Chapter 4

Written to the song You and Me by Lifehouse. Feel free to listen as you read! Either way, enjoy!

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My eyes slowly opened to a dark room, a small slit of light streaming in from under the door. But even that was lower than usual, which meant to me that no one else was awake in the lair.

I became aware of a heavy arm draped over me, and my back pressed against something. I smiled a little, managing to roll myself over under the arm, seeing Donnie there, half visible in the pale light. He had taken off all his gear I saw, and didn't even have his glasses or bandanna on anymore. It was rare to see.

I had decided to sneak into Donnie's room to get some rest, knowing those two would be out for hours, and I wasn't going to spend the night waiting up for them. I was just grateful there was no school the next day. Still didn't mean my family wouldn't be up and bubbling about in the morning, and we would never get any sleep with my sisters and brother thundering around the house. Although, from the sounds of it... Rachel wouldn't be getting any sleep if she wasn't back by now.

I turned my attention back to Donnie. His eyes were closed, and he was taking shallow breaths. I wondered how long he'd been behind me...

He must have just been too tired to try and wake me or move me, instead just coming to cuddle up with me. He also probably had the same poking and prodding fear of Mikey that I had...

I took a deep breath, unable to resist the urge. I rested my palms on either side of his face, then slowly trailing my fingers over his temples, my left hand starting to trail gently over his forehead. I was captivated by his unmasked face. I'd only ever seen him like this once or twice in the whole time I'd known him...

He took a deep breath suddenly, and I moved my hands back a little, watching as he settled back into what I thought was a dream.

So instead, I pulled my hands all the way back, just looking up at his face in the dim light, unable to take my eyes off him. I had never felt so in love with him, than just now. He was adorable when he slept.

He took another deep breath, and then I saw his eyes open a little. A small smile crept across his face, and I blushed a little. He must have seen, or felt me staring. Wasn't sure, ninja skills and all.

"Hey" Came the croaky voice.

"Hey" I responded softly, feeling his arms go around me, pulling me close to him. I placed my hands on the nape of his neck, looking up at him as he sighed a little.

"Sorry" I felt shy suddenly. Here we were, alone in his room, in his bed...

"For what?" He looked confused.

"Waking you. And...stealing your bed"

He shook his head "You didn't. And I don't mind, it's nice"

I moved to kiss him a little, finding him wrap his arms a little tighter around me, making the kiss deeper. My arms went around his neck, surprised at how passionate this kiss was becoming, feeling the top of my head and my fingers tingling.

I felt a hand on my back, fingers starting to creep up a little under my shirt, suddenly feeling confused. What were we doing?! Could we even-

BEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-

We jolted a little apart, with me clearing my throat a little.

"Sorry, alarm" Was all I could get out, rolling myself over and slightly out of his grasp, grabbing my little watch phone that was resting on the bedside table. I managed to turn the alarm off, seeing it had just hit 4am.

"What's that for?" He asked, his head now resting on my shoulder.

"So Rachel and I can get back to mine, before my little siblings decide to come torture us" I told him, fiddling with the buttons a little.

"Last I saw, they still weren't back, but that was hours ago" He moved away, yawning and rolling over the other side of the bed, sitting on the edge.

"I wonder if they're in Raphs room?" I got up too, watching as he put his bandanna back on, then his glasses.

We both stopped then, looking at each other and giggling a little.

"Oh dear" I shook my head, then patted my now messy hair down, going to open the door. I walked into the main room, the lights still low.

"Should we check?" Donnie was now at my back, and I looked up at him. His eyes looked so much bigger with those glasses.

"Going to have to. Otherwise we wont get back in time" I started to move, taking Donnie's hand as I did, and we both went over to Raph's bedroom door.

I stopped, looking up at him.

"What?" He pushed his glasses up.

"You do it" I pushed him a little towards the door, and he shook his head.

"No, she's your friend" He moved me in front of him a little.

"Noo, he's your brother"

"But you're the one who wants to leave soon"

"But I don't want to disturb them if they're...they're..." I couldn't even finish the thought, pulling a face. Donnie let out a strange little giggle, seeing my reaction.

"I don't know Jade, I don't even..." He trailed off, and we looked at each other for a moment. I'm sure the question was in both our minds then.

"Don't even what?" Came the voice, and we both jumped as we turned towards the entrance. Raph was coming in, holding what I hoped was a sleeping Rachel close in his arms.

"Uh...where you were" I knew my face was red, but I didn't care.

"You were still out?"

He nodded at his brother, looking down at Rachel "We uh, fell asleep out on the roof. I didn't even realise until..."

"She okay?" I asked, going over to him and looking down at her. Or... eye level with her.

Short girl problems.

She looked pretty disheveled, but other than that she was breathing.

"Yeah, just sleeping. I didn't want to wake her, but I knew..." He smiled at me, and I patted his arm.

"Gotta wake up sometime" I moved around so I could tap her shoulder.

"Hey, Rach, we gotta go"

She moved, grunting, then rolling and moving herself closer to Raph.

I saw him smile a little, unable to keep a small smirk from my own face, tapping her gently again.

"Rachel, come on, we gotta get back home. Well... my home"

She moved again, and I sighed, looking up at Raphael.

"You might have to wake her"

He nodded, going over to put her on the couch, kneeling beside it.

I turned back to Donnie, who was now frowning a little, looking off somewhere past us.

"Donnie?"

"Huh?" He looked up, looking like he just realised I was there, a smile spreading across his face.

"Are you okay?" I went over to him, putting a hand on his arm. He looked down at me, taking my hands in his, kissing one then the other.

"I love you. Don't ever forget that... okay?"

"I love you too but... Donnie are you sure you're-"

He nodded "Just... thinking about... things, it's okay"

I raised an eyebrow.

"Are you sure?"

He pulled me in for a big hug, like it was the last hug we'd ever have. I looked up at him, our eyes locking.

"Promise me, if there ever is something wrong, you'll tell me, okay?"

He nodded "Promise"

I leaned up to press my lips against his-

"CHOCOLATE BUNNIES!" Came the yell, making us both jump about a mile in the air.

"I think she's awake" Came Raph's voice.

"Ya think?!" I yelped.

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I leaned back in the computer chair I'd been on, resisting the temptation to just spin around on it, instead putting a finger to my lips as I watched Ithiell process the information. It was the next night, and we'd once again fllown over to the lair, deciding I would tell both Rachel and Ithiell everything that had happened. Something had to be done, I couldn't just leave Serah like this. I was honestly wondering how she was doing this past couple of days. I hadn't really heard from her, which was unusual.

"Sounds like we may have to go on watch. I think Rtaia and myself-"

"Stop right there" I leaned forward, my hand up. He looked at me strangely from the monitor.

"You mean to tell me you'd be following my friend, Serah..."

"Well, yes, since we have no time limit, and no one-"

"Wait wait wait" I shook my hands around, getting looks from Rachel and the turtles probably.

"Jade, what is wrong with you?" Rachel folded her arms, the usual glare there. I turned to her, pointing at the silly alien on the screen.

"Ithiell wants to follow Serah-"

"Yeah, and?"

"Bare with me... Ithiell wants to follow Serah around. Which means following her into bathrooms, toilets...watching her shower..."

"Oh, I see your point"

"Hang on" Ithiell spoke up "I am not perverted! I wouldn't-"

"No, but you also can't let her out of your sight. Which means females only" I folded my arms, leaning back in my chair. Unfortunately I leaned too far back...

"Whoa!"

My head hit the floor.

"Ow" I muttered, rubbing my head as I sat up, separating myself from the chair. Donnie was soon there, helping me up, and Leo was picking the chair up off the ground.

I heard Ithiell groan "You need a sitter"

"Not...funny" I mumbled, seeing Leo smirk a little, giving him a well aimed glare before going back to the computers, my hands resting on the table.

"Well, maybe Amanda and Rtaia" Rachel suggested "And me"

"No" Ithiell and I both said in unison. She looked from the screen to me.

"And why not? I'm another person who won't really be missed, I can-"

"Much" I looked over at Raphael. Thankfully, he didn't notice.

"Jade is right. How will you deal with the two hour time limit?"

"Oh... yeah" She scratched the back of her head.

"Well, what about-" I saw Ithiell look at me "Rachel morphs me, and I help keep an eye on Serah"

"It is logical" Came Rtaia's voice from somewhere off screen. I could only guess she was fixing something or making something.

"Is there any way we can help?" Donnie came up, standing beside me. I looked up at him, once again wondering what had been going through his mind the night before. The way he looked...

"No, nothing I can think of anyway"

"So, we're just meant to sit here?" Raph was now grumbling, and I saw him fold his arms in front of him, moving from one foot to the other. He looked restless.

Ithiell shook his head "No, you keep fighting your battle. For the moment, we'll fight this one"

"And what if she is... Yeerked" Leo asked, looking from me to Ithiell.

"Jade?"

"I...I don't know. If she is... why wouldn't she have reported you to Visser Three? Or better yet...me?

"Thats true, but we won't know for certain until we watch her. It is also possible that she has her own plans, a way to gain the ranks if she stays quiet"

"That's true" Rachel spoke up "But if she is, we can still starve the Yeerk out-"

"And she'd never be able to back" I let my head hang, hating the thought but knowing it would probably have to be done. I felt Donnie's hand on my back, and I let out a gentle sigh.

"I don't like it. Taking her life away like that... "

"It'll be better for her" Rachel said from behind me, and I felt more than saw her on the other side of me "I think I'd rather be free, then have to live with a Yeerk in my head for the rest of my life"

"She's right Jade" Ithiell's voice, and I managed to lift my head to look up at him. The decision weighed heavily on me.

"But..." He was moving around now, I could see him tapping away at something "For now, we focus on surveillance. We'll work out the rest later"

"You're... right" I stood up, looking at both Donnie and Rachel, who were both trying to give me reassuring smiles.

"We'll start surveillance on Monday. You guys have a good weekend"

"Thanks Ithiell" Rachel smiled up at him, and he did a funny little salute, then the screen went blank.

"Well, time to relax" Rachel stretched, going over to Raph, who seemed to calm the moment she came close. They went off outside, and the others went to doing their own thing. Even Splinter disappeared.

"What do we do now?" I looked at the others, then up at Donnie.

"I'm sure we can think of something" He winked at me, taking my hand and leading me out the door.

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Thought I'd try and focus on the turtles a bit more in this chapter. Hope you enjoyed!

Please read and review! Yummy reviews! :D