Mikey made his way down from O'Rourke's room and knocked on T'mana's door. T'mana gave him permission to enter, so he stepped in and saw Leo and T'mana sitting on the couch quite closely. Mikey made a quick observation and noted that his brother's arm was wrapped around T'mana and that his other hand held hers in her lap. He smiled pleasantly as his brother blushed when he saw Mikey notice him. Leo started to remove his arm, thought better of it and let it resettle without T'mana being the wiser. Leo looked at Mikey , shrugged subtly and smiled.
Mikey's eyes wandered and found Sandra and Don sitting at a table on the other side of the room. Mikey could see they were playing a card game. He went over and plunked himself down in an empty chair at the table.
"Watcha playin'?" He asked.
"Poker." Sandra replied with a dramatic roll of her eyes. Don missed this because he was studiously observing the cards in his hand. "Don, either you want the card, or you don't. If you have to think that long about it, you don't." Don ignored her and stuck his tongue out in concentration, then he drew from the pile. Sandra rolled her eyes again and turned her attention to Mikey. "How's O'Rourke?" She asked him.
"Good. She's asleep now."
"Something else up?"
"In a minute. It's almost your turn."
"Not the way he plays." Sandra replied snidely. "He'll stare and rearrange his cards this way, that way, until he figures out which to discard. We have at least five minutes. And teaching him the art of bluffing failed miserably, so this is really quite pointless anyway."
"Now, Sandra." Don lectured. "We talked about this." Sandra sighed heavily.
"Patience is not one of my virtues." She grated, but not unkindly.
"You have virtues?" Don asked, without looking up. There was a faint smile on his lips so she knew he was teasing her.
"Several." She informed.
"Oh? Do tell." He prodded. He moved two cards around in his hand and stared intently at them. Sandra breathed out her nose and pursed her lips.
"I'm rich." She offered.
"That's not a virtue." Don spared her a glance to show his disappointment in her assessment.
"Sure it is." She argued. "Some say it's my best one." She smiled to show she was joking. He folded his cards down and looked up at her sharply. "Not funny?" She asked. "I'm trying to work on my humor."
"Try again." Don said tersely and picked up his cards again.
"Don, just pick a card! This isn't like robotic science." She smirked. Don smiled and shook his head.
"Don't rush me." He said calmly.
"You're doing it on purpose!" She realized. "You're totally screwing with me!"
"Me? Never." He moved another card in his hand and studied them again. "You still haven't named a virtue." He reminded.
"You have a mind like a steel trap." She whined.
"That's one of my virtues…still not one of yours." Don clucked his tongue in mock derision and finally discarded.
"Finally." She looked at her hand briefly and called it. "I'm still in. You gonna raise me?"
"What're the stakes?" Mikey asked, seeing nothing on the table.
"Nothing." Sandra answered drily. "He can't even risk a gamble when there's nothing to lose. He folds. He's folded every game!"
"Dude!" Mikey chided his brother. "Get a harder shell. Also, you could raise the stakes to something…like chores. Make it interesting."
"I call." Don said, ignoring Mikey completely. Sandra raised one eyebrow, but she laid her cards out triumphantly.
"Read'em and weep." She said with finality. Don nodded, looking at her cards and then revealed his. Sandra's smile faded. "A royal flush?" She was stunned. Don leaned back in the chair, a small, but arrogant smile on his face.
"I think I've made my point." Don said confidently. "And I think the stakes were high enough as they were." Mikey laughed, thinking Don had made a joke, but Sandra was looking at Don with new eyes. She caught his hidden meaning that the stakes were her opinion and impression of him. Their relationship.
"High indeed." Sandra replied without humor as she continued to scrutinize him. Mikey felt like he was missing something.
"Accept defeat with dignity." Don said. It wasn't a command, so she wasn't sure what he meant. He stood and leaned over the table so his face was very close to hers. "One of your many virtues." He explained softly with that arrogant look that Sandra had seen more and more often lately. He strode away from the table with a bit of a swagger and she had to smile inwardly at this new Don. It was a new side of him that she would have shunned if he had shown it to her first. But he had started with his shy and kind disposition. So this new, confident, teasing arrogance he exhibited was charming for the sheer fact that it was so unlike him.
She stared after him for a long moment before she remembered Mikey was still at the table.
"Sorry, Mikey. Did you need something?"
"Uh…don't know what just happened, but I did have something to talk to you and Don about." Don turned back to Mikey when he heard his name.
"Oh?" Sandra prodded. Don walked back and resumed his seat. Sandra spared him a glance with a quick smile, then returned her attention to Mikey.
"What is it, Mikey?" Don asked genially. He and Mikey were aware that Leo was listening, though he hadn't turned to face them or indicate in any way.
"Um…well…are you sure there's nothin' on the disks that say how…well, I mean, you sure Stockman didn't have a way to make sure the therma thing works?" Don looked at Mikey a full minute before answering.
"You've been talking with O'Rourke." Don said. It wasn't a question.
"Jeez…yeah. But I think of stuff like that, too. Sometimes." Don raised an eye ridge in denial.
"I went through all those files over and over again, Mikey. Sandra did, too." He gestured to her and she nodded. "We looked for encrypted files and codes and everything. He didn't put it on the drives that we have. He might have on another drive, but we don't have it." Don sighed and pinched his forehead. "The only way I know, is to look at it. I mean the mercury. It gives off a residue once it's been rendered inert. But we all agreed we can't go in and look into each container."
"Major suckage." Mikey pouted. "Why couldn't our mutation include X-ray vision? That would be awesome on so many levels."
"What?" Don asked, shocked. Mikey looked at Don and felt stupid.
"I don't mean I'd look at girls or anythin'!" Mikey defended with a quick glance at Sandra, who was now chuckling. "I just mean that-"
"X-ray vision." Don repeated. He stood abruptly, knocking his chair over, causing Leo to jump up.
"Don?" Leo asked, tension heavy in his voice.
"Lyde." Don murmured and ran out the door.
"What the shell?" Leo cursed. Leo looked at Mikey as if for explanation. Mikey shrugged.
"I have no idea, dude." He said, bewildered.
"Lyde's in her room." Sandra said as she stood and lead the way. By the time they all made it to Lyde's room, Don and Lyde were talking animatedly with Raph looking thoroughly confused. T'mana had come in next to Leo. He kept a hand on her back almost possessively, but was still trying to shuffle to the front of the crowd to see what was going on.
"So do the main buses still work? A and B? Did you determine that with the circulation tank stir?" Lyde was asking.
"Yeah, they do." Don agreed eagerly. "They tested out of beta. It's the filament work with the fingers I can't work out. But that wouldn't affect the vision servos."
"What kind of vision we talking here?" Lyde asked. "Digital, infrared, what?"
"Yes!" Don said, excitement spilling into every facet of his being. "And…X-ray."
"How did you manage that?" Lyde asked, impressed.
"I…uh…might have been able to get my hands on a hospital X-ray machine that was being retired." He cleared his throat awkwardly. Lyde beamed and then started to pace at a rapid speed about the room. The room was very crowded, so she could only take two or three steps before having to turn again, but she did this repeatedly as her lips moved swiftly without sound.
"That's it!" Raph shouted. "What the fuck's goin' on? Someone talk to me, damn it!" Lyde completely ignored him. Don waved him to be silent.
"Shhh! We might have figured out a way to verify the device worked." Don said quickly just to keep Raphael quiet.
"What about the button test, or whatever?" Raph asked urgently. "That workin'?"
"No." Don said impatiently. He was trying to think.
"Then why are we even talkin'-"
"What about radiation?" Lyde cut in abruptly. "I mean, this X-ray machine is from ten years ago, right? What precautions are in place for that?"
"He's lined with lead completely on the inside to minimize exposure." Don explained. "That's why he's so heavy. I have to wheel him around when he's not on." Lyde was nodding.
"So…we know the visual apparatus stimuli nodes are working. Is the X-ray equipment still functional after all this time?"
"I don't know. We'll have to test the connection. It could have jarred loose over the years. I haven't finished rewiring everything to the new board yet. It's tedious so I've been a little…um lax in getting it up and running. But now if this could work…I'll get right on it. Wanna come?" Don grinned at her.
"Yeah!" Lyde said making it sound like she couldn't have answered another way.
"Let's go!" He waved and Sandra watched as Lyde was lead by Don out of the room. She felt the dark curl of jealousy in her heart and stomach, but tried to push it away. Lyde was the superior intellect in this situation and she knew it. That was why Sandra had hired her and kept her on retainer. Because Lyde was good at what she did. She looked at Raph and saw the same look on his face. Then Don popped his head back in.
"Sandra, Raph…you guys comin'?" Sandra walked up to him, pleased he had come back for her, but not willing to show it.
"I'm not a 'guy'." She said tersely.
"No…you definitely are not." He agreed, and then added with a mischievous grin. "Ms. Grey." She smiled a little at his tease, letting him know that her anger was appeased. She stepped past him and he put his hand on her back as if to guide her through the doorway, but he let his hand linger there until they reached the stairs. Then he let his hand drop, but he kept pace with her as Raph followed behind.
"So a turtlebot with X-ray vision, lead lining, titanium alloy joints and a remote? When you were fifteen?" He shrugged.
"My boredom yields good results." He grinned.
"I have a feeling that sentiment can't be applied to Mikey." Sandra smirked as they reached the garage door.
"No way!" Don agreed. "His boredom can reach lethal levels." Sandra chuckled. She grabbed the keys off the wall.
"Would you like to drive?" She asked him. She blushed. "I mean…Leo drove…so you guys know how to, right?" Don smiled genially.
"Yes, we can drive. But you can take us there. You know the way." He gestured for her to take the front seat and he joined her in the passenger's front seat. Lyde was waiting in the back seat and Raph joined her as well. Don looked around.
"Leo and T'mana?" He asked.
"Nah." Raph said. "They said somethin' about watchin' a movie or somethin' like that." He shrugged. "They seem all chummy now." He commented.
"Is that a bad thing?" Lyde asked tentatively. Raph looked over to her and then looked quickly away again.
"Nah, not bad." Raph said. "Just…um…" He looked to Don for assistance.
"Leo is sort of the last one we thought would…well…" Don struggled too.
"Yeah." Raph agreed. "Exactly."
"What?" Lyde asked, laughing. "You didn't actually say anything. You realize that, right?"
"Oh, yeah, 'cause little Miss Frick is so eloquent." Raph said.
"I am." Lyde said haughtily. "So Leo…not the dating type or something?"
"No." Don agreed. "He didn't used to be like that…and he doesn't seem to be now, but for a while…" Don fell silent.
"After Splinter." Raph said quietly.
"You're right." Don said. "It was after Splinter…passed." An awkward silence fell.
"Um…" Lyde squeaked, afraid to ask, but curious enough to proceed. "Splinter? He was, like, your Dad, right?"
"Yeah." Raph acknowledged, but did not elaborate.
"I'm sorry you lost him." Lyde said quietly. She didn't understand the loss of a parent not having had any herself, but she had seen the grief it had caused to others she knew and didn't like to think of Raph having to deal with it.
Raph didn't speak, only nodded, but she could tell he appreciated the sentiment.
"Was it…um…I mean…never mind. I'm sorry." Lyde said. She wanted to know, to understand their experiences but, she also didn't want to pry. She didn't know the circumstances surrounding this event and it seemed to weigh heavily on them even now. Raph sighed with irritation and anger and Lyde recoiled physically, prepared for him to unleash on her.
"We were attacked." Raph spat with bitterness. "Fuckers found our old lair and came out in force. Mikey was on patrol, so we were down one."
"Leo managed to cut a path for Raph and I to lead Master Splinter out, but…" Don faltered.
"They suckered us. It was a distraction. While we were fightin' to get Splinter out, they were waitin' at the other end so…"
"We led him right into their hands." Don admitted hollowly. "Leo dove in once he saw what had happened. He took them out, came back to help us and then led the way out of the lair while we tried to get Splinter to safety."
"Didn't fuckin' matter." Raph growled. "Damage was fuckin' done."
"Leo blamed himself." Don said. "For showing us that way out. But there was no way he could have known. None of us could have seen that would happen."
"Who was it?" Sandra asked. "Who attacked you?"
"The Foot." Don answered.
"Stockman?" Sandra gasped.
"The Foot have many employers." Don explained. "I think Stockman recently acquired them. We have our suspicions as to who ordered the attack, but we can't be sure." The girls didn't know what to say to that, so a tense silence fell. Don continued on the original topic. "So, Leo pulled away. From everyone. He was constantly on look out. We found a new temporary lair until we found a more permanent location. He never really…mourned." Don sighed.
"How long ago was this?" Sandra asked.
"A little over three years now." Don answered.
"So…Leo was…distant for two years? Until he met T'mana?"
"Longer n' that." Raph said. "See, T'mana was the first human-"
"She was the first human you saw for two years?" Sandra asked incredulously. Raph glared witheringly at Sandra. He was about to ream her out, when Sandra blurted "What? Just answer the question."
"He doesn't like to be interrupted." Lyde explained calmly. Raph turned his gaze to her and Lyde couldn't read it, but there didn't seem to be hostility there. She didn't know it, but he appreciated her understanding where his anger came from. He was often interrupted by his brothers because they felt their words were more important than his ranting. Which was usually true, but it still burned him whenever he was cut off mid sentence. He looked back to Sandra and began more calmly than he would have a moment earlier.
"Like I was sayin', T'mana was the first human we saw in the sewers after the attack, so Leo went directly into militant mode. She was almost on top of our lair, so…he didn't want her around."
"But he wasn't heartless." Don jumped in to defend Leo. "He let me take T'mana back home so I could patch up her wound. He also came with me to warn her when the gunman got out on bail a month later."
"Hmmm, is that when she moved in with you guys? She mentioned staying with you briefly." Sandra asked.
"Yeah. She changed his mind, I guess." Don said.
"What do you mean?"
"Well…he didn't want me inviting her back. Leo thought I would given the circumstance, so he made a point of mentioning it. But she must have said something because he ended up offering." Don shrugged.
"So then you and T'mana became friends?" Sandra continued. Don looked over at her.
"Um…well, yeah. I mean she stayed with us until she got a new place, so we all got to know her."
"You must have been very kind to her." Sandra stated. Don couldn't read her voice.
"What makes you say that?" Don queried carefully. He wasn't sure where this conversation was going. Something in Sandra's voice made him feel they were entering dangerous territory.
"Just something she said…she said she called one night. She got scared or something and called you." Don frowned.
"I don't think that happened." He said, thinking back. "I called her one time…"
"No…I remember now. She said she called you, but you didn't answer. Leo did."
"Where was I?" Don murmured to himself.
"You were doing something. What did she say…" Sandra tapered off in thought. "Oh, yeah…something about a concert? Or something?" Sandra glanced over at Don and saw that his face was blank. That was very unusual for Don as his face was so expressive. The turtle wore his heart on his sleeve, so to speak. The fact that he was purposely making an effort to reveal nothing disconcerted Sandra.
"Yeah," Raph jumped in. "He did disappear that night. We thought he was just bein' Leo and flakin' out on us." Don continued to be silent, but was spared any further questions since they had arrived at their destination.
As before, Don took Sandra down and Raph took Lyde in a separate shift. Don led and Raph took the rear leading back to the lair. Both ladies were prepared and wore junky shoes and comfortable clothing for sewer walking. Sandra did not attempt to revive their conversation, but again, that nervous whisp of jealousy was misting around in the back of her brain. Had he liked T'mana? If he did, was he over her? Or did he just deal with it because Leo seems to have honed in? Did he even like Sandra herself? Why did she care? She inadvertently picked up her pace and almost collided with Don before she realized her nervous energy was causing her trouble. Don turned to check on her, gave her a cursory concerned glance, and then returned to keep lookout ahead. She cursed herself in her head, an improvement from her usual vocal self-directed insults. When they arrived, Don let them in.
"Everything's in my room, so I'll go get everything and carry it down. It'll be less cramped down here." Don said.
"Need some help?" Sandra asked. Don looked startled for a moment, and then smiled.
"Sure. There are some light boxes." She followed him up to his room. There was a set of stairs that seemed to be made of second hand wood, but the construction was solid so Sandra wasn't nervous climbing them. There were round doors along the wall, staggered equidistant from each other. It reminded her of a hobbit hole from Lord of the Rings. Don went to one of the middle doors, opened it, and waved her inside grandly. She smirked as she passed him and then let her face drop in amazement.
It was a rounded upper tunnel, but one end had been barricaded heavily with cement on the other side to make it into a room. The rounded walls had been buffed down to smoothness and something seemed to coat them, making it look less like a sewer wall and more like a textured paint job. He had a bookshelf filled with all kinds of science fiction novels by all the greats: Isaac Asimov, Ray Bradbury and H.G. Wells and some others she hadn't heard of herself. There were also several books by Stephen Hawking and various books on evolution. She let her eyes rove over to his bed that was made up neatly with a comforter that had the Milky Way on it. His eyes followed hers and he blushed.
"It was a gift." He explained. "For my birthday last year." He shrugged. "The boxes are just over here. The one with the wiring is pretty light."
"I can hold my own." Sandra bragged with derision.
"I've noticed." Don smirked. "But what kind of gentleman would I be if I gave you the heavy lifting?" He moved to wheel Metalhead down, when Sandra blurted out a question she hadn't meant to say out loud.
"Do you like her?" Sandra desperately hoped he hadn't heard her, since it was not shouted. He turned to her with a confused face that made Sandra cringe.
"What?" Don asked, unsure if he had heard correctly.
"Nothing." Sandra waved it away and went to grab the box with the wiring.
"Like who?" Don persisted.
"You have ears like a bat!" Sandra echoed Mikey's accusation.
"Well…you asked it out loud. Was I not supposed to hear it?"
"That's why I said it was nothing." Sandra reminded.
"Well, I did hear it, but I don't know what you meant by it. Are you asking about T'mana?" Sandra said nothing, confirming his question inadvertently. Don sighed inwardly, unsure how to proceed. Was Sandra jealous? It pleased him to think that on some level, but on another, he was afraid how to proceed now. It was very easy to upset Sandra and she had, intentionally or not, set Don in the middle of a minefield and he had no idea where to place his first footfall. "Of course, I like her." He began. "She's proven to be a very good friend to us. She saved Leo." He reminded.
"I know." Sandra agreed. "But before that?" Why was she persisting in these questions? Sandra could not understand her foolish continuation of this awkward topic. Her voice was calm, but Don could read the hidden tension that she was pushing down. He shrugged.
"Sure." He admitted. "She was very nice and appreciative of our help." He looked at her, watching her anger smolder under her skin. Her face was blank and her eyes were hard and she wasn't looking at him. "But…that's not what you're really asking about, is it?" He ventured bravely. She snapped her eyes to his face without moving anything else.
"I don't know what you mean." She stated flatly. He shrugged again.
"Okay." He bent down and unlocked the wheels on Metalhead's pallet, willing to let the conversation go. Metalhead was lying flat and strapped down, ready for transport. Don stood and began to navigate the pallet out of the room.
"Damn it!" She whisper shouted to herself. "What do you think I was asking?" She whirled around to face him, since he had walked behind her to leave the room.
"I don't know. I'm not a mind reader and I'm certainly not going to try to guess." Don said calmly. He was getting somewhat used to her mood swings, which had been less as of late. But he found that when he remained calm and did not attempt to overdo his kindness, his calmness worked on her and de-escalated her fury.
She folded her arms with frustration and watched him for a long moment.
"Well, zen master, aren't you full of wisdom."
"If you have a question, Sandra, ask it. You know I'll answer honestly. Otherwise, we should get back downstairs with everything."
"I do have a question." Sandra said. Don braced himself. "Do you ever get angry?"
"Sure. You should have seen me when Raph broke the toaster for the twelfth time. He never even saw me coming." Don grinned as he remembered tossing Raph into the air. "And I was angry with the Foot. Many times." He continued on a more somber note. He had promised her honesty so he kept his word. "After Splinter was killed, I had such rage in me…I didn't know how to handle it. Raph had to show me how to direct it. It took a while, but I overcame it and I found other things to live for. My anger was defeated. But, I know it is an enemy that can return anytime, so I try to keep away from that path."
Sandra hadn't expected such an intimate answer to her question. It moved her. He had shown her that he had vulnerability and needed to lean on someone else. He had also shown her that he had a fear of it happening again to him. She sighed with regret. If he could be so brave, then it was only fair she return the sentiment.
"I do…have another…question." She began awkwardly. Don waited patiently for her to continue. "Before…with T'mana, did you have feelings other than friendship for her?" Once again, Don noted that Sandra was not looking at him and had made her face blank. And at that moment, he knew that she was jealous even if she did not know it herself. It did please him, but he wanted to comfort her as well. He knew that if he were to cross the room and embrace her, tell her that he only cared for her and that there was no one else for him ever anymore, she would pull away and put such distance between them that Don may never be able to cross it again.
"Leo asked me the same question." He said instead, without making a move toward her. "So I'll tell you what I told him. He told me to stay away from her and I listened. If I had felt anything stronger, I would have disobeyed in a heartbeat or tried to convince Leo what was in my heart. But I didn't do either of those things." He let his words sink in and she seemed to hear them, but he still saw trepidation and discomfort in her bearing. "Now ask me what I would do for you." He commanded softly, looking at her with confidence. Her eyes meandered over to him warily and took in his stance. It was firm and without doubt or fear. She saw, for the first time, the warrior that he was. His intensity was striking but not intimidating, though she saw that he could easily strike fear with his gaze if he so desired. She could say nothing. For the first time in years, Sandra Grey was at a loss for words and did not feel strong or proud. Though she did not speak, Don saw her eyes asking him. So he answered her and plunged forth despite the strong warnings and reservations of his mind.
"I would protect you from all harm, even from yourself. If by my life or death I can defend you, I would give either gladly. And I would give you my heart only with a wish to bring you joy and happiness." He paused only briefly. "And I would give it all freely. I would expect nothing in return. My heart and my staff are yours." He hadn't moved and he kept his countenance the same, confident and doubtless with a fervor that breathed truth into each word he had spoken. Sandra hadn't realized it, but she had begun to cry silently at his soulful declaration to her. Her heart pulsed painfully and her arms ached to embrace him, to reward him for saying something so beautiful to her that moved her to her core. But she could not. Her past still nettled in her nerves and instincts overpowered her, so she remained still and silent.
Don had not expected her to react. He had, of course, wanted her to. He wanted her to run to him so he could sweep her in his arms and finally the walls she had built up would be torn down. He wanted to kiss her, to pull her close and feel the heat of her skin against his and just exist in that happy moment. But he knew Sandra and that his words sparked a war within herself. Not to mention he had his mutation to contend with. She had demons in her past and that alone would be difficult to overcome, but Don was not human on top of it and he knew it was just one more reason for her to push away. He didn't wish to make her uncomfortable or to put any pressure of obligation to her. He simply wanted her to understand that he cared for her and it didn't matter if she returned it.
The door opened and Raph stomped in. Once again killing the moment Don had struggled to build. Sandra turned and faced the box to pick it up, thus hiding any tears Raph might have seen.
"Jeez! You guys are worse than teenagers tryin' to get outta homework! It takes you two forever to do anythin'!" He moved into the room and grabbed a heavy box. Then he swept out of the room carrying it as he shook his head.
"I'll get the boxes, Sandra." Don said quietly, trying to ease the harsh entrance of his brother. "I'll come back for them." He wheeled Metalhead out of the room and left her alone. When he was gone, she gently wiped away the tears that had fallen. She took out her compact from her purse and fixed herself as best she could. She looked around his room again, trying to ground her mind. Her eyes wandered back to the bookshelf. She was looking for one of her old friends, Wells or Bradbury, to comfort her. She noticed a binder on his bookshelf. It seemed old and battered; the same as the shelf was. It was filled to bursting and almost didn't stay closed, it was so full. She could see papers sticking out, some yellowed with time and bent with use. She bit her lip. She didn't want to pry, but she was curious and she wanted to distract herself. It was out in the open, so it couldn't be private. She walked over, set the binder on the desk and opened it.
Her eyes widened when it fell open, a newspaper clipping with her own face staring back at her. It was her picture from when she had first been published in a scientific journal. She had still been in college at the time, so it was very early in her career. She flipped a chunk of pages and found another article about her. It told of her graduation and new employment at her first job. Panicked, she turned more pages and saw the article concerning her parent's death in the boating accident. There were several pictures of her in mourning in the following pages. She turned the pages more frantically, panic welling deep inside of her and her breathing grew short. She saw the short article regarding her divorce and the next pages were about her endeavors at her own company. In these, she noted that the 'Ms.' In front of her name had been circled several times in one article and the question 'Why?' written in the margin. The entire binder was about her. She closed it with a shaking hand and felt like she would faint or vomit. But she couldn't faint. It was imperative that she keep control of herself. She had to leave and she had to leave now. She put the binder back on the shelf with quaking hands and turned to hurry out the door, but nearly collided with Don as he came back for the boxes as he said he would.
He reached out to steady her, but she recoiled fiercely and slammed into the bookshelf. Don let his arms drop as he took in her appearance. He couldn't believe that his words had struck her with such terror. That had been the last thing he wanted for her. He regretted speaking to her since he was now seeing the results and tried to figure out how he could smooth things over.
"I have to go." She said, her voice was low and forced. Her chest rose and fell heavily as if she couldn't breathe.
"Sandra," Don began cautiously. "Are you okay? I'm sorry if-"
"I have to go." She repeated. "Please move away from the door." Don looked as if she had slapped him. She was afraid to move past him? Defeated, he stepped away from the door. She darted by as if she were afraid he would suddenly seize her and cause her harm. He followed her out, but kept his distance. He watched her descend the stairs rapidly.
"Lyde," She rasped. Lyde looked up in surprise.
"Sandra? What is it?" Lyde stood up from the box she had been digging in.
"I…I don't feel well. I'm sorry…I don't think I can drive…"
"No problem." Lyde soothed. "Let's get you back, okay?" Sandra nodded, becoming stoic once more. She pulled Lyde.
"Please, quickly." She urged and Lyde shrugged at Raph in apology and the two ladies were gone. Raph flipped open his cell.
"Hey," Raph said. "Girls are on their way back alone. Ms. Grey don't feel well or somethin' so Lyde's drivin' her back. They left in a hurry." Raph's eyes fell on his brother as he came down the stairs slowly. "Just now." Raph answered Leo's question on the other end of the phone. "Kay." Then Raph hung up the phone. "What the fuck?" Raph asked, turning to Don. Don settled on the couch as if in a dream. "Earth to Don! What the shell happened?"
"I shouldn't have said it." Don said to himself. "Why did I do that?" He put his head in his hands.
"What didja do?" Raph got up and sat next to Don on the couch.
"I…I told her how I felt."
"How do you feel?" Raph asked.
"I said I would die to protect her."
"Heavy." Raph agreed. "And she, what, panicked 'cause a that?" Don nodded weakly. Raph didn't know what to say. He knew his brother was sensitive and he didn't like to see him so upset, but he didn't know how to make him feel better either. "Well…maybe just give'er time, you know?"
"No." Don snapped. "She doesn't need time. She doesn't need me." Don stood abruptly and went to the boxes and began to work on Metalhead.
A/N: Poor, Don! This time he lost his gamble…get ready for some angst and drama *evil grin*