At the start of my second week in the lair, Don decided that the bindings around my ribs had to come off. There were exercises that he wanted me to start and I couldn't do them until the tape was removed.
Don was quite insistent how he wanted to do it.
This created a rather lively discussion between the two of us regarding said topic.
Don's idea was to slowly remove the sticky stuff from my delicate skin.
I was resistant.
"Easy for you to say 'it's no big deal', Don. I have very tender skin! All you have to worry about is your plastron and carapace. How much feeling do you have in those things, anyway?"
I stood there with my arms folded across my chest in defiance. I was not going to be cooperative.
Now that I knew about their ninjitsu skills, I was privy to their practices – or katas, as Leo was constantly reminding me. As soon as it was apparent that Don was going to be having problems with me yet again, Mike, Raph, and Leo took a break from their practice session to observe the escalating confrontation.
Splinter, who was sitting in a run-down lounge chair closeby, seemed rather amused, as well. His ears were swiveled excitedly in our direction and his whiskers were swept forward and twitching in anticipation.
My comment about the lack of sensitivity of turtle shells brought nods of understanding from all of them - except Don.
Don looked frustrated by my refusal to do it his way. He sighed and informed me, "I've done this a dozen times, Min. I know what I'm doing!"
"Ah huh, right. Not with me you haven't. This girl is tired of pain and you are NOT, I repeat NOT going to rip the tape off." I declared.
Don was getting grumpy again, "I'm NOT going to rip it off! For pity's sake, Min, do you think I'm nuts?"
Raph raised a finger to interject, but Don told him," NOT A WORD, Raph!"
His brother grinned and resumed his silence. Mike chuckled but Splinter rapped him across the head with his walking stick. I saw him grimace and then Raph smirked.
Those two were well suited bunking together, that was certain.
Don explained, "Look, I used to do Casey's all the time. He was always getting busted up like that."
"Look at me, Don. Do I even look like Casey? Do I even remotely look like someone who gets busted up all the time?" I seethed.
That had Mike howling and, of course, the walking stick was implemented once again by Splinter.
I had to laugh at the way Mike just begged for trouble. Guess with all their 'rough housing', it was no a big deal.
Don complained, "Well, no, but – gee I even did April's when she busted hers. She didn't put up this much fuss."
"That's only because she insisted on taking a shower first, Don!" Leo quickly reminded his brother.
Don looked over at Leo and gave him an expression that I just couldn't quite make out. Was he – embarrassed?
Leo grinned back at him while Don was trying to think of something to say.
"You forgot, didn't you, Don?" his brother declared.
Raph looked at me and explained, "Don never forgets anything, Min. But – well, this is a first!"
Mike added with a smirk, "Don, you must be pretty anxious to get her blouse up to have forgotten that!" He chuckled, quite amused with his words.
Just as Splinter was attempting to give his youngest son another whack with his walking stick, Mike quickly ducked his head down into his shell. The stick whizzed through the air where it should have connected with Mikey.
I thought it completely hilarious, but I could see that Splinter was not amused.
Just as Mike thought the coast was clear, he raised his head back up. It was in that instant he met up with another wallop from Splinter's stick.
"Ow!" Mike complained as he rubbed the back of his head. "Gee, Master Splinter, I was only kidding."
"Kid on your own time, Michelangelo!" came the revered rat's reply.
I couldn't help laughing. Neither could Raph or Leo.
All that time, though, Don was looking at his feet in contemplation. Then he turned his head up towards me and said, "Well, the first taping was easier to take off when you took that shower. So, yeah, guess we could do it that way."
"And we will wait until the water soaks it? We won't rush it, right?" I added.
"I just want to make sure you start your exercises, that's all." Don explained seriously. "You could come down with pneumonia if you don't."
"Oh, I doubt very much an hour or two will make that much difference." I chided.
"You're planning on being in there that long?" he asked me, his eyes going wide in surprise.
"No, but I'm sure it'll take that long for the tape to lose its adhesion." I told him. Then I smiled and went off to take my shower.
Due to my painful experience with the first shower, I wasn't in any hurry to repeat that escapade. I took my time. Thirty minutes later I was successfully out of the tub. The second shower felt just as good as the last, but this time my body didn't hurt nearly as bad. My ribs were beginning to heal as was my sprained wrist.
As I looked at my reflection in the cracked bathroom mirror, I noticed that the bruises around my eyes were turning a sickly green. I kind of chuckled to myself. What is it they say that the longer you live with someone the more you begin to look like them? I thought it all rather funny considering my benefactors were already green.
I allowed an hour for the water to do its magic before even considering Don's help. I was on my bed sitting cross-legged and reading one of my history books to pass the time. Don had installed a couple of lamps to help brighten my corner of their lair. It was a nice touch and very considerate of him.
After some time, I had a thought. "Hmm, I wonder if I could do this."
I put my book down and lifted up my blouse. I worked the end of the tape up a little and gently pulled. It came away beautifully. As I had hoped, the tape was much easier to remove after my shower. I was delighted
As I slowly pulled the tape off and worked it carefully around from behind and back around to the front again, I thought about Don and his brothers. After being in their company for a little more than a week, I came to some conclusions about them.
Don was highly intelligent and I knew that if he were human, there wouldn't be a university in the country that would refuse his services. In just the short time I had been in the lair, I discovered that he knew quite a bit about everything. Considering he didn't have access to a library, it was truly amazing that Don was able to have learned so much. I figured the Internet must have had a lot to do with providing him an education. I was quite impressed with him.
Don's manners and his considerations were also impeccable; certainly more so than his brothers. At least as far as Raph and Mikey were concerned. Those two were incorrigible at times, much to their mentor's frustrations – and Leo's!
Mike was a comedian at heart, loving the sound of his own voice as he tried to get me to laugh or react in some way. His off color remarks were typical late-teen humor and I suspect his addiction to watching television had something to do with his 'style'. Amazingly he loved to cook. He was actually pretty good, too. I was sure that if Crazy Bob could overlook Mikey's rather unique appearance and hired him to work the grill, Angelo's Diner would fast become the place to eat out at.
Raph had a bit of an attitude and an edge, yet was certainly not a shy violet! His Brooklyn accent aided in creating an attitude that shouted 'don't tread on me'. He didn't like being bossed around so much, especially by Leo. Raph was a free spirit and I noticed on several occasions over the past week that he would often go top-side to stretch his legs – and his spirit – without the company of others.
This distressed Leo very much.
Leo, out of all of them, had a more aggressive respect for the dangers that faced them topside. He was continuously on alert and always mindful of where he was mentally with regards to the harm that might befall them. On one occasion he had heated words with Raph about going out during the day. It was quite impressive to see these two very confrontational creatures stare each other down. I honestly thought that they would come to blows. Considering what I saw of their ninjitsu practices, it had me very concerned.
When Donny saw my look of anxiety, he assured me that it happened all the time and that rarely did his brothers become physical.
Nighttime seemed to be their best opportunity to go into the world of humans with the least likely chance of being seen. Of course, that was when I had met them the first time. Knowing how careful they tried to be about being noticed, I had to consider my self fortunate to have become friends with them.
Splinter was slowly growing on me. His calm and serene nature belied a strength that, unless you irritated him, was hardly noticeable. The amount of respect his 'son's gave him impressed me greatly. Raph would submit to Splinter's words and instructions, even after vehemently refusing the same directions from Leo. Splinter was for all practical purposes considered by the turtles as their loving, but strict father. Their adoration of this mutant rat was impressive. I couldn't blame them one bit!
Finally I removed the last of the tape and was just pulling my blouse down when I heard a rap on the concrete wall just beyond my line of sight. Donny and the others respected my privacy and would knock before venturing into my end of the lair. Considering that I was more of a guest than a resident, I appreciated their thoughtfulness. A lot in fact.
"It's all right to come in, Donny." I entreated.
He came into my 'room' and immediately noticed the pile of tape that was now resting on my bed.
"Oh, you were able to remove it yourself?" he asked. He seemed a little disappointed.
Hmm…maybe Mikey wasn't so far off the truth behind Dr. Don's true reasons for wanting to un-tape me?
"Why? Disappointed?" I asked, teasing. I thought why not call it like it was. I waited for his response, not expecting much other than a curt "No".
He blushed.
That gave me pause, you can be sure. Why would he blush unless ... Oh I really didn't want to go there. Please tell me that he didn't have a crush on me. For cry'n out loud I was twice his age, I'm human, I'm not that attractive, I'm – lonely and so was he. Okay, forget that last part; it doesn't count.
I was lonely before Don and his brothers came along and I had lots of opportunities to hook up with someone. Even Crazy Bill had made a pass at me a few years ago. Of course I passed on him, you can be sure. Bill was nice, but aside from the fact he was married, he just wasn't my type. I just wasn't in any frame of mind to consider another relationship. I was fine just being with me despite my loneliness.
I really had to get off this thought; it was really starting to annoy me.
Finally, Don found his voice, "Ah, well, I just wouldn't want you to hurt yourself. However, I'm glad you were able to do it; that says you're healing! Now, I need to talk with you about those exercises."
Initially Don had me use a heating pad to increase blood flow to the muscles around my ribs from fifteen to twenty minutes three times each day to help ease the swelling. Considering how cool the lair could get sometimes, I rather enjoyed this 'exercise'.
However, another exercise that Don had me do was breathing exercises – and I hated it immensely.
Using a pillow that I held up against my chest for support, I had to hug it while taking deep breaths. Don insisted that I do at least ten deep breathes every hour, holding each for about five seconds and then slowly letting my air out. This I had to do several times every day.
"Ah, Don – it hurts! Why do I have to do this. Golly I feel like they're trying to poke out of me." I whined. I hate whining but I was also getting mighty tired of the pain, too.
"Min, if you don't do this you could get pneumonia. The exercise repositions your ribs while they're healing." My green doctor replied firmly. "I will not argue with you. It has to be done."
He looked so much like Leo in that moment.
"Yes, master!" I chided sarcastically.
Don actually thought my comment was quite funny.
He chuckled.
It was a rather nice chuckle, too.
******************************************************************************************
A/N: I will be speeding up the story just a bit, jumping a couple of weeks maybe. I wanted to get Min established in the lair with her five new friends and have her at a point where her ribs were healing. Now that she has the tape off, she can begin to get into some exciting stuff. I'm not sure if I will have her develope a relationship with Don other than one of friendship. After all, she is twice his age. But, do numbers really matter? Hmmm....
Don was quite insistent how he wanted to do it.
This created a rather lively discussion between the two of us regarding said topic.
Don's idea was to slowly remove the sticky stuff from my delicate skin.
I was resistant.
"Easy for you to say 'it's no big deal', Don. I have very tender skin! All you have to worry about is your plastron and carapace. How much feeling do you have in those things, anyway?"
I stood there with my arms folded across my chest in defiance. I was not going to be cooperative.
Now that I knew about their ninjitsu skills, I was privy to their practices – or katas, as Leo was constantly reminding me. As soon as it was apparent that Don was going to be having problems with me yet again, Mike, Raph, and Leo took a break from their practice session to observe the escalating confrontation.
Splinter, who was sitting in a run-down lounge chair closeby, seemed rather amused, as well. His ears were swiveled excitedly in our direction and his whiskers were swept forward and twitching in anticipation.
My comment about the lack of sensitivity of turtle shells brought nods of understanding from all of them - except Don.
Don looked frustrated by my refusal to do it his way. He sighed and informed me, "I've done this a dozen times, Min. I know what I'm doing!"
"Ah huh, right. Not with me you haven't. This girl is tired of pain and you are NOT, I repeat NOT going to rip the tape off." I declared.
Don was getting grumpy again, "I'm NOT going to rip it off! For pity's sake, Min, do you think I'm nuts?"
Raph raised a finger to interject, but Don told him," NOT A WORD, Raph!"
His brother grinned and resumed his silence. Mike chuckled but Splinter rapped him across the head with his walking stick. I saw him grimace and then Raph smirked.
Those two were well suited bunking together, that was certain.
Don explained, "Look, I used to do Casey's all the time. He was always getting busted up like that."
"Look at me, Don. Do I even look like Casey? Do I even remotely look like someone who gets busted up all the time?" I seethed.
That had Mike howling and, of course, the walking stick was implemented once again by Splinter.
I had to laugh at the way Mike just begged for trouble. Guess with all their 'rough housing', it was no a big deal.
Don complained, "Well, no, but – gee I even did April's when she busted hers. She didn't put up this much fuss."
"That's only because she insisted on taking a shower first, Don!" Leo quickly reminded his brother.
Don looked over at Leo and gave him an expression that I just couldn't quite make out. Was he – embarrassed?
Leo grinned back at him while Don was trying to think of something to say.
"You forgot, didn't you, Don?" his brother declared.
Raph looked at me and explained, "Don never forgets anything, Min. But – well, this is a first!"
Mike added with a smirk, "Don, you must be pretty anxious to get her blouse up to have forgotten that!" He chuckled, quite amused with his words.
Just as Splinter was attempting to give his youngest son another whack with his walking stick, Mike quickly ducked his head down into his shell. The stick whizzed through the air where it should have connected with Mikey.
I thought it completely hilarious, but I could see that Splinter was not amused.
Just as Mike thought the coast was clear, he raised his head back up. It was in that instant he met up with another wallop from Splinter's stick.
"Ow!" Mike complained as he rubbed the back of his head. "Gee, Master Splinter, I was only kidding."
"Kid on your own time, Michelangelo!" came the revered rat's reply.
I couldn't help laughing. Neither could Raph or Leo.
All that time, though, Don was looking at his feet in contemplation. Then he turned his head up towards me and said, "Well, the first taping was easier to take off when you took that shower. So, yeah, guess we could do it that way."
"And we will wait until the water soaks it? We won't rush it, right?" I added.
"I just want to make sure you start your exercises, that's all." Don explained seriously. "You could come down with pneumonia if you don't."
"Oh, I doubt very much an hour or two will make that much difference." I chided.
"You're planning on being in there that long?" he asked me, his eyes going wide in surprise.
"No, but I'm sure it'll take that long for the tape to lose its adhesion." I told him. Then I smiled and went off to take my shower.
Due to my painful experience with the first shower, I wasn't in any hurry to repeat that escapade. I took my time. Thirty minutes later I was successfully out of the tub. The second shower felt just as good as the last, but this time my body didn't hurt nearly as bad. My ribs were beginning to heal as was my sprained wrist.
As I looked at my reflection in the cracked bathroom mirror, I noticed that the bruises around my eyes were turning a sickly green. I kind of chuckled to myself. What is it they say that the longer you live with someone the more you begin to look like them? I thought it all rather funny considering my benefactors were already green.
I allowed an hour for the water to do its magic before even considering Don's help. I was on my bed sitting cross-legged and reading one of my history books to pass the time. Don had installed a couple of lamps to help brighten my corner of their lair. It was a nice touch and very considerate of him.
After some time, I had a thought. "Hmm, I wonder if I could do this."
I put my book down and lifted up my blouse. I worked the end of the tape up a little and gently pulled. It came away beautifully. As I had hoped, the tape was much easier to remove after my shower. I was delighted
As I slowly pulled the tape off and worked it carefully around from behind and back around to the front again, I thought about Don and his brothers. After being in their company for a little more than a week, I came to some conclusions about them.
Don was highly intelligent and I knew that if he were human, there wouldn't be a university in the country that would refuse his services. In just the short time I had been in the lair, I discovered that he knew quite a bit about everything. Considering he didn't have access to a library, it was truly amazing that Don was able to have learned so much. I figured the Internet must have had a lot to do with providing him an education. I was quite impressed with him.
Don's manners and his considerations were also impeccable; certainly more so than his brothers. At least as far as Raph and Mikey were concerned. Those two were incorrigible at times, much to their mentor's frustrations – and Leo's!
Mike was a comedian at heart, loving the sound of his own voice as he tried to get me to laugh or react in some way. His off color remarks were typical late-teen humor and I suspect his addiction to watching television had something to do with his 'style'. Amazingly he loved to cook. He was actually pretty good, too. I was sure that if Crazy Bob could overlook Mikey's rather unique appearance and hired him to work the grill, Angelo's Diner would fast become the place to eat out at.
Raph had a bit of an attitude and an edge, yet was certainly not a shy violet! His Brooklyn accent aided in creating an attitude that shouted 'don't tread on me'. He didn't like being bossed around so much, especially by Leo. Raph was a free spirit and I noticed on several occasions over the past week that he would often go top-side to stretch his legs – and his spirit – without the company of others.
This distressed Leo very much.
Leo, out of all of them, had a more aggressive respect for the dangers that faced them topside. He was continuously on alert and always mindful of where he was mentally with regards to the harm that might befall them. On one occasion he had heated words with Raph about going out during the day. It was quite impressive to see these two very confrontational creatures stare each other down. I honestly thought that they would come to blows. Considering what I saw of their ninjitsu practices, it had me very concerned.
When Donny saw my look of anxiety, he assured me that it happened all the time and that rarely did his brothers become physical.
Nighttime seemed to be their best opportunity to go into the world of humans with the least likely chance of being seen. Of course, that was when I had met them the first time. Knowing how careful they tried to be about being noticed, I had to consider my self fortunate to have become friends with them.
Splinter was slowly growing on me. His calm and serene nature belied a strength that, unless you irritated him, was hardly noticeable. The amount of respect his 'son's gave him impressed me greatly. Raph would submit to Splinter's words and instructions, even after vehemently refusing the same directions from Leo. Splinter was for all practical purposes considered by the turtles as their loving, but strict father. Their adoration of this mutant rat was impressive. I couldn't blame them one bit!
Finally I removed the last of the tape and was just pulling my blouse down when I heard a rap on the concrete wall just beyond my line of sight. Donny and the others respected my privacy and would knock before venturing into my end of the lair. Considering that I was more of a guest than a resident, I appreciated their thoughtfulness. A lot in fact.
"It's all right to come in, Donny." I entreated.
He came into my 'room' and immediately noticed the pile of tape that was now resting on my bed.
"Oh, you were able to remove it yourself?" he asked. He seemed a little disappointed.
Hmm…maybe Mikey wasn't so far off the truth behind Dr. Don's true reasons for wanting to un-tape me?
"Why? Disappointed?" I asked, teasing. I thought why not call it like it was. I waited for his response, not expecting much other than a curt "No".
He blushed.
That gave me pause, you can be sure. Why would he blush unless ... Oh I really didn't want to go there. Please tell me that he didn't have a crush on me. For cry'n out loud I was twice his age, I'm human, I'm not that attractive, I'm – lonely and so was he. Okay, forget that last part; it doesn't count.
I was lonely before Don and his brothers came along and I had lots of opportunities to hook up with someone. Even Crazy Bill had made a pass at me a few years ago. Of course I passed on him, you can be sure. Bill was nice, but aside from the fact he was married, he just wasn't my type. I just wasn't in any frame of mind to consider another relationship. I was fine just being with me despite my loneliness.
I really had to get off this thought; it was really starting to annoy me.
Finally, Don found his voice, "Ah, well, I just wouldn't want you to hurt yourself. However, I'm glad you were able to do it; that says you're healing! Now, I need to talk with you about those exercises."
Initially Don had me use a heating pad to increase blood flow to the muscles around my ribs from fifteen to twenty minutes three times each day to help ease the swelling. Considering how cool the lair could get sometimes, I rather enjoyed this 'exercise'.
However, another exercise that Don had me do was breathing exercises – and I hated it immensely.
Using a pillow that I held up against my chest for support, I had to hug it while taking deep breaths. Don insisted that I do at least ten deep breathes every hour, holding each for about five seconds and then slowly letting my air out. This I had to do several times every day.
"Ah, Don – it hurts! Why do I have to do this. Golly I feel like they're trying to poke out of me." I whined. I hate whining but I was also getting mighty tired of the pain, too.
"Min, if you don't do this you could get pneumonia. The exercise repositions your ribs while they're healing." My green doctor replied firmly. "I will not argue with you. It has to be done."
He looked so much like Leo in that moment.
"Yes, master!" I chided sarcastically.
Don actually thought my comment was quite funny.
He chuckled.
It was a rather nice chuckle, too.
******************************************************************************************
A/N: I will be speeding up the story just a bit, jumping a couple of weeks maybe. I wanted to get Min established in the lair with her five new friends and have her at a point where her ribs were healing. Now that she has the tape off, she can begin to get into some exciting stuff. I'm not sure if I will have her develope a relationship with Don other than one of friendship. After all, she is twice his age. But, do numbers really matter? Hmmm....
