Casey Jones paced the length of his apartment for what felt like the hundredth time that night. He let out a sigh of frustration. Almost an entire week had passed since he'd last seen Raphael and he was worried.

Somehow or other, the turtle had managed to weave his way through the human's outer defenses, quickly becoming one of Jones' closest friends. He had never met anyone with whom he shared so many unique personality quirks and interests. Casey reached the wall and turned around, pacing back towards the other side of the apartment. Jones was inwardly questioning whether or not he should head out on the town for a little late-night skull bashing. In the end, he decided it just didn't feel right going without Raphael. Not when he didn't know anything whatsoever about Raph's current status.

Shit, for all he knew the kid could be...

Jones pushed that thought away. He really wanted to know how Raph was doing. He glanced around the room and his eyes landed on the shelves where he kept all his special sports equipment. The human walked over to the teak cabinet and plucked an item deftly off a stand. An idea struck him. He whipped out his cell phone and dialed a number he hadn't used in years.

He had a promise to keep, after all.

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Raph's eyelids were heavy and he groaned as he slowly returned to consciousness. As soon as his vision cleared, the turtle tried to sit up, only to have a three-fingered hand press him back down against the table.

Either Raph gave up easier than expected, or Leo was using more force than necessary because Raph's shell hit the metal lab table with a loud thud. The injured turtle hissed as pain flared up in his shoulder. "What the shell, Leo?! What was that for?"

"Sorry." The eldest murmured absently. Raph glared at his older brother, and was about to try once more to sit up, when Leo said, "Don't even think about it. Donnie will kill me if I don't let him examine you first. He wants to make sure everything is properly healed."

Raphael raised an eye-ridge. "How long was I out?"

"Donatello kept you sedated. You've been under for about five days."

"Five days? You shittin' me?" Raph asked disbelievingly. If Don had kept him unconscious for five days then it must have been even more serious that he had thought.

Leo frowned at Raphael's coarse language, but shook his head. "No. You've been out for five days. Don wanted to make sure your injuries healed as quickly as possible. Which would only happen if you maintained complete bed rest for a week or so. You should be stable now, but don't test the wound. The stitches could reopen from any kind of stressful physical activity, so stay put. Don will be here in a minute."

"And just how long have you been sitting here?" Raph asked.

Leonardo looked away and refused to make eye contact.

So that's how Leo was going to play it, hm? Raph frowned. He knew his brother. And knowing Leo, he had probably been stressing himself out trying to do everyone else's job. That was what he always did whenever any of them were injured.

"He barely left your side for a moment. I had to bring all of his meals in here. He refused to realize that you weren't going anywhere in your sedated state."

"Well it took you long enough to show up, Brainiac." Raph muttered before glancing back at his older brother. He lowered his voice a little, "Thanks Leo. For staying with me. You didn't have to—"

"I wanted to. You're my little brother. And you really scared us this time."

Raphael rolled his eyes and grinned, punching Leo playfully in the shoulder. "Relax bro, I'm a fighter. I told you I was hanging."

Leo smiled softly at his immediate younger brother. Donatello smiled also and began to run a few tests. He checked the details over carefully before turning back to his brothers. They both looked up at him expectantly and Don had to beat down the giggle that threatened to escape him. Raph and Leo were so different, yet at times like these they were so alike it was amusing. They wore matching facial expressions. "Well, stitches are looking good. I should be able to let you go to your room now, Raph, but so help me if you tear a single stitch I will tie you down to the lab table and sedate you for an entire month."

Raphael paled at Don's tone. The smart turtle definitely meant it. Much as he wanted to sneak top-side as soon as possible, Raph decided he better wait a couple of days for everything to cool off a little.

As Leonardo helped Raph walk to his room, Michelangelo bounced over to them, pulling Raph into a loose hug.

"RAPHIE!" He yelled excitedly, clinging to the red-masked turtle's good arm.

The hothead growled a little, but allowed his little brother the contact. The corner of his mouth twitched a little as a tiny grin threatened to break into a smile. After a long moment Mikey pulled away, staring up into Raph's green gaze. "I was so worried, bro. I'm glad you're okay! I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you earlier! We should have listened..." Mikey's voice faded away and his bright, blue eyes dimmed with sadness.

Raph internally sighed at his youngest brother's expression. He went into comforting-big-brother mode and reached out to put his hand on Mikey's shoulder. "Don't you worry about it, Mikey." Raph said softly, "Can't change something that's already past."

Michelangelo nodded at his brother's wise words.

Leonardo smiled, impressed by Raph's manner, but nothing could have prepared him for what the hothead said next.

"Always remember, little brother, just 'cause the past is the past doesn't mean that you can't learn from it. Apply what you learn from the past to the present, and you can prevent history from repeating itself." Raph said sternly. Belatedly he added, "Next time I have theory about something I expect you guys to at least hear me out."

Leo stared. His facial expression was stoic, but his eyes were filled with shock. Who would have thought that Raphael, the hotheaded, temperamental turtle could speak so eloquently?

Master Splinter sat on the couch in the main room, watching the ongoing scene with a gentle smile. It eased his heart to see his sons reunited after such a scare. His deft ears picked up the soft exchange between the orange and red-masked turtles. The old rat smiled softly. Following Raphael's words, the air in the main room stilled. Splinter took a good, long look at his red-clad son, noting, in particular the change in posture. Raph stood with his muscles lax, his arms hanging loosely at his sides. The rat had never seen Raphael, who was almost always closed-off, so relaxed and open. At least, not since the boys were very, very young.

Splinter approached them, slowly, and they turned to face him. "Very wise words, my son."

Raph nodded, absently, and for a few moments father and son simply stared at each other.

Leonardo glanced from Splinter to Raphael, suddenly feeling like he was intruding on a very private moment. Leo signaled Mikey to follow him and headed towards the kitchen.

Mikey stared at Leo, then back at Raphael hesitantly. He wanted to ask Raph about the meaning behind the map in his room, particularly the mysterious white string. But Leonardo turned around and glared, insistently signaling him to follow once again. With a sigh the youngest dejectedly trailed after his eldest brother, leaving Sensei and Raphael alone. His inquiry concerning Raph's map would just have to wait.

Splinter's big, black eyes watered a little. He spoke slowly and quietly, "I am relieved that you are alright, my son." His hand reached up and brushed Raph's jaw softly. Raph leaned into his father's touch and Sensei's eyes dulled. "We came so close to losing you, Raphael. I do not wish to anger you, but I cannot believe that you would be so foolish as to confront the Shredder on your own." Splinter cupped his son's face tightly in his hands, forcing Raphael to look him in the eyes. "Do you have any idea what could have happened to you? What might have happened to us if you had been killed?"

Raph stared firmly back at his father, laying one of his hands over Splinter's own, reassuringly. He was begging, imploring his father to understand. "I know Sensei, I know, but I had to do something. If Shredder reconstructs his suit, he'll restore his influence in the underworld. He could hurt a lot of people. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing when I knew he was out there."

His father rebuked him sharply. "That is no reason to risk your life and this family's safety!"

"I'm sorry Sensei. I know that I was risking a lot and that I could have really hurt you guys, but I couldn't ignore what was going on. And I couldn't convince you guys to help me, so what other choice did I have?" Raphael looked beseechingly down into his father's eyes.

Splinter was silent. He pulled his hands away and took a step back, mulling over his son's words. Whenever something was wrong Raphael had always been one to act first and ask questions later. The old rat frowned and his eyes shifted slowly to Raph's stitches.

There would probably be a crack on the upper left side Raphael's plastron for the rest of his life. Honestly, the sinuous turtle was fortunate that he would eventually regain full mobility of his shoulder.

Once more, Splinter's hand rose to cup the side of his son's face. Though he was not pleased that Raphael had chosen to face these enemies alone, Splinter knew his son well enough to realize that punishing the turtle would do little good.

Raph's eyes softened just a little. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again soon after. His eye-ridges furrowed. Well, there was no use dragging it out. He might as well just spit it out and get it over with. It was difficult because he wasn't the kind of guy to dwell on these kinds of things, and he definitely wasn't the type to openly confess them out loud, but he wanted to ease his father's conscience. "I love you, Dad. You know that I would never purposely do anything to jeopardize your safety or my brothers', but I had to do what I thought was right."

Splinter nodded. He was well aware of that.

Raphael shifted and Splinter regarded him curiously. The turtle's green eyes clouded and darkened dangerously, "I would never allow Shredder to hurt any of you. Never."

Splinter's eyes narrowed quizzically. There was more to this than Raphael was saying.

Raph caught his father's questioning stare and pulled his gaze away, lowering his eyes to stare at a spot on the floor. "He wanted me to lead him to you and the others."

The rat's eyes widened. Raphael had said nothing about actually speaking with Shredder. Splinter was steadily growing more and more concerned. Shredder was very good at manipulating his opponents and toying with their minds, but before Splinter could question his son further, Raphael went on.

"I didn't tell him anything. When I refused to speak..." Raph's eyes strayed to his shoulder.

Splinter's jaw dropped and he stared at his child with a horrified expression on his face.

Raphael clenched his hand into a rock-hard fist. "I didn't say a word. I didn't even open my mouth."

Splinter raised an eyebrow, and slowly, Raph elaborated, "I'd never allow a bastard like that the sadistic satisfaction of hearing me scream."

The old rat's face was mixture of horror, pain, and awe. Less than a split second later, Splinter yanked his second son into a fierce hug. The father did his best to blink back the tears in his eyes. His heart filled with rage. He would kill Shredder for this. His sons had already been through so much. No child should be forced to endure such pain. Shredder would pay dearly for what he had done. Splinter was not going to allow Shredder to haunt his family any longer. 

I swear, Oroku Saki, I will not allow you to endanger my sons any longer. The next time you show your face, it will be my knife in your back.

Splinter thought darkly as he held his son in his arms, rubbing Raphael's head and carapace affectionately. Indeed, he could not allow any further harm to befall his sons at Shredder's hand. He wouldn't stand for it.