The Journey Home

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

Chapter Eight:

For the moment we stood locked in each other's embrace, and that was fine by me, for I didn't think I had any strength in my legs to hold me up, after Don giving me such a scare followed by the sudden passion, demands and yearnings that had overwhelmed him. Don gasped a bit gaining control of his breathing and probably fighting to get his turbulent emotions back under control as well. He suddenly and abruptly pushed me away from him, leaving me feeling dazed and uncertain.

I looked up at him in my confusion, he sighed and shook his head, "I'm sorry April. I shouldn't have..." he paused, "taken advantage of the situation." He muttered softly, he seemed embarrassed and uneasy.

"Don you did nothing wrong!" I insisted, "You didn't take advantage of me and you never would."

"Don't be too sure!" He retorted in a voice filled with scorn, "Besides you think I don't realize that you can never live up to what you said? That you were lying to me," His back straightened and he glowered towards me.

"Don I would never do that to you." I informed him, emphatically.

"You're telling me that you love me?" He asked as he turned to face me I could see the doubt but underneath it I thought I saw just a hint of hope, faint and flickering but unwilling to show itself fully. "Since when April?"

I took a deep breath, "I'm not sure," I confessed, "You know we have always shared a sort of mutual attraction through our similarities, we helped each other out with varied problems or pushed each other to do more, or think outside of the box, bounced ideas, concept and theories off of each other. There was the feeling of, connection." I sighed, " That was only the foundation though Don, then there was growing to learn about each other all the more, through shared missions, worrying for one another when certain issues came up and then of course helping tend to injuries. We grew past friends and became family then," I shook my head, "I loved you as family and a friend."

"So that's it huh?" he inquired.

"Of course not Don, I care for you as a person, for who you are. If you are expecting me to pinpoint the exact moment I fell in love with you, all of you for who you are. I can't do it." I informed him, "It happened over time, but it doesn't make it any less real. Do you think I can stand by and watch you hurt yourself when I care so much about you?" I asked, "Don, I do love you. I would not lie about that for it would jeopardize our very friendship. You didn't take advantage of me because I didn't feel taken advantage of...you can't rape the willing Don." I smiled, as I moved towards him, " The truth of the matter is Don, I do love you." I leaned forward and kissed him.

For a moment I thought he was going pull away but then his arms slipped around me and he returned my kiss.

I hadn't really been expecting my own emotions or the declaration of love that had come spewing out of me, but I knew that I would not just say it, not with Don in such a delicate position, and the fact of the matter was I did care about him, I had missed him dearly while they had been away, waiting, hoping and longing for some thing to know they were all right. That they hadn't just forgotten me, yet there was nothing from them and the dull ache of missing them.

Somewhere, somehow along the line I had fallen in love with Don for who he was, his intelligence, his shy, quiet passive ways but now all of that, which he had not been was starting to rear it's head. I reached up to caress Don's face as he broke off the kiss, "Been a hard day for you, huh Don?"

Don gave a weak smile as I turned and went back to pick up the knife he had dropped, I held it in my hand debating if I ought to return it. Yet I knew I had to trust him. In spite of what I might fear, I had to believe that he would do the right thing. I stood up and stepped back holding the knife out to him.

He blinked, as if unsure of where it had come from.

"You dropped it" I explained, " I thought you might be going to, well hurt yourself again." I concluded lamely.

He nodded slightly, and looked into my eyes as if searching for something, if he found what he was looking for or not I really can't say, he turned and placed the knife back into his belt "Mike is expecting dinner, which means we ought to see what we can find."

These new feelings would take time to fully know, understand and accept on both of our parts, so I was willing enough to take the change of subject or distraction for what it was. I followed Don to the pond area where they fished. Don took the knife from his belt once more but this time he also removed a short piece of rope to tie the knife to the end of his bo staff.

"If I can't spear them, I can always catch them ninja style, with my bare hands" he said casually before he waded into the water, until he was about waist deep.

While he fished I sat on the rocks and we managed to keep the conversation calm, civil and far from anything to do with our feelings for one another.

XXX

It took a few days before Don broached the concept again, the fact that I loved him, still new and obviously a debatable subject. Either that or he was trying to come up with all the reasons why we were just fooling ourselves. "What can I give you April?" he asked bluntly, "There is little I can give you that puts me ahead of the game?"

"Why you, huh Don?" I translated with a small smirk, " Why not?" I replied glibly.

He gave me a sour look, "Try to be serious April" he demanded briskly.

I sighed, " I am Don. Yes anyone else could give me intelligent conversation, or help stimulate my brain when I'm stuck on some problem. It could be anyone, but I'd have to find them first, and it seems that a part of me has all ready determined the outcome anyways." I pushed my hair out of my face, "You are away from the war in New York, and while you might have to always be prepared for those who would condemn you, or in case the Foot ever found you, you are now basically free to do what you want." I pointed out, " Together we could set up a business dealing with computers, or security alarms. There are a vast number of possibilities Don" I assured him as I slipped a hand in his.

" What about other children April, you are young and...?"

" Who says you can't have children Don, you have no idea how compatible we might be to one another. Yes there is a risk that it won't work." I shrugged, " No one has an answer to that question as of yet."

Of course it didn't take long for Mike to realize that we were spending quite a bit of time together and start to bother us about it.

"So what were you two doing?" He asked arching an eye ridge when we returned from one outing, " And don't tell me you were hunting again, because if I have to rely on you to feed us, we're all in trouble." He cut in gesturing to our empty hands.

"Okay we are talking Mike about stuff that wouldn't even interest you" I confessed, as I brushed past him.

"Uh-huh," Mike gave a knowing nod, "Is that what you call it now April?"

"Call what?" I snapped whirling around to look at his smug look.

"Oh nothing" he replied all innocence, "just whatever it is that you talk about."

Don rolled his eyes, "I'd smack him up side the head, but then he'd figure that he was really on to something."

"I am Don and you know it."

"I know nothing of the sort Mike, and you know absolutely nothing or less then nothing, which would be..." Don insisted.

"I don't need the technical term for it Donny boy thank you very much" Mike held up a hand.

I don't know if his teasing helped Don or not, it seemed that it just added to his uncertainties and doubts about where we were going and Don began to hurt himself all the more, keeping all of us on our toes and causing Mike to declare.

"The two of you together is bad news."

XXXX

I'm not sure I can pinpoint where things started to change, but slowly Don and I found ourselves no longer avoiding the issue of us being together, and more often then not slipping away for a little one on one time in privacy. True we hadn't gone beyond kissing, as of yet, but we were starting to focus more on the possibility of being together, maybe leaving the woods and setting up a business somewhere else.

Mostly though we were giving each other a chance to really feel out the growing chemistry between us. There was no denying the magnetic appeal he had for me, or the gentle whispers, longing touches or the way he often held me close to him. I longed for his touch, and in some ways he seemed to reassure himself of my presence and the current situation by holding me.

It was at this time that Don started to go for longer periods without hurting himself.

Mike seemed pleased and he remarked to me, " April, I believe that he has finally found something in life to hold to." He glanced my way, "So how serious are you getting?"

"Mike I'm not answering that." I replied briskly.

"Pleading the fifth gets you nowhere April."

I think what I enjoyed most about this time was that Don was also trying to make friends with Casey, he'd ignored her so much and with his problems had rarely paid much attention to her. Now though he would take her with us, letting her ride on his shoulders, or letting her grip the bo staff in the middle while he held the ends and swung her, or we'd go on picnics just the three of us. Casey adored Mike but she was starting to grow pretty fond of Don too.

I was tickled that Don was doing his best to include Casey, for while I knew Mike was the perfect babysitter, I couldn't always foist her off on him just so we could be alone. She was my daughter and I needed to spend time with her.

It was a good time really, very relaxing and comforting the only sign of darkness were those rare times when Don for whatever reason would end up cutting himself, though sometimes he did give us some warning that it was brewing inside of him, it took a bit to know when what was brewing was about to explode, for he would usually give these warnings days in advance, and neither Mike or I cared to be on constant alert for that period. But it helped to know and sometimes, with a little intervention and a lot of discussion we were able to avoid it, not always but it was a start.

I think Mike was right Don needed something to hold to, to believe in, and now that he had found something to ground himself in, the simple knowledge that we loved one another, was enough to see him out of the darkness and towards the light of healing.

XXXX

One day months later Casey came running up with some wild flowers held tight in her hand " Donny say fer yooooooou" she chanted, then she gave me a sloppy kiss as I scooped her into my arms.

"Thank you, where is Don, Casey?" I asked. She turned in my arms and pointed toward the house.

"He dere." She declared firmly gesturing with her whole arm.

I tickled her and walked towards the house packing, Casey who was all ready squirming to be let down. "Hey you going give me my flowers?"

"No! Mine!" Casey yelled, gripping them more firmly the look on her face and in the determined jaw told me that she was not going give them up.

"They are not yours" Don insisted, "Those are for your mom."

"My preeetties." She wailed.

Don took her from my arms "Casey, listen to me, you let your mom have those and I'll give you something special." he bribed.

"No mine!" Casey stated firmly, not willing to take what might be offered over what she had.

" Fine then your mom can have this," he tried to conceal something in his hand, one hand covering something that lay in the other, and Casey began doing her best to see what it was.

"Here April, I figured Casey would want it more but...seems she got flowers soooo." He drawled.

Casey shoved the flowers in my hand " Donny show meeeeeeee! I wanna seee I wanna" she chanted eagerly.

Don chuckled as he winked at me, then he lifted up his hand to reveal her present, it was a young rabbit, probably just old enough to be on it's own, but one leg looked like it had been injured, the rabbit had escaped with it's life this time.

Casey cooed and reached tentatively out to pet the small rabbit, her eyes large and round.

Don smiled at her, "I need to fix him up a little, but why not ask Mike to find a place for your pet bunny?"

Casey nodded, "Mine!"

"Yeah go ask Mike now" He urged giving her a nudge towards the house.

Casey ran yelling "Mieeeeee, Mieeeee..."

Getting Mike to come to the door "What the devil is going on out here? Who turned the banshee loose?" Mike grouched.

Don laughed, "Here Mike, I have a patient for you to tend to, and set up a little place for it, this is Casey's pet" Don informed Mike as he strolled towards his brother, handing the rabbit off to him, and then in a low voice, "the soup pot is not the place for him."

"Right" Mike agreed, cradling the small bunny in one hand and taking Casey by the other he lead her back into the cabin "Come on Casey you can help look after your pet here." He told her, the door shutting behind them cut off any other conversation.

Don turned and came back pulling me into his arms and nuzzling my neck affectionately, "Now we're alone."

I pressed my body close to his, "Don't expect it to last for too long" I warned as I kissed him.

"As long as it last enough time for this..." Don began reaching into a belt pocket, "This isn't exactly the sort of rock I was hoping to get you. but..." he shrugged as he laid a small heart shaped stone in my hand, "Quite literally and allegorically April, you have my heart in your hands, and I love you and Casey both very much" he swallowed a bit then gave a little cough, as his eyes rested on mine, " I guess what I'm trying to say April is will you marry me?"

I bowed my head unsure what to say, finding myself lost for words, and I saw his searching look.

"I know it may be too soon for you April...and it might not be quite official" He began to stammer.

I flung my arms around his neck, "Don, it's all right. It's okay. Yes, I will." I vowed.

Don wrapped me in his arms and pulled me tighter to him.

TBC