A Colossal Mistake
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Rating: PG-13
Author's Note: This will be a two part Rama story. I can't promise when I will have the second ready to post but expect it before the end of March. Are you ready for this one? I know Mike isn't but here we go with part one.
Part One:
Cathy paused at the bathroom door she could faintly hear the sounds of running water as she rapped the door with her knuckles " Rama?"
" I'll be out in a minute" came the muttered petulant response from the other side of the door.
Cathy shook her head and her brow furrowed slightly she was quite sure, though it was possible she was mistaken, that she heard the sound of retching from with in the running water almost, though not quite covered the other sounds.
" Rama?" Cathy called out again concerned.
" Go away!" Rama snarled almost violently in response.
There was the sound of water splashing, and then the taps falling silent and finally the girl yanked open the bathroom door to stare almost balefully at her step mom.
Cathy backed up a step Rama's face looked paler then normal almost yellowish in the lighting but Cathy knew that it wasn't normal by a long shot.
" Are you all right?"
" Oh, I'm just fine! I just parted with my breakfast thank you very much" Rama remarked bitterly " And now I'm ready for just about anything."
Cathy arched her eyebrows at the teenaged turtle " I think the only thing you are ready for is bed. Go on" she ordered quickly.
Rama curled her lip and gave a snorting sound before stomping off in the direction of her bedroom muttering about how Cathy had only come into her life to boss her around.
" Almost sixteen and enough attitude for five teenagers" Cathy muttered ruefully before making her way towards the kitchen.
She knew though, that Rama was not just suffering from the normal teenage inadequacies and hormones that came to all adolescents on their road to becoming adults. Rama was also dealing with the fact that she was far different from most kids her age, her ninja training and looks set her apart from those that otherwise might be called her peers. Rama had never been on a date, or had a boyfriend, which didn't seem to worry her father in the least.
Then to make matters worse the troubled teen turtle now had to deal with a step mom.
Yes, Rama had been all for Mike and her getting married but Rama's problems with her step mom came with trying to adjust to another adult having authority over her. Like any teen she resisted the fact, even more so when Mike, her own father sided with his wife over his daughter!
Then the true icing on the cake was the birth of a brother on November twenty eighth.
Mike was ecstatic to have a SON.
Rama however seemed to be unsure, and her mood would change often so quickly it was hard to know what she thought of having a baby brother around. She seemed to go from enjoying him immensely to considering him a royal pain in the shell. Often swinging between the two in mere seconds.
Mike was seating at the small table in the kitchen trying to feed Tyler his infant cereal but the young boy seemed far more concerned with eating his chubby fist instead. Tyler resembled his father, for some reason the turtle gene seemed the dominant one. About the only thing Cathy could see of herself in her son were the auburn hair on his head and five toes on each foot.
She bent and kissed Tyler on the head then Mike. " I think we better keep Tyler away from Rama today" she suggested.
" Why? She was in a good mood at practice and through breakfast too," Mike said casually then he seemed to consider what he had just said " Course that's probably all the good mood we will get out of her for the day."
Mike withdrew Tyler's fist from the infant's mouth and popped a spoonful of food in with such speed that Tyler didn't have time to howl only show surprise with large green eyes.
" I think she is sick Mike she looks truly awful" Cathy insisted ignoring his good natured jibe.
" As opposed to you who look truly beautiful" Mike said cheerfully eyeing Cathy " Besides what makes you think she is sick and not just being her usual disagreeable self?"
" She doesn't normally part with a meal when she is being disagreeable Mike. She loves food too much to get rid of it."
" Hm. You do have a point Cathy and my cooking isn't all that bad" Mike tweaked a couple of Tyler's toes " Guess you can't play with your big sis today Ty."
Tyler kicked his legs under his high chair tray and he squealed with delight and laughter over daddy getting his toes.
Mike set the bowl on the table and got up taking Cathy into his arms nuzzling her neck affectionately.
" Mike cut it out you animal" Cathy pushed him away gently
" You know it babe," Mike admitted laughing
" Are you going to check on your daughter?" Cathy asked him.
Mike turned picking up the bowl and pointed to himself " Did you just say my daughter I thought for sure she was yours."
" Only through marriage Mike" Cathy reminded him, " I'd talk to her but I all ready struck out once. It's your turn."
" Hey when you took me on you took her on too." Mike stated casually he arched his eye ridges " I bet you are really regretting your choice now huh?"
" Not one bit Mike" Cathy replied sincerely as she caught the damp washcloth Mike tossed her way to clean Tyler up.
Mike took a deep breath and turned to go face the dragon in its den. He rapped once or twice on the door before he entered.
" Hey honey your mom says your not feeling too good."
" She is not my mom, she is Tyler's mom" Rama growled in irritation, " and I hate the word step mom because I've never figured out if it is supposed to be a step up or a step down."
Mike sat on the edge of Rama's bed noting his daughter's strange yellow complexion and listless behaviour. She had seemed fine earlier, but he could tell she really was sick now and Rama didn't like being sick and confined.
It was one thing being in her room because she wanted to be there but having to be stuck in her room to hopefully cut down on the little children catching any illness she got was something else again.
" You know you never stay sick all that long Rama. You'll be back to your self in no time. Until then bed rest and fluids will help."
" Yeah I know" Rama grouched crossing her arms over her plastron.
" Want me to bring you some tea?" Mike asked gently.
Rama sighed and glanced up at her father then gave a nod and a small smile " Okay."
" Trust me Rama by this afternoon you'll be your old self again."
Just as he was about to slip out the door Rama called after him " Thanks dad."
Mike smiled warmly " Your welcome Rama".
It wasn't often that Rama took time to thank him or even seemed to appreciate what he did for her; more often then not she seemed to take such gestures for granted. So on the rare occasions that she did remember her manners Mike cherished.
Somewhere Mike knew was the butterfly waiting to emerge and stun the world, but for the moment that butterfly wasn't much to behold. It took a while for such things and a lot of growth first.
The little tidbits Rama tossed to him always gave him hope that she was on the right track.
Personally any time Rama greeted any response with a civilized instead of sarcastic remark were times to be treasured in Mike's book.
As Mike had pretty much expected Rama was back to her self by mid afternoon, it was clear by the return of her colour and her energy that the bug she had contacted hadn't stood much of a chance against her defenses.
The next morning though Mike had his doubts as he saw Rama coming out of the bathroom looking yellowish and tired. She reached up with one arm and wiped a bit of liquid from the corner of her mouth with the back of her hand as she emerged from the bathroom.
Mike watched as her face seemed to drain and she whirled back into the bathroom slamming the door behind her.
Mike scowled he knew they were not impervious to diseases though their immune systems did seem to be a lot stronger then most humans. Still it was rather unnatural for Rama to fall ill twice so suddenly.
His brow furrowed with concern.
" I think I'm going get Don to check her out if this keeps up. It isn't like her. I told her that she is to stay in bed all day in hopes of kicking this thing once and for all" Mike told Cathy later that morning as she tended to Tyler's breakfast.
" Its odd" Cathy murmured, " Its almost like…" she paused and shook her head " Naw, that is impossible."
Mike gave a skeptical look his wife's way " What you think she is pregnant?" Mike started to laugh at the very idea " through what means Cathy? Immaculate conception? She doesn't have a boyfriend."
Raph who had been on his way into the kitchen heard Mike's guffaws muttered something and whirled around to head back to the living room.
Mike glanced up " Hold it right there Raph!" Mike barked.
Out of all the family if Rama was to have a boy friend Raph would probably be the one to know about it. Rama confided in her favourite Uncle about all kinds of stuff some Raph would bring gently to Mike's attention, though such times were rare, for the most part he would keep Rama's secrets.
Raph paused and turned back slowly almost hesitantly " Wha' Mike?"
" Has Rama told you about any boyfriend she might have that she hasn't clued the rest of us in on?" Mike demanded getting right to the point.
" I don't tell her secrets you know that Mike. She has to talk to someone." Raph stated flatly.
" This is important Raph she is sick and we have to eliminate the possibility that it might be pregnancy" Cathy insisted sharply.
Raph cursed then glowered " All right but just remember you didn't hear this from me. And I'm only telling you because I have to" Raph declared, " Ramiela has been seeing this one fella she met him in Central Park. She has been seeing him for about eight months now" Raph admitted reluctantly.
" How come we haven't been told about him?" Mike demanded sharply.
" Possibly because you'd insist on meeting him and then scare the guy off somehow for being around your daughter in the first place" Raph retorted " like any prospective boyfriend will need any help being chased off when we look like we do" Raph snapped.
He shook his head in disgust "Listen I followed her once just to see the fellow get a feel of him you know. He didn't seem all that bad and I figured Ramiela could use a guy in her life Mike."
" Not that bad Raph. This guy has probably taken advantage of my little girl" Mike fumed.
" Ramiela is smart Mike she won't let any one do that to her and I doubt any one could rape her and get away with it."
" Yes but Raph she is still young and her hormones are in control" Cathy replied doing her best to remain calm, someone had to " She has never been in a relationship before and as it is her first some guy might be willing to convince her to give in."
" Or he might just get her into a position where the word no is the furthest thing from her mind" Mike cut in, he glowered at his brother " If she is pregnant so help me Raph I don't know who I'm going kill first you or her."
Cathy placed a gentle hand on Mike's shoulder " Lets not jump to conclusions we better talk to Rama first and then see what Don can find out Mike."
Mike gave a curt nod of his head " Lets see if you can do something right there Raph and take care of Tyler while we tend to this mess." He snapped.
Rama was sitting on her bed juggling two pairs of sais, a trick she had taught herself over the last year when she determined to do something with the sais that she had never seen her uncle do.
" Rama put those away we need to talk" Mike said trying to keep his voice calm though there was the slightest edge to his tone.
Rama deftly caught the sais in the air and set them by her bedside table " What now?" she groaned rolling her eyes.
Mike sighed she wasn't in the best of moods at the moment but this was something that couldn't wait.
" Rama Cathy and I were wondering if maybe this sickness of yours might be connected to something other then a flu bug" Mike began doing his best to maintain his composure.
Rama stared blankly for a moment then her eyes grew large as realization dawned she gulped and hung her head slightly " No…I…it only happened once" she stammered shaking her head.
" Who is he Rama? I want to meet this guy of yours" Mike ordered.
" You can't now. I haven't been able to get a hold of him for the last three weeks or more. Not since we…" she gasped and pulled her legs up on the bed curling her arms about her legs and huddling into a small ball as she started to cry shaking her head.
" Rama how could you? After all we taught you? This is not how you were raised!" Mike claimed in exasperation.
Rama looked up tears rolling down her face " He said he loved me. I loved him I thought we'd be together forever. We'd been together for so long and I…"
" Ramiela!" Mike barked
Rama winced at his hard tone and started crying harder " I thought he meant it dad, I thought he really cared about me…I didn't know" she wailed miserably.
Cathy sat on the edge of the bed and pulled the distraught teen into her arms " Mike getting angry at her isn't going to help matters. What is done is done!
She needs our help now" she reminded him gently.
Mike glowered at Rama, he knew it wasn't totally Rama's fault and yet at the same time it was partly her responsibility and he knew that by giving in to this creep she had made the biggest mistake of her life. He was angry that Rama had given in after all she had been taught, angry that the guy who had his way with his daughter had now vanished, angry because Rama was far too young to be taking on the responsibility of raising a child.
He growled low in his throat and raised a hand to rub at his forehead wondering how it could have gone so wrong. What was it about teenagers and hormones?
Mike groaned he was too young to be a grandfather.
He looked towards Cathy who was comforting Rama and his heart was torn at the sight of his little girl so broken up and being forced into adulthood before she was ready.
" Cathy can you go pick us up a test Don is going need one to confirm if she is?" Mike finally sighed.
" Sure Mike. You're going be okay Rama we will help you through this honey" Cathy reassured her gently and giving her a comforting hug.
Rama sniffed and wiped at her eyes she glanced up and saw the disappointment etched on her dad's face and she flinched slightly if she had disappointed him then surely the rest of the clan would also feel that way too.
The very thought that she had disappointed her clan was enough to cause her a fresh batch of tears, though Rama usually wasn't much one for crying over anything.
Due to Rama not having a monthly visitor her process was all internal Don couldn't go on that but the pregnancy test ought to hopefully reveal whether she was or wasn't. He had told Ramiela what he needed from her and then took the test.
Cathy had bought a few packages just in case they would have to test again later.
Rama was leaning against Cathy sniffing morosely while Mike paced the infirmary waiting for the test results.
Don finally came in, Mike glanced up at his brother half hopefully half in fear.
Don shrugged " I don't know how to say this" he said uneasily," We can try again see if it was false or do another test later if you like." He showed them the result of the test itself.
Rama gulped and started to tremble in Cathy's arms while Mike could only groan and glance towards his daughter who would be a mother in a very short time.
TBC