I glared at Raphael as he stalked past us. "You're a..." I couldn't complete my insult to him because Michaelangelo put his hand over my mouth and tapped me on the head. I looked up and saw him shaking his head silently in warning. With a frustrated sigh I squirmed away from him and went to kneel beside my father. The wound on his shoulder that had stopped bleeding, was now broke open again.
"Dad, are you ok?" I asked worriedly. He was just kind of sitting there on the ground with his fists clenched.
He didn't say anything. "Dad?" I prompted.
"Go with your Uncle Mike," he finally said quietly.
"But."
"Go!" he snapped without looking at me and for the second time in one day he yelled at me for just being worried about him. I watched him in shock for a few seconds until Michaelangelo came over and put his arm around me.
"Come on, Ren," he urged. "Your dad will be ok. He just needs a second. We're in 52b, Leo." I stood up reluctantly and he grinned. "You're gonna love my apartment. I've got more games and toys than FAO Schwartz."
I followed him, but I couldn't resist glancing back at my father who was still sitting on the ground looking completely alone. I didn't understand why he wouldn't let me help him. Maybe I didn't understand everything that was going on and maybe there were some things he didn't think I was ready to hear...but...I was his son. I never turned my back on him like his family did.
The three of us rode an elevator to Mike's floor. He took out his key but the door opened and at first I thought Raphael had opened the door. But this turtle was a little bit shorter and his expression was definitely softer than anything Raphael could manage.
"Hey, Mike," he said and then looked down at me. "And you must be Ren."
His voice was mellow and smooth. I had grown so used to Mike's energetic voice and Raphael's threatening one, that it was almost difficult to hear him.
"Ren," Uncle Mike said. "This is your Uncle Donatello." Donatello smiled at me and stepped to one side so that we could enter the apartment.
Donatello looked at Mike with a question in his eyes. "Leo will be up in a minute," Mike answered the unspoken question. He closed the door behind him.
Donatello nodded in understanding. A small smile came to his face. "That would explain why Raphael just stormed in here and grunted at me. He's with Sensei right now."
Mike took my coat and hung it up on a rack near the door. "Is Splinter awake?"
"Yes, he's been awake ever since Raphael called and said you were on your way back." Don led the way down a narrow hallway and I could hear voices behind one of the doors. He knocked and opened it slowly. "Master, Michaelangelo is here with someone who wants to meet you."
I knew he meant me and I backed into Uncle Mike. When did I ever say I wanted to meet him? He'd probably hate me as much if not more than Raphael did. I didn't hear what the reply was, but Don opened the door the rest of the way and Michaelangelo practically pushed me in.
I saw Raphael who was standing next to the bed glaring at me with his arms folded. Lying on the bed, propped up with three or four pillows was the most amazing sight I had ever seen. It was a rat. He was a rat.From his position I couldn't tell how tall he was, but I guessed maybe a little shorter than Mike. His fur was a silvery gray color with patches of brown here and there. His dark, almost black, eyes locked with mine and I was afraid that he would be able to read straight into my heart and discover just how much I didn't want to be here.
"Come closer, Child," he said softly. His voice had a slight accent to it and sounded hoarse as if he had been screaming for days. "My eyes are not what they used to be."
For some reason I didn't believe that. I just knew his eyes could look into the soul of anyone. So I stayed where I was; frozen with fear. Raphael's jaw clenched in anger and Mike pushed me forward gently until I was standing right next to the bed.
The rat studied me curiously and I gulped wondering what flaw he was looking for.
"Ren," Mike said quietly. "This is Master Splinter."
I knew I was supposed to say something-- something respectful and dignified. I should offer my hand to him or bow or kneel, but for the life of me, my mind froze and I couldn't manage a single word or gesture.
"Ren," Splinter said. He couldn't quite pronounce the "R" in my name and it sounded a bit odd, but damned if I was gonna correct him. "You look as your father did at your age." He tilted his head and continued to study me. "Not in appearance, but your father always had the same terrified expression when he was afraid of saying the wrong thing. You are afraid of me, Child?"
My mind screamed at me to tell him no, but I found myself nodding and I glanced up at Raphael who looked like he was about to take me down again.
Splinter followed my gaze and said something in Japanese. Raphaelstartedto argue, but at the last second changed his mind and with a quick bow, left the room. Splinter glanced up at Mike and Don and repeated the order. I watched panicked as they too bowed and left the room.
The rat turned his eyes back to me. "Now, you may speak openly. Is it me your afraid of, or Raphael?"
I swallowed nervously, and my mouth felt incredible dry. "Both," I managed to squeak.
"Why do you fear us, Ren?" he asked gently. He held up a hand before I could answer. "More importantly, why do you fear me?"
I shrugged. "I don't know." I really wanted to run, but I knew Raphael was waiting on the other side of the door and I didn't want to run into him.
His eyes bore into me again and he chided gently, "You are not being entirely truthful, Child. You do know. Your father...?"
His stare was almost hypnotic and I nodded again. "He's afraid," I whispered. "I've never seen him so scared before."
"Do you know why he is afraid?" Splinter asked. He leaned forward a bit almost eager to hear the answer.
My voice was barely above a whisper. "He.made you angry. "
Splinter was quiet as if considering that. Finally he smiled softly. "Even if that were so, you did nothing, Ren. Please, do not be afraid of me." He sat up a little more and I noticed him wince a little as if the movement hurt him. But he continued. "I have been most eager to meet you. Raphael tells me that you will begin your training soon."
I shrugged. Not like I had been given a choice in the matter. "He hates me," I muttered and I watched Splinter's eyebrows raise slightly in response.
"Raphael is very selective about who and what he hates," Splinter said finally. "Hate is a very strong word."
Well, that didn't do much to convince me I wasn't hated. Although from Splinter's tone, I was almost certain he didn't think I was one of the things Raphael hated. I briefly wondered what Splinter would do or say to Raphael if I told him that he held his weapon at my throat. Then I wondered what Raphael would do to me if I told, so I kept my mouth shut. Besides why would Splinter take my side over his son's? He didn't owe me any kind of loyalty.
"Ren?"
I looked up suddenly and felt my face heat up. While I had been debating with myself, Splinter had been speaking, and I hadn't heard a word he said. "I'm sorry," I almost squeaked. "I wasn't listening."
To my relief, he smiled. " I was only saying that I hope you will keep me informed of your training."
There was a knock at the door that saved me from having to think of an answer to that. The door opened slightly and Uncle Mike looked in. "Excuse me for interrupting, Sensei." He looked at me for a second and then back to Splinter. "Leonardo is here."
I turned to Splinter to see his reaction, but if he had one, I missed it. He merely nodded. "Send him in please, Michaelangelo."
I didn't see Mike slip back out the door. I just kept watching Splinter trying to get some clue as to what was about to happen. No one told me to leave, but I wasn't so sure I wanted to stay. There was absolute silence in the room for about five minutes. I wondered what was taking my father so long. But just when I was sure he wasn't coming, there was a knock on the door. It opened and my father stepped in.
His face was as unreadable as Splinter's, but his eyes were aimed at the floor. He stayed in the doorway silently until Splinter spoke softly in Japanese to him. Dad walked in the rest of the way, but he still didn't say anything and he still wasn't looking up.
"Ren," Splinter said breaking the silence and startling me. "I am sure I will speak to you again soon."
It was an obvious dismissal and part of me was glad to get out of there. I nodded and walked around my father to the door. "I'll see you later, Dad."
I wasn't really expecting an answer and I didn't get one. He didn't even look at me as I stepped around him and walked out the door closing it behind me.
