His True Love

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Chapter Four – Relationships

DONATELLO:

 A lot of the time when Raph and Leo got fighting or arguing about some point or another it was all too easy for me to see things from both points of view, I supposed I could easily jump in and try playing mediator to them and try to bring peace to the family but somehow I had a feeling that it wouldn't help much.

Both of them could be very stubborn almost as stubborn and difficult as the proverbial mule, both were quite sure in their own minds that they were right and the other was wrong, both found it hard to give in to the other and both could raise valid points to back up their thinking.

In this instance, I knew for a fact, that Raph really didn't have much of a choice in bringing her home. Her injuries required immediate care and Raph had done only what was necessary to insure she would live.

I could try to point this out to Leo later on, usually he would listen to me but at the moment Leo was under a great deal of stress with his concerns of what Melody might do to hurt us in the aftermath of that fateful day.

Melody had only come looking for her son and his strange friend Rama. I don't think she intended to find us. Rama had little knowledge of our old enemies the Foot until recently and when Jessie and she were attacked in the sewers, Rama managed to escape but Jessie had been taken captive.

Sure we went after him and returned him to his mother but she didn't seem very grateful for it. She hated being kept here while we permitted Rama and Jessie one final chance to play together, finally that hatred exploded with Ramiela becoming upset that she was a freaking animal, and Raph turning violent on Melody.

I had to hand it to Raph he didn't hurt her but he did rant and rage right in her face.

That was what had lead up to our move and we still weren't too sure just yet what Melody planned on doing with her knowledge of the highly dangerous animals who lived in the sewers and had endangered her son's life.

Melody seemed to be just the right sort of vindictive person to cause us all a whole bunch of hassles and problems that we didn't need at the moment.

Leo was aware of all of that and I supposed he saw this woman as yet another potential threat to us. Leo saw every human as a potential threat to his family until he was sure that they meant no real harm, so here he was with a complete stranger who might cause his entire family a load of grief and we had Melody who was a loaded gun so to speak.

However like it or not we had to deal with the fact that Melody was aware of our existence and could still cause us all sorts of trouble due to the information she had on us, and we now had to deal with the new guest that Raph had brought home.

Trying to point out to Raph that Leo was only voicing his own uncertainties surrounding this whole situation wouldn't help matters for then Raph would probably feel that I was choosing sides against him.

The best thing to do at times like this was just to keep my beak out of it.

That night after everyone else was asleep I slipped out of the lair to visit with Jen. I climbed up to her apartment and tapped on her bedroom window, while I could let myself in and had her permission to do so, I didn't want to just sneak in and leave. I mean I had been waiting and anticipating seeing her all day.

Jen woke slowly to my insistent tapping she blinked for a moment and yawned reaching for her robe before coming to let me in.

Since it was late in the evening I hadn't bothered wearing my disguise Jen was by now quite used to my normal appearance.

" You're earlier then I expected it is only a little past one," she murmured sleepily as she wrapped her arms around me.

" I decided I had enough of work for the time being and that I have more then earned a chance to visit with you for a change" I replied as I gave her a small kiss.

" Fine skip work for now but will you check out that program tonight for me?"

" That Jen will be a change of pace from what I have been doing. It might even require me to think" I stated, " something the mundane chores and things at home haven't done for me recently."

" Well we must stimulate it or it will rot and then when you need it where will you be? Let's talk first it seems ages since I saw you last Don. Do you want something to drink?" She inquired.

" Coffee."

Jen gave a little shake of her head " Are you planning on being up all night Don?"

" I'm going to be whether I plan on it or not so it really doesn't matter Jen," I said simply.

Jen entered her kitchen and began to make coffee for the two of us as I sat down at her small table.

Jen turned to look at me " You work too hard Don and that isn't good for one so young" her advice was given with just a hint of sorrow and regret in her tone as if she knew full well what she spoke of.

" Look whose talking" I chided gently " I happen to know you are pretty devouted to your work as well and you're only a few years older then I am."

" Yes, but I happen to know that it isn't very intelligent to disregard everything else in your life for work alone. Know how I got to be one of the best in the business? I did that exact same thing. I turned my back on friends and just worked for about eighteen hour days." She started to say then she stopped as if testing things before saying too much more.

I sensed that there was a great deal to the events that she wasn't telling me but I didn't want to poke or pry I would much rather give her time, and let her tell me what she wanted to.

" It just isn't healthy Don" Jen finished quickly.

I could almost hear the mental door shutting inside her somewhere as if she had gone far as she dared with the subject for one night.

I reflected for a moment on what I did know about Jen.

I knew her parents lived in Oregon and she talked with them now and again. She used to live there too until something happened that made her just want to leave start fresh, where as she had put it the memories wouldn't hurt so much.

She had been an only child and I knew she didn't have a great many friends either in or out of the workplace.

Jen worked from home allowing her services as a top notch computer programmer to go to whichever company or group that might need her and provide an interesting challenge for her.

In spite of my determination to not pry I sensed that something was disturbing her too much and I glanced up at her with concern on my face.

" What is the matter Jen?"

" I…I'm sorry Don. It was just a dream I had before you came" Jen apologized but I had a feeling she wasn't being fully truthful but I refused to press any further.

" So tell me how did the move go for you and your family?" She asked briskly purposely trying to steer the subject away from whatever was bothering her, as she sat a large mug of coffee down in front of me.

" Well our new place is still situated in the scenic sewers but we have a bigger place now. Lots better then before and more rooms too for when Leo's kids grow up or if Karena and Leo decide on having more, which I'm sure, they will

Once I get all the necessities up and running I can then organize my lab space a bit more. Right now I have no idea where anything is in my area other then my bed and computer."

Jen chuckled a bit " Sounds like you have your priorities straight then Don."

I gave her a sour look for that comment.

" Just see if I help you again when this is the thanks I get" I gave a mock growl.

Jen just smiled at me " So when do I get to meet your family Don?"

" I don't know Jen. Leo is all ready near the end of his rope with things as they are and I don't think he would be too amused to learn that another human has found out about us."

" Don I have known about you for a couple of years now" Jen pointed out simply.

" Yeah I know that Jennifer but I just don't think the timing is right at the moment" I tried to explain.

Jen gave a slow knowing nod and arched her eyebrows at me " Are you sure you are not just procrastinating?"

" I might be and do many things Jen but I am not known for delaying things…."

" Except for this Don" Jen cut in.

I gave a frustrated sigh and shook my head " I have told you Jennifer our situation is very delicate. We have to be very careful about people who know about us.

Sure there are a few street bums, drug addicts, and homeless who know about us but who would believe them their reputation isn't worth anything. They tell a tale of giant walking talking turtles and the common person is just going shrug it off." I grinned a bit at the truth of those words, no one of importance would ever listen to stories by those down and out on their luck.

" It is other people in society who might do us harm and we have to be careful of. We just can't afford to take those sort of risks."

" Ever stop to think that humans in general aren't as bad as you think that they might accept you Don?"

" Sure it is a part of the dream we all hope will be one day. Then we watch the news. There might possibly be some people who will accept us right away. Others will want to lock us up and study us. Then there is the third group the ones who allow their fear and prejudice guide them and rule them."
I sipped at my coffee " That third group is the one that really worries and scares me. How do you fight against fear and prejudice? Those people will find it very difficult to look beyond and accept us as any thing other then a threat to them and their way of life."

I looked up into Jen's dark eyes and saw a glimmer of understanding in them.

" I promise you Jen when the time is right I will take you down and introduce you to my family. Now with Leo all worried is NOT the right time I assure you."

Jen gave a small smile and she reached out to take my hand in hers giving it a light squeeze " I'm sorry Don. It is your call to make. It's just you have told me so much about them I would really like to meet them. I do trust you though."

I smiled in return and reached out with my free hand to caress her face feeling the soft skin of her rounded cheek under my thick calloused fingers.

I noted the look of my green skin against her black skin and chuckled a bit.

" What?" Jen asked.

" Oh I was just thinking what some people might have to say about our inter-racial relationship."

Jen laughed at that remark. I liked her laugh it was a light easy going laugh " Oh yeah I know what you mean. Honey you can't date him he's green and thick shelled to boot."

I almost ended up chocking on the last mouthful of coffee as Jen came out with that comment. I did end up coughing and sputtering for a short time after it.

Though I could well see the humour in her little jibe.

I stood up and walked over to her chair draping an arm around her shoulder " So should we check out this program of yours."

Jen looked up a smirk on her face " Ooh, Don you want to see my software do you?" she purred.

I ducked my head starting to blush. Jen liked to embarrass me from time to time. This was obviously one of those times.

She winked at me as she stood up " How bout your hard drive Donny?"

" Jen! Cut it out will you," I grumbled wanting to duck into my shell.

Jen chuckled lightly " You know you are real cute when you get embarrassed Don. But I better stop teasing before you decide I can solve the problem on my own."

I wrapped my arms around her hugging her tight " I should just leave and let you figure it out on your own would serve you right. But I have missed you so much the last few weeks as is Jen." I whispered in her ear.

Jen wrapped her arms about my neck and gave me a long deep kiss making me easily forget about her making me feel so sheepish moments before.

It was amazing really, what Jen could do to the calm, rational, and logical being that I was normally and I couldn't deny that I loved how she made me feel all over.

TBC