A Colossal Mistake
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Author's Note: I know I said this would be a two part story but part two grew so long, around twenty six handwritten pages, I decided to break it up and make it a three part story instead.
I still plan on having it all posted before the end of the month.
Thanks one and all for the reviews.
Part Two:
Rama ducked her head unwilling to meet her dad's angry gaze, she could sense his emotions and at the moment and none of them did a thing to reassure her, if any thing they only confirmed how much trouble she was really in now.
Cathy watched a whole range of emotions just jockeying for position and saw Mike clench his hands into tight fists by his side, his body starting to tremble with the pent up rage. She was not trained in ninja skills, however being an animal behaviourist she was used to silent forms of communication in animals and often took what she knew to relate to similarities in people.
Cathy had never before seen Mike at this level of agitation and anger and she wondered if just possibly he might forget his disciplined training and actually hurt Rama. The thought would seem ludicrous under normal circumstances now with Mike so riled up seemed a slight possibility.
She decided it might be better to get Mike away from Rama until he had a chance to calm down and get his emotions back under control with that thought in mind she stood up and got between Mike and Rama " Mike come on let's go have a talk" she suggested.
" Talk?" Mike inquired in a low pleasant tone that Cathy thought sounded far too sweet considering Mike's present mood.
" I think Ramiela here is the one who ought to be doing the talking" Mike snapped suddenly easily slipping past his mate to stand over his daughter.
Rama tried to shrink into the chair itself her eyes growing large with fright.
" Tell me where he lives and who the …" Mike hit into a long string of curse words that totally shocked Cathy.
Mike wasn't much one for swearing and until now she had never known that Mike even knew that many words never mind using them. Cathy also heard words in other languages that she was quite sure Mike knew the meaning of even if she her self didn't.
" And what will you do if you find him Mike? Kill him perhaps?" Cathy asked still trying her best to get over her mate's cursing.
" Only once I was through torturing him and then he'd have to beg me for death" Mike roared fury etched on his face, his entire body seemed to be bristling with the pent up rage he was hardly managing to control.
Cathy quickly shot a look at Don realizing suddenly that Mike was in no mood to listen to reason at least, not at this particular place in time and every thing that she was reading from him was warning her attack was imminent.
She glanced at Ramiela who was shaking her head as if in complete denial of her present condition.
Don took a gentle hold of Mike's arm but Mike easily slipped out of his grip and whirled on Don his face contorting in his ire.
" Mike go blow off steam in the dojo you aren't doing Ramiela any good here" Don ordered.
" Some low life good for nothing has got my little girl with child and you expect me to be calm about it?" Mike barked.
" I don't expect calm but reasonable would be nice. What good is your anger for you or Ramiela right now?" Don demanded to know
The only response he received was a deep rumbling almost animalistic sound coming from Mike.
" Mike you have a right to be angry but this is not the way to handle it" Cathy implored.
Mike glowered at Rama, the teen was doing her best to avoid his murderous looks and clearly looked as if she wanted to be any where other then where she was.
The only clear means of escape however was by going past her father and she wasn't going take her chances that way so she sat frozen in her seat trying to become as small as possible.
For a moment seeing Rama like that caused something to soften in Mike he turned and saw Cathy's pale face and he sensed the fear that filled the room along with the traces of his own anger.
He shook his head and placed his hands over his face.
Mike wanted to deny the results of the test; he wanted the guy who had done this to pay for taking what he had from Rama. Most of all he wanted revenge!
He knew it would gain him nothing even if he did find the guy who had done this to her Rama would still be pregnant.
Mike gave a deep chocking sob at the very thought. It wasn't supposed to be like this. As Cathy had said earlier what was done was done and while he wanted to accept the fact another part of him continued to reject it.
" How could you Ramiela?"
Suddenly he had a need for answers that outweighed all else.
Rama shrugged uneasily shifting in her seat knowing any reply she gave would not be well received. She tapped her foot nervously on the floor.
" I'm sorry daddy," she whispered.
Mike sneered " A little late for that especially when you are going have a baby to care for soon" he retorted.
Rama jerked her head away and down as she began drumming her fingers on her leg and sniffing once in a while as she took deep trembling breaths of air.
" You think you are ready to care for a baby twenty four seven Ramiela?" Mike asked.
" No" Rama whimpered her voice low.
" Oh I see. You are willing to have sex with someone you hardly know but you don't want to play mother to a child" Mike essayed gesturing expansively with one arm " Guess what the two often go hand in hand, and your going to be a mom soon whether you want to or not!"
Rama bit her lip staying silent, her head bowed submissively.
" Mike enough now" Don cut in " This isn't helping matters, go work it off."
Mike turned and gave Don a chilling look.
" Don't make me get Leo here, that is if he isn't already on his way to figure out what all the upset is about." Don insisted.
Mike whirled and stormed off slamming the door to the infirmary behind him causing Cathy to wince slightly as Don went to kneel in front of Ramiela.
He looked at his terrified niece as she sat shaking uncontrollably, taking deep gasping breaths " he's going kill me" she moaned.
Don got up and took her into his arms holding her in a comforting reassuring hug.
" I've never seen dad like this before" Rama wailed burying her face into Don's neck.
" I know you haven't but he is very angry and upset at this moment Ramiela it shouldn't last too much longer but I think until he does get back some control he would be better off away from you."
Cathy wrapped her arms about herself and rubbing her arms a bit she suddenly felt very cold " You think he will calm down any time soon Don?"
" Mike doesn't get angry like this very often, in fact I think I have only seen this about two or three other times in my life." Don admitted, " He won't stay angry all that long but Ramiela doesn't need the stress and fighting at the moment either. I know Mike is often protective of her but figuratively speaking Mike has had a bomb of sorts dropped on him so we can't expect him to act rationally."
" Yeah I guess that is one way to put it. Finding out his only daughter has had a boyfriend would have been shock enough for him I think and now the added shocks of her being pregnant" Cathy shook her head and shrugged a bit. " I must say I'm not even sure how to deal with the situation."
" I…I" Rama began then lowered her face into her hands.
Cathy realized that if her and Mike felt like they had been thrown for a loop how did Rama feel?
Cathy went over and hugged her " Rama I'm not going tell you everything will be okay or all right. Things will change for you especially when you have a child of your own to care for" Cathy was fighting to maintain control herself knowing that as upset as the two of them were with the teenager. That it was Rama who had been betrayed by a person she had loved and now had to pay for it.
" I will promise you that we are going do what we can to make it easier on you." Cathy concluded.
Rama gratefully wrapped her arms around Cathy's waist hugging her feeling the desperate need to be held and comforted.
" Don I know Rama needs someone to talk to and should know a few things about what is going to come, but I think Mike also needs help at the moment. Would you mind seeing to Rama for a bit?"
" Cathy just wait for a while. If I know Leo he has picked up on Mike's turmoil and is probably giving him a bit of anger management training" Don smirked.
" Look Mike isn't going hurt me is he?" Cathy asked wondering if perhaps she had read things wrong.
" No of course not" Don's tone was full of shock and he shot Cathy a puzzled look, " Its just are you sure you want to do this before Leo and Splinter are finished with him?"
Cathy took a couple of deep breaths to compose her self and nodded her head " I'm sure."
" You're braver then I am" Rama muttered.
Cathy gave her a small smile in return " Hold on to your sense of humour girl, I have a feeling you will be needing it" she advised.
Cathy was just about to go out the door when Rama called to her she turned back to see her huddled close to Don " I really thought he liked me for me and that he would be around" Rama said her voice sounding close to tears.
" I understand Rama, I honestly do. We will all talk about this once your father is more like his old self again all right?"
Rama nodded dejectedly " What am I gonna do though Cathy?" she moaned.
Cathy looked at the forlorn woman/child that stood before her, Rama looked almost as lost as she had when she had been in the lab.
" You will do what you have to do and face it like a kunoichi would. Most of all much as it might seem like you are all alone right now, keep in mind that you are not."
Rama slowly raised her head to meet Cathy's eyes and the smallest flicker of a smile crossed her face for a second or two as she nodded acknowledgment.
Cathy kissed Rama's forehead and then left her stepdaughter to Don's gentle care.
Cathy knew Rama didn't get on as well with Don as she did with the others but she also knew that Don was naturally caring and would help her.
Cathy paused in the sewer pipes outside the infirmary wondering how to care for the situation at hand with Mike.
Leo came around the corner and bumped into Cathy, she staggered back and Leo shot out an arm to help support and steady her.
" Have you seen Mike Leo?"
" As a matter of fact yes, we just had a bit of a workout and now he is with Splinter. I was looking for you as Splinter wanted you to be there too" Leo explained " The Master feels that your presence might help get Mike back into balance quicker as he is greatly disturbed." He turned his head to look at Catherine " Mike said something about Ramiela being pregnant?"
" According to Raph she has been sneaking off to see some guy she met and has somehow managed to keep her dating him secret from every one else. He has apparently abandoned the relationship after she permitted him to go all the way with her."
Leo heaved a heavy resigned sigh " In other words it is a possibility" he scowled and gave a frustrated shake of his head.
" According to the pregnancy test Don did she is" Cathy said.
Leo groaned and rolled his eyes in exasperation " What is it about her that she always has to do the things that can end up causing the most problems?" he asked rhetorically. " It wasn't the best choice she could have made but she is young. In spite of all her training she is still very rebellious at heart and like any teen can let her hormones instead of common sense rule her." Leo's tone was tight and slightly hard but it was softened by a hint of compassion and understanding.
" You holding up all right?" He inquired as he placed a reassuring arm around her shoulders.
" Well Mike is of course more attached and protective of Rama then I am so I think it is bothering him a lot more, he's not too happy about it. I'm worried about both of them and at the moment feel torn about who I should be with and helping." Cathy admitted in a bit of a rush, " I'm trying to stay reasonable and calm because I figure one of us has to be."
" You understated the fact about Mike not being happy," Leo informed her as they entered Splinter's room.
One area of the room had a low table with cushions around it, along the wall were a couple of bookcases and a few comfortable but battered looking armchairs. Candles lit the room with a soft glow while incense burned. The entire atmosphere was one of relaxing as opposed to the frantic, often chaotic feel of the rest of the lair at the moment.
Splinter was sitting at the low table pouring tea, while Mike paced the room like a caged animal, though he seemed calmer then when Cathy had last seen him it was quite clear that he was still highly agitated.
" Sit down and calm yourself my son. Answers can only come when you are at peace and open to them."
" Master you don't seem to get it! Rama is pregnant!" Mike snapped
Splinter shot his head up his spine stiffening and his hair starting to bristle, his tail began to lash and smack the floor hard, as the Master's gaze caught Mike it its hold.
Mike gulped a bit and glanced around a little nervously.
" She is not that different from you my son, and it will not excuse your behaviour" the aged rat reprimanded Mike.
" Sorry Master" Mike replied contritely, " It is just that she shouldn't have to go through this. It will change her entire life and…I don't want this for her Sensei it is a mistake" Mike insisted with great conviction.
" Life is never a mistake Michaelangelo" Splinter corrected.
Cathy was shocked in a day all ready filled with too many surprises and upheaval the last thing she expected to hear from Mike was that he considered Rama to be a mistake.
" Mike how could you think that of Rama?" Cathy asked baffled.
Mike gave a negative shake of his head " Rama wasn't the mistake Cathy having her too soon was" Mike corrected. He hung his head and fiddled silently with one of his chucks for a moment before heaving a sigh.
" It is the one mistake I hoped she would never make or do. I tried my best to teach her and I guess I failed because the one thing I never wanted for her has happened" Mike explained.
" That is where a lot of your fear for her comes from, it isn't just the desire to protect her from the dangers she might face. Rather you have feared her making the same sort of mistake you did with Shay" Leo stated as he scrutinized his brother reaching out trying to read all he felt that was going on in Mike's mind " You wanted to prevent this from happening and now that it has you feel it will change everything that you wanted for her" Leo essayed boldly.
Splinter nodded his head in agreement of Leo's words " One can not stop the world from turning by commanding it to do so. We all make mistakes to learn from them my son."
" I know that Master and I know sometimes it is the only way to learn, but Rama knows about what happened between her mom and I."
" You are saying she should have known better Michaelangelo? You became a better person from having her and perhaps she too will grow better and stronger from this" Splinter suggested " Do you not recall what I told you when Shay became pregnant?" Splinter wondered as he arched his bushy eyebrows.
Mike paused rubbing his forehead with one hand as he considered his Master's question " You were proud of me for making the right decision. You said you realized that we suffered the same sort of problems as humans did" Mike sighed and leaned against one of the bookcases looking as if all the fight had suddenly left him. " You also said that raising children wasn't easy but you would help me."
Splinter smiled and gestured for Mike to join him. Mike gave an indifferent shrug before complying and Cathy moved to sit by his side to offer her mate silent support just by being near.
Leo seeing Mike had finally started to get a hold of his emotions, and was starting to calm down, moved around the table to join Splinter.
" Ramiela also suffers from teenage problems, which include the strong desire to be accepted and loved. Sometimes the path a parent might choose for a child is not the one a child chooses for them selves. Children must make their own way in life."
" She is too young for this sort of responsibility," Mike refuted.
Splinter glanced up at Mike with a furrowed brow " Perhaps and she might need to learn something of value from this lesson. You my son have the value of hindsight and experience. Ramiela might have to fall before she flies."
" Mike Ramiela knows enough about our rules that I doubt she would endanger the family. She is responsible beyond her years in many ways and I think, sometimes I tend to forget her true age" Leo stated " Near as I can tell she isn't in trouble Clan wise. The problem is how this situation is going effect you and Ramiela. Getting angry at her for her lack of judgment now is one thing, if you continue this way it could cause more problems that could disrupt everyone in the clan."
" Leonardo is right Michaelangelo. Ramiela will need help and your anger might only push her away. As we have helped you we can also help her."
" I know she will have help from the family but…" Mike began.
" Argue fro your limitations my son and sure enough they are yours" Splinter pointed out.
Cathy realized that Mike was feeling torn between what he wanted for Rama and the fact that all of that would change with having a child of her own.
" Mike we could always raise the child as ours, then Rama would be able to enjoy her youth." She offered quickly.
A dark scowl from Leo made Cathy wonder if she had overstepped her bounds somewhere.
" And let Ramiela think she can escape the consequences of her actions?" He asked his tone sharp and slightly icy with disapproval.
Splinter's brows almost drew together " Ramiela might learn the wrong things if we were to permit that. You can raise the child if that is your decision to do so but Ramiela can not abandon the onus of the task to you." Splinter declared, and then to make sure Cathy fully understood the position the clan was going take in this matter he confirmed, " The clan is willing to help but we will not do for her."
Cathy flushed a little embarrassed; she had only wanted to put Mike's mind at ease " Of course I understand I didn't intend…"
Splinter smiled " You meant well I know child, he then glanced at Mike " Your daughter needs your help my son as a good parent I'm sure that you will do the right thing by her."
" I'm not so sure I am a good parent Sensei" Mike replied shaking his head " I have failed her."
Cathy reached over resting a hand on Mike's arm and he turned to give her a wistful smile.
Splinter chuckled a bit " You are a good parent because you doubt your ability my Son."
Mike was puzzled by that reply wondering how his doubts could prove he was good at parenting. He shook his head " I just can't believe that she has gone and done this."
Leo sighed " Mike you will be no help to her if you continue to deny it."
" Leo she is just a little girl!" Mike fumed.
" Little girl? Hardly that Mike. She is a kunoichi warrior. She is a young woman who will bear her first child in less then a year" Leo reminded his brother bluntly.
Mike rubbed his face with his hands " Maybe the test was wrong, maybe we are worried for nothing" he muttered though a part of him knew he was only grasping at straws.
" It is possible Mike we can test her again a week from now or so. I bought extra just in case" Cathy admitted but she doubted that it would be that easy.
" If she is still pregnant then what will it take for you to believe it Mike? For Rama to start to show that is if her body does? For her to lay an egg or give birth to a child?" Leo demanded, " It is far better to accept the fact now then waiting until later to do so."
Trust the voice of reason! Mike thought.
" It's not that easy Leo," he growled in slight irritation.
" No it isn't but I doubt that it is easy on Ramiela either. From the sounds of it someone was able to earn her love and trust enough that she was able to reveal who she was to him" Leo sighed " Perhaps when he found out he wanted to see if doing the deed with someone like her was any different then with humans. What ever it was that kept him to her until he achieved his goal was enough for him." Leo shrugged " Whatever brought it about might only be known to Ramiela and her boy friend. He is gone now and she must pay the price of the deed."
" Good thing I have time to get used to all of this I have a feeling I'm going need it" Mike moaned.
" We all have time to adjust my son, but we do not have time to decide how to make things easier for Ramiela who is our first concern as she is suffering the most." Splinter glanced from Cathy to Mike " I suggest you two talk with one another now. Determine the path you will take to help her and seek her out to ease some of the torment she is in."
" Hai Sensei" Mike bowed humbly. He had forgotten in all his anger and own torment what Rama herself had to be feeling and he felt suddenly ashamed at the way he had acted especially when he recalled her cowering and frightened before him as he ranted at her.
Mike knew this problem was more of a family one, not a clan matter and as such it was up to Cathy and him to resolve the problem with Rama and the Clan would be there to support and back them if necessary.
Mike stood with practiced ease and then helped Cathy to her feet before leaving Splinter's room.
Cathy looked at Mike's anguished face and hugged him " How are you really doing Mike?"
" I don't know Cathy I am frustrated, ticked off confused and messed up. Being a father at seventeen was bad enough. Being a grandfather at thirty three is mind boggling." Mike shook his head and gave Cathy a deep pained look " I just find it so hard to believe that she is going to have a baby."
" I know Mike I feel the same way and yet I have a feeling that the sooner we can come to terms with this the better it will be for all of us." Cathy advised.
" How could Rama have been so foolish?" Mike snapped in exasperation.
" She is a teenager, they don't always follow the same sort of thinking pattern we adults do." Cathy replied.
" I don't think teens are capable of much thought beyond food and the opposite sex" Mike teased lightly.
" Rama from the sound of it did wait Mike, possible even longer then some teens might in the same situation. Her hormones just got the better of her I guess."
" No I know. I guess we just have to keep in mind when we were that age and what it was like." Mike agreed hesitantly, " I suppose we ought to talk to her let her know it wasn't all her fault, and we will do what we can to help her."
" Are you going be able to talk to her without losing it Mike?" Cathy asked with concern.
" After dealing with Leo and Splinter yeah I think I can manage it. I might yell a bit though just because I am still plenty mad at the whole thing" Mike admitted.
" Mike you care about her and you love her. I think Rama will be able to see that under any angry words. I'll be with you. We can do this together."
" As a family we can deal with the problem too. You have helped me so much with her Cathy, I'm glad you came into our life when you did. I really need your help with her now that is for sure." Mike confessed a bit of his playful sparkle though quite subdued coming into his eyes.
" Come on lets go do this and see what we can work out together. It won't get much easier by waiting." Mike urged.
Cathy heard a great deal of regret in his voice but she felt that Mike was slowly starting to come around and accept the truth though it was painful and hard to bear.
Mike turned and gave her a cautious smile " Are we really ready to deal with her?"
Cathy gave a strained laugh " Well it won't be fair to her to put it off Mike. I'm just not too sure what we are going to say."
" That's okay that makes two of us" Mike joked lightly. " I love you Cathy."
" You also love Rama and I suggest you keep that in mind while we talk and work on this" Cathy suggested gently as she clasped Mike's hand in hers to find Rama so they could resolve this for every one's sake.
TBC
Tune in for part three when, we find out what solution is reached and more about Rama's boyfriend. All this and more sometime next week fans. R.