Chapter 4. Up On The Roof.

'RIGHT! THAT'S IT!' shouted Raphael slamming his fist into the wall of the building they had just scaled '...THIS IS FUCKIN CRAZY!'

He was talking about the silence between the four of them.

After Casey and April left earlier that night no words were said by anyone except Splinter who told the Turtles to do another quick patrol. This was obviously his way of taking their minds off of things.

The "Talk" went as well or as bad as expected. Mike sat in a daze all the way through while Donny sat looking concerned. He stood up every now and again to say something but then sat back down after realizing he had nothing. Raph sat quietly, for a change. There was no angry face, no huffing and puffing, no sarcastic comments, nothing. He just listened and rolled his thumbs while Leo sat with Splinter doing the usual nodding and agreeing with everything said.

Somewhere in the silence the turtles had agreed with April that they would let things sink in for a while before arranging a meeting with Tyler, depending on how they all felt about the situation of course but other than the nods of heads none of the brothers said anything. Until now.

'I agree with Raph' said Donny who turned to look at Leo.

'Damn right ya do!' yelled Raph as he stomped around in the back ground, kicking over an old empty plant pot that rolled past Leo's feet.

The silence fell again and Raph, Leo and Donny's eyes flicked between one another. Raph tilted his head to look past Leo who turned to follow his gaze. All three looked at Michelangelo who had perched himself on the edge of the building watching the traffic below trying to keep out of the conversation.

Leo sighed 'Don't get full of yourself Raph but your right' he turned back to Raph and Donny '...So what do we do?'

Raph shrugged 'well how do you feel about Tyler being back?'

Leo looked up at the sky and closed his eyes and smiled 'I'm happy' he said looking back at his siblings. '...Yeah its gonna be strange to see her, 8 years is a long time'.

Donny nodded while hugging his bow.

'But...' Leo continued '...we've been through a lot with Tyler and we were all so close'. Leo shrugged 'Don't you guys want that back?' Raph and Donny looked at one another then back at Leo and nodded. '...All I know is that when she went away it was like this hole appeared in our family and it's never been filled'. He looked over his shoulder at Mike who was back in his daze looking at the lights shining up from the streets below.

Leo whipped his head back round to Raph and Donny 'We need her back!' he said quietly. 'How do you guys feel?'

Donny blushed 'Happy' he said smiling and looking at the floor.

'Raph? How about you?' asked Leo

'The same!' he snapped then paused 'It's Tyler..' he started to get a bit fidgety as a smile came over his face then realising he was looking soft shook himself not wanting his brother to think he had lost his mind '...I mean it was cool, ya' know? cool'.

'That's how I felt when I found out!' cheered Leo.

'But there's Mike to think about' said Donny bringing his brothers back to reality.

He was right. Even though they all missed Tyler and were happy that they were going to have her back in their lives they remembered what an impact her leaving had on Michelangelo. All the times they sat up with him, comforted him and entertained him to get his mind on to something else but they never had the answers to his questions.

'Ok!' said a frustrated Raph as he pushed between Leo and Donny and made his way towards Mikey 'I'm sorting this!' He loved his little brother but hated it when people sulked. He'd rather face the music and deal with things head on.

'What are you doing?!' shouted Leo stumbling back from Raphael's push trying to keep his balance.

'MIKE!' Raph shouted stomping towards his younger brother.

Mikey lifted his head and looked in Raph's direction. He didn't flinch. Usually he would freak out and back up away from him. He hated Raph's temper and avoided it where ever possible and even though they were brothers Raph could be very intimidating but this time Mike could care less and Raph noticed this as he got closer. Raph thought by putting on the big tough turtle act he could snap Mikey out of the slump he was in but it wasn't having the desired effect. Mikey got up and jumped back on to the rooftop and waited for Raph to reach him, Donny and Leo followed behind. Mikey wasn't in the mood for his older brother's attitude and made his feelings clear by standing firm with his chest puffed and his arms folded. Raph slowed his pace starting to feel a little intimidated himself. Raph prided himself on being the toughest and strongest of the four but he knew Mike was fast and he could throw a head spinning punch that would leave you out of it for days! Raph didn't like the idea of seeing Tyler again after all this time with a black and blue face or having to explain that his little brother beat him up. He had his reputation to think about at the end of the day.

Now a few feet away from Mikey Raph stopped and the two stared at one another.

'Sup?' said Mikey shrugging his shoulders giving a little attitude.

Raph paused trying to figure out his brother. He had only seen Mikey act like this one time before and that experience taught him never to eat the left over pizza in the fridge again!

'Look Mike...' he said with caution '...I get that all this wi Tyler has blown your mind but…' he looked over his shoulder to see if Leo and Donny were there to back him up. They were but kept their distance just in case the two pissed off Turtles were about to go toe to toe. 'But…' he continued turning back to Mikey '...we kinda need to know what you're thinking and how you're feeling about it'.

Mikey glared at the three turtles standing in front of him then let out a sigh.

'I don't know' he said looking at the floor for a moment. His eyes welling up as though he was going to cry but then suddenly he started freaking out instead 'One minute I want to go CRAZY ya know?!' he snapped flinging his arms around all over the place 'I mean COM'ON! All these years and not a single word then suddenly SHE JUST TURNS UP?! OUT THE BLUE?! And I bet she's all like "Hi it's me, Tyler, I'm back! Yohoo!" ya know?!' a baffled Raph quickly stepped back trying to stay clear of the turtle tantrum taking place in front of him. 'I'M PISSED DUDE!' Mike yelled pointing at his brother 'DOES SHE THINK I'M A FRICKIN MORON?! She knew how I felt about her but she still left!?'

Everybody froze with stunned faces. What just happened?

'Erm, actually you never told her' Donny slapped his hands to his mouth realizing what he had just said.

Raph and Leo both cringed but Donny had only said what everyone already knew. All but Mike. It never once crossed his mind that there was a possibility that if he had told her how he felt she might have come back.

His eyes darted around the floor 'I never told her?' He looked at his brothers realizing Donny was right 'I never told her' his eyes widened and filled with panic '...but...she knew how I felt right?' he looked at his brothers for reassurance.

'I'm sure she did Mike' said Leo trying to make him feel better.

'No! She didn't!' Mikey yelped 'Oh my god! Yeah we were close but I never told her?' he put his hands on his head in disbelief and started pacing as Leo and Donny ran to comfort him.

'Mikey it wouldn't have made much of a difference' said Donny rubbing Michelangelo's shell 'she still had to leave, her mom was ill'

'But if I'd have told her she might have come back. Why didn't I tell her?' Mikey said, holding himself up on his brother's arm.

Raph looked on at the soap opera acting out in front of him astonished. 'WHAT THE FUCK?!' he yelled as his brothers looked at him. 'SERIOUSLY?!' he screamed.

Mike, Donny and Leo looked at the turtle stood in front of them. He looked like his head was going to pop!

With a vain bulging out of his forehead Raph walked over to Mike. 'The only reason you didn't tell her was because you were pussy whipped!'

The three stared at him stunned by his words.

'W-what the f-f-f..' Mikey stuttered in shock but Leo slapped his hand over his mouth stopping him before he said something he shouldn't.

'RAPH!' Leo snapped sharply.

Donny shook his head trying to rid himself of what Raph had just said.

Raph shrugged his shoulders 'I'm just being honest. You were that into her you weren't thinking straight. Not with your head anyway'

Mikey narrowed his eyes 'With my heart?' he said still muffled by Leo.

'What? NO! I meant with your d…' Raph stopped and looked at Leo whose eyes were like daggers. Leo lifted his eyebrows indicating for Raph to not finish that last word 'Erm…Yeah Mike…Your heart' finished Raph rolling his eyes.

Mikey knew what Raph was going to say but gave him the chance to correct himself before he kicked the crap out of him.

'What I meant was that you were scared of telling her, in case she ran a mile' Raph shrugged.

Leo lowered his hand from Mike's mouth. There was no need to shut him up anymore. They were all silent again. Raph had nailed it. This entire time Mike had thought that she knew of his feeling but left anyway. Mike glared at his brother not sure whether to punch him or hug him but he knew Raph was right.

Why would Tyler return his feelings? Why would any girl? He was a turtle, a mutant, a thing! He knew she loved him but as a friend. He shook his head. The thought of them together was ridiculous.

'Hey!' Raph snapped pushing his big green finger into Mike's plastron '...I'm only saying it as it is. I'm not gonna tip toe round it. Maybe it's time you did the same' he pulled his finger away. He was just looking out for his little brother at the end of the day and he hated seeing him struggle. The past 18months were great. It looked like Mike had finally got back to his normal self. None of them expected this. It was a shock to all of them a good one for most but the thought of Mike upset again upset him.

'We all missed her Mikey...' he said softer this time '...But you can't carry on thinking that she didn't care about you when you never told her how you felt in the first place'. He shrugged again and then smiled 'You need to grow a pair bro. she's back! You're lucky. You've got a second chance to fuck it up all over again'.

Even though Raph was a dick and could have probably gone about this a better way he had made his point. There was no need to dwell on it any longer. Mike had another chance.

'Dude, your right' he said rubbing the back of his head. He looked at his brothers who were still waiting to know what they were going to do about Tyler. 'We should see her' he said now fiddling with his belt '...And I should tell her right? Everything?' He looked up at his brothers.

'You could Mikey or you could sleep on it a bit' said Leo.

'Yeah...' said Donny '...it'll give you time to think about what you're gonna say'

Donny and Leo both humored their brother but they all knew he wouldn't say anything. This was just a front to get out of an awkward moment. He knew and they knew he might never have the courage to tell Tyler how he felt.

They all smiled at the orange clad turtle and one by one gave him a hug.

Raph put his arm around Mikey and gave him a kiss on his head.

'Whoa! You really had me worried for a second there Mikey. I thought you were gonna flip out on me!' he laughed then play punching him in the ribs.

'Maybe next time bro...' Mike chuckled punching back '...I could take you!'

'Keep telling yourself that little dude' Raph said jogging ahead as they all made their way to the fire escape to head home.

Donny slid up next to Mike to walk with him and make sure he was ok 'Ya' know, you made Raph shit himself Mikey'.

'I HEARD THAT!' Raph shouted.

'YOU WERE MEANT TO!' Don shouted back

Leo trailed behind and chuckled to himself at the playfulness of his brothers but then noticed something out of the corner of his eye stopping him in his tracks.

'Guy's quiet!'

The three turned to Leo who had his finger to his lips then pointed over to a roof two blocks over where the movement was. They all scattered into the shadows.

'What did you see Leo?' whispered Donny

'It's the Foot!' he whispered back.

'The Foot?!' squealed Raphael trying to get a better look.

'I'm sure of it...' hissed Leo '...more than a dozen!'

'Dude they ain't been around for ages!' whispered Mikey '...what do ya suppose they want?'

Leo looked over to the roof 'I'm not sure' he said squinting now joined by Raphael who was also checking out the situation.

'It's kinda strange that they have shown up all of a sudden' Leo continued.

'Wow, two surprises in one night, what are the chances?' Raph couldn't resist a bit of sarcasm but maybe there was something in what he said.

'SHIT!' Donny jumped up making Mikey jump.

'DUDE! What the hell is up?' he shrieked.

'Well think about it...' said Donny '...they show up right around the same time as Tyler comes back right?' Donny looked at the blank faces looking back at him. '...Am I the only one who remembers anything?' the faces remained blank and Donny sighed '...the foot started to disappear as Ty left to look after her mom right? Now she's back and all of a sudden so are they?'

'Your right!' said Leo clicking his fingers '...this can't be just a coincidence'

'Guy's!' snarled Raph 'they're moving!'

The foot had started to move off into the direction of Casey and April's apartment but the guys knew how to get there quicker and ran off into the darkness to head them off.