Chapter 31 - Changes

Casey grunted as he lifted the last bag into his arms. He shut the car door with his foot, and made his way into the kitchen.

He dumped the bags with the rest of the stuff he'd bought, then glanced over at the other person in the room.

"You sure you got enough stuff?" He asked wryly.

"Shhh." April chided softly, as she silently looked over the packages on the table. Then she looked back over at Casey. "Where's the other can of yams?"

He rolled his eyes. "I had to fight some lady to get this many. I'm not risking my neck just so Mikey can have enough yams."

"Raph…" She corrected quietly, then sighed. "OK." She said. "These'll do."

"Great." Casey said, heading or the door. "My job's done then." He said, then left into the living room.

April sighed again, watching him leave. She sat at the kitchen table, putting a hand to her head. A moment later, the phone began ringing, breaking he out of her thoughts. She rose slowly, making her way towards it.

*************

"You just gonna mope around forever?"

Raph's voice jarred Don out of his stupor. He looked over at his brother, who was standing in the doorway to his room, arms crossed.

"I'm not moping." Don replied, looking back to the computer.

Raph snorted quietly at that, and moved farther in the room. "Right." He said. "You haven't spent this much time on that computer since we got up here." He walked up and leaned against the desk. "We thought maybe you'd finally decided to become social." He grinned.

Don sighed. "I'm not moping." He repeated.

The grin left Raph's face. "C'mon, Donnie. This is me you're talkin' to." He chuckled quietly. "Some might say I'm the expert on it." His face turned serious again. "So don't pull this crap that you're not mopin'."

"I'd just… rather work on this, OK?" Don replied, turning back to the computer.

Raph sighed. "I saw what you did, Donnie."

Don turned to his brother.

Raph sighed. "I really don't wanna get into this." He mumbled to himself. "Look," He said, raising his voice again. "It's been days, ok? And tomorrow's Thanksgiving, and if there's any moping, it'll be done by me! I've got money I don't have on the game tomorrow…" Raph tried to get a grin, but to no avail. He walked to the door. "Look, Donnie, you wanna spend the rest of your life hidin' in here, be my guest. I'm not gonna force you to come out of it…" He said, and looked back from the doorway, sighing. "Maybe it's not what it seems, Donnie." He said, shrugging, then he left.

Don sighed, clicking out of the program he was working on. Raph was right. Don smiled, thinking about that. He knew his brother hated having talks like that… but he appreciated it all the same. Maybe he was moping. Don pushed away from the desk, and stood. He'd spent too much time in hiding as it was.

*************

Leo jumped, delivering a kick to his opponent, who jumped into an easy back flip, landing smoothly a moment later.

"Nice counter." Leo said, relaxing his stance a bit.

"Thanks." Mikey grinned, relaxing also.

"Take a break?" Leo suggested, and Mike nodded. Leo had been surprised, and pleased, when Mikey had agreed to get in a little sparring practice that afternoon. Usually Mikey was using his every available resource to get out of practice.

Leo shook his head. He figured Mikey needed to get out of the house as much as he did.

"Um, Leo?"

Leo turned to his brother. He must have been lost in thought for awhile now, because Mikey had a concerned look on his face.

"Y'ok?" Mikey asked, and Leo nodded.

"Yeah… Just thinking is all."

Mike smiled and nodded. "Yeah." He said, then walked up to Leo and clapped a hand on his shoulder. "It'll all be ok, bro." He said, winking.

Leo smiled a little at that. Mikey was always perceptive of what others were feeling. Sometimes it got annoying, like when you didn't want anyone to know what you were thinking or feeling. Other times, like now, it was a good thing.

"So, who's up for another round?" Mike grinned casually, and took a few steps back.

Leo grinned, and backed up. "Whenever you're ready, bro."

*************

Don opened the door to the kitchen slowly. A sigh of relief escaped him when he saw April was the only occupant of the room. She sat at the table, chopping something on the cutting board.

He slowly walked over to her. "Anything I can help with?" He asked softly.

She jumped slightly, and he frowned.

"N-No." She said, softly, then went back to cutting.

"April?" He asked, cautiously. "Is something wrong?"

"Nope." She said, but he could hear her sniff a few times. He said nothing, just sat down in a chair next to her. A few moments passed before she acknowledged him again.

"I was fired, Donnie." She said flatly.

"What?" His eyes snapped up to look at her.

She sniffed again, continuing to chop the vegetables. "They said they were 'downsizing'… what a load of crap." She muttered.

It was silent for another long moment.

"I'm sorry." Don said quietly, even though, on the inside, he was truly conflicted on this.

She sighed loudly, and set the knife down. "What am I gonna do?" She asked softly. "Those bills are so expensive…"

Don was silent for a moment, putting a hand on his mouth as he thought. "April… Don't worry about it. We'll figure something out."

She shook her head. "It's just too much." She said. "The bills, my car… my apartment." She moaned, and her whole stance drooped.

He stayed silent, letting her go. She bit her lip for a moment, before looking back at him.

Don was despaired to see tears in her eyes.

"It's just so unfair." She said, standing. "It hurts to stand, it hurts to sit… my face looks like I blocked a basketball with it… And now this." She was getting worked up now, more upset now than ever.

He didn't know what to say. She needed to get this out of her system. She made her way over to the counter, where she stood, hunched over it.

Don frowned deeply. He hadn't known she was feeling so bad about everything. He looked over at her, and saw her head bowed down, tears falling freely to the countertop. He was soon brought out of his reverie when he could hear her softly moaning.

He stood quickly. "April?"

"I think I did too much." She said, standing stiffly. He walked up to her.

"My back." She said, shutting her eyes. "I lifted the bags from the store and I think I pulled something again."

Don held in a chiding remark. She knew she wasn't supposed to be lifting anything… He was broken out of his thoughts when she drew in a sharp breath as another spasm hit her.

"Come on." He said, leading her gently to the table. "Sit." He told her. "And lean your head down on the table, or your arm." He continued, then tentatively put his hands on her back.

The breath in his throat hitched as he felt her skin, warm beneath the t-shirt she wore.

She groaned again softly, and he switched back into motion, drawing up everything he'd remembered reading in the papers she'd brought home from the hospital.

He softly ran is hands down hr back, gently kneading the muscles that moved beneath his touch.

"Oh yeah." She breathed softly. "That feels good."

He grinned at that. "Good." He said, then took a deep breath. "You know, April," He began. "I understand that things have sucked lately and all… but this whole thing about your face…" He said, then stopped.

April could hear him breathing as he continued working on her back. She suddenly realized that she'd been holding her breath, and let it out slowly, so he didn't know she had been holding it. She wanted to look at him so badly, but her position and her injuries prevented her from doing so.

He chuckled softly, then leaned over her more. Her breath caught as his plastron pressed into her back more.

"April." He said softly. "No matter what you think, you've never, ever stopped being the least bit beautiful."

A lump formed in her throat, and she was afraid she would cry.

It was painfully silent for a few moments that felt like forever. Then, with her good arm she reached up and caught his hand as it moved back up to her shoulder.

She squeezed it lightly, in thanks for what he'd said, and he returned the gesture. Then, he silently returned to the task at hand, and neither of them spoke again.

*************

"You ready to head back?" Leo asked Mikey, who stood off to the side, rotating his wrist a few times.

"Yep." Mike said, brightening up.

They walked in almost complete silence. A rarity for Mikey, which only made Leo even more convinced that he had something on his mind.

"Hey." Mike said suddenly. Leo looked over at him. "I'm gonna go for a walk…" Mike continued, and Leo nodded.

"I'll be back soon." Mike said as he began walking off towards the forest.

Leo nodded, and held in a 'Don't worry'. He continued walking towards the house. As he approached, he could see the light on in the kitchen. A closer look revealed two figures in the room.

Leo stopped as the picture became clearer. Don sat next to April, and she leaned against him as she talked.

Leo moved over so that he was out of their view, and watched them for a moment longer. They looked so comfortable…

He turned away, not wanting to pry. Leo walked over to a tree and leaned against it. He closed his eyes momentarily. April and Casey's little 'conversation' the other day had not gone unnoticed by him. Neither had the changes in how they'd been acting. He sighed, and decided to go in through the back door. He just hoped his brother knew what he was getting into…

To Be Continued…

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Author's Note - Yeah, it's a bit short, and also a bit on the choppy side, I think. But that's actually what I was going for, a bit, here. Just a bunch of moments that represent (like the title suggests) some changes for some of them. Some more obvious, even more less obvious. And I know that April and Casey's conversation didn't really get a real mention here… but not to worry, there's a reason. Isn't there always…? ;)

Thanks -

Reinbeauchaser - Thanks for your review. Yeah… Sooner or later, it will become obvious how different they are… And that is going to come into play in the second part of this story. *looks around, realizing she might have said too much* ;) But it's something, while sad, I believe is important to realize. Don has already started coming to that realization, and it will be discussed further.

Ramica - Thanks. Hehe, I had a bit of a laugh over the mental image of Mikey doing that…

Heather - Hehe, thanks! Here's your next chapter, albeit a bit late… ;)

neosun7 - Hehe, yeah, I'm sure Mikey'll never let him forget that one. Thanks for the review.

Gummadoon Fanatic - Thanks!

Mickis - Thanks. And, uh, heh… I'll sure do my best. ;)

Lady Venom2 - Heh, we'll see… all in good time, all in good time… ;) Thanks for the review.

Aicha - Aw, thanks! And don't worry about it, I'm the same way with stories I like!

LenniluvsBrian - Well, uh, heh… that would be a sight… *shuts mouth before she says too much* ;) Thanks for the review!

Next chapter - Yes, it's a few months late (almost five to be exact…) but it's Thanksgiving in the farmhouse! Oh, the insanity… ;)