Sorry this chapter took so long guys. I had to think about how I wanted this chapter to turn out. Thanks for all the reviews! I really appreciate the support for this story!


Ch. 9-Promises, Promises

Casey Jones paced the length of his apartment for what felt like the hundredth time that night. He let out a sigh of frustration. Almost an entire week had passed since he'd last seen Raphael. And he was worried.

Somehow or other, the turtle had managed to weave his way through the human's outer defenses, quickly becoming one of Jones' closest friends. The man had never met anyone with whom he shared so many unique personality quirks and interests. Casey reached the wall and turned around, pacing back towards the other side of the apartment. Jones was inwardly questioning whether or not he should head out on the town for a little late-night skull bashing. In the end, he decided it just didn't feel right going without the giant turtle. Not when he didn't know anything whatsoever about Raph's current status.

Shit, for all he knew the kid could be… Jones pushed that thought away. He really wanted to know how Raph was doing. He glanced around the room and his eyes landed on the shelves where he kept all his special sports equipment. The human walked over to the teak cabinet and plucked an item deftly off a stand. Then an idea struck him. He whipped out his cell phone and dialed a number he hadn't used in years.

He had a promise to keep, after all.


Raph's eyelids were heavy and he groaned as he slowly returned to consciousness. As soon as his vision cleared, the turtle tried to sit up, only to have a three-fingered hand press him back down against the table. Either Raph gave up easier than expected, or Leo was using much more force than necessary because Raph's shell hit the metal lab table with a thud. The injured turtle hissed as pain flared up in his shoulder. "What the shell, Leo?! What was that for?"

"Sorry." The eldest murmured.

Raph glared at his older brother, and was about to try once more to sit up, when Leo said, "Don't even think about it. Donnie will kill me if I don't let him examine you first. He wants to make sure everything is properly healed."

Raphael raised an eye-ridge. "How long was I out?"

"Donatello kept you sedated. You've been under for about five days."

"Five days? You shittin' me?"

Leo frowned at Raphael's language, but shook his head. "No. You've been out for five days. Don wanted to make sure your injuries healed as quickly as possible. Which would only happen if you maintained complete bed rest for a week or so. You should be stable now, but don't test the wound. You're stitches could reopen from any kind of stressful physical activity, so stay put. Don will be here in a minute."

"And just how long have you been sitting here?" Raph asked.

Leonardo looked away and refused to make eye contact.

"He barely left your side for a moment. I had to bring all of his meals in here. He refused to realize that you weren't going anywhere in your sedated state."

"Well it took you long enough to show up, Brainiac." Raph muttered before glancing back at his older brother. "Thanks Leo. For staying with me. You didn't have to…"

"I wanted to. You're my little brother. And I have to admit, you really scared us this time."

Raphael rolled his eyes. "Relax bro, I'm a fighter. I told you I was hanging."

Leo smiled softly at his immediate younger brother. Donatello smiled also and began to run a few tests. He checked the details over carefully before turning back to his brothers. "Well, stitches are looking good. I should be able to let you go to your room now, Raph, but so help me if you tear so much as one stitch I will tie you to the lab table and sedate you for an entire month."

Raphael paled at Don's tone. The smart turtle definitely meant it. Much as he wanted to sneak top-side, Raph decided he better wait a couple of days for everything to cool off a little.

As Leonardo helped him to his room, Michelangelo bounced over to them, pulling Raph into a loose hug.

"RAPHIE!" He yelled excitedly, clinging to the red-masked turtle's good arm.

The hothead growled a little, but allowed his little brother the contact. After a long moment Mikey pulled away, staring up into Raph's green gaze. "I was so worried, bro. I'm glad you're okay! I'm so sorry I didn't listen to you earlier! We should have listened…" Mikey's voice faded away, his bright, blue eyes dimmed with sadness.

Raph internally sighed at his youngest brother's expression. He went into comforting-big-brother mode and reached out, putting his hand on Mikey's shoulder. "Don't you worry about it, Mikey." Raph said softly, "Can't change the past."

Michelangelo nodded at his brother's wise words.

Leonardo was impressed by Raph's manner, but nothing could have prepared him for what the hothead said next.

"But always remember, little brother, just because the past is the past doesn't mean that you can't learn something from it. Learn from the past and apply it to the present. That's the only way to prevent history from repeating itself."

Leo stared. His facial expression was stoic, but his eyes were filled with shock. Who would have thought that Raphael, the hotheaded, temperamental turtle could speak so eloquently?


Master Splinter sat on the couch in the main room, watching the ongoing scene with a gentle smile. It eased his heart to see his sons reuniting with their injured brother.

His deft ears picked up the soft exchange between the orange and red masked turtles. The old rat smiled softly. Following Raphael's words, the air in the main room stilled. Splinter took a good, long look at his red-clad son, noting, in particular the change in posture. Raph stood with is muscles lax, his arms hanging loosely at his sides. The rat had never seen the red-masked turtle, who was almost always closed-off, so relaxed and so open. At least, not since the boys were very, very young.

Splinter approached them, slowly, and they turned to face him. "Very wise words, my son."

Raph nodded, absently, and for a few moments father and son just stared at each other.

Leonardo glanced from his father to Raphael, suddenly feeling like he was intruding on a very private moment. The eldest motioned to Michelangelo. Leo motioned Mikey to follow him and headed towards kitchen. Mikey stared at Leo, then back at Raphael hesitantly. The youngest wanted to ask Raph about the meaning behind the map in his room, particularly the mysterious white string. However, Leonardo turned around and glared at the youngest, insistently signaling Mikey to follow. With a sigh the youngest dejectedly trailed after his eldest brother, leaving Sensei and Raphael alone.

Splinter's big black eyes stared deep into his hotheaded son's bright green ones. The old rat spoke slowly and quietly, "I am relieved that you are alright, my son."

The rat's hand reached up and brushed Raph's jaw softly. Raph gently leaned into his father's touch. Sensei's eyes dulled. "We came so close to losing you, Raphael. I do not wish to anger you, but I cannot believe that you would be so foolish as to confront the Shredder on your own. Do you have any idea what could have happened to you? To our family?"

Raph lowered his eyes and pulled away from his father's grip. "I know Sensei, I know, but I had to do something. If Shredder reconstructs his suit, he'll restore his influence in the underworld. He could hurt a lot of people. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing when I knew he was out there."

"That is no reason to risk your life and this family's safety!"

"I'm sorry Sensei. I know that I was risking a lot and that I could have really hurt you guys, but I couldn't ignore what was going on. And I couldn't convince you guys to help me, so what other choice did I have?"

Splinter was silent. Whenever something was wrong Raphael had always been one to act first and ask questions later. The old rat frowned and his eyes landed on Raph's wound. There would be a crack on the upper left side of his plastron for the rest of his life. Honestly, the sinuous turtle was lucky that he would regain full mobility of his shoulder. Once more, the old rat's hand rose to cup the side of his son's face.

Raph's eyes softened just a little. He opened his mouth to speak, but closed it again. His eye-ridges furrowed. Well, there was no use dragging it out. He might as well just spit it out and get it over with. It was difficult because he wasn't the kind of guy to dwell on these kinds of things, but he wanted to ease his father's conscience. "I love you, father. You know that I would never purposely do anything to jeopardize your safety, or my brothers'."

Splinter nodded. He was well aware of that.

Raphael shifted and Splinter regarded the red-masked turtle curiously.

Bright green eyes glinted dangerously, "I would never allow Shredder to hurt any of you. Never."

Splinter's eyes narrowed quizzically. There was more to this than Raphael was saying.

Raph caught his father's questioning stare and his eyes darkened. He pulled his gaze away, lowering his eyes to stare at a spot on the floor. "He wanted me to lead him to you and the others."

The rat's eyes widened. Raphael had said nothing about actually speaking with Shredder. Splinter was steadily growing more and more concerned. Shredder was very good at manipulating his opponents and toying with their minds. Before the rat could question his son further, Raphael went on.

"I didn't tell him anything. When I refused to speak…" Raph's eyes strayed to his shoulder.

Splinter stared at his child with a horrified expression on his face.

The red-masked turtle clenched his hand into an iron-hard fist. "I didn't say a word. I didn't even open my mouth."

At the old rat's inquiring glance, the turtle elaborated, "I'd never allow a bastard like that the sadistic satisfaction of hearing me scream."

The old rat's face was mixture of horror, pain, and awe. Less than a split second later Splinter yanked his second son into a fierce hug. The father did his best to blink back the tears in his eyes. His heart filled with rage. He would kill Shredder for this.

I swear it. Splinter thought. Oroku Saki, I will not allow you to threaten this family again. You may have marked him with your symbol, but I will die before I let you hurt Raphael any further. You aren't coming anywhere near my second son again. Because if you do, it will be my knife in your back.


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