(Three Weeks Later)
Donatello woke just before his alarm could go off at 6am, and punched the mattress above him. "Wake up, Mikey. It's time to work."
"Mm. Just five more minutes."
He smacked his younger brother with his pillow. "Up! Do you wanna be able to compete with Leo and Raph, or don't you?"
Mike groaned a little bit while leaping to the floor. "Ugh. What are we trying to prove again?"
"That we can train ourselves just as effectively as they can push us. And they don't need to worry about us falling behind ever again. I told you not to finish writing the chapter last night."
"How could I stop, Don? I was almost done. I'm not the only one who can't put something down when I start working on it, " Mike pointed out.
Don grinned. "Sometimes, we seem to share similar wavelengths, Mike. So are you up for this, or not?"
"Oh no, Donnie. The question is, are you up for this? I'm challenging you to a throwdown competition. First one to ten points wins."
"You in the mood to eat some mat, Mikey?"
"Since you said that, I also call anything goes."
"Fighting styles, you mean? You're on, Mike."
Michelangelo pulled off a massive throw right out of the gate, but Donatello wasn't intimidated. He didn't mind starting out a little slower and lulling his brother into a false sense of security and overconfidence.
He had a particular move of his own already in mind. It was something Don knew he needed to attempt in practice first anyway, before attempting to use it on someone in the real world. This was the perfect chance to do it.
Donnie brought up both hands to lead in to the maneuver, but Mike was a step ahead of him, looping an arm around his neck in a grip dangerously close to a headlock. The purple-masked turtle flared his elbow out to strike his brother's wrist. Then he leaned back while also punching diagonally, forcing Mike's hold to break.
Once free, Don bent forward to catch his shoulder in one hand, and opposite arm band in the other. He twisted and spun his brother in a circle, holding on tight while performing a move which felt similar to a dance. Mike squared up his stance like Donnie expected, setting him up for the final portion.
Don lifted the orange-masked turtle's arms and rotated them the opposite direction from the spin. Then he slammed his hips against Mike's plastron, captured the back of his leg, and lifted him up and over his shell. With a smooth transition he forced his brother into a forward roll across his shoulder, and slammed him to the mat.
Startled blue eyes stared up at him, and then understanding dawned. "You're breaking out John Wick* on me?"
"You said anything goes."
"How the shell did you learn that?"
"You aren't the only one who watches YouTube, Mikey."
"I bet you can't do it again."
"Are you challenging me to try?"
"In fact, I know you can't do that again. Bring it, Donnie!"
The older turtle shook his head, but got off his brother to set up the move a second time. He wasn't surprised when Mike tried to grapple with him again. Donatello figured he would have to defend himself like before, but he didn't anticipate Michelangelo's foot landing in between his own wide stance.
Before he could react his brother whirled him around, and his other leg collided with Don's thigh. In a split second the older turtle was tumbling out of control and flopped facedown on the mat.
"Who's eating the mat, Donnie?"
He squirmed, trying to sit up, but his brother perched on his shell like a boulder.
"You haven't won yet," Don complained.
"I'm waiting to hear those sweet words."
Don rested his head against the cushioned surface, which already felt a little slippery from his sweat. "If I say it, this is over?"
"Let me hear it, and you'll find out."
"You win."
Michelangelo's gleeful snort was only slightly annoying. "I dunno, bro, we still have a few points left. I'm not about to have you let me win."
"Call it a draw then. I'm hungry."
The orange-masked turtle immediately looked at his watch. "We're late! Why didn't you say anything?"
"It took me forever to get you down here!"
"Okay, fine, it's a draw. But you have to help me with breakfast. I'll never have everything done on time with the late start."
"Why does the time matter, Mikey?"
The flash of nerves in his eyes made no sense, but then the orange-masked turtle laughed. "You're the one who likes to stick to a schedule. Now you better help me catch up, or I really will kick your shell."
Luke had accepted the last minute shift at St. Joseph's the night before, mostly because of the sheer desperation in the shift manager's voice when she called. Now the ER was fully staffed again and under control, so he was ready for a little shut-eye himself.
It was an extremely busy night, with hardly any time to breathe between cases. Something about a full moon always seemed to drive up the injuries and emergencies.
He yawned as he stepped outside into the pre-dawn chill, heading across the walk-way towards the elevator which would take him down to the Physician's parking. He felt good about the shift he'd finished. Luke was able to help save a handful of lives near death, and get a few others back on the road toward stability.
As he was leaving the unit, he'd gotten the "look" from one of the residents again, as if pleading with him to stay this time.
I've got too much going on with the guys to consider a full-time position now. There are plenty of good doctors in this city who need the job. I can't let myself get tied down, not for anything.
As he hopped off the elevator and started for his Volvo, he saw a very familiar dark blue Avalanche, with the driver's side door wide open.
Aw, shoot! Move it or lose it, Barrows!
But before he could get out of sight, a familiar head popped out of the vehicle too.
"Luke!"
Dagone it. I was almost home free.
Luke stopped in his tracks, and turned around with a tolerant smile.
"Hi, Marcus. What's going on?"
"It's great to catch you like this. Did you work last night?"
"Just had to fill-in, you know? All the usual crazies were out."
"Are you finished then? I have a consultation, but it doesn't start for another hour or so. Do you want to get some coffee, maybe talk a little?"
Not on your life, Marcus.
"You know, I'm actually really tired. I kind of want to get out here and crash for a little while," Luke told him evasively.
And I don't have the energy to take any flack from you today.
"I feel like I never see you, Luke. I'd really like to catch up."
"I know, um...I've got a lot of things going on, Marc. My life's a little bit...well...there's just a lot going on," he repeated awkwardly.
"Honestly, I'm thrilled to see you working again. You're so good at what you do, Luke. The ER could really stand to keep you around."
"It's been nice to be back too. But listen, I'm almost asleep on my feet, so I...I'll see you when I see you?"
Marcus gave him a sad smile. "All right, Luke. I hope I catch you around."
Luke gave him a small wave, and quickly hurried away from his old friend before Marcus could say another word.
Donnie was given the task of tending to some scrambled eggs while Michelangelo focused on dredging another batch of French toast. He cocked his head upon hearing footsteps out in the living area. Leonardo and Raphael were probably showing their usual cunning of showing up at just the right time to eat.
Sure enough, Raph glanced through the door a moment later. "Food?"
"It's almost ready, Raph - though you'll be lucky if you get any," Mike threatened. "You guys completely wiped out the syrup supply on me a couple weeks ago."
"We got April to replace it, didn't we?" Raphael laughed.
"Get out of the kitchen and go sit down. It'll be out in like five minutes," the younger turtle directed, and turned to Donatello. "How are the eggs?"
"Firming up for me. They've got a couple minutes left on 'em, I think."
Raphael started to leave, but then backed up through the door a second time.
"Didn't I tell you to sit down, Raph? You'll get breakfast faster if you get the shell out of the kitchen." Mike waved his spatula at him.
"Can it, Mikey, it's time," the red-masked turtle said meaningfully. "Donnie, ya need to go."
"Can it wait a second, Raph? I don't want these eggs to stick."
"Forget your dumb eggs and get out there, now."
"It's all right, Donnie, I can finish it." Mike assured him. "Just go, so breakfast can be ready before I have to start lunch."
A little bewildered, Donatello wiped his hands off on a towel, and walked out of the kitchen. The first thing out of the ordinary which caught his eye was a pile of luggage, stacked up behind the couch. Brow slightly furrowed, he glanced around the living area and laid eyes on a very familiar raven-haired girl.
"Jen?"
He was so stunned that he couldn't move; she was the one who had to run to meet him. When her arms came around him, it became apparent that she was not a figment of his imagination.
"Holy shell, Jen! What are you doing here? How long have you been in the city?!"
She ignored the questions, moving to kiss him first. Don shyly held back, shooting his older brothers a pointed glance.
"Well, fine." Leonardo chuckled. "We can tell when we're not wanted."
He and Raphael hustled into the kitchen, and Jenna was practically on top of him a moment later. The part of him which didn't want to surrender to the kiss had no choice when the warmth of her frame overtook him.
"It's so good to see you." She sounded breathless, and didn't seem capable of letting go of him.
He took a deep breath of his own to control surging desire. "This is unbelievable! I'm glad to see you too, but what's going on? Aren't you starting school in like a week? How did you have time to fly half-way across the globe?"
"There's actually a very good reason I'm here, Donnie." She giggled.
"How will you be ready for college to start? You are still beginning this quarter, aren't you?"
"I am, Donnie. I'm going to this little place right down the street. Maybe you've heard of it - it's called NYU."
He stared at her again, momentarily at a loss for words. "You're...going to school in New York?"
"That's right, Don. I've been set up with a dorm, and I start next week."
"I have got to be dreaming," he murmured, a strong sense of disbelief permeating his mind.
She laughed and kissed him again, then brought two fingers to rest on the medallion around his neck.
"I'm all yours now. With the exception of holidays, summers, and the occasions that my parents fly in. I do need to spend some time with them."
"Jen, it's amazing to see you. But is this really what you want? To be uprooted from your home, living so far away from your parents? This is your life, and you only get to do it once."
"Do you think I ought to do what makes me happy?"
"Yes, exactly!"
She leaned in so close, he could feel her breath when she spoke. "I am, Donatello. You'd better just get used to having me around, because I'm not going anywhere."
Don released a shaky breath as he held her tightly, and wondered how he would ever be able to let her go.
*And on and on it goes. As for me, this seems to be the series which doesn't end. I mean...someday it will. But until then...I have a lot more updating and writing to do. Thanks for reading.