Disclaimer: I don't own the TMNT. They're just staring in my own story. They aren't getting paid and nether am I. I do own however Jeanetta Patterson and Monica Patterson.

And a Thank You goes to Mikell for beta reading.

A/N: What nobody like? Come on…tell me do you like or what?

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Donnie remained vigilant by Jean's side as Leo drove the van through the still empty streets. It was Sunday and the normally busy streets were quiet. The sun rose slowly as they drove back toward Manhattan.

Mikey stayed beside Raph. He was staring out the side window. The hyperactive turtle was actually tired. Don could see it in the way Mikey sat in the seat, plus he also kept yawning every five minutes. Raph though watching Don and Jean with a deep-set frown, though it was likely the fact he didn't get to assault Hille more then he had.

Involuntarily, the sight of Hille's crushed body flashed though Donnie's mind. It was a rather messy way to go. The man's body had been compressed into a jelly like mess. Blood and other fluids had sprayed out. Leo would've gotten the worst if he hadn't used his ninja training and had jumped back. Donnie blinked the image away and looked back down at Jean. She had fallen back into a sleep now that everyone was calming down. This helped the atmosphere in the van a lot.

After what felt like an all day drive, they finally got back to the lair. It felt strange. Almost surreal. The idea that a calm, safe, welcoming place should still exist after what they'd been through seemed bizarre. When they drove the van into the hidden garage Donatello waited until everyone was out before he picked Jean up and carried her out. He followed his brothers into the lair.

He looked up from looking down at Jean to see that Master Splinter was waiting quietly for their return. He was in a meditation position, his eyes closed. His small ears came forward when they walked into the lair. He slipped out from his lotus position and stood up, placing his hands over his cane. Master Splinter greeted them with a hopeful smile, but upon seeing Jean in Don's arms, Master Splinter blinked frowning.

"My son, what has happened?" Master Splinter asked as he watched Don carry Jean up the stairs to her room.

"We were successful to a degree. We got into the place no problem but once there Jean collapsed, her mutation began to progress fast. The scientist Hille came in. We-Raph got him to give her the cure. He gave her the first half, and then began to give her the second when she had an allergic reaction. But once we got that under control we all found out that Bishop rigged the entire base to self-destruct. Hille got killed right before we got out." Leo relayed to his father.

"And Jean?"

"The little dudette is wiped out." Mikey said as he drug himself into the kitchen.

Raph snorted making his way over to the couch collapsing down. "We all are." He gave a long, drawn out breath, closing his eyes.

Master Splinter nodded. "You should all get to bed then. I'll go help Donatello with Jean." Master Splinter then made his way to Jean's room. Upon arriving he saw that Donatello had laid Jean out on her bed. Donatello looked up when Splinter entered. "Leonardo has informed me of what has happened tonight," the elderly rat said as he made his way to the bed.

Splinter leaned over Jean, inspecting her with a hard frown, his whiskers twitching in concentration. He ran a hand over Jean's forehead. "She has not had any relapse?"

Don shook his head. "No. She just kept falling asleep. The allergic reaction seemed to take a lot out of her."

Splinter gave a sigh, "Then take it as a good sign. I believe she will survive."

Donatello sighed as he closed his eyes. "Thank you God."

Splinter gave a nod, "Indeed. Now, my son you need sleep as well. I will watch over her."

"Thank you Master Splinter, but I'd rather-" Don cut off when Splinter looked up at him, an intense look in his eye, his whiskers twitching in disapproval.

"You will do your self no good if you don't get any sleep Donatello." Master Splinter leaned on his cane.

"Yes Sensei." Donatello took one last look at Jean before he turned and walked out of the room.

Master Splinter watched him go with a small knowing smile on his muzzle.

XXX

Jean sat in a chair in Don's lab, a thick blanket wrapped around her. Though the room was a comfortable temperature, she was still cold and Don insisted that though she had fur she still needed to have the blanket around her. She watched as Donatello worked away at his computer. For the past month, after they had gotten back from Hille's underground base, Don had been giving her the cure. When Don had access Hille's computer in his office the sneaky genius turtle had sent copies of the cure's notes to his own computer. Once they had time that next morning and before Don wanted to begin Jean's treatment, he wanted to see all the ingredients that was in the bottles so that Jean wouldn't have another allergic reaction. Once he gave the all clear he began the thirteen injection series that she had to take over a course of twenty-four days. She began to have the treatment every other day and about three days after the first treatment she began to feel tired and sick. Jean also began to lose weight. During the whole course of the treatment she had no energy, and it had gotten to the point that she had to be carried to and fro. Donnie had no qualms about carrying her, since she had never weighed a lot due to her petite size. Everyone ended up carrying her. Even Mikey and Leo.

It embarrassed her to no end. Though she had no energy and couldn't move much, she kept her sassy personality and she voiced her annoyance at the fact that she couldn't move and run around like she used to.

"All right Jean." Donatello's soft voice jerked her awake.

She had been dozing off, still bundled up in her green blanket. "Today's the day?"

Donatello grinned, "Yes. Today's the last day of the treatment." He walked over to her carrying a metal tray. He stood in front of her and placed the tray on the table. He then reached over and opened the blanket enough so that her right shoulder was clear. There was a small patch that was shaved. The vein near her collarbone had a dark green and purple bruising from the continuous injections.

Jean closed her eyes and gritted her teeth as Donatello got the needle ready and she willed herself to relax as the short needle was inserted. She felt the burning liquid as it flowed though her veins. When he was finished he flushed the drug through with a more soothing fluid. She breathed a sigh of relief when Don pulled the needle out for the last time. "It's over. No more treatments or cures. I'm so glad."

Jean opened her eyes quickly as she felt Don's strong arms go around her. He held her close to his plastron in great endearment as he pressed his cheek against hers.

"I know." he said softly, breathing in her scent. He pulled away just enough to face her. He looked at her with a cute sly expression of his, before he touched her face with his other hand, petting the short soft fur there before he kissed her.

They both had become closer over the month. They would cuddle when they would sit on the couch, kiss lightly. They never said anything about it to each other. Though Jean had told Donatello that she loved him; she had never brought it back up and nether did he.

The others noticed their affection as well, though they said nothing of it. Leo and Raph of course knew of the growing bond between Jean and Don. Master Splinter would hide the small smiles whenever he saw them together. They thought Mikey didn't care or even notice.

"Oooo! Jean! You go, girl! Get my big bro Donnie!" Mikey's deep voice rang out.

Jean and Donnie both jumped and Jean pulled away as she blushed hard, Donnie matching her. They turned to see Mikey standing in the doorway grinning like the mad turtle he was with his thumbs up and winking. So much for him not noticing.

"Mikey!" Don cried, abashed to death.

Mikey just giggled madly and dashed back out of the room.

Don leaned back, the bottom of his shell resting against the table, his head in his hands. "I'm never going to hear the end of this am I?" he asked Jean.

Jean giggled, "With the way Mikey carried on…no, I don't think so. At least not anytime
soon." She grinned up at him, her mismatched eyes soft.

Don couldn't help but smile back.

XXX

As the weeks passed and the fall faded into an early winter, Jean began to get her strength back. Master Splinter had her go though exercises to build her strength back up, though he didn't allow her to spar again just yet.

Jean walked into Don's lab. She watched him for a few moments before she took a deep breath and walked up to him. Donnie had been working on the Battle Shell. He was welding some addition on the front of the van. He either must have heard or smelled her because he turned around and pushed the goggles up his face and smiled at her.

"Hey, Jean. I just finished this." He asked.

"Can you tell me what it is?" she asked truly interested.

Donnie smiled and pointed out and explained all that he had done to the van. Her knowledge grew under Don's continued teachings. It felt just like before, they were laughing and working together just like old times when she had first came down to live with them almost two years ago. When he was finished going over his new project he sat back on his heels, Jean crouched down beside him.

Jean gave him a small smile. "You know I haven't been out of this lair for almost two months? You think?"

"Why not? Let's go top side." He suggested.

Jean nodded her head eagerly agreed and after Don made sure she was bundled still they went up through a manhole and went the short distance to the nearby park. It was cold but it had yet to snow. Thanksgiving had already past and all of New York and its people were in the limbo of after Thanksgiving and before Christmas. Without realizing it they walked through the trees, holding hands.

Don pulled Jean to a stop when the trees surrounded them completely. "We've got to talk, Jean and this time, no running off on me, okay?" Donnie said as he took both her hands into his.

"Okay." she whispered.

"We've been getting awfully close, Jean more so than I ever expected. But I have to know something here. You said once that you loved me… did you mean it?" Donatello asked, his voice betraying his anxiety.

Jean sucked in a breath of the cold air through clenched teeth. She closed her eyes and looked up at him, her eyes caching the light of the half moon and reflecting the light. She smiled and nodded. "Yes. I did… I do mean it. Yes."

Don smiled. "And I love you, Jeanetta." He then wrapped her into a hug, his beak buried in the soft fur of her neck. After a few more moments of holding each other, the two slowly pulled away and stared at one another, Don smiling, but it faded with he noticed her eyes was wet.

"Jean…" he whispered.

Jean let go of his hands and brought her hands up to her cheeks, and pulled them away and looked at her fingertips. They were wet. "I'm crying. I haven't cried in eight years. I thought my body forgot how to cry." More tears leaked out. Finally, after a good few minutes, she managed to smile through her tears

Then, Donnie laid his hand under Jean's chin and leaned in closer. He brought his muzzle to her cheeks and licked the sweet salty tears from Jean's soft furry cheeks. After that he moved his lips to hers and they connected. It was nothing like either had experienced. It felt like they were the only two beings on the Earth, standing there, locked in the kiss, not having a care in the world.