Chapter 20

Fifteen minutes later, Rachel was debating over whether or not to read the journal. Pacing back and forth… A few times she picked it up and was about to turn the cover, but then threw it back down in a huff. A loud crash caught her attention. A sarcastic remark and then in a flash, she was down on the ground being squeezed. "Rachel!" A familiar voice said, "Andy was being mean to me."

"Ouch…" Rachel could only say. Andrew had come over and was in the Lab with Donnie, since Bria had her wound re-opened, "…Okay why was Andy being mean to you?"

"He locked me out of the apartment," Matt cried. So she had just come back from work and had to run over here.

Rachel sighed before patting Matt on the head, "Well…don't you have a spare key?"

"It's in the apartment."

Rachel groaned, "Matt you'd lose your head if it wasn't attached."

"Same for you."

Andrew sighed as he heard the crash and the argument, "That's two people…" He muttered, "Neither of you can keep yourselves out of trouble," He told Bria as he finished wrapping the last cut.

Brianna chuckled, "It's not my fault danger seems to like me," she smiled.

Andrew sighed again just as they all heard another thud. "That makes three." He muttered. "I really shouldn't have come here if all Matt is going to do is injure more people just so I'd stay." He looked at Bria and then said, "If danger likes you, then you must love it."

"Eh-heh… Only when I'm not getting hurt every time I turn around," Bria admitted, "I am a Dare Devil and Adventure Lover, and back at home there was this river only about fifteen minutes away from home. I went there at every time of the year…Summer, Fall, Rain, Winter, and Spring. The worst injury I got was from my early days going there because I only stayed on the bridge. I was going along the tracks because it was a railroad bridge, and My leg slipped through one of the cracks. The bruise covered most of my thigh."

She laughed lightly, "Then when I started exploring further and further…the worst injury I got was a simple scratch." She smiled, "I get an adrenaline rush from that Adventurous side of me. Though…This sort of thing isn't my favorite," she turned her head to indicated her back.

"I wouldn't doubt that. Try not to move around so much next time though okay? There's a difference between being reckless and danger loving you." Andrew told her.

Bria nodded, "Oh, believe me sweets, I know," she told him.

"Well, let's go to the living room. I wonder how much damage Matt did…" Andrew sighed. He hated it when Matt got rowdy and uncontrollable. Then again, Rachel did just fine when he was like that when they were part of the Informers. "I'd die to know how Rachel can stand him," he muttered.

Brianna chuckled. She used him for balance as she carefully slid off the lab table, "I think Matt's cool," she smiled, "She's funny and a blast to watch and listen to."

Andrew shook his head. "Live with her for as long as I have," He said, "Then you'll start thinking the other way." He walked right into the living room to see that Rachel and Matt were both as far away as they could be. "So…" He drawled, "What fight did you guys have this time?"

"It wasn't a fight," Matt protested.

"Really?" Andrew asked, "I'm surprised you guys aren't." He noticed the journal that was lying on the table. "Fighting over a notebook?"

"I was just going to read it," Matt pouted.

"It's not yours to read," Rachel glared at her.

Matt frowned, "You let me read your other journal."

"…Yes but that journal was mine in the first place," Rachel groaned, "and for another thing, I never gave you permission to read it."

"Yes you did. I asked you when you were playing Zelda," Matt replied.

"…Oh you snake…" Rachel groaned.

"Whoa……whoa…" Andrew looked at the two of them, "Journal? Whose?"

"…No one's," Rachel sighed.

"Lair. Whose?" Andrew pressed.

"Mi madre."

Matt gasped and fell off the couch dramatically. Rachel looked at him before pressing her lips together. She was trying not to smile, "You didn't tell me that!" She said to her.

"Apparently she didn't tell you because then it'd want you to make you read it more," Andrew said before reaching over and taking it, "Why do you have it?" He asked Rachel.

"……Um…Bria? You didn't tell him?" Rachel winced.

"He didn't ask," Bria sighed and then looked at Matt, "You really need to learn to know when your nose isn't wanted. Rachel may make threats, but she doesn't follow them. Most of the time I don't either, but for you, if you read that Journal, you're going to have definite trouble on your hands." She gently took the journal from Andrew's hands, "Do you want to know why, Matt-chan?"

"Sure." Matt said. She knew the threat thing was true. Rachel always said different types of threats, but never had she ever gone through them. Bria on the other hand, she wanted to test her boundaries against her.

"Because this," Bria took a deep breath as she broke herself away from the overwhelming Aura that surrounded the Journal, "This is not an ordinary Journal. It's not even a simple notebook as you guys keep calling it. It holds the secrets to any or all of the questions Rachel has. This was her mother's book…and no one else should read it except her. As much as my own curiosity wants me to, I will not open this book's boundaries."

Brianna looked at Rachel, "And until you get over whatever is keeping it from reading it yourself, I will keep it in my care." She tucked the book under her arm and walked off as steadily as she could manage to the training room where she heard the brothers doing their afternoon light training.

Andrew blinked and then turned to Rachel who brought her legs up. Matt looked at her curiously, "What is keeping you from reading it anyhow?"

"I guess I still…" 'I still what? Miss her? Love her?' Rachel sighed and then shook her head. "Honestly I don't know." She looked up at Andrew and Matt, "What would you guys do?"

"If we had the journal?" Matt asked.

"If it was a journal of someone you cared about," Rachel snickered, "Obviously Matt you'd read it."

"Yeah…"

"Same." Andrew admitted, "Maybe I'd debate over if it's right or not, but then I'll think: What if there was a reason I need to read it? Would it hurt? Think of it like research if that helps any."

"It's like being in school again," Rachel grumbled.

Matt frowned, "Why don't you ask Bria? Or even Firefly?"

"Raph? Ask him about the journal? I think he'd think I lost my head if I'm not reading it!" Rachel exclaimed, "No way…" She paused and then sighed, "I'll ask Master Splinter about it…" 'What would be the harm in asking him? I think he'd understand…maybe even help me get rid of this feeling…' "The hardest part is looking for a good opening to ask such a question."

"Why don't you just ask?" said the familiar voice of Master Splinter. He smiled when they looked at him, "Come with me, so we may talk in private," he glancing meaningfully at Matt mostly but also gave Andrew a side-long look before turning toward his room.

Rachel blinked and then shyly went into the room. She was a little nervous now. Saying and doing were two completely different things.

Splinter shut the door gently and went to sit in the middle where his personal tea pot was sitting and he poured them both fresh cups. "Now, tell me what it is that's troubling you, my child," he said and handed her the herbal tea, "Sometimes it's best to start from the beginning," he suggested.

Rachel smiled her thanks. She looked at it for a while before explaining what had happened at breakfast, and then when Brianna had tried to unlock her power. She also explained about the attack Hun had on them. She took a snip of the tea when she was done explaining that part of the story. "I don't know what I'm scared of," She admitted as she set the cup down sadly, "I don't know if I'm scared to find out what it takes to get the Sight back or that I still miss my mother and I don't want to invade in on the journal. Even though, it's been tradition to hand down the predecessor's journal to the successor, I…I just can't bring myself to even open the cover."

Master Splinter thought for a long while and also watched the woman closely. "It is true," he said finally, "That you are afraid to open it because you do not want to invade her space. That, and you feel that you are pulling a…" he twitched his whiskers and then smiled impishly, "'Matt' and you don't want to see what kind of trouble will come about from you opening your mother's journal. Does this sound correct, Rachel?"

"…Yes." Rachel admitted, "It does."

Splinter put his hand gently on hers, "Then do not fear, my child, for this journal was meant for you to read. If you saw it in a vision, and it is passed down, then do not fear to read it. Your mother would not be angry with you," he soothed, "She would be happy. Read it tonight when there is no one to disturb you, if that will help you stay on track."

"I will. Thank you Master," She bowed her head. She felt a bit more at ease with the journal issue.

"Of course," Master Splinter nodded and sipped his tea, "Now, if you are not going to drink your tea give it to your sister and join my sons in their training. Pair with Donatello and Lily for more practice on the Bo," he told her, "When I am finished with my own tea, we will begin our evening meditation."

Rachel grinned, "Okay!" She stood up and bowed before leaving… somehow feeling a bit lighter.