Chapter 37, whoots!! Depending what day this chapter gets out, I may be seventeen already!! (July 7is my birthday!) …(sniffle) that means I only have one year left to be a kid!! Uwahhhhh!! I'm not ready to be an adult yet!!!

Raph: Jesus get on with the chapter already!!

Kisa: cowers from Raph: fine, fine….I can't believe your yelling at me after the major sensitivity you showed the last chapter..

Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT.

Ella watched in slight worry as a story passed on the glass slider, she instinctively fondled the lever of the microscope unless she needed to look closer. On the slide was a sample of blood, taken form turtle or girl, it didn't matter. All that mattered was the torture it was going through right now.

The red cells twitched slightly in panic as cell form the evil forms poison slunk towards it. The poison that was running through their bodies as they spoke. Ella gulped when she saw the poison slowly eat he red blood cell, the antibodies in their immune system in response tried to protect the rest of the blood cells, but only succeed in getting themselves destroyed.

Ella sighed, sitting up and pushing the microscope away form her, not wanting to watch the rest. To think, if Donatello and his super brain hadn't thought of this after Beccy's appendicitis, all of their blood cells would eventually be infected and their bodies would have fully succumbed to the poison.

She looked over at Donny, who was sitting behind her at a different bench in his lab, slowly standing up and bringing the test slide with her, it was thanks to him that they would be saved.

"Donny, I've run that test on the blood, it's like you thought…" she said, laying the glass slide gently beside him. Donny paused with his work and sat up, pushing his work goggles away form his eyes and giving Ella a smile.

"You mean it's as WE thought, remember, you're the one that agreed with me that something was up with those globs, we did this together you silly rabbit."

Ella blushed a the mention of her spirit animal and the reference to the stupid cereal commercial, there seemed to be a lot of those lately. Boldly, she wrapped her arms around him form behind and rested her head on his, peeking over his shoulder to see what he was working on.

Donny put his goggles back on and silently handed her a pair, "Put them on, I'm working with some dangerous chemicals here…but if I can get them to mix right…." He trailed off, as his mind once again traveled back into his scientific la-la land. His hands swiped over the numerous test tubes in font of him, some steaming from the Bunsen burner they were set upon, others sitting still but all the same bubbling like a soda bottle that was shaken. Ella watched patiently for about an hour, perfectly comfortable leaning on her boyfriends sturdy form. When they were alone like this, when they were out of danger of behind teased, their confidence seemed to grow more and more as a couple. For the first time, they were both able to actually flirt in their own awkward way.

Finally, Donny stopped his fiddling and sighed, relieved, he took off his gloves and reached up above him to cradle Ella's face, her turned his head upwards into a straight path to look at her eyes, "We did it Ellie." He said, his eyes sparkling slightly at their accomplishment. Ella leaned down and gave him a gentle kiss, knowing what that meant. She reluctantly un-wrapped her arms form around him and hurried to the other corner of the lab, rummaging through a medical drawer.

///////////

Donny gave a slight clearing of his throat at the scene before him. The other turtles were currently in the den, enjoying the girls visit to the lair. But not all of is was fun and games, there was a specific reason why they were there.

At everyone's eyes now on him, Donny feel the sheepish response of his character start to creep up, "Well, from the sample Raph so graciously got us, with cams help of course.." Cam smirked at him in appreciation, "Me and Ella have managed to make a suitable antidote for the poison that has infected us form those blobs Lyssa cooked up." He reached behind him towards the bundle Ella was carrying, pulling out a syringe and injecting it into his arm, "If my hypothesis is correct, then this will also give us an immunity to further poisoning."

The others gave each other a look of relief, but then another urgent look crossed over Leo's and Raph's. Immediately they looked over towards Beccy, where Mikey had been sitting with her. Beccy looked over as well and noticed that Mikey was no longer there.

Leo slapped his forehead, "Don, did you even think of Mikey's problem before you started waving that needle around?" He asked exasperatedly.

Donny blushed slightly at his mistake, "I-I thought if Beccy was with him it wouldn't be a problem!" He shouted back defensively.

Raph stood up with a huff, "Well you've done it now Einstein! Now not only have we gotta drag him close enough for you to put the damn thing into his bloodstream, we gotta find him before we do it!"

Tawni stood up, feeling bad for Donnie, after all, he had actually found a cure, that's what was important, "It was an honest mistake, lets all get ours done, then we'll worry about Mikey? Kay?" She said, taking charge. Leo, slightly embarrassed that he was wasting time pointing fingers instead of being the leader he was supposed to be, nodded in agreement.

All of them lined up, except for Beccy, who whispered something to Ella and Donny before she got hers, they nodded and brought her to their lab for a second, then a few minutes later walked back out.

Once everyone had gotten their shots, they immediately started looking for Mikey. Threats and bribes were made form both older brothers, except for Donny, who was patiently waiting to see if this method would work. Finally, Cam turned frustrated towards Beccy.

"Dammit Bec, he's your boyfriend, you find him!!"

Beccy looked at her blankly for a moment then shrugged, she stood up then placed herself in the middle of the lair, so she could be seen form all angles. Suddenly, her brown eyes started sparkling with fresh tears as they built at the corners and slipped down her face, she whimpered slightly then sniffled dramatically for effect.

Suddenly, a flash of green and orange appeared out of no where in front of her. Mikey seized her by the shoulders worried, "What's wrong Beccy? Are you hurt? Why're you crying?" He questioned franticly as she looked up at him meekly.

"I-I'm scared of getting the shot…I-I wanted someone strong to get it before me so I could feel less afraid." She stared into his eyes, you could se the conflict in them, as he tried to decide between helping his girlfriend, and avoiding his fear.

He gulped slightly then grinned weakly, "N-No problem, I can show you it's no bi-big deal…" He trailed off uncertainly. Don approached him with a knowing look and quickly grabbed his arm and injected the serum gently. Mikey squeaked slightly and closed his eyes, when he felt someone shake him. He looked up to see Beccy, completely tear free, smirking at him.

"It's over Mikey."

He sighed but then gave her a look, "Ok, your turn now."

She blinked then stuck her tongue out mischievously, "No need, I already had mine."

"What!?!"

She grinned then shrugged a shoulder towards Donnie's lab, "I had mine in secret, in case you were watching us, I knew you could do it Mikey," she gave him a reassuring hug. He hugged her back, but feeling kinda peeved at her trick, tackled her and started tickling her in revenge. She squealed ant the others shook their heads.

"Unbelievable…" Raph mumbled.

/////

So finally, after distributing splinters shot to the old rat, and storing two extra for April and Casey just in case, Donnie was finally able to sit down with Ella and relax in the front room. However, as Raph quickly noticed as Donnie set the bundle beside him, there was still three more syringes full of the antidote.

"Hey Donnie, not to be suspicious or anything, but what with the extra juice?" He asked, raising an eye ridge.

Donnie looked over and gave him a sheepish smiled, like a young boy getting caught with his hand in the cookie jar, "Well actually uh, that was Ella's decision.."

Al eyes traveled to Ella, who blushed din response and looked at her hands folded in her lap.

"What is it ells?" Tawni asked warily.

Ella bit her lip, they were NOT gonna like this.

"W-We made three extras….for Lyssa, Merissa and chancy…" She answered, her shoulders flinching upwards when she heard Beccy drop her game –boy in shock.

She looked up cautiously to see everyone but Donatello looking at her like she had grown two heads.

"ARE YOU CRAZY!!!??!!" A shout rang that made Master splinter jump out of his meditation and gave a look towards his door as if saying 'oh for crying out loud!' He reached to the side of him and retrieved the cotton balls form before and wedged them into his ears once again.

Ella flinched again and hurried to explain, "I-I know it seems strange, form what they've done to us in the past b0but-"

Cam stood up, "But nothing Ella! Don't you remember what they did to Beccy? What they did to you a few months ago!?!" Ella looked down again and Cam growled, "You know they don't deserve to be cured, it's about time they got a taste of their own medicine! I for one don't care if their own master poisoned them to make them strong, let it rot inside them for all I care!" Cam said bitterly, staring down at Ella. Suddenly Ella's eyes blazed, she looked…angry?

"You didn't see what I saw!!" Ella stood up suddenly, surprising everyone. Especially Cam, who stumbled back at her sudden rush of courage. Ella had NEVER talked to them like that, never. But giving another look at her now, you could tell it was because she didn't like to.

"During that first fight…I-I had Lyssa pinned down…s-something I never thought I would be able to do in a million years! Lyssa had always been mean, but she was also strong…y-you could tell. B-But when I had her pinned that night..something happened to her…something very,very bad." She visibly shuddered at the memory of Lyssa, riling beneath her in rage and pain from the poison coursing through her bloodstream. "That night, she wasn't something human, she was something to be pitied, I-I've never felt so bad for someone before. She was in mortal pain, if we let that keep going she'll die!!"

Cam could gape in shock, was this really Ella? Little, timid Ella, who was always the peaceful voice of reason, who never wanted to rise conflict with anyone, especially her friends? Ella who had always seemed so frail and breakable that it was only natural to feel overly protective of her, like a tiny china doll? Looking into her lilac eyes, and seeing the conflicting emotion of guilt from yelling at her friend but the determination hat she was right was evident, Cam realized that this was ell, it had been all along, just a part of her that needed to be resurfaced.

"As much as she's done to us in the past…as much as I might hate her…" Ella shook saying the word, such an awful word, "I truly don't believe that she deserves to die…not like this, not in anyway."

She stomped her foot defiantly, "Everyone's life is precious Cam!!" She shouted making everyone jump as she breathed in and out, stressed. After a minute as she calmed down, she looked up to see everyone gaping at her once again…like she had grown THREE heads this time.

She blushed visibly but stood her ground. Finally, after what seemed like decades, Tawni stood up. Se reached over and gently placed her hand on Ella's shoulder, "Ella, are you sure this is what you want to do, are you sure this is right?"

Ella looked over at her friend, seeming like she was almost going to back down, but then pursed her lips and nodded determinedly. Tawni smiled, "Then I believe you, the next time we fight, we'll give Lyssa and her cronies the antidote…right Cam?" she asked, giving Cam a meaningful look. Ella stared at her apologetically and warily, like she knew what her answer would be.

Cam was still staring at Ella disbelievingly but after a minute groaned, "I just know I'm going to regret this.."

Ella's heart sank when suddenly she felt a hand pat her on the head. She looked up to see Cam smiling at her proudly, "I don't like it, but who can argue with all that?" she asked, referring to Ella's rant before, "Alright Ella enchanted, just tell us when and we'll give the tramps their second chance…."

Ella smiled and hugged her happily, Cam grunted and tried to pull her off, al the hugs lately were starting to make her uncomfortable, "Yeah yeah ,yeah, love all around. Now can we make an actual battle plan?"

Ella released her and as the others talked, looked back at Donatello, bewildered and ecstatic at the same time. He stood up and gave her hand a squeeze, she was on her way to becoming a more confident person. But she was still his Ella enchanted.

But with all the success they had had as of late, they couldn't help but wonder what fate was going to throw at them next to knock tem off of their high pedestal.

Yeah!! Way to go Ella!! Few, I'm tired, anyways, happy July fourth eve everyone! Y'know it's funny, I was that close to being born on the fourth of July, but my mom is British lol.

Leo: Read and review, it would be our honor if you did.