Gabby was not going to let the distraction of the flight get between her questions and the answers she wanted. As soon as the jet leveled off, Don took the professor back to the sleeping quarters so he could rest. Perry was tired from the trip out to the airport and watching Gabby challenge Don about the plane. Because his operation had weakened him considerably, he wanted to rest up a bit before indulging himself with Gabby's singing.

He said to Gabby before Don escorted him back to the sleeping quarters, " After today, you will not be able to share them with me, so I will want to hear the songs Serena sang while we are in route!" He smiled at he, though it seemed rather a sad smile at best to her!

Don returned to the sitting area once he had the professor safely secured. Gabby then declared, "Okay, Q and A time!" she smiled.

Don sat down next to her. Weighing how much he should share with her and what he wouldn't, he sighed resolutely,.

"So, tell me, why would this organization be interested in you all of a sudden?" Gabby asked quietly.

Don looked at his niece and decided to let her figure it out. He asked her, " What would be different about my trip to New York this time from all the others?"

Gabby frowned, " How would I know. I wasn't with you during those other trips!" She couldn't believe he would ask her a question like that.

Don didn't respond to her statement but just looked at her, waiting. His niece was anything but dimwitted. Like in Mike's gym when she saw the ninja weapons. She had realized quickly that Don and his brothers were ninjas, despite how tired she was. As before, he waited. He could see that Gabby was thinking about his statement and what she said in reply. Don could practically see her mind working through the very subtle clue he had just given to her.

Then, her eyes went wide and she exclaimed, " No, it's not because of ME - is it? " She felt cold and clammy, refusing to believe that her stunt in Carmel at the karaoke bar could have had that kind of an effect. " That thing at the bar, why would anyone want to kill you - kill me - just because I can sing. That's preposterous!"

Don replied simply, " Yes, it is. "

Gabby wondered about his comment. She thought about the things that the professor had told her, about how different she was to other people. That's when she asked her uncle, " Could it be what the professor told me of my beginnings - that I was a hybrid? He always felt that he had to protect me, but I thought it was because of the way I looked. He really didn't go into details about why. Do you know?"

Don swallowed and took Gabby's hand. He decided right then and there that she needed to know. He hoped that it would be the catalyst to bring her to the training room ready to learn, " Yes, I do and what I am about to tell you will be difficult for you to accept, but you must. I counting on that when I am done, you will see why we want you trained! Why we want you to understand how important it is for you to adopt our Clan precepts as your own. I don't know if what happened in New York is because of what I am going to tell you, but we are checking out that possibility. It is no longer a mystery that you are part of us through Raphael...but you are also part of someone who worked for an organization called The Foot!"

So for the next couple of hours, Don explained to Gabby her origins and answered her questions. How Shredder had mutated her mother for some failure in the field thirty-five years before.

After Don mentioned that name, Gabby's eyes widened in recognition and she remarked, "Seth told me about him on Tuesday. Years ago, Father had mentioned that name to me once, too. I had the distinct impression that he did not like him!"

Don replied, " You are correct, Gabby. Actually, none of us liked him. He tried to destroy my family when we were living in New York many years ago!" Don then continued telling her about her origins:

"The professor learned of this female ninja's personal history first hand. When the Foot broke into the TGRI labs where Perry worked, they captured him. The professor was in the process of destroying the last vial of mutagen when this happened. Shredder wanted that vial! Then, they took him and the mutagen back to their hideout and forced him to conduct experiments using this gel on a variety of animals. While he was conducting these experiments, one of Shredder's men – a scientist pretending to be a Foot soldier – took notes of what Perry was doing. Unknown to Perry and per Saki's orders, this scientist was duplicating the experiments on five discredited soldiers. Four died as a result of rejecting the mutagen compound. However, there was a fifth soldier, this woman, who had been given the same serum. This ninja was your mother!"

Gabby sat there, transfixed by Don's story. He could tell that she was keenly alert to his words.

He continued, " Raph had been captured during our second encounter with the Foot, which was when they had the professor. They took DNA samples and other natural resources from Raph, including sperm." Don told his niece that the sperm was frozen, based on what the professor told him, and was to be u used for future use. " When your mother's condition stabilized, she was impregnated artificially with your father's sperm. Had Saki survived long enough, he would have been the one to train you. As it was, he died before you were born."

Gabby felt overwhelmed with all that Don was telling her. The professor had only told her that she was a hybrid. A miracle. But, the details of that 'miracle' were never shared with her – until now! Much to her surprise, she started to weep.

" I had no idea!" she sobbed quietly. Don embraced her as she wept, letting her cry unabated till she brought herself back under control. " Did Raph know about it at the time?" she sniffed, asking her uncle as he continued holding her.

"No, he had been darted, knocked out. As far as he was concerned, the Foot beat him up while he was unconscious." Don explained.

" What happened to this...woman?" Gabby asked as she sat back up in her seat.

Don replied, "When you were born, your mother begged the professor to take you away from the evil that would eventually train you according to Shredder's plans. Even though he had died years before, he had followers that still believed in his cause."

"Why didn't my mother want me, though? Couldn't she have left with the professor?"

"Your mother didn't feel she could raise you properly, given her lifetime experience with the Foot and the affect that Shredder had on her. It was an honorable sacrifice she made, giving you up the way she did. We believe she died in the fire that Perry started to cover his tracks. He wanted Shredder's organization to believe that you and your mother died there. How he was able to keep you alive and unharmed is a feat none of us thought him capable of doing. Had we known you were even in existence, we would have begged him to give you to us. But, as it was, we didn't and we lost contact with him until he returned to Connecticut."

Gabby was worn out emotionally after listening to the real story of her origins. She was overwhelmed with information that was both startling and revolting. She looked at Don and asked sadly, trying to confirm the reason for her existence, " I was to be that super ninja.... wasn't I?"

Don sighed and nodded in affirmation, saying, " Yes, Gabriella, you were. I don't know if you would have been under Shredder's teaching, but you would certainly have become quite dangerous to us! He was a very evil man."

"How did he die?" she asked.

"Leo killed him. Decapitated him, actually." Don replied, wondering if his niece would figure it out.

Slowly, Gabby mulled over what her uncle had just told her, repulsed at the very thought of taking someone's head off. Then she looked back at Don and stated, " The sword in the guest house - that's the one that was used!" Remembering how she joked about the blood on the blade, she now sat there in the seat chagrined and embarrassed over her careless comment so many days ago.

Don nodded, not saying anything at first. Then, he said to her, " Leo was gravely stricken with a demonic force after he took Shredder's life. He had wrestled with it for years while he ministered to Splinter in Japan. He didn't used that sword again, choosing to honor his victory by allowing Saki's blood to remain on the blade. When he disappeared after Splinter's death, he left his sword behind. No one knew, then, where Leo went at the time. Some thought he had gone away to commit supucco."

Gabby's eyes flew open, " Suicide?"

Don continued, " Yes. But, then Seth decided to try to find him. He ended up taking the sword after hearing reports of a green monster in the mountains of Nepal. I helped him by flying him out there so he could find Leo. He had just learned that Leo was his father only a few months before. That was about seven years ago. Seth did find Leo and after spending the winter there with him, then they returned home for a time. Seth was the one to free him of this demonic presence." Don then went on to tell Gabby about the family had joined energies and focused on Seth as he went into a trance-like state. It was a hard time for everyone, but in the end, Leo was released of his personal hell and was able resume teaching at his Ryu in Japan.

Gabby sat transfixed. She was in love with Seth who had an ability that scared her. There was so much to digest that her emotions didn't know what way to go. Finally, she asked Don, " Maybe it would be a dangerous thing to train me! After all, if I can't...."

But Don interrupted her, " No, it is more dangerous to not train you! By training you in the ways of our Clan and to learn to defend yourself, you will be well armed to discern the evil that Shredder represents. Without it, you could be easily corrupted if you fell into the wrong hands!"

" What do you mean, fall into the wrong hands? Do you think I'm in danger of that happening?" Gabby asked greatly concerned.

" No, but prevention is better than cure, my dear! Now, let's dispense with this topic! When we arrive in San Jose, it will be near to four in the afternoon. We still have almost three hours before we land. I'll check on the professor to see if he is awake. Maybe you can then sing the music that you heard last night! I am sure he would enjoy it!"

With that, Don stood and walked back to the sleeping quarters.

Gabby was stunned, but now felt she understood why her uncles and Raph were so protective of her. Why the professor kept her so hidden from view. She had started to enjoy going out in public. But, between her experience with the bar and, now, knowing the dangers that lurked out there for her, Gabby was beginning to get that old insecure feeling again. She wasn't so sure she ever wanted to go back to Carmel or anywhere public again!

During the last half of their trip back to California, Gabby sang for the professor. Her voice filled the jet cabin with beautiful renditions of Serena Brightwell's music from the night before. She did personal requests, as well. It was all done without music. But the quality of Gabby's voice did not demand it. The professor would often close his eyes as his 'daughter' sang, trying to soak up as much as he could. He knew that it would be a while before she would sing again. He hoped that her training would go well enough so that Don would reinstate her before too much time had passed! Perry truly enjoyed his daughter's singing! It wasn't lost on the professor, though, that Don also appreciated her gift. During Gabby's mid-air concert, Perry noted an obvious sadness on the turtle's face.

Don saw an improved difference in his niece's attitude after educating Gabby on her personal history. What he observed pleased him no end. There was an edge to Gabriella that wasn't there before and a confidence that made him feel he had done the right thing in bringing her up to speed on her origins. Knowledge was always a powerful tool for Don. The more one knew, the better one could manage their life and make the needed changes. That was what he had always believed in and practiced. Hopefully, his philosophy would prove true with Gabby!

They soon arrived at Mike's place from San Jose Airport at around six o'clock Sunday evening. It was the first time Gabby had actually looked forward to arriving there! Her initial coming was filled with confusion and anger, being forced there by Don.

The second time she was dreading the reaction from her father and uncles over what she did at the karaoke bar!

This time, with all the trees, the perimeter fence, and the safety of her reptilian family, she felt secure! It was a good feeling and she didn't care what she had to go through to ensure it! Gabby felt she was mentally ready to meet the training Leo had planned for her!

Don was set to leave the next morning. He had business in Europe to attend to that needed his personal on-site attention. He was hoping to be back to Mike's in time so he could take on week number three of Gabby's training.

While he was gone, Thomas would be in charge of relaying information to him about the attack in New York. It was added to the on-going investigation regarding the assault on Raph. It was still a mystery who it was that had beaten him up. There were too few clues to finger any one person or group and for Don, that was a major irritant. He and his brothers had never been so stumped before!

When Don helped the professor through the back patio doors, the other three turtles greeted him with subdued excitement! Mike was first up, gently grabbing Jordan's hand in a shake and then hugging him affectionately. " Man, it's been so long. Thought we'd never see you again!"

" So good to see you too, Michelangelo! It was gracious of you to open your home up to Gabriella and me! I cannot say enough how much we appreciate your generosity!"

"Hey, Professor Perry, no big deal! Mi case es su casa – remember?" Mike gleefully replied.

"Indeed I do, Michelangelo!" the man chuckled, " Indeed I do!" That was when Jordan noticed Rahab. " Ah, your wife – I presume?" he asked Mike.

"Yes, this here's the misses! Great gal, blue hair and all!" the turtle teased.

Rahab cuffed him on the shoulder, saying, "You're just jealous because you don't have any!"

"At least it doesn't take me hours to prissy myself up to go out!" Mike yipped good-naturedly.

"Oh! It does NOT take me that long, Mr. Smart Mouth!" But Rahab had to laugh, knowing her husband was only teasing her.

The professor was completely enchanted with the repartee' between the two. His natural tendency to observe was getting a pleasant workout.

The smile on her father's face told Gabby that he was truly happy to be there. He seemed less tired that he did on the flight out. "Maybe the California weather will do him good, after all!" she thought to herself.

The fact that Rahab was relaxed enough to not excuse herself for other parts of the house said a lot about the effect the professor was having on Gabby's aunt. Things looked pretty promising and it made the girl all happy inside.

Raph and Leo were next, each hugging the man who had inspired them years ago. His willingness to help them fight against two of Shredder's experiments was never forgotten. Then, the fact that he had kept Gabriella safe all these many years seemed just as heroic to them. For someone not trained as they were, it merited unwavering praise and affection!

Finally, Rahab asked her niece, "So, how was New York, Gabby?"

She didn't know how much her aunt knew, so Gabriella just said, " It was wonderful!"

Raph hugged his daughter and asked if she was all right. Gabby was limping slightly but she notice more that he father seemed to have recovered a lot since she left for New York. Her foot was better since Don had her ice it periodically during the flight home. Elevating it seemed to have helped and Leo's tea certainly added to that. Gabby replied, " I'm fine, - really. New York is an impressive city, to say the least!" and she smiled. "You're looking better, though!" she observed. Raph nodded and smiled back at her.

Mike just had to comment, " Heard you put Donny boy in his place!" and he snickered..

Gabby realized he was talking about her kicking Don in the parking garage when she mistook him for an adversary. She replied with a grin, " Not well enough, I guess. He's still telling me what to do!" And they all laughed - especially Don!

Leo didn't approach her. With her training starting the next day, he wanted a distant respect to develop between the two of them first. It was Leo's way of establishing his role of sensei to her. There had to be a measure of esteem exhibited from her to him and getting all cuddly would defeat that in a hurry.

For the most part, Gabby rather liked this homecoming! Everyone seemed glad to see her. Devon was a little standoffish, but she reasoned he was still miffed at her for getting him into trouble.

Gabby wasn't sure what was going on with Leo. The way he greeted her father, she half expected the same in return. But, her uncle didn't even approach her. His overall distant posturing gave her an uneasy feeling. Leo remained impassive and impossible to read - which bothered Gabby quite a bit. She never had a problem reading people, though her reptilian family had been a challenge. However, she was getting used to them. But when she recognized how distant Leo was to her, she had second thoughts about the next day's training.

Rahab had an early dinner. The professor was amazed at this very unique family, never losing the sparkle in his eye as he watched them interact. He sat next to Gabby with Raphael on the opposite side from her. It was a loud, boisterous time with conversations being thrown across the table left and right.

For Gabby, it seemed a little overwhelming. Before she had left for New York the overall mood at the table during meals had been subdued. Largely in part by her own affect that she had on the family unit. But, now, things were a lot noisier! Gabby remained still, however, trying to take in the energy that everyone seemed to be expressing.

"Gabby, dear, you seem quiet tonight!" the professor asked her.

" Just trying to get used to it all over again! I've had nearly three days with just one other person and I've sort of forgot how confusing it can be with so many more talking at once!! I'll be fine!" she replied.

Her surrogate father patted her hand affectionately. Then, he asked her, " Was it difficult for you? After all, you had only my face to look at all these many years! " and he smiled. Fortunately, the din of other conversations overpowered his words and it was only Gabby who heard him.

" At first, yes." Gabby replied softly, then leaned into him and whispered in his ear, " Especially the tails!" She tried not to mouth the words for fear of someone reading her. " But, it didn't take long to get used to. I just had to make sure to allow a little more room when going around them!" and she smiled.

" Does Seth have one?" the professor asked, taking a bite of his meal.

"Yes, he does." Gabby replied, her smile widening.

" But, I'm sure it's nicer than all the others, no?!" and the twinkle in the professor's eyes made Gabby laugh.

" Might be, but I won't tell!" and she laughed again.

" What's so funny, Gabby?" Devon asked as he watched them from across the table. His expression was flat and impossible to read. However, Gabby could sense an undercurrent of rage, which surprised her.

Gabby, startled out of her conversation with the professor, replied quietly. " Ah, just something said. "

Devon's expression momentarily changed; he glared at her! But then, like a light getting switched off, went back to his previous unemotional appearance.

Everyone stopped talking and seemed rather uncomfortable with the obvious tension that Devon just created. Gabby, herself, felt very uneasy and didn't care one bit for it. Having the professor nearby gave her a bit more confidence, but she held back her tongue. Finally, she asked a little sarcastically, "What? I'm not allowed to laugh?" and she smiled to disarm any misinterpretation.

" No," Raph said, " you can laugh!" and he looked at Devon thoughtfully.

Devon stared back at his father and snorted. Soon, he excused himself and left the table, heading for the backyard.

Gabby watched him leave. Raph nudged her and said, " He's been in a toot ever since Thursday! Doesn't like his 'wings' clipped!" and then he went back to eating.

So, Gabby thought, he did get grounded! What she knew of him, Devon was a free spirit who loved to take off to the beach whenever he could. He had stuck around the house earlier in the week only because Gabby was new and he wanted to get to know her. But, he had shared with her that once the novelty of having a sister by Raphael wore off, he'd be hitting the surf big time. However, the last time she had seen him was down in the gym after the karaoke bar incident! He was, then, more than a little unhappy with her! He was livid!

Gabby decided she would go out and have a talk with him. She excused herself, but not before Raph took a hold of her arm, saying " Better go easy, Gabs. Devon has a mean temper when he's riled or pissed off. He's had three days of not doing stuff and building on his anger. That only makes things worse. Keep your distance!"

Gabby was startled, " He wouldn't hit me - would he?"

"No telling. Just - keep about ten feet between the two of you, k'ay! You don't want to get punched by him, believe me!"

Devon was just as tall and as well built as Raph, but younger and, therefore, a little more formidable. Consequently, Gabby took Raph's warning seriously. The professor grabbed her other arm and asked, " Maybe you should just let him be, Gabriella!" He seemed concerned, too.

"No, I need to talk with him. I don't think he'll do much more than yell at me. After all, I am his sister!" and then Gabby left the table. She noticed that Don and Leo had been observing her from where they sat at the table. Both seemingly with the same expression. If Gabby could label it, she would have said the look was anticipation! However, all she was going to do was talk to Devon, not confront him. Gabby wanted to apologize, as well, and maybe share with him about the near attack in New York.

She limped a little more than she had been and made a mental note to ask Leo to make her some of his tea later on. That is, if she didn't lose the nerve to do so. He was still keeping a watchful eye on her and acting aloof. Strange guy, that's for sure - she thought!

Devon seemed to have disappeared! Gabby looked around and then finally spied him down in the fire pit. She slowly made her way over, watching him intently. Raph's warning went well with her; she remembered the look Devon had given her in the gym just a few days ago during the tribunal and now, just a few minutes ago at the dinner table. She walked quietly, not wanting to sound aggressive.

When Gabby was just about ten feet from the pit, Devon snapped his head towards her and snarled, "I'd be mindful of the fact that in four weeks, I'll be training you!"

That had Gabby's attention. His entire attitude had changed towards her in just a matter of days. It made her mad, but she felt some subtle fear, too. She liked Devon, but instead of using the time she was away to forgive her, he had only let his anger with her fester. Somewhat intimidated by his threat and irritated because of it, she forgot about Raph's warning and said sarcastically, " Oh, well then, I guess by that time you should be good and mad at me!"

Devon jumped up and faced her, not the least bit amused by her comment, " I don't have any problem putt'n my sister in her place! So - watch it!" Everyone had a chance to yell at her but him! He felt that he was due, one way or the other.

Gabby heard his intent, but stood her ground. The kick she had given Don in New York gave Gabby an unhealthy bit of confidence. Not that she felt she could take Devon on, but she did believe she had a genetic edge and could protect herself. On the way back to Mike's, she had also mentally reviewed the training DVD's Seth had loaned her. Gabby was grateful for them. But, she was not stupid enough to think she would somehow have the ability to all of a sudden do ninjitsu. However, Gabby reasoned naively that because she learned exceptionally fast, she would do better than most!

"Devon, I'm sorry I put you in this spot, I really am! If I could...." she started to say, but Devon interrupted her,

"Sis, don't go saying 'sorry' anymore. It doesn't 'wash' with me! Too many people have said that too many times in my life. If everyone would just do it right and stop being jerks - there'd be no need for apologies!!"

" That is just so mean, Devon! I'm not a jerk! People aren't perfect, least of all you!" Gabby retorted, but realized the error of her words almost immediately.

This time, Devon leaped up out of the pit, causing Gabby to step back a few paces. He glared at her, growling, " I don't expect perfection, GABS! But, I do expect respect! That's why you did what you did in Carmel. YOU didn't respect either me or Seth that day! You thought you could just go about and do what you wanted to do and we could just go and ...jump in a lake!"

" That's NOT true and you know it! I do respect you! " Gabby yelled back, almost crying. But she knew in that instant she really hadn't respected them. Not in the way that Devon implied. It wasn't that she didn't like them or appreciate them. Quite the contrary. But Devon and Seth's authority over her was what she rebelled against when she went to the karaoke club, despite their warnings.

Devon was getting really mad by this time. He was already seething. The fact that he had been asked by his father and uncles to be one of Gabby's senseis gave him a sense of pride! Considering their initial response to his failure in keeping Gabby safe and out of trouble in Carmel, it was much appreciated by him! Now, she had the audacity to raise her voice to him and it only made him angrier! She needed to be put in her place and he decided that moment was as good a time as any. He was pretty sure he could justify with his father kicking Gabby's butt clear across the yard simply based on that!