Now, it's been a long time since I've actually uploaded a story here. I wasn't really sure how I should rate this, because of the ending, but I hope this is okay. But anyway, I hope you like it.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I do not own the song "Are You Happy Now?" (sung by Michelle Branch).


Are You Happy Now?

He was at it again; coming home, being angry. And every time Leonardo asked him what was wrong, all he got was an angry remark. He hated it. Raphael hated him for asking. It was like an evil circle of hate.

Leonardo heard the door close. He was back. Both Donatello and Michelangelo stared at Leonardo, knowing that he was the only one who could have a good try at asking what was wrong with Raphael. He had been acting like this for days. Leonardo sighed, stood up and walked from the kitchen into the living room, where Raphael was hanging his trench coat on the coat rack. At first, Leonardo didn't really know what to say. The last time he had tried to say something it had ended in a huge fight.

Raphael still hadn't noticed Leonardo in the room. He had to say something.

"Raph?"

The turtle in question looked up at his older brother. Leonardo could sense the anger in the turtle's eyes even though it was dark in the room. Finally he got his reply:

"Not now, Leo." He looked away and began walking towards his room.

Now, don't just walk away
Pretending everything's okay
And you don't care about me…

For some reason, Leonardo was the one who became upset now. The last couple of days it had been Raphael who had provoked him to be angry. Now, Raphael hadn't done anything that would make him upset… yet he was. Leonardo quickly ran towards Raphael and ended up in front of him, blocking his way to his room.

"What are you doing?" Raphael frowned at his brother.

And I know there's just no use…

"Look, Raph, I've tried to ask you a million times in the last couple of days what the hell is wrong with you, and you just get angry with me," he began. He lowered his voice, so Donatello and Michelangelo couldn't hear him. "You know and I know, that the one in this family you hurt the most by doing this is Mikey. He hates it when you're like this…"

"Well, it has nothing to do with you, so why can't you just leave me alone?" Raphael interrupted. He started to walk in a big circle around Leonardo, so he could get to his room, but before he could do anything, Leo took him by the arm and held him back.

"Don't walk away when I'm talking to you!"

Raphael looked down at Leonardo's hand, but seemed to avoid looking into his eyes.

"Let go of my arm."

"No, not until you tell me what's wrong!"

Raphael took Leonardo's hand and pushed it away. He tried to walk away, but Leonardo took him by the shoulders and pushed him up against the wall.

"Let go!" Raphael yelled at him.

"Just tell me what it is!"

Raphael still seemed to avoid eye contact.

"There's nothing. I'm fine!"

When all your lies become your truths and I don't care…

He finally pushed past his brother, went towards his room and closed the door. Leonardo just stood there, not knowing what to do. Suddenly he heard Donatello speak behind him.

"Maybe you should ask him in a more… calm way?"

He turned around to see Michelangelo and Donatello standing there.

"That's what I've been trying to do for the last couple of days. It just can't seem to work." Leonardo sat down on the couch, holding his head. It was very frustrating having Raphael around, when he was behaving like that. The two other turtles sat down in front of him.

Could you look me in the eye
And tell me that you're happy now?
Would you tell it to my face or have I been erased?
Are you happy now?
Are you happy now?

Leonardo looked up at the others.

"I hate when he's like this!" he said.

"Well, you know, Raph isn't exactly the most cheerful one of us," Donatello responded. "And you know that he has been through a lot more than the rest of us."

"Like what?" Leonardo snapped. He couldn't understand what could have been so hard for Raphael, so it prevented him from acting normal.

I am givin' up this game

I'm leaving you with all the blame 'cause I don't care…

Donatello frowned at him, for his remark.

"Oh, I don't know Leo," he said, sarcastically. "What about the time that he was beaten up on the rooftop, unconscious for days, and when he finally woke up he had nightmares? Or do I really have to mention the time where he was kidnapped by Shredder and he had bruises all over his body, because Shredder had beat him up so much? Don't you realize that this actually has an effect on him and the way he acts?"

Leonardo looked at Donatello, realizing he was right. Donatello continued:

"You know, when that happened he was actually acting quite like this…" His voice trailed off. He looked at the others, who were thinking just the same thing as him. Could something have happened to Raphael that the rest of them didn't know anything of? They all looked at each other, confused.

"Okay," Leonardo sighed. "I'll give it one more try. In a calm way." He looked back at Donatello, who sent a little smile back. Leonardo then stood up and walked to Raphael's room. He knocked on the door, but when there was no respond, he just opened the door.

Could you look me in the eye?
And tell me that you're happy now?
Would you tell it to my face or have I been erased?
Are you happy now?

The room was dark, except for one lamp that lid up the corner. Raphael just sat there on his bed, staring blankly into space. It was as if, he hadn't even noticed that his older brother had entered the room. Leonardo closed the door behind him and sat down at the edge of the bed.

"Raph?" There was a pause.

"Yeah?" The reply was weak. It wasn't normal for Raphael to whisper. He was always yelling… or, at least, talking loud. Leonardo moved closer, so he sat almost in front of his brother. Raphael was still avoiding eye contact.

"Raph… please look at me?"

Finally the turtle in red looked up. Leonardo was surprised. Raphael's eyes were glassy and red. It was obvious that he had cried. Leonardo hadn't seen him like this since they were kids. It must have been bad, since Raphael would let Leonardo see him like this. Normally he was too proud to let anyone see him cry.

"What's wrong?" Leonardo was worried now. Again, a pause.

"Well…" Raphael began. "Lisa and I…" Leonardo now knew what he was going to say. If it involved Raphael's girlfriend, that would mean that…

"… We're not… together… anymore."

Leonardo didn't know what to say. He hadn't had any experience in that area. Yet, Raphael needed him right now. Leonardo had a concerned look upon his face. He carefully took Raphael's hand and held it. Raphael snorted, like he was making fun of himself, before saying:

"And they say that guys don't show their feelings that much, huh?" He looked back at Leonardo. He tried to smile, but instead it turned into a grimace.

"What was the reason for this?" Leonardo asked carefully. He didn't want Raphael to get more upset than he already was. Unfortunately the question only made things worse.

"I was… obviously… not good enough," Raphael responded sadly.

"What do you mean?" Leonardo asked. How could he not have been good enough? Raphael looked into Leonardo's eyes as if he was about to say the worst thing ever to be said.

"She had someone else."

Leonardo blinked. Not in a million years he could have imagined that that was the reason. He was so stunned he didn't know what to say. He now regretted being so mad at Raphael for not telling him anything, and almost hated himself for having pushed Raphael. As if that was just the thing his younger brother needed right now.

Could you look me in the eye?
And tell me that you're happy now
come on, tell it to my face or have I been replaced?
Are you happy now?
Are you happy now?

"Look, Raph," Leonardo began, holding tightly onto his brother's hand. "Whatever you do, you must never think that you're not good enough. We all love you, you know. And we all think that you're good enough."

"I know…" Raphael whispered, his eyes glistening from the tears. Leonardo did not quite believe what he said though. "Just… Just don't say anything to the others, please? At least, don't tell them about why we're not together anymore."

"Of course not," Leonardo said. He still held Raphael's hand. "Are you sure you're going to be okay?"

"What choice do I have?" Raphael answered. "Just go out to the others, I'll be fine. I just need to sit here for a while. I… I need some time to think."

"Sure," Leonardo said. He let go of Raphael's hand and walked to the door.

"Leo?" The sound of his name made him stop. He turned his head to look at his brother.

"Thank you." Raphael smiled at him.

"You're welcome," Leonardo answered. He left the room. Now he had to tell the others. He hoped when he had told them, that they would help making Raphael feel better. And even though he regretted treating Raphael like he did, he was still happy that he now knew what was wrong.

What he didn't see was the blood that dripped from the scars on Raphael's other arm.

Would you look me in the eye?
Could you look me in the eye?
I've had all that I can take
I'm not about to break
Cause I'm happy now.
Are you happy now?