Chapter 4: Daybreak

Don awoke in a haze. He glanced around in confusion. This wasn't his room. Where was he? What time was it?

Then he remembered. The sai. He'd been hurt. So this was the infirmary. And right on cue, he felt the pain again. But it was manageable this time. This time, his side throbbed dully instead of feeling on fire. As for what time it was, since his brain was still fuzzy from just having come to, he could only guess. Based on the single night-light in the corner, probably nighttime.

Something still felt strange, however. He couldn't quite figure out what, though, until he glanced down and saw her, barely visible in the dim light. Her head on his shoulder and her arm across his chest. His breath caught, and his eyes widened. He wondered for a brief moment why on earth she had gotten into the bed with him, then realized he didn't care why.

What mattered was that she had. What mattered was that she was there now. If his life hidden underground had taught him anything, it was that happiness—like pain—was ever-fleeting. Happiness was to be cherished, not questioned.

Perhaps feeling him start in surprise, April turned her head and nuzzled into his neck. Her breath felt hot on his skin, and Don's body began trembling. Oh gods, she was so beautiful. The light from the corner cast golden streaks across her red hair and made her skin glow ever so softly. He could not stop shaking at the feel of her body against his. He had never experienced anything like this, had not even hoped for it.

But she woke slightly when she felt him tremble. Lifted her head just a bit. "Still cold?" she mumbled, still half-asleep.

"N-no," he whispered. His voice shook as badly as his body.

"Oh … good." April's head dropped back down.

Don tentatively raised the arm on his good side and rested his hand on April's waist. It took a lot of effort and his arm felt heavy as lead, but it was worth it. He gazed down at her in wonder, enjoying the feel of her waist under his palm.

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Splinter stood in the doorway to the infirmary, two cups of hot tea in his hands. He stood, watching his son watch her. His son, the highly-trained ninja, had no idea that his father and sensei was even in the room, so intent was his focus upon the sleeping woman.

Upon seeing Donatello awake with eyes open, Splinter's first instinct had been to throw down the tea and embrace the young turtle. But something in the boy's face stopped him from doing so. Something that was—what was the word in English?—wistful. He had always known that Donatello had feelings for their young human friend April, feelings different and perhaps deeper than his brothers'. But he had never seen his son look so unguarded and happy as he did just at this moment.

Splinter waited another minute, as he could not bear the thought of interrupting such happiness. Reluctantly, he cleared his throat. Donatello's eyes grew wide as he caught sight of his sensei. "Master!" Don's voice stayed low, so as to not wake April. "This … t-this isn't what it looks like … "

Splinter could not help a small smile, seeing his son's sudden panicked expression.

"I must have, uh, gotten cold during the night, and she, uh … " Donatello trailed off helplessly.

"I am not angry, my son," Splinter said finally. He walked over to the bed and placed the teacups next to it. "I merely wanted to say that I am very glad to see you have awoken. How do you feel?"

"Not too bad, Sensei. My side still hurts, but I'll be okay in a few days, I think."

The rat smiled again. "I am happy to hear this. Be careful that you do not overtax yourself, however." He paused, took up a cup, and sipped the tea. "Your brothers will also feel much joy to learn that you are awake. Do you wish me to tell them now or … do you wish to have some more time to fully awaken?"

Donatello blushed, as much as his green skin would allow, at Splinter's underlying meaning.

"I will give you a few moments," Splinter decided for him. He carried the single teacup to the doorway and turned back. He fought back another smile, seeing that Donatello still wore that wide-eyed, panicked look. "If you feel able, please drink some tea. You will feel better."

"Yes, Sensei."

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She felt warm. Her mind was telling her that it was time to wake up, but her body refused. It was comfortable here. She was lying on something warm, with a warm blanket around her shoulders. As consciousness slowly came back to her, April realized that her pillow was moving—gently rising and falling, with the intake and exhalation of each of its breaths.

Casey? She frowned to herself. No … no, Casey was … She sighed. Damn. Not even for a minute could she escape their deaths. Not even in the semi-consciousness of first awakening.

"April? You awake?"

Apparently her pillow had heard her sigh. She opened her eyes and found herself looking into the chocolate brown irises of Donatello. She smiled, though she felt a bit confused as to why he was there. "I'm awake," she croaked, not altogether convincingly.

He smiled back at her. "Good morning," he said, gently, as if afraid of scaring her.

"Good morning." She rubbed her eyes, yawning, then suddenly remembered everything that had happened the night before. She sat up and grabbed him by the shoulders. "You're awake! Oh my God, you're awake!"

"So I am." He cleared his throat. "Though would you mind not leaning on me? It kinda hurts."

She jerked back, embarrassed at her clumsiness. "I'm sorry, Donny! I'm … sorry." She didn't know what else to say. So many feelings rushed through her—relief, confusion, embarrassment, concern—she felt as if she was being sucked down into a whirlpool.

But then Don gave her a funny look. "You know, your smile is a really nice thing to wake up to," he whispered.

"Thank you," she replied, surprised at the unexpected compliment.

"April?"

Never had she heard him say her name like that before, in that soft uncertain voice, and April found that she could not look away from his eyes. Time stopped. She tentatively cupped his face in one hand, stroking his cheek with her thumb, and he opened his mouth to speak again.

" Don!" They both broke eye contact to look at the doorway, where Raphael stood in shock. "You're okay!" Raph looked over his shoulder and yelled, "Hey, he's awake! Get yer shells in here!"

Before Raph could throw himself at Don, April quickly slipped out from underneath the blankets and stepped to the side. A moment later, Raph launched himself at the bed, overjoyed, and hugged Don to his chest as one would a small child. Don hugged his brother back with his good arm as Raph kept murmuring, "I love you, Donny, I love you," over and over again.

As the rest of the clan came hurtling into the room, April watched with a smile and a curious feeling in her chest. And when she caught Don's eye, as he looked up from the swarm of family surrounding him, the curious feeling only deepened.

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Author's Notes: A bit shorter than the other chapters, but a chance to focus on that purple-wearin' guy that I'd claimed would be the one center-stage.