Goodnight, Sweetheart, Good...bye

Rating: K+

Summary: ONESHOT. Zaru's dying from battle wounds and Raphael's torn up about it.

Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT. Although I wish I did own Raphael. (growl) But I do own Zaru. I also don't own the words of a song that is partially sang in this. Don't remember who sang it, but it's in my heart. I also switched a few words around in the song to make it a response song as well.

----- ----

Blood was dripping from the sword wound Zaru received in the middle of her upper body, crimson just cascading from it and flowing like a small river to her sides and spreading across the concrete floor she lay upon. She was still alive, but with so much loss of blood, she was beginning to feel faint, knowing her death was near.

Nobody noticed Zaru was missing in battle until Michelangelo whirled around wondering where she was. She was behind him earlier fending off Foot Soldiers but now it seemed as though she just disappeared.

"Where's Zaru?!" Michelangelo called out.

Raphael was the first one to take the call and, kicking a Foot soldier in the gut and slashing at another with his sais, he ran toward Michelangelo to begin his search for her.

"Zaru!"

He desperately moved around, wound up so badly trying to find her. He didn't know what to do. All he could think of was finding her and it was sending him in a panic.

"Zaru?" He kept calling, the sounds of battle getting fainter and fainter until it was nothing but a faint cry like a gentle breeze whistling in the trees. "Zaru, babe?" Finally, he sniffed, smelling blood. Dammit! He ran to the scent of the blood where it was strongest and knew right away whose it was. "Zaru..."

Zaru coughed, but smiled when she saw Raphael standing in front of her eyesight.

"Raph..." She whispered.

The red bandana wearing turtle fell to his knees down next to her, eyes beginning to mist.

"Hey, baby." He whispered. "Are you okay?"

She nodded and continued to smile small. "Yeah. I'm...(cough)...okay."

Looking, he saw a plastic covering for the crates and snatched it up, scrunching it together to act like a pillow for her head. He leaned down next to her, looking into her eyes. "How ya holdin' up, babe?"

"I'm fine, Raphael."

He shook his head. "No! Ya ain't fine! Look atcha! All this blood...Oh, babe...What can I do for ya?" He grabbed her left hand and placed it on the wound, helping her to press on it. "That should help slow the bleeding, babe, right?"

She shook her head. "Raph..."

"I-I-It should s-stop the bleeding, babe! I know it will! Then I can get you outta here after we the beat the hell outta these foot soldiers and treat you in the infirmary. Okay, babe? How does that sound?"

"Raph-"

"No, babe! No! Don't! Don't say anything! I know you're gonna say it's too late! No, I don't wanna hear it, babe! I just...I can't hear that from you." Tears were beginning to fall down his cheeks. "Babe, I need you." He whispered.

Zaru nodded. "I know, honey, but I'm sorry. I think I've already lost..." She closed her eyes. "Just...sit here with me."

He nodded. "Forever, babe." He whispered.

Just only moments later, Donatello, Michelangelo and Leonardo were surrounding Raphael and Zaru, who was still awake, but her eyes becoming droopy.

"Donnie, I'm feeling dizzy." Zaru said slowly.

Donatello leaned on the other side of her and removed her hand that was covered with crimson blood from the wound. He could see through the shirt how deep it was. It was too late. He knew she knew it. Too much blood was already lost. If they had gotten her out of there earlier, she would have stood a chance with a blood transfusion, but it was too late. Several pints had already dismissed themselves from the demon slayer's body. She could no longer hold out. It was just too late.

"Donnie, what can ya do for her?" Raphael asked, still holding her hand and staring over at his brother in purple.

Donatello just sighed. "I'm sorry, Raph, but she's already lost too much blood."

"A transfusion -"

"-would be sufficient if she was taken to the infirmary or hospital earlier as soon as it happened, but no. I'm sorry, Raph."

He shook his head, snarling, eyes shut tightly. He made a fist and slammed it into the ground cracking the concrete. Bits and pieces flew and dust circled his fist.

"Raph..." Leonardo began.

"Don't, Leo! Don't."

Zaru winced in pain, but knew it would only last for another moment or so. Soon she would be at peace and be able to continue watching over her boyfriend.

"Raph..."

"Yeah, babe?"

"Sing to me."

Raphael looked around at his brothers who continued to stare either at him and Zaru or elsewhere. But he shouldn't care. If his girl wanted him to sing to her, he'd sing.

"Which song, babe?"

"The one you sing to me everynight before you leave or I leave..." She got out before coughing again, this time more violently.

"Babe..."

"Please, Raph?"

The sai-wielding turtle sighed and nodded his head. "Yeah, babe. I'll sing it...just for you."

She smiled. "That's my honey. A big man who's not afraid to take a risk in front of his family even if it is out of character." She chuckled lightly, but coughed again.

"Don't speak so much, babe. You'll just keep coughing if you do."

She nodded. "All right."

Raphael made himself more comfortable next to his girl and leaned as close as he could to her, taking her hand in both of his.

"Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go. Goodnight, sweetheart, well it's time to go. I hate to leave you, but I really must say, goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight."

Tears poured even more down his cheeks and everybody else's as well. Then they all heard a sweet voice sing out, choked but clear.

"Goodnight, sweetheart, I don't want you to go. Goodnight, sweetheart, I don't want you to go. I know you have to, so I will just say. Goodnight, sweetheart, good..."A pause. "...bye." The last part of the song was whispered and ended abruptly as Zaru had closed her eyes, her head rolling to the right.

Raphael immediately broke out. He fell on top of Zaru's body, crying his eyes out for a moment or so until wiping them away.

"Raph?" Leonardo asked, but Raphael motioned with his hand for him to shut up. "I'm sorry." He whispered and lowered his head to the ground trying not to shed tears.

MIchelangelo was wiping his eyes as well. Donatello just stood there staring at Zaru's body. If only...

His hands balled into fists and next thing the brothers knew, crates were flying every, dust swirling up into the air, the wind carrying it all around. The sounds were echoing throughout the entire warehouse . They knew it was noisy, but they would not stop their brother until he had calmed down. Finally, after what seemed like several hours, Raphael fell to his knees, holding his face in his hands crying again. Oh, babe, why'd you die? I need you! I can't go on like this! His tears continued. I love you, babe. Always.

Before Raphael stood up, he heard a faint voice whispering in his ear. Goodnight, sweetheart, goodnight...

THE END

A/n: I really hope you liked this oneshot everybody. It took me awhile to actually get this short oneshot done because I kept crying. So let me know what you think

Ja ne

Zaru-san