A/N

Wow I really want to thank everyone for the support for this story. It's only been up a day and I'm very happy with the positive response. For someone brand new to Fanfiction (like one day new), I can say you have made it a positive experience.

This chapter is super long, twice as long as the other two, but I love it a lot. I wanted to split it up, but it works better as whole, so enjoy!

Next Chapter should be up by the end of the week :)

For being in the sewers, the lair is a surprisingly cozy place. It's always so full of life and energy, and much cleaner than anyone would have guessed. Splinter and the guys had succeeded in making a home out of what they had available. It was obvious that Splinter had tried to provide his sons with whatever they needed to make their upbringing as normal as possible. The result of all their efforts was one of April's favorite places in the city.

When April had to live with the turtles for a few weeks, back when the Kraang and the Foot were after her, she complained about it a lot. Truth be told, she didn't really mind. It was much more fun living down there with the guys than with her boring aunt who was hardly ever even home.

There was never a dull moment, that's for sure.

As April sat on the large couch on her laptop, working on an English paper, she couldn't help but notice the homey environment around her.

Mikey was glued to the television watching that horrible anime the guys all like so much. This show was so annoying; she couldn't stand the whiny princess character. April never thought she would actually miss Space Heroes.

The guys loved it though, especially Mikey, so she kept her opinion to herself.

Raph and Casey were having an all out foosball battle, which sounded like it was heating up based on all the yelling, cursing, and banging coming from behind her.

Donnie was sitting next to her, a respectable three feet of space between them, on his own laptop, tapping away at the keys like a man possessed. He had his tongue sticking out of the corner of his mouth in his patented "in the zone" way, showing April that he was completely entrenched in his work.

Curious, April leaned back in her seat to try and get a glimpse of what he was working on. He seemed to writing some kind of computer code. Line after line of computer gibberish took up his entire screen.

Just add advanced computer coding to Donnie's long list of skills…

She watched his fingers fly across the keys and was amazed by how precise and capable he was with his large three fingers. Typing seemed like an impossible task to April under those circumstances, but not only did he manage it, he excelled at it.

"You're staring." Donnie suddenly said, making April jump in her seat. Embarrassed at being caught, she looked back towards her own computer screen and shrugged, watching him out of the corner of her eye.

"I was just amazed by how fast you can type; you leave me in the dust." She said, honestly. The fact that he even noticed her watching him is surprising. Usually, when Donnie is that into his work, a bomb could go off and he wouldn't even notice.

He continued typing, but glanced over towards April.

"I'm not really that fast, just a little above average, last time I clocked myself I was about 70 WPM." He shrugged one shoulder and returned his attention to his code.

"Yeah, but that's still fast, like very fast, considering…you know." She raised one of her hands and wiggled her fingers.

Donnie paused in his work and looked down at the large, green, three fingered hands on his keyboard. He looked a little sad. Pointing out how different they were physically usually made him a little self conscious.

"It's all I've ever known. I guess we learn to use what we're given." He finally said sadly.

Realizing her mistake, April attempted to backtrack with flattery. "All I'm saying is it's amazing how many things you're good at, Donnie." She said genuinely, huge grin plastered on her face.

He glanced at her shyly, surprised by her statement. Searching her face for a second, he seemed to accept what she said as truth and instantly blushed at the compliment, goofy, embarrassed grin in place.

April couldn't help but think how cute he was sometimes.

Her thoughts were interrupted by Casey vaulting over the back of the couch and plopping himself between her and the purple clad turtle.

Donnie had to lean to the side to avoid being kicked in the head by the hockey player, an angry glare already directed in Casey's direction.

"Boy, that Raph sure knows how to put up a good fight, but he's no match for Casey Jones, I just whooped his green backside." Casey boasted.

Suddenly, a throwing star came flying out of nowhere and imbedded itself in the couch mere inches from Casey. He didn't even flinch.

"You did not whoop me! You got lucky in the third bout of sudden death!" Raph screamed, with three more throwing stars at the ready.

"But I still won…and it was not luck it was the pure unfiltered awesomeness that is me." Casey smirked his cocky grin, and stretched, putting his arm along the back of the couch around April. She'd be lying if she said her heart didn't speed up a little at his movement.

Donnie let out an audible groan, and moved himself and his laptop further down the couch, away from the teens.

"Whatever, Jones! I'm up for a rematch anytime, anywhere!" Raph continued.

"That anxious for another embarrassment? Bring it on shell boy!" Depsite his words, Casey made no movement to get up. "Later, though, right now I just wanna hang."

"Do you guys mind? Trying to watch here!" Mikey sang out, not looking away from the television.

April thought she could actually see steam rising off of Raphael he was so angry.

"Ugh, forget you guys." Raph stomped out of the room, giving Mikey a good smack on the head on his way out.

"Hey! What did I do!?" Mikey screamed holding his head in mock pain.

"You were born!" Came the muffled reply, followed by the rhythmic tap tap sound of Raph letting out his frustration on the punching bag.

"Well, okay then." Mikey said returning to his show, still rubbing his abused head.

April laughed and rolled her eyes at the boys antics, finally giving her attention back to her essay.

She didn't get through more than two sentences before it became painfully obvious Casey wanted her attention. If the subtle throat clears, and fidgeting wasn't a clue when he finally reached out and closed her laptop, she got the hint.

"Something you want, Casey?" April asked, curiously.

"Come on, Red, it's Friday! You have all weekend to do homework. How about me and you go out tomorrow, see a movie? That new Lizard Apocalypse movie comes out tomorrow."

April felt herself blush at his request. Casey had asked her out dozens of times before, but usually it was in a 'How about a date?' way… not anything specific. She was always nervous about going on an actual date with him, so most of the time she would make it so the turtles were involved, so it was never really just the two of them.

She knew she felt something for Casey, she found his cockiness and bad boy attitude alluring. What girl wouldn't? He just had this presence about him, if there was one thing Casey Jones was not, it was self conscious. However, she didn't know if she actually liked him, or was just attracted to him because he was the first human boy to pay her any attention. Plus, he was the only other one who knew about the turtles, so there was that bond.

He's also one hundred percent human…

When all was said and done, April didn't know what she wanted.

Oh hell, if I don't do it, I'll never know. Time to start taking some action girl!

Deciding to throw caution to the wind, April replied. "Sure, Casey, sounds great."

He let out a loud whoop and grinned at her. "Really? Sweet!"

April watched him do a little victory dance in his seat, and laughed. Glancing over Casey's shoulder she spotted Donnie slowly closing his computer. He stood up, looking everywhere but at her and Casey.

The smile fell off her face, and she suddenly felt guilty.

That was stupid of her; she never should have done that in front of Donnie.

She looked on as Donnie gathered his things and turned to leave the room, heading in the direction of his lab. At the last minute he glanced up and made eye contact with April. He immediately looked away… but what she saw broke her heart.

Great O'Neil, some friend you are, why don't you just stab him in the heart?

Donnie headed across the room only to be intercepted by Leo, katanas strapped to his back, obviously ready to go out.

"Hey, Donnie, where do you think you're going? It's time for patrol." Leo asked his younger brother.

As if summoned by the word "patrol", Raph emerged, grabbed his sais and joined Leo.

Donnie shifted his weight from foot to foot, anxious to get out of the room. "Patrol? Honestly, I'm not really feeling up to it tonight…I have LOADS of work to do and if you three feel like you can handle it…"

Leo raised an eye ridge at his brother, obviously not believing his excuse. "You sure, Don? You know I don't like going out less than full strength."

Donnie lowered his voice to barely a whisper, but April could still make it out. "Please, Leo. Just…not tonight."

Leonardo's expression softened and he placed a hand on his brother's shoulder. "Okay, bro. Just tonight though; and you're doing an extra training session tomorrow morning to make up for it."

"Understood." With that Donnie hurried out of the room, in the direction of his lab.

He didn't look back.

"Hey, if D doesn't have to go, I'm not going either!" Mikey whined from his spot still sprawled on the floor.

"You're going, Mikey." Leo said matter of fact.

"But that's not fair!" He complained in his best five year old voice.

Raphael hopped the couch and jumped on Mikey, pinning him to the ground and delivering a swift smack to the back of his head. "How's this for fair!?"

The young turtle screamed and relented. "Okay. Okay, I'll go! Now get off me!"

"Nope, not until you say it!"

"Raphael is better than me at absolutely everything."

"Annnnd?"

As Raph tortured Mikey, Leonardo approached April and Casey, both of whom were still on the couch, enjoying the entertainment.

"How about you two? Up for a patrol? I am one man down." Leo asked.

April was surprised by his request. She hadn't been on patrol with the guys since the roof incident, which was over a week ago, and this was the first time Leo had asked since.

Like Donnie, Leo had not harbored any negative feelings towards her after the argument. He agreed to run future training by her first, and to take her inexperience more into account. That was all she could ask of him.

Casey jumped up from the couch, ran to where he stashed his equipment, and began to suit up.

"I guess that means Casey's in…" Leo chuckled. "How about you, April?" He looked at her expectantly.

April thought about it for a moment. She could use a good workout, and Casey was going, so she would be able to at least keep up with him. The thought of Donnie in his lab made her hesitate. She was unsure if she should go talk to him or not. Even if she did though, she didn't know what she would say. Anything she had to say would probably just hurt him more.

It's best to just leave him be for now. Let him work his way through this.

April moved her laptop out of the way and stood up. "I'm in. Let's go on patrol."

Once everyone was geared up and ready to go, Mikey decided to pick that exact moment to remember he forgot his smoke bombs.

"Hang on guys…. and gal. I'll be right back." He yelled running off to Donnie's lab to restock. The collective groans of everyone left in his wake.

After five minutes Leo and Raph began to get impatient.

"Where the hell is he?" Raph complained. April could tell he was beyond ready to hit something.

After another minute, Mikey finally emerged, with a very unhappy Donatello trailing behind him, bo staff in place on his back.

"Sorry, I couldn't find them, but look! Now D's coming with us!" Mikey said excitedly.

Leo gave his purple brother a confused look and crossed his arms. "What gives, Donnie? I thought you were too busy."

Donnie looked at Leo sheepishly and cut his eyes over to April. "I changed my mind."

"Okay, great, one big happy family. Can we please just go already?!" Raph was clearly frustrated with the delay.

"Right. Okay turtles! ...and Casey and April…. Move out!" Leo yelled extravagantly, earning another groan from Raph.

As they moved through the sewers, April couldn't help but keep glancing at Donnie. He was obviously avoiding her, by walking as far away as possible. Whatever changed his mind about coming apparently had something to do with her, based on the look he gave her earlier.

She had a sneaking suspicion Mikey also had some part to play in it.

Whatever his reasons he doesn't want to talk about them, especially to me.

This thought made her heart ache. She hated the idea of him being mad at her, particularly when she didn't know how to make it better.

Once again, Casey didn't share her reservations. She watched as Casey sped up to be walking alongside Donnie and swung his arm over the turtle's neck in a friendly manner.

"What gives, Nerd? What's with the sulk? One of your machines blow up or something?" Casey asked.

Donnie leveled a glare so icy towards Casey, she thought his heart would stop from sheer hypothermia.

Casey, of course, missed it, and continued. "If you're going to be this depressing you might as well have stayed behind. You're seriously killing my hype."

Donnie just shrugged Casey off him and continued walking.

He looked back at April with a perplexed look and pointed at the broody turtle. "What's his deal?"

April sighed and tried not to look guilty. "Just leave him alone, Casey. He's having a…bad day."

Once on the surface and safely on a rooftop, Leo decided that the best course of action (becasue there were so many of them) would be to split into two teams. Because some divine force apparently hates April, her team ended up being Mikey, Donnie, Casey, and herself.

Oh just kill me now.

She looked between Casey and Donnie and was surprised to see Donnie didn't seem to mind his assignment. She was expecting him to at least object, considering he had been clearly avoiding her, but he didn't bat an eye.

Leo assigned their team to the docks, with orders to stay in communication by T-phone if necessary.

With that, they moved out.

The night began just as awkwardly as April feared it would. Donnie was silent, Casey was silent because he was ticked at Donnie, and April was silent because she didn't know what to say. Poor Mikey seemed to be so confused by all the tension in the air.

And of course leave it to Casey to break that tension in the worst possible way.

"So Red, what time do you want to go on our date tomorrow?" Casey asked just out of the blue.

April did a facepalm.

Donnie halted in his tracks.

"Casey, not now. We'll figure…"

"Quiet." Donnie said suddenly, interrupting April.

April stared at him with disbelief. Did he really just shush her? "Hey, I know you're not in the best mood but…" Donnie quickly reached out and placed his hand over her mouth, silencing her.

April was about to explode at the nerve of him, until he pointed with his free hand to the ground. That's when she got it. She nodded to show her understanding and Donnie released her.

It may have been her imagination but he seemed to let his hand linger on her face a fraction of a second too long.

Yeah, it was probably my imagination.

She glance over the edge of the building towards the ground, and spotted six Foot soldiers. They appeared to be loading boxes from the warehouse onto a truck. Donnie watched them for a few minutes and then made a signal for them to move further away down the building, most likely so they could talk.

Once at what he deemed was a safe distance, he stopped and turned towards the group.

"Okay, six Foot bots, I know we can take that many. You guys up for it?" He asked.

"You know it, Bro." Mikey exclaimed. "Especially because it doesn't look like Karai, Fishface, or Rahzar are here. This will be a piece of cake."

Casey was next to show his excitement. "Let's bust some robot heads!"

April wasn't really looking forward to a fight, but she knew whatever it was in the boxes was probably bad news. The foot never did anything harmless. "I'm in."

Donnie nodded and started to formulate a plan. "Okay, Mikey and I will go in first. You two cover us, only come in if you're needed. Don't be surprised if there is more going on here than we see."

"Woah, hold up Stickmaster! Who put you in charge here?" Casey objected.

Donnie and April gave him a level stare as if to say 'really?'

"Okay… you're smart and all, but Casey Jones is not back up, I'm first line material." He said pointing to himself.

"Listen hothead, for once, just do as your told." Donnie said, closing his eyes and bringing a hand to his eye ridges, obviously frustrated. "This should be easy, just follow the plan, and stay with April."

The two glared at each other.

Mikey and April exchanged a look, both having a feeling this wasn't going to end well.

"Fine," Casey relented. April was shocked.

Donnie sighed, satisfied with his small victory.

"Okay. Mikey, you ready?" Donnie asked, pulling out his bo staff.

"Always." Mikey smiled, twirling his nunchucks.

The two took off running, launching themselves off the roof, onto a nearby fire escape, and dropping down below, taking the Foot bots from above.

She watched as Donnie landed on a Foot bot and swiftly stabbed it through with his naginata blade, creating a shower of sparks. In the same smooth movement he used his staff to propel his body and deliver a powerful kick to another bots torso momentarily putting it down while he freed his weapon from the other bot's body.

Watching the turtles in motion was always thrilling. The way they moved was incredible and really showed off their intense and diligent training. The sheer power and athleticism in their bodies was amazing.

Once two of the bots were out of commission for good, April looked over to ask Casey if he wanted to join them.

Only Casey was gone.

Confused, she looked towards the fight again only to see him off to the side fighting one of the bots with his hockey stick.

He had jumped into the fight without her, probably immediately after Donnie and Mikey had.

Of course he couldn't just listen to instructions this one time!

"Well, look who we have here." A female voice said behind April, making her jump.

Turning quickly, she came face to face with none other than Karai. Fear shot through April. She had faced Karai twice before, and both times she had survived on mere luck alone.

Well, luck, and a little help from Donnie.

"Karai." April said by way of greeting.

"And here I was thinking tonight was going to be boring, just a simple supply run, how dull. Turns out it's not going to be a waste. Maybe I'll finally be able to rid the world of one annoying pest."

Yup, Karai definitely talks too much.

April pulled out her tessen and prepared for a fight. She may doubt her ability to beat Karai, but she knows she can at least hold her at bay long enough for help to come. She backed up closer to the edge of the building to check on the guys and gauge how close they were to being finished.

Glancing below, terror filled her. There were easily twenty foot bots down there now. Where they came from, she had no idea. The guys were fighting for their lives, steadily making progress, but not easily, and very slowly.

Looks like April was on her own.

"No one's coming to help you this time, April." Karai pulled out her sword. "It's just you and me."

Karai came at her, sword raised. April was just barely able to jump to the side to avoid the blow. She was suddenly even more afraid.

The previous times they had fought, Karai had toyed with her, tested her skills. She'd been talkative, and sloppy because she underestimated April.

Not this time.

She came at her with a killing blow from the start; no games were going to be played today. April knew she didn't stand a chance against the more experienced, blood thirsty, kunoichi.

Karai came at her again. This time April was able to raise her tessen to block the sword aimed directly at her throat, they met with the sound of clashing metal. She pushed back against Karai's sword with all her strength, hoping to disarm her, but she didn't even budge.

Instead, she decided to go on the defensive, and jumped back, once again raising her tessen.

She figured her best chance to survive would be to stay out of Karai's range as much as possible, by basically running away. Every time Karai would strike April would retreat, trying to use her training with Master Splinter to the fullest. She danced across the rooftop, ducking blows, rolling away from sword strikes, and feinting.

This seemed to work for about three seconds.

It didn't take Karai very long to figure out April's strategy, and every blow came closer and closer to hitting its mark, much to April's horror. Finally, she was not quite fast enough, and a searing pain sliced up her right arm.

The shock and pain of being cut was enough to make April hesitate, giving Karai the perfect opportunity to deliver a swift kick to her torso, knocking the wind out of her. She quickly followed up with a blow to her wounded arm, making April scream and drop her weapon. The tessen fell to the ground with a pretty little chime.

April collapsed with a grunt, holding her midsection. The pain in her arm was severe, and she could feel blood soaking her t-shirt.

"See April," Karai said sweetly, kneeling down to her level so she could whisper in her ear, "I told you your skills were weak."

April watched helplessly as Karai pulled back her sword, ready to end her life. All she could think about was how she wasn't ready to die. She had so much she still had left to do. She wanted to go to college, she wanted to travel, she wanted to be there for her father (even if he was a giant mutant bat). Heck, she hadn't even kissed a boy yet…that is unless you count that one time she kissed Donnie on the cheek.

Donnie's going to be so sad when he finds out I'm gone.

No.

I'm not ready.

I am not ready to die yet!

Gathering all remaining strength she had in her body April brought her head up fast and smashed her forehead right into Karai's face.

The impact hurt… A LOT. April instantly felt dizzy and her vision began to swim, but there was a satisfying crunch that she hoped was Karai's nose, and the even better sound of her sword clattering to the ground.

Karai screamed and April could no longer sense her on top of her. Trying to gain her bearings April forced herself to stand, and her vision to level out. Everything was spinning. She felt like she was going to throw up.

Yup, I definitely have a concussion.

April immediately started moving in the direction she believed was the fire escape, which would take her to the ground, to Donnie, and to safety.

She could hear movement behind her, and knew Karai was recovering from the blow. There was no way a single blow like that was going to keep her down too long.

"You bitch!" Karai screamed in fury. "I was going to kill you fast, but now I'm going to enjoy it!"

April willed herself to move faster, she didn't dare look behind her. She felt like everything was in slow motion, especially her feet. Her vision had almost returned to normal, and she was almost to the fire escape.

So close to salvation.

A horribly scraping sound met April at the fire escape, making her stop. Coming up the steps, like the harbinger of death, scraping his long claws along the metal, was Rahzar, blocking her only escape. She definitely didn't stand a chance against him and Karai, even without a concussion.

She risked a glance back at Karai and was terrified by the sight. Blood streaming down her face and short sword raised, she was a picture of fury, and she was out for April's blood.

April frantically looked around the roof, trying to come up with a way to survive. Before she knew it she was backed up against the roof ledge, Rahzar coming at her from one side and Karai from the other.

"It's over, April. This is starting to get pathetic, I can't believe it's taken me this many attempts to kill a normal teenager!" She pointed at Rahzar. "You stay out of it… this one is all mine. Just block her escape, she's proven to be quite the escape artist."

Karai seemed to be gaining her confidence back, despite the nasally quality of her voice from the broken nose. That, at least, was giving April some satisfaction.

The sounds of the guys still fighting the Foot bots on the ground could be heard. They were so close, but so far away.

Thirty feet down to be exact.

She didn't know if it was the concussion talking, but she suddenly knew what she had to do. It was terrifying, but if she had any chance at surviving this, it was her only chance.

Either way I'll die. At least this way I have a choice in how.

April backed up closer, directly to the edge, sucked in a deep breath and screamed for everything she was worth.

"DONNIE!"

She had just enough time to register Karai's confused face before she threw herself off the roof.

She closed her eyes as she fell and tried to believe everything would be okay.

It's okay. I just need to have faith.

When the impact came, it was rough, but nowhere near as splattery as she would have thought. More like a sudden stop in a car than landing on asphalt.

Realizing she was indeed still alive, she opened her eyes and got a face full of plastron. Donatello's plastron to be precise. He was lying on the asphalt, and she was sprawled on top of him.

I knew he would catch me.

She looked up into his face at the same time he looked at hers.

"Are you alright?" They asked at the same time.

Donnie went first. "I'm fine. My shell absorbed most of the impact force. Sometimes, it's good to be a turtle." He smirked, sitting up. His eyes darted first to April's forehead, then to her eyes, then to her arm. The smirk was instantly replaced with worry. "Forget me! What the heck happened to you?"

He instantly started inspecting her arm. April refused to look at it. She didn't want to know if there was as much blood as it felt like there was.

"I fell off a building again…" Was all April could manage in reply.

"Technically, this time I believe you jumped."

Leave it to Donnie to always be precise.

With the adrenaline wearing off, April was finding it hard to think coherently, all she managed to get out were a few more words. "Karai…roof… broke her nose, Rahzar…"

Suddenly, all she wanted to do was sleep. Some part of her mind was able to register that she was sitting in Donnie's lap, in the middle of the docks, with a bunch of broken Foot bots lying around them.

"Guess you won your fight." She said sleepily, starting to doze off.

"April?! April! Stay awake! I think you have a concussion. You need to stay alert!"

She felt a couple light slaps on her cheeks.

"Okay, Donnie, I'll stay awake." She said, nestling further into his arms and resting her head on this plastron. She couldn't help it he was just so comfy.

"April! Seriously, wake up!" Donnie pleaded.

"What's wrong with, April, was she trying to fly or something?" She heard Mikey's voice enter the conversation.

"I don't really know, she said something about Karai and Rahzar. Shes hurt though. We need to get her back to the lair ASAP, and she needs to STAY AWAKE!" Donnie screamed the last part jolting April awake.

The mention of Karai and Rahzar brought her back to reality.

She turned to look at Donnie. "We need to get out of here!" She pleaded.

"I know, Leo's on his way with the Shellraiser to bring you back…"

"NO! We have to get out of here now!" She yelled. "Karai and Rahzar are here!"

"Awww you ruined our grand entrance!" Karai's voice sang from the alley behind them. Both her and the mutant dog stepped out of the shadows.

A sound much like a growl escaped Donnie at the sight of Karai. It was a very unDonnie like sound.

"Come on we can take em!" April heard Casey shout from somewhere out of her line of vision.

Donnie glanced at the new threats, then at April, worry plastered all over his face.

"Mikey!" Donnie yelled. The orange turtle cut his eyes from the enemy to Donnie. "Smoke!"

Mikey instantly pulled out a smoke bomb and shrouded them all from view. They made their escape.

April was draped across Donnie's shell, arms around his neck, as they made their way through the sewers back towards the lair. Every few minutes Donnie would check to make sure she hadn't fallen asleep.

Not dozing off was one of the hardest things April had ever done. The gentle rocking as Donnie walked, and his warmth against her front was more than enough to make her drowsy, even without a concussion.

How could something that's supposed to be cold blooded be so warm?

"I still say we could have taken em." Casey whined from behind them.

"April needs medical attention, and Rahzar is a handful even when we have Raph and Leo. There is no way we could have won." Donnie said matter of fact.

"Hmph…says you." Casey started walking faster, obviously annoyed with Donnie's slower pace.

April could feel the vibrations of Donnie's voice rumbling through his shell as he talked to Mikey, it was a very pleasant sensation.

"Run ahead and make sure all my first aid supplies are ready for me. I'd go faster but I don't want to jostle April too much." He started listing off medical supplies and April stopped listening, she placed her cheek flat against his shell and just felt him speaking instead.

"You got it, bro. And good call on the tactical retreat. I was not looking forward to fighting Rahzar again…you know… the claws?" Mikey mimicked a slicing motion with his hand and shuddered. "He'd slice us up faster than pepperoni!"

With that he took off into the sewers, and Donnie and April were alone.

"Hey, you still awake?" Donnie asked gently.

"Mhmm." Was all she could manage in reply.

"Come on, I want better than that. Full sentences would be best."

April sighed. He was using his "doctor" tone of voice. "Yes, Donatello, I am awake." She said as clear as possible.

"That's better."

It was very interesting to see Donnie take charge like he did tonight. The role seemed to suit him well, not as well as Leo, but it still fit. Who would have thought that under his tentative, awkward exterior there was a natural born leader?

"Look at you, being all large and in charge." April said before she could stop herself.

He paused, obviously confused by what she said. "Um, excuse me?"

"Nothing, it's just that you're a good leader. You make good decisions and plans for the team. I never would have known." April explained.

"Well someone had too, and I definitely wasn't going to let Mikey… or Puck Head take charge."

"Casey's not that bad…"

She felt his step falter at her mention of Casey.

From then he continued walking in silence. April hated it. She wanted to feel the rumble of his voice again.

"Talk to me Donnie." She said quietly.

"About what?"

"I don't know. Anything." She pleaded. "It will keep me awake."

"Um… okay. Oh, I know! I'm developing this new computer program that will allow me to track the Kraang's activities directly from their own communications. It will translate and everything!" She could practically hear the smile in his voice that he got every time he talked about his work.

"That's great, Donnie." She was genuinely impressed.

"Oh, if you think that's great you're going to love my new version of the T-Phone…"

He went on and on about his various inventions and projects, and April listened. He obviously took great pride in his work. She got the impression he didn't get to talk about this stuff too often, his brothers probably never wanted to hear about the process, they just wanted to see the end result.

I wonder if they realize how brilliant their brother really is. Or if they know much they take him for granted.

"You're incredible, you know that?" April interrupted when he was in the middle of a speech about some kind of processor chip.

The skin under her hands became warm, so she knew he blushing.

"W-Well I don't know… about that…" He stuttered.

"Really, you are. The things you can do are amazing. You're brilliant, Donnie."

The blush actually became visible on the back of his neck, making April giggle. It took him a moment to respond.

"T-T-Thanks, April."

They walked in silence a few moments before April realized there was still one thing about tonight that was bugging her.

"Hey, Donnie?"

"Yeah?"

"I'm really glad you came with us tonight." She said sincerely. "If you hadn't, I don't know what would have happened."

"I know, I'm glad I changed my mind too." He responded solemnly, obviously thinking about the consequences if he hadn't been present.

"What made you change your mind?" She asked quietly, curious as to if he'd even answer.

She felt his muscles tense at the question. It took him a few moments before he finally spoke. "Mikey came to my lab and told me you were going on Patrol with them."

He didn't elaborate any further.

"Annd… why would that make you change your mind?" She asked, genuinely confused by his motives.

He sighed, and relaxed. "Because… if I didn't go, who would have been there to catch you?"

An automatic smile appeared on April's face. She didn't respond, just gave him a little squeeze, trying to convey her gratitude.

I knew you'd catch me, Donnie. You would never let me fall.

She doesn't say this out loud though. Some things are best left unsaid, especially the things that scare her.

As they approached the lair April rested her head on Donnie's shell again, and tried to stay awake.