The ShellRaiser squeals to a stop outside the lair. Leonardo wastes no time in getting out of the driver's seat and taking Destiny from Donatello's hold, turning and striding from the vehicle without a second glance. Everyone else piles out and follows after him, heading off in different directions as soon as they can; Donatello to get first aid supplies, Casey and Michelangelo for pillows and blankets, April sticking with Leonardo, Raphael racing at full speed towards the dojo.

The red-masked turtle nearly trips into the previously peaceful place, where Splinter is seated beneath the tree in a meditative trance.

"Sensei, sorry to barge in, but you need to get out here," he says.

"Raphael, you have returned," Splinter states as his eyes snap open. He turns and looks over at his son, instantly noticing his shaken disposition. "What has happened?" he asks, getting to his feet as his large ears twitch.

"It's bad, Sensei. Shredder..." Raphael grits his teeth and looks at the floor, hands clenching into fists. "We couldn't..."

Splinter rests a hand on the turtle's shoulder, squeezing it gently. "Let us go," he murmurs.

They leave the dojo, where Raphael makes a beeline for the living room bench. Destiny is now laying on an old blanket, a pillow propping her head up, a blanket draped over her shivering body. April sits on the bench adjacent to that, an ice pack held on her head. Michelangelo and Casey stand on the level above Destiny's spot while Leonardo and Donatello kneel next to the injured girl.

Leonardo looks up at Splinter as soon as the rat is near. "Sensei..."

"I know, Leonardo," he responds.

"Donnie, what did they do to her?" Raphael demands, sitting down next to April and gripping the edge of the seat.

Donatello sets his first aid kit near him, remaining utterly silent and focused as he checks Destiny's vitals. He lifts one eyelid, shining a light on it and watching the pupil dilate. Letting out a soft breath and placing his fingers against her neck, he looks down at his t-phone as he counts the number of beats. He winces and runs a hand over his head, tapping his fingers against the top of his cranium.

"Donnie..." Leonardo says, shifting in place.

"Well...here's the thing," he mumbles, grave. His hand brushes over her tail, the singed fur coming to his attention. "Her injuries are extensive but none are fatal."

"So she'll live?" Casey clarifies.

Donatello nods, but his face doesn't get any happier. "I'd say they used electrocution mostly, judging by her being damp and the burns on her skin, and then...of course..." He brushes her hair from her eyes, giving view to the gashes leaving bloody tears along her face plus various bruises on her eyebrow ridge and jaw. "There was some, uh...s-slicing and beating involved," he finishes, coughing once before turning his hand so that the back is against her forehead. His eyes widen. "Oh shell, I forgot..." He purses his lips and turns to April. "April?"

She perks up. "Yeah?"

"I wouldn't be surprised if she has mild hypothermia. She needs to get out of her wet clothes," he says, turning slightly pink. "Would you...uh..."

"Oh, yeah! I can do that," April says. "Look away, guys."

Every male presence in the room obediently covers their eyes, waiting for the redhead to give them the signal. After a few minutes, she clears her throat.

"Alright guys, she's good."

They open their eyes as April sits down in her old spot, setting Destiny's minimal clothes to the side. Donatello exhales and turns to his first aid kit, flipping it open and starting to rifle through the equipment.

"Alright, I'll start cleaning up her arms," he says. "Leo?" The turtle in question looks up as Donatello hands him a wet cloth. "You want to try cleaning up her face?"

Leonardo nods. "Yeah, of course," he murmurs, taking the rag.

He stands and finds a new spot near Destiny's head, lifting it onto his lap and starting to dab the grime off her face. As he cleans, the three jagged marks that now run across the right side of her face come into clearer view. The dried blood stains her eyebrow and cheek, making his stomach twist.

"Donnie...she'll wake up, right?" Michelangelo asks, his voice just reaching over a whisper.

Donatello doesn't meet his eyes as he applies medicinal cream to the burns and cuts on Destiny's left arm. "There's a good chance, but...we have to prepare for the fact that she won't be the same as she was before," the tall turtle says. "It'll be difficult to come back from this."

Michelangelo whimpers and sits down in the spot next to Raphael, his head in his hands. Raphael tentatively puts a comforting arm around his shoulders. Donatello and Leonardo keep working.

Casey scuffs his shoe against the floor. "Hey, uh, Splinter, could April and I stay here tonight?" he asks. "It's late already. I can call my dad and get the okay."

Splinter nods. "Of course, stay as long as you please." He ears flatten slightly as his russet eyes fall on his sons again. "All of you should get some rest," he says. "It has been a tiring evening."

"Hai Sensei," comes the obedient reply. Leonardo just nods without moving his eyes from Destiny.

Michelangelo and Raphael get up, cracking a yawn or two. Michelangelo reaches over and pats Destiny's head in between her wolf ears before turning and heading off to bed. Raphael casts a sympathetic glance at the girl before following his brother, while Casey and April go to the dojo.

Donatello sits back, tucking Destiny's bandaged arms back under the blanket that's keeping her covered as he sighs. There's nothing else he can do for her right now. He stands up, watching his older brother as he diligently and slowly continues to clean the raw cuts on Destiny's face.

"Hey, Leo?" Donatello asks.

He looks up, his lip twitching slightly. "Yeah?"

"Keep your chin up. There's always sunshine after cumulonimbus clouds pass."

Leonardo manages a laugh. "Dork."

Donatello shrugs. "I know."

The purple-masked turtle pats his brother's shoulder before heading off to his lab, leaving Splinter alone with his eldest son. Leonardo's smile falls as looks back at Destiny, dragging the stained cloth along her skin to clean up the last of the blood. Splinter watches him closely the whole time, waiting for him to be ready to speak.

The turtle drops the rag beside him, but doesn't leave Destiny quite yet, his lap still acting as her pillow. He adjusts the blanket over her before he places his hand on her matted hair, brushing her wolf ears between two of this three fingers.

"It's my fault," he croaks, his eyes glistening with sorrow.

Splinter strokes his goatee, completely unsurprised by his son's words. "Why do you believe that?"

"I let her go. I knew the risks and I still let her go above ground without any sort of protection or—"

"Was it you who hurt her?" the rat interrupts.

Leonardo doesn't respond right away, taking in a shaky breath. "N-No, but—"

"Was it you that wanted her to be happy?"

He nods, tears starting to well up in his eyes. Splinter glides to his son's side and bends down to his eye level, capturing him in the intense stare.

"Then...why was it your fault?" he asks.

There's no reply from the distraught turtle. Splinter rests a careful hand on Destiny's forehead, taking a deep breath and closing his eyes. Leonardo opens his mouth to say something, but his father's eyes open and silence him again. Splinter gives a short nod and removes his hand.

"She will be fine," he says. He turns towards the dojo as he loops his fingers together, then pauses and calls over his shoulder. "Leonardo, be sure to let yourself rest as well."

"Hai, Sensei."

Splinter walks away, leaving Leonardo alone with Destiny. As soon as the rat disappears into the dojo, Leonardo lets a soft sob escape as he hugs Destiny against him, blinking away the tears that threaten to spill from his eyes.

"I'm sorry, Des...so sorry," he whispers.

Her breath fans his neck, less shaky than before, and she feels warmer than when they first retrieved her from Shredder's clutches, but that's where his positive view stops. He struggles to find anything more than that when wounds like hers are staring him in the face.

She's torn apart, battered and bruised, and for what?

Leonardo shakes head and closes his eyes, holding Destiny closer to him and pressing his cheek against her hair. He rests his lips against forehead, giving her the softest kiss he can manage.

"Don't worry. I'll be here all night," he promises.