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The Bond of Brothers

Chapter 4

Raph had been sitting alone in his cage for just over an hour now and his mind was whirling with worried thoughts. What was happening to Donnie while he was stuck in this cage?

He had spent the first half of the hour trying to work out how to escape his cage and find his brother but it was impossible.

Ever since he gave up trying he's been staring at the door in a daze of hopelessness. He wanted his little brother back. He wondered about how long they would be stuck in this hell. He sighed brokenly, if his brother was being killed right now he'd be completely alone.

''C'mon Mikey'' A familiar voice called above him. ''Stop being so slow.''

''I'm not slow!'' A younger yet familiar voice answered rudely. ''You're just being too fast!''

''Leo? Mikey?'' Raph asked as he stared up at the ceiling.

''Was that Raph?'' Leo's voice asked the youngest turtle.

''Yup'' Mikey's voice replied, ''I'd know his grunt anywhere''

Raph gasped as his two brothers jumped down in front of him, he looked back up at where they had came but there was no sign of them coming through the ceiling. Not even a little mark.

''How'd ya do tha'?'' He frowned. Leo waved him off.

''Doesn't matter, where's Donnie?'' He asked seriously.

''The foot took 'im. I don't know where he is or where they took 'im too'' Raph answered miserably.

''Let's go find him'' Miked nodded as he and Leo walked towards the door.

''WAIT!'' Raph called. ''Ain't ya gonna free me first?''

''No'' Leo answered with a shrug, ''Donnie's in danger. You're perfectly safe just now. Don't worry, we'll come back''

With that the two turtles ran through the door. Wait… Raph blinked in surprise, his brothers had literally just run THROUGH the door! The door had been closed this whole time without being opened!

What was going on here?

''Leo? Mikey?'' Raph shook his head in confusion. ''What the hell?''

Raph continued to stare at the door in confusion until the sound of it unlocking jolted him out of his thoughts.

He watched as Donnie was led in and chained back up against the wall. He had bandages around where the cattle rod had shocked him and he looked much more re-energised than he had when he left.

The foot ninjas left silently and locked the door behind them.

''You ok Don?'' Raph asked as he inspected his brother. Donnie smiled.

''I'm fine. They took me to the infirmary and told me they wanted me in good condition'' Donnie's smile turned into a frown. ''I don't know why though… I'm assuming no foot came in here to hurt you?''

''Nah'' Raph waved him off. ''But Leo and Mikey are in here, Have ya seen 'em? They went lookin' fer ya''

''They're here? Now?'' Donnie frowned. ''Are you sure?''

''They were actin' weird though'' Raph frowned. ''They walked through the door while it was closed! And they slipped THROUGH the ceiling ta get in here!''

''Wait… what? They went through the door? As in they went through the metal? Like ghosts?'' Donnie stared at Raph as if he'd grown a second head. ''Are you ok Raph?''

''I'm not lyin' Donnie! That's what I saw!'' Raph nodded firmly, ''Don't ya believe me?''

''I would've believed you had you said Leo and Mikey were here but I don't believe that they walked through solid metal.'' Donnie frowned. ''It's not possible! Besides, they wouldn't come in here then go looking for me and leave you behind! No turtle left behind is our rule''

''So…. Was I just imagining 'em?'' Raph asked hoarsely.

''Well.. You were stuck here alone and worried… Your mind created Leo and Mikey so you woudn't feel so lonely and hopeless'' Don sighed quietly, ''Don't worry about it Raph. The mind likes to play tricks''

Raph looked down at his knees with a frown. How could he have just imagined it? Then again… He knew it was impossible to walk through solid metal.

''Raphie?'' Raph looked up at Donnie as the younger turtle crawled as far as his chain would allow him. ''You never know though. Maybe it was your mind telling you that our brothers are on their way? Maybe they're here right now… searching for us''

''You don't think I'm goin' insane?'' Raph asked sceptically.

''You're not going insane'' Donnie chuckled, ''You just want to believe we'll be safe soon''

''You're right'' Raph smiled a little. ''Sorry''

''For what?'' Donnie frowned.

''For getting' yer hopes up'' Raph sighed as he leant against the back of his cage.

''Don't worry about it Raph'' Donnie stretched his hand out, Raph shuffled forward and grabbed it. Don smiled. ''At least we're together. I'm just thankful for that'' Raph nodded. They held each other's hand strongly, showing each other that they were there and that they were strong enough to get through this.

They let go, Raph lay down as Donnie shuffled back a bit.

''I'm not going all the way back over to my wall'' Don smirked, ''It's too far away''

''Whateva suits you brainiac'' Raph smirked back.

They lay there quietly as the lights outside their cell switched off, the foot would be switching shifts now meaning the two turtles were perfectly safe for now.

Both turtles fell asleep facing each other but Raphael couldn't help but wonder if he'd see his other two brothers ever again.

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