Chapter 8-The Older Sister

"Leo did WHAT?"

I listen to the story again, but I don't feel like Donnie's really there. It doesn't sound like him at all, his voice is quiet, quieter than usual, and he's always been the soft-spoken one of the four of them. His tone is inconsistent, it wavers, then steadies itself, like he doesn't know if he's about to cry or not. The worst part of it is how he sounds, he's speaking like a helpless child, scared and confused and uncertain. I fight off the feeling of shock that's trying to weigh itself down on me, hanging onto Don's words to keep from losing control of my emotions. I somehow manage to listen to the whole story a second time before I speak again.

"Alright, Donnie. Just sit tight. I'll be right there."

I hang up before he can say anything else. I move without conscious thought, sitting down on my sofa, my hand grips the armrest tightly. I struggle with the emotions that are pounding away at me. I think back to when I first met them. Mikey, Raph, Donnie, Leo… I remember waking up in their lair, I remember questioning my sanity when I saw who had saved me. I remember how they helped me stop Stockman's Mousers, even though they didn't have any reason to trust me. I think about how I could have easily led them into a trap, exposed them to the world, the way they so easily trusted me. Then, I think back to something Master Splinter did when I woke up for the second time, and I realize why they placed so much faith in me.

'He looked into my eyes… He was the one whose gut instinct was to trust me. Their faith in me was really just faith in his judgement…'

I feel a faint smile etch itself onto my face, I think about how much kinder all of them are than most of the people I've known in my whole life. I lean my head back, closing my eyes, thinking about how they always took me in whenever I needed a place to stay, and I almost laugh when I remember that most of the time it was because one of their numerous battles had left my apartment trashed, burned or just plain destroyed. But only almost, and soon my little smile disappears, as I force myself to my feet, turning off the lights in the house before walking out the door. I don't run, I just walk, even though every other resident of New York would advise any other woman to do otherwise. The thought of being jumped even passes through my mind briefly, but I brush it away. I slow down a little as another realization comes to me, but I force myself to keep walking, even as the slightly guilt-inducing thoughts weave themselves in my mind.

'They even gave me my confidence, along with everything else. Splinter taught me to defend myself, Leo taught me to keep a level head. I learned how to keep my emotions hidden by watching Raph, I learned how to smile, even in a dangerous situation from Mikey, and I learned not to rush into things from Don.'

I feel bitter guilt try to overwhelm me, but I restrain it. I notice a pair of thugs glaring at me, but I ignore them, feeling almost glad that they saw me. I turn a corner, I hear their footsteps behind me as they cross the quiet street. I slow my pace, tensing my muscles, waiting for them to turn the corner, almost eager to relieve the stress that's built up from all the emotions that I'm wrestling with. Then I hear a motorcycle engine, loudly blaring down the street behind me, drowning out the footsteps of my two pursuers. Cursing under my breath, I quickly turn myself around, and I see Casey's grinning face speeding toward me. He brings his bike to a screeching halt, propping it up and turning toward me, and I hear the pair of footsteps move away in the other direction.

"Yo, April. Ya need a lift?"