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"I don't need no babysitter." Raph grumbled as he leaned heavily on Leo.
Don supported Raph’s other side. “Don’t think of it like that, Raph. You just need a quiet place to rest, with someone around in case you need something while we’re out on this mission.”
“Yeah. Babysitting.”
Mikey went ahead of them to knock on the door. “C’mon, bro, you like hanging out with Mrs M! And you get to sit around instead of having to work. Sounds like a good deal to me! Minus the busted leg, of course.”
Raph just grumbled about how dumb it all was, but he didn’t move from his brothers’ support.
Stupid broken leg. Stupid Hun for throwing him off a roof. Stupid broken fire escape.
“Who is it?” A young voice called out as the door opened a crack. A girl with dark hair peeked out at them. She blinked, then grinned. “Oh, hey guys!”
“Hey Ali!” Mikey greeted. “Are your parents here?”
Alison opened the door all the way so the turtles could come in. “They’re out on Date Night, so it’s just us and Grandma.”
“Who’s there? Did I hear Mikey?” Danny ran into the living room, then slid to a stop when she saw Leo and Donny helping Raph to the couch. “Oh dang, what happened to Raph?”
Raph grunted as he sat, trying to keep as much weight off his bad leg as he could. “Some jerk threw me off a roof.”
Alison tilted her head. “Shouldn’t you be on bed rest then? Not that we’re not happy to see you guys, but why come to our Grandma’s?”
Mikey jerked his thumb at Raph. “Because somebody decided to hang out in the gym instead of his room.”
"Usin’ the dumbbells ain't gonna hurt my leg!" Raph protested.
Don gave his brother a withering look that said he had already told Raph exactly why that was a bad idea–multiple times–and he really didn't want to again.
“Our friends are busy, and we wanted to make sure someone could be nearby if he needs anything.” Leo explained. “Can we count on you to keep an eye on him?”
Alison stood a little straighter and nodded seriously, excited that Leo would trust her something important like this.
Danny gave a mock salute with two fingers. “Yessir!” Then she spun on her heel and raced to the kitchen. “Hey Grandma, the guys are here! And Raph needs your magic tea!”
Don and Mike helped Raph lay down, making sure his leg was propped on a pillow. Alison hovered nearby in case they needed any help.
When Raph was as comfortable as he could be Danny returned with her grandmother and Samantha trailing behind.
"Raphael?" Mrs Morrison asked, "Are you alright, dear? Danielle said you broke your leg."
She reached out a hand towards the couch, and Raph took it from where he lay. "I'm alright Mrs Morrison. Just a busted leg. Don't even hurt that much." He squeezed her hand gently to reassure her.
"Well, you know you are more than welcome to stay here and rest." She smiled warmly at him.
"Thank you, ma'am."
Little Samantha trots up to Raph's side, dragging her frog plushie behind her. "Raphie's hurt?"
"I'll be fine, munchkin." Raph says, giving her a reassuring smile.
Donny picked up Samantha, frog plush and all. "We actually have a very important job for you, Sammy."
"Oh, uh, it's almost time for her nap, Don." Alison said.
At that he grins wickedly at Raph. "Even better! She can stay right here for her nap."
"Don, what are you doing? Wait, let's talk about this. Donny, c'mon!" Raph struggled to get up, but was easily pushed back down by Mikey's hands on his shoulders.
Don carefully set her down on top of Raph's plastron. "I need you to stay right there and make sure Raphie doesn't move. His leg is broken and he needs rest." At the last comment he looks Raph in the eye.
Sammy happily settled down, making herself comfortable on top of Raph, and Raph stopped struggling so he wouldn't jostle her. "Guys, c'mon. Mike? Have mercy!"
Mikey just shakes his head as he steps back to stand with Leo. "No can do, bro. Doctor's orders!"
Danny throws a concerned look at Leo. "Is he… ok?"
"Don't worry, he'll be fine so long as he lets his leg heal." He pats her shoulder. "He's just being dramatic."
"Yeah, because," Mikey leaned in conspiratorially, "it's illegal to move when something cute falls asleep on you. Trust me, I know."
“She ain’t asleep yet, I could make her get up right now.” Raph threatened from where he lay on the couch, though it sounded half hearted.
Samantha reached up and pat Raph’s forehead. “Don-Don said you need a nap too. And he knows everything.”
Finally, Raph sighed and settled back against the pillow with only some mild grumbling.
Mrs Morrison laughed. "Yes Samantha, you make sure he stays right where he is. I'll get the kettle on for some tea. Will the rest of you boys be staying long?"
Leo shakes his head. "No, but thank you. We actually have some… errands we need to run. We'll come back for him later. Thank you again for letting him stay. "
"Any time dearie."
The girls wave the turtles goodbye as they leave. Donatello gave his prone brother one last glare to stay put before heading out the door with the rest.
"Well, now. Alison? Help me, dear." Mrs Morrison said as she moved to the kitchen, the eldest sister following behind.
Danny stood next to the couch for a few moments, hand to her chin in thought, before she exclaimed, "Oh! I know! Be right back!" She pointed at Samantha. "Sammy, don't move!" Then she took off down the hall.
Raph sighed again. It was just a broken leg, no need for everyone to make such a fuss.
Raph looked to Samantha, laying on her stomach on top of him. "Looks like it's just you 'n me, munchkin." He tousled her blond hair.
She baps at his arm in retaliation, but her giggling is broken by a yawn.
"Tired, kiddo?"
She nods, rubbing one bleary eye, and Raph settles his hand on her back.
"Alright, you rest up. I won't go nowhere."
"Promise?"
"Promise."
She rests her head down on Raph's plastron, and he rubs her back in a soothing motion until her breaths even out.
Samantha is always in motion, chattering a mile a minute or rushing between her sisters and the turtles for the next game. It’s almost strange to see her so still now. Raph watches her as she sleeps, her face relaxed and peaceful and her tiny hands clutching her frog plush. He brushed a few curly strands of hair out of her face. Who said this kid could be so cute.
Danny ran back into the living room, red hair streaking behind her. Her socks did little to muffle her pounding footsteps. “Got it!”
Raph made a shushing noise and gestured to the sleeping girl on top of him.
It didn’t work. Samantha lifted her head and looked around with bleary eyes. When she saw her sister she gave a tired smile. “Hi Danny.”
Raph sighed. At least she wasn’t upset.
“Oh. Oops.” Danny stage whispered as she came over to the couch and sat on the floor.
“You hang around a bunch of ninja, how do you sound like a herd of elephants?” Raph snarked, but there was no heat in it.
Danny grinned. “It’s a talent. I brought some comics to read you while you’re stuck on the couch.” Sure enough she held up a small stack of comics.
The turtle went back to rubbing Samantha’s back to soothe her back to sleep, but she seemed determined to stay awake a bit longer at the prospect of story time. “Alright. Whatcha got?”
Danny started to flip through her collection, showing them each cover. “We got Jonah’s Library, Stories from the Catacombs, Heebie Jeebies-”
Raph waved his other hand. “None of yer scary stuff. We actually want Sam to sleep, remember.”
Samantha mumbled that she wasn’t scared of anything, but Raph ignored her. He raised his eyebrows at Danny, who sighed and set a fair number of the comics she brought to the side.
“Ok, so I have Silver Sentry and the Moon Menace, the Maze King, and Pendragon’s Wandering Mansion.”
“That last one.” He pointed to the cover that showed an old woman standing in front of a mansion propped up on mechanical legs. That one looked harmless enough.
As Danny was just getting comfortable, crossing her legs and leaning back against the couch, Alison and their grandmother came back from the kitchen.
“Got the tea!” Alison cheered. “This should help you feel better!”
Raph sat up as much as he could against the arm of the couch, careful not to jostle Samantha or his leg. “‘Magic tea’, eh?”
“An old family blend.” Mrs Morrison said, “My grandmother gave it to me when I was feeling under the weather, and now I give it to my own grandchildren.” She handed the turtle his cup with a pointed smile.
Raphael mumbled a thanks, a sudden swell of emotion brimming from his chest. He carefully took the mug with both hands and took a sip. Warmth seeped into his core and he felt his muscles start to relax. “That’s really good.”
The old woman just gave him a warm smile before settling into her armchair with her own mug.
Alison sat on the floor next to Danny, leaning against her to see what comic she had. “Oh I love this one!” She settled in against the couch, leaning her head on Raph a little.
Danny held the comic up so Raph and Samantha could see and dramatically cleared her throat. “Chapter one: in which Sophie talks to hats…”
—
Leo and his brothers got back to the Morrison house later than he was hoping, but the mission was successful and they didn’t even have to fight that many ninja this time. They can handle themselves without Raph, of course, but it’s always felt when one of their team is missing.
Since it was so late he didn’t bother knocking on the door, figuring everyone would be asleep by now. He unlocked the door and eased it open. He only got a few steps inside before he stopped again, Mikey and Don just behind him and barely avoiding running into his shell.
“Bro, what gives?” Mikey leaned around Leo before dropping his voice into a whisper and cooing at the sight in front of them.
Raph was sleeping on the couch, snoring so loud it was a wonder how anyone else could sleep around him. Samantha was laying on top of him, one of his hands resting on her back. Danny and Alison were both sitting on the floor, leaning on each other as they slept. Comics were scattered on the floor around them, one of them sitting open in Danny's lap. Raph’s other arm was wrapped around both of their shoulders.
“Aawww isn’t that just precious? I wish I had a camera!"
“I do!” Donnie grinned and pulled a polaroid camera out of his duffel bag, snapping a picture of the adorable scene.