Found this one in my old computer files about half done. No memory of writing the first half of this whatsoever. I loved it as soon as I read it. Hope you all enjoy it. It's a bit longer than I have been doing lately.

--------------------

"Seriously, Michelangelo, why the shell do you need all of this crap? We're going up to the farmhouse for a week, not a year." Raphael grunted and readjusted the heavy box in his hands.

Mikey grinned. "Chill, bro. You wouldn't want me to go without all my beauty products, would you?"

Raph peered into the next box to be loaded and shot his little brother a look devoid of amusement.

"Junk food and video games. Some beauty regimen, Mikey."

"You're just jealous because I'm the cute one."

A growl rumbled from Raph's chest.

Mikey smiled, but that smile was soon wiped from his face. He yelped as his big brother shoved the ridiculously heavy box into his hands and walked away. "Raphie! What are you doing?!"

"Making you jealous that I'm the strong one."

"But Raphie, it's heavy!"

Raph smirked. "Too bad, little brother, you were asking for it."

"No, I wasn't! Raphie help!" Mikey could feel his arms started to burn from the strain. He wouldn't be able to handle this thing much longer. "Raph, I can't hold onto it!" he shouted.

"Then get it to the van, knucklehead!" Raph urged.

Oh yeah, of course, Mikey thought. He was so focused on getting Raph's help, he wasn't thinking of that. He rushed as fast as he could to the back of the van and got to the trunk just in time. His arms gave out and the box plopped down with a loud thump. Mikey rubbed his arms and whined a little. Then his eyes narrowed at his older sibling.

"What?" Raph asked, crossing his arms over his chest.

"I'm gonna get you for that, Raphie. Just you wait." Mikey said, cackling in his 'evil' voice.

Raphael smirked. "Mikey, you call me Raphie one more time and I'll rearrange your face."

Mikey took a step back.

"Then we'll see who the cute one is," Raph said.

The younger turtle tossed up his hands. "Fine. I'll help you pack your stuff. Where is it?"

An emerald green hand shot out and rubbed Mikey's bald head. He squealed, trying to wriggle away, but Raph's other arm wrapped around his neck and trapped him in a headlock. The squeal became a full out scream.

Two figures came running into the room, but as soon as they saw what was really going on, their faces relaxed. Leo rolled his eyes and split them apart.

Raph huffed and stomped on the concrete. "What's it take for a turtle to have some uninterrupted fun around here?"

"It requires a form of fun that doesn't have Mikey screaming bloody murder." Leo answered calmly, shooting the hothead a stern glance.

Raph crossed his arms. "He started it. Acting like a little kid."

Donatello's eye-ridges rose. His lips pressed into a thin line. "He's not the only one."

"What was that?!" Raph asked, raising his fist.

Leo reached out and grabbed him.

"Hold up, hothead. You're not going anywhere until you've finished packing the van. The sooner we're packed, the sooner we can leave for the farmhouse, and the sooner we get to the farmhouse, the sooner we can set you loose in the forest."

"Set me loose?" Raph echoed, growing even angrier. "And what is that supposed to mean?"

Leo's eyes narrowed. "Don't play dumb, Raph. We all know it's because of your explosive behavior that Master Splinter arranged this trip."

"Me?" Raph shouted. "It wasn't just me, Fearless. In case you haven't noticed, you're not exactly calm yourself lately!"

"Uh-huh, and whose fault is that?" Leo asked, leaning into Raph's face.

"That's it!" Raph's fist flew up and connected with Leo's jaw. It sent the eldest turtle flying backwards a few feet, where he landed on his carapace with a thump. Donnie and Mikey exchanged panicked glances as Leo's eyes brightened. They rushed to their blue-masked brother and latched onto his arms, holding him back.

"Leo, don't." Don whispered.

Unmistakable fury burned in Leonardo's eyes.

Raph stared at his older brother, his own anger fading away almost as soon as it had risen. A tinge of guilt rose from his stomach, but his brain and heart agreed that Leo had deserved it. He was tired of being Leonardo's whipping post. It was about time Leonardo learned that he wasn't always going to sit there and take it.

Mikey whimpered and all of his older siblings turned to look at him. His baby blue eyes stared first at Leo, then at Raph. He glared at both of them.

"Master Splinter is sending us to the farmhouse because we've all been getting snappy lately," he said, putting emphasis on 'all'. "You two fighting isn't going to help anything."

Like the flip of a switch, Leonardo was back to his stuck-up, Fearless self.

"Mikey's right, Raph." He took a deep breath. "Let's just shake hands and finish packing the van."

Raph stared at the leaf-green hand for what felt like hours. The longer he stared the more it seemed like a mirage. Forgive and forget, Raph had told himself once, but he found it increasingly hard to forget things that were never truly forgiven. His brothers always remembered. He could never truly forget any of his wrongs, because somehow, someway, they came back to bite him. Damn.

He pushed Leo's offered hand to the side. Another short silence followed, his brothers staring at him in shock and confusion. He turned away, fighting to keep his head above the surface of his raging emotions.

"I can't," he said, his voice cracking.

Leo's hand grabbed his shoulder and yanked him back around.

Raph knew Leo had caught the expression on his face, and he couldn't look the Fearless leader in the eyes. He was too ashamed. Any emotion outside of anger or occasional happiness was a weakness Raph dared not show to any of them, especially not Leo.

He tore past them, pausing only for a moment at the door to say, "I'm outta here."

He thought he heard Leonardo calling after him, but he must have been imagining things. Leo wouldn't do that.

--------------------

Raph stayed away for the rest of the day. Master Splinter would probably send them up to the farmhouse without him, but that was okay. He needed the alone time more than they'd ever know.

Raph sighed. He didn't know what was wrong with him lately. He just couldn't think straight anymore. They'd all been getting real caught up in Karai's vendetta against Shredder. If it was up to him, they'd just let Karai do her own thing and end up getting taught the hard way, but, needless to say, it wasn't up to him. What was bothering him even more was that Leo kept going after her! Even though he knew it was stupid and careless! Raph really didn't care if Leo had a thing for Karai or not, he wasn't about to allow his only older brother to blindly jump into situations to help Karai. If things continued the way they were, one of these days, Karai would be showing up at their lair with their brother's broken katana in her hands. A growl rose up from Raph's chest.

That wasn't going to happen. He'd sworn that to himself after last time, when Leo had gone black-mask. It was because of Leo that Donnie got hurt and Raph wasn't about to let Leo's twisted sense of obligation get the Fearless leader killed. As for Karai...

Raph's eyes narrowed and his teeth flashed. His brothers always came first. Sure, Karai was technically their sister, but if it meant sacrificing one of his brothers to her twisted revenge schemes? Never in a million years.

A year ago, it had been Leo who'd pointed out the dangers of venturing topside alone as a vigilante. Leo who'd screamed at Raphael that what he was doing would hurt his brothers. Leo who'd gone topside and chased his little brother down and beat some sense through his thick skull.

He shouldn't be up here—shouldn't be planning this. But, in his mind, it was the only way. He'd done everything else he could think of to get his big brother to understand. Everything had failed. His anger and worry had grown greater and greater until he just couldn't take it anymore. He couldn't handle the stress. He had to do something. It was stupid, yeah. Probably one of the stupidest ideas he'd ever had.

His fist clenched around Leo's black mask. He'd swiped it from Fearless' room shortly after they'd found out that Leo was helping Karai on the side. Leo hadn't asked for it back. At least not yet. But Raph knew Leo. He knew how thick-headed Leo could be. And with Karai carrying on the way she was with this revenge stuff, Raph felt that she could easily drag Leo back into it.

All the words, all the shouting matches...in the end, meant nothing. Leo just didn't get it. He didn't get why Raph was still angry at him. He didn't get what it felt like.

Raph frowned and loosened the knot of his own mask, tying the black one around his head in its place. He hadn't wanted it to come to this. He really hadn't. But he had to show Leo what it felt like when one's siblings went vigilante.

--------------------

Raphael was still out. Three hours, damn it! They were supposed to leave for the farmhouse three hours ago. He'd sent Raph a grand total of twelve text messages. Not to mention the eighteen missed calls. Speaking of, he should try again.

Leo hovered on the edge of his seat, waiting for the click of the sound of his brother's voice on the other end. It went to the fake voicemail Don had designed as a safeguard.

Of course Raphael's tantrum ends up ruining our plans for the weekend! If only that hothead would occasionally think of something beside himself!

He'd told Master Splinter they might as well leave without Raph, but the old rat wouldn't hear of it, at least not at first. If only Splinter had said yes! It might have taught Raph that their lives and schedules do not revolve around him.

Leo honestly had no idea what had been going through Raph's head lately and he'd convinced himself that he really didn't care. Raph was just having a tantrum. Nothing new.

He looked up when Master Splinter joined him in the main room looking defeated.

"Leonardo, it is late, but if you and your brothers were to leave now, I believe you could make it to the farmhouse before morning light."

"Sensei, Raph still hasn't answered his phone. You don't want us to wait until we hear from him?"

Splinter sighed. "I imagine that whatever is troubling your brother's mind, it will be easier for me to confront him alone." Splinter said, pressing his fingers together in a wise-looking manner. "If he still wants to join you, he can take the Shell Cycle up to the Farmhouse tomorrow night."

"Hai Sensei," Leo gave in, tiredly. He stood and shouted down the hall, "Don, Mikey, get your stuff, we're going!"

His younger brothers poked their heads in from the lab.

"Huh?" Mikey asked.

"Is Raph back?" asked Don.

"No, we're going. Come on. I'll drive."

Leo gently nudged his little brothers back into the lab towards the garage. He paused and glanced over his shoulder. "Sensei...when Raph comes home—"

"I will inform you, my son."

Leo bowed his head. "Thank you, father."

--------------------

For four more hours Splinter waited in the main room for the return of his son. The television was on, but he wasn't watching. The cheese-phone rang and he picked it up without hesitation.

"Master Splinter?" asked the voice on the other end.

"Leonardo. All is well?" Splinter asked, his ears twitching nervously.

"Hai, Sensei. We just got to the farmhouse. I figured you'd want to know we arrived safely."

"Indeed, that is quite a relief," his voice was strained.

Unfortunately, Leonardo noticed. "Sensei, has Raph—"

"No, my son. I'm afraid not," the father's worry was palpable over the phone.

"I'm sure he'll be fine."

The reassurance held no weight. Obviously, Leonardo was now as concerned as he was. He opened his mouth to mutter parting words, but was cut short by a soft shuffle of feet. His ears flicked towards the sound and he jumped to his feet. Finally, he turned his head. A horrified gasp escaped him.

"Raphael!" In his panicked rush, he dropped the handset of the cheese phone and it dangled off the end of the couch. From its speaker, the alarmed voice of his eldest son shouted frantic questions.

Splinter was not even thinking about that.

The only thing on his mind was his red-masked son who, at the moment, was the same color as his mask—covered almost head to toe in crimson blood.

Raph's head looked like something had tried to claw it open. There were matching wounds on his arms and legs. Blood was getting everywhere.

Splinter was not thinking about that.

He rushed to his child and lifted the turtle into his arms with a grunt. Raphael offered no resistance whatsoever, and Splinter was only more concerned.

"Raphael, my son, can you hear me?" He asked softly, stroking the emerald green cheek, simultaneously smearing his son's blood on his hands. He didn't care about that. The only thing he cared about was making sure his child was alive. "Raphael," he whispered, prodding Raph's cheek gently.

Pained green eyes opened wide and looked around, disturbed. He started to squirm.

"Easy, Raphael. You're safe, my son. Easy."

Raphael seized, his eyes went wide and he jolted upward with a force that startled his rat father. An emerald green hand grabbed Splinter's forearm tightly.

"T-tell Leo, 's what ya get when ya go vigilante."

Then he passed out, leaving his father frantically calling his name in panicked dread.

--------------------

"Something's happened," Leo said flatly, slamming his phone down on the kitchen counter. "We have to go back." He darted from the room.

Donatello bounded after the eldest turtle, jerking Leo back and protesting, "We can't take the risk! You know there's too great of a chance that we'll be seen. It'll be light by the time we reach the outskirts of the city. We have to wait for nightfall."

"We can't just sit here doing nothing!" Leo turned on his younger brother and shouted full volume in Donnie's face.

Amidst the silent glare-off that ensued a quiet voice caught their ears.

"Hey Casey," Mikey winced a little as he was reprimanded by a voice on the other side of the line. "Yeah, I know what time it is. It's important. Look something's happened at the lair. Me, Leo and Don are up at the farmhouse and we'll be stuck here till nightfall. We need you to check it out."

Don and Leo ceased glaring and gravitated over to their little brother's side. He met their gazes and put the call on speaker.

Casey's tired voice grumbled, "Make April do it." Then he seemed to register Mikey's words. When he spoke again he sounded more awake and very confused. "Wait, why isn't Raph with you dudes?"

"Raph stormed out earlier tonight and didn't come back." Leo said, a bit of a hostile bite in his voice, but instead of annoyance, it resulted mostly from worry.

Suddenly their human friend was very alert. "Weren't all four of you going out to the farmhouse this weekend?"

Leo blinked. He looked at his brothers, silently asking if they had told Casey about their visit to the country. They shook their heads. Leo frowned.

"How did you know that?" he asked.

Jones scoffed, "It's all Raph's talked about all week. He was really stoked about it."

Leonardo's face was the picture of utter confusion.

Casey went on, "What happened?"

Sighing, Leo fessed up, "We fought."

"Damn it, Leo. For once could you not pick fights with him?"

Leo swelled with indignation. "Me? He punched me in the face!"

"I'd like to punch you in the face. You should have called me sooner! I'll head right over to the lair and see what I can do."

Leonardo opened his mouth to speak, anger and worry all mixed in a frenzy across his face, but Michelangelo blocked Leo's mouth with his hand and said, "Thanks, Case."

Their only answer was a sophisticated grunt, and Casey Jones hung up.

Donnie paced with agitation. "What do we do now?"

Frowning solemnly, their little brother offered wisdom beyond his years, "The only thing we can do, bros: wait."

--------------------

Casey Jones walked into the turtle lair at an easy gait. He paused at the turnstiles and gave the place a cursory glance. After flicking up his hockey mask, he moved further in to the room. His peripherals caught a flash of red and he turned. Horror clawed at his chest. His heart rate increased.

Could it be paint? It had to be paint.

He kept moving forward, coming to an abrupt stop

It didn't look like paint.

A soft shuffle and the sound of low, whispered words, led him to the dojo. He froze, arrest by shock, at the door of said room. His blood ran cold. Casey's hands shook, but he clenched them into fists and said, "How can I help?"

Splinter jolted, but the sight of the human teenager in the doorway brought him a bit of relief. "There are clean cloths there. Apply pressure. We have to stop the bleeding."

Casey nodded in understanding and did exactly as he was told. "Hang in there, buddy. It'll be a cold day in hell before I let ya die on me!"

Almost an hour later, they finally relaxed. Thankfully, they'd been able to stop most of the bleeding. Master Splinter had to stitch up several of the deeper gashes. Casey had to dash out into the sewer tunnels to empty the contents of his stomach. He was pale and still feeling as though his stomach was caught in the washing machine. He and Raph had gotten hurt before. Sometimes badly, but this...this made him feel weak. What the shell was he thinking? Looking for a fight with no one to back him up? Contrary to what his brothers might have believed, that wasn't like Raph. Raph picked his fights carefully. Usually only jumping into things he felt he could handle.

As soon as he was able, Casey returned to help Splinter bandage and clean the remaining wounds. Something on the floor next to Raph caught his eye.

"The shell?" He picked it up. It was a mask. Similar to the one Raph normally wore. It looked red in this light, but it was way darker than Raph's normal one. After a few seconds of staring, Casey finally realized that it wasn't red at all. It was black. A black mask turned red with Raphael's blood. Casey bit back another wave of nausea. The blood, thick and sticky, smeared on his hand, but his mind was far above them, on a rooftop about three miles east.

He and Raph sat side by side, their feet dangling over the edge. It was a quiet night and they were enjoying it. Casey had told Raph about how things were going at home with his dad and sister, and Raph...

"Leo doesn't get it, Case! His bonehead black-mask antics with Karai got Donnie hurt, and he still wants to help her on his own! He says its none of my business what he does! That he'll do what's best for our family! He says it like it makes everything better. He thinks he's doing what's best and he just doesn't get that this solo vigilante nonsense could get him killed! I've told him! Over and over! I could tell him till I'm blue in the face, but he ain't gonna listen. There's gotta be a way to get it through his thick skull."

"Dammit Raph, you idiot." Casey felt sick. Before he knew what he was doing, he pocketed the bloody mask angrily. He wanted someone to blame, but he couldn't blame his best friend, so he blamed the cloth and everything it represented. He promised himself that he would burn it later. At least that would make him feel a little better.

Splinter called the human teenager back to reality. "Casey, I could use some help cleaning and bandaging the wounds. Are you feeling well enough?"

Casey straightened, dutifully. "Yeah. I'm good."

They worked mostly in silence, but Casey Jones could feel the rat's eyes occasionally resting on him. He murmured, "When you wake up, I'm gonna give you a piece of my mind."

"You will not be the only one." Splinter said, smiling a bit too tightly.

That just made Casey feel worse. Yeah, Raph had done something incredibly, mind-blowingly stupid—but—he deserved better. His heart was in the right place: with his brothers.

Splinter sighed in relief as he tied off the last bandage, "I believe he is stable, but I shall keep vigil." He looked up at Casey. "My sons and I owe you a great debt for the help you have given me this night. I doubt I could have managed alone. Raphael owes you his life."

Casey forced a smile. "Nah, he's saved my butt more times than I can count."

"I am fortunate you came when you did. Were you looking for my sons?" Splinter asked, his whiskers twitching. He was clearly puzzled.

"Actually—" Casey's eyes widened. "The guys!" he whipped out his phone and dialed the turtles.

--------------------

All three turtle brothers leapt at the t-phone the second it rang. They struggled, fighting over it for a few moments, but since it was Michelangelo's phone, the youngest answered the call. In their anxiousness, they all spoke at once.

"Well?"

"Hello?"

"Casey, what's going on? What took you so long?" This last was said by Leonardo who was now barely containing his panic.

Casey opened his mouth, but his voice died on his lips. How the shell was he supposed to tell them the truth? Walking into the lair, seeing the blood, stopping the bleeding, the stitches, the nausea, the mask...

"CASEY? Are you still there?" Leo raised his voice as though he thought the connection was weak.

"One moment, Leonardo."

Casey suddenly felt a hand on his, taking the phone. He looked up into Master Splinter's tired face. The rat pulled him aside slightly and spoke in hushed tones.

"Casey, I believe I heard you telling April that you had your driver's license?"

The teenager blinked, confused. "Yeah. Got it about a month ago."

Splinter looked down at Raph.

"The turtles will not be able to return from the farmhouse in daylight, but they need to be here."

"But I don't have a car."

"Take the Shell Cycle."

"Gotcha, I'll leave it at the farmhouse and drive the turtles back in the party wagon."

Splinter's ears fell a little. "I realize that I am asking much of you, Casey."

"No worries, rat dude." Casey looked at his unconscious friend. "For Raph."

The rat cleared his throat and raised Casey's phone.

"Leonardo! Are you still there, my son?"

"Yes! Yes! Master Splinter please, just tell us what's going on."

"Casey is leaving for the farmhouse now. He will drive you back in the party wagon."

"Hai, Sensei, but—"

"Be ready, my sons."

"Hai, Sensei," All three turtles chorused.

He hung up before they could ask any more questions. "Casey, I am sure they will have many questions for you, but please, getting them home quickly and safely—

"I'm all over it, dude. Safety first. Back in a flash!" Casey was off, snatching Raph's helmet off the peg in the garage as he went.

They'd moved their waiting from the kitchen to barn. What little they'd unpacked had been repacked.

"I don't get it." Mikey said. It was the first time anyone had said anything since Leo had overseen the repacking.

Donnie looked at the youngest. His face signaled that he was listening.

Leo didn't respond. He was perched on the cardboard boxes in the back of the party van, anxiously fidgeting.

"How come Splinter didn't tell us what was going on?"

"Obviously because whatever happened, is bad, Mikey!" Leo snapped, angrily.

Donnie's lip curled. He put an arm around Mikey's shoulders. He was going to retort, but Leo wasn't done.

"Anything could have happened! Shredder might be on a rampage! He might have found Karai and hurt her or killed her!"

Donnie couldn't help it. He exploded. "KARAI? Our brother left the lair after a fight with you, he doesn't come back, and you're worried about Karai? I can't believe you. Raphael was right. Turtles really don't come first anymore, do they Leo? No. Its all about your girlfriend and her revenge!"

"This isn't about that, Donnie!" Leo growled.

"Are you sure, Leo? Are you really sure? Because I don't think you've learned anything! Last week you nearly got me killed chasing after Karai, now you're practically prepared to go right off and do it again! I suggest you get your mind off Karai's stupid vendetta and start thinking the brother you drove off earlier! Who, in case you've forgotten, has been out of contact for more than 8 hours! Sure, it could be Shredder, or Karai, or even April, but odds are that Raph went and did something dangerously hotheaded! He could be dead, for all we know!"

Mikey made a strangled sound between a sob and a whimper. Don hugged him, apologetically.

The Brainiac looked up at Leo's impassive mask and snarled, lowly: "At least pretend you care!"

Leo's mask vanished. Stoicism was replaced with fury. "Of course I—"

He didn't get to finish the sentence. The roar of an engine cut him off. Lights outside the barn door made them retreat to the shadows. The doors were hurriedly flung open by a lanky figure in a black hoodie.

"Guys, its just me." Casey called out. He hopped straight in the driver's seat of the party van, buckled his seatbelt and began to adjust the seat, mirrors and steering wheel.

Leo was suddenly at the door, asking him questions through the open window. Casey tuned them out. Leo reached in and yanked one of Casey's hands off the steering wheel.

"CASEY! What the shell happened?"

"I promised Splinter I'd get you back to the lair asap, Leo! I don't have time for questions! You want answers, you help speed this up! Pull the shell cycle in the barn after I take this baby out!"

Donnie and Mikey hopped wordlessly into the back of the party van. Leo didn't like not getting his answers right away. He pulled the shell cycle into the garage and closed the doors, locking the chained padlock securely. Don and Mikey flung open the back doors of the party van, yanked him in, and they were off.

As soon as they were back on paved roads, all three turtles spoke at once. His eyes on the road, Casey said, "Hey! Hey! Look, I know how stressful this is okay? I'm stressed out too, but I'm trying to drive here! One at a time and take it slow! Crashing won't do any of us any good!"

The turtles looked at each other. Leo opened his mouth to speak first, but a heartbreakingly nervous look from Mikey and a glare from Don, made him gesture them to go first. Mikey lept at the chance.

"Is Raph okay?"

Casey's grip on the steering wheel became vice-like. Leo's heart turned to water. His walls fell. He gripped the back of Casey's seat in unbridled panic.

"What happened? Where is he? Will he be alright?"

The human teen had to force himself to focus on the road. He clenched his jaw. Dang it! He couldn't. He couldn't do this and drive safely at the same time. He wiped his eyes with the back of his sleeve.

"Right pocket." He choked. He tried to form more words, but he just couldn't. His throat felt too tight. He couldn't take his eyes off the road right now. He had to get the turtles home. For Raph.

Leo's hand shook a little. He looked around the seat and saw the corner of something dark sticking out of Casey's right pocket. He reached out and took it between his fingers. It left a dark smudge behind on the light blue denim of the Casey's jeans. Leo stretched it out, his own hands getting slightly sticky. He smelled iron. Eye holes...He dropped it. It fluttered quickly down to the floor of the party wagon with a moist 'shck'.

"No." Leo whispered, staggering away from the mask. "Oh please, no..." He was reeling. Then, a lifeline: "Casey...Is he alive?"

Casey nodded shakily, then he found the words, "Yeah, he's alive. Splinter's with him."

Mikey whimpered and clung to Donnie's side. Donnie hugged him back, tightly, just as worried.

Leo asked no more questions. He sank down on the floor of the party wagon and stared down at his black mask, sticky with his brother's drying blood.

--------------------

It was a tense and quiet journey back to the lair. As he pulled in, Casey felt a wave of relief and exhaustion. The turtles were out of the van almost before he'd stopped moving. He put it in park and flopped against the steering wheel.

The three turtles looked around the lab. When they realized that their brother was not there, they tumbled out the lab door into the main room. Leo was at the front. He stared frantically around, catching a flicker of movement.

"Sensei!" Leo dashed to his Father's side, prepared to ask, when he saw for himself. His breath hitched. He dropped to his knees. He reached out and touched the side of his little brother's face. "Raph..." he breathed.

Suddenly, Mikey was beside him. "Raphie!" he called.

There was no response.

Donnie was on Raph's other side, examining the injuries. Donnie's hands were shaking, his fists were clenched. He was angry.

"Master Splinter, who did this?"

Their rat Sensei shook his head. "I'm afraid I do not know. Raphael did not say."

Donnie blinked. "What did he say?"

Splinter's ears and tail drooped.

Leo shifted uncomfortably as his Father's eyes rested on him. "What did he say, Sensei?" He echoed.

"He said: Tell Leo, this is what you get when you go vigilante."

Leonardo's fists clenched. He stared at his little brother's unconscious face, his eyes blurry with tears. "Raph, you idiot. You could have died...because of me."

Raph's brow furrowed. "'eo?"

Leo wiped the tears with the back of his hand and lay it carefully on Raph's plastron. "Raph!"

Splinter moved to be next to his son. "How are you feeling, little one?"

"Tired, Father." Raph looked over at Leo again. "Can I have a sec with Leo? Alone? We have some things we need to talk about."

"Raph, we can do that later. You need to rest."

"No. Wanna talk now, before you can start avoiding me." Raph stared flatly at his big brother, daring Leo to protest.

Leo wouldn't argue with his injured sibling.

Raph offered Leo his hand and Leo took it, realizing all too keenly how much Raph's wounds must be hurting.

"Promise me, Leo."

Bright blue eyes met neon green.

"Raph—"

"Promise me you won't go vigilante again, and I'll promise you."

Leo nodded. His face face contorted with barely restrained emotion. "You ever do anything this bone-headed again and I'll kill you myself."

"No, you won't. You couldn't." Raph yawned sleepily and closed his eyes, looking about ready for a nap.

"Oh?" Leo asked.

"You love me too much."

Leo leaned down and hugged him softly. "Yeah, I do."

Raph's eyes widened a little, then narrowed with sleep once again. "Besides, Mikey would miss me."

"Please don't do this again." Leo whispered, pleadingly, squeezing Raph's hand.

"I promise. Ya promise?"

"Yeah, I promise, Raph."

Raph yawned again. "Swear?"

"I swear."

"Cross your heart."

"Raph..." Leo chided.

Raph smiled sleepily and closed his eyes. A few seconds later his breath had evened out. He was sound asleep, the little smile still on his lips.

"I'm so sorry, Raph. I was an idiot. I let Karai's desire to take down Shredder cloud my judgement. I should have realized the danger I was putting myself in and the danger I put you in. I didn't understand what you were trying to protect me from. I'm sorry. I should have listened to you. I should have tried harder to understand. It never should have come to this. I promise, never again. I love you, little brother, sleep well."

--------------------

Well, how was it? What do you think?