Chapter 29: Ties that bind
It was like being in a dream. Her brain went into overload and then...nothing. She was alone and she felt like she was falling - falling into darkness. A darkness that consumed her very soul with an ice cold grasp. It took her breath away and she was left gasping.
"Rebecca, Becky, can you hear me?" A familiar voice called out to her, it sounded like as if it was under-water and it pulled her up, up and out to the surface.
"It was too much you idiot, what were you all thinking?"
"Don't have a go at Josh or I will seriously knock you out"
Josh? Joshua? The boy. She knew him. How did she know him? Why did he feel so familiar?
Gasping, she clutched out at the only thing nearby. Her eyes snapped open. The large one. Raphael. She quickly pulled back and latched her right hand within her left trying to will herself back into being.
"It's okay, you're okay" She frantically searched the room for the boy. He was still there but seated now and some distance from her. He hung his head and she could feel his sadness radiating across the room. The blue one was crouched by him - saying something but it was something she couldn't quite hear. She swallowed but her mouth was so dry that the sides of her throat just bound together again and once more she couldn't breathe.
"I...I.." she didn't know what to say and inside she couldn't seem to stop herself from panicking. A pin prick in her arm made her jump.
"Ow!" Snatching her arm away from the offending object she quickly turned and slid herself off the bench, her movement taking them all by surprise, stumbling forward she nearly hit the deck albeit for a pair of arms catching her. Struggling up and removing said arms from her body she tried to regain her composure "What have you given me?" The words sounded like they were from someone else's mouth.
"It'll calm you.." There was that voice again and as she turned to identify the owner she surrendered herself to the wave of dizziness that enveloped her and once more fell forward. Raphael was one step ahead and caught her; lifting her up and keeping her close.
"You've had your time, now it's my turn" he growled bundling her up in his arms, feeling her soft breaths against his chest.
"I wouldn't do that Raphael, we still don't know how she'll react and out of the lab we can't really contain her..." Donatello's speech was cut short as Raphael shot him a 'shut up now or you'll get it' look.
"She'll be fine, after all, she's with me why wouldn't she be" Leonardo grabbed his brother's arm.
"Don't be stupid Raph!.." he warned "Donnie's right, you will have no control over her out there.."
"Let go of my arm Leo" hissed Raphael, locking eyes with him and shaking himself free from the contact "I don't want to control her, I just want to help her which is more than these two are doing" He indicated towards Donatello and Baker.
As he stomped out of the lab Leonardo turned to Michelangelo "Mikey go and get Splinter, he'll know what to do, we can't risk her being out there"
Joshua was beside him now "Why not? Are you saying she's dangerous?"
"She was.." began Michelangelo "But then her hair changed and it.." Leonardo smacked the youngest on the arm - he wailed in response.
"Yes, thank you Mikey, now go and get Splinter.."
"What aren't you telling me?" Joshua had a determined look in his eye, his mouth was sealed in a firm ridge and he was frowning.
Leonardo felt like a rabbit in headlights but he had to play this down. "Nothing son, well nothing that you need worry about, it's all good.."
"Then how come you look like you've just done something inappropriate? I don't believe you, I want the entire story and if you don't tell me, Mikey will."
Raphael put her carefully on his bed. He didn't want her to be cold so he covered her with a blanket. Then he worried that her head wouldn't be comfortable so he put another pillow under her. Lying there, eyes closed, her mind somewhere else she looked like the Sleeping Beauty or what he imagined she would like look like... I mean it wasn't like he watched any of the soppy DVDs that they owned.
He sat in the chair next to the bed and waited and willed; willed for her to open her eyes and remember everything.
She did open her eyes but as they fell on him she automatically began to scoot herself away over the other side "Wh..where am I?" she muttered.
"It's okay, you're safe, you're in my room don't worry, I just wanted to get you out of there..so we could...talk"
Her eyes were still wide "What about?" she asked, pulling the blanket up under her chin.
"Well, you know, stuff, just stuff" He knew what he wanted to say but he didn't know how to go about it - never in his life had he ever felt this awkward "Look, you don't have to be afraid of me, I ain't gonna hurt you, I just want to help that's all"
"And we're friends?" She was once again looking for confirmation of their prior connection.
"Yes we're friends, you even stayed down here at one time" He smirked to himself as he remembered but then pulled himself back on track "Look, it's okay, you're gonna be fine"
"Who was that boy? I know him...but I don't know how.." Her eyes flitted around the room, falling briefly on Raphael's punch bag, DVD collection and reading material. It was like she was searching out some form of memory. She re-met his eyes and shifted uncomfortably. "So? Who is he?"
Now this was going to be a difficult one - one that ideally he would like to hand over to anyone else.
"He's a relation..so you're bound to know him..but hey, that's a good thing right?"
Her face automatically altered like someone had lit her up - her eyes visibly brightened and a smile blossomed on her lips "My gosh, like a brother?" she breathed, looking back towards Raphael expectantly.
"Yes" he nodded "Just like a brother". He didn't want to overly stress her and technically he wasn't lying as such - Joshua was like a brother - only he wasn't.
"I don't remember having a brother but it makes sense - I knew that I knew him.." The smile had become a permanent fixture now; she looked so pretty and as she caught his eyes again Raphael felt something familiar in the depths of his gut, a tightening knot, a feeling of nervous anxiety and excitement. He quickly got up and walked over to the other side of the room, but upon hearing the bed creak he turned around to see that she'd pulled herself up into a sitting position.
"Hey, take it easy there, no sudden movements okay? Either that or you'll end up in a heap again.." He sat down on the bed - albeit with little apprehension. She didn't seem to mind though.
Rebecca's mind was whirring with thoughts - a brother - she couldn't believe it. How much they would have to catch up on and he would be the ideal person to fill in all the gaps. She of course remembered she wasn't human - that was something she would never forget - and she also knew she had 'gifts'; certain powers she could use - she wondered if he had them too? But in all these pictures and words that were in her head for the life of her she couldn't remember these mutants and she certainly had no 'feelings' of recognition as she did with the boy. As big as they were though - this one in particular - the one called Raphael; he did have kind eyes that almost twinkled when he talked so she felt sure he was being true to his word and that he wouldn't hurt her. She would, however, remain on her guard just in case.
"I have to see him though...to talk...so he can help me with things..."
Raphael tried to keep the 'obvious' away from his face. He had to get out and chat to the others first - give them the 'heads up' and let them know the situation so that things wouldn't get messed up.
"Okay, I'll go get him, you stay here and keep yourself chilled-out remember?"
She nodded and leaned back against the wall, pulling the blanket straight on her legs "See, I'm behaving" she announced before flooring him with another bright smile. He was in big trouble.
Outside the bedroom he rushed to find the others - they were all in the lounge all except Donatello, who was no doubt still lording it up in his lab with his best pal.
"She wants to see you..." began Raphael. Joshua's face lit up the same way hers did "But..."
"What's the 'but' doing there - we don't need a 'but'.." He had gotten up now and was nervously brushing down his jeans "For God's sake Raph what the fuck is the 'but'?"
"Hey.." interrupted Leonardo also getting up. He really hated it when Joshua swore.
"Look the 'but' is err, well it's like this... she,err, thinks your her brother.." he rushed the last few words - hoping that perhaps they would hear but wouldn't really register what he had said.
"And why's that Raphael?" Leonardo stepped closer; he didn't like where this was going.
"Hey, back off Fearless, it ain't me, she guessed that's all and I just felt it was easier.." The sentence trailed off into silence to which Joshua responded by sitting down again "C'mon J, she still wants to see you - that's a good thing isn't it? You guys can talk about stuff.."
"Yes but not the real stuff, not the stuff that I want to talk about. Talking but all the while avoiding the one thing - the only thing.." He ran a hand through his hair "I can't pretend Raph, I can't.."
"You don't have to...just don't walk in and go 'hey I'm your son'...well, not for now anyway..she needs time, to adjust, to acclimatize,... that's all"
"And who put you in charge of things?" Leonardo was still standing next to his brother - hands on his hips. Raphael knew Leo was trying to act authoritative but he thought he just looked camp.
"Look calm down sister, I just went with the flow and for me it felt like the right thing to do that's all.."
"Right for her but not for Josh! - we owe Josh the chance to speak with her properly...as her son.."
"You wouldn't have had him speak to her at all!" growled Raphael "You only agreed to this because she changed.." He shoved Leonardo in the shoulder.
Josh stood up between them "See? There you go again - on about her 'changing'... what's all this about? and don't you fob me off"
"It's nothing.." dismissed Leonardo; desperate to get off this track.
"So why don't I believe you... Mikey, you and I, kitchen now.." The youngest jumped up eagerly ready to go that was until Leonardo pushed him back down.
"What?! Why are you keeping stuff from me dad? You go on about the big 'high and mighty' truth thing and yet you don't seem to be able to cut it..I want to know the truth!"
Flopping back down to the sofa Joshua almost appeared to look defeated, tired; slowly deflating like a Tyre with a puncture.
"Where's Splinter?" Raphael fixed sight on his brother "Thought you were going to involve him in this?"
"He told me to sort it out between us and he'd be happy with the outcome.." muttered Leonardo weakly "And believe me guys I am trying but it's like you're all against me!"
Raphael crouched down to Joshua's level "Come and see her, please, she wants to talk to you... I just think we need to take this whole thing down a notch or two that's all.."
From his position on the floor Michelangelo nodded. He hated it when his brothers fought. Now it was Leonardo's turn to look defeated. He put his hands up and turning away went to seek solace in the kitchen. The youngest brother got up and followed him. He didn't want Leo to feel down so figured it was his duty - as a brother - to cheer him up.
"Want one of my famous pizza shakes bro? I can add some extra ice-cream just for you! we got strawberry or there's choc chip or..."
Leonardo looked up from the table "No thanks Mikes.."
Michelangelo scooted out a chair and sat down "Don't let it get to you Leo, it will be okay you know. She's just Becky now that red thing has disappeared and we all love Becky don't we..?"
The eldest nodded briefly "Yes we do.." he replied "And I think that is going to be the problem.."
He wanted to get out, to get away, to separate himself, to forget - but he didn't want to desert his brothers and he didn't want to desert his son.
Being a leader was hard. Being part of a family was harder.
