Ch.16

Walking in to the lair entrance I could only see flashes of what happened moments before. All that filled my head was Cat screaming my name, it rattled through my brain hitting every nerve. My chest felt tight as a tried to keep myself straight, no, I can't break now. Cat and Leo needs me… I left her behind… I… with that thought I punched the wall to the training room where Master Splinter was meditating.

Coming in to the room I could feel nothing, but the pain from her scream, and when I ran back to them I could hear Leo's as well. Punching another wall I growled as I could also feel Splinter's frustration. Walking in, I couldn't get a grip no matter how hard I tried. Cat… Leo, what could they be doing to you two? Just the thought I threw down the stand of spears and bow staffs.

"Raphael, what is the matter?" I could look at him I couldn't get myself from muttering as I felt my throat swell up. My muttering turned in to babbling as I kept repeating myself with the echo Cat' and Leo's screams in my head. Feeling my rage and regret consume me I then threw over the bars and weight stand as I listened to it's loud slam to the floor Master Splinter kept his stern eyes on me. "Raphael, kneel," obeying I sighed and tried to get it out as best I could.

"I didn't something really stupid Master Splinter," watching as his eyes grew darker he walked forward.

"Go on,"

"I know why you chose him now," the lump in my throat returned, "The reason why he's the better son and I'm not," I then started to remember Cat' face, the way she would smile at me. Trembling and shaking my head I couldn't look at him, keeping my head down I could see his feet in front of me.

"Raphael, you always bare the world's problems on your shoulders. There is an admiral quality to what you are, a protector of others. Though, you must realize that you may not be my favorite student do not mean you're not my least favorite son," looking up at him finally he gave a gentle smile as he continued. "You are strong, passionate, and loyal to a fault, these are the merits of a great leader as well, but only tempered with compassion and humility," he then gave a teasing smile to cheer me up, "I believe that Catherine could also agree," I then went from trembling to shaking violently when I heard her name. I knew she believed in me… I let her down…I. I tightened my fists till my knuckles cracked as Master Splinters stern stare returned when he saw my reaction as I tried to shake it off long enough to tell him. I had to tell him.

"Mater Splinter, I messed up big tonight, I mean big," I then put down Leo's broken katanas. Shaking I looked up at him and I knew there were tears in my eyes, "They took them". Watching as Master Splinter caught on his ears flattened and pain filled his eyes.

"Leonardo and Catherine…"

"Yeah…"

"Our time of hiding is over, we must return to the surface and take what is ours," he strictly ordered as he left the room giving me my order. Getting up and gathered everyone around the kitchen table we started planning. When we were in agreement I went to my room and started to stock up. Laying out my weapons on the bed I could smell Cat's soft scent. Closing my eyes, I could almost imagine her sleeping in the bed like she use to. Opening my eyes I felt a spark spur inside of me as I started to equip all the weapons to my person. Heading out the door with a duffle bag over my shoulder I looked back at Cat's bed. Since she would stay here time to time she bought a rainbow zebra comforter and black and pink girly skull sheets to match. Then in the middle of bed was a plush turtle with a tacky red mask on it. She did it just to make fun of me. Shaking my head I smiled.

"I'll get you back Cat, I promise," I shook my head and smirked, "No, I will," closing the door I ran out of the lair with my brothers.

Darkness was all I could see as my eyes fluttered open to see a series of images before me. They were all hovering with no sense of direction or control. Then it hit me…they were my memories. Walking up to one, I could see it was one of Josh and me sparring in the dojo that was a few blocks over from our apartment. I remember, the sensei said we could stay there in till mom was off work. I saw more and more of my memories hover and float past me making me smile. Old friends, school, drama of the past and the happiest moments, they all made me feel warm and at peace. As they floated away I turned and saw one of just mom and I when I was a baby, she was smiling down at me. She had straight black hair and pale skin, I looked nothing like her… taking a better look at her for some reason I felt, off. Like she was a stranger, it was a sensation I never had from the other images. I was so lost till I heard her voice.

"Hi Catherine, I'll be your mommy now, I promise," she started to choke on her own tears and held me close, "I'll protect you, they will never touch you again!" she vowed as I felt my heart stop.

"What?" I stepped back to only trip on myself and fall over. What…What happened? Protect me from who? Why would she say that to me? Frustrated and confused tears filled my eyes, was I the reason she died? Was I the reason Josh died? Why the Dragons came after us? I shook my head and held it tightly letting the tears fall. No I had to stop, get it together; I had to wake up because this had to be a dream. I then looked up and saw a door with chains all over it. Walking up to it I reached out to touch it till I heard a voice calling me.

"Catherine…" it was a man's voice and it sounded very familiar, turning away from the door I looked around and started to walk away from the chained door. "Its time to wake up, Catherine?" I then smelt the odder of wine making my throat burn slightly of how strong it was.

"Catherine?" slowly opening my eyes I saw a wine glass tilted near my nose to help wake me. "I told them to be gentle, seems my expectations over the years have grown from what they once were," the man sighed as he sat up next to me smiling down at me. Letting my vision clear from sleep my eyes widened, the man was Winters.

"You're Winters," my voice cracked as he hurried and poured a glass for me as I tried to sit up from the comfortable cushioned chair I was put to rest in.

"Yes, I have been looking for you for a long time my dear," he smiled and gently handed me the glass of water as he kept smiling at me. Keeping my eye on him as I sniffed the water he frowned. "I wouldn't have made the trouble of trying to fine you just to kill you; I could have done that months ago, along with your partner in crime. Who was it again, the Night Watcher?"

"Yes, why am I here?" I asked finally trusting the water and taking a sip and letting it slowly go down my throat letting me wake up a bit more to realize I wasn't in my uniform. Looking down I was in a fuchsia empress evening gown that draped around me. On the top of the corset laid gold design that almost mimicked the golden armor across the room.

"I'm sorry, what you were wearing wasn't appropriate for a lady of your stature, I had to make arrangements to change your wardrobe," hugging my chest he shook his head, "Don't worry I didn't change you," sitting next to me again I saw nothing, but love, not the look that Leo or Raph would give me here and there. This was different, and then my eyes widened, mom use to look at me like this…

"Who are you to me?" I asked as he took my hand and sighed heavily.

"That is a long story," he tightened his grip on his hand and gave a sad smile, "I'm sorry, but I needed to see you one last time".

"One last time… You know me?"

"Yes, very much when you were a child… I had to send you away"

"Why? What happened? Who am I really?" with his other hand he stroked my cheek trying to calm me down, which it worked and I instantly stopped speaking. I knew this touch; I knew those eyes… but how?

"To answer the question of who you are… in a sense… you are my daughter," I felt my heart stop, I was his daughter?

"Wait… what do you mean in a sense?" giving a heavy sigh he took a long swig of his wine to help with his nerves before standing up and offering his hand. Standing I felt taller and felt like I was a baby giraffe trying to walk for the first time. Wobbling, Winters wrapped an arm around my shoulders and laughed.

"Sorry, the maids said it suited the dress, I wasn't sure of how much experience you had with heels," he chuckled more as I growled feeling my embarrassed blush creep on my face.

"Can we move on, please?" I looked away making him smile more and give a small chuckle.

"…Just like her…"

"Huh?"

"Nothing, shall we?" he offered his arm as I looped mine with his we walked to a secret elevator in pure gold and ventured to the most secret levels of the Winter Corp tower.