Shout-out to Bloodrayne666 for her help with this chapter. I appreciate it all, my friend.

Chapter 6

Confessions

Some time later, Jake and Amber returned to the hidden sanctuary of Mutopia, and parted ways for the time being, with Jake heading to the medical wing to get himself examined after he nearly drowned, and Amber to return the cooler box, as well as think about what she was feeling.

'I can't believe it…' she thought. 'I really am in love with him, with Jake! Oh gods, what do I do now?'

She looked over in the direction of the medical wing, hoping that he was okay, but it was from more than just concern for a friend, it was concern for a loved one.

But would he even feel the same about her?

There was only one way to truly know, and that was to ask him, which would include telling him how she felt, but not yet. She needed to gather her thoughts properly before she could bring this up, and she also wanted to give him time to recover from his accident. He had already been through enough for one day.

In the medical wing, Jake sat on a bed as James placed a stethoscope to his chest.

"Cough, please." the chimpanzee said, and Jake did as asked. "Mmhmm… Sounds like there might still be a bit of water left, but only a little. It should clear on its own in short order. Nothing to be worried about, thought the accompanying coughing might be irritating."

"Yeah, I already felt that on the way back."

"I can imagine. But other than that, you are in peak condition and a man in your best years. Just take it a bit easier until the water clears."

"Understood. Thank you."

"It's nothing. If anyone deserves thanks, it's Amber. You're very lucky that you had her by your side."

"Yes… I sure was."

"Well, I see no reason to keep you here. So unless you have any other issues, you're free to go."

"I got nothing, James. Again, thank you."

Glad to hear that he hadn't suffered any lingering problems, Jake left the medical wing and returned to his room, where he decided to take it easy for a while.

Having changed out of his swim wear and back into normal clothes, he laid down on his bed and started to think.

As traumatic as nearly drowning was, that was not what lingered in his mind the most. It was how he and Amber had nearly kissed right after.

Not the CPR, that was a necessity, and he had done that to her when he saved her a while back, but when they were just sitting there, just the two of them, so close to each other. Had it not been for his stomach growling, they just might have actually kissed at that time, and he wasn't sure what to make of it.

Jake wasn't new to having feelings for girls, whether they be girls at high school or even celebrities, even though some made him cringe slightly, but one incident in particular stuck out in his mind, and that was during the last semester at high school before Monalisa went missing.

There had been a girl on the cheerleading squad he had fancied for a while in the same year, pretty standard stuff, although there had been a misunderstanding where a rumour was started that it was the head cheerleader he was eyeing and he got confronted by her boyfriend, the head of the football team, where he had had his glasses smashed.

The result of that meant Monalisa stepping in to put the jock in his place. She confronted him about the attack on Jake to which the jock tried to intimidate her by trying to grab her, but she defended herself by spraining his wrist, as well as a trip to the principal and the school counsellor.

'You break my brother's glasses! I damage your wrist!' she had snarled.

But some good had come out of it, when the girl he was crushing on approached him and asked him out. They had gone on a few dates over the summer and she had even been a support when Monalisa disappeared.

But their relationship was tested when Callum went off the rails, and after a while, they split because of Jake having to cover for Callum all the time.

Despite how it ended up, Jake still looked back on it with a level of fondness. He had tried to get back into a relationship a few times afterwards, but he just couldn't keep them going while also keeping his brother out of trouble, for as good as that went.

Crushes, relationships, girlfriends. He hadn't thought of such things for years now, but now something was stirring within him. Something that he recognised.

But he couldn't have a crush on Amber, not like the cheerleader. That crush was on a human, and Amber was not human, she was a mutant. Surely he can't have the same kind of feelings about her, not for a mutant, it's just not right.

Is it?

He frowned and shook his head, hoping to clear his mind.
He was just a bit confused, most likely a side effect of nearly drowning and Amber saving him. Some strange kind of survivor guilt, surely.

Humans and mutants can barely coexist, or they couldn't if humanity knew about mutants, so of course they can't have romantic relations.

Jake sighed. No matter how rational he tried to be, the feelings just wouldn't go away. He hoped that he'd feel better the next day, that some sleep would help him clear his mind of this, but that was still several hours away.

He simply had to find something to keep himself occupied with until then, and hope that things would clear up.

The rest of the day came and went, as did the day-time night that the Mutopians practised, staying nocturnal to avoid human contact when they had to go to the surface to scavenge for supplies.

Most of the following day also passed, uneventful, but Jake did not feel much better. The intrusive thoughts refusing to leave him alone, even after sleeping, not that he slept all that well. But he wasn't the only one it seemed.

He had notice that Amber seemed more tired than normal, as if she too hadn't slept properly, and he couldn't help but wonder why, not to mention worry a bit about her, as she seemed to be worse off than him.

His own confused feelings aside, he still cared for her, for she was a friend and a fellow Knight.

Both of them had gone about their day as usual, training, going on patrols with the rest of the Knights, such things. But after dinner, Jake couldn't hold back any longer, he had to know if something was wrong with Amber, as she never seemed to get any better during the day.

"Amber?" he said as he walked up to her near the canal.

"Hm? Jake?"

"Are you okay, Amber?" he asked, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You've seemed rather out of it all day."

"I… haven't slept very well… had a lot on my mind too…"

"Anything I can help with?"

Amber looked at Jake, then she turned her head and stared into the canal for a while.

"Come with me." she said suddenly, taking his hand and leading him to her room.

While a bit surprised at first, Jake didn't object, though he did start to worry a little when Amber closed the door behind them and sat down on the bed.

"You aren't okay, are you, Amber?" he asked hesitantly, sitting down next to her.

"...no… no, I'm not…" she sighed. "I haven't been for many years… not since the Foot turned me into their monster… it… left it's mark on me…"

"I don't blame you." Jake said. "I only had one real run in with them before I came here, and it was horrible. My brother was almost killed by the Shredder, and more… but as bad as that was, I still can't even begin to imagine what it must have been for you."

"I don't think anyone really can…" she said, a few tears forming in her eyes. "People here know what I've been through, and they have been really understanding and helpful…" she looked at her hands. "But what was will never change… nor will they let me forget…"

"What do you mean?"

"I suffer from nightmares, Jake… some nights, I relive those horrible days… the experiments… the brainwashing… fighting my brother… the devastated looks in my parents' eyes… and they are not even the worst ones… those are of what hasn't happened…"

"Hasn't happened?" Jake asked. That she had nightmares didn't really surprise him, it was natural after something that traumatic, but that last sentence left him wondering.

"Last night, and a few nights ago as well, I dreamt that… that I was still under the Foot's control… that I betrayed Mutopia…"

"Oh god, that must have been horrible…"

"Yes, but…" she began to sob, tears falling. "I'm so scared, Jake… what if I really do that one day? What if I just think I'm free… what if I hurt my family… hurt you… the thought of it all… it's too much… I'm just so scared…"

"Amber…"

Jake placed his hand on Amber's, holding it in a soft and comforting grip, and he could feel how she shook. He hadn't realised just how badly she had been affected by the events that led to her mutation, she never showed it. She was always this kind and generally happy woman that wasn't afraid of helping others, him included.

Well, now it was his turn to try and help her, she deserved that much at the very least.

"Look at me, Amber." With his other hand, he cupped her cheek and turned her head towards him. She looked at him, her brown eyes behind the tears.

"I don't know all that they did to you, or what the future might hold… but I do know you, and I know that you are a strong woman. Strong enough not to give in to them or the nightmares. And you'll always have my support."

"Jake…" she put her arms around him, holding him tightly, feeling their heartbeats vibrate through them. "… thank you… thank you for being here for me…"

"Always, Amber." he said in a soothing voice, putting his arms around her. "You know you can trust me."

"I know… and I do trust you, I really do…" she sobbed, wiping away a few tears. "I usually talk to Sephie about my nightmares and fears… but I feel that I can trust you with anything…"

"You can, Amber. I may not be as wise as Splinter, or a trained therapist like Sephie, or even strong as your brother, but you can always trust me with what ails you. I will always listen if you need me."

"Thank you…" She squeezed him even tighter, nuzzling her scaly face against his neck.

"Any time, Amber. Any time." He patted her back softly.

They stayed like that for a few minutes, and Amber's sobs slowly got softer until they stopped. Being there, being close to Jake, it made her feel better.
As they broke the hug, she knew what she had to do.

"Jake… can I tell you something?" she asked.

"Of course."

"Well… I don't really know how to tell you this, but…"

"Go on."

"The thing is… I mean… gods, I can't believe I'm stumbling on my words…"

"You're doing fine. Just take deep breath."

"Okay, okay…" She closed her eyes and took several deep breaths, then she looked back at Jake, her brown looking into his blue.

"Jake… I… am in love with you."

And Amber has finally confessed to Jake. Next time, we will see how he takes it. Stay tuned!