Sorry for the delay on this update. Between maintaining the cemetary lawn in the mornings (weird job, I know) and karate class four nights a week, I'm exhausted. but, I appreciate everyone's patience. I would post this at Stealthy Stories but for some reason it won't let me.

Anyway, for all those Mikey and Leo fans out there, this chapter is for you. Enjoy


"Man Mikey," Leonardo moaned, leaning back in his chair. "That was excellent," he rubbed at his stomach to emphasize the point.

"I gotta' go with Leo on this Mike," Casey agreed from across the table. "The lasagna was excellent. That Emeril guy has nothing on you."

Michelangelo beamed with pride while sitting in his chair. He knew he could cook but it was always nice to be appreciated. "Thanks guys," he said while looking around the table. His wide grin relaxed into a very small smile when he looked at the empty chair. Raphael had been called down to dinner but refused, stating he was tired and not that hungry. Donatello quickly made and excuse for his brother explaining that he might not be comfortable with all the swelling still on his body. He continued looking around at everyone, smiling contentedly from being full and making small conversation around the table. Michelangelo briefly felt one of the proverbial warm fuzzies but it was lost again the moment he looked at second time at the empty chair. Quietly, with no announcement, he stood up and began putting food on the empty plate. No one asked what he was doing or why. They all knew. Finishing up, the youngest turtle turned to make one final look at his father, making sure it was okay. Splinter merely nodded and smiled. That was all Michelangelo needed and he started to leave.

"Mike," Donatello stopped him. He turned plate in hand and looked expectantly at his brother. "Make sure he takes a couple more of those tablets will you? And he might need to rub some more of that gel on his sores."

"You got it doc," Michelangelo called out as he raced up the stairs.

Reaching the top of the steps, Michelangelo paused to catch his breath. He hadn't seen or talked to his brother in over a day and was a little excited about having a little time with him. He steadied himself, not wanting to just burst in. Carefully, he knocked on the door and slowly pushed it open. He watched as his brother slowly rolled over to see who was at the door.

Raphael looked like a different person. His eye was still swollen, only able to open a crack and his neck was also enlarged, causing him to make a raspy noise when he breathed.

Smiling Michelangelo quietly walked over to his brother's bed and pulled the chair up next to him. "Here," he said in soft voice, putting the plate on the nightstand by the bed. "I know you said you weren't hungry but you really should eat something."

Raphael let out a small sigh and grunted a bit as he sat up. The backs of his legs were still sore and uncomfortable, stiff, as well as his arms and hands. A slurred "Thanks," came from him as he shakily picked up the plate. He looked closer at the plate, he thought it was lasagna but it didn't look like it, it was all in pieces. He looked questioningly at Michelangelo.

"Oh," Michelangelo grinned. "Donnie said you're fingers were still swollen so I thought I'd go ahead and cut the food up for you." He shrugged his shoulders. "I wasn't sure you would be able to," he finished apologetically. It occurred to him that he might have just insulted his brother.

Raphael said nothing but gripped the spoon as best as he could with his fist and held the plate up to his mouth, taking in small bites. He turned to grab the juice from the table. When he did, Michelangelo picked up the bottle of pills and opened it up.

"Donnie said you should take a couple more of these," he explained. "I guess it's better than taking that red liquid," he tried to reason.

Raphael reached out an empty hand as Michelangelo dropped to pink pills into it. "Makes me sleepy," he answered and then quickly swallowed them down with the juice. Quietly he went back to eating his food, not saying anything more.

"Hey Raph?" the youngest tried to get his attention. "Why won't you tell me what's wrong? Did I do something?"

Raphael spooned one more bite into his mouth and took a final swallow of his juice. He gave his brother a sympathetic look and even let the left corner of his mouth curl up a bit. "You're okay Mike," he answered. He gave the plate and cup back and eased back down on the bed. "'M tired, kay?"

"But what's going on?" he begged, still sitting in the chair. "Please tell me."

Raphael sighed. It was always harder to resist Michelangelo than anyone else. He was always so sincere in his concern for others, you knew you could trust him. He took in a deep breath and considered what to say to him or if he wanted to say anything. Rolling over on his stomach, Raphael gripped the pillow and held it underneath him, trying to get comfortable. He jumped a little when he felt something cold on his skin. He looked over and saw his little brother with a bottle, rubbing the liquid into the backs of his legs.

Realizing he was being watched, he stopped and explained. "Donnie said to put it on the stings, that it would help with the soreness." He waited for a moment but didn't receive any protests so he continued rubbing the stuff into his brother's skin.

Feeling the cool gel soothe his skin, the larger turtle finally relaxed and tried to go to sleep. Knowing he wasn't going to get an answer to his question, Michelangelo quietly finished, took the dishes and left. Stopping at the door, he looked over his shoulder and whispered to Raphael. "I love you bro'."

Raphael's face pushed into the pillow, Michelangelo didn't see the tears that silently slid down his brother's face.

Raphael hated crying. He always saw it as a sign of weakness. The funny thing was, when his brother's did it, he didn't view them as being weak, but stronger for being able to do what he couldn't. Showing and saying how he felt was always a hard task for him, and it wasn't getting any easier.

Michelangelo returned downstairs to see Leo and April taking care of the dishes, talking happily. Forcing his usual grin to his face he walked over and handed the plate and cup off to his brother.

"Thanks Mike," Leonardo gratefully accepted the dirty dishes. He washed them both and passed them off to April who dried them off and put them in the rack. Michelangelo sat at the table and watched the two. He had to wonder if his brother's felt the same way he did. He was happy for April. Casey was a great guy and his friend, but he couldn't help but feel a little jealous and alone when he watched the two of them. He often wondered if he or his brother's would be alone all their lives or if there were more people out there besides April and Casey who would be willing to look past their outer appearance. Unknowingly, he sighed at his thoughts, catching his brother and April's attention.

Leonardo turned around and cocked his head to the side looking at Michelangelo. "You okay?" he asked, drying his hands on the dish towel. April stared at him with a concerned look on her face.

"Yeah, I'll be alright," he tried tell them. His slumped shoulders and finger tracing the lines of the placemat told Leonardo different.

Folding his arms, Leonardo spoke again. "Mikey," he said in his best big brother tone, "What's bothering you?" He watched as the youngest turtle tried to speak, opening and closing his mouth. April walked over to him and put her hand on his shoulder and began speaking to him. Leonardo paid attention to the pair and noticed how his youngest brother stared at the red head as she talked to him. "April?" Leonardo interrupted. "Give us a minute?"

"Sure Leo," April answered. She leaned down and gave Michelangelo a kiss on the forehead. "He'll be fine Mikey," she whispered on last time before leaving the room.

When she was finally out of earshot, Leonardo sat down across from Michelangelo. The orange banded turtle now had his arms sprawled out on the table, his head resting on the aforementioned placemat. "Is it that noticeable?" the youngest looked up and asked.

"No," Leonardo shook his head and continued talking. "I don't think she's got a clue."

Michelangelo pulled himself off the table and slumped back in the chair. "That doesn't

make me feel any better," he grouched. "It isn't fair."

"Mike," Leonardo started to laugh a little and leaned forward. "Would it help any if you knew you weren't the only one who's had a crush on April?"

"Really?" his interest now peaked. "Who else?"

"Well," Leo thought, unsure if he should divulge this particular bit of information. Deciding it happened so long ago it wouldn't matter, he made his mind up to tell his little brother. "Raph for starters."

"You're serious?"

"Yeah," he answered leaning back. "Remember when he brought her back to the lair after being mugged and how careful he was about making her comfortable? He had a small crush on her for awhile. Me and Donnie too."

Michelangelo scrunched his face up for a moment, looking slightly confused. "Raph had a crush on you and Don?"

Leonardo slapped himself on the forehead and sighed. "No," he said firmly. "I meant Donnie and I have both at some point in time thought about April."

"Sorry," Michelangelo giggled. "You left yourself open, I couldn't help it."

Leonardo promptly leaned over to smack his little brother on the top of his head. "Dork," he blurted out.

Accepting the little hit, he held his hands up in defeat. "Okay, okay. So what did you guys do?"

"After time, I think we all realized it wasn't going to happen. It's funny," Leonardo grinned. "Raph was the one to figure out that I was starting to have feelings for her, even got me to talk to him about it." He saw the look on his brother's face. "Weird I know, Raph asking someone else, let alone me, to open up to him. Master Splinter's right. Raphael can be very sensitive to others feelings, he just hides it really well."

"So what happened?"

"Not much really. I talked to Raph and slowly realized like he did that it was just that, a crush. She the first human we've ever had contact with and we were lucky. She looked past the green skin and shells and saw us for who we really are, her friends. But now, I think she sees us as family, I know that's how I see her."

Michelangelo nodded in agreement. "I just wish I could have what Casey's got, you know. Just someone else around to like me for me." He gave his brother a pleading look.

"Mike," Leonardo sighed. "I don't know if that's ever going to happen. Someone once told me 'Life is bittersweet at best. But without the first one, we wouldn't know just how wonderful the other is."

"Pretty deep," Michelangelo answered. "But that doesn't sound like one of Master Splinters."

Leonardo just shook his head 'no' and grinned, looking up he pointed to the room above.

"Whooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa," Michelangelo responded, almost mesmerized. "Raph's deep."

Leonardo got up from the table, chuckling. "C'mon," he slapped his brother on the back. Casey got a fire going and Donnie took the marshmallows in there already."

Jumping up and heading to the door, he stopped and looked back at Leonardo. "Did he get the Hershey's and graham crackers?"

Leonardo nodded yes.

Michelangelo turned around and went back to hug his brother. "Thanks Leo," he whispered.

"You're welcome Mikey," he whispered back, returning his brother's embrace. "Now, let's hurry up before Donnie eats all the smore's"