"Mindy, are you all right?" Don asked through the door.
"Yep!" I replied as cheerily as I could.
I was still in the bathroom, naked as a jaybird. I decided to wash my personals in the sink and had just squeezed as much water out as I could. Now I was trying to wring my clean undies in the towel I had used to dry myself off with. Unrolling the towel I realized they were still wet. In desperation I grabbed some tissue and used that to absorb more of the moisture.
"Rats, they're still damp. Well, nothing I can do about it. I'll just have to…." I was telling myself, but then I heard Don again.
"Mindy? Do you need for me to come in there?" Don inquired, concerned.
"Ah, NO! I'm fine; really. I – ah – just needed to wash some things s'all." I said hurriedly.
"Wash some things? Like what?" he asked.
I thought his question just a little bit too intrusive for my taste.
"It's nothing, really, but as far as everything else is concerned, I'm fine. Honest!" I stammered.
I was trying desperately to get my underwear on before he decided I was in dire straights. Unfortunately the wet material was not cooperating as it found way too much friction against my still damp skin. Plus I was moving too fast and my ribs were protesting. I grimaced from the pain in my side and my wrist as I threw one leg into the opening. Of course I wasn't thinking too clearly. Instead of sitting down on the toilet seat where it would have been easier, I was trying to do all of this while standing up.
Stupid thing to do.
I had my underwear only part way on. Enduring the pain from my broken ribs, I hopped on the one foot while I tried to get the other one through the opposite side of the garment. I finally couldn't hold it in any longer and let out a muffled cry. I braced myself for Don's reaction.
It was all he needed for an excuse since he did warn me about overdoing it. What followed next all seemed to happen in slow motion…
Don came waltzing in like a knight in shining armor.
I screamed and lost my balance, falling backwards. Then my hands went up to cover – well – certain anatomical attributes of my self. I had only part of my undies on and those were slowly sliding down my one leg towards my ankle.
Don's shocked expression to see me au natural caused me to shriek a second time, forcing him to do a neat little turnabout. I honestly think I caught just a little bit of blush in that green face of his.
Heck I was blushing for that matter.
Another short scream from me as I realized I was falling backwards into the tub.
Then I grabbed the shower curtain for balance only to have the entire thing rip off the rungs. I continued my fast descent into the tub. I hit against the back wall and slid down head first towards the drain with my legs shooting up and over my head. Fortunately, the shower curtain came after me and covered up what surely would have been a perfect Kodak moment.
Hearing my screams and the thud I made as I fell into the tub, Don forgot about my embarrassment and his own, rushing in like gangbusters to assist.
"GET OUT OF HERE!" I screamed at him. "GO – GET OUT!" I was mortified.
"No, Mindy, it's all right. I was just surprise is all." He pleaded. He really wanted to help but right now all I wanted to do was to crawl down the drain.
"Don, please, don't. I'll be all right. I just need a moment." I begged as I tried to squeeze my eyes shut. I couldn't. I forgot that they hurt, too. I felt like one giant burning nerve in that instant.
I clutched the curtain tighter and cringed as I saw him peer over at me. The look of complete horror on my face must have convinced him that maybe, just maybe I would be fine after all – if only he would leave the room.
"I'll close my eyes if that will be better; but there isn't any way you're going to get yourself out of that tub without some assistance." He informed me.
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained I always say. Let me try at least!" I insisted.
He gave me a look that said he was not at all happy about that. However, in the end Don decided that maybe my pride was more important than common sense. What little I had left was barely salvageable as it was.
As Don conceded and started to leave the room, I finally found my backbone, "Do not come into this room, Don. I don't care what you hear, you hear me!" I ordered. "So help me – I'm quite serious – I will make your life so incredibly miserable if you come in here like that again!"
I hated spouting those words but I really wanted him out of the room. The look he gave me was just short of crestfallen and I knew I had hurt his feelings. But, I was so incredibly embarrassed it was all I could do to keep from really railing on him.
Next time I have to dress I'm sitting down to do it!
It took me the better part of thirty minutes to get out of that tub. Just trying to right myself to a sitting position was excruciatingly painful. I cried out once and immediately hugged the curtain closer as I shot a look at the bathroom door. I could tell he was right there on the other side. His shadow darkened the underside of the door. But Don honored my request and gave me my privacy.
I took my time getting dressed, mainly because I was sorer than before. I was sure I made things worse. The bandages around my torso were still wet from the shower and I knew they would have to be replaced. But for now I would keep them as they were until I recovered from my bruised pride. Just what I wanted; one more item on my list of things that needed fixing.
I dreaded coming out of that bathroom. I thought for sure, based on previous situations, that Mike or Raph would say something cheeky about my predicament. But, as Don graciously helped me back to my room, no one said a word. I thought I saw Splinter's tail flick a warning as I cruised slowly back to my bed, but I couldn't be sure. It wouldn't have surprised me in the least if he had already given them a word or two of caution. He seemed to hold all the cards as far as who was in charge – which I found completely amusing. Oh what fun I could have with that!
Once he had me settled, I took Don's hand and begged his forgiveness, "I'm so sorry for yelling at you like that, Don. But I was – well – mortified, to say the least!"
He smiled a little and nodded, "I understand. Don't worry about it. I've had worse things said to me." He paused and then asked me, "What were you washing, anyway?"
I blushed, but decided I owed him that much at least, "Well, to be honest…" I lowered my voice just a little, "my personals."
"Your underwear?" He asked with a smirk, straightening up like he was surprised.
"Ah, yeah…there's nothing wrong with that. Why are you so surprised?" I asked in defense.
"Well, if I'd known that I could have saved you the trouble!" he replied back.
"Save me the trouble? No way would you wash my undies, Buddy!" I exclaimed. Ugh, not in a million years. What was he thinking? Caring for me was one thing and I really appreciated his expertise in certain areas. But, washing my underwear for me? Eww…. That's a little too fetish for my preferences, that was for sure.
"What? No, that's not what I meant…" Don's expression pretty much matched my reaction. "What I meant was we already have your stuff here in the lair. That's where we were while you were sleeping."
"Ah, what exactly do you mean by that?" I asked, not quite believing what I was hearing.
"Splinter insisted that we retrieve your things from your apartment so your stay here would be more comfortable for you. We have all your clothes!" and with that Don smiled as if he had played a huge joke on me, "Including your 'undies'!"
I blushed once again.
I was not amused, not the least little bit.
It was in that next instant when I heard Mike laugh and then Raph, and then Splinter telling them to be quiet.
"Yep!" I replied as cheerily as I could.
I was still in the bathroom, naked as a jaybird. I decided to wash my personals in the sink and had just squeezed as much water out as I could. Now I was trying to wring my clean undies in the towel I had used to dry myself off with. Unrolling the towel I realized they were still wet. In desperation I grabbed some tissue and used that to absorb more of the moisture.
"Rats, they're still damp. Well, nothing I can do about it. I'll just have to…." I was telling myself, but then I heard Don again.
"Mindy? Do you need for me to come in there?" Don inquired, concerned.
"Ah, NO! I'm fine; really. I – ah – just needed to wash some things s'all." I said hurriedly.
"Wash some things? Like what?" he asked.
I thought his question just a little bit too intrusive for my taste.
"It's nothing, really, but as far as everything else is concerned, I'm fine. Honest!" I stammered.
I was trying desperately to get my underwear on before he decided I was in dire straights. Unfortunately the wet material was not cooperating as it found way too much friction against my still damp skin. Plus I was moving too fast and my ribs were protesting. I grimaced from the pain in my side and my wrist as I threw one leg into the opening. Of course I wasn't thinking too clearly. Instead of sitting down on the toilet seat where it would have been easier, I was trying to do all of this while standing up.
Stupid thing to do.
I had my underwear only part way on. Enduring the pain from my broken ribs, I hopped on the one foot while I tried to get the other one through the opposite side of the garment. I finally couldn't hold it in any longer and let out a muffled cry. I braced myself for Don's reaction.
It was all he needed for an excuse since he did warn me about overdoing it. What followed next all seemed to happen in slow motion…
Don came waltzing in like a knight in shining armor.
I screamed and lost my balance, falling backwards. Then my hands went up to cover – well – certain anatomical attributes of my self. I had only part of my undies on and those were slowly sliding down my one leg towards my ankle.
Don's shocked expression to see me au natural caused me to shriek a second time, forcing him to do a neat little turnabout. I honestly think I caught just a little bit of blush in that green face of his.
Heck I was blushing for that matter.
Another short scream from me as I realized I was falling backwards into the tub.
Then I grabbed the shower curtain for balance only to have the entire thing rip off the rungs. I continued my fast descent into the tub. I hit against the back wall and slid down head first towards the drain with my legs shooting up and over my head. Fortunately, the shower curtain came after me and covered up what surely would have been a perfect Kodak moment.
Hearing my screams and the thud I made as I fell into the tub, Don forgot about my embarrassment and his own, rushing in like gangbusters to assist.
"GET OUT OF HERE!" I screamed at him. "GO – GET OUT!" I was mortified.
"No, Mindy, it's all right. I was just surprise is all." He pleaded. He really wanted to help but right now all I wanted to do was to crawl down the drain.
"Don, please, don't. I'll be all right. I just need a moment." I begged as I tried to squeeze my eyes shut. I couldn't. I forgot that they hurt, too. I felt like one giant burning nerve in that instant.
I clutched the curtain tighter and cringed as I saw him peer over at me. The look of complete horror on my face must have convinced him that maybe, just maybe I would be fine after all – if only he would leave the room.
"I'll close my eyes if that will be better; but there isn't any way you're going to get yourself out of that tub without some assistance." He informed me.
"Nothing ventured, nothing gained I always say. Let me try at least!" I insisted.
He gave me a look that said he was not at all happy about that. However, in the end Don decided that maybe my pride was more important than common sense. What little I had left was barely salvageable as it was.
As Don conceded and started to leave the room, I finally found my backbone, "Do not come into this room, Don. I don't care what you hear, you hear me!" I ordered. "So help me – I'm quite serious – I will make your life so incredibly miserable if you come in here like that again!"
I hated spouting those words but I really wanted him out of the room. The look he gave me was just short of crestfallen and I knew I had hurt his feelings. But, I was so incredibly embarrassed it was all I could do to keep from really railing on him.
Next time I have to dress I'm sitting down to do it!
It took me the better part of thirty minutes to get out of that tub. Just trying to right myself to a sitting position was excruciatingly painful. I cried out once and immediately hugged the curtain closer as I shot a look at the bathroom door. I could tell he was right there on the other side. His shadow darkened the underside of the door. But Don honored my request and gave me my privacy.
I took my time getting dressed, mainly because I was sorer than before. I was sure I made things worse. The bandages around my torso were still wet from the shower and I knew they would have to be replaced. But for now I would keep them as they were until I recovered from my bruised pride. Just what I wanted; one more item on my list of things that needed fixing.
I dreaded coming out of that bathroom. I thought for sure, based on previous situations, that Mike or Raph would say something cheeky about my predicament. But, as Don graciously helped me back to my room, no one said a word. I thought I saw Splinter's tail flick a warning as I cruised slowly back to my bed, but I couldn't be sure. It wouldn't have surprised me in the least if he had already given them a word or two of caution. He seemed to hold all the cards as far as who was in charge – which I found completely amusing. Oh what fun I could have with that!
Once he had me settled, I took Don's hand and begged his forgiveness, "I'm so sorry for yelling at you like that, Don. But I was – well – mortified, to say the least!"
He smiled a little and nodded, "I understand. Don't worry about it. I've had worse things said to me." He paused and then asked me, "What were you washing, anyway?"
I blushed, but decided I owed him that much at least, "Well, to be honest…" I lowered my voice just a little, "my personals."
"Your underwear?" He asked with a smirk, straightening up like he was surprised.
"Ah, yeah…there's nothing wrong with that. Why are you so surprised?" I asked in defense.
"Well, if I'd known that I could have saved you the trouble!" he replied back.
"Save me the trouble? No way would you wash my undies, Buddy!" I exclaimed. Ugh, not in a million years. What was he thinking? Caring for me was one thing and I really appreciated his expertise in certain areas. But, washing my underwear for me? Eww…. That's a little too fetish for my preferences, that was for sure.
"What? No, that's not what I meant…" Don's expression pretty much matched my reaction. "What I meant was we already have your stuff here in the lair. That's where we were while you were sleeping."
"Ah, what exactly do you mean by that?" I asked, not quite believing what I was hearing.
"Splinter insisted that we retrieve your things from your apartment so your stay here would be more comfortable for you. We have all your clothes!" and with that Don smiled as if he had played a huge joke on me, "Including your 'undies'!"
I blushed once again.
I was not amused, not the least little bit.
It was in that next instant when I heard Mike laugh and then Raph, and then Splinter telling them to be quiet.
