Chapter Text
Casey followed April into the lair, both a bit on edge. It was quiet, which was concerning considering neither of the couple had been able to get ahold of the boys for the past two days.
“Guys? Is anyone home?” Casey called.
Mikey’s head popped up over the back of the sofa, mask in disarray like he had been sleeping.
“I wasn’t napping!” he said immediately.
Donnie almost immediately walked out of his lab, carrying several small bottles and some gauze. Casey noticed that his arms were wrapped from his mid-fingers to his elbows instead of just the standard wrists. He waved briefly at the pair before continuing towards Raph’s room.
“What’s going on?” April asked Mikey, who had righted his mask and was casually leaning forward against the back of the sofa. “We’ve been trying to call you for days.”
“Really? Sorry dudes, it’s been a little…crazy around here,” Mikey explained, head resting against his arms like he was going to fall back asleep. “Not a lot of time for phones at the moment. Or sleep. Shell, I miss being able to sleep more than four hours.”
“You haven’t been sleeping?” April had a concerned tone to her voice that Casey recognized well. Casey couldn’t exactly blame her though since he felt the same. Whenever the boys didn’t have time to sleep, it usually meant something bad was happening.
“Not really. Kinda hard to sleep through-”
Mikey was cut off by a shriek, startling both humans. It was high pitched, higher than any current residence of the lair could produce. Like they were small… or young.
“-that,” he finished, sounding resigned.
“What was that?” Casey demanded as the shrieking happened a few more times before devolving into loud crying. Casey’s heart clenched at the sound. Whoever made that sound was definitely young, probably not much older than his Marie. And whoever that kid was, they were very distressed.
“Is that a baby?” April demanded, apparently coming to the same conclusion as Casey had.
“Toddler. According to Donnie. He thinks the kid’s between three and four,” Mikey answered, shooting a sympathetic look towards Raph’s room. “Despite the commotion he’s making, he hasn’t actually spoken so we’re not entirely sure.”
“Why do you have a toddler?” Casey asked
“I don’t have a toddler. Raph does,” Mikey defended.
That just confused him even more.
“How did Raph get a toddler?!”
“I don’t know, man,” Mikey said, throwing his arms up briefly before setting his head back down on them. “He just came home three days ago yelling about a cat with a little turtle mutant in his arm-”
“It’s a turtle?!” Casey and April demanded in unison.
“Didn’t I mention that?”
“No. I would have remembered if the baby we were talking about was a new mutant turtle.”
“Oops, my bad. Four hours of sleep talking,” Mikey said, waving an arm dismissively. “But yeah, he’s a baby turtle mutant.”
“Alright then, which one of you three made a baby four years ago and is now letting Raph steal your kid?” Casey asked flatly, April immediately smacking his shoulder. “What? It’s a baby turtle mutant, it had to come from somewhere and I know it wasn’t from Raph.”
“None of us, bro,” Mikey said, shaking his head. “At least as far as I know. Can't speak for Leo since, yeah know, jungle training. But as far as this kid's concerned, he's not one of ours. He’s a completely different species of turtle than us. Donnie said he’s a soft shell while we’re obviously not.”
Mikey tapped his shell over his shoulder, emphasizing his words with the light clack of nails against his carapace.
“Ok then, back to the original question. How did Raph end up with a baby?”
Mikey groaned, flopping back onto the couch proper with an arm sticking dramatically upwards.
“Dudeeee! Just go ask Raph already,” Mikey whined. “I don’t got enough sleep for this.”
Casey and April shared a look as Mikey’s arm flopped back out of sight. They were obviously not getting any more from Mikey, so Raph it was.
The crying had waned some by the time they got to the door, having become something more like upset whimpers with an occasional hiss that Donnie was responding to with tired replies. Pausing outside the door, they could hear Raph talking in a soft voice that Casey could hardly believe came from his normally brash friend. He spoke in calm, soothing tones, words occasionally broken up by a coo or chirp that didn’t exactly sound human.
The kid hissed again, though there wasn’t much effort into it.
“I know, I know,” Donnie said, sounding exhausted. “I’m the mean turtle who keeps messing with your wounds and giving you medicine. How cruel must I be?”
He hissed again, getting a small chuckle from Donnie.
“I’m going. See? We’re all done for now.”
Don stepped out of the room a moment later, almost running into them before realizing they were there.
“Oh. Hi,” Donnie said, blinking at Casey and April. “I suppose you heard all that.”
“You’d have to be deaf not to,” Casey said flatly.
“That might not even help,” Donnie said, cracking a bit of a smile. “Did Mikey tell you what was going on?”
“Nothing past Raph has a toddler mutant turtle that shrieks every four hours,” Casey said with a shrug.
“What’s going on?” April asked before Casey could get the chance. “Did I hear you right, saying the baby was wounded?”
“Yeah, I've been treating some pretty deep cuts he’s got on his arm and shell. Raph says there’s another mutant, this one a cat, that was chasing the kid so we’re assuming he got them from that one,” Donnie said with a sigh. “Unfortunately, they became infected while he was hiding in sewer water for who knows how long, so he needs treatment and medication every few hours, which he does not like.”
“Poor kid,” Casey said.
“Is there anything we can do to help?” April asked.
“That sounds like a Raph question,” Donnie said with a shrug. “I’m only in charge of his medical care, everything else is Raph.”
“Let me guess, because Raph went from a turtle to a mother hen?”
“Also because the kid only seems to like him,” Donnie answered. “And he has a habit of biting people he doesn’t like when they get too close.”
Casey eyed the tooth marks in Donnie’s arm bandages. They didn’t seem to go through the thick leather wraps but the fact there were visible indents was pretty impressive. Donnie must have caught the look as he smiled sadly.
“All he knows about me right now is that I’m causing him pain and making him drink bad tasting liquid. I’m not his favorite person right now.”
“I heard my name,” Raph stated, pushing the fabric in front of his room aside to stand in the doorway behind Donnie.
If Donnie sounded exhausted, Raph looked about five steps past that. Dark circles were clearly visible under tired gold eyes, the mask that would normally hide both, hanging around his neck with a small hand clinging to it.
The small hand was an emerald green, almost the exact same shade as Raph’s skin. It was attached to the tiniest mutant turtle that Casey has ever seen. Then again, he’d only seen the guys but still. This new turtle was the equivalent size of a bag of flour with a head and little limbs attached to it. About the same size as Marie despite him being, assumingly, two to three years older. The little guy was almost entirely enveloped in a soft blanket while being held against Raph’s plastron. Big eyes, red from crying, watched them wearily with irises so dark they seemed to match his pupils.
Now Casey wasn’t exactly the leading knowledge on turtles, but this little one looked sick. His skin was flush with what had to be a fever, eyes a bit glazed despite his attempt to see watch their every move. As he watched, Casey could even see him shivering regardless of the blanket.
For a second, he couldn’t help but compare him to Marie, if it was her that small and sick. That thought hurt, gripping his chest tightly in sympathy.
“Oh my gosh,” April breathed, no doubt as shaken by his appearance as Casey was. Raph followed their gaze to the little one before nodding gravely.
“Yeah, kid’s got it rough the last few days,” Raph admitted, his free hand coming up to tuck the blanket more firmly around the kid’s shoulders until the medical tape wasn’t sticking out. The tot’s eyes flicked up to Raph before focusing back on April and Casey with a suspicious gaze.
“Aren’t turtles like not supposed to get fevers?” Casey questioned.
“Under normal circumstances, you would be right,” Donnie answered, sounding a bit excited to share his findings. “Cold-blooded creatures can’t get fevers because their blood doesn’t heat itself. This little guy though, he’s warm-blooded. His normal temperature is lower than that of a human by quite a margin but the body still heats itself. His mutation differs from ours, appearing more as a turtle-human hybrid rather than a mutated turtle. It’s actually quite-”
The child interrupted him with an almost tired sounding hiss. A weak glare was aimed at Don who had to fight to keep his amusement hidden.
“You’re right. I promised I was leaving, didn’t I?” Donnie stated. He turned towards the adults. “I’ll be in my lab. Can you stop by before you leave? I might have some things I’ll ask you to pick up, if you can.”
“No problem,” Casey replied with a nod as Don left the area. Once he was gone, the little one’s attention immediately turned onto the humans once again. Casey got the feeling that he was no more wanted here than Don was.
“Is there anything we can do to help?” April asked again.
“I don’t know, probably?” Raph replied, rubbing his freehand across his face. “I know we don’t got all he needs but, I just…can’t think of what.”
Casey could pinpoint the exact second April went into older sister mode, her concern shifting from the child towards the twenty-year-old turtle in front of her.
“Come on, Raph,” she said gently, pulling him back into his room and sitting him down on the small couch he kept there. April sat down next to him, which the kid must not have liked very much. He hissed again briefly, leaning as far away from April as he could without actually letting go of Raph.
April ignored him, keeping her focus on Raph.
“Raph, when’s the last time you slept?” she asked calmly.
“I don’t know,” he answered after a moment. “The kid ain’t sleepin so I'm not either. He’ll maybe nod off for an hour if I’m holdin him but I can’t sleep with him in my arms, I don't wanna risk hurting him more then he already is.”
“You need sleep,” April told him.
“I know, but he needs it more,” Raph insisted, looking down at the kid. “He can’t get better if he’s not sleepin. And that’s…he needs sleep.”
“Why not have one of your brothers watch him?” April tried to suggest, but Raph was already shaking his head.
“Won’t work. He won’t let anyone else touch him. He bit Mikey’s hand the first time he tried,” Raph said with a sigh. “He don’t like Don because the medical stuff hurts. Leo's doing who fucking knows what in South America and Splinter won’t be back from checking on Fearless for two more weeks. It’s me or no one, and I'm not leaving that kid alone.”
The kid had started to relax the longer April ignored him, eventually no longer leaning away from her. At Raph’s words he relaxed even further, placing his head on Raph’s chest. If it wasn’t for his eyes still locked on April, Casey would think the little dude was sleeping.
“And we’re not leaving you alone to handle this either,” April said, a determined tone to her voice that he knew even Raph wouldn’t question. “Here’s what we’re going to do. You and me are going to go through what you have for him, and figure out what you need. Then Casey is going to do the shopping and I'm going to watch the kid while you sleep.”
“But he doesn’t-”
“Like anyone else, I know,” April interrupted. “But you need sleep. You’re useless to him without it.”
Raph didn’t say anything but it was clear he wasn’t convinced.
“It will be fine, Raph. We can set him up downstairs on the couch, and put some cartoons on the tv. If we need you, you’re not that far away,” April explained. “We’ll be fine for a few hours.”
“And if he doesn’t like you?”
“He looks like a smart little cookie, I think we can come to an arrangement,” she said, smiling nicely at the little one. He seemed nervous over her direct attention but didn’t hiss, which was an improvement.
“Ok,” Raph said with a sigh. “Thanks.”
“We’re always here to help.”
-
It was several hours later when Casey walked back into the lair, his arms weighed down the many plastic shopping bags lining each one.
“I come baring gifts!” Casey announced, dropping the bags down on the table in front of Mikey.
“Anything for me?” Mikey asked already looking in one of the bags.
“Not unless you’re in need of children’s Tylenol and a toddler potty.”
“I think I’ll pass, dude” Mikey made a face, immediately focusing back on the DS he had been playing.
“How’s it been going?” Casey asked quietly, nodding towards the couch. April was on one side of it while a bundle of blankets poked out from the other indicating the kid’s position. Bob the Builder was playing quietly on the televisions.
“Good, I guess,” Mikey said with a shrug. “Little dude’s been quiet for the most part. Got a little worked up over Blue’s Clues for whatever reason, but settled back down once the channel was changed.”
“Weird. I thought kids liked Blue’s Clues.”
“You would think,” Mikey agreed.
“Sit down, please,” April’s voice interrupted. They looked over to see she had left the couch, apparently talking to the little head that was peaking over the back at them. “You don’t want to get hurt falling off the couch, right? So sit down please.”
The little one dropped down out of sight after a moment. April continued towards them after waiting to make sure he stayed there.
“Did you get everything?” April asked, immediately looking into one of the bags.
“That I did. It took about five stores but it’s all there,” Casey said proudly. “Oh, and look what I found.”
Casey reached into one of the bags and pulled out his prize.
“Is that a-”
“Turtle stuffy, yes. Yes, it is,” Casey announced happily. The stuffy was a lime green, floppy legged turtle with an almost blue shell. It looked adorable with its plain black bead eyes and tiny tail. It was also about the same size as the kid so Casey was pretty sure he’d like it. “You said get him a stuffy or two, and I saw this and thought he’d probably like it. Figured we could, I don’t know, put a red ribbon on it or something. Tell him it’s a stand-in Raph so both of them would sleep better.”
“Did you get a red ribbon for it?” April asked.
Casey sighed; he knew he forgot something.
“No,” he lamented.
“Then why don’t we just give him the plushy for now. If it doesn’t help then we’ll start dressing it up,” April replied. She reached out to take the plush, but Casey was already holding it high so she couldn’t reach it.
“Nuh uh,” Casey shook his head. “You spent all afternoon making friends with the new guy. It’s my turn. I found the stuffy, I’m giving him the stuffy.”
Casey was already heading towards the couch as Mikey spoke.
“Ten bucks says he gets bit.”
Casey quickly flipped him the middle finger while April’s back was turned before going around the far side of the couch so not to startle the kid.
The child sat in the center of a cluster of blankets and pillows, most having come from Raph’s room. It looked like he had been half buried in them until his peak over the couch had dislodged most of them. His eyes snapped to Casey when he rounded the couch, no less weary than before he left. Hopefully the turtle plush would help with that.
“Hey little guy,” Casey said as nicely as possible. “I got ya something while I was out.”
Casey pulled the turtle plush out from behind his back, holding it in front of him for the little one to examine.
“See? It’s a little turtle, just like you,” Casey watched as the little one’s eyes grew wide as he stared at the stuffy. He seemed more interested in it than he was at staring at Casey, which was a good sign.
“Do you want it?” Casey offered. The kid nodded immediately, making a small chirping sound. Casey blinked. He wasn’t expecting an actual answer from him, but here they were. “Alright then. It’s all yours.”
Casey held the stuffy out towards the kid, watching him carefully reach to grab it and pull it in front of him.
The kid didn’t hug it, which Casey thought was a little odd. Most kids immediately hug newly gotten stuffies, especially if they’re as focused on it as this kid was. Instead, he just sat there, holding it at arm’s length as if he were examining it.
Casey was all but forgotten now as the little guy ran a little hand down one side of the turtle’s face where its eye was located.
“Ok? Have fun?” Casey offered, stepping away from the couch and back towards the table. Raph had joined the miniature party, looking a little better but clearly in need of more sleep. April seemed to be in the process of telling him just that.
“I’m fine-” Raph tried to insist but April was not having it.
“No, you need more than two hours of sleep, Raphael,” She scolded, pointing back up towards his room. “Go. I’ve got it handled down here.”
“I can’t have you watch him all night,” Raph insisted. “You got your own kid.”
“Angel is perfectly happy taking care of Marie for as long as we need her to,” April insisted. “Go back to bed.”
“Let me see what you got first?” He offered, knowing he wouldn’t get much better than that.
“Only if you go straight back to bed afterwards,” April relented.
“Promise.”
It took less than five minutes to go through the contents of the bags, showing each item for approval. Everything passed, which was a relief. Casey did not want to go back out. Those baby and toddler aisles were torture.
“Oh, and I found him a turtle plushy,” Casey added onto the end. “The thing’s the size of him and he seemed to like it enough. He didn’t even bite me so Mikey owes me ten bucks.”
“You didn’t accept the bet. I don’t owe you shit,” Mikey replied immediately.
“I thought my middle finger was acceptance enough.”
“No words, no money my dude. I don’t make the rules.”
“You obviously do,” Casey rolled his eyes.
“Thanks, Case,” Raph said, punching his shoulder lightly.
“No problem, man. Family helps family and all that,” Casey stated.
“Now go back to bed,” April ordered, pointing towards his room.
“Alright, but I'm checking on the kid first,” Raph said, not giving April a chance to argue as he went over to the couch.
“Did you get the medication I asked for?” Donnie called as he left his lab.
“Yeah,” Casey replied, shifting the items on the table until he found several bottles of children’s medication and holding it up. “As much as I could get without weird looks.”
“Good, I-”
“Casey! Where’s the kid?” Raph yelled, looking frantically around the couch.
“Uh, right there?” Casey replied, putting down what he was holding and walking over to Raph. “He’s in the blankets with the stuffed turtle.”
“No, he’s not!”
“Yes, he is. That’s where I-” Casey looked over the back of the couch to find the pile of blankets empty and void of any type of turtle, stuffed or otherwise. “Oh fuck, where’s the kid?!”
“That’s what I said! Where’s the fucking kid!”
“I swear, he was right there!” Casey yelled back, joining the search just as frantically. April, Mikey, and Don were right behind him. “I mean, seriously, how far can he go?”
“Obviously pretty fucking far!”
“I’ll check the bedrooms,” Donnie offered. He hopped up to the second level and started with his own room.
It was a few minutes more of searching and Donnie was leaning over the side calling down to them.
“Found him,” he said somewhat quietly. Raph dropped whatever he had been holding, giving his brother his undivided attention.
“Where?”
Donnie pointed towards Raph’s room and, before he could say a word, Raph was on the second level disappearing into it. When Casey and the others caught up, Raph was letting out a relieved sigh at the sight of the little turtle curled up on the couch, asleep.
Asleep and covered in paint.
The paint was everywhere, a mix of blue, yellow, and red covered a big spot on the floor and couch, him, and most obviously, the brand new plush. It seemed the paint had purposefully been used on said plush turtle, with everything else being an accident. Now the stuffy had messy red stripes vertically down its face and covering both eyes, small yellow stripes on all four limbs, and a very smeared square on the back of its shell.
Casey wanted to be mad about the immediate destruction of the stuffy, but he just couldn’t. The kid was asleep, curled up against the plushy’s shell, still drying paint smearing on the both of them. He was out cold, sleeping deeper than he seemed to have slept in days. If whatever comfort he got from painting the plush was enough for that, well, Casey sure as hell wasn’t going to question it.
“Little dude, that was my paint,” Mikey lamented quietly.
“Don, is the paint alright to leave for now?” Raph asked quietly.
“It’s non-toxic,” Donnie replied with a shrug. “He’ll be fine until he wakes up and we can get him clean. It might stain the rest of it though.”
“That’s fine,” Raph said, grabbing a blanket from his hammock and draping it over the kid, regardless of paint. “He needs the sleep.”
“So do you,” April stated, immediately getting a groan from him. “Which should be much easier now that he’s also sleeping.”
“I guess,” He relented.
“We’ll stay for a while longer, just to make sure everything’s settled,” April promised.
“His next doses are in about two hours but I can probably put that off for about three or four as long as he’s still sleeping and his fever doesn’t go up,” Don offered. April nodded.
“We’ll stay at least until then,” April offered. “And Raphie?”
“Yeah?” Raph asked wearily. She only used the name ‘Raphie’ when he was in trouble.
“Next time you find a young mutant turtle in the sewers and don’t know what to do about it, call me.”