Chapter 25 -Friends-
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Beverly watched the road ahead calmly, but her thoughts were racing.

Jack wasn't there. Where could he be? What if he shows up at the house? I can't let him get a hold of Don again. What are we going to do? He says he has to go home to his brothers. He's worried about them, I can see it in his eyes. And he can't stay with me, anyway. Jack would find him.

What was I thinking? I should never have let him go to Jack's with me. She glanced over. Don was resting his head back on the seat. Her breath caught in her throat. He's amazing. She sighed softly. I couldn't bear it if something happened to him. Now what? Where do we go from here? Eventually he's going to go back to the city…

Bev fought back tears, feeling a sharp pain in her chest.

I don't know if I could bear never seeing him again.

"Don?" she asked, aware of how timid she sounded.

"Yes?" His voice was calm, steady, but when she glanced over again, she saw his hand tremble.

"Did… did you… mean it?" she asked softly.

"Did I mean what?"

"When you said… you'd like me to meet your family? Do… do you really trust me to meet them?"

"Yes, Beverly," he said. "You've done nothing but help me. You saved my life. Of course I want you to meet my family."

"Don… I… how are you feeling?" Beverly cursed herself mentally.

I can't… I can't do this. I can't be falling in love with him. This is insane…

"I'm ok," he said, managing a smile. He reached out tentatively and touched her hand. Slowly, she turned to look at him and caught her breath as she gazed into those impossibly soft brown eyes. "Really."

"When you fell… I mean, I thought… Don, you really scared me," she admitted.

"I'm sorry."

Bev took a deep breath and pulled the truck over to the side of the road. She turned, gazing into his eyes. Don met her look steadily. There was something in his eyes she couldn't quite place, something questioning, waiting.

"Don, I… I don't know how to say this. I mean… maybe I'm crazy, but if I just let you leave without saying anything, I'll never forgive myself."

"What do you mean, Bev?" he asked.

"I think I… might… I mean… Don, I… I like you."

"I like you too, Beverly."

The question he didn't quite ask hung in the air between them. When he didn't say anything more, she turned away, blushing.

I'm such an idiot. Of course he doesn't feel the same way. I wonder if he even likes human girls… but he said his brother is married…

"I'm sorry, Don." she muttered.

"Beverly, you… you've been a really good friend to me. I'm sorry I didn't trust you before," he said gently, reaching to touch her hand.

Bev looked up as he trailed off, that odd blush creeping up his cheeks again.

"Donatello… how will your family feel about all this? I mean, my brother… I still don't believe he hurt little Bobby Jenkins, but he did kidnap you. Do… do you think they'll… accept me?"

Donatello nodded. "How can they not? Bev, you're… you're amazing."

"I can't wait to meet them," she said. She drew a shaky breath, reaching to start the truck again with trembling fingers.

I guess I'm glad I didn't declare my undying affection. Stupid of me to think he might feel the same way. We're just friends. I'm lucky… so lucky to have even that. It's a wonder that he wants anything to do with me. So why don't I feel lucky? Why do I still want something more? I guess love just isn't something I'm meant to have in my life.

"Beverly…" His voice was soft, uncertain. "Are you sure you still want to try and help me? I mean… what about Jack?"

"Donatello." She shook her head with a smile. "You think too much. Let me worry about Jack, ok?"

He looked at her for a long moment. "Ok," he said finally.

As much as I want us to just go back to the house and forget the rest of the world exists, I know you're worried about your family. Once you go home with them, I can concentrate on getting Jack out of the mess he's gotten himself into with this hiker.

"After I call your brother, we can figure out what to do next, ok?"

"Yeah," said Donatello.

"You know, all of this probably would've been a lot simpler if you'd just let me make the phone call for you in the first place," she remarked.

"Beverly, please try to understand." His voice was soft, pleading. "I didn't mean to hurt you… I just… please understand. There are a lot of people like Jack… people who'd try to harm my family. I couldn't take a chance. We're always cautious. It's… it's not personal."

"Oh, so my getting you out of Jack's barn, that wasn't personal?" she snapped. Unreasonable anger rose in her. "And when you stole my truck, that wasn't personal either? How about teaching me to spar, Don? Was that personal?"

"Beverly…"

She jerked the truck into gear. "Whatever."

"Bev, wait. Teaching you… yes, that was personal. I… I'm not a teacher. I just wanted to spend time with you," he said softly. "I wanted to… to help you defend yourself. Because I couldn't stand it if anything happened to you. And I… Bev, I didn't want to leave before… I was enjoying our time together."

She glanced over at him. He was staring at his lap, as if he were ashamed.

"I didn't want it to end," he confessed.

"You… wanted to stay with me?"

"Yeah." He glanced at her. "You're a great cook."

Beverly snorted. She couldn't help the smile that crept across her face. "So, the route to a man's heart really is through his stomach, huh?"

Donatello grinned. "Yep." His expression turned more serious. "Bev, please. I… I couldn't risk leading you to the others. Not until I was sure my family's secret would be safe with you."

"So are you sure you can trust me now?" Her tone was light, but the glance she shot him was piercing.

"Beverly," said Don quietly. "I've been sure."

"Since when?"

"Since I woke up in your bed again after I stole your truck," he said softly. "You didn't have to come find me, bring me back and take care of me. I knew then that you really were trying to help me."

She snorted. "It took you that long? Are you always so thick?" she asked.

Don nodded. "Yep." A smirk played across his face.

She glanced at him. "I bet. A computer expert who can hot-wire an old Chevy, master of the grill and ninja vigilante? You're no dummy, Donatello."

"Well, sometimes I am," he said softly.

"No, I think you just think too much," Bev told him, smiling.

"Maybe I do."

He reached across the seat almost timidly to touch her knee. Beverly sighed. She took one hand off the wheel and grasped his fingers firmly. She felt him twitch with surprise, but she held on. When she glanced at him again, he was blushing.

He's cute when he blushes, she thought with a smile.