Chapter 15

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Well, I got the lecture I wanted. I just got it too late.

"What the hell were you thinking?! What in Pia's name made you think this was a good idea! You could have-"

I kind of zoned out, sighing and putting my head down a little as Ithiell carried on his barrage, pacing wildly in front of me. He went on for about a good twenty minutes berating me for my stupidity, and pointing out that I was now more injured... like I somehow didn't notice.

Around me, all the others had gathered, none of them pleased with what I'd done. Even Splinter seemed annoyed, which was scary coming from him.

With a little persuasion from Rtaia and Donnie, he finally relented, letting me go get treatment for my new wounds.

So I went and sat in a chair as they fussed, looking with tired eyes over at Kristiana's unmoving form on the bed. Rtaia had made a life support system, which Kristiana was now hooked up on. Her wounds had been tended to and I watched as the machine breathed for her, hearing a slow and steady beep every now and then. Tubes were sticking out of her body everywhere.

Soon, Rtaia and Donnie were done with me, so I dragged the chair I'd been sitting on over to her bedside, resting my elbows on the bed and looking up at her face. Her eyes were closed, unmoving.

From what Rtaia had told me, she was holding on by a hair. The next few hours would be crucial, so she had to be watched. I had also been told we could loose her at any moment...

I put my head in my hands, sighing. Would this pain and torture ever end?

Through being told off, I had managed to get out what I'd learned about Serah. Whether it had been taken in fully or not, I couldn't be sure. But it was a small sliver of hope for my worn mind. It also set more questions spinning around.

Where was she? How did she escape?

Was she okay? Or had something else happened to her?

A hand on my back made me look up, seeing Donnie there. I couldn't read the look on his face.

Tears sprung to my eyes, my mind going back to the moment he'd taken my head in his hands in that room, the look on his face then...

"I'm so sorry" I muttered, standing up and hugging him as tight as I dared, digging my head into his chest. His arms went around me, his chin resting on my head. He sighed.

"I shouldn't have done that to you. Sorry just isn't enough and I know there is nothing I can do to make up for it. If you think... if you don't want me-"

"No" Was his only response, his grip tightening on me.

We stood like that for a long time, with him stroking my hair with one hand, the other holding me firmly against him. I'd done so much damage... put him through so much hell... and yet, he was still here.

"You can make it up to me by never doing that again" His voice was shaky, and I looked up at him, seeing the tears in his eyes and his lips starting to tremble.

"Donnie" I reached up, removing his binoculars and glasses, using my thumbs to try and wipe away his tears. It just seemed to make it worse. He let out a horrible pained sound, and I pulled back a little.

"When I saw you like that... I thought I'd lost you for good. If I'd been any later... looked anywhere else but the school for you..."

He collapsed to his knees, digging his head into my stomach and openly sobbing, arms around my waist and holding me tightly.

I put my arms around his shoulders, holding him and trying to comfort him as best as I could, unable to do much else. I'd never seen him so shattered...

"I'm so sorry" Was the only words I could get out, feeling him wet my shirt. His pain was almost too much to bear.

"I promise, I'll never ever do that again. I'll never leave you"

He didn't respond, continuing to sob into my stomach. I hugged him closer to me, kissing him over and over to try and calm him.

"I love you. I'm so sorry" I repeated those words over and over, stroking the back of his neck and planting kisses everywhere I could reach.

After what seemed like forever, I heard his sobbing become quieter, and he loosened his grip just a little.

I waited patiently, and slowly, very slowly, he pulled himself away from me, looking up at me. He looked so different without his glasses...

No words were said, but the look on his face reminded me of a scared child, and I stroked his cheeks, trying to assure him.

I knew it would take time for both of us to recover from this, but part of me knew it would also pull us closer to one another. Especially after... the nights events...

Slowly, a smile came back to his face, and he stood up, grabbing my face in his hands and kissing me hard. I tried to return the pressure, pulling him close and holding onto the sides of his shell.

The door creaking open made us both pull away from one another, turning to see a flash of a figure disappear, leaving the door open a crack.

I looked up at Donnie as he turned to look at me, both of us confused.

"Hey!" Rachel's voice made both of us move, Donnie grabbing his glasses and binoculars as I headed to the door, opening it to see Rachel was storming out the main entrance, then slammed the door behind her.

I looked at the others, seeing Cassie and Marco both shrug. The turtles and Splinter were no where to be seen.

"What was that?" I managed to ask, feeling Donnie stop behind me.

"Jake left, Rachel followed" Marco eyed us both, and I sighed.

He was the one we'd seen at the door.

Which means he'd seen us locked in our passionate embrace.

Which meant he was mad at me.

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I let Donnie go first, and he pushed grate open, moving up and out, then gently pulling me out.

We both knew we had to find him, and sort this. Otherwise he may go on a wild rampage again, and it was the last thing we needed.

We both heard yelling coming from the trees near us, Donnie taking my hand and the two of us half running towards the voices.

I pulled Donnie down behind a few of the bushes, seeing Jake and Rachel a few feet from each other. Both were yelling.

You can have literally any person you want. Your beautiful, smart and independent and you want that? That thing!"

"He is not a thing! He is a living breathing-"

"Don't tell me he's a person!" Jake spat.

"Why the hell should it even matter what he is! He loves me, and I love him!"

"How can you love that thing?!" He made a sound of pure disgust.

"What the fuck don't you understand?! Raph treats me wonderfully! Which is a lot more than normal boys like you!"

"What the hell do you mean?!"

"You treated Jade like crap! Where the fuck were you when she was captured!"

"I was look-"

"No, you took off like a little child cause you couldn't handle the responsibility! The fact it was your fault she-"

"You don't think it still kills me-"

"Shut up!" She pointed a finger in his face angrily "If it wasn't for Ithiell and Leo, we never would have found her!"

"Oh, so you're taking their side over your own cousin?!"

"Face it Jake, when the going gets tough, you run away like a child"

He growled a little, clenching his fists.

"You weren't there when we looked for her, you didn't do a goddamn thing to help her when she needed you most, and now... you're jealous cause you see her kissing someone who has been by her side from the start, and who treats her like she deserves? You're pathetic!"

Jake had clearly had enough, bringing up his fist and preparing to swing. We went to move to stop him, finding Rachel had already seen his movements, dodging his punch, then grabbing his wrist and landing a swift kick in his gut, putting him on the ground.

I went over to her, as he groaned on the floor, and we shared a look. Donnie wasn't far behind me, now quiet.

"You want to know who taught me that? Yeah?" Rachel continued on "Raphael. And no matter what you think, loving someone goes deeper than just how they look"

"She's got a point" I put my hands on my hips, watching as he got up, turning his head and spitting.

"You're both disguising. How can you even let them touch you?"

"Are you serious?" I couldn't help but say, sharing a look with Rachel. She seemed just as shocked as I did. Jake was being beyond ridiculous.

"Jake, you really don't know what love is, do you?"

"Okay Jake" I folded my arms in front of me, my eyes locking onto his "Why is it you never had an issue with Ithiell and Amanda's relationship, but suddenly have this big problem with ours?"

The look on his face told me everything. He had a problem with any inter-species relationship. Even Ithiell and Amanda.

"Wow Jake, how little I even know my own cousin"

He suddenly turned to look up at Donnie, and I instinctively moved in front of him, in case Jake tried to hurt him in any way. This got me another look of disgust.

"And you're even protecting him, seriously?"

"He'd do the same for me. And I owe him my life, more than once"

"You're just a mutant's whore" He spat at me.

I was instantly pushed to the side, Rachel catching me a little as I saw Donnie was now there, his face close to Jake's.

"What did you call her?!" He growled, but Jake didn't back down.

"I called her your whore, got a-" Jake suddenly let out a strangled cry as Donnie pushed him hard, landing on the ground with a heavy thud.

"She is no one's whore! Shes my girl!" Donnie pointed angrily down at him, and Jake looked almost scared.

"And there you have it, the reason why Jade chose Donnie" Rachel sighed, and we shared a look.

"Oh yeah, because he has a bigger-"

"Oh my... just fucking get over it Jake" Rachel snapped rolling her eyes, then putting her arm around my shoulders "We're not going to change just cause you don't like it"

I moved away from Rachel, to stand beside Donnie and look down at Jake.

"Rachel is right. Raph and Donnie make the best boyfriends, and you just saw why. They protect us, they're there for us... and no matter what, they don't let us down" I put my hand on Donnie's arm as I said this, making him look down at me. Our eyes met, and he nodded at me.

"And it doesn't matter what they are" Rachel was on the other side of me "So if you can't handle that, I suggest you leave"

"And don't you ever call her...or Rachel... those things again" Raphael was suddenly there, cracking his knuckles. He looked beyond pissed. I hadn't even heard him arrive. Damn sneaky ninjas...

I saw the fear in Jake's eyes, but I didn't care.

"Yeah, get over it, or... go" Donnie suddenly seemed like himself again, the anger gone as he took my hand in his. Jake saw this, his eyes narrowing.

He seemed to want to say something, deciding against it, and we saw him start to morph.

Instantly both Raphael and Donnie put us girls behind them, reaching for their weapons. I heard Rachel make a slightly annoyed sound as we both leaned out from behind them, watching as Jake shrunk, becoming a peregrine falcon, taking off into the sky.

When he was gone, I think we all relaxed a little.

I looked over as Raphael turned, leaning down and putting his arms on Rachel's waist, kissing her surprisingly gently. She returned it, a smile now on her face.

"I will never let anyone hurt you" He muttered after he pulled away, his forehead resting on hers.

"And I'll never let anyone hurt you" She responded, taking his head and kissing him on the nose. He smiled a little.

"Jade?" I turned my attention up to Donnie as he leaned down and gave me a quick peck, which I returned.

"Don't worry my love. We'll get through this. And Jake..." I turned to look at Rachel and Raph, who were both looking at me "Jake will just have to pull that stick out of his ass"

"Well done brother" Raph said, lifting his fist so the two could bump knuckles "You showed him"

"I can't believe he's so wound up about this" Rachel looked annoyed as she folded her arms.

"It's kind of my fault, you know-"

"Oh no you don't" Raph pointed a finger at me, Rachel and Donnie both nodding. I blinked at him.

"You don't owe that idiot anything! He threw you away, and now he's mad cause my brother wanted you, and now loves you. He will never have what it takes to love you like Donnie does"

I was lost for words. Raph's affection towards me was heartwarming.

So instead, I just went over and hugged him, feeling him slowly return the hug.

These boys were definitely the biggest sweethearts.

"He better get over it soon" Donnie mumbled as I went over to him, leaning up and pushing his glasses up again. I could see his eyes were still a little puffy from the tears, and I frowned a little.

"This is Jake we're talking about" Rachel grumbled "He finds it hard to get over anything. I can't believe I'm even related to him"

"Sucks to be you" I smiled over at her, sticking my tongue out at her as she rolled her eyes. I felt Donnie's arm go loosely around my waist, pulling me close.

"And you, my dear" She was suddenly there pulling me away from Donnie, an arm loosely around my neck "Actually wanted to smooch him once upon a time"

I pulled a face, and we started to walk back, her arm still around my shoulders. The boys weren't far behind us.

"Don't remind me"

We all fell silent, all of us probably thinking our own things.

"I wish I knew where Serah is" I said finally as we all reached the bottom of the ladder.

"We'll find her. Just..." Rachel put an arm around me again "Don't go off on your own again"

I shook my head, looking over at Donnie, who I saw was now staring at me. Our eyes met.

"I made a promise, and I intend to keep it"

"Good" She shook me a little "For a minute there I thought I'd have to use my elephant morph and squash you"

An image of Rachel sitting down on me as an elephant went through my mind, and I couldn't help but giggle a little.

"Don't laugh! She almost did it to me" Raph shook his head, smiling a little at what I guessed was the memory.

"Jade" Suddenly we all stopped, and I found we'd formed an odd little circle. I looked at Rachel, determination in her eyes.

"Let's make a pact, right here and right now"

I stared at her, and the brothers shared a look out of the corner of my eye.

"We all, have each others backs, no matter what. And if you need anything, or feel like going all kamikaze again-" She put her finger up as I tried to tell her I wouldn't be, silencing me.

"You call me. Or Donnie or Raph. And same here... you guy will be the first lot of people I come to. Deal?"

"Well I don't plan on-" She shut me up again.

"Deal? You come to me if you need to talk. If you can't talk to Donnie or Ithiell"

"Or me" Raph broke in, his hand on my shoulder, squeezing it lightly. I felt tears spring to my eyes, nodding a little. I was truly touched by how much they cared.

"But me first" Donnie smiled down at me, and I couldn't help but run to him, throwing my arms around him and hugging him tightly. He returned the hug, picking me up a little.

There was a little silence between the four of us.

"Well, now that that's sorted" Rachel put her hands on her hips, starting to move again, the rest of us following her.

"Uh, Rach, think we should-" Raph moved to her side, jabbing his thumb back at the two of us.

"Oh yeah" She spun on her heel, now walking backwards and smiling.

"Try to keep it down next time"

"Try to keep what down?" Donnie asked as we followed. We shared a look, and I shrugged, watching as her grin widened.

"Hate to burst your bubble, but... we heard you last night" She spun back, and I think both me and Donnie stopped walking at the same time, looking at one another.

I honestly couldn't tell which one of us was more mortified.

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I know, another emotionally charged one... but a friend semi inspired the second part :D

Thank you thank you!

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