Chapter 1

"Is that why?"

It had only been 12 hours since the revelation about Raphael, and Donnie found himself hard at work in his lab. His mind a buzz with multiple theories and different experiments he could be working on, but at the same time, a single problem …theory …sibling kept popping up in his mind. So many things that hadn't made sense, things he had chalked up to simply being Raphael suddenly become much clearer. The red masked turtle's need to protect and mood swings. The relationship between Raph and Leo, it all made more sense now, and there was a part of him that was filled with dread at what the prospect of such revelations would mean.

Would things get better from here?

Would Raph be willing to submit to some testing?

All the fights they had when it came to medical exams made so much more sense, and why Raph was the first one to speak up against finding out if they were really brothers or not when he had first discovered DNA testing.

It all made so much sense, especially considering the secret that Raph had hid.

Yet, there was still more mystery and even more theories that were now coming to light because of it.

The purple masked turtle would look over at the books on his right. Human anatomy books, on his left, turtle anatomy books, and his own notes was in the middle of the two. His notes contain things that they lacked, things that they gained, and information that he had ignored at one point simply because it hadn't matter to them. Now it did, and he had to wonder if it would be more useful in the immediate future or in the future that would eventually come. Either way, this was information that he needed as he looks at his note.

"It makes sense, so many things ….make sense now."

But, there was still things that didn't, things he couldn't simply gather through books, or through his own notes. Things he would have to observe and see just how correct his assumptions was. He would do that tomorrow when they woke up, but he would have to be careful. If the sibling this research was based on discovered what he was doing.

He already knew what would happen.

Donnie never forgot that day he decided to take research into his own hands despite the will of his siblings.

Raph had made it clear that he didn't want to know if they were related by blood, and the others had quickly followed suit. Yet, he was curious, and the wish for knowledge overrode their objections in his mind. Afterall, if one of them needed a blood donor or let's say a disease should take place. They might need the aid of a sibling, and of course, if he didn't know about their relations, well, that can put their lives in jeopardy. Thus, he went to do it on his own.

Big mistake, because when Raph found out.

Well, it had taken two weeks to put his lab back together, and even though Master Splinter had punished Raph. The red masked turtle had only smiled and made it clear, if he ever did that again, he might never be able to put his lab back together again.

Though thinking about that situation, surprisingly, Raph had kept quiet about what Donnie had done. Now that he think about it that had been kind of nice. Though, at the moment, he could only think about how many experiments had been ruin and how much had been lost. But, if Raph had wanted to, Donnie shivered lightly …the turtle could have told on him and everyone would have been angry at him. It could have made things rough especially when he needed his patients to trust him, so maybe, it hadn't been all bad. Or at least it could have been worst.

Would this time be any different?

Would it be alright to pry when he knew it was unwanted?

It was for science.

One side of his mind told him.

The other knew, Raph would not be happy with him.

Family or science?

The purple mask turtle would sigh heavily.

He already knew his decision and it wasn't like it was hard. Family definitely over science, but there was one piece of information that he couldn't ignore. It could bring his family closer or tear it apart and it was quite abrasive information. So, he wouldn't be direct. It could lead to trouble.

A sudden hand on his shoulder made Donnie jump as he drops his entire body over his research as he looks over his shoulder to see no other than the turtle that was the cause of all of these problems.

Raphael.

"Hey Donnie, wha'cha doin?"

The words were said slowly, as though finishing a chain of thought. Raph had definitely noticed his weird behavior. Not good.

Donnie quickly swallowed the words, "nothing" with that simple observation. Raph already knew something was up, and that raised eye ridge told it all. He couldn't, wouldn't let himself be caught in a lie. Those green eyes looking at him with a concern that Donnie couldn't ignore. Another theory came forward, one he had dismissed, but now, it didn't seem so foolish. When had Raph every reacted badly to upfront question when it didn't come from Leo?

Only when the red masked turtle is embarrassed and is in group setting.

When had Raph proven untrustworthy in keeping secrets?

Never.

So, why not?

Because, they were in his lab, and if said turtle lost it, well, none of his equipment would survive. So, the answer was simple. He needed to get them out of the lab and ask the question, and an even better plan came to mind.

A drive.

Hands occupied can't strangle him.

Returning back to the lair with Raph as a driver would give him a good head start.

No flaws.

Only one problem how to suggest it.

"Hey …Hey, genius."

Raph calls out loudly and then in frustration would growl.

"I told them, you had stayed in here too long."

Donnie would find himself being pulled out of his lab literally by his shell. Passing his two siblings who seemed a bit shocked and relieved to see it.

How long had he been in his lab?

The thought would chime to the forefront as Donnie realized that everyone was awake. That meant, it wasn't night but probably morning, and yet, he didn't smell break fast food coming from the kitchen. Which meant, that it might be later than that.

Oh shell.

That wasn't good.

"Raph where are you taking him?"

Leo would ask in our wake.

"For a little drive, we need to clear the air on somethings. We won't leave the sewers."

Donnie felt sweat run down his skin at those words. Had Raph seen the research notes? Did the red mask turtle sense what he was doing? This wasn't good, not good at all. Raph took them straight to the Shell raiser and push him inside. The green eyed turtle would take the driver's seat with a snap of… "Buckle up".

This experiment, observation, Donnie knew at that moment, was out of his three fingered hands. His eyes would drop to look at his digits. He didn't know what else to do at that moment.

He could only hope that it didn't end badly as they took off.

"So, what's on your mind?"

Raph asked the moment the van was really going, but, Donnie wouldn't look up from his hands.

He didn't know what else to do.

Afterall of those questions, theories, plans on how to ask those questions …Donnie realized, he had never thought how to broach the subject with his sibling. How to ask the question, nor how to in this case answer it.

Silences, lingered.

Raph would let out a deep sigh.

"Sorry."

The words would shock Donnie into looking up at him.

"Sorry for keeping the secret. For breaking your trust, I know you are probably mad at me, and I don't blame you for not talking. I just …I just didn't want to be different. I wanted to be seen as the same as you guys. I was so afraid that you would find out and then …I don't know, reject me. So, I thought it best to keep you guys at a distance, to hide it. Though I knew eventually it would come out, I just wanted it to go away. I didn't want to think about what would happen then.

So, I am sorry."

Raph apologized.

Donnie wasn't sure why his beak drop open but it did. Shock, surprise, but more than that, the misunderstanding his research had created. It made sense though, after the news he had kind of locked himself in his lab, and been there …all night and half the day. Of course, Raph would take it this way, but that wasn't …he never once thought like that.

"No one blames you for not telling us, Raph. I guess, we probably wonder how stupid we could be not to have noticed. Besides, your secret has changed nothing really, or at least, nothing yet."

Donnie had his opening. There was no backing out now.

"Do you like Leo?"

Raph turned the wheel sharply, and the entire van felt like it was on two wheels for a moment as it twist and came to a complete stop. Donnie's hand immediately went for his seat belt buckle. He needed to get out of Raph's range now.

But it was already too late.

Donnie forgot, unless Leo was there, Raph never wore his seat belt.

It was late when they got back. Donnie's stomach gurgle in protest that was being drown out by the aches and pains that accompany his every step. He had come back battered and bruised, and before Leo could question Raph about it …the turtle had taken one look at him, turn red and then ran to her room.

In that moment of shock, Donnie had escape to his room to lick his wounds and jolt down his notes.

Conclusion of his research.

Whether male or female, Raphael is the same.

When embarrassed she is quite violent.

Also, there is nothing between her and Leo, except for sibling bonds.

Any thoughts otherwise will end in the death of the one who theorized it.

NOTE to oneself.
Warn Mikey any teasing along those lines can result in Fratricide.