His True Love
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Chapter Thirty – Simple Thanks
RAPHAEL:
I managed to get into the lair and into the showers without any one seeing me, not that most of the family would be too worried about me coming in with a little blood on me after an execution it was to be expected but I knew Karena wasn't that big on execution killings the less she knew about it the happier she was. So out of respect to Leo's wife I did my best not to show myself until I was cleaned up.
The hot shower was just what I needed relaxing and refreshing after drying off I decided to head to the infirmary to check on Ramiela, I all ready knew by the depressed and subdued atmosphere of the lair that she probably wasn't doing all that great.
I saw Sara sitting on the couch in the living room she looked up at me as I entered
" Mike told me what you were doing," she stated casually.
Well she would have to learn sooner or later so I couldn't exactly hold it against him for telling her.
" Listen if it bugs you I can understand that but…" I started feeling slightly irritated.
" Raph I know you were only doing what you needed to do. Mike explained all that to me and I've been thinking about it," she admitted.
Yeah. I'm pretty sure she had been and this was probably where she would start her morals speech or giving me some crap about how I shouldn't do that. Or some other B.S along that line that I just didn't need to hear right now.
" Look Raph I can't say that I approve or fully understand but when Mike told me to compare it to my night work" she paused and grinned a little " Well I guess I can accept that part of you. I'm just a little curious on if it bugs you to do it for the family?"
" You mean all this killing people just for the sake of killing them so they don't come back to haunt ya?" I asked arching an eye ridge her way.
" Exactly." She said.
" I don't deal with it Sara. I just do what has to be done. If I started thinking about it, it could bother me and then it could effect the job at hand," I explained simply.
" It still can't be easy Raph. Hell I know I'm training to be a nurse and people can get really squeamish over some injuries and stuff like that but killing…"
" No one said it was easy or that it was enjoyable." I countered " but someone has to take out the trash. No matter how much everyone hates taking the garbage out, and they will go to great lengths to avoid it sooner or later someone is going have the unpleasant task of taking out the trash."
Sara gave me a dry cynical look " Great I'm in love with the garbage man" she muttered.
I grinned at her humour then sobered "How is Ramiela?"
" Her heartbeat is slowly coming down. That is about the only good thing that can be said Mike doesn't want to leave her side."
I wasn't surprised to hear that bit of news. Nothing would drag Mike from his daughter's side for more then a few minuets at a time. If Rama hadn't been ill, Mike himself might have let into Shay right then and there.
I didn't know if I had the heart to tell Mike what Shay's true intentions had been. He was my best friend and I knew that it would hurt him deeply. If I hadn't picked up little things from Shay that had made me so suspicious of her in the first place I might have never known. Then again I still wasn't sure if I was right about her Leo had to confirm that he felt it as well.
Thankfully though it was all over now Shay wasn't going to get a third chance to get at Ramiela.
" Where is Candy at?" I inquired.
" Leo and Splinter had a talk with her and then Leo left to escort her topside"
I smirked a little knowing the Master and his star pupil they had arranged it so Candy wouldn't remember a great deal of the evenings events considering the fact Candy was Shay's friend it was imperative that she forget about us especially before Shay's body was found.
Much as I didn't feel like it but knowing how important it was to Sara I then asked her if she wanted to go to work tonight I didn't think it was fair for her to miss out on a night's work just because of other things.
Sara shook her head " Thanks for asking but I think I'd rather take the night off" Sara muttered resting her head on my shoulder.
I was grateful for that. I wrapped an arm around her shoulder and kissed her tonight was a good night for just relaxing at home.
~*~
The next few days passed Rama's heart slowed down, her blood cleared up ever so slowly as the drug finally worked its way out of her system, her temperature started to rise all positive signs but she slept on.
Don, Splinter and Leo racked their brains and tried various remedies in hopes that one of them might encourage her to wake up but none of them worked.
Mike remained constantly at her side reading to her from different books, telling her things about the family and how we missed having her around and she ought to wake up before she fell drastically behind in all her lessons. He had some of her favourite music constantly playing on a stereo system that Don had set up in the infirmary.
Mike gloried in every twitch or move of Rama's body though Don insisted it was only a reflex reaction and not necessarily Rama waking up to join the living again.
Mike was tired and worn out he was near the end of his rope but none of us could convince him to go sleep in his own room even for a few hours while we watched over her for him.
Baka Rama's little black cat spent most of his time curled up near her side purring loudly as if by his purr alone he could encourage his mistress to wake up and pay attention to him.
I was starting to think what I had put Shay through hadn't been enough punishment for the crime she inflicted. She was dead and could feel nothing. Their bodies had been found and the police were at the moment suspecting no foul play but were investigating the matter to be sure.
Mike was bearing a load of heartache and pain, and the entire family wasn't the same an underlying tension was in the lair and it all had to do with our worries and concerns for our very own sleeping beauty.
~*~
Five days since Shay's death and Ramiela continued to sleep on. Sara had bought some supplies from a medical supply warehouse, so we could hook up an I.V to Ramiela.
Damn it when would she wake up? Every thing else was back to normal why wasn't she awake. She ought to be awake by now.
It was hard to fathom. I was just as glad to go out and watch Sara for a little while she tended to her night job.
The court case with Red was now only a few days away and I was extra vigilant because I knew time was running out for Red's people to silence Sara.
It was a really slow night and Sara had all ready determined that if she didn't get any thing in the next half hour we'd call it a night.
I saw a familiar car passing by on the street it had all ready driven by here a couple of times and I assumed that it was only a prospective client trying to get an idea of what his choices were for companionship for the night. Or perhaps it was someone new to the whole thing and just trying to work up some nerve first.
The car was a Cadillac dark colour with tinted windows and I could see it now driving down the street toward us. I felt that something was all wrong and my senses started to scream as I saw the car slow as it neared us.
I didn't stop to think I just reached out and yanked Sara into the alley and pushed her forward into the alley.
I swore I saw a glint of metal out of an open window under the glare of a streetlight and then the Cadillac exhilarated fast screeching around the corner. I gazed out onto the sidewalk and saw a spent bullet lying on the pavement. A drive by shooting Red was getting serious there was no doubt in my mind that he wanted Sara silenced.
I bristled in anger. All I could say is better hope that the law did deal with him their justice was going be a lot kinder then what I was planning to dish out to him.
I headed back into the alley " That is it you are not going to be working another night until the court case is over" I ordered briskly.
I didn't want to lose her. I needed her damn it!
" Raph I…"
I whirled on her sure she was going to protest " You're life is far more valuable then any thing else Sara. You almost got shot isn't that enough?" I barked at her.
This week had been pure hell as was I wasn't going to risk losing Sara on top of everything else.
" Listen Sara if you are worried about the money I will bust up a couple of drug deals and give you the money from it. Just no more of this" I pleaded anxiously.
" Raph I know I was almost shot if you hadn't pulled me into the alley I'd probably be lying in a pool of blood right now." Sara spoke in a slow trembling voice " The bullet just nicked my upper right arm" she admitted.
I checked her arm and saw the wound it wasn't serious there was only a small trickle of blood based on where it did hit her and where the bullet lay I guess that they had been aiming for her heart or lungs somewhere in that general area but I had pulled her out of the way in time.
" If you hadn't been here Raph" Sara gasped a terrified look in her eyes.
I pulled her into my arms hugging her close " I won't let them hurt you Sara. I love you" I murmured and knew it was true.
" Thanks for being here and caring" Sara sniffed a little bit " I'll be glad when this is all over."
" You and me both babe. Let's go home before the guys in the Cadillac realize they missed their target."
Once at home Sara decided to go have a long hot soak in the tub and I went to check on Mike and Ramiela.
Mike was sitting and reading The Heavenly Horse to Rama but he paused and looked my way when I came in. Mike's face was haggard looking.
" Early night Raph?"
" Someone shot at Sara" I growled " We've agreed her night job is on hold until further notice."
" It's probably for the best," Mike agreed.
" How is she doing?"
" I don't know I think she might be starting to come out of it. I swear that she squeezed my hand earlier and her mental facilities seem more alert" Mike reported.
Wishful thinking on his part he was so exhausted that he might be only imagining things.
" Look her foot just moved," he cheered.
I sighed, " Don has told you before that is only an involuntary reflex Mike." I grumbled.
Then Rama gave a low moan and I began to wonder if maybe Mike was right after all.
" Rama honey, are you going wake up now just to find out if El Arat manages to become the new soul taker for the black barns by killing Pony's newborn foal or will Duchess and the herd thwart her schemes?" Mike asked as he gazed at Rama as if he truly expected her to reply.
" Daddy?" It was a groggy low whisper.
" Rama?" Mike replied putting the book down a smile coming across his face.
" Dad am I really home?" Rama asked weakly as she turned her head to face us her eyes were tired and yet they were open.
Mike wrapped her in his arms hugging her close tears in his eyes " You are home and safe and Shay will never hurt you again."
I saw Rama tremble slightly at the name " You said that once a'fore dad" she muttered her tone bordering on accusation.
" When I told you that Rama I believed she was gone for good and wouldn't come back. Shay knew if she returned to and hurt you in any way that she would be harshly punished by the Clan."
Rama looked in awe at Mike's words " Da Clan can really do that?" she wondered.
" We can. Especially when people prove we can't trust them and they continually try to hurt us for one reason, or another. The Clan looks out for everyone in the clan."
" Hows the clan punish Shay?" Rama asked curious.
She knew about punishments she got enough of them in her life that she could easily relate to when you are bad you get punished, but this was the first she had heard of the clan punishing outsiders.
Mike sighed, " When you were four and Shay took you I told her then I would spare her life but if she came around you again I wouldn't be so generous. Shay is dead Rama" Mike admitted simply.
Rama scowled her brow furrowing " You sure she's not comin' back ever?" she insisted.
I could see her fear and sense her terror Shay had broken all boundaries and once again turned her world upside down.
" Ramiela don't be afraid. Shay is dead which means she can't come back and she can't hurt you."
" I knows what dead is Uncle Raphael but you sure she's dead?" Rama maintained refusing to budge she had to know.
Mike must have sensed how important it was for his daughter to know for sure that Shay wasn't coming back for he heaved a sigh before answering.
" Raph is very sure Rama because he is the one who punished Shay and he did it because he loves you and he didn't want Shay to hurt you any more. He wanted you to be safe and home with us always." Mike explained to her simply.
Rama let out a large sigh of relief her whole body seemed to relax at those words then she looked up at me tears brimming in her eyes " Thank yous Uncle Raphael"
I smiled looked like Rama was going to pull through. I bent and hugged her realizing that very few of my family had ever thanked me for executing someone; sure Leo often conveyed his thanks for the clan.
But Rama's simple thank you meant so much more then any I had ever received before.
TBC
Reinbeauchaser- Hope you can now relax. Aren't you glad I did do Therefore first to provide the clues? Or there really might have been more concern for Rama.
Lenni – Happy belated birthday. Hope you liked the chapter.