Chapter 6
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I honestly felt like I'd slapped everyone in the room. The looks on all their faces...
Raphael sat down heavily, putting his head in his hands, and Rachel quietly went to him, sitting beside him and putting an hand gently on his arm. The other turtles didn't look much better.
April meant the world to them. And now...
Now she was the face of our enemy.
"I still can't believe you left Jake there" Marco shook his head, but the look on his face almost betrayed his words. He looked... almost relieved.
"Well he didn't give me much choice" I half pointed to my neck, feeling Rtaia push my hand away as she looked me over. Thankfully, Serah hadn't been hurt again on the way back, and her mother had taken her out of the main room and into what we now called the sick bay, probably to both check her over and to tell her off for being so reckless. She could have been killed...
"That idiot can take care of himself for once... still can't believe how reckless he was" Ithiell almost growled, managing to sit up and grimacing a little.
"Here" Rtaia gave Donnie, who was on the other side of me, a salve she pulled from her small medical bag, before going over to start taking care of Ithiell.
"Lean back" Donnie instructed, and I moved my head back, now staring at the ceiling as Donnie gently applied the salve onto my bruised neck.
"So... what do we do now?" I heard Rachel ask as Raph grunted beside her. I heard Leo sigh.
"Ithiell, do you have any idea what they're looking for?"
Ithiell made a short grunt, then "I wish I knew. I didn't get time to properly go through their computers. I almost got caught, but found myself next to an explosive device. I followed the wires and... well you know the rest"
"Well, it sounds like they do not have plans to blow up the city until they find this creature" Rtaia said, and I heard Ithiell groan a little at something she was doing.
"Okay, done" Donnie said, and I looked at him, smiling and putting a hand over his. He tried to smile back, but I knew the news of April had hit him just as hard as it hit his brothers and Splinter.
I put an arm around the back of his shell, both of us looking back at Ithiell and the others.
"So... what do we do then?"
"I suggest we attempt to find this creature before they do, and see if perhaps this is a creature that may help us"
"I'm with her" Marco jabbed a thumb at Rtaia.
"How are we going to find it, when they have all those controllers?" Cassie spoke up, looking at each of us. Her eyes rested on me for longer than they should have, and I could have sworn I saw a look of almost anger in them, before turning back to the conversation.
Maybe I was just paranoid...
"Kristiana, did you hear about any... unusual creature... when you were..." Leo trailed off, looking slightly embarrassed.
She hummed and put her head down, seeming to think for a minute before shaking her head a little.
"There isn't anything specific that stands out. The only thing I can remember is some rumor about a creature that was causing the Yeerks grief a year or so back on another planet, but I don't even know if that's related"
(I do not remember hearing anything about a creature of any kind) Ax seemed almost annoyed.
(Could be they thought you were too young, or the Andalites didn't know about it themselves) Tobias supplied, shifting a little on his perch near where Cassie and Kristiana were.
We all fell silent, Ithiell only occasionally making a noise or two as Rtaia used her medicines. I think we were all still taking in all this new information.
Could we save the city? If they wanted this creature so badly-
"Only one way now"
We all turned to looked at Ithiell, who now looked determined, in spite of all Rtaia's poking and prodding.
"We need to get my fighter back up and running"
"But it's only-"
"I know, but if I can get it working, I can get into the city and scan for any unusual life signs. I've installed a cloaking device from what Jade and Donnie salvaged from one of the Bug fighters, so we should be able to get in and out without a problem"
"But... how long will that take? You can't really think we're going to let you work with those injuries"
He shook his head, smiling at me a little.
"No, you're all going to help me. Together"
"Then let's get going" Raph finally spoke up, looking at each of us.
"The sooner we get this happening, the sooner we can get April back"
Leo nodded "Agreed. Let's do this"
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Teams were sent out, each consisting of one turtle and one Animorph, to look for anything we could use to finish off the fighter. Ithiell had given each of them a list of sorts to look out for, and had made sure they could stay in contact with him while they were out, all the turtles wearing the headgear that Donnie and Ithiell had originally fashioned for them. Ithiell himself would wear his own headset, while the rest of us helped to work on the fighter. The turtles would be carrying the equipment, while the Animorphs would help rip off or grab whatever they could and as fast as they could.
Unfortunately for Rtaia, Ithiell had insisted on getting back to work immediately, and there was nothing more she could do besides be by him as he worked away with the rest of us.
Cassie was the only one of the Animorphs left behind, and I wasn't sure if she was upset or she didn't care about it too much, but she kept herself busy by keeping an eye on Splinter as he helped us.
"All right, that over... no no, not like that" Ithiell moved around to where Serah was, and I noticed the more Ithiell took over and tried to show her what to do, the more upset she seemed to get.
"Here, this part goes in this way, and then you... clip that to.. and..." Ithiell had obviously noticed as well, and was trying to be as gentle as possible, but I also knew he wanted to get the fighter in the air as soon as possible. There was no time for hesitation, as much as I hated to admit it.
"Sorry Ithiell" I saw tears in her eyes as he worked next to her, trying to keep moving on putting my part in, but I couldn't help feeling sorry for her.
"Nothing to be sorry for. You didn't know, and I could-"
"Hey Ithiell, could you come here for a minute?" I interrupted him, deliberately grabbing the wrong tool and waving him over.
"Oh, sure Jade" He patted Serah on the shoulder, then came over to me, looking strangely at the tool I was trying to put the part on with.
"What-" I grabbed Ithiell as soon as he got to me, pulling him up next to me as I saw Serah turn away to look at the little part Ithiell had put in.
"Ithiell" I hissed.
"Jade" He responded.
"Serah isn't handling any of this very well"
He sighed, closing his eyes before looking at me "I know. I'm not sure what to do to help her, but I can't-"
"Maybe...maybe I can take a few minutes and talk to her"
He looked at me, those big eyes almost sad, before nodding.
"Go, I'll get Mihra to install some of the parts I asked her to install"
With that, Ithiell went off to talk to Mihra, and I went and sat next to Serah.
"Hey Ser"
"Oh, hey Jade" She tried to wipe the tears away as she saw me, but I put a hand on her arm.
"Come on, let's take a walk"
"But Ithiell needs me to-"
"It's okay, I told him I needed your help with something. Now... come on" I half hauled her up off the floor, heading to the entrance of the base, both of us going outside into what was now starting to become early morning. I could hear the birds starting to chirp and call out to one another. Leaves rustled around us as the forest started to wake up to the new day.
"So... what do you need help with?" She asked finally after a few minutes.
"Nothing, I just figured you needed to get out for a little"
She looked strangely at me, but then shook her head and continued to walk.
We walked in silence for a for more minutes, before I finally gathered up the courage to speak again.
"Serah, are you all right?"
She looked at me, forcing a smile and looking like she was about to tell me she was, when her smile cracked and tears started to slide down her face.
I grabbed her, pulling her towards me and wrapping her in a tight hug, which she returned after a few seconds, digging her head into my shoulder and sobbing uncontrollably.
I tried to say something soothing, but instead I just tried to hush her like you would a little child, patting her back and just letting her cry, knowing she probably needed to let it out. Her first real experience in the middle of a firefight hadn't really been the best one...
Then again, how could you make any first experience like that good?
I remembered my first experience, ten years old... screaming and trying to avoid getting chopped in two... then the pain as claws had cut into me...
I knew, the pain of being shot at, was so much worse though. And she'd been shot in the sky. If I hadn't been there...
Well, I didn't want to even think what would have happened to my friend if I hadn't.
Slowly, her tears subsided, and she was finally able to pull away, looking down at me and sniffling.
"Thanks Jade. I just..."
She tried to wipe her tears away with the sleeve of her jacket, sucking in a deep breath before continuing.
"I just didn't think it was that painful. And then... I just..."
"Hey, it's okay. Being shot hurts alot, take it from me" I tried to joke, but the look on her face made me regret it.
"How do you do it?"
"Do what?"
"Fight. Be hurt and still be able to... I mean, I was useless when..."
"You weren't useless-"
"Yes I was!" She snapped, turning and starting to walk away from me, but I grabbed her arm, stopping her. The look on her face... she looked truly terrified.
I took a deep breath, composing myself and thinking of my words carefully before I spoke.
"Being in battle doesn't always mean to get to be a hero, and you don't come out without battle scars. Physically, emotionally... it affects everyone differently. And being shot at, or cut, or burnt... it hurts, and alot. Especially the first time it happens. There is no getting away from it, but you have a choice when you're in the middle of a firefight, when that happens"
She just looked at me, waiting for me to continue.
"You either lay there, or you keep fighting. And me? As much as it hurts and as much as I want to just give up sometimes, I choose... I choose to keep fighting, and if I have to... I'll go down that way"
The look on her face was now blank. When she didn't say anything, I continued.
"Ser, think of it this way. This is your first battle scar in a sense. Yeah, it hurt you, and yeah, you freaked out... and everyone does... but you survived, and you did well to get back here"
"I just... " She looked down, tears forming in her eyes again "I don't think I'm cut out for any of this. For war..."
I shook my head "I know, and I'm sorry you have to go through or this. It's horrible and scary and I know it all seems like a burden, but..."
I was about to tell her she didn't have a choice, but I felt that was just too mean to say.
"Look Serah, every person... every little bit helps. And even if you and I don't fight side by side, I'm sure there is plenty of other things you can do. Just... don't give up on yourself so easily. You are alot stronger than you think"
She suddenly let out a strangled laugh, and I moved a little back from her.
"Gosh Jade, six months ago my life was all about clothes and boys and school... and now, look at us"
I frowned "I know, but-"
"And look at you! Gosh... my little tomboy best friend" She let out in a sob, then continued "All this time, I didn't know what you had to go through...for half your life..."
I shook my head, going to say something, but she put her hand up, stopping me. Tears were still sliding down her cheeks, and her expression was somewhere between hurt and happy.
"When I first met you, I had no idea what you were. I just... I wanted to make you feel comfortable, since you looked so lost and confused. And your accent... I thought it was fantastic by the way! But... no, I'm getting off topic" She let out another strangled little laugh, suddenly grabbing my shoulder and pulling me towards her, then putting her arms around me and hugging me tightly.
"I'm so proud of my gorgeous little tomboy! You've gone through hell and you're still a fantastic person"
"Uh, thanks?" Was all I could get out.
"I'll wear my first... whatever you called it... and I'll try harder, I promise"
A shuffling in the trees near us suddenly had us both on alert, the look on Serah's face told me she wasn't ready for another confrontation.
"Stay behind-"
We both jumped, Serah letting out a shriek as two figures emerged from the trees.
"Friggen hell Leo!" I snapped, slapping his shell as I realised the other figure was Ax.
"Sorry, I didn't know you two girls-"
"Nevermind, let's all just get back. I kind of have a headache"
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The day passed quickly, and I was surprised how much more we all got done working together. The hull of the ship was almost complete, thanks to what the turtles and Animorphs had been able to salvage, and now we mostly just had to do alot of small fiddly stuff, according to Ithiell.
Eventually, we all decided we needed a rest, having something to eat before everyone retired for the night.
I managed to get a few hours sleep in, before my brain just wouldn't let me sleep any more. So I lay there, staring at Donnie for a while. When I couldn't go back to sleep, I decided Donnie needed to be awake with me for a little while.
Thankfully, he didn't seem to mind the wake up call, and soon we were laying beside each other again, slightly out of breath but happier, and more relaxed.
"Cheeky" Was all he got out. I smiled up at him, then leaned over and kissed his nose, rolling myself onto my stomach and resting my elbows on the bed, then my head on my palms.
"You were yummy"
He blushed a little it seemed, shaking his head and moving to kiss my shoulder "No, you are"
"You didn't seem to mind when I-" He stopped me talking by capturing my lips with his, making me hum instead.
We broke the kiss, and I couldn't help but touch his cheek, rubbing it a little as he moved into my touch.
"Feels good, after so long..."
I frowned a little "I know. I'm sorry... I hope you didn't think-"
He shook his head "Never. I know you love me. I just had to wait until you were ready to come back"
I felt tears spring to my eyes again, suddenly realising how hard it must have been on him. To have me flip out, cry, scream...
I'd pulled away from him for so long, not giving him any affection I know he wanted. And now... here we were. Being intimate. Just him and me...
Donnie surprised me by smiling suddenly, turning and grabbing his glasses, putting them on.
"Now, I want to remember this-" He gently pushed my shoulder, making me roll over as he moved to lay right beside me, propping himself up on one elbow as the other hand pushed a strand of hair back from my eyes. His expression made me think he was up to something.
"Remember what?" I managed to ask, feeling as his hand slowly crept down my neck, tracing over my shoulder before going down my left arm, pushing the sheet that was covering me away.
"Donnie!" I tried to cover myself a little, but he shook his head. He was definitely up to something!
"Just looking" Was his defense, as he trailed a finger down my side, then up onto my stomach, suddenly stopping and resting just below the scar that was there. His expression changed a little.
"What's wrong?" I looked down at the scar myself, watching as he traced the scar with his fingers, giving me goosebumps.
"This scar..."
"Yeah, you've seen my scars before. What about them?"
"I've just never asked you how you got them all"
I looked up into those big, sweet green eyes of his, and he smiled a little. I knew what he was asking. Just... without really asking.
"This one..." I moved my hand over where he was still trailing the scar, stopping his hand from moving any more "I got from one of my first battles. It was a female Terinan, and their claws are poisonous. She cut me pretty deep..."
"I can see" His hand started to move again, getting out from under mine and landing at another scar at my hip.
"I hesitated in battle. Terinan almost cut me in two"
His hand moved around, then onto my shoulder, almost moving me so he could get to some of the scars on my back. He landed on my shoulder blade, and I could feel the small indent.
"Half shifted, and I got stabbed by one of those blades. It was lucky my internal organs were shifted, otherwise that may have been a fatal one"
He hummed, continuing to move down my legs as I told him the story of each scar, and how I got it.
Finally, he turned me back over and his hand landed on the newest scar of mine. His fingers once again traced it, looking up at me again.
"You know about that one" I said "Dagger in the thigh, Visser One's madness"
He looked a little upset then, moving to kiss my forehead.
"Don't tell me you still feel guilty" I looked up at him, our faces now just inches apart. He shook his head.
"No, I just wanted to hear you tell me"
"Um..."
"I can tell, it doesn't hurt you anymore. It used to"
Now he had me. I hadn't even realised-
He kissed me again, his arms now going around me and pulling me towards him. I put my arms around him, breaking the kiss and just enjoying being so close to him.
"So... what'd you think of all my stories?"
"Hmm" Was all he responded with, holding me as tight as he dared.
"Come on smelly" I finally said, pulling away from him and going to sit up "Let's go for a shower while we can"
"But..."
I turned to look at him, raising an eyebrow and seeing it click in his head.
"Oh" He muttered, rolling onto the other side of the bed and getting up as well. I couldn't help but laugh at my little clueless turtle.
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I stepped out of the bathroom, fully clothed, using the towel I had been using for my hair to start drying the edge of Donnie's shell. He went to push my hands away a little, but I persisted, and instead he just picked me up facing him, making me wrap my legs around his middle as I focused on my task. His arms went around my back, starting to walk towards our room, but then stopped suddenly.
"Bub?" I asked, and he hushed me, moving us over to the tunnel that lead out towards the hanger. It was then I picked up voices as well.
He started to creep down the tunnel, both of us now picking up the voices more clearly.
"That wasn't a very-"Leo started to say, but Serah interrupted him.
"I know, I know. Mom went off at me already okay? I don't need you to as well"
"You know I just..." Leo trailed off, and that's when we reached the small set of stairs, finding Donnie slipping me down to the ground quietly, and we both moved down them, then went to peek around the corner. I felt Donnie almost leaning on me as we saw what I thought was a cute sight.
Serah and Leo were standing face to face, Leo's hand on her shoulder. He seemed genuinely concerned, and she was half pouting up at him like she usually did when she didn't want to be lectured.
"Leo, I didn't know what it was like. I thought I could handle it, but... but then I got hurt...and it hurt... and I got really scared..."
"I know" To I think both our surprise, Leo actually pulled Serah into a hug, and I heard her sigh a little.
"Serah, I was so worried when I couldn't find you"
"You...were?" Serah managed to move away enough to look up at him, and he nodded.
"I thought something bad might have happened... and then I saw you with Jade and I... well, I didn't know what to think"
"You were really worried about... me?"
I heard Leo let out a throaty laugh, looking down at her and shaking his head.
"I don't know why you think I wouldn't be"
She went to move away, but Leo gently touched her arm, and she stopped.
"Serah, I... I care about you alot. I..."
"And I care about you too Leo... I mean... alot more than I should"
Now it was Leo's turn to be confused. Serah finally turned around to him, her eyes wide and bright.
"Leo, I like you. Like... really like you. You are like, absolutely incredible! I mean, you have such a passion, and you are so kind and sweet..." She trailed off, then looking down at her feet, almost annoyed it seemed.
"Serah, I-"
"But... I know you had that big crush on Jade, and-"
I almost let out a squeak if it wasn't for Donnie covering my mouth when he had, both of us watching in shock and awe as Leo gently grabbed Serah's face under the chin, lifting it up and pressing his lips against hers. The other arm pulled her close, and she let out a noise of surprise, before melding into the kiss.
I wanted to jump up and down for joy, but knowing it would ruin the moment they were having. Serah had finally told him how she felt, and Leo had responded like I hoped he would!
We both watched as they pulled away from each other, smiling.
"Serah, I like you too... alot more than I should. You are funny, smart, are always around when I need someone to talk to, and... well..."
He suddenly laughed, shaking his head a little.
"I never thought you would ever see me like that. After all, I am just a turtle"
"No!" She slapped his chest, making him jump back a little.
"What?"
"You are not just a turtle! You're Leo! And I...and I..."
She suddenly rushed forward, capturing his face in her hands and catching him by surprise as she kissed him passionately.
Soon he relaxed into the kiss, pulling her close again.
As their kiss got deeper, I felt Donnie's other arm wrap around my waist, picking me up and turning around to creep back up the hallway.
I didn't need ask why, and he didn't need to explain himself. We both knew it was time to leave the two new lovebirds alone.
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EEEE! CUTENESS!
Constructive criticism appreciated!