Chapter 27 - Home Is Where Your Heart Is

Raphael stared at Don a few moments longer. He really did want his brother to be happy… and right now, he was. But, if it didn't work out, if she rejected him… Well, Raph didn't want that to happen. And he didn't want to even think about what that would do to Don, or April. Or even the rest of them.

The door to the living room opened, and Raph jumped. He frowned, as he realized he'd been standing there, staring for a few minutes, lost in his thoughts.

"April!" Mike exclaimed, running up to the couch, where she'd carefully sat. "Hey, girl, you had us worried."

April's eyes flicked to Leo, who smiled at her. She looked back to Mikey. "Oh, don't you worry about me. I'm planning on having you boys wait on me hand and foot." She grinned weakly, and winked.

"That's right." Casey said. "The docs said not to strain herself at all."

"And I plan on using that to my full advantage." April added.

"So," Don began, sitting on the arm of the couch. "What did they say?"

"To rest, pretty much." April said. "I have to stay off the leg, not use the shoulder, no lifting for awhile… and no stress. Yeah, right I told him." She laughed weakly, then automatically went to grab her side.

"Another thing," She began again, this time her voice softer. "I started getting these back spasms this morning. They think I might've twisted my back in the crash. That's why there were more tests and stuff. But nothing a little massage can't fix." She winked. "Not that I mind that part of it, mind you." She looked at them. "It'll be fine. No permanent damage anywhere, they don't think. As long as I just take it easy for a while."

"We'll make sure of that." Leo added, looking at his brothers, who nodded.

"I know." She breathed, and looked down.

"April?" Mike began. "You OK?"

She looked up at him and smiled softly. "Yeah, Mikey I'm just…"

"Tired, I'm sure." Raph broke in. April looked over at him and flashed him a grin.

Leo nodded. "I'm sure." He agreed, then turned to April. "Anything we can get for you?"

April thought for a moment, then looked over at them. "You know what I want?" She said, her eyes lighting up. "I want to wash my hair. I want to get a shower, then go to bed. I just feel so grimy…"

Leo shifted. "Um, well…"

"Oh, she can do that. Right?" Mike interrupted, his eyes dancing. "Not like she's asking for much." He grinned, looking over at April. "Would it make you feel better?"

She beamed at him. "Yes, it would." She said.

"Come on, Leo." Mike turned to his brother. "I'm sure we can figure something out." He said, then winked back at April.

"Did the doctor say you could?" Don inquired, not quite meeting April's eyes.

"Well…" April began slowly. "He just said not to exert myself…"

"I don't know." Leo frowned.

"Just a hair-wash?" April countered.

"Go to sleep after that?" Leo shot back, and was pleased to see a bit of her old spark come into her eyes then.

"Yes!" She agreed, smiling, playing along with the bargaining.

He grinned. "Alright then." He laughed softly.

"Great." She said, then her nose wrinkled. "Um, I might need a bit of help there." She said, softly. "Just someone to squeeze the shampoo and wet my hair for me." Her face turned red.

Mike felt instantly bad for her. He didn't realize how hard it was going to be for her… And it only made it worse that she was the only girl.

"Come on." Casey said gruffly.

"What?" April looked up at him, wide eyed.

"I said, c'mon." He repeated. "I'll help ya… If it'll get you to bed, like you should be."

"O-OK." She said slowly.

Leo and Casey both moved to help her up, and she looked back at the rest of them, smiling.

"Thanks again, guys." She said, and her voice had begun to sound weary. "Good night."

"Night." They all chorused.

It was silent for a moment, before Raph sat down heavily on the couch.

"I'd like to get a holda the car that did that to her." He said, hitting the couch cushion.

"Does she even know who it was?" Don asked, sitting down on the couch next to his brother.

"I don't think so." Leo shook his head.

"Too bad." Mike added. The rest of them nodded.

"We've got to make a conscious effort to make sure April is as comfortable as possible." Leo said after another moment had passed. He reached down to the table and grabbed a few papers. "These are her instructions, for what she can and cannot do. I suggest we read them over carefully."

Mike nodded. "She's done so much for us, we need to do this for her."

Don and Raph nodded.

"Good." Leo said. "We're agreed then." He looked at his brothers.

"Yep." Raph said, and he actually looked agreeable now.

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Michaelangelo looked at the bedroom door warily. April had slept throughout the night, and most of that day. He knew she had to be bored in the bedroom, though, and he wanted to visit with her. But Leo'd said not to wake her.

Mike listened intently for signs that she was awake. Hearing a slight rustling, he opened the door slowly.

Mike peeked his head in the room. "Heya. Feel like some company?"

April smiled at him and nodded slightly, then winced. "Sure." She said, bringing a hand up to gently swipe the hair out of her eyes. "Though, I'm not at my most presentable." She laughed weakly.

"Ah," He said, walking over to the bed. "You always look presentable enough to me, girly." He chuckled. "Though, there are the questionable times; like, say, when you just get up…"

She groaned. "Mikey… You're not supposed to make me laugh."

He grinned. "Sorry." He said. "But, isn't laughter supposed to be the best medicine?"

"Not when it hurts." She grinned, and swatted at him playfully.

He held his hands up in a peaceful gesture. "Alright, alright." He said. "I'll be good. I'll be at my most serious." He continued, then put on the most serious face that he could manage. Which only made April want to laugh all the harder.

"OK, I'll quit." Mike said finally. They sat in silence for a moment. He looked up at her. She was looking down at the bed sheets. He almost winced when he saw how bruised her face was, and the black eyes that were still forming… Mike looked back down at his hands.

Suddenly, he heard a sniff, and he looked over at April to see tears leaking down her face.

"Are you OK?" He asked, worried. "Are you in pain or something? I can get Don, or Leo…"

"No, no Mikey." She said, trying to manage a smile through her tears. "I'm not in pain…"

Mike relaxed a little bit then. "Then… what is it?" He asked softly.

April looked down. She'd tried so hard to be strong, but with everything that happened… She looked up at Mike, his face so worried, and her resolve broke.

"I just…" She began. "I just feel so st-stupid." She got out.

"Why?" Mike scooted closer to her.

"Because, if I had been paying attention, none of this would have happened." In more ways than one…

"What are you talking about?" Mike asked gently.

"If I had been paying more attention, and not been so caught up in my thoughts… Maybe I could've done something. I would have seen the car coming. I would have been able to stop, or turn or… or something!" She looked down, tears falling faster now.

"April." Mike said. "None of this is your fault. You know that." He patted her leg comfortingly. He was surprised at her reaction. He'd never seen her so upset.

She sniffed, not answering him. "And then you guys have to take care of me…"

"We love taking care of you." Mike said, smiling. "Come on, you've taken care of us tons of times!"

She smiled slightly, wiping her eyes.

"Be pampered a bit." Mike continued, noticing her reaction. "You deserve it."

"Oh Mikey." She laughed lightly. She patted his hand.

"So, uh…" He began cautiously. "What was this big thing that you were so caught up in…?"

She stopped, and looked at him. "I…" She began, then her eyes flew to the door, and Mike followed her gaze over.

"Don't let me interrupt." Don stood, leaning in the door way.

"You're not, dude." Mike said, motioning for his brother to come in.

Don took a step inside the room, then stopped as he noticed the tear stains running down April's face. "April?" He moved towards her. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing, Don." She tried to quickly wipe her face and eyes, trying to rid them of the tell-tale signs that she'd been crying.

Don walked up to the bed. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah." She said. "I'm just tired is all." She continued.

"Well," Don said, looking over at Mike. "Maybe we should leave you alone, then."

"No." April said. "You guys can stay. I want you to stay." She corrected, and motioned for Don to sit down in the chair beside her bed.

"That hospital… It was so lonely." She shuddered lightly. "I really missed being here, with everyone…" Tears began to form again, and she tried to wipe them away. Then she sighed, and put her hands down on the bed, letting a few tears fall down her cheeks. She was tired of wiping them away.

"I think she is tired." Don commented, noticing her distress. April smiled over at him. "Thank you, doctor." She said, and Mike laughed.

"Yeah." Mike began. "You should've seen him at the hospital; even the real doctor was impressed."

"You guys came to see me?" She asked softly.

"Of course." Don said.

"But…" She began. "You could've been caught."

"Nah…" Don said.

"We're ninja." Mike added, and April grinned at him.

"Besides…" Don said. "It would've been worth it."

April grinned over at him, new tears falling.

"You should get to sleep." Don said softly. "You need it. It's the best thing for you right now." He reached over and caught her hand in his own. "We're glad to have you back, April."

"I'm glad to be back, guys." She said, and felt her eyelids growing heavier as she spoke. She was tired. She shut her eyes slowly. For the first time in a long time she felt… safe, she realized. It was a good feeling. She felt… like she was home.

She felt Mike move from the bed gently.

"D'n go." She murmured, her eyes still closed. "You guys c'n stay."

"We will." Don whispered.

"Just movin' to a chair." Mike added softly.

April nodded slightly, then settled into her pillow. She sighed contentedly.

The two brothers were silent as her breathing became deeper. Don looked over at Mikey, and they shared a glance as April fell into a peaceful sleep. Then he looked down, and was almost surprised to see her fingers still entwined with his own.

To Be Continued…

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A/N - It occurred to me that I haven't had a disclaimer in awhile, so here goes: I do not own the TMNT, April or Casey. I do own Lindy, though.