3 Days Later
Lana wakes up to tapping coming from her bedroom window. She groans and blinks her eyes a few times before sitting up and looking around. She flips her light on and walks over to her bedroom window and opens it tiredly. Raph swings through and looks at her before walking through her room dodging the books and clothes. He opens her bedroom door and disappears into the dark while she just watches him.
"…you know it's 3am right?!"
Lana groans and grabs an oversized t-shirt from the floor and throws it on as she goes after him. She flips the lights on and looks around not seeing him until she hears a crash from the kitchen.
"Raph?"
She quickly walks in and turns the lights on to reveal Raph hunched over the sink with a few pots on the ground. She looks at them before noticing the blood running down his arm and into the sink.
"…I'll get the needle and thread."
He looks over at her and nods before turning around. The paper towels are soaked with blood and she looks at him concerned.
"What the hell Raph?"
She walks over and takes the towels off to see a bleeding slice on his forearm.
"Shit…"
She prods it to make sure no tendons or arteries were cut.
"You're really lucky…move your fingers."
He moves each one slightly before looking her in the eyes.
"Good. You should be fine."
She puts clean towels on it before walking into her bathroom and getting the first aid kit. When she walks back out Raph is sitting in one of the chairs backwards and leaning his head onto the back of it. She grabs another chair and starts to clean it. They both sit in silence with only Raph's irregular breathing breaking the silence every once in a while. She numbs it up before starting to stitch it up.
"…are you gonna tell me what happened?"
Raph looks up at her tiredly.
"…are you gonna ask?"
Lana glances up at him annoyed but doesn't say anything before he sighs and shifts in his chair.
"…I didn't see the knife."
"You didn't?"
"There were 15 of them."
She makes a face and looks at him.
"Okay…well the next time you're gonna come running through my house bleeding, let me know. I might actually clean."
He smirks and nods.
"Will do babe."
She smiles back at him before finishing up the stitches.
"So is this one of the secret injuries we keep from your family?"
He looks away and she nods.
"Okay then, but you have to keep it bandaged for 2 days and wear your long wrist guards…"
He nods and watches as she wraps it up and tapes it into place.
"Thanks Lana."
"No problem."
"I'm lucky I know a real docta."
She smiles and shakes her head.
"Nurse, Raph. There's a difference."
He rolls his eyes and waves his hand dismissing her.
"Have you started your shifts back at the hospital?"
She shakes her head and goes into the kitchen to grab a Coke.
"Want a beer?"
He nods and she pulls one out for him.
"Why haven't you started back? You got back from Cali months ago."
"I didn't take leave because of Cali Raph."
"We all know why you took leave, but you love helping people."
She shrugs and sits down in the same chair while handing him his beer.
"I'll go back when I'm ready."
He takes the hint and switches topics.
"Well wheneva you're ready…"
She nods and sips her drink.
"I saw Casey a few days ago?"
"Oh?"
"Ya he told me about April."
Raph nods.
"Ya she's working for your dad."
Lana smirks and nods. Raph never beat around the bush. That's one of the things she always admired about him since they first met.
"Yep she is. I told him I didn't care, which is the truth…he looked concerned though."
"I'm sure he is. South America ain't exactly the nicest place."
"True."
"When's the last time you talked to your dad anyways?"
She thinks back and shrugs.
"A few weeks ago."
"Oh that's betta than I thought."
"We do talk, we just don't get along."
He nods and takes a big gulp of his drink.
"I understand that better than you think."
She looks at him and nod.
"Ya…you can't choose your family."
He shakes his head and shrugs.
"Nah but I'm glad you can't."
"Oh? Wouldn't want to trade Mikey in?"
Raph laughs and shakes his head.
"Nah, that numbskull is alright…"
"Then why wouldn't you?"
"Well if you did, and it all went south, you'd only have yourself to blame."
I think about that and nod slowly.
"That's very true. Good one Raph."
He smirks.
I'm not as dumb as people think I am."
"No one thinks you're dumb. Stubborn yes, but never dumb."
He smiles and looks at me.
"…thanks Lana."
She shrugs and sips her drink.
"Speaking the truth since 89."
He chuckles and nods before finishing his beer. Lana watches him and continues to sip on her drink. He clenches his hand a few times before slipping his pad back on over it. The bandage peeks out slightly and he reminds himself to switch pads in the morning.
"You gonna be okay?"
He nods and stands up.
"Sorry 'bout waking you up so late."
She shrugs and puts her drink down.
"No worries. I owed you guys."
He nods and remembers her stitches.
"How's your back?"
"Fine I think. It doesn't hurt so I don't think it's infected."
He rolls his eyes and motions for her to stand up. When she does he finally realizes she's not really wearing clothes, just a huge shirt and underwear that thankfully covers everything.
"You don' have pants on."
"Neither do you."
He rolls his eyes with a smirk.
"Smart ass."
She smiles and picks up the back of her shirt to show him the stitches.
"Lookin' good."
"Is it bad how often we get stitches?"
"Only if we had to go to the hospital. They keep records apparently."
She laughs and lowers her shirt.
"Be safe on your way home and don't train too hard tomorrow."
"You're not coming?"
"I'll be there, but I might be late. Depends how long my lunch will take."
"Everything okay?"
She nods.
"I'm getting lunch with my dad."
Raph makes a face but nods.
"Well just call if ya need anythin'."
She holds a thumbs up before walking him back to the window and watching him disappear into the night. She takes a deep breath before shutting the window, turning off the light and falling back asleep.
In the morning Lana showers and dresses in a white strapless eyelet dress. She puts in long gold dangle earrings before towel drying her hair one last time. When she finishes her simple cat eye makeup she walks back into her room and slips on some nude heels along with her Michael Kors gold watch. She checks herself in the mirror before grabbing her purse, sunglasses and car keys. After locking up her apartment she goes into the alley and into the run down garage. She unlocks her car and slips into it while pushing the button to start it. The engine roars to life and she runs her hands over the smooth leather of her Maserati. The garage opens with a push of a button and she rolls out. Lana easily turns onto the street and heads to her father's large building. When she reaches the private gate the security guard comes out and waits by the window. Lana rolls down the window and looks up at him. His eyes get wide and he quickly opens the gates letting her through. When she reaches the front she parks directly in front of the doors and gets out with her sunglasses on. The valet comes over to yell at her but she smiles and throws the keys at him.
"Lana Winters. Don't scratch it please."
He watches her with his mouth slightly open but she keeps on walking. Once she gets inside she looks around and heads for the private elevator.
"Miss? You can't go through there!"
Lana turns and takes her sunglasses off but the woman stops and stares past her.
"Ms. Rivers please, this is my daughter."
"Mr. Winters I'm so sorry I didn't know-"
"No need to be sprry. Thank you very much."
The secretary turns back around and Lana turns to her father.
"Dad."
"Lana."
"You know you could've parked like everyone else."
"Where's the fun in that?"
He looks at her before smiling briefly.
"You are your mother's daughter."
"I wouldn't know."
He frowns at her before turning around leading her to the elevator. When they get on it they ride up in silence. The doors open at the top floor and they both step out. Lana looks at all the ancient artifacts and paintings before turning back to her father.
"I was promised lunch."
He points to a spread of chrome platters.
"Help yourself."
She looks at it then back at him.
"So this isn't about lunch..."
"Is it ever?"
She makes a face before rolling her eyes and going to grab some food. She opens the platters one by one and realizes they're all her favorite foods. She smiles slightly before grabbing some enchiladas and putting them on a plate and heading to her father's desk. He watches her in amusement before pulling out a Coke from his desk. She eyes it before looking at him seriously.
"I'm guessing you need something. You don't usually feed my addiction to soda…"
"Maybe I changed?"
"Now that's a joke. You need something."
She grabs the soda and sits back while opening it. He smiles and looks at her.
"Well you're right."
"What is it? A dinner? Gala? Do I need to flirt with some dignitary?"
He frowns and looks disgusted.
"I am you're father Lana. Do not be obscene."
She shrugs and continues to eat.
"Contrary to what you believe, I did not just invite you hear to ask for something."
"Oh?"
"I have your birthday present."
She eyes him before leaning into his desk.
"You do?"
He nods and goes through a drawer in his desk. He pulls out a black velvet box and a card.
"Happy birthday."
She takes it and thanks him before opening them carefully. The card reads "Lana, happy 18th birthday. It's going to be an exciting year for you. Hope you enjoy the necklace and remember, I will always be there if you need me. Dad."
She smiles at him before opening the box. Inside is a beautiful gold necklace with a red stone with black stones surrounding it. He takes it and pulls it out of the box before walking around the desk and putting it on her. She picks up her hair waiting for him to clasp it.
"It's beautiful. Thank you."
"You're welcome. It's a sun stone with obsidian around it. Your friend April O'Neil picked it up for me a few months ago."
Lana nods and fingers it on her chest. It really was beautiful. He goes and sits down again while smiling at her.
"…you know my birthday isn't for another month right?"
"Of course."
"Then why would you give it to me now? Unless…you do need something."
He makes a face before nodding.
"I need you to sign a few documents."
Her brow furrows and she puts her silverware down.
"Papers?"
He nods and pulls them out. She takes them and looks at them closely.
"…this is a will."
"Yes."
She glances at him before reading more.
"No way. In the event of your untimely death I gain full control of all your assets including the company. The company? Are you insane?"
He smiles sadly.
"This is just to cover my bases. I am getting old.
"You're like 40 dad."
He nods.
"I feel older though..."
She looks away and keeps reading.
"Are you planning on dying soon? Why are you going this now?"
"The lawyer thought it would be a good idea."
"Oh lawyers…"
Lana shuts the files and looks at her dad seriously.
"Why me? Why not Ali?"
Winters sighs and looks at his daughter seriously.
"The face of my company can not be in and out of rehab. She may be older but you have your life together more than she does, and I honestly trust you more in hard times."
Lana nods and sighs.
"…are you sure about this? We've had our differences-"
"You are my daughter Lana. I love you even though I disagree with your life choices sometimes…"
She nods and stares at him.
"…I need to think about this."
"I know you do. Another thing you need to consider is if you sign this I need you to come work for me. Just twice a week for a few months so that my stockholders can see I made the right choice. You will get paid of course."
Lana nods and puts the legal documents into her purse.
"I will think about it and let you know."
He nods and smiles.
"Well good. Now let me get some of that food. It smells delicious."
She smiles and watches him get up and walk away while still fingering her necklace.