The Legacy

Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.

Chapter Seventeen - In Desperation

Shay:

I loved her, how could I ever turn my back on her and just forget about her all over again?

My mind rebelled at the very thought. I had never expected to grow so attached to her in the short time that I had been here, not even two weeks and I found that I so wanted to be near Ramiela.

I knew that I had to go back to my own life though but my mind kept turning back to all the things I had all ready missed from her life, all the things that I wouldn't be there for, and I realized I didn't want to keep missing big chunks of her life.

She was four years old a child and she deserved a better life then what she had here.

I knew I had made, what I thought had been the right decision before, but maybe I had been wrong, because I wasn't so sure in my own mind if I had done what was right for her.

Michael had assured me that I was welcome to come back and visit whenever I felt so inclined, but I didn't want to keep popping in and out of her life. A stranger that she would grow use to for a time only to have it break off when I returned to my own life.

Far better I thought to just walk out and never look back. Everything I wanted was topside except that is for her, but I knew in time I could probably find a suitable husband and have a family of my own.

I was angry that I couldn't tell Rama who I really was.

My mind raced with half formed thoughts and ideas surging one way, then shifting in a different direction, never quite stopping or slowing down.

I sighed I was getting nowhere. I knew what I had to be, knew what I had to do and yet another part of me whispered that there had to be another way.

Perhaps getting out of the lair would do it. I could pack my bags down to the bus depot and store them in a locker then go for a walk or one last bit of nightlife before returning home.

I could get out relax maybe poke in some stores and perhaps some other idea might occur to me while I did so.

I decided I might as well, getting up on the street wouldn't hurt me any and it would kill time, besides the boy would be leaving on patrol soon and when they got home I'd all ready be on the bus riding out of their lives, yet again.

Karena:

I was watching the boys work out when Shay came in to inform me that she was going out for a bit, and would probably return after the boys had left on their evening business. I wasn't worried about her.

I figured Shay, who had made her life on New York streets as a teenage runaway could pretty much look out after herself. Plus she probably had a better idea of the turtle's numerous rules then I was.

I was far more interested in watching the practice session before me, the boys moved so quickly as they made sudden attacks against one another. I often winced or looked the other way when I thought one of them was about to seriously injure the other.

Sure I knew by now that it wouldn't happen, but watching it, and trying to convince myself of that, in the intensity of their moves was something else again. It was breath taking awe inspiring and left me, feeling both exhilarated and a little on edge as well.

I shuddered as I realized that one day little Rama would one day be as quick and efficient as they were.

No wonder Mike and the rest of the family did their best to shield her from such facts allowing her a chance to be a child and to have fun, while she also learned the lessons that would ultimately lead her to be a warrior as well.

I knew there was no way they could protect her from all of it. Ninjitsu surrounded her in many ways but they did protect her as much as possible.

Rama being such a quick thinking child seemed to have a fairly good idea of what was going on in her world, as she had proven when asking Mike about doing ninja work and how she wanted to help because she was ninja. I had to wonder how much the boys really hid from her.

Mike was tired from the last few days, with the increase in his schedule, the longer patrol time with his brothers and the added workout on top of rising early to care for Rama. But some how he still managed to find a few minutes here or there to continue teaching me Japanese.

He had started me on the simple greetings or other pleasantries, like good morning ( ohayo gozaimasu) Good night ( oyasumi nasai). Sorry ( gomenasai) Please ( Dozo) and thank you (doitashimashite) along with yes ( hai) and no (Iie.)

Now he was teaching me simple phrases " Nihongo O amai hanashiassen." Was I don't speak much Japanese.

Mike felt that phrase would come in useful along with, " Motto yukkuri hanashite kudasai masu ka" ( Could you speak more slowly?)

Mike had decided today to teach me the proper etiquette of bowing.

" The lower the bow goes the more respect or deference you are giving to the recipient. Bowing looks simple but there is a formality to follow so as not to appear rude." Mike explained, he smiled a bit " Not that anyone in our home would be offended if you bowed and didn't follow those rules, but in the outside world you could give offence by not following proper procedure." Mike's face became very serious " Most people want to hurry the bow they bob down and back up again. So when you bow hold it for the count of three at least then straighten up trying not to jerk. The bow should be graceful and smooth." Mike insisted, " Whatever you do maintain eye contact."

The boys now broke off practice making way to the water bottles and towels by the bench where I was sitting

" We got time for a quick shower Leo?" Raph asked.

" It won't put us out that much sure." Leo agreed as he took a towel to wipe over his sweated face.

" Dibs!" Mike yelled taking off with Raph in hot pursuit threatening to pound his brother especially after Mike squirted Raph with a water bottle, as he pushed his way past Raph for the bathroom.

Leo gave a rueful shake of his head as Raph continued to beat on the bathroom door yelling and berating Mike loudly.

Leo sighed " It is a good thing they are friends or I'd be worried" Leo muttered, just as Raph switched to another language, it sounded like Japanese to me.

Mike excited and gave Raph a scathing look "Calm down bro, you'll wake Rama up with all that noise."

Raph growled as he headed into the bathroom.

Shortly after they had all had quick showers the boys headed topside for patrol, while Splinter had all ready gone off to his room to meditate for a bit before calling it a night.

A strange silence filled the lair and I felt very much alone, but I shrugged the feeling off and headed to my room to continue reading a mystery story, it didn't take me very long before I was caught up in the tale.

A while later I heard someone entering the lair. To be on the safe side, I decided to go check on who it was, though I figured it was only Shay returning for a few hours nap before heading to the bus depot.

Sure enough it was Shay she told me she had been to see a late movie, and she had a bag of shopping with her.

I returned to my bedroom and back to my interrupted story continuing to read until sometime after twelve thirty, when I decided to grab a drink an call it a night. While I was in the kitchen listening to the clock tick and the soft hum of the fridge, while drinking a glass of juice, I thought I heard the sound of the front door opening and then closing again.

I figured Shay must have decided to leave for the bus depot anyway, spend the last few hours waiting there, to ensure that she didn't miss her ride home. I knew her bus was leaving in the very wee hours of the morning and it made sense.

I smiled a bit. At least Raph ought to be happy that Shay was gone now.

For some reason I got to thinking of Rama and wondered if perhaps Shay had looked in on her before leaving, maybe tucked her in again as it did get awful cold in the sewers. I knew Rama had been put to bed earlier then normal due to all her misbehaving during the day and the child may have kicked off her blankets.

Maybe I ought to check on her just in case, I told myself as I placed the dirty cup in the sink.

I tiptoed into her bedroom and noticed that her bed was bare the sheets tossed back and no sign of Rama in the room. I knew she wasn't in the bathroom for I had to pass it on the way to her bedroom.

Then a horrible thought sprang to my mind, What if Shay took her?

I shook my head that mystery story had to be getting the better of me. Shay wouldn't do that to Mike or the rest of his family. Rama had to be in the lair.

I checked Mike's room just in case Rama had gone in there but his room had no one in it. I checked the playground but Rama wasn't there either.

What if Rama snuck out of the lair at some point? I wondered.

I raced after Shay in hopes of catching her to get her to join me in a search, after all if the child could steal her uncle's sai it was possible for her to slip out of her home, perhaps she had wanted to go be a ninja like her dad.

I was so worried about Rama's disappearance I didn't think to wake Splinter, I felt that might take too much time and once I got Shay we could come back and do that. I grabbed my coat, which had my cell phone in one of the pockets.

Don had managed to repair my phone for me, though I had felt that it like everything else I had owned was lost because it had been so badly damaged when I had been assaulted and robbed.

I headed for the manhole that the turtles had authorized Shay and I to use, it was relatively close to the lair. As I looked up the ladder I noticed that Shay must have been in a hurry for she had left the cover off, that was one thing the turtles didn't want.

I scrambled up the ladder and shifted the lid over and that was when I noticed half buried in the shadows a small stuffed toy.

I went over and picked up the toy that had been discarded in the dark alley, in the dim light of an over head lamp I saw that it was a Franklin toy.

Oh gods, No, that meant… I felt tears come to my eyes.

I knew that it could have been any child's toy but somehow, to find it so close to this particular manhole cover, on this night meant, for me, it was Rama's beloved toy.

Rama had to be with Shay because I couldn't see the small child climbing the ladder and moving the heavy manhole cover herself.

I clutched the toy tight in my hand and ran toward the street my heart pounding with fear.

How could Shay do this to Mike after everything he has done for her? How dare Shay just snatch her up and take off with her?

I didn't know if it was possible to reach the boys to let them know what was going on, I did know the phone number for the turtle's home itself, and if Splinter woke up before the answering machine came on he might be able to relay a message.

Course knowing that Splinter's bedroom was no where near the phone and due to his age he might not even hear the phone ring.

If I went back to wake him up I could lose Shay all together and that meant Mike, might lose Rama as well.

I knew then and there that I would have to try and catch up to Shay.

It wasn't going be an easy task for even at this time of night the city streets were busy with people heading home from movies, or shows, or from the bar. It might not be as busy as it was during the day, but there was enough crowds to lose yourself in, and to get in your way.

I knew in my heart this kidnapping was the worst possible betrayal of the turtles that Shay could do.
I couldn't even get the police involved because of Rama's looks and the family's need for secrecy, Shay might actually be able to escape with her daughter.

I frantically glanced one way then the other, wondering which way to go. I couldn't see Shay and I knew if I made one wrong move I could lose both of them. Yet I also knew I couldn't stay rooted here for very long either. I had to make a choice one way or another and fast.

It was then I heard a high pitched familiar scream, usually I heard it in joy or when she was busy correcting someone on how to say her name, but this time I was sure I heard a tinge of fear in that yell.

" Rama keep yelling baby, let me know where you are." I begged silently as I lunged in the direction of that shout.

I didn't even stop to think of that yell being from someone else, I knew it had to be Rama just as I knew the toy I clung to belonged to Rama. I could only hope that the crowds on the street would slow down Shay as much as they slowed me down.

Right now I was the only one on Rama side and I knew it would devastate Mike to lose her, yes the whole family would be hurt from her loss but it was Mike who would lose the most.

I did a quick call to the turtle's home as I ran and dodged around people.

I had to wonder how terrified Rama might be having been ripped viciously form the only home and family she had ever known, to be brought up into what must seem an alien world to her, by a person who was supposed to be a friend.

I used that continued shriek to guide me from what I could tell it was moving into the crowds and further away from where it had originally been.

' That's fine she can run. Just don't shut Rama up! I thought.

As if that thought alone was enough to still Rama's yell she fell silent.

' Oh please don't stop now Rama. Please help me find you. I promise I'll bring you home but you have to help me do it!' I whispered in my mind.

Then I heard her cry again a long drawn out wail " Nooooooo Shay!"

I gasped with relief at hearing her, though I knew from her call that she was either crying or close to it, perhaps crying from fear alone.

But if Shay could kidnap Rama there was no telling what she might say or do to Rama in a bid to keep the distraught child silent.

What in the world was she going do to little Rama?

TBC

Kat Kit: I am rather enjoying re-writing for me it is like getting reacquainted with old friends, for many of my readers it seems to be the same feeling for them with re reading.

A gratitude for your insight.

Lenni: Okay so you know what is coming next. Don't go telling the world now and spoiling the secret. Excited? That is one word exuberant, overjoyed, ecstatic, well whatever word you choose so glad you are enjoying this tale all over again. A gratitude for your insight.

Lunar Ninja: Catching up at peculiar time maybe, but probably at the most exciting part of this story. A regular pill am I, of what size and colour? Oh forget I asked I really don't want to know. A gratitude for your insight.

Lady of Randomness: I have been called far worse then Lor, though most people shorten my name by calling me Retta. As long as its not an insult I'll answer. This is actually the story that people first started to hate Shay. A gratitude for your insight.

Chibi Rose Angel: Depends on what your definition of fun is. I am waiting to see how your feelings for Shay may or may not have changed with this and the following chapters. Don't worry about Karena she still has some cards to play. A gratitude for your insight.

Reinbeauchaser: Karena doesn't have the following that Rama has therefore her bargaining power is weaker. Raph and the pepper sheets a favourite humour bit of my own. You know I never considered the connection of Mike's patrol to Rama's bad behaviour and yet the timing hmmm, I think you could be on to something there. Must be the mother in you. A gratitude for your insight.