Chapter 1

The Bad News

8 years ago

April quietly sat on her bed. She was struggling with this discovery.

Really, she couldn't believe it.

So many emotions running through her mind, she didn't even know what to express. Anger, disappointment, fear, uncertainty, sorrow, worry, and… multiply that by 100.

April finally took a breath, not realizing she had been holding it, as she stood up and made an appointment with her doctor.

8~8~8~8~8~8

Donatello was tinkering with the coffee-maker, trying to coax it back to life, when his cell-phone rang.

"Hello?"

"Don?"

"Hey April! We haven't heard from you in a while. What's going on?"

"I… I need you guys to come over. Like, Asap."

"We'll be there in half that." Don replied as he heard her numb "bye" and hung up.

He frowned. This sounded like bad news. He quickly gathered his brothers. Splinter was out of town, visiting an old friend. The brothers, 17 years of age, all hot rodded to April's house.

When Mikey set foot in the apartment building, his smile disappeared. His eyes became serious as he breathed.

"Dude… is the grim reaper here? -OW!"

Raphael felt it too. Something was wrong.

Leonardo called cautiously," April? We're here."

"I'm in the living room, guys."

They saw her sitting down on the couch, her knees curled up into her chest. She smiled at them, her expression serious. Donatello felt a slight confusion. He knew something was wrong, but she looked fine. Normal.

What was with this feeling he had in his gut?

"Guys, I have some news." She told them, her green eyes ironic.

"What is it?" Leo asked.

She took a breath.

"I have breast cancer."

There was a silence so thick, Don thought he would drown in it. Leo finally broke the silence. His voice seemed to shatter their eardrums, though he spoke in a becalmed, deceivingly soft tone.

"When did you find out?"

"A few days ago." She replied with a quiet expression. "They said that I don't have a very good chance of surviving, even with treatments. But I'm not going to just give up. I'm due for treatment tomorrow, in fact."

Everyone, for once, had no words. Mikey seemed to be trying to keep from hyperventilating. Raphael's expression was stiff-beaked and angry. No surprise there.

Donatello was stuck between fear and a determination. There had to be something they could do. Anything.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you guys sooner." April added, this time looking sad. "I didn't really know how to break the news."

"It's alright, April. We'll do whatever we can to support you." Leo told her, a little fiercely.

April smiled.

"Well, you can start by wearing pink."

8~8~8~8~8~8~8~8

Donatello waited impatiently in the office. Once again, his project was being put on hold.

Sometimes… he really couldn't stand other humans.

Even though mutants, like he and his brothers, had become accepted into society as equaling humans, There were still the typical shriek-at-the-sight-of-you-and-run types out there.

He didn't even know WHY the secretary didn't like him, although he suspected it had to do with the fact that he had "roughed up" her boyfriend for trying to intimidate a smaller mutant co-worker.

Huh, he hadn't even touched the big jerk, just reprimanded him, and then made a fool of him by sidestepping a punch. The big buffoon had broken his hand against the wall.

Donatello stood to his feet, approaching the secretary again.

"Excuse me, Ms Jozen, but this is really, really impor-"

"I already told you. He's busy. Now you can either go back to work, or you can sit down and wait." She replied coldly.

Donatello straightened.

"Ms Jozen. I discovered the cure for Breast Cancer. I do believe that whatever work he's doing, it's not as important as this. Now you can either admit me, or watch me escort myself into the office. Either way, I'm not waiting any more."

Since when did I sound so much like Raph?

She stared at him before allowing him to go to the office, calling their boss to let him know Donatello was coming. Don sighed with relief. That had to be the hard part.

But he had a feeling that perhaps the hardest part was yet to come.

You guys owe this to Margui. She wanted me to continue this story, so I have. I may work it where it flashes from the past to the present, if that's cool with you guys.

Again, this story is dedicated to those who have survived breast cancer, or who have it, or have died from it. Anyone involved with it.

Live Life Loud, guys.

Also, you guys should know. I have a friend who is a survivor. But I've never been involved with anything pertaining to this painful subject up close. if I make a mistake, describe something wrong, let me know, but don't be too harsh because of my inexperience.

Questions, Comments and Constructive Crit is all welcomed. :))