April slumps back on the cot in the lab. He her arms and legs hurt and she just wants to go back to bed. She doesn't see why she is forced to talk to Donatello. He had nothing to say during Splinter's lecture so trying to talk to him now would be a waste of time. She's sure he'd rather be taking something apart than having an aimless conversation with her… or perhaps he'd rather be with Kala.
Donatello notices her blatant distance but will try to do as his Sensei prescribed; less work, maintain relationships. He rolls his stool over to her and sits. This feels sort of like he's being forced on a date… if only. "So April. You wanna tell me what's going on?"
She looks at him with a 'you should already know and it's your fault that you don't know' face.
Donnie sighs. "Look, if this is about me being busy, I'm sorry. I've been working like crazy to get us ready for this mission. I realize that while I was doing that, I was setting you aside. Believe me when I say that it totally sucks when I miss you leaving for school or don't help you with your homework or just hang out with you. My logic behind that was… if I do all of this stuff without you now, there would be more time for us later. But there isn't always time later, you know?"
She admits to herself that she had thought the same thing. She nods.
"The sooner we work together and take down the Kraang ship, the sooner I can get back to working on the retro-mutagen and get your father back. You know I promised you, I 'd never give up on that."
"I know you did. Thank you." She says. "I'm sorry too… for hitting you. I know you do what you do to keep your family safe. I was being impatient and…"
"Jealous?" Donnie offers with a smirk.
"Yeah, about that…" April starts.
"Yes?"
"I… when Kala said… and I couldn't but she…" April tries.
"April." Donnie places a hand on her shoulder. "Remember what Splinter said. Just let your heart flow. I'm not going to judge you. Just speak what's in your heart." Donnie holds his breath.
She stares into his big brown eye and suddenly blurts out. "I don't want to lose you."
Well… Donnie's face is flushed. "W-what?"
"Donnie, you are amazing."
"Awe, gosh, April, you always say that about me and my brothers."
"No, I'm just talking about you now… You do so much for this city and get nothing in return. I believe you will save this city and defeat our enemies, and I believe you will get my father back… and you deserve more thanks than I could ever give you."
Donatello smiles warmly at her. He slides his hand down to hers and holds it, comforting her. "April, we… I don't do it because I want stuff from you. I do it because it is the right thing to do."
"I know and that makes you all the more awesome but… Kala says that you and the others would be happier in her dimension, where you could live how you want and be seen as the heroes you are. You wouldn't have to worry about people being afraid of you or hunting you. You could live safe, happy lives. I want that for you. I really do. I like the lair, not because of what it is but because of who lives here. I know you may not want to stay here forever and you know I can't give you what you deserve but Kala can… Is it wrong for me to want to keep you here? You're the only family I have."
The intelligent turtle understands now. He cups her hand between both of his. "April." His heart wants him to say, 'I would never want to live in a world that you weren't a part of.' Instead his mind comes up with something less cheesy. "This is my home. Sure, it's not a ritzy condo but it's where I belong. I love my city and I will fight for it as long as I can. And Neutron sounds like an amazing place to visit and Kala may be able to give me and my brothers everything we could ever want but… Neutron doesn't have everything I need."
Smooth Donatello.
April is sure she is still sitting on the cot, but she feels like she's floating. If he wasn't holding her hand she'd drift away. His words sooth all of her doubts. They way he is looking at her is just like all the other times, when he's being brave and opening his heart to her, and all she wants to do right now is to give in completely to the free flow of her heart. But no, she can't loose those feelings yet! They still have a lot to do. She needs to come back down somehow… sarcasm! "Everything huh? What if they give you the keys to the biggest lab with the fastest super computer in existence? Then would you leave?"
"Hmm." He's actually considering. "I'd be on the next portal to Neutron." He pauses to look at her face and smiles. "Then I'd be back in time to greet you at the door and help you with your biology test." He winks.
She thinks it's ok to keep floating… just a little. "Donnie-boy, you have such a way with words. I suppose Kala having a crush on you isn't so strange."
"Me? A crush on me? She said that?"
"She told me last night. You really didn't know?"
"I, I'm telling you the truth April I… are you sure she meant me?" Donnie asks.
"I'm pretty sure she said she had a crush on you too." April slips.
"A crush on me too… You mean?" Donnie she points at April, hopefully.
"Whoa Donnie, don't go there." April puts up her hands. "Kala assumes a lot. And remember what Splinter said about her needing to be more direct when she speaks. Come to think of it she never actually said your name when I thought she said she liked you."
"She may like Mikey. He went on and on about them going on a date." Donnie recalls.
"And he seemed quite upset when I talked to him last night… so, she didn't kiss you?" April asks.
"No way April! I've never been kissed by anyone! Except…. Um… anyway, I guess Kala and Mikey are clearing things up as well."
"Yeah, I guess so. But I still don't fully trust her."
"I hope you trust me."
"I really do."
"Good, because I'd hate to have you punch me like that again." Donnie chuckles.
April smiles. "Come here." April scoots over and gives room for Donnie to join her on the cot. He sits next to her, his shell against the concrete wall. She reaches for his tablet on the side table and turns it on. They share a pair of headphones and watch reruns of their favorite show.
Donatello is on cloud nine! She's seated right up against him and her lavender-scented hair is beating his brain to a pulp. His tablet could sprout wings and he wouldn't notice right now.
Not even through the first episode, both teens become very sleepy. April turns her knees and rests them on his leg. Donnie feels her nod and he shifts, allowing her head to rest on his shoulder. The tablet wobbles in her hand and he reaches around her to grab it before it falls.
His arm is wrapped around April; his hand is holding hers. This is it! He drums up the nerve to say it. Say it before it's too late. "Sweet dreams, April."
"You too, Donnie." She drifts off.
So very proud of himself, Donnie shuts his eyes and lets the droning of the show on his device lull him to sleep.
…
In the dojo, Michelangelo and Kala roll over the ornate rugs on the floor, feverishly hugging and kissing each other, having fully made up as soon as Donatello and April shut the doors. Every time Kala taps her orange-banded turtles shoulder, he finds her cheek neck to kiss as she places her breathing mask back on to take in some much-needed di-oxygen. She giggles and taps him again and he eagerly finds her lips. Ten minutes later they are both breathless, leaning against the old tree trunk, looking up into the faint light piercing through the leaves.
"Kala, my gal-a?"
"Yes, Mikey?"
"That was… a good talk."
"Yes, very good."
He glances over at her and watches her glowing skin fade back to normal. She is so awesome. "I'm sorry I doubted your feelings for me. It's just… I can't believe you're real. I really like you."
Kala smiles and looks back at him. "I really like you, Michelangelo. And I am sorry for causing so much confusion in your home.
"Hmm." He looks back up at he leaves and branches. "How long will you stay?"
Kala scoots close to him and slowly puts her hand over his. She looks into his eyes. "We do need to talk about this as well."
His brow furrows. He's though about this in private, not too much though. He DOES NOT want to have this conversation.
"Once we defeat the Kraang and stop whatever they were planning to unleash into your city, I was going to use their technology to get me back home, to find my comrades, and continue our fight against the Kraang in my dimension… I did not want to bring it up until later but…" She sits up on her knees and places her hands on his shoulders. "Do you think you'd want to come with me?"
The freckled turtle's eyes grow wide and he gasps. "You mean, leave New York and live in a futuristic society with flying cars and rocket ships and different kinds of aliens and battle the Kraang in a super cool hot rod of my own and together we could bring down the forces of evil like real-life comic book heroes?!"
She opens her mouth to respond but just blinks at him. "Well, yes. But I must remind you that me and my people and many other peoples in my dimension are fighting a war. It will not be all wonder and excitement. I only ask you because I believe that you and your brothers are more than capable to help us and…" She wraps her arms around his neck. "Since meeting you, I cannot imagine being without you."
Michelangelo wants to return her hug and adoration, but what she is offering is too serious for him to make such a decision right now. He grabs her arms and gently pulls her away. "Kala, I… I can't give you an answer right now. And I can't speak for my brothers." He smiles. "Let's not think so far into the future. We have a big battle to win tomorrow. We can all talk about who's going where after that… OK?"
Kala sees the sadness behind his smile. She quickly grins and nods her head. "You're right, Mikey." She stands and helps him to his feet. "Maybe you can teach me how to make pizza. I am sure Leo and Raph would appreciate it, after what happened to them earlier."
Michelangelo could have kissed her once again. She is very wise to cure his older brothers'' anger with food. "Awesome idea, babe. Let's go.
…
Early the next morning, Michelangelo catches Donnie before they go into the dojo. "Donnie, I'm sorry for trying to knock your shell off yesterday. It was stupid to think you would try to hurt me… and it was really, really, stupid to think you would ever stop being all lovey-dovey for April and…"
"It's OK, Mikey. I get it." Donnie says.
"I know that you always got my shell, bro. We good?"
"More than good." Donnie and Mikey bump fists and walk into the dojo.
…
"Begin!" Splinter calls.
This is much better. The six teens go through their warm-ups and training with sharp accuracy. When one falls a but short, another is right there to cover. Splinter finally sees the strong bonds beginning to form that make a formidable team.
"Enough! Stand before me, my students."
Leonardo, Raphael, Kala, Donatello, April and Michelangelo bow before their sensei. "There is no turning back at this point. There is no other back up and no other shoulders to lean on but the ones who stand beside you. You are many hands, acting as one force against the pestilent threat against this city, this world. Individually, your skills are strong, together they can be unstoppable." He looks at each of them with encouragement and love. "Go and be assured that my strength goes with you."
"Hai, Sensei." They shout and follow Leonardo into the lab.
…
Donatello, Leo and Kala have spent the last night of their preparation stitching together their plan of action.
"Okay, Kala, Leo and I have come up with the plan!" Donatello stands before his brothers, April, Casey and Kala. He points to his large sketch pad and easel that have a list of check points and duties along a drawn timeline and a rough diagram. "It will take about two earth hours in Kala's 'Hotrod' to reach the enemy ship, hiding in the shadow of our moon. After speaking with Kala about her experience with this type of ship that Mikey named "The Kraang Colossal", the floor plan would place the energy source room here, right in the middle of the ship.
The first place we want to go is the docking bay. It's at the front of the ship, here. Since the Kraang are still repairing the damage we caused when we shut down their portal, cutting their ship in half, the majority of them should be located in the rear. There are Three teams needed to get this done; Team Alpha, Team Turtle and Team Omega. Kala is part of Team Alpha. Team Alpha is responsible for securing the docking bay and setting up the portable portal. By this time Team Turtle, led by Leo, should have already passed through the portable portal here in the Lair, monitored by Team Omega, who is April... and Casey." Donnie rolls his eyes as Casey gives him a wink. "Once Team Alpha throws small firecrackers through the portal they've setup in the Kraang docking bay, Team Turtle will know what portal to go thru and make a run for it. Team Turtle needs to make sure their air supply is running correctly. We're not sure what type of atmosphere will be in the ship. Once Team Alpha and Team Turtle meet up and Team Omega make their way to the retrieval point in Central Park..."
"We become Team Super Mega Turtles Alpha!" Mikey chimes in.
"Uh... sure, Mikey." Donnie continues. "The next place we should go is here, to the maintenance room so we can cause some type of diversion at the end of the ship, a pipe bursting or gravity failure or something. Again, since our target is in the middle of the ship, we don't want to risk being surrounded. Once we disable the energy supply and cause it to overload, Team Alpha and Turtle beat feet back to the docking bay, Team Alpha loads up in the Hotrod, covering Team Turtle as they go back to the hall of portals, awaiting Team Omega to reopen the portal they have waiting in Central park, opening it every five minutes, closing it after only ten seconds, once our three hours is up." Donnie retracts his little metal pointer and turns to his mates. "Any questions?"
"The plan seems as tight as it can be in such short time. All we need to do is figure out who's riding with Kala." Raphael says.
As Mikey jumps up and down and raises his hand 'oo-ing' to be chosen, Kala speaks. "I request that Donatello be my co-pilot on this mission."
"Awe, but..." Mikey deflates.
"I desire that he stays close to me. I'll need him the most." The Neutrino Teen says cooly as she puts on her helmet and climbs into her cruiser. "Are we ready?"
"Yes, Kala." Leo nods. "Raph, Mikey and I will wait here and meet you once you open your side of the portal.
Donatello sighs and pulls on his own helmet. He picks up the two portable portals and hands one to April. "Ok so, do you need me to go over the..." Donnie says softly but April interrupts.
"I got it Donnie. In two hours I open the portal here and close it as soon as Leo, Mikey and Raph go in. An hour after that, I set up the portal in Central Park and activate it every five mintues, only keeping it open for ten seconds, making sure nothing creepy comes through... You don't have to worry about me. Casey will be coming with me, Team Omega, remember? We can keep each other safe." Her gaze falls to the floor.
Donatello doesn't know what to say although he urgently wants to say something. He wishes that he could stay by her side, but his brothers need him on the Kraang ship. "April I..."
"Donatello, we must hurry!" Kala called from the cockpit.
"I've gotta go, April but..." Donatello wraps his large green hands around her small, freckled ones. He whispers. "Remember what I said." He seals his helmet, zips up and seals his suit, and hops into the black battle cruiser, securing himself behind Kala.
"Good luck, Donnie!" Raphael calls out.
The dark, spacecraft barely hums as it hovers over the ground and speeds out of the garage, disappearing under its cloak as it flies around the bend.
...
Donatello feels like he's being flattened like a pancake when Kala's hotrod shoots through the atmosphere of Earth. Thankfully, at the speed they are travelling, the discomfort only lasts only a few minutes. He jerks forward, being held securely by his seat harness and then meets with complete weightlessness, finally free of his home planet's gravity.
He's never been so far from home, so far from April.
Donatello momentarily forgets the about the weight of the mission, and of his heavy heart, being in awe with the silence and sparkling beauty of space.
"Wow." He whispers. "I never thought I'd ever…"
Kala hums in agreement. "It makes no difference that your constellations are strange to me. No matter how many times I am in space, I am continually in awe of its splendor... It seems infinitely immense; it can get very lonely." Kala flips a few switches and unbuckles her harness. She swivels her chair around to face him.
In the tight area of the cockpit it has just become acutely uncomfortable for Donatello to be so close to the alien teen. He looks into her shimmering sliver eyes and those pouty lips smiling. He feels giant butterflies playing football in his stomach and his cheeks must be the color of lava. Kala says that it gets lonely in space. Is she feeling less lonely with him near? Kala reaches out her hand and places it over the terrified terrapin's chest. His heart knocks against his chest. This can't be happening! For the first time, he thinks he sees what April had been worried about this whole time.
"Uh, K-Kala, what are you…" Donatello fumbles.
Kala pushes firmly on his harness, it clicks, and releases him from his chair. "I though you would be more comfortable, not strapped so tightly. The lap belt will make sure that you don't float around… We are nintey Earthino minutes away from our destination. We might as well entertain ourselves until then.
Donatello's mind begins to melt. "W-what kind of entertainment?"
Kala smiles and reaches out her hands to him as if to wrap them around his shoulders.
April was right. He freaks out. The jittery turtle grabs her wrists and shakes his head. "No, Kala don't. I can't do this… I'm sorry but I… like someone else."
Confusion drapes over Kala's face. She brings her hands back and places them in her lap. "I know that you have a crush on April. I know she has feelings for you too, although I'm not quite sure how strongly she's aware of them." She blinks. "But what does that have to do with what we're doing right now?"
Geez, she's brash. Donnie thinks. "Listen, I really appreciate your feelings. I'm flattered. But when, or if, April and I ever… I know that I am a one-woman turtle and would never go behind her back and…" Donnie wrings his fingers, completely flushed. And Kala is just looking at him, wide-eyed. Should he go on? "I now understand why you made such a big deal to have me as your co-pilot for this mission. It's sweet and it's totally what I would have done… I think you're very smart and strong and brave too but… I just don't like you in that way."
Kala pieces together all that her troubled friend has said. She nods as a big smile unfolds over her lips. She laughs in his face. "Donatello! I cannot believe you!" She's holding the sides of her head as high-pitched trills gaily fall out of her mouth. She takes a deep breath and calms herself. "Donatello, I chose you to accompany on this mission because I DO need you. You have the technological know-how to navigate my system. You were the best choice for the job, the best decision for success."
Donnie almost stuffs his entire head in his shell, so overly embarrassed. "Oh, Kala, I'm so, so sorry. I just thought…"
She nods. "I see now what you thought… Please believe that every decision I've made was for the betterment of my people. Helping you is in-turn helping me get home to my comrades." She turns and looks out into the deep blackness of oblivion. "My mind would not at all ready for combat if I had chosen the one I'd rather be with right now."
Donatello's eye's spark with curiosity. He ponders quickly in his mind and then looks at her with surprise. "Mikey? You like Mikey?"
Her smile falls to a small frown. "A few nights ago, I confessed to April that I had a crush. I thought it was obvious, but now I wonder if he she assumed it to be you. I told her that when you have feelings for someone, all you want to do is keep them close to you. But when you love them, you let them go so they can be safe and happy. This is why I didn't choose Michelangelo to come with me. I knew that we'd work better on this dangerous mission if we were apart." She laughs lightly. "I cannot concentrate on anything but him when he is around."
"I agree one-thousand percent." Donnie says. It all makes sense now. "I suppose, in a way I've tried to do the same thing for April, keeping her as far away from danger as I can." Donnie grins. He can't wait until this is over so he can see April again. "So, Mikey huh? You mind telling why?"
"He is everything good I've never had. He is a cool drink in the middle of a lava pit, impossibly refreshing… He is so cute… and he makes me laugh." Just thinking about him makes her skin glow.
"That's, well, something." Donatello adds. He's happy for his baby brother. A real girl, albeit an alien girl, likes Michelangelo. He only hopes he has such grace with his red-headed siren. Donnie blinks back to reality. "So, what were you reaching for a moment ago, before I went bizerk?"
"Ah, this." Kala reaches behind him and presses to button on the back of the ship. The lights dim and the hologram of a six-pointed star hovers between them like a colorful plate. At the tips of the star ten shiny orbs appear. "This is a game, popular among the elders of my planet it is called Ollim's orbs."
"It looks much like a game on my planet called Chinese checkers. Teach me how to play." Donnie says eagerly.
As they careen through space at top speed the two unique teens steal a moment of peace, yet fully aware that in less than an hour they would attempt to take down the Kraang Colossal.
…
April sits on a stool in Donatello's lab. The quiet humming and beeping of his machines making it feel like he's still there with her. In her hands she spins the shiny metallic contraption known as the portable portal. She checks her watch… still five minutes more til GO time. That means Donnie and Kala have been together, alone in space for over an hour, talking about or DOING who knows what?
April doesn't want to care so much, but she can't help it. Her best friend and a hot alien from a different dimension are completing the first step to a very dangerous task, alone together. Yes, April knows Kala is hot. Anyone with half an eyeball could see that.
Before April and Donatello talked, Kala's confession seemed very bold about having a crush on the purple turtle. In April's mind, there was no reason why Kala wouldn't have used this time to speak with him about it. But now, April is secure in the fact that she's not losing him to Kala. As for her own feelings, April thinks that when the time is right, she will freely let her heart flow. She hopes she and all her friends come out of this 'space raid' safely so she can stop wasting time and tell Donnie…
"Tell him what? To wait, to give me more time?" She whispers to herself. Before Donatello left he had told April to 'remember what he said.' That turtle has said so many things to her. But a few words come to mind at this moment. He would never leave the city he loves and that he needs her.
"Needs me?" What a nice thought. She smiles.
"Yo, April!" Mikey runs in, followed by Leo, Raph and Casey.
"Hi, guys. Are you ready?" She asks.
"We were born ready!" Raph yells.
She rolls her eyes, holds the alien device in the air and activates it. A triangular, purplish, glowing door opens; the teens stare at it strangely.
"Let's do this, Bros!" Leo shouts
His two brothers respond with eager shouts of their own and the three ninja turtles dash through the portal. Casey taps the device with his hockey stick and it shuts down, landing in April's hands.
She turns and sighs, mentally preparing herself for the next part of the plan.
A pair of gloved hands rests on her shoulders. "Hey Red. Lookin' a little tense. Let me massage those knots out before we go."
"Thanks but no thanks, Casey. I'm feeling pretty good, actually."
"Oh." Casey says, a bit deflated. "Well, you're no fun. Actually, this mission is no fun."
"What are you talking about?"
"I mean, everyone else gets to go to space and crash a huge enemy alien ship, while we humans play 'gatekeeper'."
April turns and faces the whiney, gapped-toothed teen. "This isn't some walk in the park, Casey! This is the most dangerous thing they've every done. And it's all to keep us humans safe. And we may be gatekeepers but we are also the only way are friends can get back home!"
Casey puts up his hands in defense. He knows this is important, but he just wanted to fight along side them too. He didn't feel like explaining it to her, though. "Hey, calm down, I know all that. I just wanna be part of the action."
"Believe me, if something goes wrong, there will be enough action for the both of us." April grabs her T-phone and Tessen, and heads out. "Let's get to Central Park. Our friends need us."
...
A/N: What do you think? Things are getting chompy again! LOL