"It's not your fault, Madi." Donnie told her. She just sniffled and in response and buried her face in the crook of Donnie's neck. He held her tighter. 'Man,' Donnie thought, 'Raph would be so angry right now if he saw this'. But the purple-masked turtle didn't care at that moment. At that time, he wasn't afraid to show just how much he cared for Madi by being there for her. They had known each other for over six months then, but he felt like he had known her all his life. She understood him, and he understood her so well, better than Raph did. 

All Raph ever did was yell at her whenever she did something wrong. She didn't deserve that. She was a teenager- they all were. Raph expected her to be perfect and mistake-free when he wasn't exactly flawless either. It was so unfair. Not just to Madi, but to Donnie as well.

He was so ready to care about her openly, to show the world that he held her in such high regards. After being rejected by April time and time again, he was ready for someone to care for him, too. And it seemed pretty obvious that Madi had some sort of feeling towards him.

"I should go check on him." Madi sniffled and wiped her nose with that back of her hand, then stood up. Donnie didn't want to let her go and she could tell, but he released her anyway and scratched the back of his head.

"Yeah." He said awkwardly. "I think I'm gonna go head to my lab and work on something that might help wake him up." She nodded, then walked past him towards the hallway, hugging herself tightly.

He was about to leave as well, when something inside him finally snapped. After countless hours working together in his lab, eating meals with each other at the table, playing video games and sparring, he was finally ready to say what had been on his mind ever since he had met her. "Madi?" She stopped and turned around to look at him. He took a deep breath, then exhaled.

"How much do you know about Raph, really?" He asked her. She thought for a moment before replying.

"What do you mean, Donnie?"

"What I mean is think about how much you really know about Raph before you develope feelings for him. Think about whether or not he treats you as well as you believe he does, and about the alternative options you have at this point."

"I'm not sure I understand."

"You will someday, just hope that day comes before it's too late." 

And with that, Donnie walked into his lab and closed the door.

Madi stood there for a moment, comtemplating the purple-masked turtle's words and wracked her brain for an answer to his riddle. She knew it was on the tip of her tongue. Well, more like the edge of her heart. It wasn't really a word, more of a feeling. A feeling that couldn't be described or seen, but would reveal itself in time. She just needed to trust herself that it would reveal itself soon.

* * * * * * * * * *

Raph's eye quivered and he felt a growl of anger boiling within his throat.

So he had been right when he thought that Donnie was trying to make a move on his girl. Really? 'Think about how much you really know about Raph before you develope feelings for him'? Was Donnie trying to get himself killed? Because if he was, his plan had succeeded. Donnie was so dead.

"THAT'S IT!"

Raph stood up, sick of this little film that was getting him so upset. He walked down the isle and to the doors and kicked them open with his foot. He was angry and someone was going to get their shell kicked because of it-

"Raph?" 

He stopped where he stood at the sound of her voice saying his name. Her sweet, beautiful voice. 

"Madi?" He spoke, his voice calm now. The mutant turtle quickly spun around and ran back into the theater and saw on the large screen that Madi was now in his room, sitting next to his bed on a small metal chair. She looked at the sleeping turtle intently and held his hand, the one without the I.V., while attempting not to cry anymore. Raphael's eyes were glued to the screen.

"I don't know if you can hear me, but..." Madi sighed and closed her eyes, facing the floor. When she looked up again, the tears had returned. "I want you to know how much of an idiot you were for jumping into that freezing water after me."  She laughed slightly at her words, but it was a sad laugh. Raph could feel his heart stirring inside his chest. She took another breath.

"But you're a brave idiot." She murmured. "So brave, so so brave. You're so passionate for everything you enjoy and caring for the people you love. You've been such a huge part in my life within these past few months. I feel like you've cared the most when I'm in danger, and you try to support me when I need it. You try hard, Raphael. You try so hard." Raphael could feel tears brimming his own eyes at her loving words as he watched her lift his hand up to her cheek, pressing it against her tear-stained skin.

"Please, Raph." She whimpered. "Please, wipe my tears away again. Because they're gonna keep falling without you here. I'm drowning in my grief and misery. I've lost so many people in my life, Raph. Please...." Her shoulders shook with each inhale and exhale of air she took. "Don't leave me, Raph." The next words she said made him fall to his knees and sob out loud, holding his head in his blood-covered hands.

"I'll die without you."