Gabby instinctively saw an immediate change in Devon's posture and expression. She remembered Don's behavior at the garage when he started to go on the 'hunt'. She sucked in her breath out of panic, her eyes going wide as she realized that Devon was evidently not above beating up on her. Raph was right and in that moment, Gabby wanted to run back to the house. But, she didn't have time. Devon was much younger than Don and the others and probably faster because of it. She went through the training DVD's in her mind, trying to find a defensive maneuver among all the images she replayed. She found one and waited for Devon to make his move.
He saw her eyes dilate; watching for his move. He observed her intently to see what direction she would go in. The eyes and the face were like an open book to him! He saw her eyes flick slightly to her left...and he leaped in that direction.
Gabby moved swiftly to her right as soon as she saw Devon twitch in the opposite direction. She had deliberately faked him out! She yipped in amusement as she realized she had out maneuvered him.
Devon was surprised and irritated by Gabby's effective move! He landed quickly where he believed she should have been, but she was over where he had started his attack!
"How'd she do that? Did Uncle Don give her pointers while in New York?" He asked himself silently.
This only made Devon's anger more intense. How dare this novice think she can out-move him! He leaped at her this time without giving her a chance to study his next move!
Gabby yelped and leaped over him as he came crashing at her. Descending clean and untouched to the ground, Gabby turned quickly, only to find Devon had bounced back in her direction faster than she had thought possible. She felt the impact of his charging body against hers. He grabbed her, his arms encircling around her shoulders. They rolled, she screamed, she pushed up and away from him with her left foot, but he grabbed her right arm. Gabby felt the strength in his hands as he clamped down on it. Her right foot was starting to hurt more from using it too much and she was having a hard time standing. But, in one swift motion, Gabby leaped up and kicked Devon in the midsection with her good foot. The impact sent him spiraling backwards. But because he still had a firm hold of her arm, she went with him. As a result, she gave a surprised cry!
They both rolled onto a grassy area in front of the fire pit. Devon was truly enraged, primarily because he was so surprised by Gabby's quick reaction and deflections.
"You are truly going to be sorry now, SIS!" he growled.
Devon quickly jumped up, taking her with him. He then turned her quickly around, putting her right arm to her back, then swiftly grabbing the other one and doing likewise. She cried out in pain and surprise.
Devon had done it all so fast; Gabby didn't have enough time to counter-move him. But, then, composing herself, she swung her left leg back and tried to sweep Devon's out from under him. He was ready for her! Using his tail, he swept her feet out from under her and landed her face down in the grass in a split second. Holding her down with her arms still behind her, he hissed in her ear, "NOW, you will respect me! NO more talking back, no more sass - got it?"
Gabby remembered too well Don doing just about the same thing in the gym. That was Don. This was Devon - a much younger person. She was equally as mad, though she hurt and was not at all sure she could extricate herself from his grasp. "GOT IT!" He repeated, yelling at her.
About this time, Raph came walking around the corner and saw Devon on top of Gabby's back. He stopped short since Devon wasn't doing anything but holding her down. He initially wanted to intervene, but knowing that Devon was going to be working with her in just a few weeks, the last thing Raph wanted to do was to supplant his son's authority over her. Plus, Raph had warned Gabby earlier about his son. Seeing her face down on the grass with Devon onto of her, he figured that she had said something that set him off.
The others had heard the commotion, but decided that whatever was going on, it wasn't life threatening, so they let Raph do the honors! Don had to reassure the professor, though. " She's fine, just let them settle it!"
Walking calmly over to the two, Raph asked, " So, you two having a nice conversation?"
"Get 'm off 'f me!!" Gabby yelled, spitting grass out of her mouth.
"Depends. Why'd he go after you?" Raph asked, smirking.
" He's CRAZY!" she yelled again, her temper now coming to the fore. Her arms hurt and she didn't particularly like him on her back. Devon was heavy! Plus, her legs ached where his tail had connected.
" Maybe - like his old man!" Raph said with a laugh. He bent down on his hands and knees and calmly looked into her face as she turned towards him, " You sass'n at him, Gabby? Devon was already mad and I told you that! What'd you say to piss him off?"
Devon was still seething, but he saw that his dad was not interfering. He needed to have some leverage over her when it was his turn to train her and his father's support at the moment was appreciated.
" Respect is a two way street, Gabs!" Devon said, the rage dissipating as he realized that his father was not going to intervene. " You respect me, I respect you - that's how it works in this Clan! Got it!"
" I didn't say anything that wasn't already the truth!" she declared, then yelped some more when Devon tightened his grip on her. " Stop it! You're hurting me!"
Devon squeezed a little more and said, " Obviously not enough because you still have an attitude!"
" What do you want me to do, DEVON? Grovel at your feet?" Gabby hissed back. She felt completely overwhelmed and felt a familiar lump settling in her throat. But, blast it, she wasn't going to cry, not here and certainly not now! In contrast, she only became angrier!
Raph had a hard time not laughing. He heard himself in her complaint and his son's retorts. He sat back on his knees and just observed.
Devon replied, " No, I don't. But whatever I say to you, better consider your reply carefully."
" I tried. I was trying to be understanding, okay? That's all. But you interrupted me!" she complained.
" All you had to do was stand there and be silent. One rule that you will learn very quickly in that training room - the student is silent! The sensei is the only one allowed to talk and the only one to give you permission to!" and he released her, getting off of Gabby's back and then standing up next to his father.
Gabby couldn't get away from him fast enough. She leaped up as best she could, considering her bum foot, and - rubbing the ache out of her arms - she ran over to the other side of the fire pit. Glaring at Devon and Raphael, but also somewhat cowed, she stood there...silent! She felt her entire weekend tanking in that moment. All the good things that had happened, gone, caput! Gabby was getting to the point where she didn't want anything good to happen anymore. Trouble always seemed to follow!
Raph left the two out there by themselves. He had said something to Devon before he left. Devon nodded and then just stared at Gabby. She, however, sat down. No way was she going back into the house until enough time had elapsed and people involved themselves in other activities. As soon as she was able to, she was going to go to her room and stay there for the remainder of the evening. She was embarrassed - especially for the professor! How could she let something so simple as trying to talk to Devon work itself into the frenzy it had become? No matter how she saw it, Devon was right. All she had to do was to just be quiet after his first retort to her. Simple. But, Gabby hated being quiet and even more so, she disliked being talked to the way Devon had with her!
He stayed outside with her on the opposite side of the fire pit from where she sat. Gabby wished he would just go back in the house. She wanted to tell him to, but she knew if she did that, he would be after her again for insubordination! Devon had certainly made his point clear with her on that!
The professor came out around six with Don. Gabby saw him and wanted to go over to him, but when she looked back at Devon, he shook his head at her. Gabby was not amused. He was not training her tomorrow, Leo was. Did he think that just because he was able to pin her down that he could tell her what to do. She stood up and Devon's posture changed in that instant. She recognized it immediately. What did Raph tell him to do, make her stay there? Gabby looked back over towards the professor, who was now just passing her as he made his way to the guesthouse with Don's help. She looked imploringly at Don, who gave her a serious expression that matched Devon's - he shook his head 'no', too!
The professor did not look back at her and that hurt more than anything. Gabby's emotions were starting to get the better of her and she felt her eyes well up. But, she pushed the tears back and was determined not to be intimidated. She wanted so much to spend the last few hours of the evening with the professor. What was going on? She was never told that anyone in this family could just up the time on her training. Gabby was quite frustrated.
It was getting dark and it was getting cooler. Gabby shivered a bit, but noticed that Devon still hadn't moved from his spot. What was he doing? Waiting her out? Was he going to follow her in like a herding sheepdog? Or, was this a test of wills? If she caved and decided to call it quits, then he would have won a psychological battle over her. But, she wasn't trying to battle him. She just wanted some time to regroup her thoughts and her resolve. It was all very confusing to Gabby!
Don came back out of the cottage after making sure the professor was comfortable. Gabby ignored him. She was starting to get mad at him, too, for not interfering and 'rescuing' her from her crazy brother! The time in New York had helped to bond Gabriella with her uncle. But, the way he looked at her when taking the professor to the guesthouse a while ago defeated all of that!
Don walked over to his niece and stood by her, saying, " I don't know the particulars, but from what Raph told me, you ticked Devon off. That's a bad thing to do, all things considered! I would tread very carefully, Gabriella." and he left before Gabby could ask him what Devon was planning.
Don's parting words caused her anxiety to soar!
The sun had set hours ago and Gabby was now getting tired. She was past shivering and wanted desperately to call it quits. But, her stubbornness and pride would not let her. She had sat back down shortly after Don had spoken to her. Devon kept standing, though. Finally, Gabby asked Devon, "Why are you standing out here with me? " No answer. Devon just stared. "If you're not going to answer me, why not just let me go?" Gabby tried very hard not to sound sarcastic, fearing another rumble with her brother. Still, he said nothing. "Well, if you're not going to say anything, I'll be going, then!" She stood up. Gabby decided she did not want to go back into the house, but instead started for the guest cottage. No sooner had she taken two steps than Devon was there blocking her path.
"If you go anywhere, it will be the big house, Gabby!" he said quietly.
" And why is that?" she asked, still trying to keep her sarcasm at bay and a little unnerved by how fast he moved to intercept her.
" Because I said so!" her brother replied softly.
" Maybe in four weeks you can tell me..." but she no sooner had the words out and she knew they were the wrong ones! He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her down. Landing on top of her and straddling her, he pinned her arms down to her sides. It all happened in a flash. The wind had been knocked out of her and she started gasping.
"Just breath normally; you'll be fine!" Devon instructed. She didn't think air would ever get back into her lungs again, but, finally, Gabby's breath did come back. Yet it was a scary couple of seconds for her.
" Why are you doing this, Devon? I know you're mad at me, but..." she complained. Gabby could feel the tears starting to well up. If she could just turn off her emotions she'd be able to handle things better.
" Because I'm pissed! I get detention and grounded for the duration of your training. For cry'n out loud, I'm 23! D'ya know how embarrassing it is to get kicked around for screwing up? And Seth? He gets sent back to Japan! But you - you get to fly off to New York! I got my butt kicked every day since you left and you go to a concert! Yes, I'm pissed! You bet I am! " He seethed.
" So this had nothing to do with my training, then? You just wanted revenge. What kind of ninja does that make you, huh?" Gabby asked intently, figuring she was already flat on her back, what more could he do to her.
Devon was quietly weighing his options as to what he more could do to her. But, Gabby had made a valid point. At first, her attitude was what had him going after her. There wasn't any way he was going to allow her to be insubordinate towards him, no matter how far down the road his training of her would start. Even Raph had told him not to budge but to stick it out and drive the point home. But, as the evening wore on and especially when the professor came out to go to the guesthouse, he started to realize that he was just upset that she had been treated better.
Earlier, Don had supported his nephew's actions if only to reinforce his authority over Gabriella. Devon appreciated that from his uncle! But, it was still a sore spot that her actions caused him to be reprimanded and Seth to be banished! If there was one thing that was definitely going to happen, he thought, was that Gabby was going to get out of basic training as fast as he could push her. The faster she completed the basics, the faster his life would get back on track. Devon then stepped off of her and helped her up. " I think you've pretty much understood the point of what insubordination is!" Devon said. " You may return to the house - but NOT the cottage!"
Walking back to the main house, Gabby still wasn't sure what it was she did to set him off initially, other than maybe identify that he was still angry with her. She truly did want to talk to him about that day, but it was gradually dawning on her that it was a moot point. Nothing she could say would erase that event; it was a done deal and everyone seemed to be paying the price for her foolishness. Gabby was especially disappointed that, for now, her friendship with Devon had changed. She could no longer see him as a brother. Though he was younger than she was, according to Clan law he had authority over her. Gabby was not looking forward to the week when Devon would train her!
Gabby had been too worked up to just go to sleep. There was just too much stuff to sort out with Devon and how he had treated her earlier. Once in her room, she fell onto her bed and buried her face into her pillow, sobbing for a good long time. It felt good to cry. The stress of the attack in New York, coupled with seeing her old home for probably the last time, then Devon's attitude towards her and eventual rebuttal, took its toll. After a while, she dried her eyes and went to the bathroom to blow her nose. After washing her hands, she went back into her room and over to the bedroom window. Standing there, she looked out at the backyard. It was about ten in the evening and the floodlights were on full. She noticed that Raph and Devon were out by the pool, talking.
Devon had his head down while Raph appeared to be instructing him. At least, it looked that way to Gabby. The father and son seemed to be doing better at getting along, it seemed. Gabby wondered if it was because of her, not that she did anything to bring them together. But, Devon's anger towards her might have found a sympathetic ear with Raph.
Devon nodded a few times, as if accepting Raph's words. Then, Raph put his arm around his son and patted his back. But, as Gabby watched, she saw Raph slowly turn his head around towards her window! Her eyes flew open wide, realizing that he was looking right at her! She backed away as if she had been caught doing something wrong. There was no possible way for him to know she was there looking at him! How could he have known that! He had looked right at her, though, and it gave Gabby the willies. " My own father, giving me the creeps!" she choked to herself. She started to shake as a result.
The effect made her very insecure. Gabby hugged herself and wandered around her room. She finally stumbled into the walk-in closet and closed the door behind her. She huddled in a heap in the farthest corner, hunched over her knees, grabbing them in a firm embrace. She started to cry again, singing softly to herself for comfort, missing the professor and missing her old life once again. She sang songs from the concert from the night before and songs she hadn't sung in years. Then, Gabby sang some Christmas songs and ones she had made up long ago. She cried through some of them, the memories they generated! At that moment, she didn't care about her origins or that Shredder person or anything having to do with why she was brought into the world. Gabby had been so pumped to meet the next day with courage and resolution. Now, all she wanted to do was to crawl up into an attic somewhere and hide. If it weren't for the professor living here now, she would find someway to get off Mike's property. For all that it was worth, Gabby felt like she had just arrived for the first time!
He saw her eyes dilate; watching for his move. He observed her intently to see what direction she would go in. The eyes and the face were like an open book to him! He saw her eyes flick slightly to her left...and he leaped in that direction.
Gabby moved swiftly to her right as soon as she saw Devon twitch in the opposite direction. She had deliberately faked him out! She yipped in amusement as she realized she had out maneuvered him.
Devon was surprised and irritated by Gabby's effective move! He landed quickly where he believed she should have been, but she was over where he had started his attack!
"How'd she do that? Did Uncle Don give her pointers while in New York?" He asked himself silently.
This only made Devon's anger more intense. How dare this novice think she can out-move him! He leaped at her this time without giving her a chance to study his next move!
Gabby yelped and leaped over him as he came crashing at her. Descending clean and untouched to the ground, Gabby turned quickly, only to find Devon had bounced back in her direction faster than she had thought possible. She felt the impact of his charging body against hers. He grabbed her, his arms encircling around her shoulders. They rolled, she screamed, she pushed up and away from him with her left foot, but he grabbed her right arm. Gabby felt the strength in his hands as he clamped down on it. Her right foot was starting to hurt more from using it too much and she was having a hard time standing. But, in one swift motion, Gabby leaped up and kicked Devon in the midsection with her good foot. The impact sent him spiraling backwards. But because he still had a firm hold of her arm, she went with him. As a result, she gave a surprised cry!
They both rolled onto a grassy area in front of the fire pit. Devon was truly enraged, primarily because he was so surprised by Gabby's quick reaction and deflections.
"You are truly going to be sorry now, SIS!" he growled.
Devon quickly jumped up, taking her with him. He then turned her quickly around, putting her right arm to her back, then swiftly grabbing the other one and doing likewise. She cried out in pain and surprise.
Devon had done it all so fast; Gabby didn't have enough time to counter-move him. But, then, composing herself, she swung her left leg back and tried to sweep Devon's out from under him. He was ready for her! Using his tail, he swept her feet out from under her and landed her face down in the grass in a split second. Holding her down with her arms still behind her, he hissed in her ear, "NOW, you will respect me! NO more talking back, no more sass - got it?"
Gabby remembered too well Don doing just about the same thing in the gym. That was Don. This was Devon - a much younger person. She was equally as mad, though she hurt and was not at all sure she could extricate herself from his grasp. "GOT IT!" He repeated, yelling at her.
About this time, Raph came walking around the corner and saw Devon on top of Gabby's back. He stopped short since Devon wasn't doing anything but holding her down. He initially wanted to intervene, but knowing that Devon was going to be working with her in just a few weeks, the last thing Raph wanted to do was to supplant his son's authority over her. Plus, Raph had warned Gabby earlier about his son. Seeing her face down on the grass with Devon onto of her, he figured that she had said something that set him off.
The others had heard the commotion, but decided that whatever was going on, it wasn't life threatening, so they let Raph do the honors! Don had to reassure the professor, though. " She's fine, just let them settle it!"
Walking calmly over to the two, Raph asked, " So, you two having a nice conversation?"
"Get 'm off 'f me!!" Gabby yelled, spitting grass out of her mouth.
"Depends. Why'd he go after you?" Raph asked, smirking.
" He's CRAZY!" she yelled again, her temper now coming to the fore. Her arms hurt and she didn't particularly like him on her back. Devon was heavy! Plus, her legs ached where his tail had connected.
" Maybe - like his old man!" Raph said with a laugh. He bent down on his hands and knees and calmly looked into her face as she turned towards him, " You sass'n at him, Gabby? Devon was already mad and I told you that! What'd you say to piss him off?"
Devon was still seething, but he saw that his dad was not interfering. He needed to have some leverage over her when it was his turn to train her and his father's support at the moment was appreciated.
" Respect is a two way street, Gabs!" Devon said, the rage dissipating as he realized that his father was not going to intervene. " You respect me, I respect you - that's how it works in this Clan! Got it!"
" I didn't say anything that wasn't already the truth!" she declared, then yelped some more when Devon tightened his grip on her. " Stop it! You're hurting me!"
Devon squeezed a little more and said, " Obviously not enough because you still have an attitude!"
" What do you want me to do, DEVON? Grovel at your feet?" Gabby hissed back. She felt completely overwhelmed and felt a familiar lump settling in her throat. But, blast it, she wasn't going to cry, not here and certainly not now! In contrast, she only became angrier!
Raph had a hard time not laughing. He heard himself in her complaint and his son's retorts. He sat back on his knees and just observed.
Devon replied, " No, I don't. But whatever I say to you, better consider your reply carefully."
" I tried. I was trying to be understanding, okay? That's all. But you interrupted me!" she complained.
" All you had to do was stand there and be silent. One rule that you will learn very quickly in that training room - the student is silent! The sensei is the only one allowed to talk and the only one to give you permission to!" and he released her, getting off of Gabby's back and then standing up next to his father.
Gabby couldn't get away from him fast enough. She leaped up as best she could, considering her bum foot, and - rubbing the ache out of her arms - she ran over to the other side of the fire pit. Glaring at Devon and Raphael, but also somewhat cowed, she stood there...silent! She felt her entire weekend tanking in that moment. All the good things that had happened, gone, caput! Gabby was getting to the point where she didn't want anything good to happen anymore. Trouble always seemed to follow!
Raph left the two out there by themselves. He had said something to Devon before he left. Devon nodded and then just stared at Gabby. She, however, sat down. No way was she going back into the house until enough time had elapsed and people involved themselves in other activities. As soon as she was able to, she was going to go to her room and stay there for the remainder of the evening. She was embarrassed - especially for the professor! How could she let something so simple as trying to talk to Devon work itself into the frenzy it had become? No matter how she saw it, Devon was right. All she had to do was to just be quiet after his first retort to her. Simple. But, Gabby hated being quiet and even more so, she disliked being talked to the way Devon had with her!
He stayed outside with her on the opposite side of the fire pit from where she sat. Gabby wished he would just go back in the house. She wanted to tell him to, but she knew if she did that, he would be after her again for insubordination! Devon had certainly made his point clear with her on that!
The professor came out around six with Don. Gabby saw him and wanted to go over to him, but when she looked back at Devon, he shook his head at her. Gabby was not amused. He was not training her tomorrow, Leo was. Did he think that just because he was able to pin her down that he could tell her what to do. She stood up and Devon's posture changed in that instant. She recognized it immediately. What did Raph tell him to do, make her stay there? Gabby looked back over towards the professor, who was now just passing her as he made his way to the guesthouse with Don's help. She looked imploringly at Don, who gave her a serious expression that matched Devon's - he shook his head 'no', too!
The professor did not look back at her and that hurt more than anything. Gabby's emotions were starting to get the better of her and she felt her eyes well up. But, she pushed the tears back and was determined not to be intimidated. She wanted so much to spend the last few hours of the evening with the professor. What was going on? She was never told that anyone in this family could just up the time on her training. Gabby was quite frustrated.
It was getting dark and it was getting cooler. Gabby shivered a bit, but noticed that Devon still hadn't moved from his spot. What was he doing? Waiting her out? Was he going to follow her in like a herding sheepdog? Or, was this a test of wills? If she caved and decided to call it quits, then he would have won a psychological battle over her. But, she wasn't trying to battle him. She just wanted some time to regroup her thoughts and her resolve. It was all very confusing to Gabby!
Don came back out of the cottage after making sure the professor was comfortable. Gabby ignored him. She was starting to get mad at him, too, for not interfering and 'rescuing' her from her crazy brother! The time in New York had helped to bond Gabriella with her uncle. But, the way he looked at her when taking the professor to the guesthouse a while ago defeated all of that!
Don walked over to his niece and stood by her, saying, " I don't know the particulars, but from what Raph told me, you ticked Devon off. That's a bad thing to do, all things considered! I would tread very carefully, Gabriella." and he left before Gabby could ask him what Devon was planning.
Don's parting words caused her anxiety to soar!
The sun had set hours ago and Gabby was now getting tired. She was past shivering and wanted desperately to call it quits. But, her stubbornness and pride would not let her. She had sat back down shortly after Don had spoken to her. Devon kept standing, though. Finally, Gabby asked Devon, "Why are you standing out here with me? " No answer. Devon just stared. "If you're not going to answer me, why not just let me go?" Gabby tried very hard not to sound sarcastic, fearing another rumble with her brother. Still, he said nothing. "Well, if you're not going to say anything, I'll be going, then!" She stood up. Gabby decided she did not want to go back into the house, but instead started for the guest cottage. No sooner had she taken two steps than Devon was there blocking her path.
"If you go anywhere, it will be the big house, Gabby!" he said quietly.
" And why is that?" she asked, still trying to keep her sarcasm at bay and a little unnerved by how fast he moved to intercept her.
" Because I said so!" her brother replied softly.
" Maybe in four weeks you can tell me..." but she no sooner had the words out and she knew they were the wrong ones! He grabbed her by the shoulders and threw her down. Landing on top of her and straddling her, he pinned her arms down to her sides. It all happened in a flash. The wind had been knocked out of her and she started gasping.
"Just breath normally; you'll be fine!" Devon instructed. She didn't think air would ever get back into her lungs again, but, finally, Gabby's breath did come back. Yet it was a scary couple of seconds for her.
" Why are you doing this, Devon? I know you're mad at me, but..." she complained. Gabby could feel the tears starting to well up. If she could just turn off her emotions she'd be able to handle things better.
" Because I'm pissed! I get detention and grounded for the duration of your training. For cry'n out loud, I'm 23! D'ya know how embarrassing it is to get kicked around for screwing up? And Seth? He gets sent back to Japan! But you - you get to fly off to New York! I got my butt kicked every day since you left and you go to a concert! Yes, I'm pissed! You bet I am! " He seethed.
" So this had nothing to do with my training, then? You just wanted revenge. What kind of ninja does that make you, huh?" Gabby asked intently, figuring she was already flat on her back, what more could he do to her.
Devon was quietly weighing his options as to what he more could do to her. But, Gabby had made a valid point. At first, her attitude was what had him going after her. There wasn't any way he was going to allow her to be insubordinate towards him, no matter how far down the road his training of her would start. Even Raph had told him not to budge but to stick it out and drive the point home. But, as the evening wore on and especially when the professor came out to go to the guesthouse, he started to realize that he was just upset that she had been treated better.
Earlier, Don had supported his nephew's actions if only to reinforce his authority over Gabriella. Devon appreciated that from his uncle! But, it was still a sore spot that her actions caused him to be reprimanded and Seth to be banished! If there was one thing that was definitely going to happen, he thought, was that Gabby was going to get out of basic training as fast as he could push her. The faster she completed the basics, the faster his life would get back on track. Devon then stepped off of her and helped her up. " I think you've pretty much understood the point of what insubordination is!" Devon said. " You may return to the house - but NOT the cottage!"
Walking back to the main house, Gabby still wasn't sure what it was she did to set him off initially, other than maybe identify that he was still angry with her. She truly did want to talk to him about that day, but it was gradually dawning on her that it was a moot point. Nothing she could say would erase that event; it was a done deal and everyone seemed to be paying the price for her foolishness. Gabby was especially disappointed that, for now, her friendship with Devon had changed. She could no longer see him as a brother. Though he was younger than she was, according to Clan law he had authority over her. Gabby was not looking forward to the week when Devon would train her!
Gabby had been too worked up to just go to sleep. There was just too much stuff to sort out with Devon and how he had treated her earlier. Once in her room, she fell onto her bed and buried her face into her pillow, sobbing for a good long time. It felt good to cry. The stress of the attack in New York, coupled with seeing her old home for probably the last time, then Devon's attitude towards her and eventual rebuttal, took its toll. After a while, she dried her eyes and went to the bathroom to blow her nose. After washing her hands, she went back into her room and over to the bedroom window. Standing there, she looked out at the backyard. It was about ten in the evening and the floodlights were on full. She noticed that Raph and Devon were out by the pool, talking.
Devon had his head down while Raph appeared to be instructing him. At least, it looked that way to Gabby. The father and son seemed to be doing better at getting along, it seemed. Gabby wondered if it was because of her, not that she did anything to bring them together. But, Devon's anger towards her might have found a sympathetic ear with Raph.
Devon nodded a few times, as if accepting Raph's words. Then, Raph put his arm around his son and patted his back. But, as Gabby watched, she saw Raph slowly turn his head around towards her window! Her eyes flew open wide, realizing that he was looking right at her! She backed away as if she had been caught doing something wrong. There was no possible way for him to know she was there looking at him! How could he have known that! He had looked right at her, though, and it gave Gabby the willies. " My own father, giving me the creeps!" she choked to herself. She started to shake as a result.
The effect made her very insecure. Gabby hugged herself and wandered around her room. She finally stumbled into the walk-in closet and closed the door behind her. She huddled in a heap in the farthest corner, hunched over her knees, grabbing them in a firm embrace. She started to cry again, singing softly to herself for comfort, missing the professor and missing her old life once again. She sang songs from the concert from the night before and songs she hadn't sung in years. Then, Gabby sang some Christmas songs and ones she had made up long ago. She cried through some of them, the memories they generated! At that moment, she didn't care about her origins or that Shredder person or anything having to do with why she was brought into the world. Gabby had been so pumped to meet the next day with courage and resolution. Now, all she wanted to do was to crawl up into an attic somewhere and hide. If it weren't for the professor living here now, she would find someway to get off Mike's property. For all that it was worth, Gabby felt like she had just arrived for the first time!
