A/N: Sorry it took so long to update, I just couldn't get the feel of the story, ya know? I couldn't see how to go about doing it. I wasn't inspired, I guess you could say..But it's alright because I'm back and I can write :)

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

When the engaged couple had told their mutant family, they had been surprised and excited. Raphael had slapped his best friend on the back, congratulating him on 'finally growin' some balls.' Michelangelo had squealed like a child on Christmas, dancing in a circle and asking questions of when it would be and who would get the flowers. Master Splinter had smiled that furry smile, like that of a father who was finally giving his daughter to a man. Leonardo had brought April into an embrace, whispering wishes of only goodness for her and her husband-to-be into her ear.

She couldn't bare to look at Donatello. Not directly. She saw him out of the corner of her eye as he sat at his desk, fully enveloped in his newest project. His eyes squinted in concentration, that look of determination on his face that she found irresistibly adorable. He never gave anyone else in the room a first thought, let alone a second one. Taking a deep breath, April built up the courage and turned her eyes directly on him. She gazed close at his features, trying to find anything that might resemble pain or sadness. Anything that matched the turmoil that was going on inside of her.

Nothing.

Donatello sucked up a bright green liquid into the eyedropper. He brought it over to the test tube tucked securely on a rack. He stopped, the eyedropper frozen above the glass cylinder as he stared at the luminescent substance inside. It was like the bright green of a freshly blossomed leaf after a long hard winter. It was like the blue-green oceans had split their colors right in front of him. It was like her eyes.

Her eyes.

He could feel them burning into his body, but he forced his gaze on his experiment. Don hoped with all the hope left in his body that she wasn't looking too closely. That she couldn't she his shaking limbs. That she couldn't see his slightly puffy eyes. That she couldn't see how much he was dying inside. He didn't want her to know that he could feel his heart breaking, piece by piece. He just wanted to be left in peace.

The boring gaze was burning, like fire had been set to his body. He lost his fiercely fought for control and raised his eyes.

Green fire and soft, amber liquid crashed as their eyes met. For a split second, he thought that she might be in just as much pain as he was. Then she looked away as quickly as she had lured him into her bed.

He returned his eyes to his project and hoped, prayed to the spirits and to Master Yoshi that his family had been tricked enough into thinking this was one of the most important experiments the purple clad turtle had ever done and that he needed to be left alone. He knew that if his father told him to come congratulate the couple, he couldn't do it. He would approach them, feel that green fire and then, out of the sure desperation and despair in his heart, attack Casey for taking what he wanted, what he needed. For taking what could finally put an end to the ever-going pain in his heart.

He sighed a sigh of relief when they left and felt himself relaxed a little.

"I hope this project is as important as you say it is," Leo said, his leader scolding tone lacing his words. "Because there is a small list of acceptable reasons why it is alright to not congratulate such good friends on such a happy occasion."

"Yeah, Leo, it's important. It's of the up-most importance," Don lied smoothly, not bothering to look up the notepad filled with doodles that he pretended were notes.

"Alright," the eldest said slowly, almost warily and disbelievingly. Fear shot through the purple clad turtle, but he relaxed when his leader walked away.

Sighing, Don rubbed his eyes. He was tired, hungry, lost, confused, and pained. He just wanted to go to sleep and never wake up. He longed for the eternal sleep that would quell the yearning in his heart that pained him beyond belief. He needed to be free from the lovingly terrible curse his temptress had placed on him.

Unable to have the sleep he ached for, Don stumbled to his bedroom, plopping down on his mattress so that he could take the only sleep he could have.

The sleep where you wake up.

A/N: I'm still getting back into the story, so this chapter wasn't exactly my best. Sorry! And again, sorry for almost abandoning this fanfic! I promise, I'll finish it, no matter what!

Reviews will get my determination goin', people!