The Color of a Bruise

"History never looks like history when you are living through it"

-John W. Gardner

"I wonder what's keeping April? She's never this late!" The purple clad scientist was pacing around the lair, T-Phone in hand, watching the minutes tick by.

"Calm down, Donnie, I'm sure she's got a perfectly good reason for being late. The movie isn't going anywhere. Besides, the wedding was just a few months ago, she probably lost track of the time playing new housewife for Casey."

"Thanks Leo, remind me a little more, I had COMPLETELY FORGOTTEN!" He shouted at his brother, something he had been doing more of lately than usual.

Although his brothers would never say it out loud, they knew that his new found anger was because of April's marriage to Casey. Everyone knew that he loved her. Probably more than was healthy. She had been the first girl he had ever seen, human or otherwise. From that moment, he had been head over heels for her. He worshiped the ground she walked on. He held out hope that she would one day reciprocate that love, even after Casey Jones had entered their lives. That hope finally died on her wedding day, when she married Casey. Since then, Donatello spent most of his time locked up in his lab, barely coming out, even to eat. This movie night was the first time Donatello would see April since her wedding, and the first time his brothers had seen him out for more than a couple of minutes.

Leonardo walked over to his brother and placed a hand on his shoulder, which made him quit pacing.

"Hey, Don, look, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you. But you have to be reasonable here; she's married now, there's no "what if" left. You need to move on."

Donatello's eyes got misty, and his hands became fists. Leo could feel him begin to shake.

"It hurts so much, Leo… I thought that maybe she could love me back… But I was so wrong. No one will ever love me!"

At that, Donatello ran for his lab, desperate to lose himself in one experiment or other, so he didn't have to think about the painful hole in his heart. Leo walked back to the sofa he had been sitting on next to Raphael. Michelangelo, the youngest, was laying in the tire swing behind them.

"I don't know why ya don't just leave him alone, Leo. Every time ya try to talk to him, he just gets more and more pissed off."

As Leo was about to respond, Mikey walked over to the couch and plopped down beside his brothers.

"Yeah bro, just let him, you know, chill for a while."

"I guess you guys are right," Leo sighed, "I just wish there was something we could do to help him. I hate seeing him like this."

Just then, the guys heard what sounded like April and Casey entering the lair. But they were confused by what sounded like a third person accompanying them. Mikey shot up off the couch excitedly, and ran to hug April, with Raph and Leo not far behind him. They stopped in their tracks when they saw her, however.

Between Casey and April was another young woman, with her arms around both their necks, who looked about their age. She was maybe an inch or so taller than April, and had dark red hair. Had she not been in the light, it would have looked brown. It hung limp and stringy around her face, as though it hadn't been washed for a while. Her eyes were so dark brown they were almost black. She seemed very tired, or maybe sick; her eyes seemed to be glassy, and they had dark bags underneath them. She was being supported as they walked.

"April? What's going on? Who is this? Is she hurt? Should I go get Donnie?" Leo was in a mild panic, both because the girl was a stranger, which he knew Sensei wouldn't be thrilled about, and because she appeared to be sick.

"This is Stephanie, she's a friend of mine. Long story short, she's been sick for a while, and she needs help."

"Mikey, go tell Donnie. Raph, get Stephanie to the lab so Donnie can look her over. I'll get Sensei."

A/N This is my first attempt at a fanfic, so please remember that, but also, don't baby me. Let me know what I can change, and what you liked! Also, don't be afraid to let me know if you want anything specific to happen! I am open to suggestions! All will be considered! Thanks