Disclaimer: Ch 1
Author's Note(s): Chapter title inspired by the song "Hear Me Out" by Frou Frou. It's a good song and one I've had on repeat while thinking up the title for this chapter. LoL I've mostly been listening to bands like "Panic! at the Disco", "Maroon 5", and whatever else I felt like, as I like all different sorts of music. It all inspires different things. ^_^
"Rise of the Guardians (in training)"
"Hear Me Out"
Mikey was in a panic when he didn't see Danny anywhere; only a small puddle of blood staining the spot where the ash-brunet had previously been. But Donnie saw the note Jenny had left them and read it aloud.
The only thing they could do was go back to the lair and wait… April was there, so they asked her to call Jenny and see what the heck was going on. Jen told her that she was at the hospital with Danny and couldn't talk right now, but she'd contact her later when she could.
Mikey had his ear pressed to the other side of the phone beside April's head so he could listen. Out of hysterical concern, he practically begged Jen to tell him if Danny was at least okay.
The redhead bit her bottom lip. "He's alive, Mikey. But he's in surgery right now, so I don't really know what else to tell you…" When she heard the other make a whimpering sound like he might cry, she quickly added "But I promise I'll tell you as soon as I know. Okay?"
"O-okay…" He stuttered a little as he sniffled. All the emotions that he'd been having to choke down because he had to focus on fighting and saving Danny were beginning to come back up and overwhelm him.
Mikey asked if he could borrow April's phone until Jenny phoned him back, and April smiled kindly and told him he could until Donnie fixed the payphone; before the ginger turned to the brainy turtle and told him to get on.
Donnie quickly hopped to it and left for his lab, after giving his little brother a pat on the shoulder. April tried to assure Mikey everything would be okay, but the orange banded turtle didn't want to hear it.
Or for that matter to be around anyone at the moment. He excused himself and went to be alone in his room. Leo tried to go after him, but Master Splinter told them to let Michelangelo be alone. For he obviously needed to be right now.
Mikey set April's phone carefully on the pillow beside his head, where he laid down to stare at it impatiently. After crying his eyes out as quietly as he could, and blaming himself for having been so stupid, the tenderhearted turtle passed out.
Jenny called several hours later after she was allowed to see Danny because he was in a stable enough condition, and told the gentle turtle what was going on. Both knew the worst part was that Mikey couldn't even go see him. So instead of mentioning that point, Jenny was thoughtful enough to tell him she'd keep him updated.
"Hey Jenny?" Mike asked tiredly; his voice a little sore and dry from all the crying he'd done into his pillow. "Yeah Mikey?" The redhead replied in kind. "I was wondering… Do you know Danny?" The question had been on his mind ever since Donnie had read the note. He heard the other sigh softly.
"Yeah, we've been friends for years. Why do you ask?" Jenny had a feeling the question would come up sooner or later. "I was just wondering…" Danny and Jen had been friends for years?
Wow… That was a really long time to be friends with a girl. And even he knew Jen was kinda hot. He'd heard Raph mention it to Donnie more than once, before the brainy turtle scoffed like it was a lie or something.
Donnie was too into April to notice things like that Mikey guessed. But still… It kind of bothered him that Jenny and Danny had never mentioned each other to him. He wasn't sure why. It just did.
"How did you find him?" Was the next question. "Well… I guess you could say your brother Donatello isn't the only brainiac you know. I won't bore you with the techno babble…" Jen began; sounding like she really wanted to say it, but refrained out of kindness.
"But after he called and told me you were in trouble, and I had April relay the message to your brothers, I basically I used Danny's cell phone to figure out his location with my own after going to Bradford's dojo and seeing you guys weren't there. If you like, maybe I could show you some time?" She edified politely.
He was glad she didn't drown him with some longwinded jargon he wouldn't understand like Donnie would've. "Thanks… but… I-I don't know if I'd be any good at it…" Mikey replied sounding a tad down on himself.
It reminded Jen a bit of her brother Casey when he felt insecure about his own intelligence. But the redhead knew anyone could learn if they really wanted to. "Well, I doubt that. But you know… I bet Danny would love to show you if you'd be more comfortable with him than me? It's cool if you are. I understand." She told him in an amiably understanding way.
Mikey thought about it for a moment; blushing some at how she emphasized the word "love" and managed to enjoy a spark of happiness from the thought that his sunny human friend would want to teach him. So he agreed, and was a little glad to have something to look forward to.
That is… if Danny still even wanted to be his friend after all that had transpired. The thought of the other not wanting to be his friend anymore, upset him a lot more than the turtle had expected. But it didn't surprise him either.
Mikey was a sweetheart, and besides his brothers he didn't really have anyone he really felt close to. April had to be friends with them because they saved her. He didn't see Jenny that way though since she had helped them save April. But she was really smart, so being self-conscious as he could be, he didn't think she'd find him very good conversation.
He was surprised by how well he, Raph and Leo got along with her though. Unlike Donnie, she didn't rub her intellect in their faces or put them down. She teased them and could play right back, but it was never mean-spirited.
Still… His friendship with Danny was different. Mikey wasn't sure how, but it just felt… special. Yeah, that seemed like the right word he thought. And as he miserably mused about their secret friendship, the terrapin frowned thoughtfully.
"Um… Jenny?" His voice was quieter now, and it made her wonder why. "Yes?" She asked; not having to whisper on her end. "Could… you not tell the others?" He felt bad for asking, it's just… he just wasn't ready for them to know everything just yet. He knew it was probably stupid and selfish, but he couldn't help inquiring.
The question confused her, and she had to ask "Wait… what do you mean, don't tell the others? Don't tell them what? They already know I know Danny in some way. And I'm guessing they probably figured out he has to be involved with you somehow because he risked his life to save you." Or perhaps she was giving the turtles too much credit.
"I, I know… It's just…" He trailed off sadly. "You aren't ready to give up your secret because you're worried you'll have to share him? And that your brothers will find out this whole mess was your fault?" Jenny offered in a sympathetic tone.
"Yea…" Mikey admitted; sounding ashamed for having asked. "Heh… I can understand that. Hmm… How about, if they DO ask, I'll just tell them they have to ask you? That way, you can tell them in your own time." The boom happy boffin offered.
"Really?!" Mikey thought it sounded like a great idea, and made sure to tell her so. She chortled lightly; knowing exactly why Danny thought the orange banded ninja was so sweet. Jen couldn't blame him for doing what he could to save him.
Danny wasn't the only one who liked to do the right thing. She'd have done her best within reason to save Michelangelo too. He was a good friend, and he and Danny didn't deserve what those jerks had done to them.
And so, after discussing it a bit more, they agreed that they'd wait until one of his brothers broached the subject, and have them refer to Mikey rather than bother or blame Jen, since it was obvious to him that she meant well.
That way she wouldn't be troubled with keeping the whole truth from the rest of Mikey's family so much, and Mikey could tell them when he was ready. After that was out of the way, Jen tried to cheer him some more.
She switched the topic to the sunny ash-brunet, and told him how much better Danny was looking, and how it wouldn't be long before he could go home, which made Mikey feel better to know.
They continued to speak of pleasant things like that, before they hung up, and the young ninja turtle curled up to try and go back to sleep; with the hope that things would be better once he got the chance to talk to Danny.
For the next few days, while his brothers celebrated their victory over Shredder's two "top minions", Mikey found he just couldn't get into the spirit what with not being able to see Danny to really know how he was doing.
Jenny's little notifications just wouldn't make him feel all that better until he could see his human again. And April had to take her phone back in case she needed it to call them, as Donnie had finally repaired the payphone.
Don had tried to assure his bro that the wounded human would be fine; though Mikey had yet to admit he knew Danny personally yet. So because of that, and as they still didn't know the whole story of what had occurred, it was no surprise when none of them understood why the youngest was so torn up by what had happened.
His three brothers still needed to talk to Jenny and figure out just what the heck had gone down (besides Shredder's minions). As it seemed the only ones who knew what'd transpired were her and Mikey, and this Danny guy.
They called up Jen and asked if they could meet her to talk, and so she made time to do so; having a good idea about what their choice in subject might be. Akira had trusted her to handle herself though.
But to give the usual signal if she was met with trouble; as Akira had gone with her and hid close by in case her friend needed backup. The three of the turtles met up with Jen in the usual spot she met Raph, but the welcome she received had not been one she expected from her terrapin friends at all. At least not one of them.
As soon as she opened her mouth to greet them, Donnie had launched himself toward her and grabbed her roughly by the shoulders, before slamming her none too gently against the metal cover of some roof generator.
"All right, I want the truth about what happ-ah!" Donatello began yelling threateningly, before Jenny grabbed the turtle by his shoulders and kneed him right in the gut; making him double over in pain.
"DAMNIT, I'M A LADY! SO KEEP YOUR HANDS TO YOURSELF, YOU ASSHAT!" The rather infuriated redhead snapped sharply at the purple banded ninja; taking him and his two brothers completely by surprise and scaring the crap out of Donnie, as none of them had expected such a reaction.
Then again, Raph and Leo hadn't expected Donnie to attack her either. They were supposed to have given her a chance to explain. If there was one thing the young Jones couldn't stand, it was someone putting their hands on her or her brother like that, or in any way that threatened to cause them harm or disrespect.
So out of reflex, she ended up snapping at him the way she had. She was rather in disbelief any of them would've hurt her like that; even if Donatello obviously had some problem with her. Jen had been trying very hard to overlook it and be understanding. But Donnie was beginning to wear on her last freakin' nerve.
"Yeah Donnie! What the heck are you doin'?" Raph exclaimed incredulously as he gave the olive green turtle a smack upside the head as Don stood up with a wobble or two. She brushed herself off idly and shot the other two a glare. "I thought you wanted to talk. Not attack me."
"W-we did! Honest!" Leo tried to smooth the matter over with a sheepishly apologetic smile. He couldn't believe Donnie had attacked a girl like that; much less one who was their friend!
Leo knew his brother wasn't very fond of Jen because he blamed her for April wanting to hang out with the redhead rather than him. But this was getting to be ridiculous and downright dangerous…
It wasn't Jenny's fault Donnie acted like a gushing lunatic and creeped April out. "We're very sorry for that. Aren't we Donnie?" He shot the scowling younger brother a warning look, and so Donnie heaved an exasperated sigh.
"Yeah. Very sorry." He conceded unconvincingly as he folded his arms over his chest. Donnie was still suspicious of Jenny and wanted to know what was going on. "Pfft! Whatever, Gap Tooth." She shot back sassily.
"G-Gap Tooth?!" Donnie screeched indignantly with an angry mark on his forehead and steam coming out of his ears anime style. He made to go at her again, but stopped when she looked at him and said "Try it again, and you'll be the one in a hospital, Gappie." She threatened most earnestly.
Raph sweat dropped comically as he saw another reason why Jen and Kaia got along so well. They could both be downright scary when they wanted to be. Or so he had learned from his last encounter with the cute and curious orangette after he'd been reckless enough to have attacked the secret assassin.
Donnie gulped and had to admit to himself that at that moment, Jenny was scarier than Raph and April put together. "Now… what is it you wanna talk about, Leo?" Jen said while addressing their leader as she turned toward the blue banded ninja to ignore Donatello.
The brainy turtle bristled at that and huffily pouted. "Uh… well you see, we were wondering… exactly how did you know Mikey was in trouble?" Leo asked almost tentatively. He didn't think they needed anymore hostility if they wanted answers.
Jenny frowned and ran a hand through her bangs. "I'd actually love to tell you… but I'm afraid I promised Mikey that I'd let him tell you when he was ready." She told him with all sincerity; apology in her tone.
"Huh? Why would you do that?" Leo looked baffled. "Yeah, that seems kinda… I dunno… Stupid." Raph added with his usual moody sarcasm. "Because, when you get down to it, it really is his business. So since he's been nothing but nice to me, I respect his privacy enough to say that it's more his place to tell you than mine." The considerate redhead edified; seeming quite firm in her resolve.
"Respect Mikey? Don't make me laugh! No one respects Mikey!" Donnie chimed in skeptically. But Jenny gave him a hard look that made him gulp. "Did you ever stop to think that maybe that's the point?" She asked; as if the answer was obvious.
But when it was clear none of them knew what she was talking about, the redette shook her head and sighed in frustration as she held up her hands in mock surrender. She couldn't believe none of them got it.
"Well… whatever. Believe me, don't believe me. I don't care. The only thing that matters to me is that Mikey's safe and my friend is alive. Beyond that, your opinion means about as much to me as a bacterium does to a mountain." Jenny told the brainy turtle aloofly.
She was getting pretty fed up with the way Donatello was treating her. Like she was some kind of criminal, and that she was guilty until proven innocent, instead of the other way around. And for what crime, she had no idea!
"All I can tell you… is that Danny is one of my closest friends and has been for years. He's one of the kindest guys I know, Mikey included. And he didn't deserve what happened to him. But he put his life on the line for your brother. So if you can't respect your own sibling, respect that, before you go harassing Mikey for answers. Because what happened is their business. Not yours." The fiery redhead admonished.
"If that's all you guys wanted, then I'm outta here." And with that, she turned away and left before they could stop her; as it was clear she was in no mood to further deal with them. Leaving Donnie stunned by her insult.
He didn't think it would've bothered him, but as the day drew on, it practically nagged at him. And if he was being honest with himself, it made him feel like a bit of a heel for having behaved so rudely earlier. The insecure turtle hoped she wouldn't tell April. Oh no… what if she did?!
Then April would get mad at him, and wouldn't want to hang out with him anymore. And maybe stop coming around the lair altogether! Oh man… He needed to think of a way to make things right between him and the scary redhead, or else he was as good as turtle soup!
Jenny stormily and hastily put distance between herself and the turtles; not wanting to be around any of them right then. Akira joined up with her when it became clear that none of the terrapins were following her friend.
Feeling the presence of the stealthy brunette beside her, Jennifer glanced over to see her friend regarding her with a look of concern. "I'm fine." She lied flatly. Aki frowned slightly, but then moved closer as they walked down the street, and put her hand on the others shoulder to make the redhead stop.
As Jen turned to look at her friend with bemused annoyance, she saw the soft, slightly mischievous smile the other seemed to have developed from having been friends with the young Jones for so long.
"Come, Jen-chan. Let's go find something to blow up." For a moment, the redhead stared at her friend in slight surprise. Then her expression shifted to mirror the others impish one, and she gave a nod.
The two took off to the usual places to find stuff for Jenny to blow up. After getting a marvelously devious idea, they found what they were looking for at Bradford's dojo. It seemed the best place to vent some frustrations.
They made sure no one was there first, and that any security system was off, before Jenny pulled out a bag of rocks she'd collected on the way, and began charging them and tossing them everywhere she could while Aki was the lookout.
Then, the two of them hurried the heck out of there, before Jenny let all of her little glowing bombs go off along with all her current frustration; shouting "GOONGALA!" like her big brother did, just as they went off so the explosions covered up her giddy shouting.
It was really therapeutic, and afterwards the boom happy boffin felt much better. She thanked Akira; glad the brunette knew her so well and put up with her crazy ways. The two of them headed out to Mr. Murakami's restaurant to hang out and grab a bite to eat, as they discussed what had happened with the three turtles.
Akira hadn't been very pleased when that purple banded kappa put his hands on her friend, but Jenny assured her that she'd taken care of that as well as it needed to be. Even if she had been half tempted to make Donnie regret it further. But that wouldn't have helped anyone.
Why couldn't he be more pleasant like his brothers? What the heck was it about her that seemed to upset and offend him so much? She didn't whine and shun him like April did. Even when he got kinda creepy when gushing over the ginger girl like some geeky stalker.
"I told them Danny and I were friends. I figured that was okay, since Mikey would probably tell them anyway." Jen shrugged; taking a sip of her soda and trying not to think about how trying Donatello could be.
"That's fine. So long as they don't know the whole truth." Akira replied; quickly stealing a gyoza dumpling from the redheads plate. "Hey!" Jen pouted as her friend smirked and leaned back so the other couldn't take it back.
Aki quickly shoved it in her mouth and ate it. In retaliation, Jenny picked up a grain of rice, charged it, and flicked it at the dumpling that the brunette had taken from her own plate and was about to eat; causing it to go SPLAT all over her face.
The team leader didn't cry out like most people probably would've, but instead calmly wiped the bits of gyoza off of her face; somehow managing to look elegant and poised about it as she'd been taught to do, while Jenny laughed so hard she was doubled over holding her stomach.
Mr. Murakami may have been blind, but his hearing was very keen. And so when he heard the sound of the quirky duos scuffle in the almost empty eating establishment, as Akira and Jenny began having a food fight, he couldn't help but chortle to himself as he went about his work.
The comical sounds of the girls yelling stuff like "PETTANKO! (Flat-chest)", "SHORTSTACK!", and "GOONGALA!" back and forth being heard above the ruckus they caused. It was a good thing they were the only three in the shop, or someone might've complained.
But once they were all tuckered out, and had food and sauces spattered all over them and their clothes, the two girls looked at each other and then fell out laughing, before thinking it best to clean up their mess. Heh, whoever said "violence never solves anything" clearly never met Akira and her team…
To be continued...
Ugh, FINALLY! LoL It's about time I finally got to give Akira some more time in the fic. XD She'll have a bigger role like my other OC's once I get into the other episodes. Haruhi will also have more appearances (like any other character) when I see it fits the story. Everything in its own time, as they say. X3
