Love Don't Come Easy
Disclaimer: I deny any ownership of any adult or adolescent transformed warrior chelonians.
Chapter Three: Rama's duty
Rama headed to Leo's office after dropping off the dirty dishes in the kitchen, she tapped lightly on the door before entering, Leo glanced up from behind the desk and immediately set aside the scroll he was looking over and gestured for Rama to sit in the chair across from him "Well what have you learned about our guest?" he asked as he clasped his hands together resting them on the desk top and leaning forward a bit.
"I don't believe he'll cause us any trouble long as he is returned topside soon, I suggest within the next twenty four hours." Rama replied getting right to what she knew he wanted to know the most.
Leo scowled slightly "Can we trust him?" he inquired.
Trust was a different matter, especially under the delicate circumstances her family lived under, trust was often more important then avoiding trouble; for if you could trust a person then there wasn't much need to concern yourself with what trouble that person might cause you later on.
"That one is a bit more iffy at the moment. I believe he is trustworthy, he seemed very sincere" Ramiela hedged, "However the pain he is in at the moment could have covered a lot and the fact that he is a lawyer means he is probably adept at keeping his emotions and intents a little hidden to begin with."
" A lawyer?" Leo echoed.
"Yes specializing in discrimination. He fights for the rights of those who might otherwise be denied due to race, gender or what have you. He also works on citizenship papers" Rama smiled, " Steven could be very useful to us, if we can gain his trust."
Leo sat back in his chair arching his eye ridge a bit recognizing a string of a debate he and his chunin had run over numerous times before "Point taken and I will consider it" he informed her.
Rama nodded knowing to drop the subject and move on to other things they had touched on during their talk, that Leo would need to know about their guest. She sat back in her own chair her arms resting on the arm rests, took a deep breath and began listing the important things first.
Leo listened calmly to all she had to say, when she was done he asked a few questions, before dismissing her to her other duties.
Rama cocked her head as she rose from the chair, she wondered silently what Leo planned on doing about Steven, but she knew it wasn't 'proper ' to question the jonin on such things, that was his call to make alone based on what he felt was good for the clan. Besides she had a feeling he would be moved to a hospital topside by evening time, most likely the same Hospital Aunt Sara worked at so she could run interference for them, after that then Steven would be out of their lives.
Mores the pity, She mused to herself, he might really be able to accomplish things for us. It isn't like we came into this country illegally. We just aren't citizens. We are non-entities for the most part. It had been some time since she had really rebelled against Leo's strict rules, but there was a feeling, an urge to do so now Rama heaved a sigh How much longer can we keep our family hidden and safe under the streets of New York? I mean, things have changed so much since I was a child, especially how the family has grown since then.
They did have a full and large family Uncle Donatello had three children, Uncle Raphael three, The Master had four children and her dad of course had three and was trying for more, at least her dad kept talking about having another child and far as she knew her step mom hadn't kicked him out of the bedroom as of yet. But she knew her dad and Cathy both loved children enough that she was sure that she'd be having yet another sibling or two somewhere in the future.
Then there was Kaliann and her boyfriend Mark, the two had been going out for over a year now, and thus far the boy had managed to meet his beloved's parents, survive the small 'grilling' and not so small lecture from Leo without being intimidated or scared away. Of course when Mark got introduced to the rest of the family, it really put him on the spot, surrounded as he was by numerous turtles. It was easy to accept one being that was a bit strange, or odd but seeing a whole clan of them was nothing short of overwhelming. The fact that Mark had survived all that was a sign of his character, or at least his love for Kali.
Rama gave a wistful smile, I always knew Kali would have no problems finding someone special. Her thoughts went to Devon and she gave a remorseful shake of her head, she had not had any contact with him and she had given up on it after Leo's orders to forget teleporting to his world, but she wasn't finding much luck in her own world. "I think it would be easier to put Dev behind me, if I only had someone here." she muttered to herself.
She entered the dojo, she had a lesson to teach, she still taught the younger children in the clan, while Aiden, Kali and Uncle Raphael took on training of the older students. Rama enjoyed teaching her young cousins and brother and wasn't going give up being sensei to them simply because she had other tasks to do as chunin. At the moment she had Tyler, her younger brother and Tiffany, Leo and Karena's youngest who was a year older then Tyler.
Tyler came into the dojo at a full run, "Rama what we gonna learn today?" he asked quickly, he looked like Mike, right down to the trademark grin, except he had short auburn hair and five toes instead of two.
Rama gave him a stern but gentle look " Tyler you know you didn't enter the dojo properly so why don't you go do it again." She hinted, "And do it right this time little brother."
Tyler grinned and giggled as he turned and left the dojo returning at a walk, he paused bowing to four corners of the dojo and then up to Rama where he bowed. "Better? Now what we gonna learn" he demanded impudently.
"Tyler, what are you supposed to call me in the dojo?" Ramiela asked sweetly.
Tyler giggled and raised a hand over his mouth "Ramiela?" he answered with a smirk on his face, that told Rama he knew full well what she wanted.
Rama glowered "I can see some one wants to stay after class and work on his flips and other gymnastic abilities." She stated.
Tyler crossed his arms over his plastron "Your not much fun in the dojo Sensei Sister." he sulked, this was only Tyler's second proper year of ninjitsu training, though he had been training since he had been two and a half it hadn't been official, he just liked mimicking his big sister Rama at that time.
Rama tried not to laugh at his petulant face, her brother was an imp, and secretly she loved his playful nature and the antics he tried to get into during lessons, but she also knew that as his Sensei she had to see to it he obeyed and followed the rules of respect for she wouldn't be doing him any favours by playing favourites.
"That is enough go do some front flips" she ordered letting him know he crossed the line.
"Hai Sensei" Tyler acknowledged quickly realizing he'd gone too far, yet again.
Tiffany entered the dojo properly and bowed to her sensei greeting Rama politely she noticed Tyler was all ready doing flips and she rolled her eyes. "At it all ready Ty? Are you gonna behave today?" she groaned.
The boy shrugged indifferently "I don't know. maybe." he chirped honestly.
Tiffany turned a pleading look Rama's way "Is it possible Sensei Ramiela to have a different partner, just once even?"
"It is possible and I will see about it." Rama permitted, "However it is better to keep those who are close in age together. Now let us get to today's lesson," Rama turned and looked at Tyler, " Tyler you will behave yourself today" she insisted.
"That's askin an awful lot" the four year old muttered.
"Keep it up Tyler and you will have father to deal with as well as me" Rama warned.
Tyler gulped and fell silent. That sounded like too much trouble even for him.
OOOOOOOOOO
Steven woke in the infirmary he wasn't sure for a moment where he was, but then it came back to him, though he was sure the last bit about giant turtles and thinking Rama was a giant turtle had to be a dream, or dream related. Yet as his eyes focused he saw a turtle sitting in a chair near the bed, one glance told him this was not Rama for one thing this turtle had no hair, and he had an orange mask around his head. he raised a three fingered hand.
"Hi there. How ya feeling?" the voice was warm and friendly, as if the turtle was willing to be a friend, so amiable was his tone.
"Uh all right" Steven muttered a bit as he yawned " Am I going be taken to a hospital soon?" He wondered curiously.
"Of course you are, later when Raph goes to pick up Sara. You didn't think we were going keep you here as a pet did ya?" the turtle smiled and laughed smacking his hand on his leg, shaking his head in amusement, "Aw don't mind that, kinda a private joke. By the way my name is Mike, I'm Rama's father." The turtle offered his hand in greeting.
Steven grasped it and shook it.
"We just want you to get a little more rest first. It won't be easy getting you to the hospital, and you are going need to rely on Raph and myself to do it, so we just want you to be a bit more comfortable with us too." Mike explained as he stretched his legs out.
"Raph?" Steven echoed.
"My father, he had a sense of humour I swore he really did, I mean he decided to name us after renaissance artist right? Most of us go by short versions of the names though. Raphael's wife is a nurse so she'll check you in help get things squared away for ya is all." Mike informed Steven.
"Good, no offense I just think I'd feel better in a real hospital." Steven muttered.
"Hey no problem Steven, I fully understand and agree." Mike assured him kindly.
"That girl Rama." Steven began.
Mike tensed a bit "what about her?" he inquired suspiciously.
"Just wondering if I'll see her again before I go," Steven said, "She was ..." he paused, "Very nice I just wanted to thank her."
"Rama has certain duties she has to perform around the home and I don't think she'll have time to see you before you leave, but I will pass on the message." Mike said, while thinking that he would do no such thing. He didn't know if he liked a lawyer wanting to be around Rama more.
"Oh well okay" Steven gave in.
OOOOOOOOO
He followed the familiar path through the sewers, a packsack flung over his back, memories seemed to flow and he shut his eyes tight as he leaned against the concrete wall of the tunnel, he took a deep breath and headed onward, shoulders slumped and his head hung in dejectedly, he finally arrived at the door knocking on it.
Rama opened the door, she didn't waste time with words just pulled her old friend into a hug. "I feel for you Jessie, I remember the pain of loss," She whispered into his ear, as she embraced him, "We understand what you are going through and we are here for you. Come on, you've been traveling and you are exhausted. I'll show you to a room. Okay?" Rama assured him. She kept one arm around his shoulders as she walked, noting out of the corner of the eye the changes in her friend.
True some things remained constant, but he was not exactly as he had been when she met him when he'd been seven. Jessie was now a few inches shy of the six foot mark, he was taller then her by about four or five inches at least, from the hug they had shared, she could tell he was well muscled in chest and arms, meaning that he still worked out, the discipline hadn't left him, even if he hadn't received any ninja training from them since he was thirteen or fourteen and he started spending less time with her, as he became interested in girls his age.
He still had his dark unruly hair that seemed to go in every direction at once, and he was still very much her friend, the bond that had formed in their youth had never fully been broken or severed.
"Rama what am I gonna do?" Jessie asked his dark eyes looking like they were filling with tears.
"We will help you, as much as we possibly can. This isn't easy but Karena and Leo both want to see you once you are settled and they will be discussing some of the things they can do to help you over the next few days." Rama stated, "Don't forget Leo is now Master of the clan, though he'd forgive you any lapse in manners at the moment." Rama stated as she steered Jessie towards the bedroom area.
Jessie turned and gave her a tentative smile "Thanks Rama."
"No problem so you still friends with that girl you were with last time you were back home?" Rama wondered.
Jessie gave a negative shake of his head "No we broke it off" he admitted.
Rama nodded "Mutual or was it one sided?" She couldn't help but ask.
"More or less mutual. She wanted the chance to see other people that were more along her sort of taste and I just didn't think we were meant she was too..." Jessie made a face, "fussy."
Rama laughed as she sat on the bed in the room Jessie was taking "I think you have to lower your standards a bit. You always get girlfriends but never stick with them." She teased.
"There is a right girl for me somewhere. I just got to keep looking is all" Jessie protested.
"Yeah, well. You have a better chance of finding her then I have of finding me a guy." Rama concluded, "You'll be a grandfather before I find anyone for me, and that is if I am lucky."
"You'll find someone Rama" Jessie declared, he knew Rama liked to tease about when she would find a guy, but he also knew that she really wanted someone for herself.
"Yeah right Jess" Rama smiled, "In my spare time between, lessons, babysitting, doing patrols, working out and what have you I have time to go out and find me a guy who isn't going run from my ugly mug" Rama retorted she kept her tone light, though she found it bitterly true.
"You had Devon" Jessie pointed out.
"Had being the operative word Jessie. Devon is who knows how many miles away, never mind years apart from me now." Rama insisted sorrow tinging her words.
"You said there were similarities" Jessie spoke the last word slowly so there was less chance of stumbling over it, "Between the two worlds maybe there is a Devon here that you just have to find" he suggested.
"Maybe" Rama agreed, " Or maybe I will die a virgin, which is far more likely."
"Your uncle Raph is teaching you to be cynical" Jessie retorted.
Rama grinned "What do you mean teaching?" she asked arching an eye ridge.
OOOOOOOOO
Mike settled in beside Cathy pulling the blankets closer about them "So now Steven is topside and not our problem."
Cathy nodded "Pity male guest never stay too long. Rama could benefit from a male visitor I think" Cathy murmured.
"Humph!" Mike snorted, "Rama has better things to do then baby-sit guests" he declared.
"Ah-ha. He said something about Rama didn't he Mike?" Cathy pounced, "Don't you realize Mike, Rama needs someone for herself. She is so busy being a ninja, learning everything she needs to be a Jonin, giving everything up for family that she needs something, someone for herself."
"Rama is fine Cathy" Mike pulled her into his arms.
"Mike Rama is going be twenty one soon, and the only guy she has ever been with is Devon, most girls her age have all ready been with a few guys" Cathy proclaimed, "As she gets busier with ninja duties she is going have less time for the things that she might want out of her life."
"Cathy, Rama will find someone when she is ready for it. Look how long it took me to find you." He smiled as he nuzzled her neck.
Cathy purposely pushed him away "Mike Rama hardly has time now, she won't get any later. Everyone talks about Leo and how he came to have Karena how it was a good thing for him" Cathy shook her head, "Don't you realize Rama hasn't been her usual self since she said goodbye to Devon after Splinter's death?"
"She is growing up Cathy and there was Splinter." Mike pointed out.
"It is more then that Mike. Open your eyes, Rama is throwing herself into work to forget her pain, her loss, and possibly to forget about love. If Leo's walls came down because of Karena, then Rama won't need walls if she could only find someone to show her she doesn't have to be alone in her life." Cathy sighed, "She has her family, but it isn't enough for her. Rama loves children and she wants her own Mike. She deserves it! All your protecting her isn't going help her find her place or happiness in her role in life. Pretty soon she may start building her own walls."
Mike sighed, Cathy he knew was right about Rama's sudden workaholic behaviour and while she loved to play with her younger siblings and cousins she often got a distant look on her face as if dreaming of something else.
TBC