Disclaimer – GAH, do I have to say it? I do? Alright (clears throat), "I don't own the turtles. Please don't sue." Satisfied? No? Okay, "I don't own Wendy's OC's either." Is that good enough? It is? (rein does a happy dance). Goodie! My work is done – almost.

Well, this is the second to last chapter – I hope.

And, I think y'all gonna be surprised when you get to the end of this one, too. :0)

Thanks to all who read and who reviewed. You're just awesome!

A Time of Reflection

by Reinbeauchaser

Chapter 7 - Heeeere's Sensei!

Gabby tried not to rush Jordan, but her son was taking his time, enjoying his breakfast in the comfort of his mother's arms. He smiled up at her every now and then, giving his widest grin to her, his mouth wet with milk. When he would beam up at his mother, the milk would dribble along his chin and then, he would go back to nursing for a while, only to take another smile break soon after.

It was as if Jordan was trying to encourage his mom for the difficult hours ahead.

Unfortunately, all it did was to make Gabby anxious, which of course impeded her flow of milk, which would then force Jordan to take longer - and giving her more of his smile breaks as he did.

When her son finally finished feeding, Gabby looked at the clock and saw that it was exactly seven on the hour.

"Oh, goodness!"

She quickly burped Jordan, then readjusted herself and her gi. As she prepared to leave the bedroom with him firmly entrenched in her arms, however….

"Jordy, I just changed you!" Gabby grimaced. Her hand was damp from Jordan's diaper, now wet and seeping through his outfit.

The baby giggled, seemingly amused with his mother's exasperation, but it was obvious he was just happy to be awake. Gabby couldn't help but smile at him, "You could have at least waited until your Uncle Mike had you, you do know that don't you?"

Jordan squealed as Gabby took him over the changing table. Five minutes later, she had her son changed – again – and in fresh clothes, as well. Quickly she rushed out of the bedroom and headed down the stairs. Soon, she was in the foyer, where Mike awaited her.

Pushing Jordan into her uncle's arms, "Here, he's yours, fresh diapers, clothes, filled tummy, food at nine, one jar, tepid, and make it pears…see ya in a few," and Gabby then rushed for the basement stairs that led to the dojo.

As Mike watched her go and as he held onto his grandnephew, Jordan babbled as if he was explaining what had made his mother late. The turtle smiled down at his nephew and tickled Jordan, causing the baby to giggle and contort in his arms.

"Seems your mommy's in a bit of a hurry, eh Jordy?" Mike cheerfully exclaimed.

He truly wished he could be down in the basement to watch Gabby's reaction, to see if she had indeed learned anything about her time away from her family. He could only imagine how lonesome she must have felt these past few weeks, but it was necessary in order to prep her for her training. She had to have her mind focused on learning and doing well enough to earn her family back again, plain and simple.

Mike then said to his nephew as he turned back towards the stairs, "Why don't you and I go and wake up your grandma, shall we?"

Jordan squealed in agreement and seemed genuinely excited, bouncing a bit in Mike's arms. It was as if understanding all too well what 'grandma' meant. He jabbered on in his baby-speak, his tail whipping about excitedly, as Mike carried him up the steps.

Suddenly, the patio door slid open and a voice called out, "Hey, where ya goin' with my grandson?"

It was Raphael.

Mike was about a quarter of the way up the stairs as he turned and looked down over the railing at his brother, "Going to wake Rahab…wanna come?" He grinned.

"Do I even LOOK like I wanna die today?" Raph chuckled and headed for the kitchen, "Ya make any coffee, Mikey?"

"Yep, full pot. Well, minus a cup or two, but – yeah, help yer self."

"Think I will," Raph declared, and then he turned around again and asked, "Say, Gabby downstairs yet?"

"Yeah, just a moment ago. She's a bit late cuz Jordan woke up and she had to feed him."

"She better start waking him up rather than waiting for him to wake up, 'cuz she can't make a habit of being late, no matter," Raph sighed.

Mike continued up the stairs while Raphael helped himself to the carafe.

After a while, he had downed one cup of coffee and had just poured a second cup, when he decided to return to Gabby and Seth's little house. However, he had a sudden thought.

"Hmm…wonder how Gabs is doing right now?"

He pivoted back around to head for the monitor room, situated across the hall from the basement stairs.

"Not supposed to spy on 'em quite yet, but – hell – it's my kid he's trainin' an' a father's right is a father's…" he pushed the door open to the monitor room and there, lying across the console, was a note. Raph snatched it up and quickly read it, "Please do not use the monitor. This session is between Gabby and us and is not for anyone else."

"Damn," Raph grumped softly, crumpling the paper and tossing it into the small trashcan under the console desk. He hesitated, though, temptation beckoning. He reached out to flip the switch to start the hidden camera despite the warning, when…

"I think the note told you not to turn anything on!"

Raphael turned around sharply, fortunately keeping his surprise under control – and the coffee in his cup, "Good gravy, Mike, give a turtle a heart attack," he exclaimed.

"You know they don't want anyone peeking in, Raph," Mike declared softly, closing the door to the dojo. He would have to speak with Gabby about making sure to close it each morning.

"Where's Jordy?" Raph asked quietly, trying to switch topics. He muscled his way out of the room past his brother and walked back into the family room.

"With Rahab and don't change the topic!" Mike followed him, explaining, "You know it's important for Gabby to learn obedience and she'll assume we're watching – like the last time."

"So, ignorance is bliss?" Raph challenged.

"Kind of, she's only to answer to them and not us; we're not part of the re-training process." Mike rebutted. "And, personally, I'm fine with it. I'm not a good sensei, anyway, too easy going, too busy with my business."

"Too busy spoilin' my grandson, too!" Raph chuckled. He then saw Rahab carrying Jordan as she descended the stairs. Wrapped in a blue robe that came very close to matching the blue color in her hair, she stepped off the stairs and made for the kitchen, talking with her grandson.

"So, what're we having for breakfast, Jordy?" she cooed, stepping into the room as she headed for the pantry.

"Gabby said he can have a tepid jar of pears at nine, Sweets," Mike said as he met up with his wife.

"Nine?" Rahab asked as she looked at Mike, almost disappointed, "Did Gabby have time to feed him this morning?"

"Yep, but it made her late to the dojo," Raph said easily, sipping at his coffee cup and sliding onto one of the stools at the breakfast bar. He leaned into the counter with elbows propped on the counter there, holding his coffee mug.

Rahab regarded her ex for a moment and then shrugged, "Oh well," and looked at the clock on the microwave, "guess I can wait for another hour and then-some." She smiled at Jordan, "Say, lets you and me go outside and greet the morning, eh?" and immediately left the kitchen with her grandson babbling on as always and firm in her arms.

Raph watched her go and after she slid the patio door closed behind her, he asked Mike, "Ya think he'll talk a mile a minute once he starts saying words?"

"Probably," Mike laughed.

Raph was reflective for a moment, before asking, "Say, Mikey, think ya can get Jordy for me after Rahab's done with 'em?"

"Why don't you ask her yourself?"

Raph sighed as he glanced once out the kitchen window, watching Rahab walk around the garden area, pointing to the various flowers as she talked with Jordan, "Ah, dunno; might be better if you get 'em for me."

Mike chuckled, "Still dealing, eh?"

"Me?" Raph looked askance, "Naw, more concerned about her issues," and he took a long swig of his coffee. He stared off, continuing to watch Rahab and his grandson Jordy.

"Right!" Mike shook his head and chuckled.

---------------

When Gabby had raced down the stairs, she groaned inwardly when she realized her first morning was going to be in the dark. She pushed her disappointment back, however, not wanting to let anything get in the way of her goal. She was determined to get back on track, back the way she was before Ramiela had arrived, and do her best to adjust to whatever her trainer expected of her.

If by doing so would get her daughter and husband home sooner, she would do whatever it took, regardless of who her sensei was.

Thankfully, it was obvious to her that Mike was not going to be her trainer – which was perfectly fine with Gabby. She rather preferred him to be the jovial uncle anyway. Seeing him all sensei around her yesterday morning and challenging her every move and word seemed horribly out of character for him. She didn't even know if Rahab could put up with Mike when he was like that.

In any event, as she came off the steps, she was thankful for the little bit of light coming down from the opened doorway above, as it illuminated the part of the dojo closest to the stairwell. She customarily stood off the dojo floor, as she knew she should, and bowed as she was supposed to do.

That much Gabby remembered.

Then, she uttered, "Ohiyo gozai-imasu, Sensei."

No one replied, so she waited.

And waited some more.

Gabby must have waited a good ten more minutes before thinking her trainer was late. She didn't believe that would happen, though, especially where she was certain her father was going to do the honors. She took a deep breath and let it out quickly, hoping he realized how silly it was to make her just stand and wait as she was doing.

Another ten minutes went by and she continued to stand at attention. She was really beginning to wonder, now, if maybe there was something wrong with her father.

"Maybe he's…sick?" she thought in concern. She tried to sense him, but failed to register anyone in the dojo yet.

Now, Gabby considered going back upstairs and telling Mike, but she had this other feeling that it would be the wrong thing for her to do. Then, she sensed it. There was something in the room with her; someone was already here! She could tell, now, where before she had felt nothing at all. Of course, she was a bit out of practice with that ability and even if she wasn't, Gabby knew she was not as skillful as her father and uncles were.

Consequently, she remained where she was. Gabby hoped that whoever was in the dojo – and who was obviously using the shadows to hide in – would make themselves known.

Thirty minutes eventually went by and still it seemed as if she was all alone. However, at that same moment, someone upstairs closed the basement door and then everything in the dojo went pitch black.

Involuntarily, Gabby sucked in a startled breath. She had forgotten how overwhelmingly dark it could get in the dojo. She took a few more quick breaths to calm her now-racing heart, remembering too easily how afraid of the dark she once was. She swallowed back her trepidation and really, really hoped that whoever was down there with her would make some sort of introduction – and quickly, too.

"I'd settle for Leo about now!" she mused wryly to herself.

As if she had spoken her very thoughts aloud, an all too familiar voice ebbed out from the inky blackness, "I'm glad you feel that way, Gabriella."

Gabby squeezed her eyes shut and berated herself, "I should be careful what I wish for."

Leonardo chuckled lightly, a bit amused with his daughter-in-law, and calmly remarked, "Indeed."

It was now obvious to Gabby that Leo had returned from Japan to train her and was, now, in perfect tune with her mind. It was also obvious that he had kept his mind closed from hers and used that advantage to gain a foothold with her. Now, not even a fleeting moment of thought would slip by him, that whatever Gabriella conjured up, whatever anger she might express inwardly, he would be fully aware of it.

And knowing this and that it was too late to build up her walls, Gabby cowed and relinquished her will to her father-in-law, her sensei. As she bowed obediently, she respectfully said, "Ohiyo gozai-imasu, Sensei. Onigashimasu!" (Good morning, Sensei. Please teach me).

Even though she was unable to see Leonardo, he smiled just the same, replying in turn, "Ohiyou gozai-imasu, Gabriella. Gokorosan." (Good morning, Gabriella. Thank you for doing what was expected). Then Leo instructed, switching over to English, "You may step out onto the floor, Gabby."

Gabby did as told. From the direction of his voice, she discerned where Leo stood. When she thought she had gone far enough, she stopped, confident that he was now in front of her. She bowed again and held her pose to await his verbal release.

A moment passed without any sound. She didn't know how much longer she could hold her position and then – right next to her along the right and so close he could have whispered in her ear, Leo said commandingly, "Yoi (return to ready stance). Osu (let's train hard and persevere)."

Gabby had all she could do to keep from yelping in surprise or from jumping right out of her skin. She grumbled inwardly, not at all pleased that Leo had deliberately tried to unnerve her. Still, Gabriella kept control of her emotions nonetheless. She straightened up once more and spaced her feet apart in a ready stance – and waited.

As a minute rolled by, Gabby wondered if Leonardo was going to combine lessons of patience and obedience this morning. She figured she had been standing and waiting for probably forty minutes and all he had asked her to do so far was to return to her ready stance. Oh, he had expressed appreciation for her cooperation and it did please her to know that. Yet, just continuing to stand there seemed pointless to her.

Suddenly, his voice drifted out from the dark like a disembodied spirit, "It seems you are willing, but your impatience is not."

Gabby gulped and cringed inside. It was going to take some getting used to, having someone aware of her inner thoughts, now. She felt she had failed, again, where he was able to sense her fretfulness. Her confidence waned a bit, certain he would add more time away from her family, certain Leonardo would use each and every offense in an attempt to rein in her spirit, to quell her stubborn resolve.

"I am not here to bridle you, Gabby," Leo finally said, his voice soft, "Although you still harbor a stubborn spirit, it is part of who you are and I cannot fault you for that."

He reached out and laid a gentle hand on her shoulder, feeling her flinch in surprise. When she accepted his touch and relaxed once more, "But to know when and how to use it – is why you are here."

He smiled, hoping his next words would betray his expression, "You did well waiting as long as you did; I am surprised – and please." He patted her arm, "Now, you must listen to me and listen to me very carefully." Leonardo's voice took on a more serious tone, "I want you to know that I am not going to be your sensei."

He heard her gasp in surprise, but she remembered to keep silent. Leonardo went on. "But, before I release you to your teacher, you must know that I will be in attendance at all times until I am certain you will be obedient to him and without question." He paused and then asked, "Do you understand, Gabriella?"

Without thinking about it, she replied, "Hai." She was thoroughly confused, now, and a mite concerned, too. "Why would he have to observe my father teaching me?" she asked herself.

"Good," Leo then said, although he had been perfectly aware of her assumption, "Now, as I said, you will obey him without question, you will do whatever he wants and without argument, anything your sensei tells you, I expect full and swift compliance. If you so much as quirk an eyebrow in challenge or curl a lip discontentedly, he will implement a series of push-ups for you to do or whatever punishment he decides. Although you are not physically training in ninjitsu, per se', where we only want to educate you, you will be doing some strength training, to reacquaint you with the arts; as far as you can go with them, that is." He paused for a moment, assessing her, and then said, "I have decided on who will be your sensei based on convenience and propriety, because I don't want you to relax too much after you are done here each day. Your training needs to be continuous." He felt her confusion and stated, "I know we said you would only have the mornings down here, but true clan education is not an hourly thing, Gabriella. It is living it, embracing it, eating it, breathing it, and…sleeping with it."

Gabby felt completely defeated, now. In that moment, she realized it was foolish of her to even think they would implement half the training time from what she suffered through five years ago. After all, she had blatantly challenged Devon's wisdom and in front of her daughter - his student - no less. That was a punishable infraction. Her own mother had told Gabby at the time that she had come away rather lucky, but then the turtle clan wasn't anything like the one Cassie had grown up in.

Nevertheless, Gabby stood there, trying not to cry, trying not to crumble, and trying her best to accept things the way Leo wanted them. She had made up her mind that morning to cooperate and, as hard and overbearing as it all sounded to her, Gabby was determined to see it through.

Leo smiled, feeling her resolve, and then he said, "Now, as for your sensei."

Gabby had all she could do to keep from rolling her eyes. It seemed rather pointless to her, to go through the rigmarole Leo had orchestrated. It was obvious that her father, Raphael, was going to be her sensei – or maybe even Don, but she doubted Don would do it. He was, after all, very much involved with Cassie. To leave Cassandra back in Japan or even to bring her back home, it wouldn't make any sense. Having her mother in Japan with Mindy would benefit the child far too much. And Gabby preferred her mother there anyway, for Mindy's sake.

No, Gabby was certain her father would have the task of training her. Why introducing him in the dark like this puzzled her.

Nevertheless, Gabby stood there and tried not to sigh in impatience, awaiting the introduction, feeling that everything was so redundant, so silly, so...

She felt a sudden movement in front of her and it caused her to startle just a little. Leo had changed positions and he was obviously now standing before Gabby. A few minutes went by and she waited some more.

Then, a familiar scent came to her and she wondered about it, but before it registered with her…the lights came back on, blinding her for a moment. Gabby squeezedher eyes tightly against the numbing brightness andpulled her head down in reflex. Bringing her hands up to shield her eyes, she covered them like a visor. After a moment, she slowly raised her head. Removing her hands from her face and gradually openingher eyes, she adjusted to the now light-filled room. Blinking back a flurry of spots and trying to focus again, she looked up and…

Gabby's mouth dropped open and she nearly collapsed.

"Hi, Gabs!"

Seth, her husband, was going to be her sensei. Gabby didn't know whether to rejoice or to groan with concern. But as she glanced questioningly over at Leonardo and saw the mischievous smirk on his face, Gabriella knew she should definitely be concerned.