Working Title: Friends Like Them
Author: Kat Lee
Fandom: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Character/Pairing: April, Vernon
Rating: PG/K+
Challenge: #92: Enemies
Warning(s): SPOILERS!
Word Count: 1,021
Summary:
Disclaimer: All characters within belong to their rightful owners, not the author, and are used without permission.



She was alone again that night, standing by the railing at the bay, when she heard the telltale, clunking sounds of Vernon's "new" vehicle approaching. Although she'd tried to reason with them, their company had been furious that his brand new, top of the line car had been destroyed within an hour of his receiving it and had retaliated by giving him an ancient van for his next vehicle.

April felt for the guy. He'd tried so hard and had been there for her through everything that had happened with the Turtles, and it seemed he'd gotten very little for even risking his life. He'd asked her a few times for a kiss as payment, but she continued to put that off. She didn't want to get involved, not now, not with any one. There was too many other things in her life that she needed to figure out first, not that Vernon ever would have been on the top of the lists of guys she might want to date -- but he had proved himself time and again. That had to stand for something.

She turned to face him as she heard him get out of the van and winced when the door almost fell off when he shut it. He cursed under his breath, but she pretended not to hear him. She shook her head. "Some set of wheels you've got there."

"Yeah," he muttered. "Guy helps save the city, and this is the thanks he gets."

She felt a pang of sorrow for him, and almost guilt, but she pushed the feelings aside. She was not going to get involved with him not now, not ever. He was still Vern, after all. She smiled.

"But enough about that," he said, his tone still sour. "You're not sleeping again tonight, April. Pretty soon, even our best makeup artist isn't going to be able to help you hide them on camera."

"Why, Vern, are you saying I don't look good?"

"No," he spoke quickly. "Of course not, April. You're beautiful, although not as beautiful as some of the women I've dated. You know that."

She grinned cockily. "A girl never gets tired of hearing it."

"Neither does a guy." He looked meaningfully at her; she looked away and out over the bay. It was lit by the city lights, but she couldn't see the moon even from here tonight. She sighed as he came to stand beside her.

"April, what's wrong? Why aren't you home?"

"Why do you think, Vern? I'm out scouring the city nightlife for our next big story."

"I'm sure your green friends can help you find it."

She smiled. "They're not going to be the next story, and we both know it." They also both knew that they would do anything to keep the Turtles' secret. The guys had all thanked her for keeping their secret, but they had barely said a word of thanks to Vernon, even though he'd worked just as hard to help them and continued to not tell a soul about them. He claimed it was because people wouldn't believe him, but she knew better. After all, he could have just as easily taken their pictures with his phone as she had.

"Seriously, April," he queried softly, "what's wrong?"

She sighed again. "I still can't see the moon even from here tonight."

"Okay. So you don't want to talk to me. But you need to talk to somebody."

She turned around, putting her back to the city. He turned with her and stood looking at the side of her face, his own face full of concern. She sighed again and hung her head. "I just keep thinking, remembering . . . That Shredder guy was so awful, Vern."

"He's dead, April."

She looked up at him, frightened eyes raising from beneath lush, dark eyelids. "What if he's not? What if he comes back?"

"Your friends will protect you."

"They almost couldn't stop him this time. He almost killed Splinter! What if he comes back and . . . and . . . ?" She couldn't bring herself to say the words.

He stepped up and wrapped his arms around her before she could stop him. "Then you'll have the Turtles," he told her sincerely, "and you'll have me. I may not be worth much in a fight, but I'll be there for you, April."

It had been so long since she'd been hugged. She let herself relax in his comforting arms which were stronger than she would have imagined, if she'd ever spent time fantasizing about him. Her head dropped onto his shoulder. He rubbed her back, and his hands actually didn't try to move lower, as any other guy's would have.

"I'm just still so scared."

"Says the girl who delivered the final blow to him."

"Yeah. So he'll come looking for me first."

"We'll have your back."

"What did I ever do to deserve enemies like him?"

"And every other part of you."

His fingers trailed lower; she pushed him away. Bright lights lit the dark night, and she turned toward them just in time to see the Turtles' van zipping their way. The back doors were thrown open, and Michelangelo hung out, singing to her as he so often did. She had to smile, and then she laughed as one of his brothers snatched him back inside of the van.

It was okay, she reminded herself. Vernon was right on one thing: Everything was going to be okay, because the Turtles would always have her back and she'd have theirs. Smiling, she started toward her friends, who had once been her pets but, since she had met them again, had quickly been becoming more like the brothers she'd never had. It was okay, she thought again. She might have enemies like the Shredder, but as long as she had friends like the Turtles, everything was going to be just fine. She was beaming by the time she reached them and Mikey swooped her up into a hug.

Grumbling to himself, hands stuck in his pockets, Vernon trailed along behind April, ready for their next big adventure and still hoping to get a piece of the action.

The End