It was well past noon by the time Leonardo woke up. He moaned and stretched. Rubbing his eyes, Leonardo sat up and looked around. He was on the couch instead of his bed. A noise in the kitchen caused him to turn around. Michelangelo came out of the kitchen, carrying a tray and whistling an upbeat tune. Leonardo was about to get up when his brother stopped him.

"Nuh uh, Leo, you stay put," the youngest said. "Master Splinter's orders." He placed the tray on the coffee table. "We were all really tired from last night, so, sensei let us sleep."

Leonardo picked up a piece of toast and took a small bite. "So, how did I end up on the couch?" he asked.

Michelangelo grinned. "You and Raph were on the way to the dojo, but instead Raph directed you to the couch before you passed out. Apparently, me and Donny fell asleep at the table while getting breakfast."

Leonardo gazed around the lair. "Where is Raph?"

His brother nodded towards the dojo. "Physical therapy session."

Leonardo nodded and went back to eating. Michelangelo headed upstairs and disappeared into the leader's room. Leonardo determined that Raphael and Splinter had gotten Donatello back upstairs and into bed. He was amazed that his genius brother was sleeping soundly. A cry of pain made Leonardo spin around and shoot his gaze towards the dojo. It was followed by a pained growl. Ignoring his brother's earlier words of staying on the couch, Leonardo got up and hurried over to the dojo. He opened the door and saw Raphael on the floor, clenching his right leg.

"Leonardo, what are you doing up?" Splinter asked. "You are supposed to be resting."

Leonardo hurried over to his brother and knelt down. "Are you okay, Raph?"

Raphael glared up at him. "Do I look okay?" he barked.

Splinter took his son's arm and swung it over his shoulders. Leonardo took Raphael's other arm and did the same. Raphael bit back another groan as they helped him to his feet. Splinter and Leonardo helped Raphael out of the dojo and over to the couch. They eased him down. Splinter left his sons to go and get the pain medication. Leonardo sat beside his brother.

"What happened?" he asked.

"My leg twisted," Raphael answered. "I was doin' a jump kick, but when I landed my leg twisted."

Leonardo winced. Raphael leaned forward and grasped his leg again. Leonardo hated to see his brother in pain. Splinter returned with the painkillers and a glass of water. Raphael took the glass and the pills. He tossed the pills in his mouth and gulped down the water. He handed the glass back to Splinter, who went back to the kitchen. Raphael took several deep breaths before leaning back. He stared at the ceiling. Leonardo looked up to his bedroom door. There was still no sign of Michelangelo nor any sound from Donatello.

"Do you still have those nightmares?" Raphael asked.

Leonardo turned his attention back to his red masked brother. "Pardon?"

"Do you still have those nightmares?" Raphael repeated.

"I don't know what you're..."

Raphael gave him a sideways glance. "I hear ya, Leo," he stated. "Don and Mikey ain't the only ones who have 'em."

Leonardo felt his face begin to burn. "So, what if I have? Is that a crime? Everyone has nightmares, Raph, even..." He blinked in confusion when he saw the sad look on his brother's face. "What's wrong?"

"Glad to know that we're not the only ones," Raphael whispered.

Leonardo looked away. "Do you think I'm that heartless?" he asked.

Raphael shook his head. "You didn't suffer."

The eldest shot his brother a shocked gaze. "I didn't suffer?" he exclaimed, getting to his feet. "How can you say that? There wasn't anyone who didn't suffer that day, Raphael. Or have you forgotten? April and Casey had to sit back and watch as you and Don slowly ran out of air. Mikey had to search for you by himself, and when he found you neither of you were breathing. Do you have any idea what that did to him?"

Raphael closed his eyes, but didn't say anything. Leonardo's anger vanished as he saw tears stream down his brother's face. He sat back down and touched Raphael's shoulder.

"You did that on purpose," he accused.

"So what if I did?" Raphael asked, wiping the tears away. He looked away. "No one's been the same. Donny's so scared of bein' left alone he hasn't set foot in his lab since he operated on my leg. April and Casey haven't been around in the last year. You keep treatin' me and Donny like we're fragile kids." The tears returned, and this time there was no stopping them. "You know how much I hate bein' babied, Leo. I wanted to hear ya yell." Raphael leaned forward and buried his face in his hands. "I want things to go back to the way they were. I want us to forget that event ever happened." Raphael lowered his hands and touched the back of his neck. "But, how can we forget when you, me and Donny are walkin' reminders?"

From the darkness of Leonardo's bedroom, Donatello and Michelangelo listened to their brother's words. Donatello put a hand on his neck. The brand taunted him. There was no way to remove it, no one way to escape it. Michelangelo was the lucky one. He didn't have to bear the cursed brand, and Donatello hoped his brother never would. The Grim Reaper killer had been locked up in a maximum security prison with no chance of parole. Time and again, his family kept reminding him that the nightmare was over.

"I want things to go back to the way they were, too," Donatello whispered.

Michelangelo looked over at him. "Same here," he agreed.

Donatello let his hand fall and he straightened. "So, why don't they?"

"What do you...?"

Donatello hurried out of the room and headed for the stairs. Michelangelo hurried after him.

"The security system needs a major upgrade. I also have to upgrade the weapons on the Battle Shell and Shell Sub. I should check the Tunneler to see if it also needs work."

Leonardo and Raphael looked up when they heard their brother's voice. Donatello walked past them and disappeared into his lab. Michelangelo came to a stop by the couch. He turned to see the two older turtles looking at him. The youngest shrugged.

"I think he's tired of being scared," Michelangelo said.

A tool box was suddenly pushed into his arms. Donatello then grabbed Michelangelo's arm and proceeded to drag his brother towards the garage.

"Thank you for volunteering, Mikey."

"Volunteering for what? I didn't sign up for this! Hey, let me go!"

Raphael and Leonardo smiled. The red masked turtle wiped the tears from his eyes.

"Looks like Donny's trying to get back to normal," Leonardo noted.

"Yeah," Raphael agreed.

Leonardo pushed himself to his feet and picked up the tray that had been left abandoned on the coffee table. "Things will be back to normal, Raph. We just have to give it time."

"You've been hangin' around Master Splinter too long," Raphael teased.

"What? No 'Splinter junior'?" Leonardo asked.

Raphael smirked and looked away. "Nah. Things ain't that normal, yet."

Leonardo laughed and headed for the kitchen. "Soon enough, Raph," he said. "Soon enough."

Two days of travel had finally brought him to New York City. Somewhere in the vast stone jungle were the ones who had broken his kill streak. Though, in some way, he was glad they had. Now, he was able to try out some new ideas he had been working on. The man headed over to a payphone and stepped inside the booth. After picking up the reciever and putting in a quarter, he dialed a number and listened to the rings. Someone answered after the fourth ring.

"Hello?"

"Hello, my friend, how have you been?"

There was a pause. "Derek?" the man on the other end asked. "Derek Alfredson?"

"Glad you still remember me. How has the last year been treating you?"

"Good," the man answered.

Derek smiled. "That's good. Did you manage to finish your project?"

There was another pause as the man sighed. "Yes, it was finished. It was completed a few weeks ago. Though, I have to admit I'm still confused why you asked for such a thing to be constructed."

Derek's smile widened. "It's for some old friends," he replied. "Now, what about the device? Is that also complete?"

"Everything you asked for has been completed. Derek, if this ends up being another one of your twisted burial games..."

"Don't worry, old friend, your name will never be known," Derek promised. "This is between me and four certain brothers."

"Whatever you say, Derek. Just don't get yourself killed."

Derek chuckled. "If anyone is going to get themselves killed, it'll be the ones who crossed me."

Let me know what you think. Reviews are welcome, flames are not.