Chapter 8: Promises

Don couldn't help thinking about Mikey's love affair with the Godzilla movies.

Though Godzilla was thought of mostly as a monster, he was also a mutant. The science behind his mutation was, of course, a little sketchy in the way that only old sci-fi movies could be. An atom bomb? Possible, but not likely. But the connection between good old Godzilla's creation (through mutation) and status (as monster) was inescapable. A mutant was a monster was a mutant.

"So. What are you feeling?"

Then nothing. No response at all.

Sometimes silence could be an answer unto itself.

---

She was crying. Never had April thought that Donatello, of all people, would or could break her heart. But then again, she'd never thought she'd be widowed so young, either. Life seemed to hold all sorts of nasty little surprises for her.

April knelt down in front of him and grabbed his face. Startled, Don looked up. He reached up and brushed some of the tears away. She opened her mouth to apologize, to beg forgiveness, to confess her love, and instead found herself hoarsely whispering, "You idiot. You absolute goddamn idiot."

His eyes never left hers. Sad, patient, understanding eyes. His eyes broke her just as surely as had Casey's death a year before. His eyes said that he really did think he was a monster and, worse, that she thought so too. Worst of all, his eyes silently forgave her for thinking so.

She let go of his face.

"You are not a monster." She reached up to the large rough hands that gently wiped at her tears and squeezed them tightly. "You are Donatello. You're Donny."

He looked away. She could feel his hands trembling.

"You're Donny," she repeated, bringing his hands to her lips. She lightly kissed each of his knuckles. "You are the smartest guy I've ever known. Not to mention the nicest. I mean, what's to hate about a guy whose top three loves are his family, his honor, and his Linux operating system?"

He didn't even crack a smile. His eyes glazed over, and it didn't even seem like he could hear her anymore. He was shutting himself down and shutting her out. She hated when he did this. Maybe one more attempt at humor?

"Now it's true, you can't cook to save your life … "

Still nothing. Not so much as an eye-blink. Panic rose in her chest, but she swallowed it down.

"I kept watch over you when you got hurt," she began again, not even realizing what she was saying until the words came out of her mouth, "and I told you that I'd never forgive you if you died on me. I was so scared of losing you. And I'm scared to death of losing you right now, Donny." She paused to lick her chapped lips and to catch her breath. "I can feel you shutting me out, and—and damn you, Don, shutting down is a way of leaving too. You promised you wouldn't leave. You promised."

He looked back to her and blinked. Thank God. She'd finally gotten some kind of response out of him.

"I did promise," he acknowledged solemnly.

"Yes. You did. And I know Splinter raised you to be a man of your word." She ventured a small smile. "So stay with me. Please. I love you, Don."

Don looked down at her hands, still holding his own. When he looked back up, he too was wearing a smile. "I love you too," he said, "and I will never leave you."

---

Nice save, thought Mike. He was rapidly developing a whole new appreciation of April's many talents. The crowning touch of Splinter-guilt by proxy? That whole "Splinter raised you to be a man of your word" bit? Beautiful. Just beautiful.

Raph snickered softly. "Don's totally gettin' lucky tonight."

Mike frowned slightly. Ew. Don's room was right next to his.

Leo raised an eye ridge. "You seem pretty okay with this."

"Yeah? Why not? April's like my sister, so I ain't jealous or nothing, if that's what yer gettin' at."

"No, I mean, Casey was your best friend." Leo glanced back toward April and Don. "And April was his wife."

Raph rolled his eyes. "Casey's dead, Leo. Besides, Casey would want her to be happy, y'know, and keep livin'. Find a nice guy. And while Donny can be kinda boring, he definitely qualified as nice."

Leo nodded, and Mikey thought it over. "Problem is," Mike pointed out, careful to keep his voice low, "what if they split? Who do we beat up? April for hurting Donny? Or Donny for hurting April?"

Groaning, Raph and Leo both punched their younger brother in the arm.

---

"Speaking from a biological perspective, there's really very little to be scared about."

"Oh?" She raised a skeptical eyebrow.

He nodded in confirmation. "I'm a turtle. Our life-spans are generally quite a bit longer than those of the comparatively fragile Homo sapiens. By the time you're well into Social Security payments, I'll just be entering my middle age." His eyes twinkled. "Not to mention that I'm a few years younger than you as it is, even without compensating for interspecies factors."

"I see. And ninja crime-fighting isn't likely to shave off a few years or decades?"

"April, please." He cocked his head and gave her a lop-sided grin. "I'm a professional. Besides, mutant genius turtle versus puny human? No contest."

He knew that she knew he was lying through his teeth. But she laughed anyway, leaning against his shoulder. He opened his coat, and she took the hint and tucked herself inside. "So what you're saying," she mused aloud, "is that when I'm old, I'll have a hot young stud to show off?"

It was his turn to laugh. "That's what I'm saying, yes. Sort of."

"Donatello?" Her voice was suddenly all seriousness.

Oh, no. He felt a flutter in his chest that, though not a medically accurate description, sure felt like his heart skipping a beat. After a moment's pause, he managed to weakly respond, "Yes?"

"There's something you should know."

Don stared down at her, attention rapt.

She smiled, leaned in close, and whispered, "Your brothers are hiding behind those bushes over there."

---

Author's Notes: So April finally set Don straight. 'Bout time, too. Probably just one more chapter after this, though there might be an epilogue. Thanks for sticking around, everyone!