Author's Note:

I would like to begin with an appology to those who were following my other stories. The reason why I deleted them was because I was unsatisfied with the way they turned out. So after brain storming over a new story and plot, I have found my true story that I want to tell. My story will mainly be in the 2007 CGI Verse (but later in the other books there will be more depth and add-ins from the other films and cartoons).

Honestly this was my original idea that I had a long time ago. I hope you will enjoy it and consider this as my gift to you.

Before we get started here is a little background story of how and why Raphael became the Night Watcher. This follows the TMNT Comics on Tales of Raphael. Check them out some time if you want to get an idea on where this idea came from. Also the OCs belong to me so please do not use them without my permission (unless it's fan art then be free to do as you wish just as long as the art itself is somewhat "clean").

Please enjoy and don't forget to leave a review! I do so much enjoy those!

The Promise

The city of New York. From a distance it looks like a cloud of lights floating upon the harbors' shores. The city was as busy as ever. Traffic was murder, people flooded the streets, and the crime never stopped. If the price of gas was not rising you can sure bet that the crime rate was.

From the mere purse snatching to the violent gang activities The Big Apple was pushing for a new record breaker this year. Of coarse the local law enforcement is pulling in all their top guns and adding up on nightly patrols. They can only do so mush after all. If one was in a bad neighborhood or simply in the wrong place at the wrong time; they may end up on the daily obituary of New York Times.

That is when having the sad run-in-the-mill vigilantes come into play. Those are mostly gossiped in the tabloids or whispered on the streets through street thugs as ghost stories for new blood. From the alleged gators in the sewers comes the same people who rant on about the so called city ninjas of NYC. Facts that muddle into stuff of legends. Stories of masked heroes roaming the city at night- protecting the innocent and bringing down judgment on the corrupt. A laughable fantasy of an underground war that the media tries to hide from the public with government funding. Funny thing about stories they always have to start somewhere.

In the slum district of Brooklyn lays an old beat up garage. Rouge Repairs and Tune ups glowed in red neon, the T was flickering in and out. Inside the lights were on and the muffled sound of tools scraping against metal could be heard from a passing ear.

A lone man in his sixties was buried elbow deep in grease stains. His upper body was currently under an old '64 Chevy. The paint job was slightly chipped and rusted around the rims with age. The truck seemed like it had seen better days- just like the man working on it. The man was far too caught up in his work that he never noticed the bulky figure emerging from the garages' shadows.

The man uttered a curse and flung a wrench out from under the truck- barely scraping by the intruder.

"Ya know ya should start locking yer doors at night Dave."

David sat up so fast that his head kissed the bottom bumper of the Chevy. The old man growled and pushed the creeper out on his heels. He had a glare ready for the turtle man that stood before him.

The masked turtle grinned,"Neva' know when some creep might walk on in an' harass ya."

David sat up and rested his elbows on his knees. "Oh ya mean like you? Ya sorry green bastard?"

The turtle snorted,"I'm not a creep! 'Sides this is like, what? The fifth or sixth time I managed ta get in here? What if I was an actual threat old man?"

He grinned and reached a hand inside his shirt pocket to reveal a 39 revolver. "Then I'd do the gentlemanly thing and say hello." Dave placed the gun back out of sight and scrunched up his bushy brow. "So what brings ya here tanigh' Raphael?"

Raphael smiled a little,"Wha' ? I can' stop in fer a visit?"

David Merryweather had been Raph's new comrade for well over a month. They met during a street mugging. David being the one mugged by three punks and Raphael doing the rescuing. After Raph saved his grumpy old ass the man gave him a stern tongue lashing on supposedly being late to come to an old man's aid. After some snide remarks here and a sarcastic come back there the two came to a mutual (if not complex) understanding of one another.

Dave pulled out his red handkerchief to wipe his brow. He coughed a little and spat out some tobacco into an old tin can.

Raph wrinkled his beak,"That stuff will kill ya. Ya know that right?"

The old man grinned- sporting his silver capped tooth. "Ya sound like my daughter….takes after her mother that girl." He placed his hanky aside and rubbed his chin. Some white stubble scratched against his rough skin.

"She's 'bout yer age."

Raph took a seat on a worn out work bench. "Din' know ya had a kid…let alone married."

"Ya neva' asked." He sniffed a little and stood upright with a good stretch to his joints. "Got a son too. Ya remind me of 'em."

"Let me guess my charmin' good looks?"

Dave chuckled,"Nah… More like the half ass attitude and always runs straight ahead guns ablazin'."

"John's just fourteen. The kid's smart too jus' don' have a lick of sense ta use any of it. His sister on the otha' hand, Stacey, is pretty straight forward."

He smiled,"What she lacks in strength she makes up for it in spirit. I swear to you that the room seems brighter when she just walks in. Stacey can put a smile on anyone's face…not too bad with engines either."

Raph raised an eyeridge,"Sounds like the apple doesn' fall too far from the tree."

"Yeah…well I bet if their motha' was still around things would probably be different."

"'Ey, don' go gettin' all misty eyed on me. I'm not good with cryin'!"

Dave's lips tugged upward."Alright hot shot, I told ya somethin' about mi familia. Now tell me somethin' 'bout yers."

Raph absent mindedly pulled the strings of his mask up tighter- tightening the back knot. He crossed his ankles over each other and leaned back until his back shell was touching the grease covered picnic table.

"Well…I guess you can say we're not like your average family…"

Master Splinter was sitting at the kitchen table with a steaming cup of herbal tea. His whiskers twitched ever so slightly. Gently he picked up the ceramic cup between his knarred hands. Just as he was about to take a sip a loud crash sounded from the living room. Splinter paused only to shrug it off as nothing and tried to take another sip when three blurs of green ran by him.

With a sigh he jumped up out of his seat and used his walking stick to save his tea pot from crashing to the floor.

Michelangelo waved as he ran by again, "Hey Sensei!"

Donatello gave him a passing glance and smile,"Afternoon Sensei! Michelangelo you are so dead!"

Leonardo paused in his rush in catching his brothers to bow respectfully,"Sorry Sensei!" Leo returned to running after his brothers yelling,"Donatello, you need to relax; it's just coffee!"

Splinter sighed- setting the tea pot back onto the table along with his cup of tea. He made his way into the living room where he found Leonardo holding Donatello back from attacking Michelangelo. Splinter shook his head and sighed through his nose.

In one swift movement he smacked all of his present sons over the head with his walking stick like he had for years.

"Yamete!"

The three boys stopped to rub the tops of their heads. Splinter frowned at his sons and asked, "Now then…Why don't the three of you start explaining to me what's going on here."

Donatello crossed his arms over his plastron. "Well I was about to make some coffee when Michelangelo grabbed my keurig."

His youngest pouted and pointed an accusing finger towards his eldest. "Well Leo was the one who told me-"

"That was because Donnie made me promised no matter what to help him kick his coffee habit- no matter what the costs."

Donatello fumed,"So you took my keurig!?"

Leo rolled his eyes. "What better way to kill a snake then by its head?"

"Sensei, tell them they're being unreasonable!"

The wizened rat looked at his son with a gentle smile,"When making a commitment one should always follow through- especially if you're in this family." He nodded towards his other sons."Now how many cups has he had today?"

Don scoffed,"Three-.."

Leo interrupted him straight on,"This would have been his tenth one."

Splinter rubbed his beard thoughtfully. "Well then, it seems to me you do need your brothers' help with your addiction. Limit yourself to three cups a day. One in the morning, afternoon, and night time if needed."

"But-.."

His father gave him a stern look that silenced his protest.

"Hai…Sensei."

"Now then why don't we all sit in the kitchen and enjoy some warm jasmine tea. I am sure mine has cooled down more than enough."

"Ya know…the way you an' ya bros clean out the trash takes me back ta the good ol' days."

Raph raised an eyeridge, "Oh?"

Dave grinned, "Back before I settled down with my girl I used ta be top dog on the streets…"

The turtle chuckled, taking a sip of his coffee that David made for him. "You s'pect me ta believe that you were a crime fighter?"

The man patted his belly in all seriousness. "I'll admit I'm not as well built as I once was…but I speak the truth boy. Still have my suite an' everythin'."

"Now this I have ta see ta believe."

Setting his own mug down on the hood of his old Chevy- Dave walked over towards his locker set and opened it up to reveal a metal suite that was re-enforced with leather cuffs and paneling. Set to the side were heavy steel boots that would make any biker bad ass with a clean cut motor cycle helmet that looked like it had some work done.

Raphael's eyes widened a little as he let out an approving whistle, "Damn. Ya sure were packin' Dave." He went to stand beside him. "Bet ya had one hell of a nigh' trick-or-treatin'."

"Yea, those were the days. Too bad my bike was damaged goods in the long run. Wrecked 'er on one of my runs." His lips lifted into a small smile. "Guess it was fate 'cause that was the night when my wife was workin' graveyards. I'm one lucky bastard an' probably don't deserve ta be."

Raph was about to comment when that back door to the building opened. David turned to find his young ass friend gone as his daughter walked in. Stacey flashed a smile at her dad.

"Still working on old reliable I see?" Gesturing towards the old pick up.

Dave closed his locker before she got any closer and grinned, "Well, once I start on a project I always want ta follow it through."

"Is Johnny home from practice?"

The eighteen year old propped herself up on the work table. "Yup! He's actually in the car waiting for us so I suggest you get to cleanin' up so we can have dinner."

He growled,"Stace need I remind you that I am the parent and you are the child?"

"Not if the parent still relives his glory days as a wild child." Stacey snorted,"Let's be honest, I'm more of the adult then you times ten!"

"Whateva'! Go back ta the car while I lock up, alright sweetness?"

She flashed a mock peace sign and went back the way she came. David turned to the entrance of his garage and found the familiar shadow on a neighboring roof top. With a small wave he started to unhook and pull the chains that closed the wide entrance.

Raphael chuckled a little at the sight and was about to leave when his cell stated to go off. With a fluid motion he answered the call.

"Yea?"

"Raphael, it's about time that you come home my son. After all your brother leaves for his training tomorrow morning. You need to spend as much time with him as possible."

Raph sighed. He nearly forgotten why he wanted to leave the lair in the first place that night.

"No problem. I'll be there soon Splinta'."

The morning air was crisp and still held the after effects of the night with the mix of the early morning risers. Above the streets two lone figures moved through the morning twilight.

Leonardo was on his way to the airport with Raphael as his only escort. After the quiet good byes made to his father, Leo was ready to leave. He already said his farewells to everyone else last night at their small dinner party. April and Casey said their dues two nights before.

The journey there was filled with silence. Neither brother spoke to the other- both unsure on what to say in that exact moment. Just keeping quiet and into the shadows as they swiftly moved from roof top to roof top.

They both paused at the edge of the cross line that held the airport in view. Leonardo turned towards his brother and offered a small smile.

"Well…this is it."

Raph smiled in turn, "Yea…guess so." He held out his hand for his brother. "Try not ta forget us while yer roughin' it out."

Leo clasped their arms together in their familiar form of respect and gave a firm nod, "Like I'd forget you guys. Keep your temper in check while I'm gone and we should be fine."

Raph snorted, "Yea, yea…Now hurry up fearless 'fore ya miss yer flight."

With one last wave of good bye, his brother left.

Leo had been gone a week. Splinter already made it clear that no one was to fight until Leonardo's return. Raph managed to make time to spend with Casey to hide his in between visits with Dave.

That's exactly where he was heading now. He still had questions about his past fighting excursions. He was never one to fully grasp the concept of fate. He always accepted that things happened- if there was a higher purpose to what he had for breakfast that morning he did not know. All he knew it had to be either damn luck or something because the odds of finding someone like David Merryweather were probably one in a million.

When he made it to the familiar street corners of Brooklyn his phone began to ring out. He paused to answer. While he talked to Casey on the other line unknown to him was the commotion down below.

After five minutes of talking with Casey three rounds of guns shots sounded the streets. Raph's eyes narrowed as he jerked around in time to catch a set of Purple Dragons running out of the garage. His blood ran cold.

"Casey…I'm goin' ta have ta call ya back man."

Ignoring his friend's questions he snapped his phone shut and jumped down into the dimly lit streets- running towards the open garage.

"Dave! Ya in 'ere? Come on old man where-.."

He stopped short when he saw the old mechanic laying in a growing pool of blood. His gun that he flashed him a few nights ago was tossed a few feet away with three bullet casings by his feet.

David coughed, spitting drops of blood down the side of his mouth. His blue shirt was slowly turning burgundy from the two wounds in his chest. Raph swallowed and knelt down beside him. With shaky hands he lifted his head up a little not entirely sure on what to do.

"Ya know this is kind of fittin' fer me…Going out in," He coughed again, "blazin' guns."

Raph shook his head. "'Ey don' talk like that…I can still get ya an ambulance."

"Don'….It'd be a waste…" Dave spat out some more blood. "'Member where my suite was…." His voice was gruff and losing volume. "I want ya…t-ta have it. Find the b-bastards that did this ta me…."

Raph gave a firm nod of understanding. Anger slowly overwhelming his grief.

"An'…anotha' thing I want ya to…" Raph leaned in closer to catch the rest. Then the light in the old man's eyes were gone.

He gently laid his friend down and closed his eyes shut. Numbly he opened the locker and shrugged on the jacket and pants. Raph snatched up the biker helmet and placed on the boots. Good thing Dave was a big guy. When he looked at himself in the small locker mirror his gaze caught sight of something. Tags, army tags that hung on a nearby hook.

He ran his fingers over the metal dog tags and read the inscriptions, recognizing David's name on one of them and the year of his tour. The other simply had Night Watcher engraved in gothic lettering. With a growl he pocketed the tags.

Tonight, I will avenge you my friend and I will honor your last wishes.