Disclaimer: Yada yada, chapter one, yada yada
Chapter 5
It had been several days since Mike had told his family Charity's story and she felt better for it, knowing that they now knew. That she wasn't alone anymore. As she sat in the living room on the battered old couch she silently watched with a smile at the scene before her. Mike was trying desperately to free himself from a headlock by Raph. Mike pleaded with him to let him go but when Raph wouldn't listen Mike wrapped his arms around Raph's leg and used his weight to lift him from the floor and over his shoulder, Raph crashed down onto the floor with a loud thud but Mike didn't give him chance to recover as he dived on top to pin him down.
Charity couldn't remember the last time she had smiled so much, this family was unbelievable, the Foot clan had made them out to be monsters, inhuman. Instead Charity found them to be more human than anyone she ever knew, that made her smile.
"Hey, Charity" Mike called out
Charity looked up to see Mike pinning Raph to the floor, he shifted and sat down on Raph's carapace. With a triumphant pose Mike winked at her then fell back immediately as Raph rolled over to pin him.
Charity giggled as Raph now took over, eliciting a groan from Mike, "No fair Raph"
Raph just laughed as he pulled Mike's arm behind his shell and slammed him, plastron first, into the wall, he turned to Charity and winked like Mike did a moment ago.
Yep, they definitely were unbelievable.
Charity glanced at the TV, she turned quickly and picked up the remote control, increasing the volume. Mike and Raph had stopped when they thought they heard something familiar, the news report was showing pictures of a missing person. It was Bella.
"Donny," Raph yelled, there was a muffled sound of someone talking causing Raph to frown, "no, I haven't broken the remote control again, there's something on the TV that you need to see"
Mike walked to the couch and stood behind it, Raph moved next to him. Leo came from his room, "What's going on?"
Mike nodded to the TV, "It's Bella, she's been reported missing"
Don came from the lab with Bella close behind him, "What is it?"
No one spoke as Bella's parents came on, their faces were tear stained and worn with worry. Her father held onto her mother as he pleaded for someone to come forward with any information that may help the police locate their missing daughter. Bella let her tears flow free down her cheeks, Don put a comforting arm around her shoulders and she turned to him and crumpled into his arms. Don held her tight and looked at his brothers, one look from Leo was all he needed, he smiled and nodded appreciatively.
Leo smiled back at him, "Don, maybe you should take Bella to her parents"
Don nodded and pulled away from Bella and took her hand, "Come on"
"Don?"
He turned back to Leo, "Yeah?"
"Be careful"
Don smiled, "Always"
As they headed out the door Leo's smile dropped, it was a shame, Bella really suited Don.
The journey to Bella's parents home was quiet and slow, Bella was obviously upset and conversation was little to none but Don didn't mind, he didn't like to see her upset like this and if taking her back to her parents was the only way to cheer her up then that is what he would do.
Don looked down at the apartment window from the rooftop, he watched as Bella hugged her mother, then her father. They were all crying now but they were happy. She was happy. Don sighed heavily, he really liked Bella but he didn't tell her. It was over now, she would stay with her family, safe and sound and out of harms way. He stood and watched for a while then went to leave but something caught his eye, he turned back to the apartment window and noticed that Bella was heading for the door with her mother pulling on her hand, begging her to stay. He focused on Bella and noticed that she was saying something like, 'I love you' and 'I'm so sorry', Don moved closer to the edge, she was leaving?
Don watched as Bella left the apartment and then made his way to the alley that he had left her. He stood waiting, what was she doing? Why did she leave?
Bella came slowly into the alley and looked about, Don moved out of the shadows and she smiled in relief, he was still here, he hadn't left. She moved towards him and stopped in front of him, they stood there for a moment then Don frowned, "Bella, what are you doing?" his voice was calm and sensitive and she realized that that was one of the many things she liked about him.
Bella moved towards him and wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him tight, he returned the gesture, hugging her back.
"I want to go with you" she replied just as calmly.
He pulled away from her but didn't let go, "You should stay with your family, you'll be safe with them. It's where you belong"
"I thought I did but now I'm not so sure" she said wiping away a tear.
"Bella..." he began
"No Donny, please, let me finish. Ever since I first met you, when I woke up in your arms. I felt so protected, I felt... special. You did that Donny" tears were streaming down her cheeks.
"Bella..."
"No Donny, please," she paused, "I... I like you Donny, I hope you feel the same. I want to stay with my new friends, I want to stay with you, I..." she dropped her head waiting for the rejection. Instead Don's hand reached up and brushed away the tears. She looked up into his eyes as he held her face in his hand. He didn't speak.
Don moved his head closer to her as she moved closer to him, their lips meeting in a gentle and sensual kiss. They seemed to be that way forever but at the same time, it wasn't long enough. They pulled apart and gazed at each other. He wiped away the stray tears on her face and she smiled.
"Oh God, you have no idea how scared I was that I would never see you again" he said chuckling slightly. His voice was still calm but the relief was noticeable.
She giggled quietly and moved into him for another kiss, wrapping her arms around him once again.
Don suddenly pulled away, swinging his head to the right, Bella noticed his face, he was worried, "Donny, what's wrong?"
"Shh!" he replied as he swung his head the other way, Bella was beginning to panic, "What is it?"
He grabbed her hand and pulled, "Come on"
As they ran Don kept glancing behind, Bella knew then that they were being followed.
They stopped at a manhole cover and Don swung Bella around to face him, "Can you remember how to get to the lair?"
"I think so" she replied nervously
"Good" he noticed the frightened look on her face and smiled at her, "You'll be okay, everything will be okay"
Bella forced a smile. Don ducked down and lifted the manhole cover off, "Go" he commanded.
She clambered down the ladder and looked back up at Don. He went to follow but suddenly stopped.
He looked frantically around then down to Bella, "Go, tell my brothers, if they get past me don't lead them to the lair"
"Donny?" Bella whispered.
"Go Bella, please" then he replaced the manhole cover.
Bella looked around the dark sewer tunnel. Donny was afraid, which made her afraid. She knew the best thing that she could do would be to get his brothers and bring them back here as quickly as possible. She darted down the tunnels constantly looking back, Don didn't want whoever it was finding their home and she would make sure that they didn't.
Bella stopped, she didn't recognize this tunnel, she looked about frantically trying to get her bearings. Her heart was pounding, she was so frightened, if she didn't find the lair then Don's brothers would be too late to help him.
That was it, there was only one thing left to do, "HELP! LEO! RAPH! ANYBODY!"
Bella began to breathe heavy, she slumped to the floor and leaned against the wall, pulling her knees up to her chest and wrapping her arms around them. No one would come, she starting rocking back and forth, she'd failed him, she'd failed Don.
"BELLA?" It was Raph's voice, he must be close
She jumped up, "Raph, help me please" she cried
Bella heard a faint noise and looked around, in the distance were three figures rushing towards her, she felt a deep relief flood through her.
The relief was short lived, they weren't Don's brothers.
Three men dressed in black carrying swords, Bella's eye's went wide, "Oh God, no" she whispered, "Donny"
AN: Is this a good place to stop? Readers all glare at author Heh, thought so ;P Both of my fics seem to put Don in the firing line but I assure you all that it is pure coincidence, I love Donny, I couldn't hurt him :P
A friend of mine said that Chapter 4 would overshadow Chapter 5, he could very well be right!! Suffice to say, I am not pleased with elements of this chapter unfortunately there are parts that I do like so the bad bits had to stay for continuity, oh well :)
Plus I'm having a bad day, anyway.... on to the reviews:
Reinbeauchaser: Thanks, I'm not really one for storyboarding either, I don't intend to do anymore flashbacks than that but somehow I don't think I'll have any control over it if it does happen again ;) I'm pleased that you liked it, I'm quite pleased that it came out so well :P
Ramica: I'm glad that you enjoyed it, yes Charity did stay faithful, the question is did her sister? Don't ask me though, I don't know.... Yet ;P Thanks for the review :)
S.H.M.J: Thanks for the review, another update should turn up sometime soon, I promise ;P
