Chapter Thirty-Two: Before the Darkness
AN2:
Trigger warning: This chapter involves mention to abortion. If this offends you, READ NO FURTHER.
I do not want arguments, threats, or other such reactions from readers who may or may not disagree with the turn of events. I'm adding drama (told you it was going to be a roller coaster) and to draw readers into the turmoil of the characters. I'm not making any kind of statement on what is a private, personal matter.
All I will say is: Be respectful of others. There's a lot on this site I don't agree with but I take the high road and simply ignore those particular stories/chapters. They may not be my cup of tea, but I can be respectful of the author. I ask for the same kind of respect.
FYI: Things will work out, I just ask for some trust on this journey.
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Donnie may have wanted to spend some time at Sable's, but as Friday dawned, his tracking systems began to come alive with transmissions. And remained in constant activity through the weekend. Donnie spent every waking moment at his computers, trying to triangulate the signal, but as if the Foot were aware of his intentions, their signal constantly changed, forcing Donnie to augment his algorithms. It was a digital cat and mouse.
Sunday night, Donnie sent Sable his regrets of missing their quality time, though he happily stroked himself in time with Sable's own ministrations. Self sated for the moment, both signed off, Sable groaning as her head started to pound. Perhaps she needed to limber up before contorting herself in the throes of passion? Her heart was hammering in her ears and in other places. Exhausted, she felt into a fitful sleep.
The next morning Sable huffed angrily, head throbbing fit to burst. Rest had not helped ease the tension in her skull.
She hated migraines. Her sister, Susan, was prone to them as well. The pain made it nearly impossible to see the screen on her phone. Squinting, she read Donnie's message about the airwaves falling silent abruptly and his need to monitor them for a few days. He hoped to visit on Wednesday, transmissions willing. Sable sent a quick affirmation, hoping her migraine would be better.
She wouldn't be much fun and didn't want to ruin their time together dealing with a vomiting headache. So, ice pack on head, curtains drawn, and a fan running on the opposite side of the room, Sable stayed in bed.
Monday passed with very little improvement. So when Tuesday afternoon rolled around, Sable still squinting and having no luck with pain medication, she decided to go to a walk in clinic for the high powered stuff that was proven to knock out her headache.
Not trusting the local clinics, as they had originally passed off her cancer symptoms as mere fatigue and recommended drinking extra water, Sable took the long journey south, finding an unknown clinic and giving them a false name.
Donnie recommended such a measure if she ever needed medical care, as her real name and medical history could create a red flag for any surviving scientist or doctor from the facility.
Sable wore big funky glasses and a hat drawn over her face, trying to hide in the shadows, but the small clinic was brightly lit.
"Miss Smith?" the nurse called.
Sable rose and followed the nurse through and into an exam room.
"Can we dim the lights?" Sable asked.
"Sure," the nurse said, hitting the switch. The overhead lights went off. She turned on a small light on side of the xray reader so she could write in the file. "It says here you're having migraines?"
"I've had them since I was young," Sable answered, removing her hat and glasses in relief. She explained while the nurse took her blood pressure, temperature and pulse ox. "Get them every once in awhile and I lost my insurance, so I haven't been able to get a refill."
"We see more and more of that," the nurse said sympathetically. "Insurance companies charge an arm and a leg, and when you need them, they give you a bandaid for your broken leg and expect you to thank them for it."
"Basically," Sable agreed. She took several deep breaths so the nurse could check her lungs.
"Any other symptoms? Fatigue? Funny taste? Sweating or freezing? Trouble sleeping?"
Sable thought for a moment. Most of her symptoms were from overworking on getting the house clean (all three spare bedrooms were now completely spotless and awaiting owners) and then enjoying some lengthy, sexual release with a filling, hypersexual male.
"Some fatigue and trouble sleeping," Sable admitted. "But I've been doing a lot of housework, cleaning out the mess of hoarding grandparents."
The nurse checked Sable's neck for lumps or swelling.
"Anything going on in your personal or work related stress that could trigger your headache?"
"Looking for a job and have a new boyfriend,' Sable said. "But nothing that's causing me stress. These headaches happen without warning."
"My mother suffers from them as well," the nurse confided, scribbling in the chart. "So I totally understand." She closed the chart, smiled and opened the door, "The doctor will be with you shortly."
"Thank you," Sable said, laying down on the table and curling up on her side. She prayed the doctor wouldn't turn on the lights, as it may make her puke.
Fifteen minutes later the door opened and a male voice called, "Miss Smith?"
Sable groaned, hand over her eyes.
"Please don't turn on the light."
"Not a problem," he said sympathetically.
"Here," the nurse said, touching Sable's arm.
Sable found a cold wet washcloth and an ice pack in her hand.
"Thank you."
The nurse stood aside and observed while the doctor began scribbling while he spoke.
"When was the last time you had blood work?"
Sable placed the ice pack on her neck and the cool cloth on her head.
"Been awhile."
"I'm going to order a full panel," the doctor said, motioning toward the nurse. "Make sure your thyroid and vitamin levels are okay before I give you anything stronger than a Motrin."
Sable groaned, head threatening to burst open. She waved to the doctor as he exited on the promise he'd be back with something to help her pain and nausea. The nurse followed the doctor but was back in a couple of minutes, carrying a grey tackle box with a biohazard sign on the side. She opened it, extracting tubes and everything needed to collect blood. Sable held out her arm and draped the washcloth over her eyes to block out the light while the nurse found a vein.
"Takes about an hour to get results," the nurse explained. "So if you don't mind waiting? Might be something simple like needing a dose of Vitamin B to perk ya up. Can give it to you before you leave and you'll be safe to drive."
"Its fine," Sable moaned.
The door opened and the doctor's voice floated into the room.
"Here, this should help you get your sea legs back, but don't overdo it," he said from the doorway.
"Not going any where soon," Sable assured him as the nurse drew blood.
The doctor left to attend other patients.
"Do you want the shot in the butt or arm?" the nurse asked.
"Butt," Sable said. "No meat in arms. You'll hit bone."
The nurse laughed as she eased Sable's pants to expose her hip. A cold swipe of the alcohol prep and then a jab and it was over.
"I'll come check on you in half an hour," the nurse said, scooting the trash can close to the bed. "If you need to vomit, call for us."
Sable gave her the thumbs up, wishing the medication would hurry up and work. She hated being sick. She hated having headaches. Her entire life was plagued by them.
The only good thing about her cancer treatments was they kept the headaches at bay. Now that she was cancer free, she was back to being at their mercy.
Half an hour later the nurse poked her head in.
"You feeling better?"
"Yes, some," Sable said, squinting toward the doorway. The light filtering through the door behind the nurse didn't stab her eyes as badly.
"Do you need anything?" the nurse asked. "I can bring you some juice or something."
"I'll be fine, thank you,' Sable said gratefully.
"I'll be back later," the nurse said and disappeared, pulling the door closed and throwing Sable into the comfort of darkness.
Sable must have drifted off because the nurse was shaking her.
"Miss Smith? Miss Smith, wake up," she was saying.
Sable opened her eyes to the harshness of the florescent lighting.
"Sorry, must have dozed off."
The nurse helped Sable to sit up. Sable grabbed her hat to keep the light out of her eyes and blinked at the doctor who was looking over her chart.
"So what's the verdict, doc?" Sable asked, feeling much better.
The nap she took and the shot did wonders. She didn't need to vomit, the pressure was to a minimal, and the light wasn't as painful.
"Your thyroid is borderline low. As is your vitamin B and D," the doctor said, "But that's not uncommon during early pregnancy."
Sable blinked, staring at the doctor.
"What?"
The doctor smiled. "You're pregnant."
Sable felt the world fall out from under her. Blankly she gaped, "But, that's impossible."
The doctor smirked.
"Have you had sex in the past month?"
Sable's eyes widened. Donnie was the only lover she had for over a year. But she couldn't tell the doctor she fucked a mutant turtle and he was the father. Nor could she tell him that previous cancer treatments (which she carefully omitted on her forms) had destroyed her ability to conceive. So she thought of something else.
"I had a fertility doctor tell me I had endometriosis and could never conceive," she lied, the news having a hard time soaking into her brain.
"Well, I don't know what to tell you,' the doctor said, placing her chart on the counter and crossing his arms. "But you are pregnant. We can confirm it if you wish, that way you can call up the idiot that told you you'd never conceive and gloat how wrong he was."
Sable's hand rested on her lower abdomen. Could it be true? Could she really be pregnant? Was all this possible or was it merely a dream? Or a nightmare? Numbly she jerked her head.
"I'll be back in a few moments," he said, nodding to the nurse and taking his leave.
"Do you need some help getting undressed?" the nurse asked. "You're awfully pale and shaky."
"Thank you," Sable managed to grind out through a dry mouth.
With the nurse's help, Sable got undressed and laid on the table, feet in stirrups, blankets draped across her stomach. The nurse placed instruments on the nearby tray, ready for the doctor. He knocked before entering, pulling in an ultrasound machine with him. He settled on the stool and wheeled between Sable's tented legs.
The nurse stood by, her hand on Sable's ankle in encouragement while the doctor confirmed the findings in the blood work. He snapped off his gloves and lowered the blanket, covering Sable's modesty.
"Let's take a picture of your impossible conception, eh?" he laughed, turning on the ultrasound machine while the nurse moved the blankets aside to expose Sable's midriff. He squinted at the screen, rubbing the wand along Sable's lower belly until he found what he was looking for.
"There you are!" He touched a couple buttons, then turned the screen around. "It's about the size of a thumbnail. I'm guessing you're about 6 or 7 weeks."
Sable stared at the black and white pea in shock and awe.
"Congratulations," the nurse said with a motherly smile.
Sable could only hum in blank understanding. Her attention was transfixed by the pea on the screen. Something that should have been impossible. Her body was totally ravaged by the chemo and radiation.
There was no way she could conceive.
And Donnie explained the unique genetic mashup he and his brother's shared, making them incompatible with human or turtle. They were essentially sterile, too.
Then it hit her.
She was injected with Donnie's mutagen. It had healed her cancer. Was it possible it healed her sterility? She'd have to ask Donnie. He'd know.
Oh no.
Donnie!
She was going to have to tell him. It was difficult to wrap her head around. She felt as if she was being yanked in a million different directions all at once. She was terrified. Worried. Happy. Full of dread. Almost in tears.
The doctor wiped off her belly and handed her several screenshots of the tiny clump of an impossible truth.
"Congratulations. If you need recommendations for an ob/gyn, I know several who offer services at a discounted price for those without insurance." The doctor scribbled in Sable's chart while the nurse helped her into a sitting position. "I'd like to see you back in a month for a check up. Just to make sure you don't need another vitamin infusion. The nurse will get you some prenatal vitamins to last you until you can decide on an ob/gyn. Congratulations again, Miss Smith."
The doctor left, leaving Sable in a whirlwind. The nurse exited with samples and chart to prepare Sable for discharge. Sable dressed in a daze, hand touching her lower belly as if expecting something to burst out at any second. Her headache was gone, dissolved into oblivion by the news she was going to be a mother.
She paid for her visit with cash, accepted a bag of vitamins and whatever else the doctor wanted her to take, scheduled a follow up appointment and was halfway home when reality struck her right between the eyes.
"Oh God," Sable gasped, hand over mouth as tears flowed down her cheeks. "What am I going to do?"
She imagined a beautiful little baby, with its daddy's eyes and shell, in her arms, cooing softly as she rocked her baby to sleep.
But then truth came crashing in on her.
If she had the baby, and it did resemble its father, in any way, doctors would immediately run genetic tests. And when the baby's true parentage came out, it would be taken away for experimentation.
The thought a mutant and human could create a new hybrid species was too great a temptation for scientists and doctors to allow mother and baby to remain together… or free.
Sable herself would become another test subject, only this time it wouldn't be to cure a disease. It would be to find out how she was able to mate with a mutant and produce offspring.
No matter how badly Sable wanted a child, the thought of it being taken away to become a test subject made her sick to her stomach. She couldn't live with herself knowing her baby was at the mercy of monsters, whose sole purpose was to experiment to assuage their sick curiosity. She or her child would never be safe. They would always be in danger, just like Donnie and his brothers.
It was a risk she couldn't take.
Tears made her vision blurry as she realized what she had to do. Twice she ran off the road. By the time she pulled into her driveway, she was sobbing heavily to the point of nearly vomiting. Not wanting to retrigger her migraine, she got inside, grabbing ice packs to place around her neck and head. The cold helped shock her back into reality.
Donnie.
He needed to know. She needed him there. She couldn't do this alone. A part of her was terrified to tell him, thinking he'd be angry or hate her. But another part, the part that resided in her heart, soothed her worries and assured her everything would work out. She picked up her phone but paused before texting.
How was she supposed to tell him he was going to be a father? And that she had made a decision. A terrible, but necessary one. One that scared and sickened her.
If felt no different than when she had cancer. Scared. Alone, Isolated. Facing something unknown and life changing. Terrified of what the next moment would bring. Anxious and heartbroken, panicking and nauseous, it came crashing down on her shoulders, sending her to the kitchen floor, weeping at the injustice of it all.
Through the tears and pain, something niggled the back of her mind.
She wasn't alone in this. Not really. Donnie would be understanding. If anyone ever realized how evil the human race could be, it was someone who lived in such fear every day, every second of their life spent fearing capture and experimentation.
Then again, how would Donnie react? Would this change the way he felt? Make him still love her or despise her and walk out of her life forever?
Head starting to pound again, she crawled to the bathroom, collapsing at the toilet in time to puke.
And didn't stop for several minutes.
The pressure built in her skull, adding to the torment and heartache now ripping her soul to shreds. She wanted nothing more than to curl up and sleep and wake up to find this had all been a dream. A horrible nightmare.
And out of no where, a tiny voice in her head wished the cancer had been successful and ended her agony, for not even the pain and suffering of cancer could compare to the devastation she was experiencing. She wanted nothing more than a release from the suffering.
Thankfully she was given a reprieve as the pressure in her head reached its tipping point. Drunkenly she flopped to the floor, eyes fluttering closed as unconsciousness claimed her.
She wasn't sure how long she was out, but she groggily rose off the bathroom floor, flushing the toilet. Not wanting her migraine to be retriggered, she scrubbed her face and brushed her teeth before staggering into the kitchen and picking her phone up from the floor where she had dropped it.
Donnie's name was highlighted, waiting for her text.
Liking yanking off a band-aid, facing the issue and stop fretting over the billions of different alternative realities, she sent a simple plea.
'Got some news and really need you here. Please, Donnie. It's important. Come as soon as you can. I need you.'
Message sent, Sable got a glass of ice water and waited for his reply.
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Donnie yawned, rising from his elbows where he had nodded off sometime in the night. Smacking his lips together he got up and ventured into the kitchen, where Leo was meditating with a cup of coffee.
"Caffeine and meditation?" Donie quipped.
"Zen in a cup," Leo answered without opening his eyes. "Have you made any progress on the files?"
"Some," Donnie said, hoping Leo wasn't winding him up for a fight. With Leo's unstable moods, it was difficult to tell what was bubbling beneath his once cool exterior. "Kinda fell asleep, so I need to play catch up."
Leo made a noncommittal noise and took a sip of strong coffee.
Donnie shuffled back to his computers, rubbing tired eyes behind his glasses and settling in to find out what else his programs uncovered. It was nearly lunch when he called Leo to his work station and pointed out his newest findings.
"There's extra chatter from Tokyo, mostly transmissions toward Washington DC and New York. No one has responded to them, but the funny thing is, these transmissions are bounced from those cities… into space."
"Any particular direction?" Leo asked.
"No. It's totally random. But I get the feeling it's a test run," Donnie explained. "Sending out certain wavelengths to see which ones are bounced back."
"What are you thinking?" Leo nudged the resident genius.
"From what I've been able to ascertain from their transmissions this past weekend, there's a special anomaly they are searching for," Donnie said, shoving his glasses up on his nose. "That if and when they find it, they can use whatever they have constructed to reopen the dimensional rift."
"And bring the Technodrome back," Leo breathed.
"Possibly," Donnie said. "Might just be a way to bring Shredder back. An end game is difficult to ascertain. I haven't found anything on the hard drive or in the system I downloaded from the lab where I was kept. Whatever they are planning, its very hush-hush."
"Have you been able to pinpoint where the transmission bouncing from here?"
"Eric Sacks estate," Donnie said slowly. He had pilfered as much equipment as he could when the mad scientist was arrested. When the turtles returned to the place where they were held hostage, the place was completely deserted. "No one is there. It's merely a pinging station. They're using the satellite array to bounce the signal. Totally autonomous. "
"Can't be too sure," Leo said. "Who knows? We might find something we missed last time."
"Doubtful," Donnie said, rocking back in his chair. "The place was turned over pretty good when the FBI arrested Sacks on domestic terrorism. They stripped every computer and server he owned, in business and in residences."
Donnie shared a look with Leo. It was a good thing they raided Sacks' estate before the FBI had gotten their warrants. Donnie found several files related to mutagen, though most of it was notations on Sacks' failures.
No wonder he had wanted to get his hands on the turtles. They held the only viable, original samples. And due to their infantile state when injected, and thus mutated so young, their bodies naturally produced the mutagen. They were an untapped source of wealth.
Even if Sacks managed to get out of prison, he would have to start over again. Donnie had uploaded a virus that wiped out any mention of the mutagen or turtles, however remotely, days before the FBI warrants had been executed. Not to mention, the majority of Sacks' genetic research and equipment now resided several feet away in Donnie's own lab.
Highly unlikely Sacks memorized every single experiment and equation.
"To be safe," Leo said in an authoritative tone, though technically he was still confined to base due to his recent actions, and Raph was put in charge of missions. "We should go check it out. Maybe we missed something the last time we were there? Maybe your new gadgets will find something?"
"Possibly," Donnie muttered, rubbing his chin. He had been very thorough when they raided the estate the day after Sacks' arrest.
Donnie grabbed diagnostic equipment, making sure it was fully charged and functional for their excursion. He was securing two devices to his shell when his phone pinged. He pulled out his phone, intent to send Sable a message about being on a mission and he'd talk to her later, when he read her urgent plea.
'Got some news and really need you here. Please, Donnie. It's important. Come as soon as you can. I need you.'
Frowning, Donnie texted back.
'What's wrong? We're heading upstate to check out anomalous readings.'
Her reply was almost instantaneous.
'Had to go to doctor today. Please come. I need you here with me.'
'On my way. Be there in an hour. Love you.'
Hurrying toward his brothers, Donnie broke the bad news.
"Gonna have to go without me, guys," Donnie said, picking up the keys to the bread truck. His brothers were going to go in the moving van because it was less conspicuous. "Sable needs me."
"We need you," Leo growled, stepping in front of Donnie to prevent him from leaving. "We have a mission. She can wait. This is far more important!"
Donnie sighed, looking into Leo's icy blue eyes that were back to being hard and resolute.
"She had to go to the doctor today, Leo. She's sick. She needs me."
Leo's expression faltered. The torment Sable suffered on the security feeds flared anew in his memory. If she had to go to a doctor, something was wrong. Though Leo wasn't too keen on the idea of his brother being with this young woman, it wasn't right for her to suffer alone.
It was Raph who stepped forward, assuming command.
"Go. Be with Sable. We'll check out Sacks' place and report on what we find," Raph said, motioning toward the bread truck. "Make sure she's okay."
Donnie paused, warring with himself. He knew his brothers needed him as back up and technical support. But he also knew Sable needed him, too. He couldn't be in two places at once.
It was killing him!
He hated the decision. Withdrawing two electronics, he handed them to Raph.
"I'll take my Ipad. If there's something that shouldn't be there, call me on the secured network," Donnie said, heading to the truck. "The scanner is already pre-set. Just point and shoot. It will highlight any hidden passageways or alcoves."
"Got it," Raph said, nodding farewell.
Leo's emotions flipped like a switch. His nostrils flared as he turned to Raph.
"You shouldn't let him go! He has a duty! To this city! To us! His irresponsibly leaves us vulnerable!"
Raph shook his head sadly. His voice was low, pitiful.
"His woman is sick and needs him to take care of her. What has happened to you, Leo? Where did your honor go when you hate your brother for worrying over the health of the woman he loves?"
Leo gapped as a fish out of water. It was Master Splinter who stepped in.
"Donatello is doing as he should," the wise rat said, glaring at Leo to quell his anger. "He is tending to the woman he loves when she is sick and vulnerable. You do not need to make him feel guilty about taking care of her. The team will be fine. I will go with you as back up."
"Awesome," Mikey crowed. He piled into the back of the moving van, ready to go on a mission with his dad.
Leo relented, following his father to the van and getting in with Mikey. Raph drove with Splinter taking up the passenger seat.
"You're too close to the wall," Splinter said as they exited the lair. "Slow down, traffic is bad through here."
Three turtles sighed in unison.
It was going to be a LONG drive.
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Again, please be respectful and not send hateful or violent messages. I've experienced such things before on related topics and quite frankly, it's tedious and uncalled for. Negative comments will be removed and threats will be reported to administrators.
Please y'all…. Be courteous.
Next couple chapters are going to be ROUGH.
