After the third time the kitchen tap exploded all over April she forbade Casey Jones to try and fix anything else on the property unless supervised directly by Donatello. They argued and she flew off in a rage to find her favorite quiet spot beyond the barn. There was an ancient fallen tree trunk overlooking the pond and sheltered by a willow tree. It had been 'her spot' as a kid to be alone, to daydream or draw.
She stomped down in a huff and noticed Raphael already sitting there. "Hey, this is where I come to brood," she griped.
"Plenty of room," Raphael said quietly, staring out over the pond.
"Casey Jones is driving me crazy," she complained as she took her spot beside him.
"I know the feeling. Just don't ask me how I'm doing or I swear I'm gonna explode."
"Duly warned," she replied. "You know, Leo barely let them visit you while you were out. They really missed you. Be patient with them."
"Yeah, yeah, I know. I just don't like how they've been lookin' at me. Like I'm gonna break or something."
"Well now I know you're feeling better," April laughed. "Already looking for a fight."
Raphael went quiet for a moment. "Only one fight I'm lookin' for, and I don't know where to find it."
"I'm sorry. I really tried to get some leads on where Splinter may have been taken. I feel horrible for all of this."
"All you've done is help us. More than I ever thought someone would for freaks like us."
"He was taken when you were at my place. Likely followed you when you were saving my ass. How couldn't I help you? And can the freak talk."
He looked over at her finally and noticed her blouse was soaking wet and clung to her chest. He smirked. "Saving your ass was my choice. I shoulda been more careful. I also chose to go out on my own in broad daylight like Splinter told me never to do."
"Why did you bring me back to the lair?" she asked curiously. "Now that I know all of you, you seem like you would've been the least likely one to do it."
"I wasn't going to leave you there knocked out with Foot ninjas still hanging around waiting for you."
"Still, people don't trust my kind usually." Raphael gave her a confused glance. "Reporters," she clarified. "Most of us have pretty bad reputations for keeping secrets. Your brothers must have had a fit."
Raphael rolled his eyes. "Fits of excitement, more like. They were big fans."
She nudged his arm. "Just them?"
"Nah." He looked away shyly. "Plus I needed my sai back," he teased.
oooooo
Over the next couple of days April and Casey had come to a truce. They discovered they were both coffee junkies and early risers, so they had a new routine of sitting on the porch drinking their coffee until the turtles woke up and Mikey helped her make breakfast.
They sat side by side on the steps, enjoying the cool air of the summer morning before the humidity set in.
Casey eyed her thoughtfully.
"What?" April asked self consciously.
"You should learn to fight," he said out of the blue.
She considered a moment. "That's maybe the smartest thing I've heard you say so far," she laughed.
"The guys will be training hard once Leo gives Raph the green light. Said they have to up their game before they go back and face the ninja army again. Lots of time for us to practice." He looked over at her hopefully.
"I'm thinking of Raphael to be honest. You're a brawler and that's not something I can learn to emulate. I need to learn actual self defense techniques, enough to be able to strike and get away."
Casey tried not to show how disappointed he was as she seemed to get more and more excited by the idea.
What woman in New York shouldn't know some self defense? April thought to herself. Her strange new friends certainly had a way of attracting trouble and she was in the middle of it already.
Draining the last of her coffee she decided to go ask Raphael before all of the brothers were up. It would be almost impossible to get him alone otherwise and if the others teased him right off the bat he might just say no. She knocked on his door but there was no response so she stepped in quietly. He was sprawled on his stomach across the bed, one arm hanging over the side, hand just touching the floor.
"Raphael?" she called quietly, not wanting to wake up the neighboring rooms. April walked over to his bedside. She had missed being close to him and fought the urge to stroke his head like she had during her vigils over him. Her gaze wandered over his shell. The daily soaks had helped, plus now that he was well he could swim the pond in slow, lazy laps. She traced the lines within a scute with her finger, happy with how well it had healed up in a matter of days.
She looked back up at Raphael's sleeping face. His amber eyes were open and watching her warily. April started, snapping her hand back awkwardly.
"Sorry!" she said breathlessly.
"What the hell are you doing?" he asked, the tone in his voice making her nervous.
"I was trying to wake you up," she rushed. "I wanted to ask you something before it got crazy around here. But I can go. Sorry again!" Damn it what were you thinking? April scolded herself. He liked his personal space more than anyone else she knew and there she was petting him in his sleep.
April turned away to leave, cheeks red. Raphael caught her arm with his outstretched hand, gentle but firm. It reminded her of when she had curled her small hand into his and she blushed even harder.
Raphael saw her flush red, felt the sudden heat where he gripped her forearm. His heart thudded haltingly. It was too early for this. "What were you doing in here?" he asked, feeling self-conscious and flustered.
"Like I said I had something to ask you but couldn't wake you up. I got kind of distracted by your shell. We started soaking you because it was looking really dry. I was just admiring how well it had healed in such a short time and got kind of carried away. I really am sorry, I didn't mean to invade your space like that." She willed herself to stop babbling.
Raphael scowled. "Admiring how it healed?" he asked sarcastically, sure that she had just been satisfying some morbid curiosity.
"Well, yeah," April answered, trying to keep her voice from shaking. She felt like she had enough adrenaline pumping through her at that moment to run a marathon. "Leo had me convinced you were dying of dehydration based on the condition of your shell. I'm happy to see it looking beautiful again, you must be almost completely recovered."
"Beautiful?" He quirked up an eye ridge.
"Oh! Ugh, handsome?" she ventured, not knowing if she just hit a turtle gender faux-pas.
The fact that she was honestly trying to compliment him came as a complete surprise. He let go of her arm, feeling a strange mix of emotions crash through places in his psyche he usually tried to keep numb. He breathed in slowly. "What did you need to ask me?"
"I'm pretty sure I managed to make enough of an awkward mess of this morning. I'll talk to you later."
"April," he said impatiently. "It's fine. I was just...surprised."
She sighed, steadying herself. "I was kind of hoping you would do me a big favor."
"Anything," he said as confident as could be, trying to get her to calm down.
"I would like you to teach me how to fight."
"Anything but that."
"Why?" she asked, deflating slightly.
"Are you for real right now?"
"Yes! I need to be able to defend myself. You can't be around 24/7 to save me. I don't want to go back unprepared any more than you guys do."
"Aw man, why me?" Raphael asked, thinking of all the ways he could screw it up. She winced a little at the question and he could see hurt in her eyes. Shit. He was already screwing up.
April forged ahead. "I thought it would be a good way to ease you back into training. I also know the other guys will treat me like glass and I won't learn nearly as much that way. I trust you to kick my ass a little, but not go overboard."
"I'm not exactly known for my patience or restraint. I don't think I will be a good Sensei," he admitted quietly.
"The only other offer I got was from Casey and I'm pretty sure it was just an excuse to spend some time alone and 'accidentally' grope me."
Raphael frowned at that. "We'll start after breakfast."