It's here, the next installment in the "M" stories. Many thanks to Reijiro for her help with grammar, spelling, and all around help. If you want a good Raph fic, go read Cells and Serpents (part of the Tausha series). It's an excellent read. Also thanks go out to Thalpomene for letting me bounce ideas of off her. I appreciate the help chicas! This takes place about two months after the first story. Enjoy!

Raphael walked into his room and flopped on his bed, sai still in hand. "Oooof!" He lay there on his back, silent for a few moments, his body halfway on his bed, his feet still on the floor. "I am SO sore." he said looking at his stuffed tiger, staring from its perch on the desk.

"You always talk to small inanimate objects, or just when no one else is around?" Donatello stood leaning on the doorway to Raphael's room, a simple grin decorating his face.

"I had no idea Dad was that fast!" Raphael explained, forcing himself to sit up and leaning on his elbows. "He do that to you guys too?"

"Ah, so you are now sparring against Master Splinter." Donatello didn't even attempt to hide his laughter at the thought of his sometimes arrogant brother going up against their adopted father.

Raphael cut a glare at him, letting Donatello know that he was not amused. "Tired old bones my butt!" he muttered.

"Mmphf," Donatello covered his mouth to quiet his laughter. "Sorry Bro'. We all went through that during our personal training sessions. Those pressure points he applies really hurt."

"Tell me about it," Raphael replied now completely sitting up and rubbing at his right elbow. "I still don't get why it's called a funny bone."

Donatello perked up. "You really want to know?" he asked with enthusiasm.

"No"

"Oh, well…here." Donatello held out a container in his left hand. "Trade?"

Raphael took the container and passed his weapons to his brother. He watched to make sure that Donatello carefully and properly put them away. Satisfied, he turned his attention to the round plastic container and unscrewed the cap. He took a moment to sniff it. "It smells sweet. What is it?"

"It's a muscle rub," Donatello said while sitting in the chair at his brother's desk. "It's got some wild yam in it, I think." He shrugged his shoulder's turning around to look at his brother. "It's one of Master Splinter's herbal remedies."

"Thanks." Raphael held up the container for a brief second and then got up and put it on his desk. He began digging through a pile of clothes pulling out something to wear. "I'll give it a try after I take a shower."

"Sure," Donatello continued sitting quietly in the chair at the desk and thought for a minute. "You know Raph, it's been two months. You should really let me check your back, make sure everything's okay."

"OH NO," Raphael turned around quickly. "Caitlin said no more treatments."

"Correction," Donatello told him. "She said with any luck, you wouldn't need anymore treatments." With a sigh, Donatello stood up and walked to the door but stopped at the entrance to the hallway. "Raph, you're gonna have to trust us sooner or later. What are so you afraid of?"

I'm a freak of nature and that's all you'll see. That was what Raphael wanted to say that to his brother. He stood there, mouth open, but no words came out. He couldn't get them too.

Realizing he wasn't going to get a response, Donatello tried a less threatening question. "You still taking the medication she left you?"

"Yeah," he answered, "Every other day, just like she said."

"Good," Donatello smiled. Well that's something he thought, getting ready to leave the room. "Mikey said dinner will be ready in ten minutes. I'll see you downstairs," he walked out. "Don't forget," he called out from the hallway, "It's your turn to do the dishes."

Sure, whatever, Raphael thought to himself. Mike did most of the cooking so rarely did the youngest ever clean up after dinner. Raphael had struck a deal with his youngest brother. As long as Mikey kept the dirty dishes to a minimum, he got to borrow three CD's a week from Raphael's collection. On one occasion, Michelangelo very proudly produced food on paper plates and disposable cups. It was a bargaining chip for something a little extra. He wanted to borrow Raphael's CDs and computer to play a game. Reluctantly, Raphael agreed. At first he wasn't going to do it, but his youngest brother threatened a horrendously dirty kitchen if he didn't.

Outwitted by a 15 year old, he thought to himself as he stepped into the shower. Rivulets of water danced down the various crevices of his back, created by all the surgeries and lingering scars.

(flashback)

"We're going to be gone for awhile," Caitlin said, trying not to cry. "Promise me," she poked his chest with her finger, trying to get her point across. "Promise me you will let Donatello take a look at things to make sure your shell pieces keep growing with the rest of you." Caitlin knew that her pleas were more than likely falling on deaf ears but she had to try anyway.

"What does he need to see it for?" Raphael started to argue. "I thought you said I didn't need that anymore."

"I said if we were lucky………"

"What do you mean WE!" Raphael interrupted. "I'm the one who gets stuck with all the needles and wakes up sore! I'm the one who ends up flipping out from the steroids not you!" The conversation had quickly gone from a pleasant good bye and was well on its way to an argument thanks to the large turtle. The look on her face told him he had gone too far.

"I'm sorry," he whispered to her. Fortunately there was no one in the warehouse but the two of them. Jake was downstairs talking to Splinter. Caitlin had asked her husband for a minute or two to tell Raphael goodbye and now he had ruined it. Unsure of what to do, he pulled her into a hug and rested his chin on her head. "I'm sorry," he told her again, slowly rocking her side to side. "I didn't mean to hurt you."

Sniffling, Caitlin wiped her eyes and squeezed him tight. "I'm going to miss you," she admitted.

"Then don't go, please?" he begged her. "You and Jake don't have to leave. You can get a place here in the city," he looked down at her face still holding tight to her shoulders. "Please?" he asked a second time.

"We'll be back in a few months," Caitlin tried to reason with him. "You need this time with your family. No interruptions from me or Jake." She looked up, still trying not to cry and sucked in a breath.

"But what if they find out they don't like me?"

Caitlin hadn't realized just how scared he was until now. It was becoming evident in his voice. Caitlin held back a few more tears." They're going to love you," she encouraged. "They already do."

He let the shower beat into his face and rinse the soap off his body. The warmth of the water eased the tension of his muscles and slowly he began to relax.

Donatello took one last look at his brother's medical files before dinner. He had only read Caitlin's notes. He hadn't worked up the courage to look at the photos. As much as he wanted to see them, it felt a bit like an act of betrayal if he did. He knew that Raphael was very private about his unusual physique. It occurred to Donatello that he had never seen his brother without a shirt. It's the dead of summer, he thought. He even goes out on patrol in that long sleeve black shirt. He's got to burn up like that. Sighing, he closed the file and walked into the main room.

Raphael stepped out of the shower, dried off and began to get dressed. He pulled his pants on and was about to put his shirt on when he remembered the container Donatello had given him. Might as well try it, it can't hurt he thought with a shrug of his shoulders Immediately his shoulders felt some relief as he rubbed the cream into his muscles. Putting the lid on the container, he raised his arms over his head and stretched, his joints popping as he did. "Oh yeah, much better," he said.

"Hang on Leo!" he heard Michelangelo's voice outside as the door opened. "I just need to use the….."

Raphael turned, but not before his youngest brother got an eyeful of his secret. Michelangelo said nothing but covered his mouth in shock.

Raphael became enraged when he saw Michelangelo's reaction. "Get out," he growled, pointing an accusing finger at his brother. "You're not supposed to see it! NOW GET OUT!" he screamed. In an act of pure anger he shoved his brother backwards. Michelangelo landed on the floor with his brother standing over him.

"No! Wait Raph!" Michelangelo panicked. "I'm sorry!"

Raphael raised a fist to his brother and glared at him, growling.

Michelangelo closed his eyes tight and raised his arms over his face, expecting the worst. 'WHUMP!' Raphael's fist hit the floor, landing next to his youngest brother's head. Michelangelo opened his eyes and his brother was gone, already in his room.

"Mikey!" Donatello came running up the stairwell. "Are you okay?"

Still a bit shocked, Michelangelo sat up and just nodded yes as his brother checked him over.

"I heard Raph yelling at you, what happened?" Donatello asked.

"I didn't mean to Don, honest!" Michelangelo tried to explain. "I thought the bathroom was empty so I just walked in and……and……I saw his back." He looked at Donatello, trying to think of a way to describe the sight. "It was…" he paused for a moment.

At that same instant, Raphael came out dressed in his usual gear for a nighttime patrol, backpack in hand. He stopped at the top of the stairwell and turned for a brief second and stared at his two brothers. Still angry, he glared at them, his eyes nothing more than small slits. He eyed them and hesitated for only a second then jumped down to the first level and ran out of the lair.

Hearing the yells and seeing Raphael leave, Leonardo turned to his father, "Sensei?"

"Go Leonardo," Splinter agreed. "Make sure he is alright, I will see to Michelangelo and Donatello."