Kara was in Donnie's lab putting up the latest pictures of their adventures. She giggled at the pictures of her and Leo pranking the others two nights ago. She leaned back and looked over all the pictures on the wall and smiled brightly at them all seeing each of their faces lit up with joy but she stopped on one picture that had a frame around it with hearts.
She pulled it off the off and looked down at it. It was Her, April, and Donnie with Donnie and her pushing April on a swingset with them looking at each other their cheeks flushed soft pink just having the time of their lives. She closed her eyes and placed the picture to her chest. "I miss you, April.."
She looked up, feeling a hand on her shoulder and saw Donnie give her a weak smile before taking the picture from her to look at it. "Heh..we maybe friends but what does it matter..what am I to her anyways? I'm worse than a nerd..I'm a freak!" He said grabbing at his head. "We're all total and complete fre-"
Kara placed her hand on his arm and looked up at him with worry. "Donnie..please calm down." she moved closer to him, wrapping her arms around him. "you're scaring me, Donnie..me and Tim.." She looked over at Tim who was just staring at Donnie. "I'm sorry Kara." He gave her a gentle squeeze and kissed the top of her head before going over to Tim. "I'm sorry Timothy." He placed his hand on the glass, Tim licking the area where his hand was, before grabbing some fish feed and pouring some down in his tank.
Kara walked over to Tim and listened to Donnie go on about April blaming them and sighed, leaning against the tank and glanced at Tim. "I can understand how they feel..both of them." She sighed heavliy and closed her eyes. "What should I do Tim?"
Timothy glanced between Kara and Donnie, seeing how much pain they were in and looked over at April's picture.
Kara snapped out of her thoughts just as Donnie slammed his fist on the table. "I swear, if it's the last thing I do I'm going to find a cure!" She ran over to him not noticing Tim's mouth coming out from the tank and drank the last of the mutagen. She held him from behind, making him stop in surprise. "Donnie..you promised you wouldn't get obsessed over this. I know you miss April...but please don't forget that I'm here to help you..so is Sara" She gave him a squeeze while placing her head on his shell.
She closed her eyes feeling his hands over hers and sighed softly. "That's it..I have to go talk to her, tomorrow!"
She let him go and moved in front of him to give him a kiss goodnight and left but on her way out she saw the others watching an old anime show and sighed, but smiled at them. "Dorks." She muttered under her breath before leaving.
Sara saw Donnie huddled at his desk working on a device and moved over towards him but stopped seeing pictures of him and his brother, Sensei and some of Kara. She lifted her hand to one of all of them with their arms over one another with Kara and Mikey in the middle grinning like goofs which caused her to chuckle then she moved towards Raph who looked like he would rather be somewhere else but saw a hint of a smile then Master Splinter who was behind his sons with a genuine smile on his face, his hands behind his back.
Next, was Leo who had on a large, confident smile on his face with his arm around Kara's shoulder and lastly, was Donnie who had a soft yet shy smile but his eyes weren't fixed on the camera they were on Kara. She also noticed his cheeks were flushed a light pink showing that he had a crush on her.
Sara chuckled at the picture before looking at all the rest of them but were focused more on the ones with Kara, seeing her smiling from ear to ear or laughing her head off. She smiled and lowered her head before crossing her arms over her chest. "You know.." She started not really talking to anyone in particular but got Donnie's attention as he glanced her way.
"Before she met you guys..she had no one well, no one her age to hang around,they were all friends of the family but were only there for whenever she needed them. They had families and lives of their own so she never bothered them but everytime we would see her her face would light up with such joy, it was cute." She chuckled softly making Donnie turn his chair over grabbing his full attention.
"Yet, whenever we had to leave she would still smile yet her eyes...her eyes were filled sadness knowing she would be alone again for who knows how long...but that all changed when she met you guys and her Sensei. I always wondered what she would do after her job...how sad she must of been..how lonely she felt wishing she had someone to talk to..." Sara breathed in deeply letting out a loud sigh but a small smile formed on her face.
"She's having the time of her life with you guys so..thank you...for letting her in and befriending her. She's more alive than ever when she's with you guys." She turned her head to Donnie who let out a soft gasp able to see Sara's facial features clear as day seeing a soft, sincere smile on her face and in her eyes but when he looked again it faded back to her featureless figure.
She moved over to Donnie's side and leaned down so they were face to face. "Just so you know, Kara can get pretty jealous so cool it with the April talk, ok? I know she's yours and Kara's good friend but you're not the only one suffering. Well, get some rest or you'll worry Kara even more." She stood up straight before moving back to her pod and slipped through the cracks before curling into a ball and closing her eyes to sleep.
Donnie looked at her for a few seconds before looking back down at the photo of them, gently running a finger over Kara's face and smiled softly before turning in as well.
The next day Kara stood outside of April's high school and looked up at the building feeling her stomach twist and turn in knots. "Ugh..think I'm going to be sick.." She muttered to herself while kids her age file inside either talking amongst friends, on phones, or listening to music.
She smiled some at how lively the place was but took a deep breath before pulling her hood over her head and walking up the stairs and into the school once more. "Hopefully none of the teachers are robots or there's going to be trouble."
She walked down the halls watching the kids go through their lockers and chat still when she felt someone pull down her hood. She froze and looked behind her to see a tall, tanned man with brown eyes and slicked back brown hair wearing gym clothes and a whistle around his neck. "Sorry, kid. You know the rules. No wearing hoodies inside the school."
Her face felt like it was on fire, her cheeks turning red and she nodded before lowering her head. "Oh uh yeah, sorry about that." She made sure her right eye was covered before going to leave but he stopped her again, this time, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Wait, I haven't seen you around before. Are you new?"
She froze in place once more a million questions going through her mind and she slowly nodded. "Um..yes?"
He looked down at her for a moment before smiling. "Oh, well allow me to show you to the principal's office so you can get everything situated." He started leading her down the hall when she heard someone calling out, "Mr. Rodriguez."
The man and Kara turned around to see a group of girls coming up to them giggling and smiling. She took this opportunity to sneak away while they asked him a bunch of questions. "They must have crushes on him. Don't they know how old he is?! That's nasty...but he was kinda cute."
She eventually found April ahead going through her locker. She smiled brightly and went to take a step forward but her smile faded as questions of doubt flooded her mind. She shook and walked up to her.
"This is it April, a new start. Just pretend you're a normal girl."
"What's so special about being normal?"
April turned around in surprise seeing Kara with a half smile on her face and her arms crossed. "Kara! What're you doing here? I thought you didn't want to be seen."
"I came to talk to y-" She stopped mid sentence and moved her leg in front of April's just as a hockey puck slammed into her calf. "Ouch!" She fell to her knee and rubbed it. "Ow ow ow, that's gonna bruise.." She hissed in pain before grabbing it and standing up. "Are you ok?" April asked and Kara nodded just as a boy wearing tight sleeved under shirt, grey shirt, and a hooded vest that looked to be covered in white paint and dirty jeans with a bandana on his head walks up to them, taking the puck from Kara's hand and dropping it back on the floor.
"Nice job stopping my puck like that. You've got some moves." Kara sighed and ignored him before looking at April. "April, please. I need to talk to y-"
"Hey, you could start with sorry." April said while holding her books to her chest.
"Sorry she got in the way. I mean," He turns to Kara but stops now that he had a good look at her he grins and leans on his hockey stick. "Hey, names Casey Jones."
Kara rolled her eyes in annoyance. "Hi." She turned her attention back to April and grabbed her arm, pulling her away from him. "What the, where are we going?"
"I need to talk to you about the guys." Kara started but stopped feeling April jerk her arm away from her. "No, I don't want anything to do with them anymore. They ruined my life and if you're going to side with them then I don't want anything to do with you either! We are no longer best friends, you got that!?" April yelled at her causing a few by standers to look at them
Kara's eyes widened at what April just said but she closed her eyes before opening them, the look in her eyes going cold causing April to look at her in surprise. Kara took a step toward her making April take a step back, Kara whispering to her.
"You know, for someone who shouldn't be here or alive..you have a funny way of showing gratitude to them for saving your life." She turned away, putting the hood on her head and walked away leaving April in the middle of the hall, speechless.
Mr. Rodriguez was looking for the new student and smiled when he found her but saw she had the hood on again. "Sorry, kid. Once more no hood.." When he pulled the hood off her head he stopped when she turned to look at him and saw she was crying. "What's.."
He didn't have time to finish his sentence for she put the hood back on and ran out the school, clutching her hoodie. She turned into an alley and leaned against the wall sliding to the ground and broke down, curled in a tight ball.
That night Kara wasn't up to going topside with the guys so she hung out at the lair and chatted with Sara inside Donnie's lab sitting backwards on his spiny chair. Sara looked down at Kara noticing her eyes were puffy and her nose was pink.
"What's wrong, sis?" Sara asked slithering through the cracks and floating beside Kara.
Kara looked away, turning the chair to the side to avoid contact, not wanting to say anything. Sara looked at her and sighed before moving in front of her.
"Kara, I know something is bothering you. I can feel it. Ever since you left last night you've been nothing but an emotional wreck..and I know why."
Kara sniffed and glanced over at her sister. "How can you tell?" She asked before looking down at the ground.
"I don't know what to call it but every time you feel sad, angry, or happy. I can feel it. Even when I'm over seas I can..feel your emotions. I guess you can call it a sister's intuition but I know you are sad not only from your expression..but I feel it here." Sara said while placing her hand over her heart.
Kara looked at her and laughed softly. "That's kinda corny." Making Sara laugh with her but nodded. "It's true and I know you do too so, once again, what's wrong?"
Kara sighed softly and turned to fully face her. "April doesn't want to be my friend anymore..she wants nothing to do with me.." She said burying her face in her arm.
Sara looked down at her and went to reach a hand out for comfort but remembering how she is she sighed heavily and moved her hand back to her side. "I know things are bad now but they will get better. Just give her some time."
Kara nodded but it didn't stop her from shedding a few tears.
Sara stared at her and closed her eyes, remembering Splinter's training.
"It seems your emotions have some effect on your new mutant body." Splinter started while slowly pacing in front of her.
She sighed in annoyance and looked down. "Sir, I don't know what you're talking about." She looked down confused more than ever and clenched her fist as questions run through her mind, the smoke around her starting to dance as she became angered. "This is all so confusing!"
Splinter noticed her body changing and closed his eyes. "Calm down, Sara, and look at yourself." He said in a calm tone. She looked down at her hands noticing the smoke around her was dancing like fire and blinked in surprise.
She sighed softly and closed her eyes to calm herself before opening them again and seeing the smoke had lowered back to its normal state. "Wow.."
She looked up at him and he smiled in return. "Now, let's continue."
Sara looked down at Kara and closed her eyes before hovering over Kara with her arms around her. "I want to hug her. I want to comfort her...I want to be there for her.."
Kara blinked in surprise feeling sudden weight on her back and looked up seeing Sara's body start to turn human again. She sat up and turned around, wrapping her arms around her sister and cried happy tears. "Sara, you're human again!"
Sara smiled softly and gently stroked the top of her head before giving her a gentle squeeze only to move away from her and change back. "Sorry sis, I don't have full control over it but..I'm getting the hang out it."
Kara smiles with excitement and wipes away her tears. "It's a start."
Kara looks over at the entrance seeing Donnie storming in muttering to himself and immediately working on a project he was doing. "Hey Don-"
"Ridiculous an-and they were swinging together. Swinging!"
Kara placed her hand on his shoulder making him yell in surprise and turn around. "Oh, Kara. You surprised me." "Who was swinging, Donnie?"
"April and some guy. She looked at him! She gave him 'that' look."like like this," She took a step back as his eyes widen and sparkle. "Um..that's great Donnie..but what does it matter to you? You've got me, remember?" She gave him a weak smile and he glanced over at Sara who shook her head and moved her arms down slowly telling him to cool it.
He sighed and stood up, holding Kara close. "Of course I do. Just seems she really is going to be gone forever.." She placed her hand to his cheek and stroked it gently with her thumb. "Everything will be ok..give her time." She kisses him on the lips before placing her forehead against his. "I'm gonna go. I'll see you around."
He nodded and kissed her once more before she left. "Bye Sara! See you tomorrow." Kara waved by to her sister before turning her attention back to Donnie, having a large, chesire like grin on her face.
"What?" His face turning red at her. "Oh, nothing. Loverboy." She laughed as his whole face turns an even darker red before he goes back to his project. Sara leaves to the living room to relax.
Kara decided to take the rooftops home thinking the breeze on the roofs would be able to cool her head. "Maybe I'm just over reacting. I mean, he said he doesn't have feelings for her..maybe its because she was their first human friend. Ugh, and of course I had to be knocked out.." She groans and hits her head on the side of a storage wall.
"Get it together, Kara! She's your friend...not anymore.." She sighs but stood up straight hearing screaming and runs over to the edge. "Tim?!"
She noticed Timothy grew arms and legs...and was speaking?! "That must be the device Donnie was working on earlier..but how did he grow arms and legs.." She asked aloud before following him by rooftop, hearing him shouting April's name. "He's going after April.."
She caught up with him and found he had them cornered in an alley way with the guy, knocked out. "Casey? Whatever, I don't care!" She thought and went to jump down and help but saw April fighting Tim off.
"Maybe she doesn't need my help.." She closed her eyes and went to turn away but saw him punch Casey, sending him flying and slap April away and onto the ground.
She put her gloves on and clenched her fists while Tim advanced and she jumped off the rooftop, grabbed hold of some pipes and pushed herself off the wall towards Tim, kicking him away.
She lands in front of April, in her fighting stance and glared daggers at Timothy. "Don't lay a finger on my friend!" She shouted in anger before charging.
April slowly sat up, shaking her head and looked over seeing Kara fighting The glob trying to protect her. She looked down remembering saying hurtful things to her and yet she still came to her rescue.
Kara knocked Timothy off his feet and she turned to April. "Run, get out of here now!"
April's eyes widened just as Timothy grabbed Kara from behind and squeezed her. "Leave...April..alone!" He shouts before throwing her into the wall, knocking her out.
He advances towards once more only to have Casey grab her on his bike and ride away with Timothy following after them.
"Kara, Kara wake up!" She slowly opened her eyes seeing Sara above her shaking her. "What? Kara groaned and sat up, holding her head. "Come on, we gotta save your friend."
"What're you talking about, she's not my friend.." Sara grinned, helping her up. "That didn't stop you before now come on." Kara blinked in surprise but followed after her anyways, knowing what she meant. "Even if she doesn't think we're friends..she always will be to me.."
"They're riding too fast I can't catch up!" Kara says through heavy pants as her legs begin to tire out and slow down. "Here, then I'll help you" Sara said and grabbed her arms, closing her eyes to concentrate her emotions and lifts her off the ground with ease, flying towards them and soon could see them not too far from them.
"Faster Sara! I see them! I want you to do something for me" Kara started making Sara look down at her. "What?"
April gasped seeing Timothy starting to catch up to them slamming cars aside that were in his way and pressed her back against Casey's "For a big guy..thing. He's fast!"
"Let's see him outrun this!" Casey starts and hold up what's left of the pipe Timothy dissolved but blinked hearing a sudden shout
"Now, Sara!"
Sara throws Kara towards them slamming her body in its side, throwing him off balance and away from them, giving April and Casey time to flee. Kara lands perfectly on her feet and glares up at Timothy before standing up and resuming her fighting stance. "April..wait...be..good friend!"
"Not so fast barrel full of ugly!" Kara looked over seeing Mikey and Raph, a look of relief on her face. "Kara, you're bleeding!" Raph pointed out. She blinked in surprise and feels something wet on her forehead. Placing her hand to her forehead she looks at it and sure enough theres blood.
"We got this, dudette. Go back to the lair and patch yourself up." Kara sighs but smiles. "Fine, but you better not lose when I'm gone." She grins at them before giving them each a high five and left for the lair.
At April's place Casey was getting ready to leave. "So when's our next date?" Sara watches them in the shadows to make sure they were safe and smiled at them before shaking her head. "Teenagers."
She blinked hearing something in the alley next to her home and saw Timothy hiding as well. She narrowed her eyes as they began to glow and went to make a move but saw the boys intervene.
"Where do you think you're going, handsome? April's house?" She chuckled at Raph and tilted her head some. "I kinda like him. He's got spunk."
"Keep him in the alley! We can't let April's boyfriend see us!" Sara nodded in agreement with Leo but noticed Donnie giving Leo a frustrated look. "Interesting.."
"So another study session tomorrow?" April asked about to open the door.
"Possibility" Casey said with a grin before turning to leave, rolling his bike beside him. Sara's eyes widened noticing he was about to see the boys but luckily April stopped him.
"Wait! H-hold on!" April started.
"Hehe, I knew it. Something you want to say to me, red?"
"Yeah, you don't want to go down this way cause..um..toxic fumes!" Sara coughed softly into her hand to hide her chuckle. "Why don't you take this side street over here? You can get home a lot faster." She grabbed hold of his arm and turned him around the other way.
"Whatever you say, O'Neil. Later!" He said riding off.
April peeks into the alley from the side and saw the guys fighting Timothy. "I knew they had something to do with this. Just keep walking, April. I's not your problem."
"You might want to watch out for the trashcan" April suddenly heard and when she looked up she stepped back with a start seeing a trashcan coming at her before she turned around. "Who said that?!"
Sara closed her eyes and floated downwards from the roof onto her doorsteps. April got into a fighting stance. "Who are you?!"
Sara smiled, her eyes still closed. "It's ok, I'm not going to hurt you. I'm a friend." She said softly before opening her eyes revealing them to April, who gasped in surprise. "Kara's sister?! But..how!"
Sara looked up at the sky and closed her eyes recalling the scene in her memory. "Same thing that happened to your father I suppose. Protecting my loved one. You're not the only one suffering, April. Kara blames herself as well."
"Does she know they did it?" April asked, anger in her voice.
"Of course she does. " April looked at her in surprise before raising her voice. "And she is still with them?! After everything she has been through she still hangs around with them?! Doesn't she want her life back?!"
"What life?" April looked at her with confusion. "What do you mean?"
"Her life is different from yours, April. She doesn't have any friends, doesn't go to school, doesn't get to have a normal life like you. She stays cooped up in her place..alone. You and the boys are her only friends. She already lost one...she doesn't want to lose them." She said gesturing to the boys in the alley.
April looked down in shame and touched her arm. "Then why did she save me? Why did she help me?"
Sara turned her head to April and smiled softly. "I think you know the answer to that." April squeezed her eyes shut and looked away not noticing Sara had moved closer til they were face to face.
"Listen, you have a right to be mad but they are working their butts off to find a cure for your father and I. So take as long as you need to get the anger and hate out but remember they care for you and are awaiting your return. They'll wait for you forever if they have to.." Sara flew away not realizing the guys had finished their fight and were listening in on their conversation but if April were to look they would be gone.
Master Splinter was putting the finishing touches on her head, wrapping up the wound. "Thank goodness you do not need stitches, my dear. My first aid only goes so far."
Kara had her eyes closed and let him concentrate. "It's ok, Master. I know you can handle it."
She heard the guys returned and smiled brightly and looked up at Master Splinter who nodded. "I am finished, you may go." She smiled more and left the dojo, running to the guys in a group hug. "So I assume you guys kicked butt?"
They all talked at once but Donnie just stared at her, seeing the bandages and grabbed her hand, taking her to the lab. "Donnie, what's wrong?" She blinked in surprise at his sudden action but blushed whenever he lifted her up on his table. "You got hurt again.." He said reaching up to touch the bandages sadness in his voice. She winced when his fingertip made contact but before he could move his hand away she took his hand and placed it against her cheek, closing her eyes from his touch.
"Donnie, I'm always going to get hurt. I'm just a human being but I'm not a fragile doll I can handle on my own..but I know I won't need to because you are by my side." He looked at her with hopefulness in his eyes and leaned forward, kissing her on her lips.
Fearing for her safety, Donnie and Master Splinter agreed to have her stay the night to make sure her head injury isn't too serious but..."How can I sleep when the guys wont go to bed?!" She yells in her head as the guys watch their ridiculous anime show with the volume on high and them shouting.
She looks around making sure no one is watching her and slithers off the couch and towards the exit only to have Master Splinter catch her, holding her up like a cat. For some reason, this always made her feel small like a kid.
"Where do you think you're going, my dear?" Master Splinter asks Kara who had her arms crossed and was pouting. "No where..."
He chuckled and set her down. "Do not lie to me, my child" She sighs in defeat and turns around. "Going to bed.." She mumbles and decides to sleep in Donnie's room til they went to bed themselves but stopped, hearing Master Splinter talk to Donnie.
"How are you, my son?" Master Splinter asks softly giving Donnie a start. Donnie sighed and lowered his head. "Sensei, I created a monster who could of squashed the girl I'm totally into as well as April..How do you think I feel? Kara probably blames me..and I'll probably never see April again."
"April's decision to stay away is her own choice. We must let her come back in her own time."
"What if she never does?" Donnie asked quietly, sorrow written on his face.
"Never lose hope, Donatello. Besides." Splinter started, placing his hand on his sons shoulder. "You have someone who will never leave your side right now. Focus on the present and leave the future for tomorrow."
They both looked at Kara as she stretched and yawned softly before walking into Donnie's room. Donnie smiled softly and got up to follow her.
She was about to climb into bed when she heard the door open and saw Donnie at the doorway. She smiled and opened her mouth to say something but he was already in front of her and planted a kiss on her lips. She blinked in surprise, blushing softly but closed her eyes, wrapping her arms around him.
When they parted lips he looked at her with a soft smile, stroking her cheek and climbed into bed with her, holding her close til she fell asleep, kissing her cheek before dozing off himself. "Yeah, there's always hope.."