The Legacy
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Chapter Twenty Three - Down on the farm
Michaelangelo:
I could sense their return long before they got home. I don't know what had happened on their walk, but Leo's emotions had gone from the low end of the scale to the higher end. Something had quite clearly, changed for him.
He was scared, he knew what he might be getting into because he wanted to be with her, but also knew that he couldn't thanks to his duties.If Splinter was to advise our 'fearless leader' I am quite sure he would have insisted on finding balance.
I could also pick up longing frustration and uncertainty. I gave my head a wistful shake and smiled a bit, as I reached out to comfort and reassure him mentally.
Leo didn't respond but he didn't shut me out either.
I continued to pack up supplies for our trip while waiting for the two of them to arrive home, knowing they shouldn't be too much longer.
When they did arrive Leo looked no different then usual but his emotions were still bouncing off the walls and going in every direction at once, like a rambunctious toddler.
" How is Ramiela Mike?" Leo asked as they entered the kitchen.
" She loved the park Leo. She was suitably impressed at the outdoor playground, she didn't know they had such a thing, she had to then test it out to make sure it worked." I smiled, only grateful that I hadn't told her that Central Park had other playgrounds or I might have had to take her to each individual one. " As for tree climbing, I think she would have gone to the tip top and beyond if I had let her. All in all it was a very eventful evening, and I really do believe the farm is the ticket we were looking for," I declared firmly, feeling better then I had for some time, " She didn't want to leave Leo."
Leo chuckled " That is good to hear Mike." He excused himself and left.
I waited until he was well out of hearing range before whirling on Karena " Just what did you do to Leo?" I demanded sharply.
" Do to Leo, what are you talking about Mike? We just talked." A puzzled Karena replied.
" Sure you talked, that is why Leo is acting like he's ready to run scared and play turtle" I accused sharply, crossing my arms over my plastron.
Her brow furrowed even further at my words and she shook her head as if to deny her role in all of this, " Scared?" she laughed a little, " He doesn't look it to me Mike."
" You think someone like him would show his fear outwardly?" I shot back. " Leo has always been able to control his emotions, he might talk to Splinter about it but he doesn't often talk to us about it, course we sense it." I explained, " How do you think he got the fearless leader nick name anyways?" I heaved a sigh, realizing how deep in love Leo was going " Look Karena, Leo knows he is starting to feel for you and that his emotions are starting to control him instead of the other way around. He may look like the same calm Leonardo on the outside, trust me at the moment on the inside he is a blithering idiot."
" Mike I don't want to chase him away but it isn't exactly my fault that he has never been in love before." She pointed out delicately.
" No I know that" I confessed reluctantly, " Let me say this either Leo will decide this relationship is worth it and you will have him, or he will decide against it by the time we return from the farm."
Karena gave a sly smile, " I think I can work with that."
" Hmmm, I'm sure you can," I agreed. I then grinned, " Of course you know that means we are really going have to brush up on your Japanese that way when Leo says 'Watashi ga nai node ni sekkusu o suru ren'ai ka' You can say hai and know what you are getting into."
" And what will I be getting into, is that one of your naughty turtle things?" She asked quickly.
" No, If I was being naughty instead of sekkusu o suru ren'ai I'd say Seiko" I replied innocently.
" What about, what I am supposed to say hai to and know it?" Karena pressed as she pulled a drink from the fridge.
I laughed at her, " Got to brush up on that Japanese if you don't recognise want to make love when you hear it" I told her.
She rolled her eyes as she poured some juice into a glass, as I began to list other Japanese phrases that Leo might use for making love.
She gave me a stern stare and arched an eyebrow " Not tonight Mike, I have a headache." She deadpanned before leaving me alone.
I had to chuckle at her parting shot because I had a feeling if Leo had said something like that to her, I highly doubted she'd let a headache stop her from saying hai with great enthusiasm.
…
Rama was quite excited by the prospect of going to the farm by the time she woke up, last night's trip, had, at least generated interest in her to some extent. Course she might have also picked up on some of the general excitement in the air.
" When we go to farm daddy?" she asked as she bounced around my feet.
" Once April and Casey get here, we will pack up and go. But we have a long car ride ahead of us Rama."
" A car ride?" She squealed, " We goes car ride?" her eyes grew large at the thought. I knew she loved taking the occasional car trip with April or Casey to pick up an ice cream or the like, but car rides were rare treats for her.
" Yes Rama, we aren't about to walk it is much too far for that. Now come on we have to figure out what toys you want to bring with you on this trip" I announced as I started towards her bedroom.
" Franklin!" She yelled as she ran past me.
" Yes, I know Franklin is coming but you'll want more then him" I informed her.
I had a stash of goodies that I had bought at the dollar store, some of the treats were for the car trip such as a deck of cards, colouring book and crayons, a few small toys and children's books to read. The rest of the treats were for the farm itself, a big container of bubbles, sidewalk chalk which she could use on the front deck or back patio area of the farmhouse, a jump rope, jacks, and a Frisbee.
I helped Rama select some of her favourite toys and activities for the farm and packed them into a small bag, though of course Franklin was going be riding with Rama all the way.
I heard Casey's voice calling from the front room " Anyone not in the van in five minutes gets left behind."
" Uncle Casey here, hurry daddy" Rama implored as she raced out at top speed to go greet her uncle.
I emerged into the front room to see Rama in Casey's arm telling him about climbing the trees in the park last night.
Casey laughed and tousled her hair " It could have waited until today squirt."
" Trust me Casey it couldn't wait," I told him sincerely.
" Splinter coming this trip?" Casey wondered.
" No he wants quiet time at home so it is just us turtles and Karena for this trip." Leo replied.
…
Rama slept for part of the trip to North Hampton, and asked if we were there yet, for the rest of the trip. When ever her complaints became too insistent I pulled something from my stash of life saving goodies, and that would tend to keep her quiet for a while, before she grew bored had a nap or asked that tedious question for the nine hundredth time.
Casey stopped to pick us up an early lunch at a McDonald's drive through as we'd been on the road for some time. It wasn't my idea of a great meal but it worked. Rama seemed quite content with her happy meal especially, when she learned it came with its very own toy. Of course she then realized that we were gypped as, the adults in the crowd didn't get a toy with their meal.
We finally made it to the farm and Rama emerged from the van to look upon the house that would be our home for the next two weeks or so. She gaped wide eyed and slack jawed as the wide open space, the white house and the old broken down red barn, the grass in the fields beyond the main section of the house had grown tall and blew in the light wind.
" It huge daddy." Rama whispered in awe.
" That it is Rama," I agreed as I placed an arm around her shoulders " But we have to go unpack now and get settled in."
Casey and April stayed just long enough to help get us settled, Casey went down to the nearest town to pick up a few essentials like milk, eggs and that sort of thing, along with some gas for the battered pick up that was parked in the barn, before the two of them took off to return to the big city.
After they left we decided on who got the master bedroom in the farmhouse, usually the Master bedroom was April and Casey's room, when they weren't here it was Splinter's room.
The Master bedroom had it's own private bath so it was coveted by all of us when there was just the four of us. Well five if you counted Karena.
Leo won the draw and he graciously offered the room to Karena but she declined, that was as far as it went, Leo didn't seem to care if any of his brothers wanted the Master bedroom.
…
Raph and Rama decided to take a walk shortly before dinner, I didn't mind Rama going with Raph after all it got her out from under my feet while I was trying to prepare the evening meal.
They had been gone for some time and dinner was just about ready I was starting to grow worried because I knew Raph wouldn't be late for dinner, not with Rama in tow. I tried to relax knowing there was little danger to be had on the farm, but that niggling bit of doubt had me concerned.
I was about to head onto the front porch to see if I could spot either of them when Raph came in, slamming the front door.
He was covered in dirt and grit, his skin looked more brown then green, he was a complete mess and in a very disagreeable mood considering where we were.
" Usunoro baka" He muttered under his breath as he passed me by.
" Raph where is Rama?" I demanded sharply seeing no sign of my daughter.
" She's coming. She is just fine so relax Mike," he growled at me then he turned glaring at me " Do you know what your daughter had me doing?" he demanded as if it was all my fault.
" I have no idea. What?" I wondered willing to play his game.
" She saw a kitten, a hurt scrawny excuse of a cat, run down a rabbit hole. She figured it couldn't get out and refused to believe me when I told her it would be just fine!" Raph fumed, " I had to dig the Baka out for her before we could leave. She is coming with it; it needs a splint and bandage on one leg. I'm hitting the shower."
I tried not to laugh, as I shook my head, only my kid would have Raph saving a kitten from a rabbit hole. I headed out to the front porch to see if I could spot Ramiela coming.
Rama was taking her time walking very slowly, cradling the kitten in her arms. I went down to where she was to take a closer look at the cat.
It was medium haired, mostly black with a splash of white on its chest and white on one paw, it had a bushy crooked tail and it was, as Raph had said, a scrawny thing, its bone sticking out from under its dull matted coat. One hind leg looked like it had been broken at some point in time. It looked to be about twelve to sixteen weeks old and it was purring as if it had found a piece of heaven in Rama's arms.
Rama looked up at me with a big smile on her face " Can we help Baka?" she asked.
" Baka?" I wondered.
" That's his name daddy, Uncle Raphiel say so" Rama replied.
" I know we can help him" I assured her, " But Rama Baka means jerk or idiot and you don't want to call this nice kitty that do you?"
" It his name daddy" Rama declared firmly, as if this could not be helped.
Okay, fine I can live with this. " Looks like he needs a good friend, he is mighty lucky he found you Rama" I smiled " Lets go take care of his leg and find him some supper before we eat."
Rama beamed as she cuddled Baka closer and the cat purred hard enough I felt for sure it was going shake to pieces in her arms.
Leo came in while I was tending to Baka's leg in the living room, using bits from our first aid kit to tend the cat's injured leg.
He glanced at Rama holding Baka very carefully, as she sat on the couch and watched what I was doing with great interest.
" A pet Mike?"
" Well it is a stray Leo and it is hurt by the time it is all better I have a feeling Rama isn't going want to let him go," I explained.
" From the looks of her I doubt she would let him go now" he retorted.
" Can I keeps him sensay?" Rama pleaded as she turned her gaze to Leo.
Leo stared at her earnest face, and the purring cat and he smiled " I guess so, he seems friendly enough" he decided.
" Yeeeeeah!" Rama cheered startling her friend a bit.
I nudged Leo before he could ask about the name " Leo just accept the fact that the cat is called Baka." I warned him as I finished up.
" Weird cat names must be hereditary Mike, you had Klunk and she has Baka" Leo commented drolly.
I chuckled " I guess tomorrow Karena will have to go pick up some kitty supplies for our friend but tonight he can have a can of tuna and we will find something for a litter box." I muttered, " Let's go eat I'm starved and by the looks of Baka he is too."
TBC
Author's Note: Those of you interested in reading Raph's point of view on how Rama got Baka check out the fanfic story Played for a Baka. You can find it fastest by clicking on my author name that will take you to my bio and you can scroll down to the story from there. Ramica.
Lenni: No it isn't going to work but Leo has to try to chase Karena away. Well this is your weekend update don't know when the next one will be as I have to write the next chapter. A gratitude for your insight.
Chibi Rose Angel: I have to update, really? Well since the Empress commands it I guess I best, but don't expect this sort of obedience all the time it might go to your head. Hope this update was soon enough for you. A gratitude for your insight.
Lunar Ninja: Seems to me your getting ahead of yourself in Rama stories proving to me you know them. Well you did tell Leo to kiss her. I personally didn't expect it to get anywhere as I figure, you must be used to your dragons by this point in the game. A gratitude for your insight.
Misterfooch: Well it seems like Rama has gained herself yet another loyal reader, course I hate to say some of the things I have mentioned as flashback scenes in some stories have yet to be written. I know you have reviewed a great many of the Rama series stories and I hope it hasn't driven you insane trying to catch up so quickly. Anyway a gratitude for your many insights on various stories.
Lady of Randomness: I know you meant your review in the nicest of ways, and I don't mind hearing it but now let me explain the errors that you see and I hope I do it nicely for I mean it to be.I do my best to check for errors before hand but I often catch a few later on, that manage to slip by me. However I know for a fact I don't catch them all. Grammar and punctuation has often been a weak point with me. I do have dyslexia, which often makes it hard for me to understand. If I get others to check for me and correct my errors I can't learn to improve, because I don't get the connection. It is something I try to work on and improve on, where I can, as I try to understand it. So please try to be a bit patient with my errors. I know it isn't easy to read, but honestly being dyslexic means it could be worse. A gratitude for your insight.
Reinbeauchaser: Karena's answer was from the heart, she has her priorities straight about what is and isn't important for her. Luckily those are the sort of things Leo needs to hear from her, after all if she wants a fancy house, lots of money the ability to travel could he give that to her? No. Probably why Leo asks that where you be question in the first place. A gratitude for your insight.