Chapter 2: Diagnoses and Introductions
The turtles moved quickly, even with the extra baggage. Donnie held Cassidy, having already tucked his bo staff back into his pack. She was slung forwards over his shoulder in order to keep one arm free. She watched Mikey moving next to them, laughing every time he winked or made a face.
"Is he always like this?" she asked Donnie. He wrinkled his nose and nodded as they all paused to take a breather.
"Aww, c'mon," Mikey put his hand out to her. "Who doesn't want a piece of this shell?"
"April," Raphael glanced back, chuckling. Mikey dropped his hand to his side.
"That's just wrong, bruh," he answered. "By the way, I had called dibs!"
"I can't help that. She seems to go for bigger and badder," Raph shrugged with a smile.
"And ruder," Mikey's eyes narrowed. Raphael began to move towards him until Cassidy's voice stopped him.
"Oh, so April is his girlfriend?" Cassidy inquired, gesturing to Raphael. He turned as red as his mask, glaring down at his hands.
"He wishes," Donnie told her.
"Who are we kidding? I think they both wish that," Leo spoke up, laughing. Cassidy's brow furrowed.
"I don't get it. If they want to be together, then why can't they be?" she asked. Donnie looked at his brothers, who all frowned except for Mikey, who folded his arms and nodded with a smirk as if to say, "She gets it."
"Because she's a human...and we're not," Donnie stated simply, his expression grim. Cassidy's smile fell as she went silent, her thoughts jumbled and confused. They all began to move again, and she held on tighter to Donnie. He smiled back at her as they moved, the gap in his teeth showing, and she couldn't help but smile back.
"Leo, where are we taking her?" Donnie yelled to the leader who was up ahead.
"We're taking her home," he replied, making Donnie tense up.
"Those men knew her. What if her home isn't safe?" he retorted, glancing sideways at her.
"Cassidy, is your home safe to bring you back to?" Leo asked her, and she shrugged.
"That was my ex-boyfriend and I guess some friends of his..." she told them, frowning. "And my dad's always passed out drunk on the couch, so he wouldn't notice four giant turtles even if they were in front of his nose." Donnie's heart ached for her as Leo stopped to look back at her.
"Your dad is a drunk?" he wanted to know, his expression softening. Cassidy nodded, tightening her jaw.
"Ever since my mom died two years ago. It's his coping mechanism," she admitted. Leo's expression looked like he was at war with himself, and she watched him.
"How'd she die?" Donnie asked her softly, placing his hand over hers comfortingly.
"There was a fire. She got me out in time and went back in for a friend of hers...and she never came out," she sighed with sadness, and he swallowed hard.
"I'm sorry," the purple-masked turtle said.
"Thank you," she nodded once, unable to say more. Leo turned direction and began to move, making a gesture in the air for the others to follow him.
"Leo...this is the way to the lair..." Raph's voice was a warning.
"Thank you, genius...I know that," their leader told him sarcastically.
"What are you doing? Bleeding hearts?" This time, Raphael's voice was quieter and right next to him. Leo glanced at him out of the corner of his eye.
"I'm helping her...WE are helping her. She has a hurt ankle, was just attacked by a group of men who would've done who knows what, and is about to go home to a drunk. Do you propose we just leave the girl that Donnie has been talking about for months to a drunk man and a psycho ex?" Raphael thought about it for a moment and then grunted in agreement. Leo's brow raised as they increased their speed.
"Wow, dude...April has turned you into a soft shell," Leo teased. Raphael growled at him, his green color turning pink, and he sped up.
"Last one to the lair buys the pizza," he challenged his brothers, changing the subject. Donnie held tight to Cassidy and began to run, not wanting to come in last. She laughed as they practically flew, and she felt her hair whipping around.
"Lair?" Donnie realized what his older brother had said. Leo smiled back at him but kept running. They finally arrived to the entrance of the sewers and Donnie maneuvered Cassidy quickly in his arms until he was holding her under her knees and behind her back. She grabbed on around his neck to keep from falling out of instinct, and then she glanced at him. He was turning slightly pink and avoiding her gaze as he jumped into the sewer. She squeaked and clutched onto him tightly, feeling them hit the water and sliding downwards. Mikey hollered ahead of them, and Raphael tried to get around all of them. It wasn't an easy task though. Cassidy looked around her and then back at Donnie, who finally met her gaze. His eyes softened behind his glasses, and his pulse sped up. Her arms tightened their hold around him slightly as they pushed down through the water.
"Damn..." he muttered under his breath. He glanced at her, and she was staring at him quizzically, though she looked slightly out of breath. "Uhm...You okay?" he asked hastily. She nodded at him, her wet purple hair clinging to the sides of her face. He used a finger to brush the pieces back from her eyes, and he saw her swallow hard once. His gaze roamed across her face, and he noticed her precious freckles that dotted her nose and cheeks.
"Yeah," she responded, trying not to let him feel her racing heart. "So...is Donnie short for anything?"
"Donatello," he smiled kindly at her. She felt her lips curve upwards into a smile.
"Donatello," she repeated softly. He realized that he loved hearing his name when she said it. Nodding, he grabbed her tight as they hit the end of the line and leapt through the air. She gasped in surprise and grasped his arms, closing her eyes.
"Hey it's all right," he calmed her, shaking her gently. She reopened her eyes to see all four turtles standing there staring at her. "We've done this plenty of times." He reluctantly set her down, and she released her tighter hold on him, looking slightly disappointed. He already missed the warmth of holding her. Leo led the way into their home, and the others followed. Donnie offered her his arm, clearing his throat and bowing with a smirk.
"My lady?" Cassidy laughed, and Donnie sighed. Her laughter was music to his ears.
"Milord," she curtsied and took his arm, allowing him to bring her into his home with him. She limped alongside him, the pain in her ankle flaming back up, and she grimaced.
"And what are your brothers' names?" she asked him, trying to keep her mind off of the pain.
"Leonardo's our leader, the one in blue. Red and always angry is Raphael. Our resident emcee and ladies' man...in his own mind, at least...is Michelangelo, or Mikey," Donnie introduced his brothers, pointing to each one respectively. She nodded with a grin and then blinked.
"Wait...your names..."
"Yeah, I know...we're named after Italian Renaissance painters..." he finished her sentence with a chuckle. "We've heard that one before..."
"Well...I was going to say that your names are unique and pretty epic...but now looking back, yeah...you are named after painters...that's cool!" Donnie stopped and stared at her, his look shocked. "What?"
"Every time you open your mouth, you surprise me, he replied, awestruck. She glanced down and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear.
"Oh...sorry," she apologized as they began to walk again.
"Don't be. It's refreshing," he said encouragingly, looking around. She smiled sideways at him and leaned in a bit closer as they walked together. Without being caught, he finally got to take a deep breath and inhale her scent. She was overwhelming his senses, and he closed his eyes tight for a moment. There was no fear anymore, so all he could smell was a rich type of flower and a warm vanilla that was probably either from a bath or her perfume. Either way, it smelled divine on her. His shell tightened slightly, and he had to mentally slap himself.
"Donnie," Leo's voice saved him, and he looked over at his older brother, who was waving them over. He brought Cassidy with him, and they all stood in a circle. Raphael was putting away the weapons nearby, and Mikey was busy dodging his fists after having teased him about April again. Raphael walked back over, folding his bulky arms and staring at the girl with purple hair. Mikey moved around to her other side, draping an arm around her. She smiled over at him, knowing he was just playing around. Donnie rolled his eyes and shook his head, but he didn't try to push his younger brother away this time.
"Guys, let me officially introduce you to Cassidy," he spoke up, looking at her with a sweet smile.
"Okay, let me get this straight...Leo the Leader, Raging Raphael, and MC Mikey?" she glanced at each of them, and they stared back with wide eyes.
"She's got it," Mikey patted her shoulder.
"That's a good way to remember," Leo agreed with a smile. "Now, we need to tell our father that you're here...don't freak out when you see him..."
"Uhm...Leo...I was just saved by rapists by four turtles who are larger than 6 feet tall, and you guys can hold conversations with me...what makes you think I would freak out about your dad?" She blinked at him, raising her eyebrows and laughing a bit.
"Touche," he laughed along with her before moving into the next room. "Master? We have someone for you to meet." Cassidy followed him into the room and halted, gazing up in curiosity at the large mutated rat standing in front of her. He stared right back at her, his eyes calculating but not cruel.
"And why do we have this visitor?" he asked Leo firmly, who pointed at Donnie.
"Way to be a leader," Raphael scoffed. "Blaming the nerd."
"I had to bring her here, Father," Donnie answered, stepping forward. "There were men who attacked her. And we couldn't bring her home to a drunk dad, who wouldn't help her when she needed the help." Splinter walked up to her and took her hand in his paw.
"What is your name?" he asked her politely.
"Cassidy," she greeted, watching his ears perk up as he glanced at Donnie with a smile appearing on his face.
"Cassidy..." he mimicked, still watching his son, who looked at him sheepishly. "Now I understand." He turned back to the teenage girl. "Welcome to our home..." The four brothers stared at him in amazement before Donnie gathered himself and nodded at her, bringing her over to a chair.
"Let me look at your ankle," he said, sitting in the chair next to her. The other three turtles plopped themselves down around them. She let him take off her shoe and pull up her jeans a bit til he could reach her ankle. When he touched the skin there, he heard a noise from her and looked up.
"Does it hurt?" he asked instantly, nervous that he had hurt her.
"No...your hand is really warm...it was a bit surprising." Her eyes moved to where he was holding her ankle, and they both fell quiet as he began to touch in different areas to check where it hurt and exactly how much it hurt. He pressed down hard on one particular spot, and she yelped. He immediately stopped applying pressure and leaned in closer to take a better look at it.
"I'm sorry."
"It's ok," she told him, waving off the apology. "I'll live."
"How dangerous is that ex of yours?" Raphael wanted to know, staring hard at her.
"I got a restraining order against him a while back. It was the first time he broke it," she informed them.
"Why did you get the restraining order?" Leo questioned. She glanced over at him sadly.
"He was not a good boyfriend. He didn't know the meaning of the word no." Raphael's body tensed up, and Leo's eyes narrowed dangerously. Mikey shook his head in disgust, and Donnie went rigid beside her. He took her chin in his hand and turned her to look at him, his eyes searching hers fiercely.
"Did he-?" he began.
"No..." she answered honestly. "He tried to, but I got away..." Donnie's entire body sagged in relief as his hand released her chin to smooth back her hair. The other brothers relaxed as well.
"Well, at least we don't have to kill him now," Raphael growled madly.
"That's one thing we don't tolerate...it's how Master raised us...he told us to always take care of women and to always respect them," Leo explained their sudden fury, and she nodded in understanding.
"I'm glad some guys do," she stated with bitter undertones, and she instinctively leaned her head into Donnie's hand. His eyes softened at the action. As soon as it happened, it was over, and he released her to work on her ankle again.
"It's a sprain..." he diagnosed with a stiff frown, nodding gratefully as Leo handed him some bandages to wrap it up. "You have to be careful walking on it, okay, Cass?" She shook her head up and down to acknowledge him.
"Thank you guys..." she addressed all of them appreciatively. "I owe you one."
"How about another World of Warcraft round" Donnie smirked at her. "This time, you can play here with me?" The female techie laughed and smiled right back at him.
"You've got yourself a deal."
