Author's Note: Alright! Back in the swing of things! We finally get to see some interaction between the turtles and the girls. I'm definitely happy with how the story is performing so far, and I can't thank you guys, who take the time to read and review it, enough for making this awesome. I try not to babble a lot so you guys can read more of the story. Anyway, back to the chapter.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything of TMNT. All rights go to their creators. I only own my OCs.
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Donatello smiled to himself, finally able to break the ice with Danielle. He walked through the clear curtain that led into the kitchen and began rummaging through the cupboards. He opened the one above the stove, and hoped to find what he needed; he found it! The one tea that only he liked to drink: lavender; it was the only that he simply enjoyed. But he didn't know what kind of tea she would like, so he grabbed the chamomile tea as well as the honey next to the box of green tea leaves. Donatello grabbed the kettle from the top of the stove and filled it halfway with water; he turned the stove on and set the kettle over the burner while grabbing a small tea cup for Danielle to make the tea for her. He couldn't get her out of his head; it was like she was some sort of deity that wouldn't stop haunting his dreams. He didn't know why, it was logically impossible for him to comprehend that he was falling for her; Donnie cared for this beautiful human girl. He didn't really know her, but he wanted to learn as much of her as well as her sisters. He was so engrossed in making the ingredients for the tea that he didn't sense Master Splinter behind him.
"What are you doing, my son?" his father inquired, forcing Donatello out of his thoughts and whirled around in shock. He forgot that their sensei was good at sneaking up on them; no matter how much training they've had over the years, the old rat was still able to get the off guard.
"I-I-I'm making tea." Donnie stuttered, as if he had been caught with his hand in the cookie jar.
"I presume it is for one of the young ladies?" his father asked again, watching his intelligent son push his glasses up from falling off and looking down in shame.
"Yes." Donatello answered, his voice quiet and hoping his father would understand that he had deep feelings for her; granted he knew nothing of her, but he wanted to get to know her very well.
"I see. My son, I must ask you this: How could you bring them here? To our home? I figured that Raphael or Michelangelo would be foolish enough to do this, but not you. I must know what your intentions are in this matter." Splinter asked his son, watching the reaction from Donatello's body. It was very rare that he would berate his second youngest son; normally it would be Raphael or Leonardo he would speak like this to, or Michelangelo for doing something foolish and unsafe. But not Donatello, the pacifist of the family; the inventor to everything that they've ever gotten within the years that they've lived in the sewers. The purple-clad turtle had no idea why; no, he did know why. But would his father listen to what he had to say?
"Sensei . . . I honestly can't think of any logical reason why I did it, but I know how I feel in my reason for doing this. I - I feel like ... we've known them for many years, but I ... I know I'm only making the situation worse by having them here." Donatello tried to explain, his mind working faster than his mouth could produce the words. He rubbed his right shoulder, knowing that it was bare without the purple bandage he normally wore; it was as if he were being punished for helping these girls.
"I understand you want to help them, my son. But you know as well as I do that they will not understand what we are. We must remain in the shadows." Splinter preached to Donatello, knowing fully well that his intentions were true and good. But the reality was that they were freaks of nature, and that society wouldn't understand them. He knew how his sons wanted to be accepted by society; why their home was filled with many items from the world above. Their dreams were to be accepted and understandable, but it would only be a dream that they can have.
"I-I-I ... I can't. I can't just stay in the shadows, father. I just ... feel like ... we have a higher purpose than just hiding. I ..." Donatello stuttered, knowing that his father was right but he needed him to acknowledge that this was important to him.
"My son. I sense your frustration." Splinter calmly said, knowing that Donatello was trying his best to keep cool.
"I . . . I need to tell her . . ." Donatello muttered under his breath, knowing that he needed to tell Danielle everything.
"Donatello . . ." Master Splinter warned him, knowing that he needed to keep everything from the girls a secret.
"I can't hide from her. There's something about her that I can't get out of my head. Her spirit ... when she fought against the Foot, I saw a spark in her. I - I felt her, like she was with me. I - I can't explain it." Donnie tried, his mind working fast again.
He heard the kettle whistle, and turned around to pull it away from the burner before leaning forward, gripping the sides of the stove and breathing heavily. Donatello never got upset that much; it was very rare that he lost his temper, let alone, have his emotions get the best of him.
"My son, please understand-"
"I can't! You need to listen for once! I - I can't just let this go! There's something about this girl that I can't get out of my head. She's - argh - She's like a drug to me, and I can't get her out of my head. I know we shouldn't have brought them here, but we had no choice! We couldn't just leave them to die! I don't care about her finding out about what we are! I feel like ... we don't have to hide around them; we can be ourselves around them. I need her to know that I'm not afraid to show myself! Send me to the Ha-Shi, I don't care! Please, just let me tell her about us!" Donatello wailed, his plea bouncing off the walls of their home.
What Donatello didn't expect was Leonardo to come out from the meditation room and watch what was going on between him and Master Splinter. He had never seen his younger brother in this much anguish before; Donnie was always quiet and the mediator between the brothers. This was the first time he had ever let his emotions take over, and it scared Leo.
Donnie looked at his father with unshed tears; his chest heaving from the pressure he had been feeling these last few minutes. He grasped his head before turning around and gasping for air, not understanding why he took his frustration out on his father. Splinter stared at his son's shell, letting the confession sink into his mind. He knew these girls means something to each of his sons; he watched how Raphael took care of the girl in his bed, how careful he was of her injuries and how he wouldn't let his gaze be distracted off of her. Splinter walked up to his son, and gently placed his clawed hand onto his shell, stroking the umber colored shell to calm him down.
"My son. It is alright. I understand your pain; the need to let everything go. You have my permission to tell her, but keep it brief. When I feel it is ready to let them all know about our origins, I will let you tell them. But for now, do not let her know everything about us." Splinter sighed, trying to keep his son from going anymore further into the void of frustration.
Donatello sighed and turned around to face his father, taking his glasses off before wiping away the tears his eyes threatened to let loose. He sighed through his nose, and placed his glasses back on before returning to finish making the tea for Danielle. He picked up the cup of hot tea and a couple of pain relievers into his hands before turning to his sensei. He bowed slightly, muttering his apology and walking back to the bedroom where the girls were sleeping.
Leonardo waited until his brother left the kitchen before approaching his father. He walked up to him, his arms crossed in front of his plastron as he thought about what Donatello said. He knew that his sensei knew about something, but he didn't know what.
"Sensei . . . why do I get the feeling you know something about the girls that we don't know?" Leonardo questioned, watching with curious eyes as Splinter turned around to look at his oldest son. He had a particular gleam in his black eyes; something that only Leo could see very rarely. It was as if their father was keeping a secret from his sons, and it had to do with these innocent girls.
"When the time is right, I will let you know."
"Dad, the girl with the black hair . . . I've seen her before. I feel like I've known her all my life. What aren't you telling us?" Leo questioned again, trying to understand the situation.
"Hmm. Such times call for such minds to think alike." Splinter mumbled as he walked back to his meditation room, leaving Leonardo to look at his father with a confused face.
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Donatello came back to Danielle, who was more awake than she was earlier. Even with the injuries and the blindfold on, she was stunning and beautiful. She leaned more up in the bed, the pillow cushioned in between her shoulders. She heard the sound of footsteps, and stiffened a little bit, wondering if Donatello had returned to keep her company again.
"It's only me. I've brought back your tea." Donatello said, not wanting to startle the young girl as he took his seat next to the bed she occupied.
He held the tea in one hand, and helped her put the pain relievers in her hand. She felt the pills in her palm, and brought them into her mouth. He gave her the cup of tea, and helped her drink the tea. She drank the hot liquid carefully, letting the taste touch her tastebuds like a silky blanket of warmth. She knew the flavor - lavender with chamomile. It was a taste she always wanted to try, and it was very unique.
"D-do you like it?" Donatello asked her, watching her slowly drink the tea he made her. He admired her; it was the aura that she carried, her her smile; her complete trust in him was enough for him to believe that he could trust her.
"It's really good, Donnie. I've always wanted to try lavender and chamomile tea." Danielle answered, her smile reaching her face.
"I'm glad you like it." he said, smiling at her happiness.
"Donnie, could you answer me something?" Danielle asked, turning her head to hear his voice. He swallowed nervously, knowing that she would want to know why she was here.
"I'll try my best ... to answer your question." Donatello said, pushing his glasses up on the ridge of his nose before he settled himself into his seat.
"Tell me, where are we? I hear voices, are we in Brooklyn? Queens?" Danielle asked as she held the tea cup in her small hands within her lap.
"No, not Brooklyn or Queens." Donnie answered, the lump in his throat growing with every minute ticking by.
"Are we still in New York? Donnie, please I need to know where we are. I'm a little scared." Danielle quivered, her little body shaking slightly. He watched for a moment, watching her patiently. He couldn't lie to her; he wouldn't lie. He would tell her the truth about everything.
"Y-y-yes, we are still in New York, but we're underneath the city." Donatello confessed, waiting for her to take in the information he just delivered to her.
"Why are we -"
"Because me and my brothers are different from everyone else. We are . . . not normal." Donatello muttered, his voice lower than normal. He knew that his family was different from society, that they weren't human by any means. But would he share her that information?
"Why do you live down here? Why are you here?" Dani asked, her voice piqued with curiosity.
"Me and my brothers . . . we were babies when we came here. Our father, our sensei; he raised us to be who we are. We . . . never wanted anyone to judge us, so we kept to ourselves for much of our childhood. We wanted to feel accepted. And when you four came into our lives, we felt like we wouldn't have to be judged." Donatello said, wringing his hands together in nervousness.
He watched Danielle sink the information in, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. It was like they were a secret family that no one was to know. She had no idea that there were people living underneath the city, and it scared her. She was so glued into her own world with her sisters and school that she never realized how much these people have outcasted by society.
"I don't know what to believe." Danielle said, her mind going through the details; she wanted to see this young man so badly.
"It's the truth, Danielle. I would never lie to you, I promise." Donatello said, hoping she would not judge him at all.
He reached out, his three fingered hand going to grab the cup from her hands when her fingers touch the back of his hand. She felt rough skin, almost like scales. She gasped, and he froze.
"Oh no, please don't judge me now. Please don't think of me as a freak." Donatello thought to himself, his mind analyzing everything that was going through his mind. He was waiting for the scream.
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Author's Note: Cliffhanger! Ha ha ha! I have to stop somewhere :) I know I'm horrible for having such an awesome cliffhanger at the best part. Reviews are welcomed :D
