Chapter 9: The Good Forgive

Raph's P.O.V.

After we got to a safe distance, we went our separate ways. Slash offered to protect Stinkman, but the man said he was leaving New York as fast as his legs could carry him. So they left alone.

Splinter invited Karai home but she refused. Leo was in enough stress she said and she didn't want to make it worse. So she said she'd go home as soon as she knew her father had cooled off. So she just disappeared to.

Leo stayed unconscious for a full thirty-eight hours. That gave us enough time to fix all of his wounds. Donnie says all the shock and pain must have fried him and put him in a mini-coma.

So, I'm sitting here, watching Space Heroes, waiting for Leo to wake up. Donnie and Mikey, I know, are in the lab. Most likely watching us.

As Captain Ryan slaps his first officer, I hear a groan from my big brother. I turn to him. Leo is looking around. His eyes land on me. I smile. Leo jerks to his feet, only to fall down face first.

"LEO!" I howl jumping up. My brother hops back up and shoves me away.

"NO! STAY AWAY FROM ME!"

I get right back on my feet. Leo is running for the door.

"Leo, wait!"

"No, stay away!"

"Leo, I know I'm a monster but-"

Leo stops, twisting to me. I stop, almost running smack into him. "You? A monster? Says who?"

"Says me. I never should have said those things or treated you so poorly. I'm sorry for making you think I hate you. I don't. I understand if you hate me."

Leo backs up a little bit, "You? A monster? No, no, no, Raph. I don't hate you and you're no monster. I am."

I snort," Oh, yes, angelic Leonardo a demon monster. How is that?"

When I look at Leo again, I gasp. His lip is trembling, he's shaking and he's on the brink of tears. I move to hug him but he shoves me back.

His voice is gravely, like he's been sick with a sore throat. "No. Don't touch me. I… I wanted to kill you. No brother should want to take his ototos own blood…"

I'm shaking," Leo…it…it was the control-"

"No! I was so angry at you. I knew I could stop but, I was so angry and letting Shredder control me let me think I could teach you a lesson. But then-b-but then…"

Leo covers his emerald face and starts sobbing. All of my insides drop to my stomach. Despite everything Leo told me, I'm not scared. Not scared of him, anyway, but of his tears. I feel nauseous.

I put my hands on his shoulders and he cringes away from me. "Leo… I wanted you to kill me. I know it sounds stupid but, I felt you had every reason to end my life."

"No, I didn't! I would never have forgiven myself! You're everything to me, Raph!"

You're everything to me, Raph!

Stars pass before my eyes. "I…I thought Karai was your everything."

Leo rubs his eyes even though he keeps sobbing. "K-Karai? She's my g-girlfriend, Raph. Not my best friend and brother."

"B-best friend?"

Leo snorts a laugh, snot splattering his lip," Man, you're clueless, Raph."

Everything is binging around in my head now. "You…you love me."

Leo rolls his eyes," Donnie's right. We need to talk more often."

I fling myself at Leo, my emotions taking control over me. "YOU LOVE ME!"

Leo screams and kicks at me. Oops. Donnie told me he might freak out. Too many people attacking him and he'll freak out if someone touches him.

I back off saying, "Sorry, sorry, sorry."

Leo pants, then says, "So…you don't hate me for trying to kill you?"

"No, Leo. I'm just happy that you love me."

Leo sighs," Whatever. Come here."

He holds out his arms. I smile and fall into them. Finally, I am able to say the cursed three words that have never passed by his ears.

"I love you."

Donnie's P.O.V.

Mikey stares out the lab door as I rebandage his broken arm. He stares out longingly.

"Whatcha lookin' at?" I ask.

Mikey shrugs, "Leo and Raph."

I frown and look, too, "Leo and Raph?"

Outside the door, our two ani's are hugging. The look on Raph's shining face shows that they have fixed everything. I smile.

"I wish I had that."

I look at Mikey in surprise. "What?"

"I wish I had what Leo and Raph have. Look at them, Donnie. They can go through hell seventy time seven and they'll still love each other and need each other."

I'm impressed he even knows seventy times seven.

"We need you, too, Mikey," I say.

He looks over at me, "No, you don't. You hate me."

"Don't forget you said you hate me, too," I huff.

"You know I don't mean those things. You know I say a lot of stupid stuff."

I tighten his bandage and Mikey squeaks, "Then you should know I don't hate you either."

"You sure?" Mikey says," I know I'm annoying and messy-"

"And you're just the way we want you, Mikey. You're everything a baby brother should be."

Mikey draws a smile and punches my shoulder hard, "And you're a great ani."

"What? No hug?"

Mikey smiles, "What if it's time to grow up?"

I give Mikey a noogie, "Not for you, my baby brother."

Mikey falls into the noogie and falls asleep in my arms.

I sigh. "Love you, Mikey."

I think he's asleep. But he hears me. "Love you, Donnie."

Finally…everything is forgiven.

Family…

What a beautiful concept.

Say…where's Splinter?