Time to say Goodbye
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed shadow warrior chelonians.
Author's Note: We have been having some trouble with our computer recently, so if you don't hear from me for awhile it may be that our computer is broken and I can not update or e-mail. My brother is going be working on it so cross your fingers, and hope for the best. Course I might update on my vacation too but I can't promise that either, depends on computer availability. Ramica
Chapter Three: Talking about
Cathy waited for awhile, she knew her husband well enough, to know that it would take some time for the full effect to hit him, the fact he had spent time playing with the children in the playground, was a clear sign of Mike trying to avoid the hurt and pain he was presently feeling.
Mike she knew was optimistic, cheerful and easy going. He lived truly for and in the moment. Yet when it came to things that bothered or irked him it took awhile for him to come clean or unload his thoughts.
Cathy smiled as she realized Ramiela, her step daughter, was very much like that herself, when something bothered the girl you practically had to pull it out of her; While she did her best to hide behind her sarcasm and playful ways. Trying her best to stay one step ahead of what was the issue.
Cathy recalled first coming here and Rama's sudden change of attitude, which had included a plan of attack when she had gotten closer to Rama's father. The practical jokes the girl had unleashed had been creative, and irksome to say the least. Cathy had to give her that, but it helped to hide what the young teenager was truly going through. She was trying desperately to recover from being treated like an animal in the lab, and Cathy had been only a reminder of the cruelty the scientist had forced on this intelligent being. That plus Rama was afraid of being hunted and caught all over again, had done little to set her mind at ease, and so war was waged because the girl could not come clean with the true seat of the problem.
Luckily the girl had changed a bit over the years, but it was still difficult to figure out what was going on in Ramiela's mind at the best of times.
She made a mental note to check with Ramiela later on how she was coping, for the girl had been very close to her grandfather.
Cathy knew she had to wait for Mike to be ready, pushing for it before might only make him deny or run from what he was feeling. However Mike's sudden anger towards Aiden, told Cathy that he was probably close to ready to vent.
As she lead Mike off into the lair listening to him grumble about the nerve of Aiden.
" I ought to chuck that boy out of his shell, or beat some sense into him." Mike growled.
" We all deal with grief in our way Mike" Cathy murmured, as she slipped an arm behind his carapace. " Just because Aiden can talk like that, doesn't mean anything. Perhaps it hasn't hit him yet. Rama handled him quite well, probably better then you would have."
Mike made a soft scoffing noise " Part of Rama's job is dealing with those under her and keeping them in their place, as needed."
" Yes, while she has been acting as chunin for a while, now she will feel the full weight of it." Cathy agreed, " But she will need it for when the time and day comes for her to be jonin."
Cathy stopped and Mike turned to look at her, she reached out a hand to caress his face. " Splinter's memory will live on, you know that Mike." She assured him, she knew it was true for even as she said it she could easily recall her first meeting with the aged rat, he had still been jonin of the clan then and cut an imposing figure in spite of his small stature.
Mike bowed his head suddenly as he bit his bottom lip. He looked back and Cathy could see the tears welling up in his green eyes, "I just find it so hard to believe. He was always here. I know he told us often enough, that he wouldn't be here with us, that he would die." Mike paused and took a deep breath, " But I didn't want to think what it would mean, to not have him. Didn't want to think of what was to come. I mean he was here and he had always been here." Mike shook his head as he gave her an imploring stare.
" There was no need to worry about it until the time came. Splinter told you that, to prepare you all."
" Yeah but Cathy, there is no possible way for us to ever be prepared." Mike complained, " At least not for something like this. Even now I can't believe and I don't want to believe that he is gone."
" You can't deny it forever though Mike." Cathy murmured.
" I can try" Mike responded flatly.
Cathy shook her head, " It won't help Mike. You might be able to do it until the funeral, but that is the time that closure often happens. It is when people fully accept their loved one is gone and then they can move on." Cathy explained.
" Move on?" Mike wondered giving her a blank stare, as if silently questioning where he was to move on to, or why he even had to.
" Of course. Splinter lived a very full life Mike. Far longer then expected, I mean a normal rat's life expectancy sure can't measure up to what Splinter had." Cathy pointed out.
Mike gave a little chuckle " Quit being an animal behaviourist will ya?" he mock scolded.
" Can't help it" Cathy returned, " It is my job. That would be like you giving up ninjitsu," she pointed out.
" I know we were lucky to have him as long as we did. Sometimes though I had a feeling he was holding on just so he could help in Rama's training." Mike agreed, " He really seemed to go down hill after he stopped assisting in her training, when Leo asked him to step down."
" It is possible Mike, but then again it could have been just his great age catching up to him. No doubt his lifestyle of meditation and healthy eating helped to age him as well as it had." Cathy looked at Mike she took his hand in hers. " Do you just want to talk Mike?"
Mike sighed as he glanced away " I really need to put things into perspective and I need to get away for a bit."
" Hmm, well why don't we take a walk and talk a little, do you think that will help?" Cathy suggested.
" It might. Sure can't hurt." Mike muttered.
Cathy nodded " Lets go for a walk in the park then."
Mike smiled at his wife and hugged her "If we ever have another son Cathy, think we could name him Yoshi?"
" In honour of Splinter's Master of course. I can't promise we will have another child though." She agreed.
Mike gave a small quirk of an eye ridge " Ah, but it could be arranged."
Cathy chuckled a little knowing that Mike was only slightly joking once again hiding his pain and hurt behind his little jokes. When Mike suddenly enfolded her into his arms and she could feel the slight shaking frame she knew, even better how much he was hurting.
She gave him a gentle and sympathetic kiss. "Come on Mike" she urged.
They spent a long time walking and talking, sometimes crying though sometimes it was Cathy, herself who cried and other times it was Mike.
Before they returned home and to bed, Mike snuggled up close to his wife holding her close as if afraid to let her go.
…
Aiden tapped on Kaliann's door " Kali" he called softly.
Kali didn't answer but Aiden reached out and felt his twin sister's pain, he had always been closely connected to Kali. The bond between twins often provided a psychic link, in fact he had learned about such things in school with Uncle Donatello. Tales of twins separated at birth who lead very similar lives, and even how twins who remained together in the same family seeming to know when the other was in trouble.
Aiden cared for his sister deeply, he would gladly do anything to protect her, and he knew Kali often did a great deal in keeping his secrets hidden. She would also hold him back from his more foolish stunts.
Aiden recalled that Splinter had nick named them Yin and Yang. He personally didn't mind being called that name, for he knew it was true. Separate they were individual beings, but they were also made to complete each other. Aiden was also the only one privy to the fact Kali had a boyfriend. Aiden was quite willing to maintain his sister's secret unless the guy tried to hurt her, then the creep would have to deal with him, because Aiden planned on ninja justice on anyone who hurt his sister.
Aiden entered the bedroom to find Kali sobbing into her pillow she looked up and wiped at the tears, that were fresh on her face, and sniffed loudly, her breath hitched as she tried to control her sobs.
" Kali, it ain't that bad" Aiden began trying to reassure her.
" It is, Master Splinter is gone." She moaned hanging her head." I know you didn't like him calling you by dad's name but he did tell the best stories and…" Kali gasped shaking her head unable to continue.
Aiden nodded " He did. Sometimes his stories about dad, how he acted when he was younger, made me realize I'm not so different from dad." Aiden murmured. " I just don't want to be like dad now. I don't know why all this ninjitsu is necessary."
Kali picked up a tissue from the box on her nightstand and wiped at her eyes, " We can't just walk around freely either it isn't safe."
" Our lives aren't safe sis" Aiden corrected, " No matter what we do so what is the difference. The larger the family grows the more chance there is of us being found out. Why not just get it over with?"
" We have to be careful, go forward quickly but with much caution" Kali replied using one of Splinter's favourite sayings, then she grimaced, as if she realized suddenly what she had said and where it had come from. Her body shook and she took a deep breath trying to gain control.
Aiden put an arm around his sister, " Yeah he made a lot of sense. Not so much now. In his later years I mean, but he did come up with better advice then any of dad's lectures held." Aiden allowed, " But his riddles were a bit bothersome."
" He wanted us to come up with our own decisions because he knew those who ask for advice often have all ready made up their minds. Besides I think Rama agrees and is trying to push for such things." Kali scowled slightly, " You haven't been listening to her have you Aiden?"
" Naw, just thinking about the alternate world she was on and how the mutants there had a better life and maybe it is possible for us too." Aiden answered.
" Remember Splinter teaching us chess and wei-chi?" Kali asked reflectively
Aiden nodded. " Yeah it was kind of fun, playing and listening to his stories while he taught us and we nibbled on cookies Uncle Mike had made." Aiden bowed his head, and then looked up " It was his time Kali, and you know I'd rather think of the Master the way he was when we were younger then, the way he happened to be recently. I can't help but think he is out of his suffering now. Summer is almost over and well fall is coming on."
Kali sighed, " The winter's were always harsh on him." She concluded, "The cold and damp hurting his bones and joints so."
" Uncle Don couldn't even do much for him Kali. So, perhaps this is for the best." Aiden suggested simply.
" Maybe it is Aiden" Kali mumbled dejectedly. " But don't you feel a little sad, don't you just want to cry too?"
Aiden gave a small smile, " He told us to honour his memory when he was gone and not to shed tears because he had lived a full and happy life. I mean to honour that. No matter what it takes." He retorted.
Kali grinned, " I knew that he meant something to you too." She beamed.
" Course he did Kali" Aiden permitted, " he was my granddad too."
Kali gave a trembling smile and as the tears again welled in her eyes she thought that she saw Aiden quickly blink his eyes and take a deep breath to calm himself fighting to hold back his own tears.
Silently she assured her brother, because she knew if she spoke it aloud it would only make him more stubborn, that it was all right to shed a few tears. Master Splinter would understand and he would still be honouring the Master.
…
Leo slipped into his bed, and nestled close to Karena's body, doing his best not to disturb her sleep. Karena turned to face him.
" You haven't been staying awake have you?" He chided gently, in a soft voice.
" Not really staying awake, but after all these years of being around you ninja I think some of your skills are wearing off," She teased, " I wanted to know you were okay and I guess a part of me let me know you were here." She reached out and rested a hand on his plastron.
" I am all right. As well as can be expected I suppose." Leo answered, " How about you?"
" I don't know just kind of numb I guess." Karena replied, as she rested her head on his shoulder.
Leo caressed her face, smiled slightly in acknowledgement " I know what you mean. I meditated for a bit but now I just feel, empty." He concluded with a bit of a sigh.
" I have things arranged, April and Casey will have our transport here in the morning." Karena informed Leo.
" Good, what a way to move us all, two very large RV's." Leo sighed, " But for our family we need some means of moving us all and not get too much exposure at the same time. So it just made sense."
" True and they can also double for extra sleeping space for those who can't get in the house and don't care to sleep in the barn" Karena agreed. " By the way Leo how did things go with Ramiela tonight and those jumps?"
" Very well, better then I expected. It is possible to do a series of jumps, but I wouldn't want to do too much of it and I think it might be best to restrict the jumps to just short ones and for emergency purposes." Leo answered.
Karena scowled, " But if it went well Leo," she gave him a concerned puzzled look, " Why not allow it?" she concluded.
" Karena it is an extremely dangerous mode of travel, over long distances it seems to have adverse effects on the body. I don't even know how safe it is over short distances" Leo explained, " Just because one can do a series of short jumps doesn't mean that it is wise to do so."
" Leo I thought you were interested in this?" Karena inquired sceptically.
Leo nodded, " I am but I also realized something tonight Karena. We all sensed Splinter needed us, and Ramiela just disappeared to appear here. She could have ended up somewhere else." There was the slightest hint of fear in Leo's voice, " We can't afford to lose her. She is needed here now more than ever. For all I knew when she vanished she could have ended up in another alternate world, or on some place that is far too dangerous, an atmosphere that couldn't support our life, or end up floating in space for all we know." Leo paused and shook his head, " We can't risk it Karena, when a family member is stuck between certain death and teleporting fine but I can't permit it under any other circumstances."
" Rama isn't going to like that Leo, you know part of the reason she has been working for this is the hopes of returning to that other world." Karena stated.
" I know, but she will find a person closer to home to love and be with. She could never fully be with Devon anyways." Leo replied, " I hate doing it to her too, but against the alternatives I don't have much of a choice. She is needed here she can't be with him, not full time."
Karena nodded understanding " I know that, but it won't be easy telling her, and now may not be the right time either Leo."
" I know." Leo admitted, " But if I don't tell her soon that it can't be permitted she may just decide to go off and try it." Leo gave a little chuckle, " I don't even know if she could go there again. She admits she hasn't been able to connect with that boy since the Valentine evening with him."
" Your saying it might take more then that Leo?"
" Possibly Karena, after all there was a lightning storm when she vanished from this universe to that one, a large explosion helped bring her home. Perhaps these things acted as an accelerant to her travel, helping her cross the vast distance."
" If that is the case the only way Rama could return to him is by putting her very life at risk and in danger" Karena gasped.
" Yes, I know we do that almost every day to some extent, but those situations we know we can handle. Ramiela has no way of knowing if such a circumstances will speed her to where she wants to be, send her someplace else, or kill her." Leo stated, " For these reasons I can't allow it, for her safety, and whether she likes it or not, I can't permit her using these skills to try and reach Devon."
Karena sighed at the finality of Leo's words. She understood his decision and accepted it, for she would hate to lose the young chunin, Rama was a very important member of their clan. She was needed at home and the family had been devastated when she had disappeared to that alternate world.
Still Karena knew without a doubt that Rama would not be pleased to learn that the boy she loved so very much, could no longer be a part of her life, that she had to give him up without even a chance to say farewell, or explain things to him.
Karena also couldn't help but wonder how she would have handled it if she had been told she couldn't have the man she loved. She hugged her mate a little closer and felt a sympathetic pain for Rama.
She knew Leo was right, but she also knew that it wouldn't be easy for the chunin of the clan to accept, for in all purposes she was now going to lose not one person she loved but two.
TBC
Pretender Fanatic: Aiden, is his own person, don't let his actions fool you. He might not reveal everything on the outside. Meanwhile Raph has to be who he is and since he isn't going out to bust heads the TV had to be sacrificed. A gratitude for your insight.
Jessiy: The old Raph might have done just that but Sara does manage to help Raph to some extent. You are also very correct where Rama is getting her strength at the moment but it looks as if Leo might throw a monkey wrench into the works. A gratitude for your insight.
Digimon Girl: So good to hear. Hope you enjoy the latest chapter. A gratitude for your insight.
Lenni: I love driving people nuts. I'm a lot like Mike that way. But I do admit to a sarcastic wit as well. A gratitude for your insight.
Pacphys: Well someone in the family must maintain a level head. Holding things in tends to be bad they often tend to explode. I loved your line about head and heart it is so true. A gratitude for your insight.
Chibi Rose Angel: Oh yes Sassy's drowning very deep and so utterly hopeless and very sad. I doubt this story will get super angsty I think the worst is over but don't quote me on that. A gratitude for your insight.
Reinbeauchaser: I was hoping to cause a chuckle with Raph offing the TV. Ease the tension a little. Yes, I really didn't know what to do with Mike at that point, as I wanted each of the boys at different areas. I'm still not sure that I have Mike different at least I tried. As for Aiden I seem to recall in Gaele that Devon's reaction to Splinter's death was …life goes on attitude. A gratitude for your insight.
Lunar Ninja: Oh a suspicious dragon girl. Can't have that. Good keep your suspicions to yourself and don't tell because you might spoil the fun. A gratitude for your insight.