Disclaimer: I do not own TMNT or any of its characters.

Thank you to everyone who has read as far as this. The pairings are probably obvious now; MikeyxRaph

LeoxDon

I want to apologize for this rather sloppy chapter. Also want to apologize for taking a bit sorry everyone ^^

Chapter 5 – In the Moment of Battle

Time had always been distant to him. It was always hard for him to tell how long he has been or when it was time to come back. He had remembered being told that time can become your worst enemy. Raph shook his head; it was probably about time he went home. But…then he would have to face Mikey again.

New Years had passed and Raphael had not remembered a single thing that had happen, he spent the night with Casey catching up on old times. He was told that Mikey was the one that had to bring Raph home and in the end he took care of him.

God, what did he say? What did he do? Raph was so scared that in the last few days he had been avoiding his little brother. And, no matter how many years had passed, ignoring Mikey was still not easy. Well on the plus side Raph had decided on no more heavy drinking for awhile.

As he got up to head home he blinked as he heard a woman scream out for help. Raph knew he should have ignored it, he knew that he wasn't supposed to interfere. But a fight was something he had been itching for and deep down Raph could never ignore a cry for help.

Things were back to normal. Well as normal as they could be in the Hamato household. Master Splinter and Leonardo were in the dojo doing some much needed catch-up training. Raphael had wondered off somewhere which seemed to be his thing lately, and while Mikey…while Mikey was once again pacing in his lab complaining about Raph.

Don sighed as he put down the vial of blood he had asked Leo for; Leo had understood why Donnie needed to analyze him from top and bottom.

"I don't understand why he is such a damn jerk! I mean here I am taking care of him, and then he freaks out and then avoids me after! God, why did he have to be so damn emotional! I swear he is like a girl on his rags 24/7…"

"You know I will have to point out that is quite insulting to women," Don interrupted.

Mikey gave Don a glare and continued his rant, "I mean I love him but sometimes…argh!"

Donnie shook his head, "Mikey you been coming into my lab complaining about Raphael every chance you get. Don't you think you should be talking to Raph about how you feel?"

Mikey had paused in his pacing and gave a chuckle, "nice one Don, you ever tried having an emotional decent conversation with Raph - maybe when I am ready for a death wish."

"You can't keep avoiding this. You need to tell Raph how you feel," Don had a matter-of-fact tone to his voice, "and using Raph's usual hot-headed personality as an excuse is not going to convince me you shouldn't."

Mikey paused and sighed finally collapsing on a chair close to Don, "you know I did work up the courage but the way Raph runs away from me and avoids me kind of changed my mind you know."

Donnie turned his chair around so he was facing Mikey; it seemed once again he was not going to get any work done. Even though he had analyzed this clone Leo from head to toe, something just didn't add up in Don's mind…

"Avoiding has been Raph's route lately. He barely even talks to Leo." Don muttered.

"Yeah, he only talks to you and Master Splinter. Has he told you anything?"

He did…many things. Don thought, but he knew better then to tell Mikey them. This was something that was between the two and sadly Donnie seemed to be caught in the middle of it, "Mikey, Raph's still hurt badly inside. You can't expect him to just suddenly act normal, he knows our family is still broken and he feels it is his fault."

"But, I keep telling him it isn't why can't he get that in his thick skull of his!"

Don shook his head, giving Mikey an expression, Raph not being stubborn that is a laugh.

Mikey chuckled a bit at his brother's expression and sighed looking up at the roof, "I know Don trust me I know. I watch him sleep lately, he is always tossing, always muttering sorry. Sometimes he will cuddle his blanket close begging Leo not to leave him…."

Don blinked there was something in Mikey's voice he had not notice before…it was jealously. "Mikey you know Raph had always loved Leo…"

"Yeah well I just! Argh! Raph is an idiot!" Mikey grumbled punching his fist in the air.

A chuckled escaped Don's lips and Mikey glared at him for laughing, "Sorry Mikey, it is just your acting so much like Raph right now."

There was silence as the two found themselves thinking of the good ol' days. Both Don and Mike knew that in truth they could never go back. The scars on Raphael and Michelangelo were a huge reminder that they had lost their brother and no clone, no matter how similar he is could ever replace Leonardo.

"Don…thank you." Mikey whispered breaking the silence.

Blinking his eyes Don shook his head, "you have no reason to thank me Mikey…"

"Yeah I do," Mikey smiled at the confused innocent look in Don's usual calmed brown eyes. He had always thought how interesting how both Don and Leo had almost the same eye colour. Except Don's were lighter, calmer, gentler then their leader's determined golden browns. "You kept things together, while I ran away like a scared turtle and Raph had left ridden with guilt. You stayed and took care of everything; the lair, our father, you even made the effort to keep in contact….I been selfish Donnie and for that I am sorry."

Don looked away feeling tears stinging his eyes, "thanks Mikey, now why don't you go get that damn turtle you love. " With that Don handed Mikey the shell cell tracker, "after all he has been gone longer than usual."

"Damn, you really are not going to let this whole 'talk about your feelings to Raph' thing go are you?" Mikey muttered grabbing the tracking device.

A smile went on Don's face as he was able to face his brother again after having to blink back the tears, "if you don't I'll lock you both in a room."

"If you do that, I am afraid you may be missing a younger brother."

Chuckling Don got up and pushed Mikey out of the door, "now enough stalling you knucklehead, go admit your love before someone else does."

As Mikey left grumbling the words yeah, yeah…Don sighed as he turned towards his computer screen. "While I guess it is time for me to tell Leo about this…"

"Upwards kick Leonardo," Master Splinter commanded and gave a nod of approval as Leo performed his kick flawlessly. "Now…" Splinter notice that Leo was no longer paying attention as his eyes were looking at someone behind him. It was Donnie with an expression that seemed to tell Splinter all he needed to know, "we'll continue this later Leonardo," with that Splinter had left the room - leaving both Don and Leo alone.

"Hey Donnie…" Leo said as he looked at his brother. Don walked up, his hands tracing along Leo's body. Everything was perfect. So soft, so real, Donnie just couldn't wrap his mind around this. But all his tests, Leo being here, it all was beginning to make sense even if Don still couldn't accept it.

Leo blushed, the hands tracing along his plastron exploring each line and scar that adorn it, his hands were so soft and gentle. His face was heating up and his body shudder with a feeling that Leo was not use to – pulling back he coughed a few times, "what is up Donnie?" He asked trying to hide the fact that he was very uncomfortable at the moment – if only Don had known what his exploring touches had done to him.

"I been exploring a theory Leo, and I just came to a conclusion," Don explained.

"What is it Donnie?" Leo asked making sure to keep a bit of a distance and trying very hard to try and get his mind off on how arousing Don was to him at this moment. Leo wasn't sure if these were the original Leonardo's emotions or just his own – either way he was pretty sure that the thoughts he was currently thinking way overstep his boundary of brotherly love.

"Leo…"

"Hello Raph!" A playful tone echoed from the female's voice, the one he had went to rescue. The woman throws off her cloak to reveal no other then Ezra the snake lady. Raph's eyes widen as the realization he had been trick slowly tick in his mind. Turning around he went to run only to bump right into the arms of a very tall and overly buff wolf-man.

"Well, well, like a turtle trapped in a cage…" echoed Lennis as he jumped from a building, "all it took was a little investigating, a lot of torture and little questioning and we were able to find out how you tick Raphael."

"You know," Raph said with a huge grin on his face, "your one face I wouldn't hesitate on punching."

Lennis just smirked, "you talk tough Raphael, but you seriously cannot believe you can take all of us on do you? We have been trained specifically to hunt you and your brothers down. Now why don't you surrender like a good little turtle, someone wants to say hi to you again."

"Well for someone who was trained to take me down you seem to not know me very well. You should know I would never surrender," with that Raph threw a smoke bomb on the ground and turned to run only to yelp in agony as a tail wrapped around his waist squeezing him.

"Now now Raph, that was just rude," Len said as he nodded to Tarsin who loosen his tail a bit just enough to let Raph breath.

Raph glared at Lennis, his mind thinking of a few things he wished to do to the man that dare to carry his brother's face – they were not pretty thoughts. Lennis walked up and grabbed Raph's sais tossing them a safe distance away from them.

"You know I always thought you of all the turtles would be more of a challenge…but this is just disappointing."

"Disappoint this!" A person yelled from behind, just as Lennis turned around he was kicked squarely in the face.

"Mikey!" Raph yelled, Tarsin began squeezing Raph again but was quickly met with a quick slapped by a nunchuck. Raph was instantly dropped to the ground and began coughing to catch his breath. "Geez Raph, why do you always get in these messes…"

Glaring at Mikey Raph jumped back as he was almost hit by the raging fists of Darwin. Mikey also jumped back, the two were separated and Raph had no weapons. "Hello Raph," Lennis said swords drawn.

Mikey blinked as he stared at a very angry Tarsin, Darwin and Ezra, "hey guys can we talk about this."

"Oh but talking means I would have to hear your annoying voice," Ezra replied letting her whip hit the ground, "and I don't like that fact…" she said with a hiss.

Darwin laughed as he hit both of his fists together, "hey Ezra, wondered what cracking a shell would sound like?"

"Let's find out," she replied.

Darwin rushed towards Mikey swinging his huge arm towards him, jumping to dodge it, Mikey yelped as a whip had wrapped around his leg bringing him back towards the ground harshly. As Mikey tried to regain his senses he saw the huge fist of Darwin coming dangerously close to his head. Rolling he grabbed the whip around his leg to pull Ezra, who ended up crashing into the back of Darwin.

Grabbing his nunchucks he was about to hit the two but was hit hard in the back of the head by Tarsin's tail. The hit had enough force to send him tumbling to the ground, before Mikey could even move Darwin hit him hard with a garbage lid he had grabbed nearby.

"That was too easy." Darwin muttered.

"Mikey!" Raph had yelled as he saw his brother surrounded by three of his attackers, on the ground and not moving. He went to run towards Mikey only to have to jump back from a swinging sword.

"Now, now Raphael did you forget you are fighting here?"

"You know if you're really a clone of Leo then you wouldn't be fighting an unarmed opponent!" Raph growled as his yellow eyes focused on his opponent before him. There was no way he could help Mikey if he got killed at this very moment.

Lennis seemed to pause at that thought, "oh how silly me, your right where is my honour." He mocked kicking a stick on the ground towards Raph, "now shall we continue?"

Glaring Raph ignore the stick and jumped over Lennis, landing beside Mikey, "I guess your where not trained on the fact that I am now very agile." Raph sneered as he grabbed a nunchuck on the ground. "Mikey…" he hissed his name. Raph had to move though as Ezra's whip had almost hit him.

"Now, get away from my prize turtle," she hissed at him.

Raph had to take a moment to survey the situation. Lennis was glaring daggers at him and was rushing towards him from the front. Ezra was standing to her left holding her whip a smirk on her face as if saying I dare you to try. Darwin was crackling his knuckles as he walked slowly towards him from the right. And Tarsin, who Raph probably feared the most due to the poisonous tip of his tail was standing behind him blocking any chance of escape. He was screwed. But at least he would go down fighting!

Mikey was dreaming, it was actually more of a memory, one he had almost forgotten. They were young and Mikey and Raph had gone into a part of the sewer they shouldn't have been in.

"Would you stop your whining baby?!" Raph had growled as he kneeled beside Mikey.

Mikey was on his butt half deep in sewer water, crying. They had been attack by a creature that was huge and scary, and even though they had manage to out run the thing Mikey had fell and tripped and began crying. The thing had scared him and how his legs felt like jelly and the pain in his ankle was now throbbing. "But Raphie!"

"Get on my back," Raph commanded.

Mikey blinked, "really?"

"Just get on my damn back you bonehead!"

Mikey had climbed on Raph's kneeling shell wrapping his arms around his neck making sure not to pull too much so he wasn't choking his older brother. Even though Raph was shaking with the extra weight he had stubbornly continued his trek towards home.

"Raphie.." Mikey said which earned him a quick growl, "what?!"

"Thank you."

"What you think I would have left you abandoned like that?! Look Mikey, I am here to protect you no matter what, so you better damn well get use to it."

Protect you…those words echoed in his head as Mikey slowly opened his eyes - to see Raph thrown into a wall in front of him. Bruised and cut in various spots from Lennis blade Raph look like he was not doing too well. All those years, Raph had always protected Mikey. A lot of times Raph would rush in to protect them not even thinking of the risks. Pressing the panic button on the shell cell Mikey stood. It was time for him to stop being the baby of the family.

Mikey had jumped in just as Lennis was about to hit Raph with his sword, Mikey had blocked it with the garbage can lid. "Mikey?" Raph muttered weakly, Mikey was not sure how long he had been knocked out. However, by the tired and weak expression on Raph's face it was probably awhile.

"Sorry bro," Mikey said, his mind quickly assessing what he could do. Throwing a smoke bomb, he grabbed Raph and pulled him close. Giving him a quick and deep kiss, he pulled back, "I wanted to say I love you, I love you more than a brother, and also I am sorry for this."

Knocking Raph out Mikey quickly stash his older brother inside a garbage can in a corner and moved far away as possible to not give away where he hid his brother. "Sorry Raph but this time I am not letting you get the entire spotlight as the protector." With that as the smoke cleared he smirked and rushed towards his four attackers.

"Raph!"

Opening his eyes Raph looked up into the familiar brown's of concerned eyes, "Leo? Was it a dream?"

"Raph, it wasn't," Leo explained softly - only to get pushed away from Raphael at that reply.

Looking around Raph could see the broken up walls and the damage street around him. It seemed he had not dreamt of being attacked. He notice Donnie was bandaging him up, and Leo looking a bit hurt had gotten up to look around. Slowly, his mind begun to recollect what had happen.

Hands touch his lips, Mikey had said he loved him…wait…

Looking around in a panic Donnie hissed at him, "Stay still Raph!"

"Don where is Mikey?" Don pulled away at that, "Raph, we were kind of hoping you would tell us. It was Mikey's shell cell that led us to you…"

Leo had bent down and picked up Mikey's nunchuck, "Don, Raph…"

"They took him…" Raph whispered, standing up Raph punch the wall beside him, "they fuckin took him!"

"Calm down Raph!" Donnie said pulling his brother away from the poor wall to observe his knuckles. "It is no wonder you always have scars on these damn hands you know."

"Why the hell are you so damn calm? They took Mikey! It was my damn fault!" Raph had shut up as he received a good slap to the face. Blinking his golden eyes he stared at Donnie who was glaring at him now with tears in his eyes.

"Dammit Raph! I am not letting you spiral down into that direction again! It was not your fault! You are only mortal; you cannot expect to be able to protect us at every waking moment of our lives. For once will you trust in Mikey and think with a level head."

Blinking Raph turned his back on Donnie taking deep breaths and trying to resist the urge to hit Donnie back, "you right Don…" Raph whispered, "They said something about wanting someone to say hi to me again."

"Bishop," Leo stated as he walked up handing Raph's his sais.

"Great, now we definitely will need a plan to break into Bishop's stronghold..." Don had muttered.

Raph however wasn't listening for his eyes had paused to notice something. Walking towards a corner of two buildings he bends down to touch a single flower lying on the ground. A red rose. Raph's favourite flower, even if he would not admit it out-loud. There was only one person that knew he loved roses – Mikey. As Don and Leo started to talk about their plan - Raph kept his back to them, letting a single tear drop onto the rose in his hand. It was about time, he stopped running away, "guys, I do not care what it takes, but we are getting our brother back."

Well I hope you enjoyed this chapter, please review XD