Disclaimer:...Now I really don't feel like it. Sorry.

Chapter Eight

Donny sat in the darkness, his eyes closed. With the loss of the visual distractions, he allowed the lack of sight to enhance his other senses. It gave him a sense of awareness that he wouldn't have been able to get otherwise.

However, it was not working.

His mind was not focused. He could not concentrate for the life of him. He sighed, feeling the pack of blood that lay between his fingers, the thick liquid moving under the pressure of his digits. Although he could not see it move around in his palm, he knew that it flowed, the small bubble of air swimming amongst the red liquid.

He sighed hopelessly.

He still wasn't use to this.

'Well, this isn't something that you can just get use to in a day, ya know…'

He opened his eyes, watching the pulsating pack of blood wearily.

It was funny.

This thing that repulsed him so much was actually helping him.

Actually keeping him alive.

He would have to admit he didn't feel the immense hunger anymore, since beginning his morning/nightly "meals." He was even able to eat some food in between, leaving him feeling much more vibrant and rejuvenated.

Nevertheless, he still felt incomplete.

An emptiness inhabited his heart. An emptiness that although was lessened by his brothers' support, was still there.

He missed Centrice, more than he had ever let on, even to himself.

He closed his eyes, a sadness burdening his heart unlike anything he had ever felt. Before he had just been too busy with everything to really think about what she was going through.

But now he could think.

At the thought of what he had been going through, he couldn't help but remember his mentor's puzzling words.

"It takes a true spirit and a peace of mind…"

Well, he definite was only one for two on that one. His mind was anything but peaceful. Maybe, his guilt for what he had done to her in his ignorance was what was keeping him from finding that…something, whatever that was. Well, regardless of whether it was or wasn't, he knew what he had to do.

He would have to face Centrice.

A fear shot up his spine at the thought of facing her once again.

From somewhere outside of his room, the phone rang. He vaguely heard Leo pick it up, his voice filling the den. But other than that, he paid it no heed, going back to his own thoughts.

'What if she hates me?' It was a hurtful but plausible thought. After all, he did almost kill her. The only way that he knew he didn't was from Mike's reports, of who had been reporting back to the hospital every day for the few days that she was in. Although he never walked in, Mike knew her status and everything. Just another one of Mike's strong points.

Spy work and lip reading was right up his alley.

He had even gotten the status reports for her condition, somehow sneaking in and making copies without the hospital's knowledge.

How Mike got them out successfully, he had no idea. But who would ask questions at a time like this?

He now looked over at those reports, those being the only proof he had.

The only proof that the woman he loved was still alive.

Pathetic, if there ever was a greater definition for the word.

It wasn't as if he didn't want to get more involved. Hell, everything in him wanted to get more involved, every ounce of his being. But, there was always a fear, a fear that she wouldn't take him back. A fear that their relationship ended that fatal day.

"She probably hates me…" He mentioned aloud in the quiet room. At that same moment Leo poked his head through the open door, a barely contained smiled inhabiting his face.

"That was just Centrice; she said she wanted to come over. So I sent Mike off to go get her. She'll be here in a few."

Donatello's heart shot into his throat. She was coming!

She was coming now!

"Crap!" He closed his eyes, the fear or her soon arrival and inevitable rejection rekindling a new headache.

Leo arched an eye ridge. Yeah, he expected his brother to be a nervous wreck, but this was just something he would have to deal with. They had to tie up loose end, and with Leo's help, it would all happen tonight.

He didn't want to see his brother lose her, not if he had something to say about it. However, the look of utmost desperation and complete misery he received from the turtle almost made him change his mind.

Almost.

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Centrice hung up the phone, letting out a tense and long-held breath. That had taken a lot more out of her than she thought it would. Her hand trembled as she brought her fingers to her lips.

Mike would be coming to take her to the lair.

To take her to see Donny.

Her trembling fingers stayed at her lips, her head down. She closed her eyes, letting out a shaken sigh.

Ok, now she was scared. But she would be strong.

For Donny.

'Maybe I should watch TV or something.' Anything to relax her tense nerves. Nervously, she made her way over to her black couch, falling into the support of the stuffed chair. Although her hand still trembled, she reached for the remote, clicking the television on.

Instantly she grimaced, her nervousness temporarily forgotten.

'Infomercials, ug!' She made a face, eyeing the blond haired, blue eyed beauty as she ranted and raved about some new kind of piece-o-crap kitchen utensil. She willed herself to relax, finding it easier to do so while making fun of the woman, mimicking her explanations of praise for the blender which obviously did not work. Grinning, she felt better, that was until the sudden knock on the window.

'Crap! Must have lost track of time!' She jumped up, her nerves more anxious than ever. Quickly, she made her way over to the window, the fear creeping back up her spine.

It was time.

She looked through the glass and into the face of Michelangelo as he motioned for her to unlock the window. She complied, quickly undoing the latch, stepping back to give him room to enter.

However, he did not move.

She hit him with a questionable stare.

"Aren't you going to come in?" She blinked.

"Aren't you going to come out?" He blinked before smiling, answering her question with one of his own. He motioned her over to the window, reaching out a hand.

She hesitated.

"You nervous?" He asked the obvious as he watched her fidget from side to side, her anxious gaze going between his outstretched hand and his face, her eyes uneasy. Despite her obvious anxiousness, she toned it down, answering with her most favorite of general terms.

"A little…"

Mike grinned, she always said that. The funniest thing about it was that she would answer "a little" for the things that would either be all or nothing. It was a kind of an inside joke between them all. Now, he rolled his eyes.

She was nervous as hell and he knew it.

He watched as she slowly took his hand, her eyes looked to his for support. They found comfort there as he smiled down at her reassuringly, pulling her up. He picked her up into his arms, soon after, jumping down.

It was easier to travel down if he was carrying her, but after that first leap, she always insisted on walking the rest of the way on her own.

And today was no exception.

She pushed herself out of his arms, falling to her own feet. He watched her as she motioned for him to take the lead. Giving her one more look over he secretly eyed the bandage on her neck. He grimaced before he could control it, but when did, he forced a smile at Centrice's gaze.

The bandage needed changing, but she would suffice.

They neared the manhole now. He opened it accordingly, helping her down the ladder rungs before dropping down himself, closing the hole behind him. The walked on the dry path, now, in silence.

The most important thing right now was to get her to the lair…without having her suffer a panic attack.

One glace at her told him that she wasn't that far off.

"Are you sure you're ok?" He inquired, his gaze going soft at the sight of her trembling hands. "You know, you don't have to come over."

She followed his gaze, immediately chesting her shaking digits. "I know," She assured him, "I know. But I had to come." She looked past him, suddenly taking the lead. She knew the way.

"Donny needs me."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Donatello paced the space of the lair, his hands clasped behind his shell.

He was a little less than worried.

'Try insane! What was I thinking letting her come over?! I nearly killed her for Christ Sake!" He sighed.

Meanwhile, Leo watched Don's pacing from the comfort of kitchen. He was currently trying to eat, but was having no such luck.

It was hard to eat when you had a freaking humming bird for a brother.

"Donny, sit down! You're making me nauseous. Geez, Louise! You're really riled up about this, aren't you?! Man, I haven't seen you this nervous since that time you accidentally burned Splinter's chair with your new chemistry set." Leo laughed to himself and the recollection, but sobered up just as quickly at the look that Donatello set him with. This was no time for jokes. Leo blinked. Don was really upset about this.

"Donny?"

"She probably hates me!" He blurted out, his paced continuing, his voice choking up. "She's probably coming over just to break up with me, to call it off!" His voice choked up even more, making the next part no lower than a whisper. "And I don't blame her."

"That's not true!" Leo sounded from the kitchen, his food forgotten. He stalked into the den, his eyes angered at such accusations. "That's not true." He repeated, grabbing the turtle by the shoulder. Donatello, though, only shrugged it off, resuming his laps.

"What do you know, Leo? You're not the one getting dum-"

"I know a lot!" Leo interrupted, cutting the ranting turtle off. Don hit Leo with a look that could only be described as skepticism.

"Like what?"

Leo blinked. That was easy. Sighing, he cut into the turtle's path, stopping him with a hand on both shoulders. He looked into Donatello's eyes for the first time that night, pure sincerity in his heart.

"I know that she loves you." Don scowled and went to turn around, but Leo held him fast, brining him back. "No. Let me finish!" He dragged Donatello back, grabbing his chin. They were eye to eye once again.

"She. Loves. You. I know it when I see it, and it's there! She's just worried about you!" Leo looked into Don's eyes, searching for anything to convey that he was hitting home. After some searching, he finally found it…along with a rather large amount of guilt and sadness. He sighed. How would he get Donny to believe him? Meanwhile, Donatello fought a battle of his own.

'She still wants to be with me? Why? Why would she want me back after I hurt her?'

'Maybe, Leo's right…'

"I don't know, Leo. I just don't…" He trailed off. Leo released his grip on the still turtle, watching on as Donatello stood there, his brow furrowed.

"But Leo," The turtle continued. "…How can I know for sure?…How can I know that she will take me back?" He hung his head in dejection only be shocked from his sulk with a knock on the door.

They were here.

Leo arched an eye ridge, smiling at the turtle in purple and at the expression that melted onto his face. Fear.

"I don't know, why don't you ask her yourself?" He smiled, making his way over to the lair door.

No matter what Donny said, he would see Centrice. He would not let Donny lose her if he had a say the matter.

Which he did.

***

Pretty cool. The chapters don't take long to write at all. It's just the blasted proofreading. *ARG!* Takes so long, and it's dreary and boring. But it's all worth it to see my story come together *grin* Hope you enjoyed as much as I did. R and R