I don't own TMNT.

Kayla's POV

"Okay so you have your book?"

"Yes,"

"And the TV remote?"

"Yes,"

"And your pain killers?"

"Yes," I replied exasperatedly. Donnie sat on the edge of my bed with an uneasy expression. I rolled my eyes; this happened every time he left. Placing a gentle hand over his I met his gaze with a weak smile. "I'll be fine, stop worrying. Master Splinter is in his room if I need him," Donnie sighed.

"I know it's just I can't help this feeling that something will happen to you when I'm not here," he said.

His hand turned under mine and his fingers twisted through mine. I gave his a gentle squeeze, which he immediately returned. It crushed me to see him this way. He was a nervous wreck and though he tried to cover it up for me I could see it leaking through the cracks. Between us I wasn't sure who was more worried about the other. He sighed and stood letting our arms stretch the space between us. Walking toward me he brought our hands up and kissed the back of my hand before gently placing it beside me. My hand felt cold when he let go. I gave him an encouraging smile and watched him leave the lab. As soon as he was out of sight tears sprang into my eyes. It would never be easy to see him leave so painfully.

I lay still and listened to the front door open and close. The silence that filled the lair after was so thick you could touch it. I stared at the wall in front of me before my gaze travelled to the left. Sitting on the counter under a glass dome was my egg. It was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I wanted nothing more that to hold it, to tell it that mommy was all right and daddy was just being silly. But that wasn't true. My train of thought was interrupted by a soft knock on the door. I cleared my throat and lightly shook the thought from my mind.

"Come in," I called.

The door gently opened and Master Splinter entered carrying a tray of steaming mugs. I smiled what felt like the first genuine smile in a while. He returned my smile and placed the tray on one of the counters. I watched him pull Donnie's office chair beside me and return to the tray.

"How are you feeling?" he asked handing me one of the mugs. I inhaled the scent of pine needles and jasmine. Looking back up at him I raised an eye ridge.

"Are you sure you're going to get the answer you're looking for?" I replied. Splinter chuckled and sipped his tea. I did the same and took pleasure in the hot liquid running down my throat.

"I'm hoping you will give me the true answer, instead of the garbage you tell Donatello," he replied. I sighed and took a long swallow of tea, biding my time.

"I'm not sure how I feel," I finally said. "I wake up to pain and whenever I get too emotional it feels like I have whooping cough. I can't stand on my own and if I walk at all I can't breathe. Most of the time I can't keep down food and I can feel myself grow weaker and weaker. I can't feel my left leg and my right one is cold as ice but that isn't the worst part," I paused and took a sip of tea. Master Splinter did the same but was watching me intently. I was about to speak when a thought stopped me. Should I really tell him this? What good would it do? If anything he would just pity me; I shuddered at the thought. Taking a shaky breath I continued.

"The worst part is having to lie to Donnie constantly. To see his face as he tries desperately to not show me how this is affecting him. To have to put on a smile when I want to cry. I hate having to be catered to like I'm a child. I hate the looks of sadness and pity everyone around here gives me. I hate that I can't hold my egg or go near it. I hate the idea that I might not be there when it hatches or disappear during its life. Splinter I don't want my baby to grow up without a mother. I don't want Donnie to hurt anymore and I don't want to leave him. I-" I was interrupted by horrendous coughs.

They made my body shake and my throat felt raw. It was hard to breathe in between and I doubled up with a hand over my mouth. Splinter rose from his chair and rubbed circles into my shell. I finally gained control and the coughs were reduced to mild hiccups. I took shaky breaths and felt the hot tears rolling down my face. Pulling my hand away I blinked in surprise. Blood shone bright red against the green in my hand. Splinter helped me lean back and handed me my mug. I drained the rest of my tea and when I lowered my mug he was there to wipe the blood from my hand and my mouth. I wanted to thank him but I felt exhaustion set in. My body sank further into the mattress and my eyelids drooped.

"Rest,"

The word floated through my mind and my eyes finally closed. My hands were placed over my stomach and the thick blanket was placed up to my chin. I smiled and let my head roll to the side accepting sleep's warm embrace.

I cringed as the bright light passed through my eyelids. Bringing my hands out from under the blanket I rubbed my eyes before slowly opening them. The room was dark and I looked around for the source of the light. The room stayed dark. I rolled onto my side and closed my eyes again. The light shone bright and my eyes snapped open. I sat up and waited in the dark. Finally the room was lit with a bright green glow. Leaning back I flicked on the light switch. The light came from the incubator on the counter.

"Master Splinter!" I called. There was no answer.

A loud crack filled the room. I watched intently and noticed there was a dark line running diagonally across the egg. My heart leapt ten feet in the air. It was hatching. I couldn't help the bright smile that spread across my face. The smile immediately fell and my eyes widened.

"Master Splinter!" I called again.

There was nothing, no running footsteps or call back. Another dark line appeared in the egg followed by another. Panic rose in my chest as the egg started to fall apart. I threw the layers of blankets to the floor and swung my legs over the side of my bed. Taking a deep breath I pushed off and let my feet rest on the floor. I stood unsteadily but didn't pay attention. Using my bed as a crutch I took slow, deliberate steps towards the incubator, ignoring how my breaths came in gasps. The room was filled with the cracks of the egg. When I reached the end of my bed I found the office chair. Using the back as a walker I continued my trek across the lab. A sharp wailing filled the room making me stop. My eyes grew to the size of dinner plates.

"MASTER SPLINTER!" I yelled.

I turned the office chair around and sat in it. Pulling myself along the counter I reached the incubator. Fumbling with the latch I finally opened and lifted the glass dome. Reaching in I found the source of the noise immediately. Wrapping my hands around it I pulled the object out and looked down. My breath caught in my throat. The turtle was the size of a human baby. Its small limbs were waving around in the air as it cried. I counted six fingers and four toes. Its plastron was a pale yellow and its face was a perfect circle. What surprised me the most was that her head was covered in bright white hair. Hesitantly I ran a gentle hand through its hair. The wails quieted and it opened its eyes. They were milky and I could barely tell where its irises were. Its limbs dropped to its body and it sniffed the air. I pulled the baby turtle close and nuzzled the side of its face with my own.

"Welcome to the world baby,"

OH MY GOD! I loved writing this chapter! I am so excited. Tell me what you thought! R&R!