Disclaimer: Don't the TMNT or anything associated. I just own Maggie.
A/N: Heya everyone and welcome to the chapter that almost wasn't. For awhile, I considered just skipping over what happened to Maggie after she got back home and just letting everyone find out what happened to Raph since I've kept ya in the dark about his situation for so long. But the more I thought about, the more unfair it seemed that I didn't get to her side of things. After all, she's been such an important part of the story so far, it just wouldn't be right to cut Maggie out right now.
Maggie: *snorts* You just wanna show everyone what I do when I'm about to get into trouble.
Okay, okay. That too. But you gotta admit, Maggie, it is kinda funny to see you squirm sometimes. You're the only person I know who can pull off that thing you do with your ears.
Maggie: *death glare* Don't even go there, Streetwyse. Don't even go there. I get enough of that from Mikey, I don't need it from you.
Whatever pussycat. I still think it's funny. Well, as said, welcome and enjoy the chapter that almost wasn't and we'll see everyone at the end.
Maggie: Don't call me pussycat!
Chapter 7: You know better
She had no idea what was going on outside Splinter's study. Even with her sharper hearing, she wasn't able to make out whatever her Sensei was saying to Casey. And somehow, she had the feeling that she really didn't want to even if she had been able to.
Besides, eavesdropping would have only gotten her into more trouble if she was caught. Maggie was in enough of that to know that she didn't need more. She was going to be lucky to be able to deal with what she was going to get once Splinter finished with Casey.
Maggie had nervously been awaiting Splinter's coming ever since he had sent her to his study. She knew that she was really going to be in for it this time. For not only she had left home without telling her father, but she had gone to the surface without his permission. Those were both serious offenses in her family and always came with heavy consequences for an offender.
It was not often that Maggie was the one who suffered from such things. Normally, that sort of thing fell to her brothers. They were the ones that spent their free nights roaming the streets above looking for a fight or someone in trouble. Normally, Maggie was the one, due to her age, who had to stay home and out of trouble.
Sighing to herself as she bowed her head, Maggie thought, I sure didn't keep my tail out of the fire tonight. I just made a mess out of this. Now Sensei's gonna ground me or something and I know the guys aren't gonna let me live this down either. Leo's probably gonna be just as bad Master Splinter, 'cause I know he'll lecture me like crazy.
Maggie suddenly tensed when she sensed her Sensei's approach. Because she kept her head bowed, she had not seen him enter. But she had heard him when he opened the door and then slid it closed again. That and his quiet footsteps were the only clues one might have that she was no longer alone.
She dared not meet his eyes when he came in, for she already knew what would be waiting to greet if she did. There would not doubt be the pains of outrage and disappointment staring back at her. Even if she was prepared for it, that was the one thing that she didn't want to have to face. Not when it was located in the eyes of one whose opinion and judgement meant so much to her.
At the moment, those very eyes were watching the nervous motions the girl was making. Within them, there was more happening than anything Magnolia would have suspected. For in Splinter's heart, there was a gateway leading to the conflict between two emotions that had his heart in a deadlock.
One side of him, the part that had been completely worried for his daughter's safety, just wanted to take her into his arms and embrace her. That was the side of him that just wanted to protect his child from all harm and keep her that way. The other part of him felt no such thing. Just as Maggie suspected, it was the outrage and disappointment towards what she had gone and done. He had taught her better than to do foolish things like this and he had hoped that such lessons would stay in her mind at all times. But it seemed as if this had been proven wrong.
Shaking his head, Splinter took a seat on a mat opposite his daughter. He took a few seconds to compose himself and to prepare what he had to say. Doing so would help him with what he had to do next.
"Casey has told me what he said to you and why you went with him," Splinter said evenly," But I also want to hear what you have to say, young one. I want to know what you were thinking when you did this."
Maggie slowly lifted her head, taking her Master's words as a signal to look up. Her ears laid back as she did so, a clear display of the nervousness that racked her entire form. She dared to glance at Splinter directly and found that his face was mostly what she had been expecting. And that only helped to make it harder for her to speak.
She remembered what she had told herself earlier and honestly tried to use that to force herself to tell Splinter what he wanted to hear for a second time. But like before, it was just so hard to get this out. The words just kept getting stuck, refusing to come to her hands so that she could speak with her Master.
"Go on," Splinter prompted.
That was just enough to get her started. Finally, Maggie found the words that she was looking for. They came slowly at first, as she kept considering what she should say, but they picked up eventually and Maggie could tell Splinter what he wished to know.
I.I just wanted to help Raph, she stammered, Casey said that he would get into a lot of trouble if we didn't try to find him right away. I couldn't just let that happen. He's my brother. He'd do the same thing for me if I were in trouble.
She looked straight at her Master as she spoke. Even with the fear and uncertainty that she felt deep within herself, she knew that that was the only way she would be able to get the words out. The only way that she would ever get this off of her chest and maybe get rid of the nervousness that clung so hard to her.
Splinter couldn't help but sigh as he listened to the girl. He knew that Maggie had had the best of intentions when she told him she went to help her brother. Even when she was mad at them, she always wanted to help her brothers when they were in trouble. She had a strong sense of family loyalty that could easily rival any one else in their small clan and she always acted on it if she felt someone she loved was threatened.
That loyalty was a good quality that any parent would readily encourage in their child. For with that, powerful bonds could be created that could last anyone through even the hardest of times. But that only worked to a certain point. Sometimes, though it seemed unlikely, it was possible to be too loyal to others. Loyalty and concern for others in great quantities could easily make it possible for one to forget their own safety in a quest to help others.
To forget one's own safety, especially for someone as young as Maggie, could very well lead to dire consequences. Which was not an option that Splinter even wanted to think about. If he did, it would only help to bring one of his greatest fears to the surface of his mind.
That was the fear that he might lose one of students to the upper world's dangers. He had dealt with such a thing since all of them had been very young. During the early days, it was easier to deal with because he had more control over where the young ones went and was able to keep them in relative safety.
As they grew older however and gained more freedom, that became more difficult. Starting with the Turtles, they would range beyond previous boundaries and head into places unknown even to Splinter. In those areas, the unknown could either prove to be wondrous or deadly. Just another reason for a father to worry about his family's safety.
"I am not upset with you for being concerned about your brother, Magnolia. I would never do that. They are your brothers and you care about their wellbeing," Splinter sighed," But I am upset that you would do something so dangerous without even thinking about the consequences."
I know, Master. I'm sorry. I just wanted to help, Maggie said as she bowed her head yet again.
Cupping Maggie's chin in his hand and tilting her head so that their eyes met, Splinter scolded gently," Wanting to help your brothers is fine, Magnolia, and there is nothing wrong with it. But at the same time, you must also consider what will happen when you try to help them."
Maggie's ears perked up at his words. She straightened a little and lifted her head away from Splinter's hand. In her heart, she knew perfectly well what her Sensei was referring to. He meant that she should look at the bigger picture instead of just seeing what was only in front of her.
"If you simply jump into a situation without thinking, you may end up making things worse instead of helping it," Splinter continued, confirming the girl's thoughts," You can also make something worse by going off without alerting others to the problem. If you do that, there is no way for others to know if you need help or not, or if you are all right. They will worry for you, as your brothers and I did tonight."
I-I'm sorry that I made you guys worry, Master. I am, Maggie sighed.
"I know that you are and I know that in the future, you will try to consider things more fully before you act," Splinter nodded.
Yes, Maggie promised.
A strange expression spread over the rat's face as his daughter spoke. It was something of a cross between sadness, wistfulness, and slight regret. Why it was there or what was the cause, Maggie had no idea. But in a way, she couldn't help but think that she was somehow the cause of it.
"Sometimes I suppose that it is possible for a parent to worry too much about his children's ability to handle the world," he sighed," Especially when those children are nearly grown and must learn to take control of their own lives. There is just so much to worry about that one cannot help but feel that way."
Maggie really wasn't sure what she should say to that if anything. She thought that her Master was making more of a statement to himself than to her. If that was the case, then it was better not to say anything. So she decided to keep silent and wait to see what Splinter did next before doing anything herself.
Like herself, Splinter spent the next few moments in silence. He was thinking of his last words and what it meant to him as a father. He probably wouldn't admit to everything he felt on the subject, but it did hurt Splinter that his youngest child was finally growing up. Like her brothers before her, she was no longer the little one that she had once been. She no longer depended on him as she once had and was making decisions all her own. Some of them, like the ones that she had made tonight, were not always among the best choices. But they were still hers to make and she was learning to cope with what came of them.
Splinter couldn't help but sigh to himself as he considered this. It was a sad fact but one he had come to accept. That was a part of life that could not be changed even if one wanted to do so. Nor could the fact that Maggie, no matter how good her intentions, was going to have to be punished for breaking the rules.
Her Master already had an idea of how he would handle that part. He had considered it after he had left Casey to see himself out and came towards his study. It wasn't entirely worked out, as no such thing could be done is such a small amount of time. But he had enough in mind for now that it would keep Maggie out of trouble until he could finalize everything.
"Magnolia, I know that what you did was to help Raphael. Nonetheless, you still broke several rules and you know that that cannot be allowed," Splinter began.
Yes Master. I know that, Maggie agreed.
"For now, you're grounded for two weeks," he said," During that time, you will stay in your room unless you are at practice or doing chores. Is that understood, young one?"
Bowing her head, Maggie answered, Yes Sensei.
"I will also excuse you from this morning's practice so you may rest," Splinter said," I know that you are tired from being out so long and need to sleep. But to make up for this, I expect you to be an hour early for afternoon practice for the rest of the week. All right?"
Yes Sensei, Maggie answered.
"Good," Splinter nodded," You may go to your room now, young one. We will finish this discussion after you have rested."
A/N: *glances at Maggie* Now was that really so bad, Maggie?
Maggie: *gives a half-glares* Maybe not, but that doesn't mean I have to like the fact that you wrote this chapter.
Whatever, kitty cat. ;P
Maggie: Don't call me kitty cat either!
Yeesh. Talk about picky.
A/N: Heya everyone and welcome to the chapter that almost wasn't. For awhile, I considered just skipping over what happened to Maggie after she got back home and just letting everyone find out what happened to Raph since I've kept ya in the dark about his situation for so long. But the more I thought about, the more unfair it seemed that I didn't get to her side of things. After all, she's been such an important part of the story so far, it just wouldn't be right to cut Maggie out right now.
Maggie: *snorts* You just wanna show everyone what I do when I'm about to get into trouble.
Okay, okay. That too. But you gotta admit, Maggie, it is kinda funny to see you squirm sometimes. You're the only person I know who can pull off that thing you do with your ears.
Maggie: *death glare* Don't even go there, Streetwyse. Don't even go there. I get enough of that from Mikey, I don't need it from you.
Whatever pussycat. I still think it's funny. Well, as said, welcome and enjoy the chapter that almost wasn't and we'll see everyone at the end.
Maggie: Don't call me pussycat!
Chapter 7: You know better
She had no idea what was going on outside Splinter's study. Even with her sharper hearing, she wasn't able to make out whatever her Sensei was saying to Casey. And somehow, she had the feeling that she really didn't want to even if she had been able to.
Besides, eavesdropping would have only gotten her into more trouble if she was caught. Maggie was in enough of that to know that she didn't need more. She was going to be lucky to be able to deal with what she was going to get once Splinter finished with Casey.
Maggie had nervously been awaiting Splinter's coming ever since he had sent her to his study. She knew that she was really going to be in for it this time. For not only she had left home without telling her father, but she had gone to the surface without his permission. Those were both serious offenses in her family and always came with heavy consequences for an offender.
It was not often that Maggie was the one who suffered from such things. Normally, that sort of thing fell to her brothers. They were the ones that spent their free nights roaming the streets above looking for a fight or someone in trouble. Normally, Maggie was the one, due to her age, who had to stay home and out of trouble.
Sighing to herself as she bowed her head, Maggie thought, I sure didn't keep my tail out of the fire tonight. I just made a mess out of this. Now Sensei's gonna ground me or something and I know the guys aren't gonna let me live this down either. Leo's probably gonna be just as bad Master Splinter, 'cause I know he'll lecture me like crazy.
Maggie suddenly tensed when she sensed her Sensei's approach. Because she kept her head bowed, she had not seen him enter. But she had heard him when he opened the door and then slid it closed again. That and his quiet footsteps were the only clues one might have that she was no longer alone.
She dared not meet his eyes when he came in, for she already knew what would be waiting to greet if she did. There would not doubt be the pains of outrage and disappointment staring back at her. Even if she was prepared for it, that was the one thing that she didn't want to have to face. Not when it was located in the eyes of one whose opinion and judgement meant so much to her.
At the moment, those very eyes were watching the nervous motions the girl was making. Within them, there was more happening than anything Magnolia would have suspected. For in Splinter's heart, there was a gateway leading to the conflict between two emotions that had his heart in a deadlock.
One side of him, the part that had been completely worried for his daughter's safety, just wanted to take her into his arms and embrace her. That was the side of him that just wanted to protect his child from all harm and keep her that way. The other part of him felt no such thing. Just as Maggie suspected, it was the outrage and disappointment towards what she had gone and done. He had taught her better than to do foolish things like this and he had hoped that such lessons would stay in her mind at all times. But it seemed as if this had been proven wrong.
Shaking his head, Splinter took a seat on a mat opposite his daughter. He took a few seconds to compose himself and to prepare what he had to say. Doing so would help him with what he had to do next.
"Casey has told me what he said to you and why you went with him," Splinter said evenly," But I also want to hear what you have to say, young one. I want to know what you were thinking when you did this."
Maggie slowly lifted her head, taking her Master's words as a signal to look up. Her ears laid back as she did so, a clear display of the nervousness that racked her entire form. She dared to glance at Splinter directly and found that his face was mostly what she had been expecting. And that only helped to make it harder for her to speak.
She remembered what she had told herself earlier and honestly tried to use that to force herself to tell Splinter what he wanted to hear for a second time. But like before, it was just so hard to get this out. The words just kept getting stuck, refusing to come to her hands so that she could speak with her Master.
"Go on," Splinter prompted.
That was just enough to get her started. Finally, Maggie found the words that she was looking for. They came slowly at first, as she kept considering what she should say, but they picked up eventually and Maggie could tell Splinter what he wished to know.
I.I just wanted to help Raph, she stammered, Casey said that he would get into a lot of trouble if we didn't try to find him right away. I couldn't just let that happen. He's my brother. He'd do the same thing for me if I were in trouble.
She looked straight at her Master as she spoke. Even with the fear and uncertainty that she felt deep within herself, she knew that that was the only way she would be able to get the words out. The only way that she would ever get this off of her chest and maybe get rid of the nervousness that clung so hard to her.
Splinter couldn't help but sigh as he listened to the girl. He knew that Maggie had had the best of intentions when she told him she went to help her brother. Even when she was mad at them, she always wanted to help her brothers when they were in trouble. She had a strong sense of family loyalty that could easily rival any one else in their small clan and she always acted on it if she felt someone she loved was threatened.
That loyalty was a good quality that any parent would readily encourage in their child. For with that, powerful bonds could be created that could last anyone through even the hardest of times. But that only worked to a certain point. Sometimes, though it seemed unlikely, it was possible to be too loyal to others. Loyalty and concern for others in great quantities could easily make it possible for one to forget their own safety in a quest to help others.
To forget one's own safety, especially for someone as young as Maggie, could very well lead to dire consequences. Which was not an option that Splinter even wanted to think about. If he did, it would only help to bring one of his greatest fears to the surface of his mind.
That was the fear that he might lose one of students to the upper world's dangers. He had dealt with such a thing since all of them had been very young. During the early days, it was easier to deal with because he had more control over where the young ones went and was able to keep them in relative safety.
As they grew older however and gained more freedom, that became more difficult. Starting with the Turtles, they would range beyond previous boundaries and head into places unknown even to Splinter. In those areas, the unknown could either prove to be wondrous or deadly. Just another reason for a father to worry about his family's safety.
"I am not upset with you for being concerned about your brother, Magnolia. I would never do that. They are your brothers and you care about their wellbeing," Splinter sighed," But I am upset that you would do something so dangerous without even thinking about the consequences."
I know, Master. I'm sorry. I just wanted to help, Maggie said as she bowed her head yet again.
Cupping Maggie's chin in his hand and tilting her head so that their eyes met, Splinter scolded gently," Wanting to help your brothers is fine, Magnolia, and there is nothing wrong with it. But at the same time, you must also consider what will happen when you try to help them."
Maggie's ears perked up at his words. She straightened a little and lifted her head away from Splinter's hand. In her heart, she knew perfectly well what her Sensei was referring to. He meant that she should look at the bigger picture instead of just seeing what was only in front of her.
"If you simply jump into a situation without thinking, you may end up making things worse instead of helping it," Splinter continued, confirming the girl's thoughts," You can also make something worse by going off without alerting others to the problem. If you do that, there is no way for others to know if you need help or not, or if you are all right. They will worry for you, as your brothers and I did tonight."
I-I'm sorry that I made you guys worry, Master. I am, Maggie sighed.
"I know that you are and I know that in the future, you will try to consider things more fully before you act," Splinter nodded.
Yes, Maggie promised.
A strange expression spread over the rat's face as his daughter spoke. It was something of a cross between sadness, wistfulness, and slight regret. Why it was there or what was the cause, Maggie had no idea. But in a way, she couldn't help but think that she was somehow the cause of it.
"Sometimes I suppose that it is possible for a parent to worry too much about his children's ability to handle the world," he sighed," Especially when those children are nearly grown and must learn to take control of their own lives. There is just so much to worry about that one cannot help but feel that way."
Maggie really wasn't sure what she should say to that if anything. She thought that her Master was making more of a statement to himself than to her. If that was the case, then it was better not to say anything. So she decided to keep silent and wait to see what Splinter did next before doing anything herself.
Like herself, Splinter spent the next few moments in silence. He was thinking of his last words and what it meant to him as a father. He probably wouldn't admit to everything he felt on the subject, but it did hurt Splinter that his youngest child was finally growing up. Like her brothers before her, she was no longer the little one that she had once been. She no longer depended on him as she once had and was making decisions all her own. Some of them, like the ones that she had made tonight, were not always among the best choices. But they were still hers to make and she was learning to cope with what came of them.
Splinter couldn't help but sigh to himself as he considered this. It was a sad fact but one he had come to accept. That was a part of life that could not be changed even if one wanted to do so. Nor could the fact that Maggie, no matter how good her intentions, was going to have to be punished for breaking the rules.
Her Master already had an idea of how he would handle that part. He had considered it after he had left Casey to see himself out and came towards his study. It wasn't entirely worked out, as no such thing could be done is such a small amount of time. But he had enough in mind for now that it would keep Maggie out of trouble until he could finalize everything.
"Magnolia, I know that what you did was to help Raphael. Nonetheless, you still broke several rules and you know that that cannot be allowed," Splinter began.
Yes Master. I know that, Maggie agreed.
"For now, you're grounded for two weeks," he said," During that time, you will stay in your room unless you are at practice or doing chores. Is that understood, young one?"
Bowing her head, Maggie answered, Yes Sensei.
"I will also excuse you from this morning's practice so you may rest," Splinter said," I know that you are tired from being out so long and need to sleep. But to make up for this, I expect you to be an hour early for afternoon practice for the rest of the week. All right?"
Yes Sensei, Maggie answered.
"Good," Splinter nodded," You may go to your room now, young one. We will finish this discussion after you have rested."
A/N: *glances at Maggie* Now was that really so bad, Maggie?
Maggie: *gives a half-glares* Maybe not, but that doesn't mean I have to like the fact that you wrote this chapter.
Whatever, kitty cat. ;P
Maggie: Don't call me kitty cat either!
Yeesh. Talk about picky.