept his shell cell in hand, ready to speed dial his brothers at a moment’s notice.
Minutes ticked by, and those minutes turned into hours.
Three hours Leo had sat in the next train car over, on edge, waiting for either Don or LH to update on their patient’s condition. Three hours it took for Donnie to announce that he and LH put forth their best efforts and pulled the mutant back from the brink. At those words, Leo rose and walked to the doorway, watching as the two geniuses cleaned the area.
“So...he’s going to be alright, Donnie?” Leo asked.
Don looked up at his brother and nodded. “He’s stable, and we’ve treated and patched up all the injuries, external and internal that we could find. The bone in his leg has been set in place. He’s in no condition to be moved however, so I’m going to stay with Leatherhead for a few days to help monitor him.”
“I understand, anything from home you might need?”
“Nothing that immediately comes to mind, if something comes up though, I’ll make the call. After a few days, we’ll move him from here to our place, and then from there...well...it’s all up to him.”
“Alright, guess for now we’re waiting.” Leo said with a nod. “I’ll head back to the lair, and update Raph and Mikey, tell them to keep their shell cells close by for when you make a call. I’ll probably be back here tomorrow with leftovers and some pizza, so you and Leatherhead will have a bit more to eat.”
“That’ll work. Oh, and can you call April and tell her we’ll have to postpone checking the wiring throughout her store? I promised I’d help her remove some faulty wiring she found, but…”
“I hear you bro, I’ll make sure she knows.”
“Thanks. Have a safe drive back, Leo.”
“I will, thanks Don.”
With their goodbyes for the moment spoken, Leo left the train cars and walked back to the Sewer Skimmer, hopping into the driver’s seat, starting it up and turning it in the direction of the lair. With Don and Leatherhead watching over this new mutant, Leo knew he was in safe hands. Only one thing really seemed to egg at him now, and that is where the mutant came from.
But that was a question he would have to wait for an answer to. For know, he would focus on facilitating this turtle’s recovery in any way he, and his brothers could.
