Disclaimer, I own nothing. Happy?

Just a start of something. I always thought Raph got off too easy when he tried to bean Mikey with the pipe.

PS First fic. Constructive criticism welcome, flames will be doused.

Raph came back to himself with a start. He had tried to hit Mikey. Nothing new, but with a pipe? In a rage? What was wrong with him? The looks on his family's faces told him they were wondering the same thing.

"Raphael! Stop! What are you doing? Would you harm your brother?!" called Splinter. An unusual mix of anger and disbelief in his voice. "Clearly our efforts to control your anger have not been enough!"

Raphael lowered his head in shame and sank to the ground. He wanted to answer his father, but how could he when he didn't even know the answer himself. "I'm sorry Sensai, an' Mikey I just….I don' know."

Splinter's ears laid back further and his whiskers quivered. "That is not good enough Raphael. These bursts of temper have damaged our home, disrupted our peace within it, risked exposure to the humans and now, you could have seriously harmed one of your brothers! This must stop Raphael!" A quiet "Father" from Leo gave Splinter pause then. He followed Leo's eyes to Raph's downward turned face, and too his astonishment, silent tears ran down his second son's cheeks. Usually admonishment resulted in brooding or grumbling, but now, genuine sorrow and confusion clouded his son's eyes. Splinter tempered his tone, "My son, it is clear you do not wish for this any more than we do. Please, tell us what is wrong so that your family may help you overcome this trial."

But all Raph could do was shake his head. "I really don't know Sensai. You're right that I don' wan' this. I'm so sorry. It just comes over me. I've tried the meditatin' like ya said Master. I've tried workin' out more to get it outta my systm'. And when it gets too much I go to the surface to take it out on the crooks so's I don' hurt you guys but….. I just can'….." Words failed him then and he just sat. Shaking his head.

Don and Mikey traded concerned looks from where they sat after Donnie had looked Mike over. "Aw Raphie," Mikey said "I'm sorry man. I know I don't help. I promise I'll lay off ok?" His earnest voice brought a slight smile to Raph's face. "That's jus' the thing little bro. Teasin' is part of who yah are, and yeah sometimes you get a little overboard, but…. Yah should be able to tease and prank and joke withou' worrin' about your own bro takin' a pipe to yer skull."

Leo had watched all this with a thoughtful look on his face. "I wonder," he began, and the family looked over. "I wonder if maybe this isn't just a matter of a personality flaw."

"Explain please my son." Requested Splinter and Raph turned a confused and slightly hopeful face to his older brother.

"Well, we all have flaws to work on, and Raph has. I've seen the effort he's put into controlling his temper. And I have to apologize to as I haven't always been helpful with that." He added with a rueful grin. "But I wonder if maybe there's a physical reason. Maybe Donnie, can you think of anything that might cause uncontrollable temper?"