Control
April gently touches her arm. "They're not going to hurt you. I'm not making excuses for Raph, but he really didn't mean to..."
"I know he didn't." But that doesn't make it OK.
Maybe Taylor could just find a quiet, low-rent place for herself, but that feels suspiciously like allowing Raphael's actions to have power over her. It looks as if the turtles and April are determined to stay in each other's lives; if Taylor's going to stay in the flat, she's just going to have to deal with that.
(Even though she still feels sick with nerves at the thought. And she doesn't want the turtles to think she's a threat.)
"If Donatello's OK with that, yeah, it'd be fine."
Donatello is dropping in later that evening - and that's when Bernie calls April and says she's got a story for her. A restaurant has been trashed and the culprits were kind enough to graffiti the place before leaving.
"Sure you're gonna be all right?" April asks before leaving.
"Yeah, I'll be fine." Taylor tries to keep her smile bright and reassuring, but when the door closes she sinks onto the sofa and tries to control her breathing. She'll be fine. She will be fine. It's just a quick visit, and it's just Donatello.
But what if it's not just him who's coming?
The wait is the hardest part, but eventually there's a knock on the window. Taylor braces herself, puts on a smile and gets up to let him in.
"Hey, Taylor." He crouches down, lowers his goggles and scans her. Taylor keeps as still and as calm as she can, but the feeling that he's not here by himself won't leave her. His brothers probably wouldn't let him come without backup in case something went wrong.
Before she realises it, the scan's over.
"It's only been about two weeks, but it looks like the bruising's healing. You should still take it easy for about one more week."
Is it just her, or does he look a bit...sad?
"Thanks."
"Leo's outside. He'd like to talk to you."
For one moment, she's frozen.
"Is that OK?" Donatello asks gently.
Taylor swallows down her fear and nods.