A/N: I certainly hope you are all enjoying this one. Things are about to get more complicated for our sweet couple.
Katherine snuggled a little deeper against Don's chest. She'd told him she felt better with him nearby. Of course, he had readily agreed. And she had slept very well with his arms locked around her. His presence seemed to be the only thing that calmed her nerves in the past few days. His calm spirit gave her strength.
She could feel all the muscles in her body ache with just the little shift in her position. Today was not going to be much fun, not if it was anything like the day before. Frowning, she considered what she'd learned the day before. It was not much in the grand scheme of things. Perhaps today would be a little different. She'd had a good meal last night and restful sleep. Hopefully that was all she needed.
Sighing inwardly, she knew that was not possible. She needed an edge. Something to give her an upper hand. She needed her magic. But it had yet to show itself. Bache had told her that the Tijo's bloodline had thinned over the centuries, mixing with humans. What remained in her might not be enough to manifest itself.
Donatello stirred beside her, one of his hands coming up to comb through her soft brown hair. "Don't worry, we'll figure this out somehow." He kissed her brow warmly.
She shuddered, her fingers wrapping around the edge of his plastron. "I can't help but worry. I keep wondering if they made a mistake. I have no magic and I'm obviously not any good at physical combat."
He let out a heavy sigh, his arms tightening around her. "You've just started training, you won't really know how much you've learned until you need it. As for the magic…" He shifted back to meet her eyes. "I think all we can do is give it time."
She frowned. "That's something we don't have."
"We'll see." He kissed her lips softly. "Remember, you're not alone."
Her eyes glistened with tears. "Thank you."
Lotus Blossom watched Leonardo sparring with Katherine. The girl had no talent for fighting, that was painfully obvious. But Leonardo was still as skilled as ever, maybe even more so than their last encounter. She watched his toned muscles flex. She could recall the leathery smoothness of his skin and that brilliant smile he used to flash her. She frowned to herself. Things had changed between them. He had married the little blonde. She wondered, not for the first time, what he could see in her. She was a little thing. Lotus easily outweighed her in muscle. She doubted the girl could hold her own in a fight with her.
Lotus couldn't prevent a little smirk from crossing her lips. She doubted things would get that far. She and Leo had enough history that she felt she had an upper hand in the matter. And right now, the girl wasn't around.
She watched as he stopped and suggested a break for lunch. Don and Katherine walked off ahead of him as he took a drink of water. Lotus crossed the space between them, meeting him as he came from the training area. "Leonardo, how is the heir's training coming?"
He glanced at the house, which was not far away, where Don and Katherine had disappeared. He frowned a little. "Not as good as I'd hoped."
"Is there anything I can do?" She stepped a little closer. "I would still be glad to assist you."
Leo shook his head. He'd already discussed the matter with his brother and they both held reservations about it. "No, Donatello said he wasn't comfortable with that. And to be honest, I'm not sure it would make a lot of difference. Katherine is just…" He sighed. "Well, she's doing her best."
Lotus frowned. "You are frustrated, perhaps a walk would settle your spirit some."
A small smile crossed his face, his gaze shooting to the house again. "No, I have better ways of venting my frustration these days." He looked back at her. "Thanks for the offer though. It would be nice to take a look at this village, it's amazing. Maybe when this is all over, you could give us all a tour."
She gave a small nod, her eyes drifting off across the village. "Leonardo, it has been many years since we last saw one another. I have often wondered what had become of you."
"Well, we did wonder about you too. You just kind of disappeared."
She looked back at him. "Do you not think it's odd that our paths have crossed once again? And now of all times."
Leo felt a tinge of nervousness rush through him. Was she doing what he thought she was doing? "I, uh, don't know what you mean."
"We always seem to be drawn to one another when the world is in peril." She took another step towards him, so that they were barely a foot from one another. "The universe seems determined for us to be together."
Leo took a step back with a shake of his head. "Lotus, I don't know what-. "
"Leo!" Sams called from the open doorway. She'd been watching the encounter the last few minutes. "Lunch is ready."
His entire body seemed to sag with relief. "Sorry." He told Lotus as he hurried to his wife's side. The truth was he wasn't sorry in the least. It disturbed him to think that Lotus would really try to pull such a thing, when he'd already made it very clear that he was with Sams. He paused just outside the door to lean down and kiss her softly.
She smiled up at him and he took her hand to go inside. As he turned away, she shot a hard look at Lotus. She knew flirting when she saw it. She'd had it done to her enough. Leo obviously didn't have any interest in her though. Sams smiled to herself as she followed her turtle inside. That was one thing she didn't have to worry about. Leo's heart was a true as they came. But that didn't mean she'd let Lotus bother him either. That girl had better watch herself!
"Still nothing!" Raph growled in frustration. They had made even better time than the day before and covered far more ground. But he was beginning to wonder if Don's scanner even worked. "It'll pick up any energy signature, even from underground, as long as you are within one thousand feet." Echoed his brother's voice in his head.
Mikey settled on a rock. "Let's take a break, bro. I'm starved."
Raph shot him a look, then sighed. "We might as well, it doesn't look like we're gonna find anything today anyways."
"It is only mid-day we have lots of daylight left." Stan encouraged him.
"What's gonna happen if we do find them? If there is an army of them, the four of us aren't gonna do much." Mikey felt a bit like they were on a wild goose chase. But he wanted to help Katherine and if this was the way to do it, then he'd do what he could.
"We're only recon at this point, Michelangelo. Leonardo told us not to engage, just find them and report back. We can decide after that what to do."
His younger brother let out a forlorn sigh. "I hope we can do something. Maybe stop the guy or girl before she can go into the doorway. That way Katherine wouldn't have to fight." He glanced at Raph, who frowned back. "I'm worried how Donatello is going to react, if something happens to her."
"Yeah, me too." Raph took a bite of his sandwich.
The two men with them exchanged looks. "So, it's true? The heir and your brother are a…couple?" Lyn asked tentatively.
Raph's eyes narrowed. "Yeah, it is. What of it?"
Stan frowned. "I don't mean to be crass, but she has a duty to produce an heir of her own. The Tijo line must continue, so that the evil will not be released into the world."
Raph stood angrily and Mikey followed him up, pressing a hand to his chest. "Chill, bro." The eyes Mikey turned on the two men were hard and cool. "Our brother's relationship with Katherine isn't any of your business."
"It is everyone's business, I'm afraid. The Tijo line has to go on. And I don't see how that is possible with a…turtle." Stan replied flatly.
Raph growled. "Why you-!" Mikey had to use a bit of force to keep his brother back this time. Raphael glared past him. "It's Katherine's choice who she wants to be with! And if that's Donatello, then there ain't nothin' you can do about it!"
The two men exchanged looks again. Lyn cleared his throat. "If she survives, she may not have a choice."
Mikey turned fully towards them. "What's that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing." Stan stood, pulling his pack back onto his shoulders. "I suggest we change the topic. We have a mission to accomplish and we should get back to the search. There is still a lot of mountain range to cover." Lyn quickly followed him off.
The brothers didn't move however. Raph clenched his fist at his side. "We need to find these Tawi guys and get back as soon as we can."
Mikey frowned. "Yeah, we need to tell Donatello and Katherine about this." He met his brother's gaze. "Let's move fast."
Raph nodded. "I don't care if these guys keep up or not now. We can't waste any more time." The two shouldered their own packs, exchanged one more look, then took off at a dead run. The terrain might be different than in the city, but for a pair of ninjas that had endured hours upon hours of training since their mutation it didn't make a difference. They left the two humans standing stunned in their wake.
Katherine frowned as Leo tightened the strap on her forearm. "Now, just squeeze right here." He indicated a spot on the palm of the glove. "It shouldn't take much pressure at all." She squeezed it and the blade sprang out of its cover a good six or seven inches. Her frown intensified. But Leo nodded in approval as he slid it back in place. "You may not be able to fight them off using brute strength, but we can tilt the tables in your favor." Sams handed him a chain, which he clasped around her waist. One end of it had a heavy ball attached to it. "This can also be used as a weapon, if you have no other option."
Don stepped forward, holding a naginata in one hand and a tanto in the other. He handed the spear to Leo and showed Katherine the tanto. "Keep this one hidden too. The less weapons your opponent can see the better." He slipped his arms around her. Lifting the edge of her shirt, he tucked it in her waistband on her back and pulled the shirt back over it.
He moved back and Leo stepped in front of her again. "And finally, this." He handed the spear over to her. She was a little surprised at how heavy it was. "I believe it's best, if you keep your enemy at a distance."
She blinked at him. "But I don't know how to use this."
Leo gave her a small smile. "Donatello will show you some basic moves. His specialty is the bo, after all."
Her eyes drifted to Don and he gave her the same small smile. He stepped forward, adjusting her grip. "Try to keep it balanced in your hands. Use its weight to create the force of the blow." Although she still seemed uncertain, she gave a nod of understanding. For the next two hours Don instructed her on a handful of basic moves, meant more to keep an enemy at bay rather than inflict damage. While Leo and Sams stood on the sidelines watching.
Next, Leo showed her how to use the chain and tanto. But the more they showed her the more uncertain she became. Near the end of the day, he had her spar with him. Of course, he went easy on her, but it didn't matter she never connected a blow. Leo let out a heavy sigh. "Katherine, you have to try to inflict some damage on your enemy. I can guarantee that he or she is not going to go easy on you."
She frowned. "I am trying."
"Then try harder." He told her in his most sensei tone. And so, she did. But again, the effort seemed to be in vain.
When she tripped herself with the blunt end of the naginata, she sat on her knees with her fists balled in her lap. Angry distort tears ran down her cheeks. "I can't do this! They had to have made a mistake! I'm no warrior!"
Leo frowned as he watched her bury her face in her hands. Donnie approached them. "I think that's enough for today, Leonardo."
The leader shook his head. "We have to push her. This is life or death we're talking about here."
Don's expression turned hard. "I think she's been pushed hard enough." He knelt beside Katherine and pulled her against him. "It's alright." She turned and sobbed into his shoulder, making his frown grow. Letting out a heavy sigh, he stroked her hair gently. "It's okay. We'll figure something out."
Sams watched Leo's expression turn sad. He closed his eyes as he turned away from them. When he came to stand in front of her, she cupped his face. "You're doing your best. You both are."
He shook his head, eyes downcast. "If she dies, it will be my fault."
Sams' eyes widened. "No, you can't blame yourself for this. Teaching someone like Katherine to fight in three days would be an impossible stunt even for Master Splinter."
"If I had some magic, maybe I could do something!" Katherine sobbed. "But this? I'm no good at this!"
Don rubbed gentle circles on her back, trying to soothe her. They weren't going to get anything else out of her today, nothing worthwhile anyways. "You're tired. Come on, let's go back to the house." He pulled her slowly to her feet and guided her out of the training area.
She seemed to barely notice, her vision blurred with more tears. They continued up the stairs to the bedroom they'd shared the night before. Sitting on the edge of the bed, she tried desperately to calm herself. But all she could think about were all the things she still wanted to do with her life – all the memories she wanted to share with Don. But if she couldn't get her magic to work, she'd never be able to do any of those things. She let out a shuddering breath. "I may not come back from this."
Don squeezed her. "Don't talk like that."
"But it's true. Everyone is thinking it."
"Katherine, please…" Don could feel his heart breaking at the very thought of losing her.
She sat back to look at him. "No, I have to accept it as possibility." She cupped his cheek. "I wish… There is so much I wanted us to do together, so many things I wanted us to experience together. I'm sorry."
Don's gaze had misted over and he squeezed his eyes shut against the pain her words brought. He shook his head. "I won't accept it." He opened determined caramel eyes. "There is a reason we are here together. There has to be. I never really believed in fate until I met you. But that day we met, I knew. I knew I was supposed to be yours and you mine. There has never been a more perfect moment in my life, before or since." He stroked her cheek with a large thumb. "So, you see, there has to be a reason we're together. We just need to figure out what that is."
More tears trickled down her cheeks. "Donatello, I don't want to have any regrets. If it is fate for us to be together, then let us be together." She leaned up, capturing his mouth in a heated kiss that made his mind go blank and sent a shiver through his body.
Her words didn't register right away, clouded by the passion of her kiss. But when they did, he felt like his heart might explode with emotion. When she finally pulled away, he caught her shoulders. "What if you do come back? What if you win? Will you regret it then?"
Her eyes were clear and certain. "No, I will never regret it. If I somehow survive this, then it will only make me hope for more."
"Katherine…" Don breathed. For once he had no words to express the depth of love in his heart.
She stood and moved around the bed to pull the heavy drapes over the glassless window. When she closed the door, his pulse tripled in speed. Finally, she turned to stand in front of him. Slowly he stood as well, searching her beautiful dichromatic eyes for any speck of doubt. He found none.
"Please." She whispered softly and he was completely undone. He would have given her the world in that moment, if he could. He caught her mouth, speaking with his soul in a way words could never possibly express.
*&*&*&*& See AO3 for deleted scene &*&*&*&*
A/N: I've finished writing this one, so I'll probably do updates pretty quick from here. Don't forget if you like to review!