Chapter 24
A month. A month went by since the final battle. While I healed a few weeks ago, the turtles took much much longer. Turns out they did use every last bottle of the healing gel on me. My gash was deeper then I thought. But it was all better now. Only a long red scar remained, and everyone predicted that I was going to have it for a lifetime. I would always have a constant reminder of the time I 'died.' The time I could of been gone, for good. But it was also a reminder of how I kept my promise to Donnie. How I always would protect him, so I took a killing blow for him. And for that reason, I didn't mind the scar.
All was quiet in the lair. Almost everyone was out and about. Only Leo, Donnie and myself were in the living room, sitting on the couch. Everyone else, well they were out. John, Lily, Garret, Karai, Raph and Mikey. They all went shopping for the celebration we would be having tonight. A celebration of our victory. We needed to wait a month for all of us to heal.
The reason why Leo didn't go was because he was hurt the most, besides me, in the battle. Turns out he got surrounded by too many foot-ninjas and one of them stabbed him straight through his shoulder. And yet still, he didn't take any healing gel. They had saved it all for me. So Leo was here, resting his head back on the couch. Still pretty tired. I stayed behind because everyone wanted me too. They didn't want me moving, not after my near death experience. And Donnie? Well he refused to leave my side. Not wanting to leave me alone for a second.
I stretched my arms up as I let out a huge yawn. It was far too quiet for my liking, I needed to do something. I started to get up off the couch, but Donnie jumped up right away. This startled me and I fell back down.
"What's wrong? You okay?" He asked in a panic. Ever since the final battle, Donnie's been really over protective of me.
"Yeah." I chuckled, I found it sweet of how much Donnie cared for me, "I'm just getting a glace of water."
"I'll get it!" Donnie declared and ran off to the kitchen before I could protest. It was nice to know Donnie cared for me, but he could go a little too far sometimes.
I heard from the other end of the couch, a soft chuckle and Leo shaking his head. I scooted closer to him, grinning along with his laugh.
"Does it feel weird?" I asked him, starting a conversation when the laughing died down.
"Does what feel weird?" Leo looked up at me with bright eyes. The brightest I've ever seen them, I immediately could tell something was on his mind.
"Having Shredder out of our lives." I clarified with a shrug.
"I dunno." Leo sounded like he thought about this before, "I guess it kinda feels...empty. But...in a good way, you know?
"Yeah, I get'cha." I nodded my head along to what Leo was saying. But there was still that look in his eyes, and that goofy grin on his face. What was he thinking? I needed to know. After a moment of silence, it came clear to me that Leo wasn't going to tell me on his own. So I decided to ask, "What ya thinking?"
"Huh?" Leo looked up from his trance, but still wore that beautiful smile. He looked happy, joyful.
"What's on your mind?" I reworded my question and came even closer to Leo that now we were sitting side by side.
Leo let out another soft chuckle but didn't hesitate to tell me, "Nicole." He almost laughed then there was a glint in his eyes. I knew that look, I knew that feeling. I could see it in his eyes, Leo was in love.
"Who?" I wondered, my curiosity spiking beyond reach. Satisfaction pricked at my stomach, I was finally getting somewhere.
"Nicole." Leo repeated the name, "I met her in Paris."
"Oh really?" I placed my hand under my chin and fought back the wide smile that slowly took over my face. Now I know what was different, what changed about Leo. Ever since he came back from the Paris bombing, he seemed happier. More like himself. He seemed fixed. And clearly this Nicole had something to do with it.
"Yeah..." Leo voice trailed off as he seemed to lose himself in his own thoughts, "She was the most beautiful girl I've ever met."
"Do you love her?" I didn't hesitate to ask that question, though I already knew the answer. Leo looked up at me with his ocean blue eyes, shining like crystals. He gave me a sweet smile before responding.
"Yes."
I let out a breath, a laugh. A laugh of disbelief. Somehow, this Nicole girl was able to rescue Leo. Something not even Master Splinter was able to do. Nicole was able to do the near impossible, fix a broken heart. She was able to fix the Leo that was so madly in love with his adopted sister.
A flash of sorrow coursed through Leo's eyes. I knew exactly why. He missed her. He wanted her, he needed her. Leo was in fact in love. He loved Nicole. Just like I love Donnie. And it pained him to be apart from her. Anyone, even Leo, could see that as plain as day. But before our talk could go any further, Donnie came back in.
"Here you go." He said and brought me a glass of water. Donnie handed the glass to me and when he sat down on the couch, I gave him a quick kiss in thanks.
"We're back!" Mikey's young voice boomed from down the sewer halls and within seconds he appeared in the lair. Followed by Garret, Raph, Lily, John and Karai. Each one of them was carrying a shopping bag full of stuff.
"We got everything on the list!" Lily announced with pride ringing in her voice and glowing in her bright blue eyes.
"Yeah, but do you know how hard it is to find a balloon that says 'congratulations on defeating your greatest enemy?" Raph spat sarcastically. He really wasn't one for shopping, even though him and Mikey only stayed in the shadows and observed.
"Guessing you didn't find one?" Leo almost laughed as he spoke.
"No, we found one." Raph, again used the sarcastic tone, "Of course we didn't French boy!" That was Leo's nickname to Raph. Since he spent about eight months in Paris France. Leo didn't mind though, in fact there was a glint of amusement in his eyes.
"But we did get some plain balloons." John tried to lighten the mood, "So maybe a certain someone could...fancy them up." John then glanced towards me and pulled out a package of permanent markers then swung them lightly in his grasp, "We got markers."
I rolled my eyes in amusement, "Sure." I got up and took the markers and balloons from John's hand. He smiled a thanks to me.
"We also need a helium machine." Mikey announced then stared hopefully at his inventor purple masked brother, "Donnie, think you can hook a turtle up?"
"I'll see what I can do." Donnie agreed then walked towards his lab. I followed him, thinking I'll design some balloons in there.
Donnie slid the giant metal doors aside, they creaked as they opened. He walked in his lab and I followed, closing the doors slightly behind me, but not all the way. The lab was still pretty damaged, but Donnie did repair some of his things. And broken glass no longer covered the ground. The tables were standing on all four legs again, and his shelves restocked with science equipment and books.
Donnie sighed, "You'll have to excuse the mess."
I laughed a little in response. It wasn't the first time I've been in the lab since the battle. I was one of the people who helped Donnie clean up. So by now, I was use to it. I walked up to his desk and pulled up a chair. I took out a green balloon and opened the markers. I began to work. We all had a different part in this celebration. I was in charge of any art related things, and Donnie with any technical. Mikey and John were doing the cooking, while Garret and Leo planned. That left Karai, Raph and Lily to decorate.
Donnie began working on the helium machine. The sound of clanking metal and pressured gas could be heard, but I was kinda zoned out. I lose myself in my own little world when I start drawing or panting or pretty much anything that has to do with art. But after an hour or so of designing balloons, I decided to start up a conversation.
"So this celebration seems fun."
"Uh-huh." Donnie responded and by his tone of voice I could tell he was distracted. Concentrating very hard on his project.
"It's nice that Shredder is finally out of our lives." I continued, ignoring the emptiness in Donnie's voice.
"Uh-huh." He repeated and did a turn of his orange screwdriver.
"And Midgar..." My voiced trailed off at the mention of her name. Midgar. Just that word sends chills through out my body. All the times she haunted me, sent me that vision. And turns out this entire time, the person trapped inside the demon, was nobody except April O'Neil. I had to admit, it felt a little weird. And no matter how hard I try to push this feeling down, it always comes back.
"Uh-huh." Donnie said for a third time.
I sighed, slightly annoyed, slightly amused, "Are you even listening?"
"Uh-huh."
"Oh really?" I doubted with a grin on my face, "Prove it."
This time, Donnie looked up at me while he spoke, "First you attempted small talk by speaking about the party. Then you went on to how you're glad about Shredder being gone, asking me if it was nice. Then you added Midgar. But your voice was empty when you said it. Not empty as in you wish Midgar was still here, but empty as in uncertain. Like the very thought of Midgar still gives you nightmares."
I opened my eyes wide, surprised that Donnie got all that. A satisfied toothy smile spread across his face, knowing that he proved me wrong.
"Okay..." I spoke in a challenging way, "You were listening, but how many inventions were you thinking of at the time?"
"Umm...four." Donnie smirked, "But I'd said you had approximately 74% of my attention, which is way more then my brothers usually get."
I laughed. It was little moments like this that I enjoyed most with Donnie. Just the two of us, hanging out and being with one other. Enjoying each other's company. That's when I thought of Leo. He wanted to be in somebody's company, and that somebody was back in Paris.
"Hey Donnie." I began after a pause of silence. He looked up from his invention in sense that I wanted something.
"Yeah?"
"I want you to talk to Leo." I told him and tapped a marker against my chin. I grinned at him pleadingly.
"Why?" Donnie question and cocked an eyebrow, "Is something wrong."
"No, nothing's wrong." I shook my head as I spoke. I hesitated for a moment, figuring out how to say this, "I just think that there's something you guys should talk about."
"Like what?" Donnie asked yet another question. He was over-analyzing what I was saying.
"Just go talk to your brother." I insisted flatly. Donnie shrugged and got up. He walked out of his lab and went to find Leo. I wanted Donnie to find out about Nicole. I'd figure he'd be the best person for Leo to talk to. Since Donnie knows what it's like to be away from someone. Plus, Leo might give more information to Donnie, his brother, then to me.
I uncapped another marker and took out another balloon and began drawing. I tried to listen to the conversation going on in the next room, but their voices were very faint. I could tell it was in fact Donnie and Leo, but their words just sounded like a buzz. So I gave up and figured I'd question Donnie about it later as I continued to design the balloons.
It was almost time. Our little celebration was about to begin shortly. The entire living room was decorated with balloons and streamers. Everyone was here. The turtles, Splinter, Karai, Garret, Lily, John and myself. Our whole gang was here to celebrate our victory against the Shredder.
"Ready?" Mikey questioned and exchanged an excited glance with everyone. We all held a party popper in our hands and at the strike of nine O'clock, we were going to pop them, "Three...two...one!"
We all simultaneously pulled the strings on our poppers. Confetti sprayed out of the bottles as it rained down on us. Rock music played softly in the background as everyone laughed with joy. But we all fell quiet when Splinter began speaking.
"This is the time for celebration indeed." Splinter chuckled a little and tapped his fingers against the Teacup he held in his human like hands, "A life long vendetta has finally come to an end. May Oruku Saki rest in peace, and let us have a time of joy."
"Yeah Sensei!" Mikey cheered and Splinter raised his cup in the air. After Sensei's little speech, everyone began to dance and mingle. When a slow song came on, all the pairs began to slow dance. Raph with Lily, John with Karai, and Me with Donnie.
"Did you talk with Leo?" I asked Donnie as he spun me around. He brought me back in close to him and I wrapped my arms around his neck.
"Yeah...I did." Donnie answered as he wrapped his arms around my waist, "Do you know about..."
"Nicole?" I wondered and finished Donnie's sentence for him. Just like we use to do.
"Yeah. What do you think?" Donnie asked, staring into my eyes for an answer. I wondered if him and I were on the same page. I knew what Leo should do, but did Donnie?
"Well I don't know about you." I began, "But I really want to meet Nicole."
"So you think Leo should go back to Paris?" Donnie uncovered my hidden message. I had no doubt that he would.
"Well he loves her right?"
"Yeah."
"Would you go to Paris if I was there?"
"I'd go anywhere in the world for you." Donnie smiled and brushed a piece of my long brown hair out of my face. It was a rare occasion that I was actually wearing my hair down and it had little curls at the bottom. Just to give it some life. I was dressed nice too. I was wearing the same dress I did on mine and Donnie's first date. A light blue dress with a black silk ribbon.
"You're sweet." I smiled back and gave him a quick kiss. When we resumed dancing, I continued talking, "Maybe he can convince Nicole to come back to New York with him."
"Yeah...maybe."Donnie looked down at the ground. I knew what he was thinking. He didn't want to lose his brother again.
"Hey." I spoke and held up Donnie's chin, forcing him to look at me, "Leo said he's here to stay right?" Donnie nodded along with what I said, "Well, he'll come back. And it won't take nearly as long as last time, all he needs to do is go to Paris, then come back."
"You're right." Donnie agreed, "But will he go?"
"Only one way to find out." I shrugged. When the song ended, I went straight over to Leo. He was leaning up against the table that had food and punch on it. He held a glass of punch in his hand and was slowly sipping it, "Hey Leo." I greeted him and took a drink for myself.
"Hey." He smiled back at me and took another sip from his cup. He then crushed it and threw it in the trash can.
"You still thinking about her?" I asked, knowing Leo knew what I meant.
"Yeah..."He sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, "It's just...I...I..." Leo was at a lost for words.
"You feel like you can't breath without her?" I wondered, leaning forward a bit so I could see Leo's eyes. Desperation shown brightly in them.
"Yup." Leo responded, but he sounded out of this world. Like his thoughts trailed off into another place.
"Go to her." I blurted out calmly.
"What?" Leo sounded more aware this time as he stared me straight in the eyes.
"Go to her." I repeated.
Leo looked down at the ground, as if I hit a nerve or something.
"I...I can't." Leo responded sadly.
"Why not?"
"Because I invited her back to New York with me before I left." He answered simply, but there was more to it.
"And?" I urged on.
"And...she said no." Leo wouldn't make eye contact with me. His head hanging down and his sad blue gaze fixed on his feet. Something about the way he spoke, it just didn't feel right.
"Oh Leo." My eyes grew sad along with his. I felt sympathy towards the blue masked turtle. I knew what it was like to meet someone, then have them taken away from you. And Leo, he went all the way to Paris. He got fixed, just to get broken again,
"I can't blame her though. I wouldn't want to leave my family and friends either." Leo spoke more light heatedly this time. If there was one thing about Leo, it was that he's very understanding. He can see both sides of the argument instead of just his own.
"Will you ever see her again?" I wondered, thinking of some way to cheer Leo up.
"Maybe." Leo shrugged and wore a smile on his face, "But for now, I guess I should just focus on being back. And healed. I mean, Shredder is finally out of our lives. It's time to celebrate." Leo took my hand and spun me around, laughing.
"I'm glad you're back." I smiled warmly at him. I knew that Leo got what I was talking about. I wasn't just saying that I'm glad he's back here with us physically, I was glad that he was back mentally. Emotionally. Our leader in blue was back. And now I only wondered if I was ever going to find out what happened in Paris.
After Leo and I had our little moment, I brought him back into the crowd. I dragged him across the room and pushed him on the dance floor. Leo then bumped into Lily. She turned around with a smile and shoved Leo back. They started to dance, along with Mikey and Garret.
I stepped back for a moment, observing the scene around me. I couldn't fight back the smile that spread across my face. Everyone was having fun. Leo, Lily, Mikey and Garret all dancing to the music. Raph, John and Karai all stood near the chips and dip, talking about who knows what. Everyone was having a good time. All enjoying themselves. But that's when I noticed something. Someone, was missing.
Donnie. He was gone. Nowhere to be seen. I shook my head and suppressed a laugh. I knew Donnie wasn't in the lair. Not even the sewers. I knew exactly where he disappeared too.
Oh boy...it's been a while hasn't it? I'm real sorry for the late update, though I hope it was worth the long wait. Anyway, after this chapter will be the last chapter then the epilogue! And yes, I do realize I mentioned a new character near the end of my Missing Piece trilogy, but there is a reason for that. So I tell you this now, there will be a VERY IMPORTANT message at the end of next chapter and epilogue. I won't spoil the surprise now, but I promise it's a good one. Anyway, as always, I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I always love reading your reviews. So please review!
Thanks in advance! ^^