The tea was wonderful and it did calm me down a little. I thanked my host.
"It is my pleasure and my intent to make you comfortable and welcomed." Splinter assured me.
I was starting to get used to the idea of Splinter being a rat. But then I couldn't see him, so it was really only the sound of his voice that I was becoming accustomed to. At least it was a start.
Not too long after I had finished my tea I realized I needed to use the restroom. It was then I wondered how I 'managed' while unconscious for three days.
"If I was completely out of it, that would mean..." I blushed almost immediately.
No, I definitely did not want to go there. I figured in my moment of clarity that ignorance was bliss. Whoever did the 'honors' would have to remain a mystery to me. I would never be able to look that turtle in the face again. If, that is, I ever get these bandages off!
"Splinter? Are you there?" I asked weakly.
"Yes, Mindy Johnson, I am. What can I do for you?" the rat replied. It seemed like he was right by my bedside. Obviously he hadn't left my room after giving me my tea.
"Well…I kind of have to – well – go, if you know what I mean. If you could just lead me…" I stammered as I tried to sit up.
"Yes, by all means." He replied.
The next thing I felt was a bony hand with rather long fingers gently taking my right arm and helping me to a stand. At first I lost a little of my balance and wobbled a bit. Splinter steadied me to keep me from falling over.
"Whoa, some ride!" I said, laughing a little. "Sure you can keep me vertical?" I asked my assistant, chuckling somewhat.
"I will not let you fall, child. You can be sure of that." Splinter insisted.
He walked me along, guiding me by my right arm. My left hand was cautiously reaching out in front of me out of reflex so that I wouldn't bump into anything. My left wrist hurt and I winced a little from my broken ribs. On the bright side, however, they only reminded me that I was alive. I dealt with it as best I could.
Finally, Splinter stopped me and turned me to the right.
"Here is the bathroom facility. You will find a sink to your immediate right when you first walk in. To the left of that is what you will need. I will wait outside until you are done." He explained.
"Thanks." I replied gratefully. I carefully walked in and shut the door. I felt my way to the sink and then moved cautiously to the left. I found the commode and sighed in relief.
I was kind of amused that a bunch of turtles and a rat would even have such a convenience as a restroom. I was glad for it, of course. But it only confirmed my convictions that they were highly intelligent creatures - and civilized at that!
I had to admit that Splinter was probably one of the nicest 'entities' other than Bill and the turtles that I had met in a very long time. Maybe, just maybe I could get over my fear of rats? However, only those that spoke to me and cared for me the way that Splinter was doing. Oh, and they had to be able to make lavender tea, too!
Once I was done Splinter then led me back to my bed. He insisted that I continue to lie down and to keep as still as possible.
"Donatello was very insistent that you follow these directions. If you do not you could create complications and then we would be forced to find some way to take you to a hospital. Unfortunately it would cause you many problems as you would have to tell them what happened to you." He paused for a moment and then continued, "It would not go well for you to tell them of your attack."
"Ah, that reminds me – what exactly did happen? I kind of have no memory of it" I didn't have any recollection at present of how I came to be in their care. The beating I had sustained evidently caused me a mild form of amnesia.
Splinter replied slowly, "You were found by Raphael in a small side street beaten unconscious. The person who did this to you belongs to a criminal family that has been our enemy for many years now. His attack on you was as much a warning to us as it was to you."
"Ah, how do you know that it was someone from this family? Did Raph get the guy?" I asked. Maybe Raph had intervened before the man who assaulted me could finish the job. Hopefully he took care of the jerk. I'd hate to think that my attacker was still out there, doing more mayhem like he did to me.
"No, he did not. He found you after the fact. However, whenever this family beats someone up as a warning, they always leave a calling card of sorts to let the person they attack know who it was." Splinter replied.
"A calling card? They actually leave cards behind? Sheesh, how considerate of them!" I chided sarcastically.
"No, not a card. They leave behind one of their headbands with a Japanese dragon symbol." Splinter said, correcting me.
Hmm…that sounded vaguely familiar. I remembered seeing a Japanese symbol on something black. But that was it.
"But why? Wouldn't that tip the police? What is it to them who I'm friends with? I don't understand." I was confused. How did any one even know that Mike and his brothers were visiting me? I knew that they were very careful about being seen. They always stuck to the deep shadows in the alley and the same when they climbed up to my window. With the windowless building next to mine there wasn't anyway for someone to see them. As far as my building was concerned, the other tenants kept their windows closed due to the cold weather.
"They have informants inside the police department. Whatever evidence would link them to any crime disappears. We have a friend who has investigated this and that is what she has told us." Splinter said. "But why this family would care about your friendship with my sons is hard to explain but I feel that it is important for you to know. We have caused you enough grief and it is the least that I can do to make up for it." Splinter said. "There is someone that you know who is apart of this family. He has been a member of this organization for about five years. Though he is not a blood member, he did join of his own volition." He paused for a moment to see how I would respond.
"Jack?" I asked, not believing for a moment that he would do such a thing as beat me up.
"Yes." Was the rats answer. He said it solemnly as if he were apologizing to me.
"Did he beat me up?" I asked, afraid of what the response would be.
"We do not know." Splinter replied.
That bothered me a great deal. Jack had never in our ten years of marriage ever hit me. But, the last time I saw him he had changed considerably. That was four years ago. His behavior then had almost fightened me, in fact.
"But how would you even know about Jack?" I asked.
"My sons have seen your ex-husband on many occasions with known members of this family. He works closely with them. We believe that he is married to someone from within the hierarchy. Someone of great power. We believe his wife to be the sister of Oruku Saki."
"Oruku Saki? Okay, ah… Wow, does that bring it all back or what?" I exclaimed in amazement.
"You are familiar with the name, then?" Splinter asked me. His voice indicated that his own interest had just picked up – just like mine was!
"Well, I know that Jack married this oriental gal he traded me in for whose last name was Saki. They had met at the place where Jack did his martial arts. I always wanted to kick her rear for taking him from me. But considering she worked out there as well, it would have been a stupid act on my part."
"Yes, it would have been!" Splinter agreed –maybe a little too quickly for my taste.
"Well, thanks a lot!" but I had to laugh. He was an honest rat that was certain.
"But, how did you connect Jack with me?" I finally asked him.
Splinter explained, "Michelangelo was scavenging for aluminum cans one night about four years ago when he heard an argument coming from what was your apartment. True to my youngest son's nature, he climbed the wall to see what was going on. He saw your husband yelling at you. It was when he returned to the lair and told us about it that we decided to keep an eye on you. I have to admit it was more to protect us than to protect you, at first." Splinter took a breath as if he regretted telling me that. He quickly added, "However, as my sons became more familiar with your habits they came to the conclusion that you were an unfortunate victim of circumstances. Their shadowing your walk to and from the diner became a nightly ritual whenever they weren't busy elsewhere."
I lay there stunned. Not only had I been protected these past four years, but Mike had seen Jack and I argue that night after I had just moved into the apartment. The jerk was trying to get me to sign a release form to disavow any relationship to him. It was his lawyer's way of making sure I wouldn't decide later to go after him for alimony and what-have-you. I had refused to sign. At that time I didn't have the brass bed, but was sleeping on the little love seat. After arguing with him for the better part of an hour, he finally dangled that bed over my head and told me if I signed he would give me it.
I signed.
Like I mentioned, Jack took everything. Yet it cost me every kind of financial security due me. At least I had the bed, but looking back on it I probably saved myself a host of headaches anyway. Jack was always quite selfish and I knew that even getting a dime from him would have taken a court order. The fact that I now knew why he dropped out of sight after that argument four years ago explained a great many things.
Good riddance to the creep!
"It is my pleasure and my intent to make you comfortable and welcomed." Splinter assured me.
I was starting to get used to the idea of Splinter being a rat. But then I couldn't see him, so it was really only the sound of his voice that I was becoming accustomed to. At least it was a start.
Not too long after I had finished my tea I realized I needed to use the restroom. It was then I wondered how I 'managed' while unconscious for three days.
"If I was completely out of it, that would mean..." I blushed almost immediately.
No, I definitely did not want to go there. I figured in my moment of clarity that ignorance was bliss. Whoever did the 'honors' would have to remain a mystery to me. I would never be able to look that turtle in the face again. If, that is, I ever get these bandages off!
"Splinter? Are you there?" I asked weakly.
"Yes, Mindy Johnson, I am. What can I do for you?" the rat replied. It seemed like he was right by my bedside. Obviously he hadn't left my room after giving me my tea.
"Well…I kind of have to – well – go, if you know what I mean. If you could just lead me…" I stammered as I tried to sit up.
"Yes, by all means." He replied.
The next thing I felt was a bony hand with rather long fingers gently taking my right arm and helping me to a stand. At first I lost a little of my balance and wobbled a bit. Splinter steadied me to keep me from falling over.
"Whoa, some ride!" I said, laughing a little. "Sure you can keep me vertical?" I asked my assistant, chuckling somewhat.
"I will not let you fall, child. You can be sure of that." Splinter insisted.
He walked me along, guiding me by my right arm. My left hand was cautiously reaching out in front of me out of reflex so that I wouldn't bump into anything. My left wrist hurt and I winced a little from my broken ribs. On the bright side, however, they only reminded me that I was alive. I dealt with it as best I could.
Finally, Splinter stopped me and turned me to the right.
"Here is the bathroom facility. You will find a sink to your immediate right when you first walk in. To the left of that is what you will need. I will wait outside until you are done." He explained.
"Thanks." I replied gratefully. I carefully walked in and shut the door. I felt my way to the sink and then moved cautiously to the left. I found the commode and sighed in relief.
I was kind of amused that a bunch of turtles and a rat would even have such a convenience as a restroom. I was glad for it, of course. But it only confirmed my convictions that they were highly intelligent creatures - and civilized at that!
I had to admit that Splinter was probably one of the nicest 'entities' other than Bill and the turtles that I had met in a very long time. Maybe, just maybe I could get over my fear of rats? However, only those that spoke to me and cared for me the way that Splinter was doing. Oh, and they had to be able to make lavender tea, too!
Once I was done Splinter then led me back to my bed. He insisted that I continue to lie down and to keep as still as possible.
"Donatello was very insistent that you follow these directions. If you do not you could create complications and then we would be forced to find some way to take you to a hospital. Unfortunately it would cause you many problems as you would have to tell them what happened to you." He paused for a moment and then continued, "It would not go well for you to tell them of your attack."
"Ah, that reminds me – what exactly did happen? I kind of have no memory of it" I didn't have any recollection at present of how I came to be in their care. The beating I had sustained evidently caused me a mild form of amnesia.
Splinter replied slowly, "You were found by Raphael in a small side street beaten unconscious. The person who did this to you belongs to a criminal family that has been our enemy for many years now. His attack on you was as much a warning to us as it was to you."
"Ah, how do you know that it was someone from this family? Did Raph get the guy?" I asked. Maybe Raph had intervened before the man who assaulted me could finish the job. Hopefully he took care of the jerk. I'd hate to think that my attacker was still out there, doing more mayhem like he did to me.
"No, he did not. He found you after the fact. However, whenever this family beats someone up as a warning, they always leave a calling card of sorts to let the person they attack know who it was." Splinter replied.
"A calling card? They actually leave cards behind? Sheesh, how considerate of them!" I chided sarcastically.
"No, not a card. They leave behind one of their headbands with a Japanese dragon symbol." Splinter said, correcting me.
Hmm…that sounded vaguely familiar. I remembered seeing a Japanese symbol on something black. But that was it.
"But why? Wouldn't that tip the police? What is it to them who I'm friends with? I don't understand." I was confused. How did any one even know that Mike and his brothers were visiting me? I knew that they were very careful about being seen. They always stuck to the deep shadows in the alley and the same when they climbed up to my window. With the windowless building next to mine there wasn't anyway for someone to see them. As far as my building was concerned, the other tenants kept their windows closed due to the cold weather.
"They have informants inside the police department. Whatever evidence would link them to any crime disappears. We have a friend who has investigated this and that is what she has told us." Splinter said. "But why this family would care about your friendship with my sons is hard to explain but I feel that it is important for you to know. We have caused you enough grief and it is the least that I can do to make up for it." Splinter said. "There is someone that you know who is apart of this family. He has been a member of this organization for about five years. Though he is not a blood member, he did join of his own volition." He paused for a moment to see how I would respond.
"Jack?" I asked, not believing for a moment that he would do such a thing as beat me up.
"Yes." Was the rats answer. He said it solemnly as if he were apologizing to me.
"Did he beat me up?" I asked, afraid of what the response would be.
"We do not know." Splinter replied.
That bothered me a great deal. Jack had never in our ten years of marriage ever hit me. But, the last time I saw him he had changed considerably. That was four years ago. His behavior then had almost fightened me, in fact.
"But how would you even know about Jack?" I asked.
"My sons have seen your ex-husband on many occasions with known members of this family. He works closely with them. We believe that he is married to someone from within the hierarchy. Someone of great power. We believe his wife to be the sister of Oruku Saki."
"Oruku Saki? Okay, ah… Wow, does that bring it all back or what?" I exclaimed in amazement.
"You are familiar with the name, then?" Splinter asked me. His voice indicated that his own interest had just picked up – just like mine was!
"Well, I know that Jack married this oriental gal he traded me in for whose last name was Saki. They had met at the place where Jack did his martial arts. I always wanted to kick her rear for taking him from me. But considering she worked out there as well, it would have been a stupid act on my part."
"Yes, it would have been!" Splinter agreed –maybe a little too quickly for my taste.
"Well, thanks a lot!" but I had to laugh. He was an honest rat that was certain.
"But, how did you connect Jack with me?" I finally asked him.
Splinter explained, "Michelangelo was scavenging for aluminum cans one night about four years ago when he heard an argument coming from what was your apartment. True to my youngest son's nature, he climbed the wall to see what was going on. He saw your husband yelling at you. It was when he returned to the lair and told us about it that we decided to keep an eye on you. I have to admit it was more to protect us than to protect you, at first." Splinter took a breath as if he regretted telling me that. He quickly added, "However, as my sons became more familiar with your habits they came to the conclusion that you were an unfortunate victim of circumstances. Their shadowing your walk to and from the diner became a nightly ritual whenever they weren't busy elsewhere."
I lay there stunned. Not only had I been protected these past four years, but Mike had seen Jack and I argue that night after I had just moved into the apartment. The jerk was trying to get me to sign a release form to disavow any relationship to him. It was his lawyer's way of making sure I wouldn't decide later to go after him for alimony and what-have-you. I had refused to sign. At that time I didn't have the brass bed, but was sleeping on the little love seat. After arguing with him for the better part of an hour, he finally dangled that bed over my head and told me if I signed he would give me it.
I signed.
Like I mentioned, Jack took everything. Yet it cost me every kind of financial security due me. At least I had the bed, but looking back on it I probably saved myself a host of headaches anyway. Jack was always quite selfish and I knew that even getting a dime from him would have taken a court order. The fact that I now knew why he dropped out of sight after that argument four years ago explained a great many things.
Good riddance to the creep!
