Who am I? - CH22
Calm before the storm
Disclaimer: TMNT isn't mine and this is just a fanfiction writing. No money is being made on this story.
(TMNT CC are AU based on 2003 version and events, the turtles are in their late 20s.)
Warning: It has horror elements.
Rate: T
Drama, family comfort/hurt, and heartache...
Summary: Back! But Adam is not sure how to react...
His thumb lingered at the edge of the page ready to continue, even so, this being his fifth try with on the exact same paragraph like moments prior, interrupted by a wall of either rage or joy that forced him to restart, his progress appeared to be a fool's errand.
He could make an attempt to carry on, ignoring the noise pollution, yet to do so would require him to process the meaning of what he was reading.
A meaning that wasn't fully developed to enjoy the play of words the author painted.
When the imagery in his head began to form it crumbled quickly when his attention was ripped away from the words of fantasy back to reality.
Then he would once again place his fat finger to his lips, hissing a hush and then whispering 'lower the volume', to remind his two energetic brothers that they needed to settle down.
On the TV with flashing lights accompanied with annoying sounds was a video game Mikey and Raph have been playing for hours. The volume was placed on the lowest setting to be considerate to Adam, who was sleeping on the couch between the two gamers oddly with his head on Raph's lap that took no mind and feet across Mikey's, who in turn did mind.
It wasn't the fact that Adam had her legs on Mikey that bothered him, it was moreover the fact he continuously had to grabbed Adam's legs that kept kicking him in the side or leg when they disturbed her sleep. After almost losing a few times to Raph from interference from Adam's restless slumber, it got to the point in his desperation to resort to pinning her legs down by hunching over them with his body, making it very uncomfortable for himself at times while playing the intense matches.
"Sorry Leo," Mikey sheepishly apologized, seeing Adam stirred by his outcry, though he thought she deserved it for the kick in the side moments prior.
"Adam has been restless at night, he needs to get some rest," Leo reminded them, stating the truth.
The past two weeks trying to get Adam accustomed to the place wasn't an easy task. It boiled down to having him sleep in the same room with either brother, most preferably Leo's room as he found out, odd nights it was Raph's but it stopped after it was evident Adam wasn't sleeping over Raph's snoring.
As for Mikey's room, Adam kept waking Mikey over every little sound and wouldn't settle down, what more it only made Mikey paranoid with the end result that Raph grumbled a storm in the middle of the night that the two of them were driving him nuts.
Then for Donnie well that never happened, since one Donnie was always in his lab, even sleeping on the couch in there and rarely spent any time with anyone at that, with the exception for Leatherhead who in turn came by more often before Leo could even suggest it.
"Well, if we finally made that spare room his, he might…" Raph suggested again.
"We both know he isn't ready yet," Leo sighed, not wanting to go through this for the hundredth time.
There was a spare room beside Leo's, on the far right that housed mostly boxes that could go elsewhere. At one point in time, it was going to be converted as a spare room for Angel when she had no choice to stay in the lair, but after a while that was scratched out for reasons.
Now with Adam there, it was brought up again, however, Leo thought it was fruitless being that Adam felt more comfortable being around someone than alone, proving so when they tried to get him to stay in one of their rooms by himself, that only lasted less than ten minutes with the kid sneaking into another room that was occupied.
"Maybe, but it will make him feel more like home don't you think Leo," Raph suggested moving his thumb quickly on the control pad.
"Once Master Splinter comes home, we will bring it up again."
Raph sighing rolled his eyes at Leo's trump card, it always ended with father like they needed his approval and that wasn't the case, he knew that, so did Leo.
"Either way dudes, she needs to sleep at night," Mikey complained, "I swear she does this to make Raphie here win."
"Sure, that is why you're losing," Raph said dryly, having the lead for once.
"It's true," Mikey whined, then shifted his thumb quickly, he had to act now or Raph would beat him.
He was almost to victory he could feel it down to his shell, Mikey with eyes on the prize leaned forward all attention on the screen and ready his thumb to press 'B'. He could taste it, yet then as if he mistook fresh milk that was now gone sour only realizing when too late, a foot smack his hand making him press 'A' instead! The turtle horrified gasp in pain watching helplessly his avatar losing the lead and diving into the lava to its eternal death, all the while the devil… or was Adam was the true devil at the time, Raph took the victory.
The human foot peacefully settled back down onto his lap as if it never did a thing, all the while Mikey just stared in disbelief with his jaw dropped to the ground. He was traumatized, seeing his perfect score crack and shattered and to be replaced when the dust cleared by the ungodly letters 'RAPH'.
"You win some and you lose some," Raph gleamed.
Flashing a glare at his brother Mikey snarled then settled his murderous eyes on the instigator, the traitor to all turtle kin! The one he knows beyond a shadow of a doubt did that on purpose.
"I know where you sleep," Mikey creepily warned her, "keep one eye open…"
"Mikey!" Leo snapped.
"What she started it," Mikey told in his defence.
"He is sleeping, he didn't do anything so don't blame your loss on Adam," Leo pointed out, yet by his angle could see the slight smirk on Adam's lips, not believing he was making himself an accomplice, to what end?
"He is right," Raph boasted like a peacock, "Yah lost get over it."
With a pout, Mikey got up as he pointed his fingers at Raph and then Adam, then pointed back to his eyes, to give the clear picture that he had an eye on them.
The threat being humorous than anything else, Raph only laughed harder poking the bear, loving how it was the other way around this time, gloating his victory, which was short-lived.
Not three seconds in Adam stirred, then slapping him right in the face avoiding his bad eye, as she turned to sleep on her side.
Blinking Raph let out a sigh, then grumbled, "Fine I get it don't push it, are you awake princess," he torte, then let out a large grown when he felt her knuckles driving into his side hard, "Yep… you are…." he hissed next regretting in calling him princess.
"Deserves you right," Leo could only say, then was going to comment more when suddenly the lair's elevator came to life.
All eyes moved towards it in curiosity, unsure who it could be.
For one, Donnie and Leatherhead were in the lab, with them in the living room, with no one else in range of the doors to activate them. Also, there was no word of Angel or Casey coming back anytime soon as they were aware of.
The light flashed and then the door swoosh opened. From inside emerged three individuals as Raph, Mikey and Leo responded happily, leaving Adam shuddering and sinking into the couch for protection.
"Master Splinter," the three brothers happily let out. Leo got up to greet his father followed by Mikey and Raph.
"My sons," he answered, looking grimly at Raph's face that had the bandages wrapping around his eye.
Out of all three, his injuries were evident.
Mikey's ribs were better and he was moving without issue and Leo though he looked fine was still having slight issues but was improving.
"It's healing Master Splinter," Leo assured him, "We haven't started back to training but have discussed how to overcome his blind spot."
"I see Leonardo, I'm pleased that you and your brothers have figured things out," he looked about noticing they were short one, "Where is Donatello?"
"In his lab Master Splinter," Leo answered, getting a nod.
"So, bonehead how was the vacation?" Raph came up to Casey with a fist in the air, who smirked at him.
"I got out alive but man you look like shit Raph," Casey put up his fist to bump back.
"Well, you should see the other guy," he boasted only to be knocked down a peg from Mikey.
"Oh right… you mean that ten-year-old girl in the pigtails riding her flower tricycle, that you made to cry and then for that she called you Meany and poked you in the eye with a stick," Mikey teased getting back at Raph the best way there was, insulting his macho image even if it was clearly an exaggerated lie.
"Why you little," Raph barked as the two started to rough house, then the screams came and the commotions, then into a turtle human mix brawl.
Angel trying to ignore the immature children stood on the side shaking her head as Leo sighed and joined her.
In the chaos Adam sat there on the couch out of sight only listening, afraid to move and unsure where she should go.
Then in the midst of it all, a kind voice pierce through the noise that caught her off guard, not realizing someone had reached the living space she was taking shelter in.
"You must be Adam, I presume," the old rat asked as Adam looked at him, shocked and confused. Seeing this Master Splinter sat down on the chair that Leo was using moments earlier, "I must look similar to your own father, is that why you're startled?"
Slowly nodding Adam looked like she was going to cry, she felt like it, since at that moment she recognized Splinter's face yet knew it wasn't the same and the feeling with it was overwhelming.
"It's okay child, If I'm making you feel uncomfortable, I will take my leave," Splinter assured her, not wanting to make this more difficult than it was.
He knew this could be a possible problem when Leonardo had told him of the current situation a week back when he contacted them, how difficult it may be especially if he did look like Adam's father on their first meet.
"No… it…" Adam tried to get out, sinking in the couch more.
"Then let sit here and hope for silence," he gestured to the racket from the lair's entrance.
"Okay…" Adam whimpered.
They sat there listening to the others go on, catching up with talk and laughs. Every moment went by Adam came more comfortable with Splinter there who in turn was allowing him to do so.
"You're their…"
"Father? Yes," he answered
"I… can't remember… but you… look like him…" Adam slowly stated.
"Leonardo has informed me of your condition and your memory loss, I'm sorry this has happened to you, Adam. I truly am. That said, please child don't be afraid to ask me anything, it might trigger a memory of yours."
Slightly nodding Adam looked away, finding it hard to look at the rat without feeling so much pain, "Okay… later…"
"There is no rush, but when you're ready how about you join me for tea sometime?"
"Tea…"
"Yes."
"Okay… later…"
Twice he checked the results, a third made no difference.
No matter how he summed it up the data was always the same, he tried other samples, and there were no changes as prior attempts.
He inspected the equipment and cleaned everything down thoroughly in case of cross-contamination, still the same.
It made no sense then there were facts at play that they overlooked or didn't understand, even so, why were the results this, how was it possible?
The alligator, frustrated with the questions that he knew would only bring more chaos he couldn't ignore it, but how was he to bring it up and with whom?
Was he to walk up to Donatello and give him the complex news or to Leonardo?
A dark cloud shadowed over his head as he stared at the pages of data before him, double-checking yet again.
Circling in red the similarities and evidence on how too similar it was.
Biting his lower lip his strained eyes moved from his pages towards that desk, the one that Donatello was sitting typing away chewing on the end of a pen that had seen better days.
They both have been at this for hours, and he was grateful that Donatello had agreed to his help on this project, yet now he felt horrible to consider entertaining this path, not actually seeking this theory or thought it was possible. Yet here it was clear as day and it was baffling by far.
"Is there something wrong Leatherhead?" Donatello asked peering over his monitor, noticing that he was being stared at by the alligator.
"Well… I'm not sure myself," Leatherhead admitted, torn on what to do.
"Oh? What is it? Are the samples you asked for, not fresh enough?" Donatello sat back, thinking what he provided would be efficient, since he required the blood samples only days ago.
"No, that isn't the issue…"
"Then?"
With a sigh, Leatherhead sat up moving towards Donatello, "Before we speculate there is more testing needed, but I'm not sure why I keep coming up with the same conclusion. Maybe a new sample would be in order."
"Okay…" Donatello tilted his head, trying to study the friend's face.
"Keep in mind what I'm going to show you, could be a result of elements we haven't explored and need to be a factor in at one point or another," Leatherhead was hesitant annoying Donatello.
"I get it, so don't jump to any rash decisions or theories until we explore all possibilities… just spill it LH," Donatello spat, trying to keep his composure yet the alligator could see it in his eyes how it was slipping away quickly.
The stories that Leo warned on how Donatello has been having the tendency to jump to conclusions with no evidence than the norm had Leatherhead on edge on some of his findings, this one more so.
"As you are aware I was cross-referencing you, and your brother's DNA to Adam's to see if we could map out Adam's DNA in order to get a better concept to aid how we can help him."
"Yes and the reason I gave you samples of our blood that I required from my brothers days ago, so?" Donatello insisted he stop running around the bush and get to the point, as he drummed his finger on the desk.
"Adam as we both know for certain is from another dimension and has markers that are different than you and your brothers, however…" Leatherhead bit his lip.
"Leatherhead, please…" Donatello said sweetly as if to ease the alligator's nervousness, which did the opposite.
"Adam and…"
"Adam what?"
Sighing and closing his eyes, Leatherhead placed the paper on the desk for Donatello could see, "Adam's turtle side and Leonardo are blood-related; they are brothers…"
"What!" Donatello jumped out of his chair, snatching the paper before him looking over the results, in great detail.
It was all there, the markers the ones he found before yet never took them for anything.
He always knew Leo wasn't blood-related being the reason he thought that was why Leo was older probably from another breeder than him and his other two brothers. A secret he kept figuring it was irrelevant, only the age he bothered educating his family with. But he never imagined his DNA would show evidence he was related to Adam's turtle side who was from another dimension with strange markers that were also unique in nature. Markers he too ignored back when thinking it could be a side effect of something Leo got exposed to, their past adventures had many questionable moments and they never seemed lethal so he had actually forgotten about them until now.
What did it mean? How was it possible? Then it dawned on him, bringing back the question he first had at the beginning. Was Adam a by-product of Bishop and not from another dimension? Then what of Leo… Who was Leo?
"As I said Donatello, we can't jump to conclusions we don't fully understand Adam's body and this could be a defence mechanism," the alligator suggested.
"A what?" Donatello spat flinging up his arms in confusion and frustration. Was Leatherhead trying to make some excuse for the results with some denial theory?
"Listen to this, yes this is a theory but one I was thinking is a possibility after seeing those results. We know that Bishop has done something to him, then just getting dependent on that drug, the female human side is evident. What if he did more and used your brother's DNA giving such results, we both know Bishop does have your DNA's sample from when he captured you four years prior."
"So, you're suggesting Bishop has also manipulated Adam's DNA to have markers suggesting Leo and he being blood-related. Brothers…"
"I am assuming."
"To what end? Another…" Donatello trailed off not voicing an old concern that Leo has already been strictly forbidden to be usher again, that Adam was a weapon against them. This could be why Leo's bond with Adam is so strong it did make perfect sense. Even if Leo wasn't aware of this little fact, it was pure instinct, animalistic to be protective of his own kin.
"Another?" Leatherhead cautiously asked, witnessing the darkness growing in Donatello's eyes, the same he first witnessed the day he returned and found Donatello in his lab.
Snapping out of it, Donatello sighed, shaking his head, "It's nothing, just thinking how Bishop really is a disgusting being, what did he do to that poor kid?"
"I fear the more we look into this we will find out…" Leatherhead whimpered feeling horrible that Adam went through this, and more that they have no clue of yet.
"I know… but if we don't, we can't help him," Donatello nodded.
"So what do you suggest we do with this discovery about Leonardo and Adam?" Leatherhead asked crossing his arms, not wanting to be the one to tell Leonardo, unsure how he would react or the others at that, even so, he had to suggest it, "We should tell Leo-"
"Hey, guys!" Michelangelo's voice burst out, making both reptiles jump in fright circling towards the entrance of the lab.
Michelangelo seeing the pale faces hissed under his teeth, "My bad… so dudes… Master Splinter, Casey and Angel are back!"
"Oh okay, we will be right out," Donatello said gasping for air from the unexpected heart attack his brother gave him.
"Sure thing… sorry…" he apologized, not towards Donnie, happy he jumped scared him, but more towards LH.
"It's alright Michelangelo," Leatherhead assured him, feeling ill from the scare, it has been a while since the cheerful turtle got him that good.
"Right," the young turtle nodded, then popped out, shutting the door with him.
Taking another much-needed breath Donatello looked up at Leatherhead, "For now we should leave it, it isn't the right time to talk to Leonardo, maybe tomorrow after we do one more test with fresh blood, then we will discuss the discovery with him."
"That sounds reasonable," the alligator felt a bit relieved and agreed since it wouldn't be the right time to mention it.
"Why not go see the others Leatherhead, I will be out momentarily I will put these results away from nosey brothers, such one name Michelangelo, don't need him jumping to conclusions now do we?"
"I will meet you out there," the alligator nodded then made his leave.
Once alone Donnie sighed biting his lower lip looking at the papers, was Leatherhead's theory sound or just another mask to cover the truth?
Making his way to his desk he went for his left bottom drawer that had a lock on it, he normally placed anything of importance or anything he didn't want Mikey hands-on in there.
The little brother after a few times getting in trouble, finally respected that drawer, leaving it be and not pick locking it for something juicy to use for blackmail or a prank. Tossing the pages in, Donnie stared at them before closing the drawer and was about to leave his desk when he heard a recognizable charm from his computer.
DD83 - 'We have much to discuss, even so, we know this will be a problem… You know what needs to be done as we have already discussed before if it came to this…'
duz-machines-84 - 'Tonight then...'
TBC