I wish to thank the many reviewers who have faithfully kept up with Gabby's exploits! - Ramica, Ziptango, Splinter, Jo Dawn RavenPhoenixFire, Phoenix Rising, Dancingfae, Dawnatella, Meathead, Rockerbaby934, In The Clouds, and Red Turtle, I appreciate the comments and the suggestions. I'm still trying to 'tweak and twiddle' this missive to refinement – blame my compulsive-obsessive-perfectionist nature, but I just can't help myself. :0) Either way, from this experience of writing for Fanfiction, I have learned valuable lessons in accepting criticism ( which I'm usually terrified of! ) and persistence.

I have been able to upload these chapters quickly only because I have most of the story already written. Once I have contributed all that's ready and available, I will probably be taking a break whilest I figure out a good way to put a The End to this story! In the meantime, ya'll be blessed a lot!

*****

Gabby made her way through the crowds of people in town who chose not to attend the concert. She wandered aimlessly along the sidewalk for a long time, her 'costume' blending in with all the others. She could have taken the cloak off, but decided she wanted its comfort. It gave her a sense of detachment from how she was feeling. She was bumped and jostled around by people as they hurried passed her to the next 'candy' stop. In a state of despair and sadness, she lost all track of time.

Finally, Gabby found herself walking down Lincoln Street, not intentionally, but that's where she ended up. She stopped in front of the Musical Note. For the longest moment she stared at the front window. A soft light glowed in the back and the beckoning embrace of remembered conversations called out to her. She cried softly, remembering the warmth of Cassandra's friendship.

Gabby looked around and found that the street was virtually deserted. Most of the 'treaters' were on the main boulevard because the side street shops were closed and not participating. She tried the door knob. It was locked. Remember the lesson Mike had taught her, she carefully slipped the knife out of its holder and slid it into the door jam. She ran it carefully up towards the lock, making sure not to scratch the wood. 'Leave no trace' echoed through her mind! *She gently pushed up, increasing the pressure on the bolt and then turned the knob hard at the same time. Finally, it gave way! Gabby waited. She listened for any indication that a security breach alarm was activated. Looking in through the window in the door, she tried to see if there was any such measure. She heard nothing. So, carefully, she pushed open the door just enough to get inside. Then, closing the door and locking it once again, she turned back around to face the interior of the store. She replaced the knife back into its sheath and then stood still for a moment to regroup her self.

Gabby hadn't noticed her heart was racing, but once inside, she realized she had been holding her breath! She gasped, trying to reacquaint her lungs with air, sucking in oxygen until she could relax. Then, in a daze, Gabby made her way to the rear of the shop, ducking behind the curtained doorway. She didn't know why she came here or why she broke in. Maybe it was because Cassandra had created a safe haven for her. Maybe it was her imploring words that she could be trusted. Maybe Gabby just needed a friend and not a member of her family to listen to her. Her clan always seemed more interested in telling her what to do, while Cassandra was more concerned in what she could do.

She felt ashamed for taking advantage of her friend's hospitality. She sat down on the small couch in the back room, pondering her actions for the evening. From stealing a knife from the gym, disguising her self and leaving Mike's property, to planning on committing murder and suicide, Gabby had pretty much exceeded her talent for making trouble. Then, to top that off, breaking into Cassandra's workplace all the while knowing that one act alone was punishable by jail time. What if her friend was deeply hurt and disappointed with her? What if she called the police? But, as Gabby was deciding on leaving and going back home, she heard voices from outside. One of them sounded like - Cassandra!

Gabby quickly and quietly ran up the stairs. She took the secondary bedroom in the back. She hid in the large storage closet, hoping that Cassandra wouldn't notice anything amiss. She was now warmer than she wanted to be. So, she removed her cloak and ski mask. The gloves came next, but that was all she could take off. Gabby had been very careful to not leave any trace of herself downstairs. At least, she hoped that was true. Upon hearing the door unlock and then open, she held her breath again. She hadn't realized so much time had passed since leaving the theater. The concert must have ended a while ago!

"I am so glad you came!!" Gabby could hear Cassandra gush.

"When Don told me you were living in Carmel and doing a benefit concert, he offered to pick me up from my hotel in San Jose to see you. I've been wanting a break from rehearsal for an evening and what better timing, eh?!" another person said, laughing.

Gabby thought the other female voice sounded vaguely familiar, but she was too tense to give it much thought. She quieted her breathing all the more.

"Well, as soon as the others arrive, we'll have some tea. Let me get myself changed out of this costume. The makeup will have to come off later, but at least I can rid myself of this fleabag of an outfit!! Please, look around! I'm quite proud of my collection!" Cassandra chuckled.

Gabby heard her come up the stairs. She wondered if maybe she was in Cassandra's bedroom. It didn't look like it had been used much. Hopefully, it wasn't!

She heard her friend go into the next bedroom and Gabby breathed a silent sigh of relief. She wondered who this other person was.

Then, another voice came from downstairs. It was - Don's! Gabby sucked in a quick panicky breath that seemed too loud to her. "What was he doing here?" Gabby asked herself, her eyes wide with terror. What if Cassandra.....

Just then, the closet door opened and there was her friend, standing there dressed comfortably in slacks and a top, looking at Gabby. Her face was still filled with theater makeup and some strange fur, which startled Gabby at first. But then, she remembered the concert. "What did she sing for the second half of the program?" Gabby thought frantically.

No words were said, but Cassandra could see the look of terror in the young woman's face. Gabby shook her head violently, as if imploring Cassandra to not say anything to the people downstairs. She started to cry a little and her friend nodded, putting a finger to her mouth, telling her silently that she would not say anything. Then, she closed the door, but not before giving Gabby a look of great disappointment.

Gabby cried softly and silently, knowing she had offended Cassandra deeply. She heard more than the three voices downstairs. There was Don and that other woman - who was starting to sound very familiar to Gabby. But, then Mike's voice along with Rahab's could be heard. "What were they all doing here?" she thought fearfully! Then, she heard - Leo!!

"He should be in Japan; what's he doing here?" she asked herself, surprised and wondering.

He only spoke once and it was in the context of sensing something. He had been right by the draped doorway where the stairs were and he said it quietly, as if he was talking to someone next to him. Did he suspect she was here? Leo could do that, he was very astute at discerning things.

Gabby's heart beat rapidly, but she forced herself to take long, quiet breaths to slow it down. She wasn't sure how Leo or the others could determine where people were, but she suspected they had better than excellent hearing. She waited in the closet for over an hour before Cassandra came back.

"Gabriella, they're gone. You can come out, now."

Gabby was afraid to. She was concerned that maybe Cassandra was going to hand her over to them and this was a way to get her to come out.

"Gabby, it's okay. I didn't tell them you were here! It's safe for you to come out!" her friend implored.

Gabby slowly opened the closet door. "I'm so sorry, Cassandra!" and she started to cry all over again.

"What are you doing in my shop?" the woman asked, a bit angrily.

"Dunno." Gabby choked out as she wiped a tear from her cheek.

"No, you know why you are here. Don't tell me you 'dunno', okay? I'm not that easily fooled!" Cassandra demanded.

"Wh - what happened to your face?" Gabby asked as she looked at her friend with her theater makeup still on.

Cassandra sighed, "I did the concert tonight, remember? My last few numbers were from the musical CATS. I didn't have time to take it off before my company came." She took Gabby's hand and led her out of the closet. She took her out of the bedroom and into the bathroom. "Now, just stand here and tell me what's going on while I take my face off." she smiled thinly.

"I don't know what to say." she replied.

"Start with the truth. First, why are you here?" Cassandra started removing the fur hood from her head, setting it down on the lid of the commode.

"I wasn't going to come into town; wasn't feeling too well." Gabby started.

"Yes, I know that. You said as much yesterday when you and Gaele came by, but here you are!"

"There have been things happening with me and I ...." Gabby started to cry again.

Cassandra stopped what she was doing and looked at her friend. Seeing the sincerity of Gabriella's despondency, she took her into her bedroom. There was a small two-seater couch along one wall. Cassandra sat Gabby down in it. As she sat next to her, she asked, "Okay, let's start at the beginning. Why haven't you been feeling well?"

Before Gabby could check herself, she blurted out, "I'm pregnant!!" and sobbed all the more, covering her face with her hands.

Cassandra rolled her eyes upward and then embraced her friend. "Oh, Gabby. How....? Who's the father?"

"Jason..." and more crying ensued.

"I thought you didn't like him." Cassandra asked as she looked amazed at her young friend.

"I don't - I hate his guts!" Gabby seethed between sobs.

Cassandra sighed, knowing then what had really happened, "He raped you?" and her blood boiled in anger. She never did like him, from the first time she saw him and from subsequent run-ins while she was in her shop and around town. He just seemed a little unlike the person he tried to portray. Jason was far too nice for the body language he displayed. There was always a subtle hint of deceit that she sensed from him.

Getting control of her self so she could talk, Gabby explained, "About three Saturdays ago, Jason had taken me to lunch while Mike was doing some running around. He didn't take me right back to the studio, but over to some riding trails in Monterey. He tried to take advantage of me and I popped him in the nose. I ended up breaking it and when he came at me again, I kicked him in the chest."

Cassandra had heard about those trails. It was for horseback riding, but through the Carmel community and listening to people talk about it, the trails were also a haven for romantic interludes and less than savory escapades. She was beginning to dislike this Jason even more!

"Anyway," Gabby continued, sniffing, "Jason made up a big lie to my uncle why his nose was broken, claiming he did nothing but try to help me into the Jeep. He said I went ballistic when he grabbed my arm. Mike knew I didn't like Jason and believed him. I was punished because of it."

"Why? It was just a broken nose?" Cassandra was puzzled. She would never believe that anyone would punch another unless there was just cause to do so.

"Mike's known Jason for a long time and I guess he didn't want to not believe him. My Uncle Don said that because we're so different and that my father lost all of his fortune from lawsuits, we can't afford to have anyone take us to court. Jason could have done that. As it turned out, that's what he threatened me with if I didn't do what....." and Gabby started to cry again.

"Does your family know you're pregnant, Gabriella?" Cassandra asked.

"Only Gaele. She found out, or rather, we found out together last night. My aunt had a home pregnancy test and we used it to confirm it. We did it twice! "Gabby replied tearfully.

"Your family needs to know! You can't hide something like this from them." the woman implored," You're not a very big girl, Gabriella, and you'll show soon enough!"

"I …wasn't planning on sticking around for that to happen!" Gabby cried.

Cassandra then noticed how her young friend was dressed. She noticed the all black outfit. She saw Gabby clutching what looked like a hooded ski mask and then she saw the wooden sheath hanging off the belt Gabby had around her waste.

"May I see that?" Cassandra asked, pointing to the sheath.

Reluctantly, Gabby unbuckled the belt and removed the wooden sheath, handing it to Cassandra. "Please, don't say anything about this to my family! They'll kill me!"

"I doubt they will kill you, dear. Punish you? Yes! But kill you, I doubt that very much." and then Cassandra removed the knife. "This is a ninjitsu knife!"

"How'd you know that?" Gabby asked wide-eyed, sobered by Cassandra's recognition of the knife.

"Never mind how I know. But it's one that doesn't leave any definable mark, so it can't be matched up with any known type." Cassandra mused, turning the tool around and studying it. Then, it dawned on her; the expression she showed towards Gabby was of shock, "You - were going to kill Jason with it!"

Gabby shrunk back, guilty as charged, but she blurted out, "I couldn't do it. I can't kill anyone - not even myself!" and she cried all the more.

Cassandra shook her head and carefully replaced the knife back into its holder, saying "Very few people can, so don't beat your self up, okay! I'm rather relieved you can't, to be honest. It's a heavy load to bear, taking someone's life, and then having to live with it. Seppuku, or suicide, is even harder! I'm glad you failed on both assignments!" She hugged Gabby firmly and then said gruffly, "I need to get this crud off before it becomes a permanent part of my face." and went back to the bathroom to clean up. "You can rest here tonight. I'm sure your family will be coming back down here come morning - if not before."

"I made my bed up to look like I was sleeping in it, so they won't know anything until morning!" Gabby mused.

"Unless they attempt to wake you up to let you know about Serena Brightwell visiting. They told me how much you enjoy her mus...."

"That was her downstairs, wasn't it?!!" Gabby gushed.

"Yes, it was. She's singing tomorrow night in San Jose on her U.S.A. tour. She came into town to see me. It's been years since we last saw each other." Cassandra explained. "She joined me on stage tonight for my last number, too! Brought down the house and I think we did incredibly well with our donations for the theater's refurbishing."

"She sang with you?" Gabby exclaimed, angry with herself for ducking out early. "Oh, I did catch your show! But only the first half."

Cassandra popped her head out of the bathroom and looked back at her friend, "Really? Great. So, what'd ya think?" She went back to removing her makeup.

"It was wonderful. I would love to do what you do. But...my family wouldn't let me. They have this thing about pictures and publicity and stuff."

"Yes, I know! I saw the blurb a few weeks ago about the karaoke incident. I know the deejay and he would never overlay a prerecorded vocal on a singer there. However, like you said if your family is skittish about such matters.... I know the news of your singing made it's way clear across to New York! Serena mentioned that tonight to me before your family came to visit. I don't think she believes it was a fake! I know I don't!"

"You don't?" Gabby asked.

"No. I can tell by your vocal tone that you have a nice singing voice! One that is trained and I think you could do well on Broadway...." Cassandra popped her head out the bathroom door and with a smile on her face,"…green skin and all!" and then laughed.

Gabby had to laugh, too, and felt good about the compliment.

"How am I going to explain being here to my family?" she complained. "I've been having such a hard time adjusting to their lifestyle and now breaking and entering and without letting them know I was going out and....... "

"And taking that knife without permission, too!" Cassandra walked into the bedroom, now fresh-faced and looking like herself.

"Yeah, that, too..." Gabby said weakly. "Please don't ask me any questions about that - please? I will be banished forever if ...." and she realized she had already said too much as it is.

"Don't worry about it. I have no idea what this knife is ..." and she took it up from Gabby's hands..." other than it would probably cut a side of beef rather well!" and smiled.

"How did you know what it was?" Gabby asked, puzzled by Cassandra's knowledge.

As Cassandra sat back down next to her friend, she said, "Let's just say that I knew someone a long time ago who taught me a great many things about these matters. I've learned that not all knowledge is good. It sometimes comes back to haunt you!" and her smile was thin and melancholy.



"How is she?" Mike asked.

"She's sleeping right now." Rahab answered. "I don't want to wake her since she has been rather tired lately. Guess with all the throwing up she's been doing, it's worn her out!"

"Did you make that appointment, Rahab?" Mike asked.

"Yep. Monday at two in San Fran. "she replied.

What she didn't tell Mike was that the appointment was for an obstetrician and not an internist. She looked at her husband and sighed. If the father of Gabby's baby was indeed Jason, Mike would kill him. Despite having known the boy all these years, to do what he did to a member of the clan was punishable by death. However, given the 'no harm' rule, would Mike actually commit such an act? Rahab knew that Raphael was capable and since Gabriella was his daughter…. The iguanoid woman shuddered at the thought of Raph flipping out in a rage. She knew that whenever the news broke within the family, all four of those turtles better be locked down in the gym until they could think straight!

Rahab said to Seth when she saw him come into the family room, "I'm glad your father and uncles allowed you to come home! I think it will be good for Gabby to see you. Maybe it will help things a bit!"

"I just wish she were awake." Seth sighed. "I've so much to tell her." and he plopped himself down on a couch.

Rahab wondered if anything he had to say to Gabby would compare with what news awaited him about her!



Don had been quite chipper after the show had ended. He had confirmed with Serena, who insisted on attending the concert, that Cassandra was indeed who she had been advertised to be. He delighted in watching the two of them sing the duet version of Time to Say Goodbye, with Cassandra taking the lower register of the song. It created a pandemonium initially from the audience, since Serena Brightwell was a huge surprise. But when the song ended, they were given a standing and very loud ovation! He decided to contribute to the cause of the remodeling at that point and wrote out a very healthy check. More than likely, his contribution alone would do the job of the refurbishing, but he felt it a worthy cause.

He enjoyed visiting the Musical Note as well, but there was something that triggered his senses. He couldn't quite make it out, but he had taken Leo to the back and before he could say anything about it, Leo confirmed it with his own awareness of something not being right. "Can't put a finger on it. Maybe it's because Gabby's been here! "Don had said.

"You may be correct. But, it seems stronger than an after-sense, doesn't it?" Leo had mused quietly.

Don had to agree, but the timing wasn't good with Cassandra and Serena there. The two brothers decided to let it go until the next day. They would then stop by the shop again and just 'visit', but allow their senses to go full blown. Then, they would determine the truth of the matter.



Gabby woke up in the bed that was in the spare room where she had hid the night before. It was at first very confusing where she was at. But, then as her head cleared of sleep, she remembered. And, she realized she was getting sick again.

"Ah, the familiar sounds of retching!" Cassandra sniggered as she waited outside the door of the bathroom.

"It's getting very old as far as I'm concerned!" Gabby complained as she opened the door. "Did you have morning sickness?" she asked her friend.

"Yep - for three whole months! I rarely ate and when I did, it was mostly plain soup and crackers. Nothing spicy. And that's my recommendation to you. I'm going down to make some herbal tea that will help even things out for you. Feel free to climb back into bed or come down and keep me company." Cassandra smiled as she turned and went down the stairs.

Gabby put her clothes on from the previous night. She had borrowed a nightgown from Cassandra before retiring to bed, but she hadn't brought a change of clothing. She never thought it would be necessary, considering her plans had been sort of 'one way'.

"If I had planned chickening out, I should have brought a change of clothes for today!" she casually remarked.

"I have some old clothes you can rummage through if you're tired of black!" the woman chuckled.

"No, that's alright. I'll make do with what I have." Gabby noticed it was seven in the morning. She had once again missed her quiet time with Seth.

"I've been having little Bible studies in the gym each morning, but for the past week I haven't been doing them. Too ill. I pray for Seth while he's in Japan, just so I do something constructive besides missing him!!"

Cassandra looked over at Gabby, wondering if she should say anything to her. She had seen Seth the night before after the concert. They had talked a little, more about that first visit in her store. He had come over with everyone else last night. He didn't say anything but looked around at the inventory. He had seemed anxious to get going for home. She decided to keep her thoughts about him to herself until later.

"So, you care about Seth?" she asked Gabby.

"Yeah....we were sort of dating until that bar thing happened. Actually, that day was our first and last date!" Gabby sighed sadly.

"Ah. Now, let me understand this - you and Seth are cousins? Right?" Cassandra asked curiously.

"Yep, but only his father and my father's mother is the connection. My human DNA kind of helps diversify the genetic makeup a bit, even though my birth-mom supposedly had reptile DNA grafted onto hers. Turned out to be my dad's DNA, to be honest. Not sure how that figures in to it being okay for Seth and I to marry, but my cousin Gaele is a biotechnologist and she said it could work. Not that we have much to choose from in the way of marriage partners."

Cassandra was quiet as she listened to Gabby explain things. She had a faraway look to her that suggested she was hearing, but getting involved with other thoughts. Finally, she said, "Yes, I'm sure that would be a consideration. Hard to tell what would happen; but it looks like whatever union you and Seth would have, will need to wait a while! All things considered!" She nodded at Gabby's stomach and then poured some tea into a cup, "Well, my tea is ready for you! Best if you have at least three cups of it for the herbs to work!"

"You sound like my uncles! They have a tea for just about every ailment!" Gabby laughed.

"I'm sure they do!" Cassandra remarked, smiling. "Now, drink!"

*****

"GABBY'S GONE!" Gaele screamed from the bedroom! She ran hysterically down the stairs to the family room where her mother and father were sitting. "She's gone; she's not in her room. Those were just pillows piled up under the covers to make it look like she was there!" and she started to cry, afraid her cousin had gone and done something quite foolish. Rahab grabbed her daughter while Mike shot up the stairs to confirm what Gaele had discovered. All she heard him say when he made it to Gabby's room was, "OH Man! What has she done now?"

*****

*Let it be known that I haven't a clue how to open a locked door. Not a clue. I just made this up based on a little common sense and what I thought I saw done by a landlord a long time ago ( when I locked myself out of my apartment). Evidently, this guy had an old occupation he no longer worked at. Made me feel REALLY secure after that! NOT! :0)