Michelangelo led Raphael down hall.

Raph raised an eye-ridge. What was Mikey up to?

It had been two weeks since Mikey was brainwashed, and honestly Raphael was getting really used to having him around. It would feel weird when things went back to normal.

If he were truly honest with himself, Raph would have to admit that it would probably hurt. Before Mikey had been brainwashed, none of his brothers had ever been allowed this close to him. But the youngest turtle's brainwashed state had somehow brought the hot headed turtle closer to his family members. He realized, of course, that he was letting his mask down a lot more than he usually did. And it felt good.

It felt good to let go of the false front. It felt good to know that he could let go and be himself and his brothers wouldn't mind.

He didn't have to worry about what his brothers thought. Mikey was sick. Shell, they all knew that he cared. So what was the use of hiding his love for his little brother? They were all concerned. Why should he pretend he felt any different?

On the other hand, he had to maintain his tough guy appearance. It was ingrained in him. It was part of his personality, his character. Though every once in a while he had to let it go. Sometimes his emotions were just too strong. Sometimes his heart was too soft.

Sometimes it was all too much.

But...it felt so good...to be hugged.

To have that physical confirmation. To know that someone truly cared. It was the kind of reassurance he needed. The kind he had always craved.

Raph had always loved attention. Unfortunately, the attention he received was usually more negative than positive.

He needed physical reassurance more than anything else sometimes. He couldn't even count all the times he'd wanted to hug his Sensei. Sadly, he'd only been able to rack up the courage to do so about three or four times in the past.

Mikey had been hugging him almost every day lately. And if he wasn't hugging, the youngest was following after him, or holding onto his carapace in their version of a piggy-back ride. Raphael smiled to himself, slowly returning to his thoughts as he realized he was in Mikey's room.

The youngest held something out to him. Raph frowned. The camera?

"What do you want?" Raph asked softly. "You want me to take pictures of ya?"

Mikey shook his head. He put his hands on Raph's shoulder "Broooooooooooooooooo."

Raph's eye-ridges furrowed in a confused expression, "What? I don't understand."

Michelangelo put a hand on his plastron and then gestured outwards. "Brothers."

Raphael raised an eye-ridge. "You wanna take pictures of our brothers." He said slowly, not fully understanding why Mikey wanted pictures in the first place.

Mikey nodded and moved his hand in a 'come on or more' sort of gesture.

"And—" Raph began, realizing that Mikey was prompting him.

Michelangelo nodded. Then he pointed to himself. "Mikey."

"And you? You want pictures of our brothers and you? You want me to take them for you?" Raph asked, genuinely trying to understand, though he was slowly growing frustrated.

Mikey shook his head. "Brooooooooo."

Raphael decided to take a guess. "You want me in them."

The youngest turtle smiled widely and nodded.

"Why?" Raph asked, suspiciously. This wasn't one of Mikey's usual quirks. They hardly ever took pictures. Mikey usually kept the camera reserved for taking pictures of his pranks.

Again, Raphael didn't get an answer. Instead, Michelangelo grabbed his older sibling's hand and dragged him off yet again.

"C'mon Mike, where are you taking me?" His voice sounded annoyed, but there was laughter in his eyes.

Mikey gave him a 'sh' gesture. They stopped in front of Raph's door. Baby blue eyes glanced at the door, then turned to his brother as though asking permission.

Raph nodded. Mikey opened the door and went inside. They walked directly to Raph's photo wall. Mikey pointed at the picture of Leo, Don, and Mikey smiling happily. Raphael raised an eye-ridge.

The youngest frowned. Apparently Raph wasn't getting the point. He took the picture and pulled it off the wall.

Raph let out a sound of protest. But before he could vocally object he was being pulled away.

————————————————————————————

For some reason when Raph told Leonardo that Mikey wanted a picture of them, the eldest seemed to think the hothead was up to something. Raphael didn't blame him, but honestly, you'd think Leo would be at least a little more cooperative. When Leo refused, Mikey was not happy.

Donatello had mentioned earlier that Michelangelo's brainwashing had left him with the reasoning of a child. Man, he wasn't kidding. Mikey wanted something. Leonardo wouldn't give him what he wanted. So Mikey used his childlike reasoning and decided that the only way he could get what he wanted was by throwing a fit. So he yelled...

And yelled.

And yelled...and yelled and yelled and yelled.

Raph grimaced. He yelled as loud as he could to Leo. "Ya know he's just gonna keep doing that, right?"

"Why?" Leo yelled back.

"Because he knows what he wants."

"Well, he isn't gonna get it. I'm not falling for your trap. There has to be some kind of prank in it."

"Alright. I'll just step out of here while you explain that to him." Raph stated, vanishing through the lab door.

Leo stared after Raph, his mouth opening and closing like a fish. He turned to Mikey, then back in the direction Raph had gone. "Raph!" He yelled, his ears aching. He rubbed his forehead. His head was beginning to spin. How does Mikey even have that much air in him? He wondered in exasperation.

Oh screw it!

Leo grabbed Mikey by the carapace and dragged the youngest after him. Mikey was still yelling.

"Brooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!" The youngest yelled as his older brother literally dragged him down the hall.

Leonardo glared at Raphael. "Raphael, can't you shut your brother up?"

Raph crossed his arms and smirked. "Oh so now he's my brother?"

The eldest retorted indignantly, "Yes, he actually likes you!"

The smirk turned into a scheming smile that was absolutely dripping with mischief. "So we can do it then?"

The blue-masked turtle was silent for a moment, and Mikey was still yelling. "Okay, okay! You can do it!"

Raph looked triumphant and incredibly pleased. "Alright Mikey, you can stop screaming now, we can do it."

The screaming ceased before Raph even finished the sentence.

"I know I'll regret this." Leo mumbled, dejectedly.

"Leo?" Don asked curiously.

"Don't you go back on it Leo." Raph said warningly.

Leo glared. "Maybe I should."

"Mikey." Raph stated evenly, and the youngest took in a deep breath, as though to start screaming again.

Leonardo held up his hands. "Alright. Alright. I yield."

Raph smirked, Leo frowned, and Don and Mikey smiled.

Raphael's laughter rang down the hall. Leonardo couldn't help but grin. That open ringing laugh didn't surface often. But when it did, it was something really special.

Leo glanced at Donnie. He was still curious. Before the genius asked, Leo answered. "Raph and Mikey want to take some pictures of the four of us."

"Well that wasn't quite what I was expecting." Don stated evenly. "I was imagining something much more...mischievous."

"There has to be some sort of prank in it." Leo said suspiciously, his eyes narrowing.

Donnie chuckled softly. "Maybe." He admitted. "But I think it's worth it to see Raph so happy. He's never been like this before."

Leo grinned. "Yeah." Then his expression sobered and his mouth tightened into a thin line. "Raph sure has gotten attached to Mikey."

Donatello frowned, reading the implications of his brother's tone.

"What will happen when we get Michelangelo back to normal?"

Don broke eye contact. "I don't know, Leo." His voice softened. "But it's gonna hurt Raph." Then he repeated softly, "It's gonna hurt him very deeply."

For a few moments there was only silence.

"There are just so many unanswered questions..." Don began, his voice dropping off at the end of the phrase.

Leo nodded.

Just as the eldest was about to speak, Mikey bounced back into the lab. "Brothers!" he said excitedly, gesturing for them to follow.

——————————————————————

When the three of them arrived in the dojo, Sensei was already there, holding the camera.

Leo and Don exchanged wary glances, but went to stand by Raphael.

Mikey jumped over to Raph and tackled him. Leonardo and Donatello laughed at their antics. Raph allowed his little brother to 'tickle him into submission' with a smile on his face. All four turtles were laughing so hard they didn't even notice that Sensei had taken the picture. The turtle brothers froze as Master Splinter approached them.

The old rat handed the photo to Raphael. All four of them were smiling openly, their faces filled with laughter. Just looking at it made Raph smile. He handed the photo to Michelangelo. "Well little brother. There's your picture."

Mikey looked confused. He shook his head.

Raph frowned. "What, you don't want it?"

Mikey shook his head again, only this time he pointed at Raphael.

"What about me?"

Mikey held the photo out towards him.

Leonardo canted his head. "I think...he wants you to have it, Raph."

Raphael's eyes widened. "What?"

Mikey nodded to Leo frantically. He pulled the picture from Raph's photo wall of the three of them out of his pocket and pointed to it. Then he put the new photo on top of it.

Donatello's brown eyes widened in understanding, "Raph, he wants you to replace that one with this one. He wants you to have a picture that you're actually in."

Comprehension dawned on the hotheaded turtle. "Oh. Mikey, you didn't have to go to all that trouble." Raph paused, then proceeded to elaborate, "You're the best brothers a turtle could ask for. I don't need to see myself on the wall."

Mikey shook his head and handed Raph the picture insistently.

The red-masked turtle chuckled. "Okay, Mikey, okay." Michelangelo hugged him. Raph patted Mikey's carapace gently. "Thanks little brother."

Don cleared his throat, sending a nervous glance at Leonardo. Leo raised an eye-ridge.

Raph turned to them.

Donatello spoke haltingly. "Raphael, can I talk to you and Leo for a minute?"

Raph nodded. He turned back to Mikey. "Mikey, go with Father for a little while. I'll be done in a few minutes."

Mikey nodded innocently and trailed after their Sensei as he left the room.

Bright green eyes turned back to the other turtles. "What's up Don?"

"I've been working on blueprints for a machine that should return Mikey to normal. But I've only just completed the design specs."

Raph's heart sank. Already?

"Are you sure it'll work?" Leo asked, oblivious of Raphael's stupor.

"It should." Don stated.

Raph's eyes narrowed. "And if it doesn't?"

"I designed it to be very mild. Even if it doesn't work, it won't hurt him." That silenced Raphael.

"How long before it's up and running?" Leo asked.

"If I start now, two, three days max."

"Do it." The leader said, his dark blue eyes gleaming. Then his gaze fell on his immediate younger brother. Raph was silent.

Donatello followed Leonardo's gaze and frowned. "Raph, you okay?"

Raph emerged from his thoughts. "Huh? What?"

"Are you okay?" Leo said, repeating Don's gentle question more forcefully.

"I'm fine." Raph asserted. He paused. When he spoke his eyes were sad and dark. "Are you sure it won't hurt him?"

Donatello nodded reassuringly. "Yes. I'm sure."

The corners of Raphael's mouth pulled downward into a frown. His eyes gleamed sadly. "Then do it."

Leo smiled sadly at Raph's expression. He put a hand on his immediate younger brother's shoulder softly. "We need Mikey back Raph."

Raphael nodded. "I know Leo. I know. I'm just gonna miss the little guy that's all."

"He may be different from his childlike version, Raph. But he'll still be Mikey."

That made Raph smile a little. "Yeah. And everything will go back to normal." The smile faded.

Leonardo frowned. "Raph...You've been really open these past two weeks. I—" the eldest struggled to compose exactly what he was trying to say. "I want you to know that I don't want you to stop."

Raphael glanced up at him. "Leo—what?"

"I-I know that Mikey going back to normal is gonna hurt you. It's obvious that you've gotten really attached to him. Donnie and I will help you."

Raph shook his head, "Leo you don' t have to do this just because of..."

Leo held up a hand to silence Raphael as he spoke. "I'm not doing it out of pity or anything like that. I want to do it because I care about you and I don't want to see you hurt."

That shut Raphael up for a few minutes. Finally the hothead stood and made his way over to his older brother. Their eyes met. Raph's expression was unreadable. In one movement he reached out and pulled Leo into a rough hug. "Thanks Leo."

Leonardo smiled softly. He patted his younger brother's shell lightly. Sometimes he forgot how emotional his hotheaded little brother really was.

When Leo stepped away from Raphael, Donatello hugged his hotheaded brother tightly. Raph smiled.

"Thanks guys." He said softly.

They both smiled back at him. "Anytime Raph." Leo stated. "Donnie and I are here for you."

Raphael nodded.

—————————————————————————

Three days later the machine was ready. Raphael's hands were shaking with nervousness. What if something went wrong? What if Mikey got hurt? Or what if it didn't work? What if they couldn't get the old Mikey back?

He shook those thoughts from his head. Raph stepped into the main room to be greeted by a happy, "Bro!" From his younger brother.

Mikey had learned a couple new words in the last few days. He'd begun saying Leo and Don rather than just 'brothers', and he'd even managed to say 'Sensei.' But he wouldn't call Raphael by his name. It was always bro.

Raph smiled as the youngest bounded over and pulled him over to the kitchen. The smile was forced. Donnie had finished his machine late yesterday night. Today was the day.

Raphael pushed Mikey away gently and moved away from the kitchen. "No thanks Mikey. I don't think I could stomach it."

Mikey's eyes widened and his smiled dimmed. He put his hands on Raph's shoulders. "Brooooooooooo?"

Just then Don emerged from the lab. "Oh good. You're up." The brainiac said. "We're all set. Come on in."

Mikey glanced at Raph questioningly.

Raph avoided eye contact as he led Mikey into the lab. He closed his eyes tightly and ignored his brother's questioning 'broooo?'

When they reached the lab, bright green eyes immediately landed on the strange-looking addition to the lab. It was a large mechanical device with a head piece that looked almost like a wired colander.

"Mikey, get on the table." Raph stated.

Baby blue eyes went wide. They were filled with terror. The young turtle began to shake. He stared at the contraption on the table, and then at his brother. "Brooooooooooo?" his voice was panicked, as though he was asking what was going on.

Before Mikey could make a run for it, Raphael grabbed him by the shoulders.

"It won't hurt you. I promise. It'll be okay. It's the only way we can get the real Mikey back."

Mikey quieted down a little and stared at Raph, confused. "Mikey." He said, gesturing to himself.

Raph smiled sadly. "Yes you're Mikey. But you don't understand. We need our Mikey back. Mikey needs him memories back."

"Don't Raph." Don interrupted before Raph could go on. "You'll only confuse him."

Mikey looked at Donatello. Then he looked at Leo. The youngest turned to the table. He pointed at it. "Mikey?" He questioned.

"Yeah, if you do this, it'll bring our Mikey back." Raph stated.

Mikey mulled it over for a moment. Then he smiled. Then he nodded. He waved to Leonardo and Donatello. "Leo, Donnie." He said.

Michelangelo turned to Raphael. "Broooooooooo." He pulled Raph into a hug. Raph returned it wholeheartedly. "Goodbye..." There was a few moments silence and then Mikey whispered. "Raph."

All three brothers stared as Mikey went over to the lab table and sat down. He gave them a thumbs up. They exchanged nervous glances.

Don moved over to the control panels. He pulled the helmet down over Mikey's head. Then he turned to the dials. Ever so slowly he brought the machine up to its optimum functioning capacity.

After a few seconds Mikey whimpered. Then he groaned. The groan turned into a scream. Raphael shot forward and held down Mikey's arms to keep him from hurting himself.

The hothead turned to the brainiac with anger in his eyes. "I thought you said it wouldn't hurt him!"

"I didn't think it would!"

Mikey screamed again.

"For goodness sake Donnie!" Leo yelled. "Switch it off!"

"I can't! It hasn't completed its cycle. If I turn it off too soon, it could really do damage!"

"Donatello, you said this thing was safe! You call that safe?!" The hothead yelled over their screaming sibling. 

"It's almost done!"

Mikey was still screaming.

"Dammit Donnie turn it off!" Raph was slowly losing all control. Any more of having to listen to his little brother in pain, and he was gonna smash the contraption into bits. "It's killing him..."

The machine shut down and Mikey passed out.

"Mikey." Raph said softly.

Donnie pushed contraption away from Mikey. He took some preliminary scans. Mikey was alright physically.

Raph loomed over Don's shoulder. "Donnie..." he growled. "You said it wouldn't hurt him."

"I'm sorry Raph. I didn't think it would."

"Well it better have been worth it. Is he alright?"

"Physically, yes."

"What about mentally?" Leo jumped in.

"We won't know for sure until he wakes up."

————————————————————————————————

Michelangelo awoke to find his brothers surrounding him on all sides. He looked up at them curiously. "Hey, what's up bros?" he tried to sit up, but his head swirled and he lay back down. "Whoa, my head is swimming. What happened?"

Leo and Don exchanged surprised glances, while Raphael scowled to hide his hurt. Mikey didn't even remember. He didn't even remember...

"You don't remember?" Don questioned.

"Nah. What's up? What are you guys hiding from me?"

Leo sent Raph and Don a look. They all nodded. It would be better not to overwhelm Michelangelo with the truth.

"We were out on the town. You and I got attacked by the Krang. You got hit by some kind of laser-thingy. How do you feel?" Raph ground out.

Mikey looked a little alarmed. "What? The Krang?" He glanced at Don and Leo who nodded. "You okay Raph?"

"I'm fine." Raphael stated evenly.

Mikey frowned. Raphie was upset. Something was wrong. "Raphie...Raph, bro."

That was all it took. Raph's eyes teared up and he couldn't stand it anymore. The hothead stormed out of the room.

Leonardo and Donatello frowned. Michelangelo stared after Raph confusedly.

——————————————————————

About a week passed. Mikey realized that Raphael had been avoiding him. The youngest kept questioning Leo and Don about the time that he was out, but so far their answers had remained cryptic. Mikey had had enough. He wanted to know what was wrong with his hotheaded brother. He didn't like it when his brothers were upset. And Raph was upset. Therefore Michelangelo was upset.

He glanced across the counter at Donnie and Leo. "I want to know what happened."

They looked up at him. "Mikey—" Leo began.

"Tell me the truth. Raph's upset. I don't like it when one of my brothers is upset." Mikey interrupted.

Don's brown eyes met Leo's dark blue ones.

"Well..." Donatello and Leonardo took turns explaining what had occurred.

Michelangelo stared. He was overwhelmed. He'd been brainwashed by the Krang and Raph had to take care of him? It was too much. And somehow he and Raph had gotten even closer than they already were? It seemed impossible. Sure he and Raph were close, but Raph had lines that he wouldn't allow anyone to cross.

Yet it must have happened. Why else would Raph be avoiding him?

Mikey headed straight for Raph's room. He knocked lightly on the door before sweeping into the room.

Raphael was stretched out on his bed. He was staring at his photo wall. Mikey followed his gaze. There was a photo there that he didn't recognize.

The youngest stepped forward and took a closer look. Leo and Donnie were in the background laughing as Mikey appeared to be tickling Raph. Raph had a full smile on his face. Mikey smiled at the sight of it. Then his eyes widened. Memories flooded back to him...

Raphael taking care of him. Watching over him. He remembered Raph freaking out after he was injured. Mikey remembered how worried he had been when Raphael had run off. But when he turned back to Raphael, his smile melted into a subtle frown.

When Raph realized Mikey was staring at him, he looked away.

"What do you need, Mikey?" He said tiredly.

"Nothing. I know you need time. But I just wanted to tell you. I love you bro." Mikey hopped over and hugged his older brother tightly.

Raph stared for a few moments before he finally hugged the younger turtle back. "I was worried about you, Mikey."

Mikey smiled. "I know you were. I was worried about you too. Broooooooo." He said.

Raphael stared with wide eyes. He pushed out of the hug and took a few steps backwards. Not quite certain of how to react. "You remember?!"

Mikey smirked. "How could I forget?"

Raph smiled, a little teary-eyed. He sniffed. "I'm glad. I was afraid that—"

"You won't ever feel alone again bro."

Raph's smile widened. "Make that a promise?"

Mikey laughed. "Sure thing, bro. Sure thing."

They laughed together. Outside in the hall Don and Leo smiled. 

THE END