Summary: A short story set near the end of Redemption and before Retribution. Raphael comes to terms with his injuries and tries to make up for past mistakes.

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A/n: Here is the second chapter for Recompense. As it is only a short story, there will only be one or two more chapters after this I hope you are enjoying it thus far. This is only a small side-fic, so it will probably be only 3-4 chapters long. If you have not read Redemption, this piece will make no sense to you at all. If you are interested, I suggest you read it first, though it is a bit of a lengthy story. This story takes place lose to the end of Redemption, in a few chapters where we don't fully see Raphael's recovery, and is also set before the start of Retribution.


Recompense

A week had passed and Donatello had started Raphael on physiotherapy. The first few sessions had been rough. They were filled with Raphael's barely muffled cries of pain and strings of curse words from his frustration.

"You have to be patient, Raph," Don said, trying to remain patient himself, with his older brother. "These things take time. Your body needs to heal."

"It's had enough time to heal," Raphael growled, glaring down at his prosthetic leg with hatred.

"Not enough time," Don pointed out firmly. "I don't think you realise how serious your injuries are, Raph."

"Can you stop telling me that? I'm sick of hearing it!" Raphael grouched. "It's all I ever hear around here and it's driving me insane!"

"You know what, Raph, I'm sick of your attitude," Don snapped, loosing what little amount of patience he had left with his older brother.

"Not you too," Raphael mumbled, rolling his good eye.

"No, Raph, I don't think you understand," Don said angrily, balling his fists at his side. "You need to stop being a jerk!"

"How am I being a jerk?" Raphael asked incredulously. "Because I'm injured?"

"The way you're going on about it! Not once have you ever stopped to think about how all of this is affecting us, Raph!"

"Oh, I'm sorry, but did you get your eye prodded out with a hot steel pole? Did you have several pins explode inside your leg? I don't think you did!"

"That's not what I'm talking about, Raph and you know it!" Don yelled angrily. "Do you know what it feels like, finding out that it's your brother on the news for being in a crash? Do you know what it's like watching you scream as we try to save your life? Or better yet, do you know what its like having to cut off your own brother's leg? I don't think you do!"

Raphael was taken aback by Don's outburst. "I'm sorry, Donnie, I didn't think of that."

"No, you didn't, because you only think about yourself. And you know what? That's what got you into this whole mess in the first place!"

"Donnie, I-"

"No, Raph, for once, just stop," Don said, getting to his feet. "You're not the only one affected by this, Raphael. You're not the only one that's broken. Ands its because of you that we're all broken."

Raphael watched Don leave the room with his mouth agape. A sinking feeling settled in his chest and Raphael looked down at the ground, feeling shame wash over his cheeks. Don was right. This was all his fault, all his own doing. Raphael hadn't realised how stressed his brothers' must be, how worried and how drained they all must be feeling.

Because of you, we're all broken.

Don's words circled around in Raphael's head. He was right, his family was broken, an empty shell of what they had once been, and he was to blame. How had he not seen it before?

Slowly getting to his feet, Raphael limped painfully to his room.

"Why do you have to be so difficult all the time?"

His brothers' words circled around Raphael's head, a consistent echo that wouldn't leave him alone.

"You think I would purposely endanger my family? What the fuck is wrong with you? I would never hurt this family Leo, do you understand me?"

"I'm done with you. I'm done with all of you!"

You did this to us Raph.

No, stop it! Raphael grabbed his head in his hands, the voices swarming, growing louder and louder with each frantic beat of his heart.

We're broken, Raph, and it's all your fault.

No please!

I'm sorry, I'm so sorry.

Please…

Forgive me.


Sitting in April's small living room, Raphael shifted uncomfortably on the couch, trying to move his prosthetic into a comfortable position.

"Are you okay, Raph?" Casey asked from the opposite lounge, looking at his friend with worry. "Do you want me to get you a pillow or something?"

"I'm fine," Raphael growled, slumping in the chair with a sigh of frustration. "I don't need you to baby me, Case."

"Come on, Raph, you know that's not fair. I'm just trying to help."

"I know, I know…I'm sorry, I'm just so…"

"Frustrated? Angry?" Casey chipped in.

"Yeah, that and a thousand other things," Raphael sighed.

"What's wrong, Raph, apart from the obvious?" Casey prodded. "I thought you'd be happy to get out of the lair for a change. I know the journey over here was tough but Donnie said your improving with your physio sessions."

"I'm fine, Casey," Raphael sighed, "I just…I don't know, something Don said the other day has been making me think."

"What about?" Casey asked curiously. "What did he say?"

"He said I was being a jerk," Raphael said, meeting Casey's gaze with his single golden orb. "Up until now, I'd never given it much thought. I've been so caught up in myself and my own problems, I didn't stop to think about anyone else's."

"Your brothers' understand that, Raph, we all do. We have no idea what you've been through, what you're still going through. We've all been so worried."

"I know," Raphael said sincerely. "I haven't been able to thank you guys enough for what you've done for me. I can only imagine the worry I made you all feel. If I had been in your position, I probably would have lost it. But you guys stuck by me, kept believing in me when I'd lost all hope. I can never repay you guys for that."

"We're family, Raph, that's what family does; we stick together, no matter how hard the situation."

"But I've been selfish," Raphael whispered. "Before the accident, I said some things, things I should never had said. I didn't mean them, but I was angry, I couldn't help it. I just…I just want to make it up to everyone."

"Recompense," Casey nodded in understanding.

"What?"

"It means to make amends to someone," Casey explained.

Raphael stared at Casey, not quite sure what to say.

"Hey, don't judge, I've been watching a lot of TV lately," Casey defended himself.

"You're starting to sound like Donnie," Raphael laughed.

"I'm going to take that as a complement," Casey chuckled before turning serious again. "Just talk to your brothers Raph, if you're worried, they'll understand."

"I will," Raphael said, getting slowly to his feet. "And Casey?"

"Yeah?"

"Thanks."


A/n: Gotta love some cute Casey/Raph fluff and bonding! I hope you all enjoyed this chapter and I hope to update soon. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to leave a review or send me a PM.

Until the next time,

~Cat