Shattered Mind - Part 14 – (Month 5 / Week 1)

Month 5 / Week 1

The lair laid silent in the early hours of the morning, the calm before the storm.

Everyone was asleep, lying comfortably on the couch in the lab.

Things were back to normal, more or less; the brothers were getting along and things were not so heavy anymore, regardless if Donnie was still in a coma.

Sleepily April opened her eyes as she felt something brushing her cheek.

To her surprise, April noticed she was lying against Raph plastron, who in turn was sleeping upright; it was his bandana that was brushing against her face.

Flushed, she looked up wondering what was going on.

At the same moment, Raph slowly opened his eyes, as their eyes met, his face became confused and beet red.

(Ok, how did this happen?)

"…April…," Raph looked frantic, he wasn't suspecting to wake up with her lying against him.

Speechless April just stared at him, with a gulp Raph voice became nervous, "Umm… April by chance can you get up?"

With a quick nod, embarrassed too, April tried so, then realize she was stuck.

Looking over her shoulder, she became aware that Mikey was leaning against her shell pinning her against Raph.

(You got to be kidding me…)

"Sure… um Mikey wake up, please," April tilted her head whispering into his ear, in response Mikey softly moaned with a mumble, then leaned against her more, forcing her to press into Raph.

"April what are you doing!?" Raph panicked, outright confused why April was getting closer to him.

April glared at him for not noticing that she wasn't the one doing it.

"Raph it's not me doing this, Mikey is sleeping against my shell, in turn pressing me against you," she sighed annoyingly.

Feeling kind of foolish, Raph chuckled under his breath, "Oh… rrr. Mikey get the hell off of April!" Raph yelled over April's shoulder, frustrated and getting pissed off with his little brother, he couldn't believe this was happening.

A bit stunned by the sudden volume change in his voice, blinking, April shook her head, "Thanks Raph, I think I am now deaf in my right ear," April narrowed her eyes on him for being so loud.

"… Sorry April," Raph apologised quickly, as he became more flustered, he truly seemed to be out of his element.

If matters couldn't get any worse, a sudden rustling came from the other side of Raph, accompanied with some yawns.

"What's with all the commotion…," Leo inhaled deeply, as he attempted to get up.

(Oh no no no…)

Watching Leo starting to get up, it suddenly came apparent to April, as her heart leaped into her throat, Raph was leaning all his weight against Leo's shell; Leo was probably the only one preventing everyone from falling over.

"Leo don't get up!" April tried to cry out, but was too late.

Quickly Leo got off the couch, confused Leo didn't have a clue why April tried to stop him from getting up, yet it was too late either way.

In a split second Leo learned quickly of the predicament, as he watched Raph fall backwards and April falling on top of him, laying there she stared up at Leo in annoyance.

"Oh… so good morning," Leo cough trying hard not to laugh.

Wondering what happened to Mikey, April viewed over her shoulder to see him sitting up rubbing his eyes, he must have sat up just before she fell, lucky him.

"Umm… April about you getting off of me?" Raph's face was so red; she couldn't tell the difference between his bandana and his skin anymore.

"What's going on over, here?" Mikey chirped with amusement, peering over at Raph and April with glee, he was having a grand old time watching this drama unfold.

With a sigh April attempted to get up, then Raph grabbed her arm, stopping her, "…umm … rrr… maybe wait a sec…," Raph nervously squeaked.

(What?)

Tilting her head, for the life of her, April couldn't figure out why Raph would all the sudden ask her to stop getting up, he was such in a hurry for her to get off him a second ago, what change?

Looking at Raph curiously, April watched the sweat running down his face as he seemed really embarrassed.

Before she could ask what was going on, she was startled when a burst a laughter took over Leo as he tried to keep his balance since he was almost doubling over.

Flashing a look over towards Leo, Raph anger swelled, growling fiercely at his older brother, "SHUT UP LEO, you try not to do this in this situation!"

(Do what? … Wait… Ahh crap you got to be kidding me…)

Realizing what has changed, April looked up towards Mikey indicating to him if he started to laugh; he was in a world of pain, and to get the throw pillow that wasn't far from him.

Taking the warning into consideration, Mikey picked up the pillow, giving it to April.

The elder brother was in tears at the moment and Raph being too busy yelling at Leo to stop laughing, neither one notice what April was up too.

With a breath, April quickly got up placing the pillow in place with her eyes close, she at least could give him some dignity.

Once the pillow was in place, April jump off the couch, then started to walk towards the lab door, she didn't even look over to see how Donnie was doing, she was way to embarrass.

"Rrr… April sorry, it's not what it seems!" Raph called towards her, weary.

With a sigh, she didn't turn around, "Don't worry Raph you're a guy, this is a normal reaction waking up in the morning, sometimes… I'm going to start breakfast… Oh Leo, if you don't stop laughing trust me, Raph will be the least of your worries."

With a nervous gulp, Leo coughed, trying to control his laughter, "Sorry A..ha ha April…"

With another sigh, April shook her head, "I swear I don't even know how any of us fell asleep in that position in the first place… This is what I get for living with a bunch of guys."

Leaving the guys behind, April enter the living room, closing the door behind her, leaning against it she took a deep breath.

(Well, good morning indeed, never a dull moment… Well, today's event will be Raph acting weird around me after what happen. Mikey will never stop teasing and Leo… rrr… I wouldn't be surprised he joined Mikey… Man how did we fall asleep like that, we were all watching a movie because it was only fair, someone had to watch Donnie so why not watch it in the lab then… Yeah… Don't have a clue how this became the ending of the night…)

With a sigh, April moved towards the kitchen, thoughts of what to make the boys this morning was circling in her head, she tried her best to make sure they keep a balance diet, suggesting meals with at least a couple items in the food group.

Just before reaching the kitchen an alarming sound came from above in the directions of the bedrooms, knowing she was the only one that left the lab, it seemed quite suspicious.

(Is someone up there?)

April looked towards the lab door, it remained shut and sounds of the guys arguing and fooling around still was clear, then who could be upstairs?

Fully aware that the lair was designed to keep intruders out and the guys never let anyone know where they live or ever bring company over, that's if they do have any friends on the surface, April didn't really know or dared to ask, she felt safe in the end anyways.

With a quick decision not to bother the brothers, April slowly ventured up the stairs towards the odd sounds that echo above.

At first, she couldn't make them out, it was hard to tell if was a voice or object moving, either way it was obvious someone or something was up there.

Approaching the top of the stairs April finally could pinpoint the direction of the noise, it was coming from Donnie's room, which at the moment April was acquiring.

(Honestly now, why did one of the guys go into my room, they promised me some privacy…)

Figuring one of the boys sneak up out of the lab and up the stairs for some practical joke, no doubt to continue to make fun of the fact of what happened in the lab; April face turned red, she wasn't in the mood for this and to think one of them would dare to go into her room.

Stomping in, suspecting it was Mikey, for certain she knew Leo and Raph were still in the lab from the yelling and laughing, to her surprise it was none of them.

In the deep darkness, someone sat on the bed, cradling themselves, playing with her hair elastic in their hand.

(Donnie!)

The brilliant green turtle sat there in silence, unaware of her presents looking constantly on the elastic, he looked deep in thought, like he was trying to remember something.

(What, how did he get up here? When did he get up here?)

Thinking back April recalled that she never looked over towards his bed in the lab before leaving.

After the ordeal in there, no one must have noticed he was gone; for sure he couldn't have snuck up here in the time frame from her leaving the lab to go to the kitchen, without her hearing him.

Slowly approaching him, April didn't make any sudden movements, she wasn't sure what frame of mind he was in, and with the boys still downstairs unaware of Donnie being up, she couldn't risk him reacting to her poorly.

"Donnie…"

Startled Donnie almost jump out of his shell as he slowly appeared up towards her, his big brown eyes studied her in wonder, he seemed unsure in a way.

Biting her lower lip, April took a couple steps forward, reaching for the lamp on the night stand, turning it on to give the room more light.

Still staring, Donnie tilted his head, looking her over, mostly he was looking towards her hair.

"Donnie your wake, why are you up here?" taking things slowly, she was becoming weary of his stares, something seemed off about how he was looking at her.

It was clear he wasn't eyeing her like some love sick puppy, or anything sexual in nature, or aggressive to say the least, it was more like he didn't understand what he was looking at, or whom.

"Donnie how are you feeling?" staying where she was, it was safer to keep some distance until she was certain it was safe enough to approach him, he was still stronger than her, and if that curious look became one of anger or fear, he could accidentally hurt her.

(Ok, now what do I do? Do I go get the others, do I shout for them? Is it even wise to even turn around?)

Seconds felt like hours as they just stared at each other, there were no words April could think of that she hasn't already tried to get through to him.

She could try another approach, but she feared she might say the wrong thing.

Suddenly Donnie got off the bed slowly moving towards her, eye blanketed in deep thoughts still trying to figure her out, considering it was still her best choice not to take any sudden movements, April stood still, watching him like a hawk.

Inches away, Donnie started to sniff the air, closer he became, the more he sniffed the air, the odd behaviour scared April, she didn't know what to do.

His actions were more based on instinct than rational thoughts and who knows what else those instincts might make him do.

Slowly his hand shook, reaching for a lock of her hair, as he inhaled her aroma, with a gulp April's fear dominated her, she started to wish she went to the lab first before investigating the top floor.

Still complex and quite uncertain, Donnie tilted his head, taking her all in, before April could react, he had his arms around her, laying his head in the crook of her neck, rubbing it with delightful chirps of joy.

"A…A… April…" Donnie purred, holding her tighter against him.

With a sigh of relief, April eased up as her previous worries washed away, he still had some humanity left, though the sniffing thing was unsettling, to think he recognized her by scent alone.

"Yes Donnie, it's me… Donnie, did you forget I was a turtle?" April had to ask, it was the only thing she could figure out that would explain his bazaar behaviour.

She must still smell like the way she was when she was human, to a point that is.

Donnie purred happily, "A-April turtle? A-April h..how…?"

(What! Wait, he doesn't remember? So the accident left him with amnesia or was it he who did it to himself to push the pain away?)

With a giggle, April tried to stop herself from laughing out loud, for Donnie constant brushing against her neck started to tickle.

"Donnie please, you have to stop that! You're making me ticklish."

Stopping Donnie just rested his head with a sigh of disappointment; gently April got him to let her go.

Leading him to the bed to sit down, she gave him a fast check over to make sure he was ok.

"Donnie, do you remember what happened on top of my roof at my apartment?"

Shaking his head, he wasn't sure what she was talking about, deciding it was best to skip that explanation, April sat down beside him.

"Donnie are you aware that you have been in a coma… rrr asleep for the past couple weeks?" noticing that the word coma wasn't ringing a bell, April had to simplify things, he caught on faster that way.

In response Donnie tilted his head with a shrug, it was apparent he had no idea, but there had to be a way to find out how far back he remembered, for sure the incident with her being mutated wasn't something he knew of, then so how far back then?

Thinking over it, it hit her, April quickly got off the bed, taking the book that she been reading to him, opening the pages she gave the book to Donnie.

"Donnie can you find the last page that you remember I left off?" April knew roughly where she was in the book, at any given time.

Taking the book Donnie smiled at it, he really did enjoy it, flipping the pages Donnie stop pointing to a page.

(That far back, huh, his memory stops sometime between the incident in the Dojo with him almost strangling me and when he put me into that machine…)

With a smile, April place the bookmark on that page, then placed it back on the night stand, "Thank you Donnie, oh don't be upset, its ok that you don't remember after that page, it wasn't important ok."

Down, Donnie looked at the floor, the amount of pages from the spot he remember and where April did leave off, was great, even in his condition he could tell he was missing much.

With a sad chirp Donnie looked up at April then placed his hand on her cheek, reading him April realized what was bothering the poor turtle.

"You want to know what happen to me, don't you?"

With a nod Donnie wrapped his arms around her, placing his head on her shoulder once more; it was the one position that made him feel secure.

"Well… let's put it this way, it was an accident. Ancient history, nothing to truly worry about. Trust me Donnie its best to leave it, now I think we should go see your brothers. By now they must have noticed you are missing… or still goofing off," April sighed, Donnie tilted his head in response to her annoying sigh.

Lightly chuckling, April shook her head, "Oh, you don't want to know, for I don't," she smile brightly as he held her tighter, it was time to let the brothers know about the good news, as well to acknowledge it was best not to mention April's mutation or the roof incident.

Donnie was surprisingly well and acting the way he was before things went upside down, and to bring up the two major incidents would push him to the edge once again.

April's greatest fear was repeating the past events, she was dead certain he couldn't handle them, not now, maybe later when he is more sound to mind, but for now, it was best to deny it ever happened for his sake.