A/N: Alright, from this point forward you're going to need that tissue. We're about to get on an emotional roller coaster without breaks.
It had been nearly two weeks since the incident with Wikoli Hale and Ona had rarely let Kaz out of her sight in that time. But she was recovering, be it slowly. She seemed comfortable enough in the lair, but had refused to go out to the garage yet. Sarah had told her nephew to be patient, that it would take time for the trauma to wear off and for Ona to trust people again. She knew just how hard it was from personal experience.
One afternoon, Kaz slipped up the lab to find Mira half buried under one of the larger machines. "Yo, Mira!"
There was a thunk from beneath the machine. "Ow! Kaz don't do that!"
He snickered. "You're gettin' sloppy. I shouldn't have been able to sneak up on you that easily. Imagine the lecture you would've got, if I'd been Uncle Leo."
She crawled out and glared at him as she stood. "I was distracted. What do you need anyways?" Her gaze shot towards the door, obviously expecting Ona to be not far behind. "Is anything wrong?"
He shook his head. "No. Ona asked me for something a while back. At the time, I didn't see a point in it. But now I do. I guess I understand more of where she was coming from now."
Curious, Mira wiped her hands on a shop towel and moved to sit beside her cousin on one of the cots. "Oh, what did she ask you for?"
"She wants a baby."
"Oh." Mira frowned. "And you don't."
He shrugged. "Well, I didn't – at least not right now. But after what happened…"
Mira's frown deepened a fraction. "It's never wise to make decisions based on traumatic events."
"That's just it," he lifted his head to meet her eyes, "I'm not. I realize I do want a child as much as she does. Do you think you could do it for us? I mean, without Uncle Don here and all?"
She smiled. "You bet I can." Her smile turned into a smirk as she lifted one large finger. "But…"
He frowned. "But what?"
"You're going to have to babysit tonight."
He blinked. "Huh?"
Her smile broadened to cover her face. "You don't think Kane would actually let me go get a turtle egg by myself, do you?"
Kaz laughed, his gaze brighter than she'd seen it in days. "Deal." He stood giving his petite cousin a hug. "Thanks, Mira."
She returned the rare embrace. "There's no need." Her smile was soft as he released her and stepped back. "Now go get her. The sooner I have your blood samples, the sooner you'll have your baby."
Kaz grinned. "I'll be right back!"
Mira giggled as he practically bounded out of the room. She gazed about the lab, her eyes finally falling on an object in the corner covered in an old sheet. A moment later she was pulling the cover off. "Well, Dad, I guess it really does help to be prepared." She ran her fingers over the temperature control panel of the new incubator her father had insisted they build not long after moving into the new lair. She sighed softly. I miss you.
She moved to wash her hands as footsteps came up the hall. A moment later, Kaz came in dragging Ona behind him. Ona just stood there blinking with a very confused expression, while Kaz looked like the proverbial cat that ate the canary. Mira smiled as she pulled two syringes from a drawer.
Ona shifted a little. "Kaz said you needed to see me?"
"Yes, I need to draw a little of your blood." She approached the couple and set the two syringes on the small medical tray near the cot.
"My blood?" She looked up at Kaz, understanding finally dawning. "But… But I thought…"
He cupped her cheek. "I changed my mind. I want this. Look, I can't give you everything I want to. But I can give you this." He smiled. "Babe, I love you and doing this is just another way I can show you how much."
Tears sparkled in Ona's eyes a moment before she threw herself into her turtle's arms. "Oh, Kaz. You're such a sweet talker."
He chuckled softly as she stepped back to grin up at him. Then he turned to his petite cousin. "Let's do this."
One Week Later
Sarah stood on the small back porch twirling the silver ring on her finger. Donnie was headed back to their temporary home. She frowned, feeling the jumble of emotions from him. There was relief and frustration, victory and failure, and an overall sadness. She'd been trying to decipher their meaning for some time, but had yet to understand them. He was very close now and she let out a heavy breath, allowing her mind to wander home. She missed their family. She wanted to see their daughter and hold their grandson. She missed the hustle and bustle of the large clan. Dyna had been an extremely kind host, but the fact was they'd been away from home far too long.
A pair of strong arms wrapped around her and she melted into the firm plastron. "I'm sorry, I know this has been hard on you." His breath was warm against her cheek and she clutched at the arms wrapped around her.
"I'm just a little homesick I think." Letting out another sigh, her fingers ran lightly over his arm in a gentle caress. "And I miss you."
It was Donnie's turn to sigh. "Me too." He dipped his head to kiss the crook of her neck, nuzzling her and taking in a deep lungful of her scent. The tension in his own muscles finally began to relax with his wife held snuggly in his arms.
"Tell me." She stroked a hand up and down his arm.
"Dr. Trill and I have managed to find a compound that will eliminate the infection."
Sarah shivered as his large mouth again pressed against her skin. Slowly she turned to face him, already connecting the dots. "But you have no way to reverse the damage."
Don shook his head slightly. "They've never developed the skill of transplants. And with the significant scar tissue…." He closed his eyes and she could feel the pain his words caused him. "I was only able to get the simulator to give her six months." She frowned, stroking his cheek and letting out a shuddering breath. Their bond hummed with the feeling of helplessness.
There was a soft gasp behind them and they both turned to see Mikey standing in the door. His eyes were wide with terror. Sarah took a step towards him. "Mikey…"
He took a step in retreat, shaking his head. "No. You're wrong." He didn't dare meet his brother's gaze. "You have to be." He turned and rushed off through the house.
Don hurried after him. "Mikey, wait!" He and Sarah didn't catch up to him until they'd reached their shared bedroom. "Mikey, please, let me explain."
The younger brother paced back and forth across the room. "You're wrong! That's all there is to it!"
Kala stood from the bedside and took a step towards him. "Mikey? What's going on?" She looked towards Don with confusion in her gaze. What could have upset Mikey so much?
Don stared at her, fighting the lump that was growing in his throat. "I…I don't think…"
Mikey frowned, his fear turning into anger. "Tell her what you said downstairs. She has a right to know."
Sarah looked between the two brothers, knowing their heartache. She stepped around Don and took Kala's hand, leading her back to the bed to sit together. "Dr. Trill and Donnie have come up with a cure for the pneumonia."
Kala blinked, even more confused now. "But isn't that a good thing?"
Don nodded. "Yes, it is. We were able to use a combination of Earth and Neutrino medicines that should clear it up."
"No." Mikey glared. "Tell her what you said about the simulator."
Sarah squeezed Kala's hands. "Do you remember what I said back home about the scar tissue?" Kala nodded. "And how normally there would be a lung transplant?" Kala nodded again.
Don took a step towards them. "They can't do that here. Or at least they've never tried? We could try, but with there being so many different blood types in your people the risk of rejection would be extremely high."
"Donnie!" Mikey growled.
The older brother sighed. "I've run the simulations thousands of times now, but since there is no way to repair the damage done… It says you only have six months max." He looked away, swallowing hard. Sarah released Kala's hands to go to him.
"So, you're just gonna give up! Just like that!" Mikey felt like his heart was breaking and he was about to explode all at once.
Don's head shot up. "No, Mike! I'd never do that! We will keep trying to find a solution as long as it takes." He frowned. "But we've already been here more than a month and I can't guarantee we will find something in time."
"But I've been feeling a lot better lately." Kala protested.
"That's not totally unexpected. This is your home world after all. The climate here is exactly what your body was built for. Plus, with the oxygen pump and the thoracentesis you should be feeling some relief. But it's only a temporary solution."
"Then we'll just stay here, if Neutrino is better for her." Mikey said firmly.
Don shook his head. "Mikey, this is still a warzone. It isn't safe to stay here."
"Okay, then maybe we can go somewhere back home that's dry like Neutrino, maybe Arizona or New Mexico or…" He wasn't willing to just give up. There had to be a way to help her even if it was such a small thing.
"No, Mikey." Kala took his hand, making him look down at her. "I just want to go home."
He frowned, kneeling down in front of her. "But babe…"
She shook her head. "Please, Mikey. I want to see Kaz and Ona and everyone else. I'm homesick. Just take me home."
He held her pale blue eyes for a moment. Swallowing hard, he nodded. His voice shook when he spoke again. "Okay. If that's what makes you happy, then we'll go home."
"It is." She leaned forward, pressing her brow to his. A tear escaped the corner of his eye, rolling down his cheek to land on the wood floor.
Sarah turned away from them burying her face in Don's chest. He clutched her tightly, shutting his own eyes against the painful scene before him. He knew how Mikey felt. It felt like they were giving up. But they'd been there for weeks and nothing he nor Dr. Trill had come up with had worked. It was time to face reality and death, unfortunately, was a part of that reality. "Let's pack up then. I'll contact Mira to open the portal."
Kala sat back and took in a shuddering breath. "I want to do something before we leave." She stroked Mikey's cheek. "Will you take me somewhere?"
He nodded. "Anywhere you want, babe."
Don frowned. "Where are you going? Do you want us to come as well?"
Kala shook her head. "No, just Mikey." She let out a soft sigh. "I want to visit my parents. I want to see them before I go. It might be my last chance." A gentle smile crossed her lips. "I want them to see what a wonderful person I married and what a wonderful life he's given me."
Mikey took in a sharp breath. "Please don't talk like that. Donnie could be wrong."
She frowned. "Mikey..."
"It's true! He could be! He's been wrong before." He squeezed her hands. "You could have a long life ahead of you…with me."
Both Sarah and Don frowned. Mikey was in denial. It was obvious he wasn't going to accept the facts easily, even if they were staring him literally in the face.
Kala merely smiled warmly. "Okay, but I'd still like to see them before we go home."
He nodded, slowly standing. "Is it far? Do we need Dask to drive us?"
She stood as well. "No, it's only a little ways. And I think I'd like to walk it." Mikey offered her his hand as they headed down the stairs.
Donatello looked down at his wife, feeling the prickle of tears in his eyes. She cupped his cheek and allowed the torrent of his emotions to flood over her. Taking in a deep breath, she rested her head against his chest. "I know…I know."
A/N: Sorry about the short chapter. The next one will make up for it. Loving the reviews!
P. S. I may update the next chapter early, it depends on when I finish the last chapter. (Which I'm crying nearly the whole way through...)