Chapter 2
I walked to my father's door. I hesitated at the threshold and collected myself. I reluctantly knocked at his door.
"Enter, my daughter," came the command. I opened the door and disappeared into the depths of that Japanese room. I knelt in front of my father and bowed my head in a submissive manner. He stood there in silence for a few moments before gathering me up in a hug.
"I'm sorry, daddy. I'm so sorry!" I sobbed into his fur. He stroked my hair in a comforting manner and murmured softly.
"My child, this was the reason why I disapproved of Samuel in the first place. I knew that you would be hurt and broken by this man, and I did not wish for this to come to pass."
"I should have listened to you father." I said wiping my tears.
"You must stay strong for your children, Ella," my father told me.
"Yes I know. That is part of the reason that I had to leave. It was bad enough for him to hit me, but Allie? That was terrible. And now with my little miracle on the way . . ." I trailed off looking around the room.
"Tell me, everything," my father softly told me, handing me a cup of tea. I sipped and began my tale.
"The horror began after I was pregnant with Allie. I think it was around the six month mark, when Sam lost his job at the factory. He began to drink and brood, just sitting around the house. I was unable to work, as this caused stress to the baby, so I had no way of making money and Sam was drinking most of the unemployment check that we received every week. Well after I had Allie, we were in debt to the hospital. And Sam was becoming more violent every day. He would drink and not help me feed Allie, wash her, nothing. Basically he was useless. So when she was six months old, I was fed up. I told him to leave, that I was returning to my real family. That sent him over the edge. He hit me, and bruised me so bad that night. My face was swollen, my ribs were bruised, and my legs were red with welts. And then he forced himself on me.
After that night I was humiliated. I stayed in the house and didn't go out without Allie. I was scared for her. At night the beatings grew more intense. And they came every night. He first hit Allie when she was two years old. I tried to protect her, but after he beat me the pain was just too much and I passed out. Well over the past two years I've tried to keep Allie, from experiencing most of these beatings. But I couldn't do much, as the food that he allowed us to eat, mostly went to her. I had to keep her healthy, and he restricted the food, too much. When he let us have any that is.
So tonight, I was protecting Allie, when he came at her with his belt. I shielded her and took most of the hits for her. But when I passed out, she took quite a few blows to the back." I stopped my story. "I knew tonight I had to leave, before he found out that I was pregnant. He would have accused me of having an affair and then would have tried to kill my child. So I packed up Allie and came back home, daddy."
Master Splinter looked at me thoughtfully. "My daughter, I did not wish for you to go through this pain, but you are truly a brave soul to protect your daughter as you did. But my sons need to know that you are pregnant so Donatello can determine whether or not the beating that you acquired tonight has affected the child in any way." He hugged me again. "And never doubt where your home is. Ella, our home is always your home and your children's. We love you very much." I cried again, this time out of relief. I bowed to my father and walked out of the room, back to the living room where my brothers were waiting for the news about how father had reacted.
"Guys of course I can stay. But there is something that you need to know." I began. "Where's Allie?" I asked scared for my daughter. Mike and the guys exchanged looks.
"She's in your old room," Leo stated. I nodded my head satisfied.
"So, Leo, give me one good reason why I shouldn't pound Sam to a pulp?" Raph said twirling a sai in his hand. I laughed and the guys looked relieved.
"Guys!" I said exasperated at my brothers.
"What, little sis?" Mike asked me.
"By four fucking months!" I exclaimed. My brothers all laughed. Mike had been doing that since we were kids, rubbing it in my face that he was four months older, therefore, not the youngest.
"What's up?" Donnie asked me, carefully checking me over visually.
"Well, I just thought that you guys needed to know that I am pregnant." I was met with silence. The guys looked at me.
"Pregnant huh?" came a mocking voice from the door of the lair. "So who's the father?" I paled as I knew that voice.
"Sam!" I cried.