What's
Okay, so this story is pointless really. I wasn't inspired by anything. It's just one of those "questioning my existence" things. Also, I really like Donnie and Raph interactions. Donnie's geekiness plays off Raph's machismo really well. I always figured that if the guys were human these to would rule the school, so to speak. Also, I think the reason they have such a good relationship is because they are so opposite they are almost amused or entertained by one another.
I tried not to write Raph as being depressed just detattched. I think that if it seemed necessary, he would start to separate himself from his family. Donnie, I might have gone overboard from geek into nerd. If I did, I'm sorry. So anyway, read and review please. If ya'll like it, I'll keep going. If ya'll don't, I'll stop.
BTW: this is a combo of all versions of the TMNT, except for the Next Mutation series. I never saw it. Also, I put some of my outdoor skills to work in this story.
Legal Disclaimer: I would put in the statement that I don't own 'em but why bother. We all know who does so why depress ourselves any further.
"Raph! Slow down!" a voice came through the headset on his bike helmet. "You go any faster and we'll lose sight of you."
"Leo," Rapahel replied. "you'll catch sight of me again when you get to the farmhouse."
"Raphael," Leo waited for an answer. "Rapheal!" he called into the shell cell again. "Great," he grumbled and turned to the rest of the family in the van. "He turned his headset off."
"Settle down my son," Splinter spoke to him. "I am sure that Raphael will call if he experiences any difficulty. Give him so time alone. I am sure that is what he wants right now."
Rapahel arrived at the farmhouse and went upstairs to his usual room that he shared with Michelangelo and dumped his stuff on the bed. He sighed a bit and flopped down on the bed. Might as well enjoy the quiet while I can. Fifteen more minutes and everyone else will be here. He quietly looked around the room and wondered why they didn't just stay here permanently. Why did they keep returning to the damp, dark sewers? Without answering himself he dug through his back pack and pulled a item that no one else knew he had. He was hoping he would be able to be alone this weekend so he could use it without any interference. He looked back at the green army bag and smiled. Wish I knew how you were Frankie. Digging through the side pockets, he pulled out the rest of the items he would need and set them aside where no one else would find them. He inadvertenly jumped when he heard the old VW van pull up. Grudgingly, he went downstairs to help unload supplies.
Walking off the porchsteps he headed over to the front of the van and opened up the storage area and pulled out a cooler of food.
"Raph," Leo called to him. He was going to say something to his brother about going off on his own like he did but Raphael cut him off.
"Stuff it Leo," he said quietly and took the food into the kitchen. He walked in, put the cooler down on the table and went back out to get more of the supplies. He didn't even respond to his brothers as he passed them.
As he was about to grab another box, a furry hand was placed on his arm. He followed the arm up to see the face of his father smiling at him. Rapheal sighed and waited for the lecture but was surprised when he didn't receive one.
"My son," Splinter said. "We are here for your birthday. I do not wish for you to do anything but relax. Please let us take care of the supplies."
Rapahel tried to protest but Splinter stopped him. "I insist. Please," and he waved his hand over to the entrance of a well worn trail heading into the woods. "your walks in the forest always seem to bring you some peace. Go for a walk my son and relax. We will handle this."
Knowing it wouldn't do him any good to argue with his father, the usually hot headed turtle headed off in the direction his father indicated.
Raphael trudged through the woods of North Hampton. Usually his strolls in the quiet, dense forest would take his mind off of things. Today was different, however. He was still aggravated and what was supposed to have been a peaceful walk had become a loud march, his level of frustration rising with every step.
"This is so stupid?" he muttered to himself. "I just wanted a week to myself. They didn't need to come up here with me." He silently cursed himself for not making his intentions clearer to his family.
As he kept going, he thought back to the day before. It was a simple request really. Splinter asked Raphael what he wanted for his birthday. Raphael hadn't really thought about it. In truth, he really didn't care. It just wasn't that important. Nothing really seemed all that important anymore.
Splinter and his sons had taken notice of the change in his behavior. It wasn't obvious at first, just gradual differences that didn't become noticeable until Raphael had seemingly become a different turtle. Lifeless.
In the beginning, they all thought that perhaps the usually temperamental turtle was maturing, learning to control his usual loud outbursts. But as time passed, the changes spilled over to the rest of his life. He didn't get upset when Leo bested him during practice, Michelangelo's pranks didn't have any affect at all. No smile, no anger, nothing. And, oddly enough, when Donatello proudly announced he had an enhancement to make Raphael's shell cycle go even faster, Raphael didn't raise and eyebrow. He just whispered a simple "thanks" and walked off to his room, secluding himself again, a self imposed solitary confinement.
That was when Splinter decided something must be done. He had left Raphael to himself up until now. His second eldest son was prone to emotional highs and lows, but this time, it seemed as if the low period had no end in sight.
Raphael was laying in is hammock slowly rocking side to side, listening to a simple, rhythmic squeak from the strain on the metal framework that supported him. The silence was interrupted by two soft taps outside the doorway. Raphael huffed a bit and rolled his eyes, he knew this was coming. It was going be either Splinter or Leo and the light knocking on the door told him who it was. Tap, tap, tap. A second time, still as light as the first. Definitely Splinter.
"My son?" a head peered into the room.
Raphael merely raised his eyes to his father's question. "I'm awake," he answered.
"Ah, good," Splinter smiled wide and casually walked over to Raphael as if nothing was wrong. Raphael noticed how, when his Sensei walked, the sound of his feet and the TOK! of his cane on the floor, created an interesting pattern. He mused over this a little more and cocked an eyebrow as he thought about the sounds.
Splinter grinned at the sight of his son deep in thought. He always looked so serious when he contemplated even the simplest of things. One eyebrow rose with the eye wide while the other was scrunched up, almost a slit. His bottom teeth stuck out as he chewed on his upper lip. It was a face he made often as a child, trying to learn to read. Splinter shook his head and sighed. He decided to go ahead and interrupt his son's contemplation.
"AHEM!"
"Huh!" Raphael jumped a bit, forgetting his sensei was still there. "Oh sorry, Master Splinter. Didn't mean to ignore you or nuthin'" he shrugged.
"It is quite alright Raphael, you looked deep in thought." Splinter stood there, eyeing his son, both hands folded over his walking stick. To Raphael this position always gave the old rat the look of a holy person, devoid of any faults and full of wisdom.
"My son," he began. Raphael not wanting to be rude, sat up and swung his legs over the edge of the hammock. He folded his hands in his lap and, unknowingly, his toes began to rub together. Splinter stifled a laugh at the sight. He probably thinks he is in trouble again. "It has occurred to me Raphael, that you have not made any mention of your birthday. It will be here in a week."
My birthday? Raphael was a little surprised at the topic. That's what he wants to talk to me about? My birthday?
"Do not tell me you have forgotten about your own birthday." Splinter seemed only slightly amused by this, but he was also concerned. What could have him so preoccupied that he would forget a day set aside specifically for him?
Raphael shrugged his shoulders as an attempt to answer Splinter's question. The wise old rat wasn't accepting the silence. He tilted his head and made a face which indicated that saying nothing was not and acceptable response.
Raphael sighed, slightly frustrated. Honestly, he really didn't care; he viewed it as just another day. There was nothing special about it. "I didn't forget Sensei. I just wasn't concerned with it. That's all."
"Raphael, you are going to be 18, surely that is something to be celebrated." His father was surprised at the answer. Granted he was not Michelangelo who made announcements about his birthday a month in advance, but Raphael had always enjoyed a little celebration. "Think my son," he continued. "Is there anything special you would like?"
"Naw," he shrugged again. He started staring at the floor swinging his legs a little. "I can't think of anything."
"You cannot deny your family the opportunity to do something special for you," Splinter leaned forward on his stick a little. "Perhaps there is something you would like to do or somewhere you would like to go."
The turtle scratched at the back of his neck and looked up at the ceiling, trying to think of something. "Well," he stopped for a moment and stared at Splinter. "I guess if Casey's okay with it, I wouldn't mind going up to North Hampton for awhile. Like, say, a week. The quiet would be nice."
Splinter's eyes grew wide with the idea and he smiled at his son's suggestion. "Excellent. A wonderful suggestion my son." His cane tapped the floor to emphasize his point. "We could all do with a change. I'm sure that Mr. Jones and Ms. O'Neil would not mind and they might even come with us. We will celebrate your birthday there." Splinter turned to walk out of Raphael's room and spoke as he left, "I will have Leonardo call Casey right away. We will leave in the morning before dawn."
So here he was now, trudging through the woods, just trying to get away. I shoulda' just said I wanted to come alone. 'Course that woulda' hurt Sensei's feelins and I can't do that. Raphael paused for a moment, listening to his thoughts. Oh for cripes sakes, SNAP OUT OF IT! He yelled inwardly. What is the matter with me? Stupid question. I know what the problem is. I just don't care anymore. WHACK! He swung his sai at defenseless tree. Not out of anger, but just to have something to do. I mean, what's the point of it all. CHA-CHIK! Another hit. When did I start feeling so………so… useless? I mean Leo, he's got a purpose. WHAP! He's the team leader and he has his ninjitsu to focus on. Donnie WHACK! He's the brains of the outfit. He's always got stuff to fix or create or invent. Even Mikey has a reason to get up in the morning. CHOCK! I mean he does all the cooking, Thank God, and he likes to write about everything. There's something driving everybody. SMACK! The tree couldn't take much more. What do I have to contribute? Nothing. No skill except bustin' skulls and that doesn't take much. I don't contribute anything.
Craaa-aaa-ck! Raphael jumped out of the way as the small tree came began to topple over. Its trunk couldn't take anymore of the abuse and it came down. WHUMP! The tree fell off to the side and Raphael mused for a moment about the tree falling in the woods and whether or not it makes a sound if no one is there. He started to hear a slight buzz. The buzzing increased and he turned towards the sound. His eyes grew wide at the sight and his jaw dropped for a moment. There had been a large bee hive dangling precariously from the top of the tree. The impact of the fall had split the hive in half and a swarm of angry bees was looking for the culprit.
Raphael started to back up slowly, hoping his presence had not been noticed. But, the first prick on his skin indicated it was too late. Running as fast as he could through the woods, he tried swatting the insects out of the way as he moved. I hate bugs! I hate bugs! I hate bugs! Continued repeating in his brain as he moved.
He was getting closer to the house but his body felt like it was on fire. He wasn't sure how many times he had been stung but he knew they were all over. His right eye was rapidly swelling up and so was the left side of his mouth, due to several attacks from the little demons. He was limping on his right leg, his hand gripping his thigh for support. His breathing was becoming labored. A few correctly placed stingers caused his neck to swell partially, making it hard to take in air. He could see the house rising up over the line of bushes and he continued to push himself even though it hurt. Occasionally he would feel something on his skin or breeze by his face, causing him to inadvertently swat at whatever it was.
Casey and April were staring at the engine in the back of her broken down VW van. Casey was leaning on the tire well, staring at the block shaking his head. April was staring at Casey. "I don't like that look on your face Casey. What's the problem and how expensive is it going to be?" She stood with her arms folded, awaiting the worst.
Grabbing an old clothe; Casey wiped his hands and turned toward April. "Actually, it's fixable. It's not as bad as I thought. You just need a new radiator."
"Oooooooh no." The red head groaned. She brought her hands up to her face, trying to shut out the dancing dollar signs in her vision. "How much?" she cringed, expecting the worst.
"Not much really. You gotta' remember this old heap of yours isn't common anymore. I might get lucky and find a replacement at a junkyard in town. But that's worst case. Donnie and I will pull the part out later and have a closer look. Okay?" He pulled her hands down from her face, "Hey c'mon. It's not that bad. You told me how this thing made it through a chase with the cops right?" She nodded yes. "So, it's a tough old jalopy and I know how much you love it. We'll get if fixed."
April smiled at Casey's comment. He was getting better at his role as boyfriend. She decided to keep him. "Go get me the hose and I'll put some more water in it so it won't heat up too much."
Smiling, April walked over toward the spigot at the side of the house and started picking up the long hose.
"How's it looking Casey?" Donatello inquired.
"It's fixable Don, but you, me, and Raph have got some work to do to it." Casey looked around for a moment. "Where is he anyway?" The human scratched his head. His friend had been acting a little off lately. He even turned down the invitation to bust up a purple dragon meeting.
"He's somewhere that way," Donatello indicated with his Bo staff. "Splinter sent him on a walk for whatever reason," he answered, shrugging his shoulders.
Casey turned and stared at the direction Donatello indicated. He leaned a little forward and squinted, trying to see what was making the surrounding bush move about.
"What's causing all that commotion?" April asked. She was standing behind the two, garden hose in hand.
"Raph!" Casey yelled at the sight of his friend stumbling towards them, his skin covered with patches of black. Casey went running over and began dragging his friend to the house.
Donatello, realizing what the cause of his brother's predicament was, grabbed the hose from April and ran towards his now limp brother. "April!" he yelled out while still running. "Go get Splinter!"
Casey used the oil rag still in his hands to pull of any remaining bees while Donatello doused them with the hose. The cold water felt good to Raphael's skin.
"Geeze," Casey stepped back after removing the last bug. "Donnie he's got them all over his body. I've never seen someone covered with this many before."
Donatello didn't even bother to look up as he inspected his brother's shivering body. "Help me get him in the house." Both figures grabbed Raphael's arms and carried him up the steps. They were met at the door by Splinter.
"My son?" he eyed them with a worried look while holding the door open.
"Bee stings, Sensei. Lot's of them." Donatello and Casey continued to carry the larger turtle's body up the stairs into his room.
"Michelangelo," Splinter ordered. "Go to the kitchen and fill a bowl with cold water. Soak as many washcloths and dish towels in it as you can." The orange banded turtle ran to the kitchen and hurriedly began following his father's instructions. "Leonardo, go through the cabinets and bring Donatello and myself anything that is listed as an antihistamine. Ms. O'Neil," April looked to the rat, ready to receive her instructions. "I will need a bowl of baking soda and credit cards."