There was talking. She could hear it, but it was muffled and seemed distant, like it was down below her. Gabriella kept her eyes closed and tried to feel her surroundings. Yes, she was in a bed, but it wasn't the same bed she slept in the night before. Seemed softer, more comforting, and she was covered with heavier material. She still had her clothes on from the day; but was it the same day? She couldn't tell. What she could tell was that she still hadn't eaten anything. Her empty stomach was still protesting!
Gabriella opened her eyes and looked around. She was in a nicely decored room, yellow seemed to be the dominate color with a tiny pink and blue flower print adorning the wallpaper. The comforter that covered her sported the same print. White sheets trimmed with Iris lace complimented the set. She noted the only furniture in the room, besides the bed, were the two bedside tables, an oak dresser and armoir, plus two mirrors - one over the dresser and another full length one nearer to what looked like a closet door. As she raised herself up to a sitting position, she saw another door nearer to the closet and then the bedroom door, which was a double entry painted white. Gabriella pushed the covers off and noticed that the lamp on the bedside table was on. The shades were pulled down. She stood up out of the bed and went over to the window. Gabriella pulled back the covering and noticed that it was dark out! " How long have I been sleeping?" she asked aloud to no one in particular.
" About six hours." a slightly familiar voice said.
Gabriella turned around and saw that Rahab had just entered the room.
"Are you feeling better, Gabriella?" she asked.
" Guess so." the girl replied quietly. Her stomach growled again and was quite audible. However, Gabriella was taken aback with Rahab in the room. She hoped, though, that she hadn't reacted too obviously.
" Guess you're probably hungry, too!" the blue haired iguanoid stated, smiling. It was a strange smile, sort of a sneer compared to human smiles. But, it seemed friendly. She had a plate of fruit with her, as well. " Is something wrong?" she asked, noticing that Gabriella was just staring.
" Hum, no, not really" she lied.
" Really?" Rahab repeated. She moved over to the bed and then commented, " From what Don has told me, you've lived your entire life with a human." the female lizard stared at Gabriella.
What is it with this family. Everyone has this 'stare' that goes right through you - Gabriella thought. " Yes," she replied, " that's true. Why do you ask?"
Rahab sat down on the bed, placing the tray of fruit on the comforter and pushing it gently towards Gabriella. She absentmindedly smoothed out some wrinkles in the bed covering, " Well, if you've spent your entire life with humans, anything 'not' human is going to appear strange to you, right?" She looked back at Gabriella. Her expression didn't seem judgemental, just inquisitive.
"Hoo boy, did she hit the nail on the head with that one!" the girl thought to herself. She conceded, " Well, yeah. Obviously!"
"Hmmm...yes, obviously!" Rahab repeated. She looked compassionately at this new niece of hers. She saw the fear, the confusion, the anger - everything that she herself had faced so many years ago. She understood. She also understood why Don had to educate her. She was well aware of the temperament that Gabriella possessed. It needed containment through discipline and proper training - which, from what she had seen and heard, there was very little of. "So, how long do you think you will be staying with us?" Rahab asked.
" Don't know. Guess until the professor gets better!" Gabriella replied hesitantly. She didn't know where this dialog was going, but she was getting tired of it. She was still freaked out by the non-humans that seemed to be surrounding her.
" Maybe, ... or, maybe you'll stay with us once you understand what it's all about!" the female suggested, looking up at Gabriella.
Gabriella was getting concerned. Was getting her here on the notion of giving the professor room to heal a ruse? Did they want to keep her? Would she ever see him again!! Remembering what Don had said earlier that she was born ninja meant that someone here - maybe Don, himself - was her parent! The prospect of never seeing her father again frightened her. She was starting to panic and stiffened in response, " What's 'what' all about?"
" Just what it is to be who we are, that's all!" Rahab drew her legs up under her a little so she was sitting fully onto the bed, leaning to the right and supported by her arm on that side. She wrapped her tail around so it hugged her legs. She continued speaking, "We are unique to the world, Gabby, and the world does not like unique unless it can cage it or stuff it or analyze it. Don has done a remarkable job of educating the more intelligent of the human species. But, there are people out there for one reason or another - whether it is because they are afraid of us or greedy - who would stop at nothing to either destroy or exploit us!"
" Don't you have a daughter out there in the 'world'?!" Gabriella asked, remembering Don mentioning Gaylay. She sat down on the opposite side of the bed and grabbed a pear. She took a bite of it and then devoured it quickly, realizing how hungry she was. She watched Rahab watch her and wondered what her response would be.
Rahab smiled as Gabriella ate, remembering her own hunger years ago ...., then she replied, " Yes, but she's ninja! Mike trained her, like Don will train you! Gaele was younger when she started, so she didn't have any issues to deal with. But, if you allow yourself to let Don guide you, I guarantee, it will be the best thing to ever happen to you!"
Gabriella stared back at Rahab. Gabriella was still leary of being here, still unsure of whether she would ever fit in, though by all appearances, it was obvious she did. " Are you ninja?"
Laughing, Rahab teased, " No, I'm an iguana!!" and smiled! Gabriella couldn't help but smile back at the woman's sense of humor.
Rahab persistantly brought up subjects and questions for Gabriella. And as she did, she noticed that Gabriella became less shy and more willing to share. They talked about a great many things, mostly about the professor and Gabriella's fear of losing him. Gabriella never had a conversation like she was having now, not even with her surrogate father. It was like she had this gap in her life or her heart. Rahab's willingness to be open, to listen, as well as to share her experiences seemed to fill this void in Gabriella! Soon enough, the strangeness of Rahab became less so as they continued to talk.
She learned about Rahab's beginnings in her owner's house years ago, how her owner created her by using her own DNA to restore the lizard's life. Only, the other chemical agents she used did more to generate that life, it mutated and changed it. Then, discovering Mike's place in the Mojave desert, marrying Rapahel, having children, getting a divorce, lots of things that only girls share and not pass around to others. Gabriella was being treated like a family member and it was like a balm to her injured spirit. Here was someone who could tell her how to be female, to be a woman, to be an adult!
Rahab seemed gentle, but then she shared that there were times her temper intimidated Mike and Don both.
" You intimidated them??" Gabriella couldn't imagine anyone or anything intimidating Don or Mike!
" Yes, I did." Rahab admitted, "Even Leo. You'll meet him later, by the way. But, Gabby, they intimidated me even more! They are very good at defending what is theirs! I don't think there is anything that could ever get passed them when they are collected together in a fight! It's a gift, really. Maybe it's part of the way they were mutated! But, they were trained well and they have passed that training on to their children. Don is trying to do that with you - if you will let him!"
Gabriella's eyes widened a bit at what she was now thinking, " Is - Don - my biological father?" She was not sure how to feel about that. Maybe that would explain why he had been so strict with her.
Rahab wanted so much to answer her, but she had been forwarned by Mike to not say anything, one way or the other! "Just know that everyone here cares about you and we want nothing better than for you to know you are accepted! This is your home for the time you are here!" and with that, Rahab encouraged Gabriella to help herself to all the fruit. " When you're done, you may want to shower. The bathroom is through the first door on the left over there. We've already put your clothes in the closet - that's the door closest to the window. There is still a little bit of the evening left and I think it would be good for you to socialize some before retiring for the night!" With that, Rahab excused herself and left the bedroom.
Gabriella did feel much better after she showered. She languished under the cascade of water for longer than she felt she should have. In Connecticut, the professor was always telling her to conserve and not take too long in the shower. But, here, given the size of Mike's estate and the obvious wealth that he and Don enjoyed, Gabriella felt that just this once, she could indulge herself. The hotter the water, the better she liked it, making it all the harder to finally turn it off.
She was wrapped in a body towel and was drying her hair when she thought she heard movement from outside the bathroom. Thinking it was Rahab coming to fetch the tray she had brought the fruit on, Gabriella opened the door to the bedroom. It was Don! At first, she just stood there, surprised. Then, realizing she was only in a bath towel, she yipped and stepped quickly back into the shower room, closing the door behind her, " Sheesh, don't you know better than to just walk in on me like that??" Gabriella exclaimed through the door in surprise. But, then she wondered if maybe she should have chosen her words better, considering the mood Don was in the last time she saw him.
" What? You're in the bathroom, I'm in the bedroom. I'll wait until you're done." and he sat on the bed.
Gabriella cracked the door opened and peered around so that all Don could see was her wet head, Carefully, she said, " Maybe you could wait outside, okay? I still need to dress and there isn't an access to the closet from the bathroom!" She noticed he had a serious expression on his face, " What? Is the professor all right?" She grew concerned when Don didn't immediately answer. If it weren't for just having a towel on, Gabriella would have marched into the room and demanded an answer!
" The professor is - fine, Gabriella. He had a rough time with the operation and recovery took longer than expected. But, he's in capable hands; the best this world has to offer - I made sure of that!" There was more that Don wanted to say, Gabriella could tell. Instead, he said, " I'll - ah - go back down to the family room, I guess, and then you can get yourself together! I shouldn't have come in - your right!" He smiled faintly and left before Gabriella could ask him anything else.
She was puzzled. Don looked so uncertain. In her short time with him, he never seemed to be out of sorts! She became very concerned, now.
She hurried to dry her hair. She put part of it up, clipping it in the back, leaving most hanging loose around her shoulders. Gabriella then applied a light bit of makeup and, making sure there was no one in her room, skittered quickly out of the bathroom and to the closet. She walked in and picked out a comfortable pair of blue sweat pants and top. She slipped her feet into some white loafers and hurried out the bedroom door.
Taking the stairs cautiously, since she was still a bit jittery about everything, she heard someone from the room across the way talking about Raphael.
" Don't know if Raph even knew what hit him, Don" It was Mike.
Gabriella walked into what was the family room, trying not to disturb the conversation that was taking place. She cautiously moved over to where Rahab was sitting. It was obvious that this new friend of Gabriella's was upset; her eyes were red from crying.
" What's happening?" she asked, whispering to Rahab, not sure if she wanted to know the answer.
" It's Raph, he's been in an awful accident! We just found out about ten minutes ago! " There was still some raw emotion coming through her voice, " He's in a bad way. We're just now deciding who's going to go up to San Fran to stay with him."
Gabriella asked, " What happened, though?"
Don was standing over by the hallway where the gym door was. He said solumnly, " He was beaten up. He had an 'appointment' last evening, was suppose to be back this afternoon. The police found him in an ally in San Francisco, unconscious. Looked like he was pretty much knocked out before he had a chance to react." He sighed resolutely, " By the hospital's account it doesn't look good for him, Gabby!" That explained why Don was in her room. He wanted to tell her then and he seemed restless, now that she thought about it.
Gabriella didn't mind the moniker, she was concerned for Raph. "Why don't we all go" she suggested.
" No, just some of us." Don said sternly. The look on his face turned from near grief to an intense anger. Gabriella shrank back, not knowing if she had caused the change. Don immediately saw her concern and reassured her, " I'm not mad at you, just at the thugs that did this to Raph! They haven't a clue what they've started!" and he walked intently over to the stairwell door and disappeared down the steps. Mike followed, and then Devon was close behind.
Gabriella turned to Rahab, " What are they going to do? " She was worried now. The entire atmosphere in the room was charged with an energy that was almost electric.
Rahab answered, " Not for you to be concerned about, Gabby!"
"Well, gee, I thought I was part of this family! What are they going to do, Rahab?"
" NOT for your concern!" Rahab was a bit more forceful with her reply than Gabriella would have expected. She looked at this new friend of hers, saw the emotional weight of Raph's situtation clearly on her face. She knew that there had been problems in Rahab's and Raph's relationship from what she shared with Gabby earlier, but one could not be so callous as to be unmoved by his plight. Rahab may not have liked Raph, but it was apparent he was still part of her life, whether they got along or not. " Do you want me to go to the hospital and stay with him?" Gabby asked Rahab.
" It's not that. I'm just concerned for him and for Devon. This will be Devon's first sortie. He's well trained, I don't doubt his ability - Mike and Don have both trained him very hard. But, I've exprienced a few of these assaults and they don't always go as planned! It's been a long time, though, so maybe my memory isn't too clear." Rahab sighed, " I'm just so tired of humans!!" She excused herself and went to clean up the kitchen.
Gabriella remembered the sword on the mantel in the cottage, remembered all the weapons downstairs in the gym, rememberd Don implying that they were all ninja - including her. What made a ninja, anyway? Was it a religion, an attitude, did it involve just the ability to kill someone? What was so 'wonderful' about that anyway? Gabriella was musing all of this over when there was a knock at the front door. " That's strange?" she said. " Rahab, someone's at the front door? Is that normal?"
Rahab had gone into the laundry room over by the gym door to fetch some towels, but came back at the sound of Gabby's voice, " What did you say?"
" There's someone at the front door! We're you expecting company?" Gabby repeated, concerned since the property had a strong security measure and it wouldn't be too easy for someone to get passed the gates. This situation with Raph had her freaked out big time. What if these thugs wanted to get at all of them??
"Oh, yeah, it's Leo and Seth. They flew into San Jose earlier this evening. We found out about Raph just before Seth called to say they had landed. The guys wanted to wait until they arrived before heading out."
Rahab went into the foyers and to the front door, opening it. Gabriella stayed on the couch, not too certain she wanted to see another reptile so soon. She was mulling over many things that had happened over the past twenty four hours. Her life had changed dramatically in such a short amount of time that it seemed almost like a dream - or a nightmare!
Yet, everything that had transpired over the past few minutes had changed Gabby's attitude in a big way. This was serious stuff that was going down. It had nothing to do with her or with manipulated cooperation. This was real drama in the works. She had seen Don angry - more times in the past twenty four hours than she would have liked - but this anger was different - it seemed lethal!
Soon, Don, Mike, and Devon emerged from the stairwell, all of them carrying knives. All three had sober expressions, but Devon's was a little more like inexperienced excitement. He certainly seemed qualified to go into battle, given his physique. But most of the conflicts that Don and his brothers had engaged in to ensure their safety were a thing of the past. The preceding ten years had been relatively peaceful. This recent turn of events against Raph caught them all off guard.
Leo came into the family room, nodded politely at Gabriella, nodded differently at his brothers and nephew, and disappered down the stairwell. To Gabby, he seemed aloof and detached. His nod to her was mixed with speculation and a knowing look, as if he had her completely figured out with just one glance. She didn't feel at all comfortable with that.
Another tail-sporting reptile came into the room similar to the other male Gabriella had seen on the patio earlier after her 'romp' in the forest. He, too, was an adult, but young - maybe a bit younger than the other one. However, this one didn't have the ruggedness in his features. He was similar to Leo in the face and body structure, minus the turtle shell. He was the most different of them all, though! His complexion was lighter, almost albino-like, and the pupil of his eyes were pale and nearly transparent.
"He must be Seth!" Gabby thought to herself. As she watched him, he turned his head towards her and gave her the same kind of nod and expression as Leo had! "Two peas in a pod!" Gabby said to herself, smiling a little absentmindedly. Seth didn't respond either way, but just stared at her. Then, he turned his attention over to where the stairwell was.
Leo returned just a moment later with a knife like what his brothers had. He tucked it into his belt, the look on his face was identical to Don and Mike. Gabriella was noticably aggitated with the weapons and was about to get up to leave for her bedroom, when Don shook his head at her to stay put. " Seth will stay behind, just in case this is more than just a random hit! If things go down here, he can handle it."
Gabriella looked at Seth. He was just as well built as Leo and the others where, maybe leaner due to his youth. He seemed young, though. She wanted to protest, not believing for minute that someone barely an adult could even possibly protect them all, but who was she to judge his ability. She had just seen him for the first time! So, she held back her objection. Don regarded her in that instant and held her gaze. He nodded, as if he appreciated her lack of response. She didn't know what to make of that other than to smile weakly.
Then, they were gone. So fast, Gabriella wondered if she had blinked or maybe had dozed off. " What?" She looked around, " How ....?" That was when she stood up from the couch and hurried to the front door. It was just latching when she made it to the hallway. " How'd they do that?"
Seth followed her into the foyer. He watched as she stared at the front door. She noticed him, then, and asked, "How did they do that? I didn't even...."
But he interrupted her, " They're ninja, Gabby! They do that all the time!" and he shook his head as if he were admonishing a child. Then, he turned back around and made his way back to the family room where his mother, Rahab, was.
She hugged him, long and hard, as if she didn't want to ever let go. " I missed you, Seth!" she sighed. He hugged his mom in return, " I missed you as well, Mother!"
Gabriella was stunned by his rude response and angry that her name was again shortened. Following him, she peeved, "Maybe you have the inside track on this family, but I don't, okay? It's all news to me!" She was defensive, " You don't even know who I am, so how can you even assume I would know about .......!"
" I know who you are! " Seth interrupted as he went over to the kitchen to inspect the contents of the refrigerator.
Gabriella just stood there, totally out of touch with everything that was going on. She felt detached from the family all over again. She was not impressed with Seth. She was worried about Raph, though. Despite how terrifying his appearance was to her, he had been kind and compassionate while on the flight west. Was he going to be okay? And what about the professor? All Don had said up in her room was that the operation was hard on him and the recovery time long. There were just too many people that she knew who were having health issues. She wanted to scream for the world to stop just so she could catch up with all that was happening!
Frustrated, Gabriella decided to go outside by the pool and just collect her thoughts. Seth and his mom had moved over to the dinette table at the opposite side of the family room, out of visual range from where Gabby was. Riahna was no where to be seen, so Gabriella assumed she had gone to bed early.
As Gabriella tried to open the patio door, it wouldn't budge. She tried again, but harder. Still nothing. " What is going on with this door?!" She complained. She jerked harder and that's when the alarms went off. She put her hands over her ears in protest, not understanding what she had done. She was clearly alarmed, herself!
Seth was there in an instant, running his hands along the door frame, found what he was looking for, and the alarm went silent. " What were you trying to do, Gabriella? We're under house security right now! No one is allowed outside! " he admonished.
" Well, how was I to know THAT? " she yelled and stormed up the stairs to her room. Seth just watched her ascend the stairs, shaking his head in amusement. He went back to the family room to visit with his mom.
"Some socializing", she seethed. "Who does he think he is, anyway? A rich kid with this high and mighty father who couldn't even say hello to me! This family is just too weird!" Gabriella was spouting frustration to herself as she paced her room. She looked out the window and surveyed the backyard. That pool looked mighty inviting. But, she was stuck. Out of curiousity, she felt around the window frame and lo and behold, found a raised edge just like the window in the cottage. However, she decided not to play escapee for the moment. She had been pretty freaked out from her last outing in the forest with the cougar and all that had transpired afterwards. Gabriella wasn't too eager to have a repeat performance with any of it! She was still bored, though.
She hadn't had the opportunity to search the room before now. So, she did a little exploring. The drawers in the dresser were filled with her personal affects, underware, her extra bras, nylons, knit ski hats and head masks - not that there was a chance to wear them here in 'sunny' California.
Gabriella opened up the closet and found it to be the largest closet she had ever seen! Even with all of her clothes - and she had brought every piece that fit her - didn't fill the room! Her shoes were neatly lined up along one side and an assortment of other items unrelated to clothing on the other side. She saw her DVD player and wondered why it hadn't been hooked it up. That was when she wondered if maybe there already was one in the room!
She noticed the armoir and figured that it would be a perfect spot to store a television. Sure enough, when she opened the doors, a nice 30 incher faced her, beckoning to be turned on. It had a DVD player, too, AND headphones! This was way too perfect! However, she didn't want to be surprised and walked in on, so she went over to the double door entry and locked it.
Going through her stuff in the closet, she found several of her DVD's that had given her hours of enjoyment. Some were spy movies and musicals. None appealed to her. She had seen them too many times. So, she went back to the armoir to see if there were any available that might intrigue her. Opening one of the drawers, she saw a DVD movie that looked interesting. It read on the cover that it was in Japanese! It showed two women on the front doing a kind of dance, but with swords! She liked the title, too. Must be about tigers and a mythical dragons! That definately intrigued her. She quickly popped the DVD in, turned on the televsion, and sat back.
Gabriella found that she was watching the strangest Asian film she had ever viewed. She understood the story, but what was with these people flying through the air and trying to kill each other? Why were they flying? It was obvious they were doing some sort of martial art, but the outrageous acrobatics were just too strange! Yet, Gabriella was totally inthralled. It was the most interesting video she had ever watched. Obviously, none of what the actors were doing was possible in the real world, so she allowed herself to be entertained.
About an hour into the movie, Gabriella thought she heard something out of the ordinary from the sound track. Figuring it was part of the recording, she continued to watch the movie as the actors wemt flying through the air, over tiled roofs, doing all kinds of acrobatics with their swords and kicks. She looked at the DVD cover and was amazed to find that it had won an Academy Award many years ago. She enjoyed the stunts, but what Gabby liked best about it was the language! She loved discerning languages and this tape refreshed what she already knew about Japanese!
There was that noise again! She took the headphones off and listened. Suddenly, she heard someone knocking hard on her bedroom door! Startled, she quickly turned the T.V. off and went over to open the double doors. There was Seth, looking pretty peeved at her, " How come you locked this door?" he nearly shouted at her.
" I can lock it if I want! " Gabriella replied back tersely. She glowered at him, not too impressed at all. He was just a kid, for crying out loud. Then, she noticed Rahab off to one side.
" We've been knocking on that door for five minutes, Gabby! We were worried!" she, too, seemed a bit upset. "What were you doing?" Rahab asked.
Gabriella felt chagrined, " I, ah - was watching a DVD."
" Oh, what one?" Seth asked.
"Nothing special, just one that's in Japanses is all." she replied.
"You understand Japanese? Hey, I think I know what movie you're watching!" and Seth easily
moved passed her and over to where the television was. He saw the DVD cover and smirked, " You watch this stuff? ?" Seth laughed.
" Hey, it's not mine. It was in here already. I thought it would help me improve my understanding of the language!" she explained, a bit miffed by his diversion. " It's just a movie, I know that people can't really do those things!"
Seth just looked at her with this patient, sort of high brow, 'he knew something she didn't' look. Again, the shake of his head and he made for the door. " You know, there's an awful lot to learn about this family, Gabriella! I'm hoping that once Don gets back, that he gives you an education about it all!"
"Oh, you mean that everyone here is a ninja? Yes, he's already told me! " she replied back, irritated.
" But, you don't buy it, do you?" he asked her, turning back around to face her, his eyes penetrating.
There go those eyes again! " It's not that I don't buy it, I just don't see the value in it!" she replied.
" Oh, really?" Seth studied her for a moment, then took a step towards her. She refused to recoil back in defiance. He noticed it right off and gave her room, then asked " Well, first, let's consider what happened to Raph this evening! You think he was beaten up just because someone felt like it? He was attacked because of who he was, of what he looked like! Second, what if someone were to come in here to harm you - like through that window over there. Let's just say, for the moment, they - the intruders - managed to compromise the security. They're now able to get into the house. They're not coming in to socialize or watch a silly DVD movie " he nodded over at the television Gabriella had been watching, " but they're coming to do you absolute harm!!" Seth leaned in towards her for emphasis, " You don't know Jack about protecting yourself because you think it's all silly games and stuff for movies and television. So, tell me, Gabby - what're you going to do?" He looked at her intently. He was serious.
Gabriella didn't know how to answer. Seth answered for her, as if he had read her mind, "Wouldn't know what to do, would you?" He paused, and then said sharply, " In that instant you realize that you haven't a clue what to do - you would be DEAD!"
Gabriella just stood there. She knew he was right, but he had been so cheeky towards her that there wasn't any way she would own up to it. She decided to change the subject, " So, why were you so all fired up at getting into the room?"
Seth saw the change in topic and knew she did it deliberately to avoid any further confrontation. He allowed her that. There was much for her to learn before she would ever understand what he and his family were all about. So, he answered Gabriella's question, trying not to sound too annoyed, " We wanted to see if you were hungry and if you'd like to join us for a bite to eat!" He smiled at her and then he left the room.
Rahab nodded her head to affirm Seth's invite and encouraged Gabriella to join them, smiling. She was hungry, having only fruit so far, so she turned the light off in the bedroom and followed Rahab down the steps.
" So," Seth asked as Gabriella sat down at the dinette table, "what was it like being raised by a human? " he took a bite from his sandwich, his expression unreadable.
Gabriella was not too sure what he meant by that, " What do you mean, exactly?" She had decided on trying to control her aggitation, since Seth had effectively put her in her place about learning self defense. She didn't know what to make of him; though she couldn't really say she disliked him. He had a strong, yet genteel, demeanor - despite his previously rude remarks to her.
" Exactly how I said it!" he replied, looking at her as he chewed his bite.
Gabriella was intimidated by this one. He seemed wise beyond his years but there was sincereity in his voice that was attractive to her. He reminded her of the professor, yet in the same light, he reminded her of Don - but without the intimidation. She cautiously replied, " Well, since he was virtually the only person I was ever around, it was okay." Gabriella wasn't sure where his questions were leading to, but she noted he hadn't stopped looking at her.
Seth took a sip of his water and continued to stare at her. Then he asked, " Tell me how you reacted when you saw Raph and Don?" He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms in front of him, watching her.
" Why do you want to know?" she asked, getting annoyed and defensive at his intrusive quesitons. Was he trying to find out how she felt about being in this home of strange people? She didn't want to admit that they all terrified her by just their appearance alone.
" It will tell me a great many things! How you perserve us, for one!" as he leaned towards her, his stare became more intent. Rahab ate her meal silently, watching the discourse between her son and this new niece of hers. There was an energy developing between the two, and she wondered about it.
Gabriella had read his intent correctly. She considered many answers, but she decided to turn the tables on him, "Okay, I will answer your question with a question!" She leaned towards him as she often did with the professor whenever she would challenge him on an issue or topic. Staring straight and deep into his pale eyes, she asked, "How would you feel if after being raised by reptiles, within a day, find your self in a family of humans? You're prohibited from leaving and you're clear across the country! Plus, you're getting knocked around physically and emotionally?!" Her frustration over the past twenty-four hours seeped through. Her words were said with quick precision, exposing the intellect her immaturity had so successfully hidden of late. " Their ways are so different from yours it's like a completely different universe. Then those humans are trying their best to show you how much you don't know without first finding out how much you do!" She sat back hard in her chair, defiantly challenging him. Gabriella's stare now became just as intent at Seth's. She felt her anger and her emotions spiking to a volitile level. " And all you want to do is get back to your original family!!"
Her response caught him off guard! He smiled at the place she had so skillfully put him. Nodding his head in appreciation for her response, he replied, " Good answer and not one I was expecting! I guess I'd be - somewhat freaked out ...........and frustrated all at the same time! "
Rahab was silent during their vigorous discussion. She was quite impressed, though, with Gabriella's retort, her eyes widening in surprise. It dawned on her that maybe Gabriella's main source of anger and rebellion was not that she was forced out of her home and into a relatively strange envirvonment, not that it wasn't part of the problem. It was just that no one bothered to get to know her! So, she asked, changing the subject since she noticed the familiar flash of emotion in Gabriella's eyes, one that she had seen in Raph years ago, " What's your favorite thing to do, Gabby? What gives you pleasure?"
Gabriella was startled and stunned. The change in topic watered down the rage that was brewing within her. Rahab was the first person since she had arrived to even show that she cared about how she felt, what she wanted. Gabby's internal struggle was nearing it's zenith, her eyes filled with tears, "Are you really interested or are you just patronizing me?" She was apprehensive.
Rahab assured her, " I mean it. I really want to know!"
Seth finished his sandwich but did not leave the table. He was just as interested as his mom was in what Gabriella's response would be. He truely appreciated how she had responded to his questions.
Gabriella sighed, trying to calm her emotions, her voice quavered and then she regained control, "I guess it would be ..... learning things! I love to read, but after I've read a book, I have it memorized. It's no longer a challenge to go back and re-read it since all I have to do is remember it!" Gabriella then said. " I've memorized War and Peace and the Bible, plus others!"
Seth's attention picked up on that immediately. He smiled and leaned forward, eager to hear more of what Gabriella liked.
Rahab accepted that easily enough. She knew that Don was like that - his perfect memory a bane to his brothers and a delight for him when he used it to annoy them!
" Even with the instructional videos the professor would buy me, I was able to learn ballet and to do gymnastics. I found doing the balance beam or the uneven bars quite relaxing for me!" She looked wistful, as if she were remembering those times.
Then, Gabby continued with a bit more enthusiasm, " I've learned 9 languages and would like to learn a few more." Then Gabariel's eyes lit up, " I love music - musicals and classics, preferably! I really like Serena Brightwell. Her 'Journey Home' is probably....." and she stopped suddenly, overwhelmed. That song in and of itself mirrored everything that she had been feeling lately. She froze, her eyes welled up again but this time her throat became too tight to talk. She quickly excused herself and ran out of the family room and up the stairs.
She threw herself on her bed and cried and continued to cry even after Rahab came into the bedroom. " I'm sorry," she sobbed," I just miss him so much!!" and her emotions that she had bottled up for the past twenty-four hours came pouring out. Rahab sat down next to her and just rubbed her back.
" I know, honey. I can't imagine how it is for you!" she said compationately.
" Don just - assumes so much about me! " Gabriella cried, " He's terrified me so much! I had no idea what he wanted other than to take me away from my home! It feels like I've been here a whole month, so much has been happening! I want to go back. I know you've been trying, but I just don't belong here!!" and there was more crying. After a moment, she continued her lamenting, " Everyone thinks that because I have these mystery parents who were ninja, that I need to be one, too. Maybe I don't want to be one!" and her voice raised. Gabriella cried for while longer until she couldn't cry any more. Rahab stayed with her the entire time, not really saying much, but letting her niece vent both verbally and emotionally.
Seth had followed his mother up the stairs, but stayed out of sight while he overheard Gabriella's lament. He was starting to understand some things about her.
Mike had told Seth just before he and Leo left Japan for California, about Don and Raph's experience in Connecticut with Gabriella. Seth had thought it quite amusing at the time, even stating that she seemed a natural at 'disappearing'! Mike had to agree that her ingenuity was pretty sharp.
However, there was obviously more to the Gabriella story and Don just hadn't taken the time to 'read between the lines' concerning her. Maybe he was coming down on her too hard, expecting too much too soon. It was true that Gabriella was spoiled, but it wasn't really her fault. Blame her uniqueness and the fact that she had only a single person raising her, unqualified as he was given Gabriella's personality and inherant attributes. In that moment, Seth had a plan. He motioned to his mother through the opened door while Gabriella had her head buried in a pillow. She excused herself from her niece's side, telling her that she may have left a burner on, and then left the room.
Once Seth had her out of earshot, he told her of his plan.
" I think that may work, Seth!" she replied listening to his idea.
" If she is as good as she says she is at memorizing, watching the workout DVD's that Mike recorded from the gym may give her something tangible to consider. Since she seems to enjoy the Hollywood version, let her see the real thing! Let her decide if it's something she wants to learn, rather than make her! It sure would be less frustrating in the long run if she shows interest!"
A while later, there was a knock at Gabriella's bedroom door. She had washed her face of her smeared make-up. She had her hair pulled back into a pony tail so it would be out of her way. She went to the door and opened it. Seth stood there.
" Oh, hi." she said meekly. She was sure he thought of her as Don did - spoiled. She expected some lecture from him, some tricky question about her leaving the table so quickly, but instead....
" Hi back!" he smiled. Gone was the judgemental attitude. " Here, I think you will find these very interesting! Mike recorded them over the years and since you enjoyed that Asian film, you might appreciate these even more! " He handed her about ten DVD's, no labels other than the names of his uncles and father, Leo. There were some that had two names on them with only one that had four names.
" Ah , gee - thanks. What are they again?" Gabriella asked, puzzled.
Seth just said, " A way to show you what it's really all about!" and then he left, like a vapor, so quickly, Gabriella had to open the door wide to see where he had gone. It was almost like he had disappeared - like his father and uncles had done several hours ago.
Which made her ask herself what time it was. She went over to the armoire and saw that the DVD clock showed midnight. Well, maybe she could watch just one DVD.
It was three o'clock in the morning and she was on her fourth disc. She had become totally enthralled with what they contained. The 'performers' were the very same people that were living under the very roof she was currently occupying - and what they were doing was real and not staged. She never realized how violent, but yet how beautiful, martial arts could be. Violent because as strong and immoveable Don seemed to her, in some of the DVD's, his brothers were successfully getting passed his defenses and literally sending him across the gymnasium floor! She was more than impressed. Yet, he had as effectively put his brothers in their place as well, wielding the bo so efficiently, the camera had a hard time picking up the complete movements.
Leo was probably the most fluid of the four, his posture and actions were as clean and as perfect as one could get. When he used his swords, he was flawless - and lethal! His intensity made Gabriella gasp with surprise.
Mike used both the bo and the nunchuks, but the latter was what was featured the most. He seemed just as precise in the recording as he was out in the forest when he killed that mountain lion. His expression, though, was totally different from the day before. Gone was the happy, jovial appearance. In it's place was a fierce determination as if he was completely focused on what ever imagined attacker he was battling. It made her shudder.
There was one DVD which showed just hand to hand combat between all four of the brothers. It was fierce and it was violent. Each time one would knock the other across the floorboards—which rarely happened as they were all deft at avoiding such contact—Gabriella would audibly gasp. Surely that one would be injured. However, that was never the case; the fallen comrade would either roll or catch themselves and then flip up and ready for another round! She was getting a little excited and thoroughly intimidated all the more about being in this home.
Gabriella then made a decision. She would not just watch these DVD's, she would study them! If here is where she was at, then she was going to make sure the next time Don took her into the gym, she would be ready! Rahab, as strange as she was to Gabriella in appearance, had struck a sensitive cord with her when she inquired about her interests. It was the very thing she needed and it seemed to be the catalyst to give her the incentive to adjust! Seth's abrupt change towards her, giving her these marvelous DVD's with their insightful look at his family, also helped.
Gabriella had discovered years ago in her teens that she was able to pick up many things just by watching an instructional DVD. She could apply her total recall to learn ballet, for example. Maybe she didn't do it quite as well as the one shown, but it did teach her grace and fluidity. She would entertain the professor at Christmas-time with her rendition of the Nutcracker Suite—portraying nearly all the parts! Gabriella's natural athletic ability gave her an unusual advantage in this endeavor - and she was sure, now, that it would benefit her learning what these relatives of hers practiced!
Gabriella opened her eyes and looked around. She was in a nicely decored room, yellow seemed to be the dominate color with a tiny pink and blue flower print adorning the wallpaper. The comforter that covered her sported the same print. White sheets trimmed with Iris lace complimented the set. She noted the only furniture in the room, besides the bed, were the two bedside tables, an oak dresser and armoir, plus two mirrors - one over the dresser and another full length one nearer to what looked like a closet door. As she raised herself up to a sitting position, she saw another door nearer to the closet and then the bedroom door, which was a double entry painted white. Gabriella pushed the covers off and noticed that the lamp on the bedside table was on. The shades were pulled down. She stood up out of the bed and went over to the window. Gabriella pulled back the covering and noticed that it was dark out! " How long have I been sleeping?" she asked aloud to no one in particular.
" About six hours." a slightly familiar voice said.
Gabriella turned around and saw that Rahab had just entered the room.
"Are you feeling better, Gabriella?" she asked.
" Guess so." the girl replied quietly. Her stomach growled again and was quite audible. However, Gabriella was taken aback with Rahab in the room. She hoped, though, that she hadn't reacted too obviously.
" Guess you're probably hungry, too!" the blue haired iguanoid stated, smiling. It was a strange smile, sort of a sneer compared to human smiles. But, it seemed friendly. She had a plate of fruit with her, as well. " Is something wrong?" she asked, noticing that Gabriella was just staring.
" Hum, no, not really" she lied.
" Really?" Rahab repeated. She moved over to the bed and then commented, " From what Don has told me, you've lived your entire life with a human." the female lizard stared at Gabriella.
What is it with this family. Everyone has this 'stare' that goes right through you - Gabriella thought. " Yes," she replied, " that's true. Why do you ask?"
Rahab sat down on the bed, placing the tray of fruit on the comforter and pushing it gently towards Gabriella. She absentmindedly smoothed out some wrinkles in the bed covering, " Well, if you've spent your entire life with humans, anything 'not' human is going to appear strange to you, right?" She looked back at Gabriella. Her expression didn't seem judgemental, just inquisitive.
"Hoo boy, did she hit the nail on the head with that one!" the girl thought to herself. She conceded, " Well, yeah. Obviously!"
"Hmmm...yes, obviously!" Rahab repeated. She looked compassionately at this new niece of hers. She saw the fear, the confusion, the anger - everything that she herself had faced so many years ago. She understood. She also understood why Don had to educate her. She was well aware of the temperament that Gabriella possessed. It needed containment through discipline and proper training - which, from what she had seen and heard, there was very little of. "So, how long do you think you will be staying with us?" Rahab asked.
" Don't know. Guess until the professor gets better!" Gabriella replied hesitantly. She didn't know where this dialog was going, but she was getting tired of it. She was still freaked out by the non-humans that seemed to be surrounding her.
" Maybe, ... or, maybe you'll stay with us once you understand what it's all about!" the female suggested, looking up at Gabriella.
Gabriella was getting concerned. Was getting her here on the notion of giving the professor room to heal a ruse? Did they want to keep her? Would she ever see him again!! Remembering what Don had said earlier that she was born ninja meant that someone here - maybe Don, himself - was her parent! The prospect of never seeing her father again frightened her. She was starting to panic and stiffened in response, " What's 'what' all about?"
" Just what it is to be who we are, that's all!" Rahab drew her legs up under her a little so she was sitting fully onto the bed, leaning to the right and supported by her arm on that side. She wrapped her tail around so it hugged her legs. She continued speaking, "We are unique to the world, Gabby, and the world does not like unique unless it can cage it or stuff it or analyze it. Don has done a remarkable job of educating the more intelligent of the human species. But, there are people out there for one reason or another - whether it is because they are afraid of us or greedy - who would stop at nothing to either destroy or exploit us!"
" Don't you have a daughter out there in the 'world'?!" Gabriella asked, remembering Don mentioning Gaylay. She sat down on the opposite side of the bed and grabbed a pear. She took a bite of it and then devoured it quickly, realizing how hungry she was. She watched Rahab watch her and wondered what her response would be.
Rahab smiled as Gabriella ate, remembering her own hunger years ago ...., then she replied, " Yes, but she's ninja! Mike trained her, like Don will train you! Gaele was younger when she started, so she didn't have any issues to deal with. But, if you allow yourself to let Don guide you, I guarantee, it will be the best thing to ever happen to you!"
Gabriella stared back at Rahab. Gabriella was still leary of being here, still unsure of whether she would ever fit in, though by all appearances, it was obvious she did. " Are you ninja?"
Laughing, Rahab teased, " No, I'm an iguana!!" and smiled! Gabriella couldn't help but smile back at the woman's sense of humor.
Rahab persistantly brought up subjects and questions for Gabriella. And as she did, she noticed that Gabriella became less shy and more willing to share. They talked about a great many things, mostly about the professor and Gabriella's fear of losing him. Gabriella never had a conversation like she was having now, not even with her surrogate father. It was like she had this gap in her life or her heart. Rahab's willingness to be open, to listen, as well as to share her experiences seemed to fill this void in Gabriella! Soon enough, the strangeness of Rahab became less so as they continued to talk.
She learned about Rahab's beginnings in her owner's house years ago, how her owner created her by using her own DNA to restore the lizard's life. Only, the other chemical agents she used did more to generate that life, it mutated and changed it. Then, discovering Mike's place in the Mojave desert, marrying Rapahel, having children, getting a divorce, lots of things that only girls share and not pass around to others. Gabriella was being treated like a family member and it was like a balm to her injured spirit. Here was someone who could tell her how to be female, to be a woman, to be an adult!
Rahab seemed gentle, but then she shared that there were times her temper intimidated Mike and Don both.
" You intimidated them??" Gabriella couldn't imagine anyone or anything intimidating Don or Mike!
" Yes, I did." Rahab admitted, "Even Leo. You'll meet him later, by the way. But, Gabby, they intimidated me even more! They are very good at defending what is theirs! I don't think there is anything that could ever get passed them when they are collected together in a fight! It's a gift, really. Maybe it's part of the way they were mutated! But, they were trained well and they have passed that training on to their children. Don is trying to do that with you - if you will let him!"
Gabriella's eyes widened a bit at what she was now thinking, " Is - Don - my biological father?" She was not sure how to feel about that. Maybe that would explain why he had been so strict with her.
Rahab wanted so much to answer her, but she had been forwarned by Mike to not say anything, one way or the other! "Just know that everyone here cares about you and we want nothing better than for you to know you are accepted! This is your home for the time you are here!" and with that, Rahab encouraged Gabriella to help herself to all the fruit. " When you're done, you may want to shower. The bathroom is through the first door on the left over there. We've already put your clothes in the closet - that's the door closest to the window. There is still a little bit of the evening left and I think it would be good for you to socialize some before retiring for the night!" With that, Rahab excused herself and left the bedroom.
Gabriella did feel much better after she showered. She languished under the cascade of water for longer than she felt she should have. In Connecticut, the professor was always telling her to conserve and not take too long in the shower. But, here, given the size of Mike's estate and the obvious wealth that he and Don enjoyed, Gabriella felt that just this once, she could indulge herself. The hotter the water, the better she liked it, making it all the harder to finally turn it off.
She was wrapped in a body towel and was drying her hair when she thought she heard movement from outside the bathroom. Thinking it was Rahab coming to fetch the tray she had brought the fruit on, Gabriella opened the door to the bedroom. It was Don! At first, she just stood there, surprised. Then, realizing she was only in a bath towel, she yipped and stepped quickly back into the shower room, closing the door behind her, " Sheesh, don't you know better than to just walk in on me like that??" Gabriella exclaimed through the door in surprise. But, then she wondered if maybe she should have chosen her words better, considering the mood Don was in the last time she saw him.
" What? You're in the bathroom, I'm in the bedroom. I'll wait until you're done." and he sat on the bed.
Gabriella cracked the door opened and peered around so that all Don could see was her wet head, Carefully, she said, " Maybe you could wait outside, okay? I still need to dress and there isn't an access to the closet from the bathroom!" She noticed he had a serious expression on his face, " What? Is the professor all right?" She grew concerned when Don didn't immediately answer. If it weren't for just having a towel on, Gabriella would have marched into the room and demanded an answer!
" The professor is - fine, Gabriella. He had a rough time with the operation and recovery took longer than expected. But, he's in capable hands; the best this world has to offer - I made sure of that!" There was more that Don wanted to say, Gabriella could tell. Instead, he said, " I'll - ah - go back down to the family room, I guess, and then you can get yourself together! I shouldn't have come in - your right!" He smiled faintly and left before Gabriella could ask him anything else.
She was puzzled. Don looked so uncertain. In her short time with him, he never seemed to be out of sorts! She became very concerned, now.
She hurried to dry her hair. She put part of it up, clipping it in the back, leaving most hanging loose around her shoulders. Gabriella then applied a light bit of makeup and, making sure there was no one in her room, skittered quickly out of the bathroom and to the closet. She walked in and picked out a comfortable pair of blue sweat pants and top. She slipped her feet into some white loafers and hurried out the bedroom door.
Taking the stairs cautiously, since she was still a bit jittery about everything, she heard someone from the room across the way talking about Raphael.
" Don't know if Raph even knew what hit him, Don" It was Mike.
Gabriella walked into what was the family room, trying not to disturb the conversation that was taking place. She cautiously moved over to where Rahab was sitting. It was obvious that this new friend of Gabriella's was upset; her eyes were red from crying.
" What's happening?" she asked, whispering to Rahab, not sure if she wanted to know the answer.
" It's Raph, he's been in an awful accident! We just found out about ten minutes ago! " There was still some raw emotion coming through her voice, " He's in a bad way. We're just now deciding who's going to go up to San Fran to stay with him."
Gabriella asked, " What happened, though?"
Don was standing over by the hallway where the gym door was. He said solumnly, " He was beaten up. He had an 'appointment' last evening, was suppose to be back this afternoon. The police found him in an ally in San Francisco, unconscious. Looked like he was pretty much knocked out before he had a chance to react." He sighed resolutely, " By the hospital's account it doesn't look good for him, Gabby!" That explained why Don was in her room. He wanted to tell her then and he seemed restless, now that she thought about it.
Gabriella didn't mind the moniker, she was concerned for Raph. "Why don't we all go" she suggested.
" No, just some of us." Don said sternly. The look on his face turned from near grief to an intense anger. Gabriella shrank back, not knowing if she had caused the change. Don immediately saw her concern and reassured her, " I'm not mad at you, just at the thugs that did this to Raph! They haven't a clue what they've started!" and he walked intently over to the stairwell door and disappeared down the steps. Mike followed, and then Devon was close behind.
Gabriella turned to Rahab, " What are they going to do? " She was worried now. The entire atmosphere in the room was charged with an energy that was almost electric.
Rahab answered, " Not for you to be concerned about, Gabby!"
"Well, gee, I thought I was part of this family! What are they going to do, Rahab?"
" NOT for your concern!" Rahab was a bit more forceful with her reply than Gabriella would have expected. She looked at this new friend of hers, saw the emotional weight of Raph's situtation clearly on her face. She knew that there had been problems in Rahab's and Raph's relationship from what she shared with Gabby earlier, but one could not be so callous as to be unmoved by his plight. Rahab may not have liked Raph, but it was apparent he was still part of her life, whether they got along or not. " Do you want me to go to the hospital and stay with him?" Gabby asked Rahab.
" It's not that. I'm just concerned for him and for Devon. This will be Devon's first sortie. He's well trained, I don't doubt his ability - Mike and Don have both trained him very hard. But, I've exprienced a few of these assaults and they don't always go as planned! It's been a long time, though, so maybe my memory isn't too clear." Rahab sighed, " I'm just so tired of humans!!" She excused herself and went to clean up the kitchen.
Gabriella remembered the sword on the mantel in the cottage, remembered all the weapons downstairs in the gym, rememberd Don implying that they were all ninja - including her. What made a ninja, anyway? Was it a religion, an attitude, did it involve just the ability to kill someone? What was so 'wonderful' about that anyway? Gabriella was musing all of this over when there was a knock at the front door. " That's strange?" she said. " Rahab, someone's at the front door? Is that normal?"
Rahab had gone into the laundry room over by the gym door to fetch some towels, but came back at the sound of Gabby's voice, " What did you say?"
" There's someone at the front door! We're you expecting company?" Gabby repeated, concerned since the property had a strong security measure and it wouldn't be too easy for someone to get passed the gates. This situation with Raph had her freaked out big time. What if these thugs wanted to get at all of them??
"Oh, yeah, it's Leo and Seth. They flew into San Jose earlier this evening. We found out about Raph just before Seth called to say they had landed. The guys wanted to wait until they arrived before heading out."
Rahab went into the foyers and to the front door, opening it. Gabriella stayed on the couch, not too certain she wanted to see another reptile so soon. She was mulling over many things that had happened over the past twenty four hours. Her life had changed dramatically in such a short amount of time that it seemed almost like a dream - or a nightmare!
Yet, everything that had transpired over the past few minutes had changed Gabby's attitude in a big way. This was serious stuff that was going down. It had nothing to do with her or with manipulated cooperation. This was real drama in the works. She had seen Don angry - more times in the past twenty four hours than she would have liked - but this anger was different - it seemed lethal!
Soon, Don, Mike, and Devon emerged from the stairwell, all of them carrying knives. All three had sober expressions, but Devon's was a little more like inexperienced excitement. He certainly seemed qualified to go into battle, given his physique. But most of the conflicts that Don and his brothers had engaged in to ensure their safety were a thing of the past. The preceding ten years had been relatively peaceful. This recent turn of events against Raph caught them all off guard.
Leo came into the family room, nodded politely at Gabriella, nodded differently at his brothers and nephew, and disappered down the stairwell. To Gabby, he seemed aloof and detached. His nod to her was mixed with speculation and a knowing look, as if he had her completely figured out with just one glance. She didn't feel at all comfortable with that.
Another tail-sporting reptile came into the room similar to the other male Gabriella had seen on the patio earlier after her 'romp' in the forest. He, too, was an adult, but young - maybe a bit younger than the other one. However, this one didn't have the ruggedness in his features. He was similar to Leo in the face and body structure, minus the turtle shell. He was the most different of them all, though! His complexion was lighter, almost albino-like, and the pupil of his eyes were pale and nearly transparent.
"He must be Seth!" Gabby thought to herself. As she watched him, he turned his head towards her and gave her the same kind of nod and expression as Leo had! "Two peas in a pod!" Gabby said to herself, smiling a little absentmindedly. Seth didn't respond either way, but just stared at her. Then, he turned his attention over to where the stairwell was.
Leo returned just a moment later with a knife like what his brothers had. He tucked it into his belt, the look on his face was identical to Don and Mike. Gabriella was noticably aggitated with the weapons and was about to get up to leave for her bedroom, when Don shook his head at her to stay put. " Seth will stay behind, just in case this is more than just a random hit! If things go down here, he can handle it."
Gabriella looked at Seth. He was just as well built as Leo and the others where, maybe leaner due to his youth. He seemed young, though. She wanted to protest, not believing for minute that someone barely an adult could even possibly protect them all, but who was she to judge his ability. She had just seen him for the first time! So, she held back her objection. Don regarded her in that instant and held her gaze. He nodded, as if he appreciated her lack of response. She didn't know what to make of that other than to smile weakly.
Then, they were gone. So fast, Gabriella wondered if she had blinked or maybe had dozed off. " What?" She looked around, " How ....?" That was when she stood up from the couch and hurried to the front door. It was just latching when she made it to the hallway. " How'd they do that?"
Seth followed her into the foyer. He watched as she stared at the front door. She noticed him, then, and asked, "How did they do that? I didn't even...."
But he interrupted her, " They're ninja, Gabby! They do that all the time!" and he shook his head as if he were admonishing a child. Then, he turned back around and made his way back to the family room where his mother, Rahab, was.
She hugged him, long and hard, as if she didn't want to ever let go. " I missed you, Seth!" she sighed. He hugged his mom in return, " I missed you as well, Mother!"
Gabriella was stunned by his rude response and angry that her name was again shortened. Following him, she peeved, "Maybe you have the inside track on this family, but I don't, okay? It's all news to me!" She was defensive, " You don't even know who I am, so how can you even assume I would know about .......!"
" I know who you are! " Seth interrupted as he went over to the kitchen to inspect the contents of the refrigerator.
Gabriella just stood there, totally out of touch with everything that was going on. She felt detached from the family all over again. She was not impressed with Seth. She was worried about Raph, though. Despite how terrifying his appearance was to her, he had been kind and compassionate while on the flight west. Was he going to be okay? And what about the professor? All Don had said up in her room was that the operation was hard on him and the recovery time long. There were just too many people that she knew who were having health issues. She wanted to scream for the world to stop just so she could catch up with all that was happening!
Frustrated, Gabriella decided to go outside by the pool and just collect her thoughts. Seth and his mom had moved over to the dinette table at the opposite side of the family room, out of visual range from where Gabby was. Riahna was no where to be seen, so Gabriella assumed she had gone to bed early.
As Gabriella tried to open the patio door, it wouldn't budge. She tried again, but harder. Still nothing. " What is going on with this door?!" She complained. She jerked harder and that's when the alarms went off. She put her hands over her ears in protest, not understanding what she had done. She was clearly alarmed, herself!
Seth was there in an instant, running his hands along the door frame, found what he was looking for, and the alarm went silent. " What were you trying to do, Gabriella? We're under house security right now! No one is allowed outside! " he admonished.
" Well, how was I to know THAT? " she yelled and stormed up the stairs to her room. Seth just watched her ascend the stairs, shaking his head in amusement. He went back to the family room to visit with his mom.
"Some socializing", she seethed. "Who does he think he is, anyway? A rich kid with this high and mighty father who couldn't even say hello to me! This family is just too weird!" Gabriella was spouting frustration to herself as she paced her room. She looked out the window and surveyed the backyard. That pool looked mighty inviting. But, she was stuck. Out of curiousity, she felt around the window frame and lo and behold, found a raised edge just like the window in the cottage. However, she decided not to play escapee for the moment. She had been pretty freaked out from her last outing in the forest with the cougar and all that had transpired afterwards. Gabriella wasn't too eager to have a repeat performance with any of it! She was still bored, though.
She hadn't had the opportunity to search the room before now. So, she did a little exploring. The drawers in the dresser were filled with her personal affects, underware, her extra bras, nylons, knit ski hats and head masks - not that there was a chance to wear them here in 'sunny' California.
Gabriella opened up the closet and found it to be the largest closet she had ever seen! Even with all of her clothes - and she had brought every piece that fit her - didn't fill the room! Her shoes were neatly lined up along one side and an assortment of other items unrelated to clothing on the other side. She saw her DVD player and wondered why it hadn't been hooked it up. That was when she wondered if maybe there already was one in the room!
She noticed the armoir and figured that it would be a perfect spot to store a television. Sure enough, when she opened the doors, a nice 30 incher faced her, beckoning to be turned on. It had a DVD player, too, AND headphones! This was way too perfect! However, she didn't want to be surprised and walked in on, so she went over to the double door entry and locked it.
Going through her stuff in the closet, she found several of her DVD's that had given her hours of enjoyment. Some were spy movies and musicals. None appealed to her. She had seen them too many times. So, she went back to the armoir to see if there were any available that might intrigue her. Opening one of the drawers, she saw a DVD movie that looked interesting. It read on the cover that it was in Japanese! It showed two women on the front doing a kind of dance, but with swords! She liked the title, too. Must be about tigers and a mythical dragons! That definately intrigued her. She quickly popped the DVD in, turned on the televsion, and sat back.
Gabriella found that she was watching the strangest Asian film she had ever viewed. She understood the story, but what was with these people flying through the air and trying to kill each other? Why were they flying? It was obvious they were doing some sort of martial art, but the outrageous acrobatics were just too strange! Yet, Gabriella was totally inthralled. It was the most interesting video she had ever watched. Obviously, none of what the actors were doing was possible in the real world, so she allowed herself to be entertained.
About an hour into the movie, Gabriella thought she heard something out of the ordinary from the sound track. Figuring it was part of the recording, she continued to watch the movie as the actors wemt flying through the air, over tiled roofs, doing all kinds of acrobatics with their swords and kicks. She looked at the DVD cover and was amazed to find that it had won an Academy Award many years ago. She enjoyed the stunts, but what Gabby liked best about it was the language! She loved discerning languages and this tape refreshed what she already knew about Japanese!
There was that noise again! She took the headphones off and listened. Suddenly, she heard someone knocking hard on her bedroom door! Startled, she quickly turned the T.V. off and went over to open the double doors. There was Seth, looking pretty peeved at her, " How come you locked this door?" he nearly shouted at her.
" I can lock it if I want! " Gabriella replied back tersely. She glowered at him, not too impressed at all. He was just a kid, for crying out loud. Then, she noticed Rahab off to one side.
" We've been knocking on that door for five minutes, Gabby! We were worried!" she, too, seemed a bit upset. "What were you doing?" Rahab asked.
Gabriella felt chagrined, " I, ah - was watching a DVD."
" Oh, what one?" Seth asked.
"Nothing special, just one that's in Japanses is all." she replied.
"You understand Japanese? Hey, I think I know what movie you're watching!" and Seth easily
moved passed her and over to where the television was. He saw the DVD cover and smirked, " You watch this stuff? ?" Seth laughed.
" Hey, it's not mine. It was in here already. I thought it would help me improve my understanding of the language!" she explained, a bit miffed by his diversion. " It's just a movie, I know that people can't really do those things!"
Seth just looked at her with this patient, sort of high brow, 'he knew something she didn't' look. Again, the shake of his head and he made for the door. " You know, there's an awful lot to learn about this family, Gabriella! I'm hoping that once Don gets back, that he gives you an education about it all!"
"Oh, you mean that everyone here is a ninja? Yes, he's already told me! " she replied back, irritated.
" But, you don't buy it, do you?" he asked her, turning back around to face her, his eyes penetrating.
There go those eyes again! " It's not that I don't buy it, I just don't see the value in it!" she replied.
" Oh, really?" Seth studied her for a moment, then took a step towards her. She refused to recoil back in defiance. He noticed it right off and gave her room, then asked " Well, first, let's consider what happened to Raph this evening! You think he was beaten up just because someone felt like it? He was attacked because of who he was, of what he looked like! Second, what if someone were to come in here to harm you - like through that window over there. Let's just say, for the moment, they - the intruders - managed to compromise the security. They're now able to get into the house. They're not coming in to socialize or watch a silly DVD movie " he nodded over at the television Gabriella had been watching, " but they're coming to do you absolute harm!!" Seth leaned in towards her for emphasis, " You don't know Jack about protecting yourself because you think it's all silly games and stuff for movies and television. So, tell me, Gabby - what're you going to do?" He looked at her intently. He was serious.
Gabriella didn't know how to answer. Seth answered for her, as if he had read her mind, "Wouldn't know what to do, would you?" He paused, and then said sharply, " In that instant you realize that you haven't a clue what to do - you would be DEAD!"
Gabriella just stood there. She knew he was right, but he had been so cheeky towards her that there wasn't any way she would own up to it. She decided to change the subject, " So, why were you so all fired up at getting into the room?"
Seth saw the change in topic and knew she did it deliberately to avoid any further confrontation. He allowed her that. There was much for her to learn before she would ever understand what he and his family were all about. So, he answered Gabriella's question, trying not to sound too annoyed, " We wanted to see if you were hungry and if you'd like to join us for a bite to eat!" He smiled at her and then he left the room.
Rahab nodded her head to affirm Seth's invite and encouraged Gabriella to join them, smiling. She was hungry, having only fruit so far, so she turned the light off in the bedroom and followed Rahab down the steps.
" So," Seth asked as Gabriella sat down at the dinette table, "what was it like being raised by a human? " he took a bite from his sandwich, his expression unreadable.
Gabriella was not too sure what he meant by that, " What do you mean, exactly?" She had decided on trying to control her aggitation, since Seth had effectively put her in her place about learning self defense. She didn't know what to make of him; though she couldn't really say she disliked him. He had a strong, yet genteel, demeanor - despite his previously rude remarks to her.
" Exactly how I said it!" he replied, looking at her as he chewed his bite.
Gabriella was intimidated by this one. He seemed wise beyond his years but there was sincereity in his voice that was attractive to her. He reminded her of the professor, yet in the same light, he reminded her of Don - but without the intimidation. She cautiously replied, " Well, since he was virtually the only person I was ever around, it was okay." Gabriella wasn't sure where his questions were leading to, but she noted he hadn't stopped looking at her.
Seth took a sip of his water and continued to stare at her. Then he asked, " Tell me how you reacted when you saw Raph and Don?" He leaned back in his chair, folding his arms in front of him, watching her.
" Why do you want to know?" she asked, getting annoyed and defensive at his intrusive quesitons. Was he trying to find out how she felt about being in this home of strange people? She didn't want to admit that they all terrified her by just their appearance alone.
" It will tell me a great many things! How you perserve us, for one!" as he leaned towards her, his stare became more intent. Rahab ate her meal silently, watching the discourse between her son and this new niece of hers. There was an energy developing between the two, and she wondered about it.
Gabriella had read his intent correctly. She considered many answers, but she decided to turn the tables on him, "Okay, I will answer your question with a question!" She leaned towards him as she often did with the professor whenever she would challenge him on an issue or topic. Staring straight and deep into his pale eyes, she asked, "How would you feel if after being raised by reptiles, within a day, find your self in a family of humans? You're prohibited from leaving and you're clear across the country! Plus, you're getting knocked around physically and emotionally?!" Her frustration over the past twenty-four hours seeped through. Her words were said with quick precision, exposing the intellect her immaturity had so successfully hidden of late. " Their ways are so different from yours it's like a completely different universe. Then those humans are trying their best to show you how much you don't know without first finding out how much you do!" She sat back hard in her chair, defiantly challenging him. Gabriella's stare now became just as intent at Seth's. She felt her anger and her emotions spiking to a volitile level. " And all you want to do is get back to your original family!!"
Her response caught him off guard! He smiled at the place she had so skillfully put him. Nodding his head in appreciation for her response, he replied, " Good answer and not one I was expecting! I guess I'd be - somewhat freaked out ...........and frustrated all at the same time! "
Rahab was silent during their vigorous discussion. She was quite impressed, though, with Gabriella's retort, her eyes widening in surprise. It dawned on her that maybe Gabriella's main source of anger and rebellion was not that she was forced out of her home and into a relatively strange envirvonment, not that it wasn't part of the problem. It was just that no one bothered to get to know her! So, she asked, changing the subject since she noticed the familiar flash of emotion in Gabriella's eyes, one that she had seen in Raph years ago, " What's your favorite thing to do, Gabby? What gives you pleasure?"
Gabriella was startled and stunned. The change in topic watered down the rage that was brewing within her. Rahab was the first person since she had arrived to even show that she cared about how she felt, what she wanted. Gabby's internal struggle was nearing it's zenith, her eyes filled with tears, "Are you really interested or are you just patronizing me?" She was apprehensive.
Rahab assured her, " I mean it. I really want to know!"
Seth finished his sandwich but did not leave the table. He was just as interested as his mom was in what Gabriella's response would be. He truely appreciated how she had responded to his questions.
Gabriella sighed, trying to calm her emotions, her voice quavered and then she regained control, "I guess it would be ..... learning things! I love to read, but after I've read a book, I have it memorized. It's no longer a challenge to go back and re-read it since all I have to do is remember it!" Gabriella then said. " I've memorized War and Peace and the Bible, plus others!"
Seth's attention picked up on that immediately. He smiled and leaned forward, eager to hear more of what Gabriella liked.
Rahab accepted that easily enough. She knew that Don was like that - his perfect memory a bane to his brothers and a delight for him when he used it to annoy them!
" Even with the instructional videos the professor would buy me, I was able to learn ballet and to do gymnastics. I found doing the balance beam or the uneven bars quite relaxing for me!" She looked wistful, as if she were remembering those times.
Then, Gabby continued with a bit more enthusiasm, " I've learned 9 languages and would like to learn a few more." Then Gabariel's eyes lit up, " I love music - musicals and classics, preferably! I really like Serena Brightwell. Her 'Journey Home' is probably....." and she stopped suddenly, overwhelmed. That song in and of itself mirrored everything that she had been feeling lately. She froze, her eyes welled up again but this time her throat became too tight to talk. She quickly excused herself and ran out of the family room and up the stairs.
She threw herself on her bed and cried and continued to cry even after Rahab came into the bedroom. " I'm sorry," she sobbed," I just miss him so much!!" and her emotions that she had bottled up for the past twenty-four hours came pouring out. Rahab sat down next to her and just rubbed her back.
" I know, honey. I can't imagine how it is for you!" she said compationately.
" Don just - assumes so much about me! " Gabriella cried, " He's terrified me so much! I had no idea what he wanted other than to take me away from my home! It feels like I've been here a whole month, so much has been happening! I want to go back. I know you've been trying, but I just don't belong here!!" and there was more crying. After a moment, she continued her lamenting, " Everyone thinks that because I have these mystery parents who were ninja, that I need to be one, too. Maybe I don't want to be one!" and her voice raised. Gabriella cried for while longer until she couldn't cry any more. Rahab stayed with her the entire time, not really saying much, but letting her niece vent both verbally and emotionally.
Seth had followed his mother up the stairs, but stayed out of sight while he overheard Gabriella's lament. He was starting to understand some things about her.
Mike had told Seth just before he and Leo left Japan for California, about Don and Raph's experience in Connecticut with Gabriella. Seth had thought it quite amusing at the time, even stating that she seemed a natural at 'disappearing'! Mike had to agree that her ingenuity was pretty sharp.
However, there was obviously more to the Gabriella story and Don just hadn't taken the time to 'read between the lines' concerning her. Maybe he was coming down on her too hard, expecting too much too soon. It was true that Gabriella was spoiled, but it wasn't really her fault. Blame her uniqueness and the fact that she had only a single person raising her, unqualified as he was given Gabriella's personality and inherant attributes. In that moment, Seth had a plan. He motioned to his mother through the opened door while Gabriella had her head buried in a pillow. She excused herself from her niece's side, telling her that she may have left a burner on, and then left the room.
Once Seth had her out of earshot, he told her of his plan.
" I think that may work, Seth!" she replied listening to his idea.
" If she is as good as she says she is at memorizing, watching the workout DVD's that Mike recorded from the gym may give her something tangible to consider. Since she seems to enjoy the Hollywood version, let her see the real thing! Let her decide if it's something she wants to learn, rather than make her! It sure would be less frustrating in the long run if she shows interest!"
A while later, there was a knock at Gabriella's bedroom door. She had washed her face of her smeared make-up. She had her hair pulled back into a pony tail so it would be out of her way. She went to the door and opened it. Seth stood there.
" Oh, hi." she said meekly. She was sure he thought of her as Don did - spoiled. She expected some lecture from him, some tricky question about her leaving the table so quickly, but instead....
" Hi back!" he smiled. Gone was the judgemental attitude. " Here, I think you will find these very interesting! Mike recorded them over the years and since you enjoyed that Asian film, you might appreciate these even more! " He handed her about ten DVD's, no labels other than the names of his uncles and father, Leo. There were some that had two names on them with only one that had four names.
" Ah , gee - thanks. What are they again?" Gabriella asked, puzzled.
Seth just said, " A way to show you what it's really all about!" and then he left, like a vapor, so quickly, Gabriella had to open the door wide to see where he had gone. It was almost like he had disappeared - like his father and uncles had done several hours ago.
Which made her ask herself what time it was. She went over to the armoire and saw that the DVD clock showed midnight. Well, maybe she could watch just one DVD.
It was three o'clock in the morning and she was on her fourth disc. She had become totally enthralled with what they contained. The 'performers' were the very same people that were living under the very roof she was currently occupying - and what they were doing was real and not staged. She never realized how violent, but yet how beautiful, martial arts could be. Violent because as strong and immoveable Don seemed to her, in some of the DVD's, his brothers were successfully getting passed his defenses and literally sending him across the gymnasium floor! She was more than impressed. Yet, he had as effectively put his brothers in their place as well, wielding the bo so efficiently, the camera had a hard time picking up the complete movements.
Leo was probably the most fluid of the four, his posture and actions were as clean and as perfect as one could get. When he used his swords, he was flawless - and lethal! His intensity made Gabriella gasp with surprise.
Mike used both the bo and the nunchuks, but the latter was what was featured the most. He seemed just as precise in the recording as he was out in the forest when he killed that mountain lion. His expression, though, was totally different from the day before. Gone was the happy, jovial appearance. In it's place was a fierce determination as if he was completely focused on what ever imagined attacker he was battling. It made her shudder.
There was one DVD which showed just hand to hand combat between all four of the brothers. It was fierce and it was violent. Each time one would knock the other across the floorboards—which rarely happened as they were all deft at avoiding such contact—Gabriella would audibly gasp. Surely that one would be injured. However, that was never the case; the fallen comrade would either roll or catch themselves and then flip up and ready for another round! She was getting a little excited and thoroughly intimidated all the more about being in this home.
Gabriella then made a decision. She would not just watch these DVD's, she would study them! If here is where she was at, then she was going to make sure the next time Don took her into the gym, she would be ready! Rahab, as strange as she was to Gabriella in appearance, had struck a sensitive cord with her when she inquired about her interests. It was the very thing she needed and it seemed to be the catalyst to give her the incentive to adjust! Seth's abrupt change towards her, giving her these marvelous DVD's with their insightful look at his family, also helped.
Gabriella had discovered years ago in her teens that she was able to pick up many things just by watching an instructional DVD. She could apply her total recall to learn ballet, for example. Maybe she didn't do it quite as well as the one shown, but it did teach her grace and fluidity. She would entertain the professor at Christmas-time with her rendition of the Nutcracker Suite—portraying nearly all the parts! Gabriella's natural athletic ability gave her an unusual advantage in this endeavor - and she was sure, now, that it would benefit her learning what these relatives of hers practiced!
