"Where's Cassandra?" Don asked as he walked into the family room. He and Leo had just returned from the forest where they had received the tongue-lashing from the woman.
As he surveyed the family room Don immediately noticed that only Mike, Rahab, and Riahna were present. He wondered where Raph was, but for now he was only interested in one person – Cassandra.
Mike looked up and answered, "Out with the professor. They walked him back just a while ago. Why?"
"Have some things to talk about with her!" he said. "But…" His words trailed off as he considered something else. Then, after a moment, he gave his brother a particular nod of the head.
"Should I get Raphael?" Mike asked silently.
"Would be a good idea, I think." Don nodded wordlessly.
"Where do you want to meet?" Mike subtly inquired as he gently took his arm from around Rahab's shoulder and stood up, making for the foyer.
"In the gym." Don indicated without a sound
"What's going on, Mike?" Rahab asked. Though no words were spoken between her husband and Don, after being married to Mike for fifteen years, she recognized the nuances of their silent ninja communication.
"Nothing, Rahab. Just a little meeting, s'all. " and he made for the foyer.
"Little 'meeting' my foot! Whatever it is, Don, you better not ruin this Thanksgiving! "and she gave her brother-in-law one of her looks that meant business.
"My word of honor, dear Rahab!" Don entreated, placing his hand over his plastron where his heart was and bowing just a little out of respect.
Leo whispered to him, "Whatever we do, let's not get her upset, as well. 'kay?!"
*****
Raphael complained, "Okay, waz so important that you just had to interrupt my late afternoon nap! I have a ton of food to digest!"
Leo replied, "Not our fault you pigged out!" and chuckled at his brother's expense.
"Okay, okay...so, what's this meeting 'bout anyway?" Raph asked. They were already downstairs in the gym.
"Cassandra admitted, in so many words, who she really is!" Don said.
Raph and Mike paid strict attention after that.
Leo added, "She told us in so many words that she has been protecting Gabby and the professor for the past twenty-five years. She also knew that one of us had the photo Seth found at the shop."
Don continued, "She demanded we give it back to her. I just can't figure out how she knew we had her photo, though! Unless.....she heard Seth and me that day we brought her home from the hospital!"
Mike commented, "That's it, more than likely."
Leo corrected him, "But she was out! Completely out! The tea I gave her was like what I gave you, Raph."
"Cassandra is no dummy, Don!" Raph exclaimed, "she probably figured it was one of you!"
"What did the professor say about it?" Mike asked.
"At first he denied knowing her. But, when I showed him the photo yesterday, he relented. Said he had a commitment to keep her identity a secret. Wouldn't tell me much, but he did say she felt responsible for making sure he and Gabby was kept safe from any remnant of the Foot - and anyone else casually interested in them!" Don said, continuing, "Professor Perry did not want Gabby to know, not quite yet, anyway."
Raph then asked the question that had been bugging him since he found out about the photo and the x-rays, "So...is she or isn't she Gabby's mother?"
Don was quiet for a moment, pondering the answer. He knew from what Splinter had shared years ago after they had rescued him from Shredder's clutches that there was a Foot woman who had been beaten and raped in front of him after she had failed in her assignment. That assignment, the woman told the revered rat, was to kill Don and his brothers. It was years later, when he and the professor had met at that genetics conference that Don learned from him that a woman from the Foot organization had been experimented on with DNA from Raphael and the mutanegenic compound. Jordan Perry had told Don of his willing return to the organization when he heard of this experiment. He told his reptilian friend that he elected to say to protect this girl as best he could. Perry had admitted his forced participation in her subsequent pregnancy by Raph's frozen sperm years later. Don wondered, then, if the woman who had beaten Raph unconscious and then attempted to kill them decades ago, was the same one who was experimented on. Until he could ascertain that to be true, he would not comment about it to any of his brothers - especially Raphael. He only answered Raph's question as it was put, "Yes, I believe she is!"
"Do we tell Gabby?" Mike asked, excited.
"No, not until I talk with Cassandra. She's - ah.... a little ticked off at us right now for having her picture, so I want to wait until she comes back from visiting with the professor. I'm not sure if he will have a chance to tell her that we've been asking him questions. With Gabby there, it would be difficult for Cassandra to have any private time with him. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."
*****
When the four brothers returned to the family room, Seth and Gabby were there on one of the couches. Gaele and her mom were talking. But Cassandra was no where in sight
"Where's Cassandra?" Don asked Gabby.
His niece replied, "She said she had to leave. There were sales receipts from Wednesday that she had yet to tally and the Christmas shopping season starts tomorrow. She had to go home and get things ready for that, as well. She told me to thank you for inviting her."
"So, we...what? Wait some more? Or, do we go on down to talk with her tonight?" Leo asked quietly as he and Don walked outside.
"Tomorrow. I thought of first thing in the morning, but I've just decided that after closing or just before would be better. I need to tread carefully; don't want to spook her. She's too valuable to Gabby right now, with the pregnancy and all. Even though she hasn't a clue, Gabby has already felt a connection to this woman!" Don replied. Then, trusting his older brother, he took him over to the fire pit away from the immediate windows of the kitchen. Don then told him of his startling revelation, "Leo, what I'm about to tell you, please don't say anything to Raph or to Mike! NO one can know this until I can prove it out."
"Okay, you have my word!" Leo promised.
Looking back over his shoulder just a little and then turning towards the redwoods, he made a statement that stunned Leo, "I think Cassandra was that female Foot ninja that fought with Raph and almost took us out!"
"You mean that first fight we had with the Foot thirty five years ago?" Leo asked, his eyes widening.
"Yes." Don said simply.
"How did you come to that conclusion?" Leo asked, facing his brother intently.
Don replied, "What Splinter had said after we rescued him that first time; what the professor told us regarding Gabby's conception and the woman that was tortured. It would make sense that Sake would be so cruel as to further punish this ninja who disgraced him. Plus, what Cassandra said earlier in the forest about our confronting Jason's step-father. How would she know what we were like in our youth, unless she was there, unless she fought us?"
Don was a bit agitated because if his assumptions were true, then Raph just might go off the deep end. Ever since that day, when he was beaten to unconsciousness, he had never been the same. Despite the movie about them thirty plus years ago showing hordes of ninja descending on that rooftop against Raphael, in reality, there was only one. To add insult to injury, the ninja was female and it never sat will with Raph. She turned out to be their toughest adversary next to Saki. The pounding she gave Raph caused him to end up suffering terribly from reoccurring headaches and seizures. Compounded by subsequent sorties gone wrong, it nearly debilitated him from experiencing a normal life. It was hard to predict how Raph would react to the news.
Leo's next comment mirrored Don's concern, "If this is true, then we need to tread more carefully concerning Raphael. You know as well as I do, he's always wanted to find the one who beat him up on that rooftop in New York. I hope, for just this once, you're wrong, Don!"
His brother replied, "So do I, Leo....so do I!"
*****
Don marveled at the mass of people that had descended upon Carmel. "Yes in deed", he thought, "Christmas is certainly here!"
It was a pain trying to find parking and when he did find one, it was at least two blocks away from the Musical Note. He came alone. He did not want to intimidate Cassandra by bringing any of his brothers. Leo had wanted to come along, if only to check on her to make sure she was as well as she claimed to be. Concussions were tricky things! But, Don told him he could wait a day. Don would ask Cassandra first, though, as a gesture of courtesy.
The walk to the store was even less savory for him. Don hated crowds, especially crowds that followed after Halloween. He had developed a thick enough skin for those people who were either uninformed about him and his family or were just plain rude. But, it was still an exercise in patience to walk among them. Fortunately, he arrived at the Musical Note unscathed from comments about his still celebrating Halloween!
Cassandra was busy with a customer when Don came into the store. She noticed him right away and smiled, but resumed her attention to her customer. He busied himself with a little window shopping, taking in the player piano and a few of the older musical boxes; obvious antiques by his inspection.
Christmas was coming up, he reminded himself. He fingered one exquisitely beautiful box, admiring its decorative woods and gold lame'. It had the name Imperial Symphonion on the front and he remembered from previous antique hunting jaunts that it was a famous line of music boxes from the late 1800's. The price was reasonable, maybe even a bit low. Don thought that Rahab would enjoy it. He made a mental note to have Cassandra ring it up and maybe keep it here until it was convenient for him to bring it back to the house. That is, if she didn't hold a grudge!
The last customer finally left, leaving Cassandra in the shop alone with Don.
She had been keenly aware of his coming in and it didn't surprise her. Cassandra had left Mike's the day before without saying a proper good-bye to everyone. She probably owed them all an apology. Yet, it wasn't lost on her that Don and Leo were aware of her true identity by the time she arrived for Thanksgiving dinner.
When she had called the hospital Tuesday to see about procuring her x-rays, the doctor she spoke to said that they went missing right after she was sent home. It didn't take a rocket scientist to discern that Don had managed to procure them. Cassandra initially panicked. She was seriously thinking of not making the dinner! But, then, later on that day when she was getting her desk in order, she discovered the missing photo! That angered her. It also gave her the resolve to attend the dinner and challenge Don for the picture!
Now, here he was in her shop. What did he want?
"So, I guess I owe you an apology this time!" she began, trying to get the upper hand again.
"No, it's fine. We shouldn't have been distracted. It was rude of us to not be there when you were ready to leave." Don explained, smiling.
Cassandra returned the expression. She studied him for a moment and then looked over at the music box he was standing in front of. She asked him, "Was there something that you were interested in? I couldn't help but notice that you were looking at the Symphonion."
"Ah, yes, the music box..." Don brightened and said as he looked back over at it. Turning to face Cassandra, he asked, "I would like to buy it for Rahab as a Christmas gift. Would it be possible for me to have it remain here until the twenty-fourth?"
"No problem. I can keep it upstairs in the guest bedroom. How do you wish to pay for it?" Cassandra asked.
"Charge card." and Don reached into his coat pocket and extracted his wallet.
Once the sale was complete, Cassandra thanked him and took the music box up stairs to put his purchase away. She returned quickly and noticed that he was still in the shop. "Was there something else I could do for you? Another Christmas present, perhaps?" she asked.
"No. But I do want to restate my apology for taking the photo! It was such a..... shock to me when I saw it." he explained. Don decided not to include Seth in the apology. Since he had yet to confirm Cassandra's true intent for being in Carmel, he did not want to put his nephew in harms way if he could help it.
"Ah, yes, I can well imagine! You did take the x-rays as well - correct?" Cassandra asked.
Don smiled weakly, "Yes, I did. For your protection, of course. The doctor wanted to keep you over night for - observation. But I knew he wanted to run more tests! There wasn't any way I was going to allow for that. If you want, I could return them to you."
"Thank you! I don't do hospitals very well, as you can well imagine. As far as the x-rays are concerned, burn them if you wish. Considering your own uniqueness, I doubt very much there would be any use for them - except in the medical field." Cassandra said.
The two stared at each other for a moment. Then, Cassandra offered, "Well, since you are here and it is closing time, we might as well talk over some tea, eh?!" She then walked over to the door of her shop and flipped the open sign over so that it read closed. Then, she locked the door securely. Cassandra pulled the blind down and, after that, walked resolutely back to the rear of the store and through the curtained doorway, saying to Don as she passed him, "You might find it a bit more comfortable in my living area!"
*****
"So, what do you want to know about me?" Cassandra asked Don as they waited for the tea to seep. They were both sitting on her couch in the small living area in the back of her shop. It was not a very large couch, but it afforded the only comfortable seating in the room.
Don looked thoughtfully down at his hands, then back to Cassandra. He locked eyes with hers and then asked, "Why did you give Gabriella up?"
Before she answered him, Cassandra decided the tea was seeped enough. She excused herself for a moment to attend to pouring some in the two teacups she had ready. Handing Don his and then taking her own, Cassandra replied, "Hmm…so you've discerned who I am. Very well. At that time, I was not capable of caring for an infant! Simple. There were so many things happening to me. The...ah…changes that I was still experiencing, for example."
"But, why give her to the professor?" he asked.
"Why not? If it weren't for him, Saki would never have had the means to do to me what he did and most certainly Gabby would not be in existence!" she answered him. "He owed me!"
"So you regret having Gabriella then?" Don asked her, a bit annoyed.
"No, how can I?" Cassandra was wistful and as close to becoming emotional as she ever was. She continued, "I gave birth to her, Don! She's my daughter, for cryin' out loud. I could never regret having her. But, knowing that I assisted Saki in his quest for the superior ninja - yes! It's a double edged sword." She looked at her cup for a moment, reminiscing about her life.
Then, she explained, "When Gabriella was nearing her tenth birthday and I heard how difficult she was becoming for the professor, I begged Jordan to contact you!" She looked up at her guest and continued," I told him that the older Gabriella became, the more difficult she would become. She was fast approaching that age where she would be hard to control and manage. Gabby needed a firmer hand than he was able to give her."
Cassandra paused. She looked over at Don and cocked her head coyly. She asked him, "Did you ever wonder why such a small school like the one Jordan taught at in Connecticut would be interested in a genetics conference like the one you were invited to?"
Don's eyes revealed his amazement. He replied softly, "Yes...I did!"
Cassandra said, "That is because I arranged it. He had repeatedly refused my request for him to contact you. I had followed you and your brother's history from the time you were made public in New Mexico. Of the four, you were the only one who had the financial means to take Gabby from him. Since he was involved in that area of science at the school, I knew he would be forced to meet with you. Though it had been a few years since I last had to infiltrate a company and change records like I did, I thought for sure that once he met with you, he would relent. I was livid that he did not take advantage of the circumstances." Her expression became mildly annoyed.
Don sat there surprised and truly impressed. However, he told her, "It would not have been a good thing at the time. Rahab and Mike were dealing with Riahna's autism plus they had a house full of kids. I was having problems and it took me out of action for a while. Raph had his own set of trouble! And Leo was too busy caring for Splinter."
"All things work together in the end, I suppose." Cassandra mused. "But, at least he shared with you about Gabby! That was a boon for me! Caring for them by myself for those first ten years was daunting, especially with my ever changing moods!"
Don then asked, "Did the DNA grafting affect you that much?"
She gave a derisive laugh, "One could say that. One could also say it was a major understatement! You know your brother better than I. There was just enough of him in that DNA to make me feel as if I had lost it completely! If not for my training as ninja, I most certainly would have!"
Cassandra's expression went momentarily flat as she remembered those difficult times. "Gabby's first ten years was in the mountains of Montana. I had a retreat there that my original family owned. They were people who were extremists and enjoyed the ruggedness. It was also well out of reach of most people. To Gabby, I was the 'crazy lady' on the hill just down from the box canyon where she lived with the professor! My 'performance' - though there were times it was more real for me than anything I've ever done - kept her pretty much 'down on the farm'! She was terrified of me!" Cassandra laughed a little at the memory. She continued more seriously, "But, the hardest part of that experience was the winters. Very harsh!! It did keep people from becoming too noisy, though, and it most certainly kept any remnant of the Foot from finding us!"
"You mentioned your original family. Who were they and why did you join the Foot?" Don was becoming quite fascinated with Cassandra's story, but the mention of her 'original' family piqued it even more.
Cassandra hesitated and it appeared to Don as if she was trying to summon up the resolve to tell him. He noticed her eyes mist over just a little.
In a voice that seemed strained with emotion, the woman explained, "I was abducted at age six by Saki. As plain and as simple as that. "Cassandra saw the puzzled expression on Don's face, so she further explained, "Oruku wanted an army of warriors that would obey him without question. He saw a means to that end by acquiring children ten years and under. Some were recruited through legitimate martial arts schools that were actually fronts for his organization. Others times he would just plain take them or have someone else do the honors. I was one such acquisition. My parents were aerial artists for a circus. Due to their inherent physical attributes on the wire and the fact that they were highly intelligent as well, Saki figured I would make an excellent soldier. So, one night while I was sleeping, he had them killed and drugged me so I wouldn't scream out. Their trailer was burned to the ground, leaving very little trace of them for the forensics team. I was shipped off to Japan, unconscious. When I came to I was sleeping on a mat in a room with three adults. Their job was to keep me from running away. I was terrified as you can well imagine. And I remember not feeling too well. Probably because of the drugs they used."
Don just sat there and stared. He knew that Saki was evil but to rip a child from their home that way and then transport them clear to Japan was not just evil, it was inhumane. The only thing Don could do was shake his head.
"My training began the next day and that first week was like hell. No one spoke English to me. No one responded to me when I would speak English. I had to learn Japanese. If I uttered an English word I was hit with a cane. It became apparent that in order to survive, I had to learn the language. Food was denied me if I asked for anything in my native tongue. It was very difficult. But, I was a very quick learner of languages, as it turned out, and by the end of the month I had learned enough Japanese to keep the cane at bay. I wasn't allowed to ask about my parents, my home, nothing. Again, the cane was implemented if I did. Once I had accepted my situation, my life improved quite a bit. Saki was actually quite affectionate then. But it was always used as a reward and not something he actually felt. "
Cassandra paused as she reflected back. She noticed that Don had sobered up quite a bit while he listened to her. Finally, she concluded, "By the time I was seventeen I had learned everything and then some of what Saki wanted me to learn. My skills as a ninja nearly surpassed him. He decided that upon my eighteenth birthday that he would take me as his consort. He made a big announcement about it, too. By that time I had been so thoroughly brainwashed that I considered it the highest honor. However, his pride was what tripped him up. Saki kept records of all the children that he acquired through the years – including me. It was a source of amusement for him, I guess, to have at hand all the particulars of each child; we were kind of like a stable of Thoroughbreds. One day I was messing around with hacking into computers, a skill that came in handy later on with the professor. I thought it would be fun to see what my future husband had hidden away. I really didn't expect to find anything, but when those files came up and I started reading about them, I recognized some as friends of mine. Then, I found my profile. He even had the audacity of having a photo of my parents! That was the memory trigger for me. Suddenly everything that I had forgotten about my life came back to me in a blinding rush. I learned quickly because of a perfect memory, and I remembered quickly because of that same attribute! I had always thought and was told that my parents had given me up. You can well imagine the wrestling match I was having. My past conflicted with my training. My parents were Christian, but I was being influenced by Bushido. This all took place in New York when Saki brought me and a host of others to that city to start a faction of the Foot there. That revelation of mine took place one week before my encounter – with Raphael."
Don's eyes flew open. "You were the one, then?!" he exclaimed.
Cassandra nodded quietly, saying, "Yes, that was me. My assignment was to bring all four of your heads back to Saki. It was to be my prenuptial wedding gift to him. However, once I had Raph knocked out and was down in the apartment, what I had discovered about my past kept haunting me. All through that battle between you and your brothers I kept hearing my parent's voices. It became too much and that is why I ran. It wasn't because you were defeating me. I paid for it dearly, too. Saki disavowed me in front of the entire Foot assembly; had me beaten and raped right there, then thrown into a cell with a mutant rat and then Saki raped me himself – privately, except for the rat as witness. I believe he was your sensei, Splinter."
Don was reflective for some time. A stillness swept over the two as both digested the moment. Cassandra felt a heavy weight lift off of her as the past twenty-five years seemed to melt away. But, she realized that she might have been a little too quick with her explanations. "Maybe I should have held back?" she thought, concerned. "I really need to be less spontaneous!" she mused.
Don looked over at her and saw the relief in her face, "This has been quite a burden for you, hasn't it?" he asked.
"In ways. But, it's nearing its completion. There is still one more thing that needs to be done!" she stated.
"And. what is that?" he asked her.
"I need your help to do it and you cannot tell anyone about it. Not even your brothers!" Cassandra said with intensity.
As he surveyed the family room Don immediately noticed that only Mike, Rahab, and Riahna were present. He wondered where Raph was, but for now he was only interested in one person – Cassandra.
Mike looked up and answered, "Out with the professor. They walked him back just a while ago. Why?"
"Have some things to talk about with her!" he said. "But…" His words trailed off as he considered something else. Then, after a moment, he gave his brother a particular nod of the head.
"Should I get Raphael?" Mike asked silently.
"Would be a good idea, I think." Don nodded wordlessly.
"Where do you want to meet?" Mike subtly inquired as he gently took his arm from around Rahab's shoulder and stood up, making for the foyer.
"In the gym." Don indicated without a sound
"What's going on, Mike?" Rahab asked. Though no words were spoken between her husband and Don, after being married to Mike for fifteen years, she recognized the nuances of their silent ninja communication.
"Nothing, Rahab. Just a little meeting, s'all. " and he made for the foyer.
"Little 'meeting' my foot! Whatever it is, Don, you better not ruin this Thanksgiving! "and she gave her brother-in-law one of her looks that meant business.
"My word of honor, dear Rahab!" Don entreated, placing his hand over his plastron where his heart was and bowing just a little out of respect.
Leo whispered to him, "Whatever we do, let's not get her upset, as well. 'kay?!"
*****
Raphael complained, "Okay, waz so important that you just had to interrupt my late afternoon nap! I have a ton of food to digest!"
Leo replied, "Not our fault you pigged out!" and chuckled at his brother's expense.
"Okay, okay...so, what's this meeting 'bout anyway?" Raph asked. They were already downstairs in the gym.
"Cassandra admitted, in so many words, who she really is!" Don said.
Raph and Mike paid strict attention after that.
Leo added, "She told us in so many words that she has been protecting Gabby and the professor for the past twenty-five years. She also knew that one of us had the photo Seth found at the shop."
Don continued, "She demanded we give it back to her. I just can't figure out how she knew we had her photo, though! Unless.....she heard Seth and me that day we brought her home from the hospital!"
Mike commented, "That's it, more than likely."
Leo corrected him, "But she was out! Completely out! The tea I gave her was like what I gave you, Raph."
"Cassandra is no dummy, Don!" Raph exclaimed, "she probably figured it was one of you!"
"What did the professor say about it?" Mike asked.
"At first he denied knowing her. But, when I showed him the photo yesterday, he relented. Said he had a commitment to keep her identity a secret. Wouldn't tell me much, but he did say she felt responsible for making sure he and Gabby was kept safe from any remnant of the Foot - and anyone else casually interested in them!" Don said, continuing, "Professor Perry did not want Gabby to know, not quite yet, anyway."
Raph then asked the question that had been bugging him since he found out about the photo and the x-rays, "So...is she or isn't she Gabby's mother?"
Don was quiet for a moment, pondering the answer. He knew from what Splinter had shared years ago after they had rescued him from Shredder's clutches that there was a Foot woman who had been beaten and raped in front of him after she had failed in her assignment. That assignment, the woman told the revered rat, was to kill Don and his brothers. It was years later, when he and the professor had met at that genetics conference that Don learned from him that a woman from the Foot organization had been experimented on with DNA from Raphael and the mutanegenic compound. Jordan Perry had told Don of his willing return to the organization when he heard of this experiment. He told his reptilian friend that he elected to say to protect this girl as best he could. Perry had admitted his forced participation in her subsequent pregnancy by Raph's frozen sperm years later. Don wondered, then, if the woman who had beaten Raph unconscious and then attempted to kill them decades ago, was the same one who was experimented on. Until he could ascertain that to be true, he would not comment about it to any of his brothers - especially Raphael. He only answered Raph's question as it was put, "Yes, I believe she is!"
"Do we tell Gabby?" Mike asked, excited.
"No, not until I talk with Cassandra. She's - ah.... a little ticked off at us right now for having her picture, so I want to wait until she comes back from visiting with the professor. I'm not sure if he will have a chance to tell her that we've been asking him questions. With Gabby there, it would be difficult for Cassandra to have any private time with him. We'll just have to wait and see what happens."
*****
When the four brothers returned to the family room, Seth and Gabby were there on one of the couches. Gaele and her mom were talking. But Cassandra was no where in sight
"Where's Cassandra?" Don asked Gabby.
His niece replied, "She said she had to leave. There were sales receipts from Wednesday that she had yet to tally and the Christmas shopping season starts tomorrow. She had to go home and get things ready for that, as well. She told me to thank you for inviting her."
"So, we...what? Wait some more? Or, do we go on down to talk with her tonight?" Leo asked quietly as he and Don walked outside.
"Tomorrow. I thought of first thing in the morning, but I've just decided that after closing or just before would be better. I need to tread carefully; don't want to spook her. She's too valuable to Gabby right now, with the pregnancy and all. Even though she hasn't a clue, Gabby has already felt a connection to this woman!" Don replied. Then, trusting his older brother, he took him over to the fire pit away from the immediate windows of the kitchen. Don then told him of his startling revelation, "Leo, what I'm about to tell you, please don't say anything to Raph or to Mike! NO one can know this until I can prove it out."
"Okay, you have my word!" Leo promised.
Looking back over his shoulder just a little and then turning towards the redwoods, he made a statement that stunned Leo, "I think Cassandra was that female Foot ninja that fought with Raph and almost took us out!"
"You mean that first fight we had with the Foot thirty five years ago?" Leo asked, his eyes widening.
"Yes." Don said simply.
"How did you come to that conclusion?" Leo asked, facing his brother intently.
Don replied, "What Splinter had said after we rescued him that first time; what the professor told us regarding Gabby's conception and the woman that was tortured. It would make sense that Sake would be so cruel as to further punish this ninja who disgraced him. Plus, what Cassandra said earlier in the forest about our confronting Jason's step-father. How would she know what we were like in our youth, unless she was there, unless she fought us?"
Don was a bit agitated because if his assumptions were true, then Raph just might go off the deep end. Ever since that day, when he was beaten to unconsciousness, he had never been the same. Despite the movie about them thirty plus years ago showing hordes of ninja descending on that rooftop against Raphael, in reality, there was only one. To add insult to injury, the ninja was female and it never sat will with Raph. She turned out to be their toughest adversary next to Saki. The pounding she gave Raph caused him to end up suffering terribly from reoccurring headaches and seizures. Compounded by subsequent sorties gone wrong, it nearly debilitated him from experiencing a normal life. It was hard to predict how Raph would react to the news.
Leo's next comment mirrored Don's concern, "If this is true, then we need to tread more carefully concerning Raphael. You know as well as I do, he's always wanted to find the one who beat him up on that rooftop in New York. I hope, for just this once, you're wrong, Don!"
His brother replied, "So do I, Leo....so do I!"
*****
Don marveled at the mass of people that had descended upon Carmel. "Yes in deed", he thought, "Christmas is certainly here!"
It was a pain trying to find parking and when he did find one, it was at least two blocks away from the Musical Note. He came alone. He did not want to intimidate Cassandra by bringing any of his brothers. Leo had wanted to come along, if only to check on her to make sure she was as well as she claimed to be. Concussions were tricky things! But, Don told him he could wait a day. Don would ask Cassandra first, though, as a gesture of courtesy.
The walk to the store was even less savory for him. Don hated crowds, especially crowds that followed after Halloween. He had developed a thick enough skin for those people who were either uninformed about him and his family or were just plain rude. But, it was still an exercise in patience to walk among them. Fortunately, he arrived at the Musical Note unscathed from comments about his still celebrating Halloween!
Cassandra was busy with a customer when Don came into the store. She noticed him right away and smiled, but resumed her attention to her customer. He busied himself with a little window shopping, taking in the player piano and a few of the older musical boxes; obvious antiques by his inspection.
Christmas was coming up, he reminded himself. He fingered one exquisitely beautiful box, admiring its decorative woods and gold lame'. It had the name Imperial Symphonion on the front and he remembered from previous antique hunting jaunts that it was a famous line of music boxes from the late 1800's. The price was reasonable, maybe even a bit low. Don thought that Rahab would enjoy it. He made a mental note to have Cassandra ring it up and maybe keep it here until it was convenient for him to bring it back to the house. That is, if she didn't hold a grudge!
The last customer finally left, leaving Cassandra in the shop alone with Don.
She had been keenly aware of his coming in and it didn't surprise her. Cassandra had left Mike's the day before without saying a proper good-bye to everyone. She probably owed them all an apology. Yet, it wasn't lost on her that Don and Leo were aware of her true identity by the time she arrived for Thanksgiving dinner.
When she had called the hospital Tuesday to see about procuring her x-rays, the doctor she spoke to said that they went missing right after she was sent home. It didn't take a rocket scientist to discern that Don had managed to procure them. Cassandra initially panicked. She was seriously thinking of not making the dinner! But, then, later on that day when she was getting her desk in order, she discovered the missing photo! That angered her. It also gave her the resolve to attend the dinner and challenge Don for the picture!
Now, here he was in her shop. What did he want?
"So, I guess I owe you an apology this time!" she began, trying to get the upper hand again.
"No, it's fine. We shouldn't have been distracted. It was rude of us to not be there when you were ready to leave." Don explained, smiling.
Cassandra returned the expression. She studied him for a moment and then looked over at the music box he was standing in front of. She asked him, "Was there something that you were interested in? I couldn't help but notice that you were looking at the Symphonion."
"Ah, yes, the music box..." Don brightened and said as he looked back over at it. Turning to face Cassandra, he asked, "I would like to buy it for Rahab as a Christmas gift. Would it be possible for me to have it remain here until the twenty-fourth?"
"No problem. I can keep it upstairs in the guest bedroom. How do you wish to pay for it?" Cassandra asked.
"Charge card." and Don reached into his coat pocket and extracted his wallet.
Once the sale was complete, Cassandra thanked him and took the music box up stairs to put his purchase away. She returned quickly and noticed that he was still in the shop. "Was there something else I could do for you? Another Christmas present, perhaps?" she asked.
"No. But I do want to restate my apology for taking the photo! It was such a..... shock to me when I saw it." he explained. Don decided not to include Seth in the apology. Since he had yet to confirm Cassandra's true intent for being in Carmel, he did not want to put his nephew in harms way if he could help it.
"Ah, yes, I can well imagine! You did take the x-rays as well - correct?" Cassandra asked.
Don smiled weakly, "Yes, I did. For your protection, of course. The doctor wanted to keep you over night for - observation. But I knew he wanted to run more tests! There wasn't any way I was going to allow for that. If you want, I could return them to you."
"Thank you! I don't do hospitals very well, as you can well imagine. As far as the x-rays are concerned, burn them if you wish. Considering your own uniqueness, I doubt very much there would be any use for them - except in the medical field." Cassandra said.
The two stared at each other for a moment. Then, Cassandra offered, "Well, since you are here and it is closing time, we might as well talk over some tea, eh?!" She then walked over to the door of her shop and flipped the open sign over so that it read closed. Then, she locked the door securely. Cassandra pulled the blind down and, after that, walked resolutely back to the rear of the store and through the curtained doorway, saying to Don as she passed him, "You might find it a bit more comfortable in my living area!"
*****
"So, what do you want to know about me?" Cassandra asked Don as they waited for the tea to seep. They were both sitting on her couch in the small living area in the back of her shop. It was not a very large couch, but it afforded the only comfortable seating in the room.
Don looked thoughtfully down at his hands, then back to Cassandra. He locked eyes with hers and then asked, "Why did you give Gabriella up?"
Before she answered him, Cassandra decided the tea was seeped enough. She excused herself for a moment to attend to pouring some in the two teacups she had ready. Handing Don his and then taking her own, Cassandra replied, "Hmm…so you've discerned who I am. Very well. At that time, I was not capable of caring for an infant! Simple. There were so many things happening to me. The...ah…changes that I was still experiencing, for example."
"But, why give her to the professor?" he asked.
"Why not? If it weren't for him, Saki would never have had the means to do to me what he did and most certainly Gabby would not be in existence!" she answered him. "He owed me!"
"So you regret having Gabriella then?" Don asked her, a bit annoyed.
"No, how can I?" Cassandra was wistful and as close to becoming emotional as she ever was. She continued, "I gave birth to her, Don! She's my daughter, for cryin' out loud. I could never regret having her. But, knowing that I assisted Saki in his quest for the superior ninja - yes! It's a double edged sword." She looked at her cup for a moment, reminiscing about her life.
Then, she explained, "When Gabriella was nearing her tenth birthday and I heard how difficult she was becoming for the professor, I begged Jordan to contact you!" She looked up at her guest and continued," I told him that the older Gabriella became, the more difficult she would become. She was fast approaching that age where she would be hard to control and manage. Gabby needed a firmer hand than he was able to give her."
Cassandra paused. She looked over at Don and cocked her head coyly. She asked him, "Did you ever wonder why such a small school like the one Jordan taught at in Connecticut would be interested in a genetics conference like the one you were invited to?"
Don's eyes revealed his amazement. He replied softly, "Yes...I did!"
Cassandra said, "That is because I arranged it. He had repeatedly refused my request for him to contact you. I had followed you and your brother's history from the time you were made public in New Mexico. Of the four, you were the only one who had the financial means to take Gabby from him. Since he was involved in that area of science at the school, I knew he would be forced to meet with you. Though it had been a few years since I last had to infiltrate a company and change records like I did, I thought for sure that once he met with you, he would relent. I was livid that he did not take advantage of the circumstances." Her expression became mildly annoyed.
Don sat there surprised and truly impressed. However, he told her, "It would not have been a good thing at the time. Rahab and Mike were dealing with Riahna's autism plus they had a house full of kids. I was having problems and it took me out of action for a while. Raph had his own set of trouble! And Leo was too busy caring for Splinter."
"All things work together in the end, I suppose." Cassandra mused. "But, at least he shared with you about Gabby! That was a boon for me! Caring for them by myself for those first ten years was daunting, especially with my ever changing moods!"
Don then asked, "Did the DNA grafting affect you that much?"
She gave a derisive laugh, "One could say that. One could also say it was a major understatement! You know your brother better than I. There was just enough of him in that DNA to make me feel as if I had lost it completely! If not for my training as ninja, I most certainly would have!"
Cassandra's expression went momentarily flat as she remembered those difficult times. "Gabby's first ten years was in the mountains of Montana. I had a retreat there that my original family owned. They were people who were extremists and enjoyed the ruggedness. It was also well out of reach of most people. To Gabby, I was the 'crazy lady' on the hill just down from the box canyon where she lived with the professor! My 'performance' - though there were times it was more real for me than anything I've ever done - kept her pretty much 'down on the farm'! She was terrified of me!" Cassandra laughed a little at the memory. She continued more seriously, "But, the hardest part of that experience was the winters. Very harsh!! It did keep people from becoming too noisy, though, and it most certainly kept any remnant of the Foot from finding us!"
"You mentioned your original family. Who were they and why did you join the Foot?" Don was becoming quite fascinated with Cassandra's story, but the mention of her 'original' family piqued it even more.
Cassandra hesitated and it appeared to Don as if she was trying to summon up the resolve to tell him. He noticed her eyes mist over just a little.
In a voice that seemed strained with emotion, the woman explained, "I was abducted at age six by Saki. As plain and as simple as that. "Cassandra saw the puzzled expression on Don's face, so she further explained, "Oruku wanted an army of warriors that would obey him without question. He saw a means to that end by acquiring children ten years and under. Some were recruited through legitimate martial arts schools that were actually fronts for his organization. Others times he would just plain take them or have someone else do the honors. I was one such acquisition. My parents were aerial artists for a circus. Due to their inherent physical attributes on the wire and the fact that they were highly intelligent as well, Saki figured I would make an excellent soldier. So, one night while I was sleeping, he had them killed and drugged me so I wouldn't scream out. Their trailer was burned to the ground, leaving very little trace of them for the forensics team. I was shipped off to Japan, unconscious. When I came to I was sleeping on a mat in a room with three adults. Their job was to keep me from running away. I was terrified as you can well imagine. And I remember not feeling too well. Probably because of the drugs they used."
Don just sat there and stared. He knew that Saki was evil but to rip a child from their home that way and then transport them clear to Japan was not just evil, it was inhumane. The only thing Don could do was shake his head.
"My training began the next day and that first week was like hell. No one spoke English to me. No one responded to me when I would speak English. I had to learn Japanese. If I uttered an English word I was hit with a cane. It became apparent that in order to survive, I had to learn the language. Food was denied me if I asked for anything in my native tongue. It was very difficult. But, I was a very quick learner of languages, as it turned out, and by the end of the month I had learned enough Japanese to keep the cane at bay. I wasn't allowed to ask about my parents, my home, nothing. Again, the cane was implemented if I did. Once I had accepted my situation, my life improved quite a bit. Saki was actually quite affectionate then. But it was always used as a reward and not something he actually felt. "
Cassandra paused as she reflected back. She noticed that Don had sobered up quite a bit while he listened to her. Finally, she concluded, "By the time I was seventeen I had learned everything and then some of what Saki wanted me to learn. My skills as a ninja nearly surpassed him. He decided that upon my eighteenth birthday that he would take me as his consort. He made a big announcement about it, too. By that time I had been so thoroughly brainwashed that I considered it the highest honor. However, his pride was what tripped him up. Saki kept records of all the children that he acquired through the years – including me. It was a source of amusement for him, I guess, to have at hand all the particulars of each child; we were kind of like a stable of Thoroughbreds. One day I was messing around with hacking into computers, a skill that came in handy later on with the professor. I thought it would be fun to see what my future husband had hidden away. I really didn't expect to find anything, but when those files came up and I started reading about them, I recognized some as friends of mine. Then, I found my profile. He even had the audacity of having a photo of my parents! That was the memory trigger for me. Suddenly everything that I had forgotten about my life came back to me in a blinding rush. I learned quickly because of a perfect memory, and I remembered quickly because of that same attribute! I had always thought and was told that my parents had given me up. You can well imagine the wrestling match I was having. My past conflicted with my training. My parents were Christian, but I was being influenced by Bushido. This all took place in New York when Saki brought me and a host of others to that city to start a faction of the Foot there. That revelation of mine took place one week before my encounter – with Raphael."
Don's eyes flew open. "You were the one, then?!" he exclaimed.
Cassandra nodded quietly, saying, "Yes, that was me. My assignment was to bring all four of your heads back to Saki. It was to be my prenuptial wedding gift to him. However, once I had Raph knocked out and was down in the apartment, what I had discovered about my past kept haunting me. All through that battle between you and your brothers I kept hearing my parent's voices. It became too much and that is why I ran. It wasn't because you were defeating me. I paid for it dearly, too. Saki disavowed me in front of the entire Foot assembly; had me beaten and raped right there, then thrown into a cell with a mutant rat and then Saki raped me himself – privately, except for the rat as witness. I believe he was your sensei, Splinter."
Don was reflective for some time. A stillness swept over the two as both digested the moment. Cassandra felt a heavy weight lift off of her as the past twenty-five years seemed to melt away. But, she realized that she might have been a little too quick with her explanations. "Maybe I should have held back?" she thought, concerned. "I really need to be less spontaneous!" she mused.
Don looked over at her and saw the relief in her face, "This has been quite a burden for you, hasn't it?" he asked.
"In ways. But, it's nearing its completion. There is still one more thing that needs to be done!" she stated.
"And. what is that?" he asked her.
"I need your help to do it and you cannot tell anyone about it. Not even your brothers!" Cassandra said with intensity.
