Learning To Love Red

Chapter 4

Raph's POV

Chanel landed softly into my arms with her eyes sealed shut. I took a second to actually look at her face. She had light freckles on her checks, her skin was pale mostly likely from the rain, she had bags under her eyes. I couldn't deny the fact that she was pretty even with her hair knotted up. I was startled from my thoughts when I heard her speak.

"Nice catch."

Her brown eyes were staring up at me, something hidden in her eyes, something that worried me. Chanel smirked up at me.

"You can put me down now Raphael."

I gently placed her down.

"Call me Raph."

I said smiling at her. She returned the smile before turning to look at Leo who had silently joined us. He made his way in front of everyone. The lair wasn't far away but it was a dark and cold walk to get there. I began walking with the others, Chanel close on my heels.

"So what are we gonna tell Splinter?"

Mikey turned around to look at me and began to walk backwards. I opened my mouth to speak but Donnie spoke up first.

"Turn around before you run into a wall."

He said it with some humor in his voice, while turning Mikey around with a playful nudge. I couldn't help but smile at my little brothers, they were like two peas in pod.

"I'll talk to Master Splinter."

Leo said without even turning around. I should have known fearless would want to take care of this. I felt my skin start to burn as my anger towards him began to build. Leave it Splinta Jr to want to take care of everything like always. I was about to express my feelings verbally when I heard Chanel coughing. I stopped in my tracks and turned to look at her.

She was bent over holding her chest as her whole body shook from the force of her coughs. Her skin grew paler as she put one hand on the wall to stead herself and kept one over her mouth.

"Chanel are you okay?"

I said stepping closer to her, my brothers gathered around as well and I could hear their whispers behind me.

"Dude what is wrong with her?"

Mikey mumbled to Donnie probably, I tuned them out keeping all my attention on Chanel. I felt my brow raise with worry as her coughing didn't stop. Her legs began to shake, with fear that she would fall I rushed to her side putting my hand round her small figure to keep her standing.

"Chanel?"

Her coughing stopped the moment I said her name. She looked up me with every ounce of energy that was once had within her eyes lost. She removed her hand from her mouth and what I saw shocked me. In her hand was blood that must have come from the force of her coughs. She then went limp in my arms, her yes fluttering shut.

"Donnie!"

I yelled as I pulled her closer to my chest, her skin was freezing to the touch. Donnie came running up to us taking Chanel's hand feeling for a pulse.

"We need to get her back to the lair and get her warmed up."

Donnie turned back and looked at me then to Leo.

"Then let's move. Raph you and Donnie run up ahead, me and Mikey will follow behind."

I didn't hesitate, I kept her close to me trying to keep her warm. My feet thumped on the ground in rhythm with the others, my thoughts were all concentrated on the red head in my arms. Her breathing was slow but steady. Fear began to creep in my mind, fear of losing a girl I just meet.

We rounded the corner getting closer to the lair with each step. I keep my eyes straight ahead as I spoke.

"Donnie tell me what's wrong."

Donnie ran out in front, trying to get the lair he was mumbling to himself ignoring my question. My aggravation was increasing as Chanel began to get colder.

"Donnie answer the question."

Leo ordered following closely behind us. Donnie began to speak quickly his words sounding as if they were mashed together.

"She has the early stage of pneumonia. We need to get her warmed up, warm food, clean clothes and a shower. I have some medicine I can give her. But we need to get her home quickly."

"Mikey call April ask her to bring some clothes with her."

Leo commanded as we rounded the corner Mikey pulled out his T-Phone and began to dial.

The opening to the lair was right in front of us, I couldn't stop myself from speeding up. I made it through the opening let Donnie lead me to his lab. I could hear Mikey rambling on the phone with April. Donnie motioned for me to lay her down on his lab table before running out again. Gently I placed her down as Leo, Mikey and Donnie came back through the door. Each of them carrying either blankets, pillows and heaters.

"Here put this under her head"

Leo said handing me a pillow as Mikey put blankets on top of her. I took the pillow from him nodding as I did so. Ever so slightly I lifted her head and slipped the pillow underneath her.

I couldn't pull my eyes away from her face, my thoughts were focused on nothing but her. Chanel's freckles stood out due to her pale skin, her lips were pale pink, some of her red hair was still stuck on her cheeks. I couldn't stop myself from reaching out to brush her hair off her cheeks. My fingers lingered even after her hair was no longer on her face. Something about her captivated me, I couldn't explain what it was about her. I could  barley hear myself as I whispered.

"Don't leave me Chanel."