Chapter 3

Twilight

April had grown weaker physically very fast. Especially after her treatments. Radiation, medication…

Her hair, long thick and red, was shaved off, when it started falling out, and she wore bandanas when she could, never wigs.

"It feels too weird to be wearing hair that's not mine," she admitted to Angel one evening. Angel looked down at her own purple-dyed pigtails.

"April… How come… how can you be so calm about everything?"

"I don't know. I guess cause I know I have you, Casey and the guys. You all are more then just friends. You guys are my family." April told her very seriously, her green eyes twinkling as she added, "So, what have you been up to? Besides hanging out with me."

Angel smiled, feeling strangely at ease with April there, as she spoke hesitantly about some of the issues she was going through. April listened patiently, offering advice, asking questions and laughing when they realized the humor of adversity.

Later that night, Raphael dropped in at the hospital. No one was there, and he had a device that took care of the cameras, thanks to Donnie's genius. He looked at her through the window, choked up as he noticed how transparent her skin was.

She's like glass… one wrong snap, twist, and she's broken.

But as she turned her gaze to the window and saw him there, he caught a glimpse of the April he knew so well. Strong, healthy and kind.

…But mostly her strength. As he entered through the window, she asked quietly," Everything alright?"

"Yeah…" he shrugged, and she squealed softly," You're wearing pink! A pink bandana!"

He grinned inwardly, scowling as he shrugged again," Mikey threw my bandana in bleach. Knucklehead."

"I like the look." April told him.

"Well… I'm only doin' it fer you. Leo reminded me before I could lay hands on Mikey that we was supposed to be wearing pink."

"Well, I sure appreciate it. Thank you, Raphael."

She was startled when she noticed the glimmer of moisture in his eyes.

"Raph?"

He took a shuddering breath.

"I can't believe this is happening."

April was surprised at the emotion in his words. She always suspected he was hiding his softer side beneath all that sarcasm and anger he displayed so proudly at times.

She chose her next words carefully.

"raph, I'm sure that if we were allowed to pick our fates, they would look very different. That is why we're not allowed to choose what happens to us. What we must do is make the best of what does come along. I know this thing in me is going to kill me eventually. The doctors already told me that they have little hope for my recovery. That doesn't mean I'm going to let myself just die without a fight. And even if I do die-" she paused, trying to hold back tears of her own.

be strong. Be strong.

"-Even if I do die, I want you guys to remember that I fought. That I kept hoping, even at the worst of times. Hope is too precious to lose, even in the greatest of tragedy."

"But… it still hurts." Raph groaned, as he stood by her bedside. He was fighting with tears, his voice husky with emotional distress.

April took his hand, but at this moment, the door began to open.

And just like that, she was alone in the room, with nothing but an open window as a testimony to his presence.

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

Raph sat back, groaning slightly. His day at work had left him again with feeling like there was no hope. An important member of NYPD, he had brought down criminals, without hiding in the proverbial shadows. But instead of feeling accomplished, he would just grow angrier, as he experience true injustice. Innocent people getting hurt, criminals walking away clean from their crimes.

He would fight it as much as he could, but by the end of the day, his faith in the good in people waned.

Snorting slightly, Raph reached out and turned on the lamp. And there, right across from him, was a picture of April, before she died. The pink mask he had worn was draped around it.

He smiled softly, standing up, he walked over to the picture, ignoring his soreness.

"Heya April." He murmured softly. "You're right. Hope is too precious to lose."

8~8~8~8~8~

Donatello strode into the office. His boss looked up from his paperwork as he smiled wearily, "Ah, Donatello, it's good to see you. What have you got?"

"A cure, sir, for Breast cancer."

The man froze. He looked at him warily.

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, Dr. Morez. I've run several tests, and then run several more. I'm sure."

Dr. Morez thought carefully before looking him in the eye.

"You're fired."

Not quite sure where that LAST line came from. But, Raph and April brother/sister angst!