CHAPTER 3
As Donatello followed April to his lab he thought about what his father had said. Splinter was right, this could bode ill for their family. They still couldn't have sent her topside, not without knowing the extent of her knowledge, but bringing her into their home had been a big risk. To determine what the right course of action would be, they needed more information.
"You're a New York City detective?" Oona was asking as Donatello and April walked into the lab. "Gotta say, I didn't see that one coming."
"I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted," Casey replied in amusement.
Donatello observed her elevated heart rate on his sensors as Oona started to reply before she caught sight of them. Her bright hazel eyes dimmed and her smile turned sad. "Well, there goes my last shred of hope that I was imagining things earlier."
Donatello carefully approached Oona's bed, not wanting to scare her, and squatted down to her level. He heard April and Casey leave his lab.
"How are you feeling, Ms. Weaver?" He asked gently, forcing himself not to overwhelm her with the many questions running through his mind.
"Other than this room freaking me out," Oona sounded confused by that, "I'm feeling very hungry and in need of a long, hot bath, Mr. Donatello."
"You're scared of this room but I don't frighten you?" Donatello questioned as he made sure her eyes dilated properly then gently probed the back of her head. He was only slightly surprised Oona knew his name.
"You not scaring me I can explain," Oona's replied with a tight smile. "This room, though, is seriously starting to get to me and I don't know why. So, if you would be so kind as to get this IV out of me and help me out of here I would be forever grateful."
Donatello, hearing the panic in her voice, knelt in front of her and rested his hands on both of her shoulders. "Ms. Oona, look at me," he insisted and she did, her eyes shining with unshed tears. "You are safe here, even inside this room."
Oona slowly raised her hand and trapped the side of her head, her scared but trusting eyes never leaving his. "Up here I know that," she moved her hand over her heart, "but right here it's telling me bad things are getting ready to happen and I need to get out now."
"You really have no idea where you've been the last several months?" Donatello pushed a little.
"I don't," Oona whispered, shaking a little. "Can I please get out of here?"
Nodding, Donatello carefully removed the IV from her arm then got to his feet. He wrapped a blanket around her shoulders as he helped Oona to her feet. She leaned heavily on him as they walked into the den.
"I hate feeling so weak," Donatello heard Oona mumble as he helped her sit at the table.
The aroma of chicken noodle soup wafted into the den causing Oona's stomach rumbled loud enough for Donatello to hear. He tried not to laugh but when her cheeks colored in embarrassment he could not contain it. The snort that followed had him coloring in embarrassment, too.
Oona giggled, feeling a little better now she was out of that room. "My ten year old snorts when she laughs, too. I think it's adorable."
"Ahh Donnie," Michelangelo sang, coming out if the kitchen. He was carrying a glass full of water and streaming bowl, "You're so adorable."
"Just give her the food, Mikey," Donatello grumbled, rolling his eyes. "Did April and Casey head home?"
"Yep!" Michelangelo grinned and set the meal in front of Oona. "How are ya doing, pretty lady? I'm Mikey!"
"I'm Oona, it's good to meet you, Mikey" she smiled, not answering his question. Picking up the spoon Oona began eating and her eyes widened at the taste. She got through about half the bowl before looked at Michelangelo. "This is really good, thank you."
"Don't inflate his head too much," Raphael spoke from the kitchen doorway. He was leaning against the door jam with his arms crossed and Donatello could see his green eyes were just shy of being hostile. He watched as Oona's head shot up and she stiffened. "So, how'd you end up here?" Raphael demanded.
Oona glanced longingly at her soup before setting her spoon down. She looked directly at Raphael before answering. "I don't know. We're in New York City, right?" At his nod she continued, "The last thing I remember, before waking up in what I assume is the sewers, I was resting in my backyard. I'd just come home from a doctor's appointment to confirm my pregnancy and was waiting for my mother-in-law to drop off my girls.
"But home is just on the other side of the Rockies and probably several dimensions over, now," Oona stared down at her soup with unseeing eyes. She lifted her tear filled gaze to Donatello, "Is there a place I can lay down? I'm not feeling so great."
"Yeah, sure, follow me," Donatello glared at Raphael, who averted his gaze. Oona got uneasily to her feet and slowly followed Donatello, trying to work out her new center of balance. When Donatello heard a sharp intake he spun around to find Michelangelo already steadying Oona. Donatello led her to his own room knowing he would more than likely sleep in his lab and Michelangelo guided her to the bed. Once Donatello was certain she was comfortable he left her to rest and went to confront his brother.
"Don't start with me, Don," Raphael said harshly before Donatello could say anything. He gestured toward the room Donatello lead Oona to. "We don't know anything about this woman. We don't know if she's part of somethin' one of our enemies is cookin' up, Don!"
"What would you have us do, Raph!" Donatello retorted, frustrated with the whole situation. "Leave her to die? That doesn't sound like a great option to me. You didn't see the real fear in her eyes before we left the lab."
Raphael punched the wall in frustration, stopping any further conversation. "I'm goin' out."
Donatello sighed, watching his hot-headed brother leave.
"Do you really think she's bad, Donnie?" Michelangelo asked glumly.
"No, Mikey," Donatello assured him, "But we do need to find out what she knows and Raph's approach is not the way to do that."
Michelangelo nodded before grabbing his skateboard. Donatello watched him leave, too, before going to search for his father and eldest brother once again.
He found them where he had left them and knocked gently on his father's door to get their attention. Splinter motioned for him to join them. Donatello moved to kneel in front of his father next to Leonardo.
"What have you learned, my son?" Splinter inquired. Donatello saw Leonardo study him out of the corner of his eye.
"Not much," he admitted with a shake of his head, "Oona has no recollection of the last several months. She stares in shock for a moment every time she realizes how pregnant she is. She was heading into a full blown panic attack before we left my lab and she was confused by her sudden fear.
"When Raphael asked her why she was here she only told us she didn't know, one minute she was home and the next she was in our sewers. She also stated her home was 'on the other side of the Rockies and probably several dimensions over.' Oona has no fear of any of us, even with Raph being so hostile, but the situation as a whole seems to be causing her anxiety."
"And do you believe her?" Splinter probed further.
Donatello paused a moment, analyzing everything he had witnessed so far, wanting to give his father the best answer he could. He nodded once before looking at his father. "Yes, I believe all of her emotional responses have been genuine."
Splinter nodded before regarding his eldest son. "What are your thoughts, Leonardo?"
Donatello watched as Leonardo carefully considered all of the information he had been given before answering. "It worries me she came through a portal used by The Foot and Krang but doesn't remember anything. She could still be a willing or unwilling part of something aimed at our world. I think it would be best to keep our guard up but try to help her in any way we can, for now."
Splinter smiled in approval. "I'm proud of you, my son, you are becoming a great leader."
A/N: I'm still chugging along with this story and enjoying writing it for my kids. They are giving me a lot of encouragement to continue. I don't have tons of time to write so I'm grabbing what time I have to do so. Thank you to everyone who has stopped by to read my work.