I hope you enjoy this chapter. Thanks to everyone who's reviewed so far. ^_^

Night had fallen over the farmhouse. Raph lay limp as Alex unwrapped his wounds, checking for signs of infection or wounds that needed to stay stiched up for a longer period of time, under a bright barn light.

"Looks good." Alex said, tracing a finger over a nicely healed scar. He finished upwrapping it and tossed it into a pile of bloody wrappings. "I think most of your wounds are mostly healed up." He looked at the turtle, waiting for a reaction. "Did you hear me?"

Raph glared at the man. Of course he heard him...he just didn't feel like answering.

Alex gave the turtle a startled look. "Um...okay then." Grabbing a washcloth, he ran warm water over a scrape. Dried blood washed away, revealing forest green skin. "Much better." he said. Lance raised his head at the excitement in his owner's voice. Raising his wrist, he looked at his watch in surprise. "It's that time already? I didn't realize it was so late." Looking over at the turtle, he said in an apologetic voice. "Time to hit the sack." He grabbed a old horse blanket, laying it over the turtle's body. "I thought that maybe tomorrow we could get you some exercise. Maybe go for a walk around just to stretch your legs."

Spirits raised, Raph gave a small nod. He wanted to get out and stretch his legs...badly. But the way he said it – to go for a walk – made Raph think of leashes and collars. But then again...he was already laying bound. He shot a dirty look at the leather still around his wrists. He would need therapy to restore his muscle mass and any strength he had left.

"Well then," Alex stood up. "I'm off to bed. Night." He walked around the Raph's body and out the stall door. "Your coming?" he asked Lance. Lance hesitantly got to his paws, and with a sorrowful look at Raph, followed his master out of stall. Alex shut it with a gentle back and locked the stall. He gave the turtle one last look before walking out of the barn, shutting off the lights behind him.

As Raph lay in the dark, he for once felt a bit of hope surge through him. He was going to get out of the stall tomorrow and he could escape then...he could see his brothers again...

With a sigh, a hopeful smile fell over him as sleep washed over him like a gentle wave.

Tomorrow...it couldn't come fast enough.

"Everyone packed up?" Leo asked the next morning. His camping bag lay beside the front door as he held a neatly folded map in his right hand.

"Sure Leo." Mikey said quietly as he dumped his own bag beside Leo's. He sat heavily on the chair beside the door. Leo looked sadly at his youngest brother, the one that was so full of life at one point, before looking back towards the stairs.

"Don?"

"Here." Don said in the same, quiet and defeated tone. His own bag was small and held little to nothing. With a dead look, he dropped it beside the three.

"Are you sure you'll be here okay April?" Leo asked, pleased that were packed and ready to go. He looked at the pretty redhead, standing next to her boyfriend.

"We'll be fine Leo." April said, stepping forward and embracing him in a hug. "Take care of them Leo...they need you know more than ever." she whispered in his ear.

"Thank you April...for everything." Leo said, stepping away from the hug.

"Oh stop it..." She smiled. With a heavy shove, she pushed him towards the door. "Go on now. Be safe."

"Count on it."

Leo, followed by Mikey and Don stepped out of the house and made their way towards the woods. With Leo in the lead, they traveled over four hours, through difficult area and brushes and trees until the reached the designated camping spot. It was a small cabin in a large clearing. A few feet away was a large pond, used for swimming in the summer. There were several spaces that allowed sunlight in that surrounded the water that would be perfect for basking in. There were patches of flowers everywhere that seemed to brighen the area considerably. Leo looked around in satisfaction.

"How bout it guys?"

"It's nice..." Mikey said, looking around. Leo couldn't help but give a silent cheer of victory as there was a tiny twinkle in his blue eyes.

"Yeah." Don agreed.

"Let's get settled then." Leo said. And together, they raced for the cabin.

"Okay then." Alex said as he entered the stall the next morning. He had several coils of rope drapped over his shoulder. He couldn't help but notice the wary and slightly scared, look that passed over the turtle's face as he knelt down beside him. "It's okay...it's okay."

He bound the turle's feet together so he wouldn't escape when he untied his wrists. He knew Lance wouldn't allow him father than the stall door but he couldn't take the chance of injuring his dog.

"Okay, I'm going to untie your hands now – don't make any sudden moves." He gave Lance a signal with his hand and his dog started growling, showing off his razor sharp teeth and dripping fangs. Alex grabbed his kinfe and with a quick slash, cut the leather at his wrists. He saw the turtle's face show his relief as he gently pried them apart.

Raph's muscles ached as muscles were used for the first time in a week. With a sigh, he waited for them to be bound again.

Alex gabbed the rope and looped it over one wrist. Tying it tightly, he left a foot of rope in-between as he moved to tie the second wrist, leaving the turtle able to stretch his hands apart. Alex grabbed a second piece of rope and propping Raph up against the wall, bound his upper arms together, tying them tigthly to sides. He attached another rope to behind Raph's shell, allowing a leash like harness. "There. I take it you don't like collars."

Raph gave a brief nod of gratitude. He knew the man wouldn't have let him walk alone and unaided, but he was glad he didn't put one around his neck and lead him around like some sort of dog.

Alex took a step back and gently jerked on the rope. Raph, using his hands, struggled to his knees. Already he felt pain from his wounds shoot through his body and he had to fight a moan of pain. He felt Alex's hands at his shell, helping him to his feet. He stood there, wavering on his feet, as he waited for the pain to subside slightly before he even thought of taking another step forward. After awhile, he felt sturdy enough to take a step forward – then another.

"Good job Raphael...good job." Alex said, forgetting his vow not to call the turtle by his name. He'd made himself a promise to refer to the turtle as...turtle. They always say that when you name an animal, you get attached to it. He knew the turtle already had a name...but calling him by it – he was afraid he would get attached. And he couldn't get attached...he couldn't. "Come on...you can do it. You can do it."

Raph gave a shaky nod and followed Alex out of the barn. He could see the horses heads as they popped over their stalls and Raph found himself drawn to the chestnut. The horse was obviously a stallion with a long raven colored mane and wild look to his eyes. He snorted and tossed his head, but kept eye contact with Raph. Raph starred at the horse, drawn to his fierce temper and strenght.

"Who's that?" he rapsed, jerking his head at the chestnut.

"Diablo." Alex answered with a wary eye. "He belongs to Buck – he was Buck's sister's horse and only she was able to ride him and she's dead now. Buck inheirited Diablo from her but he's never been able to ride him...no one has."

"Then why does he keep him?"

"Cause he belonged to his sister – it was the only thing he got from her." Alex answered quietly.

Raph nodded, watching Diablo until he was no longer in the barn. "He's gorgous." He said simply.

"I know." Alex said quietly as he led Raph the rest of the way out of the barn. Lance trotted happily at their heels, wagging his tail and barking. Alex led Raph into the woods.

"Where are we going?" Raph asked.

"Just into the woods for a bit and then we can head back." Alex said.

Raph followed behind Alex, pleased to discover that they were heading in the direction of Casey's farmhouse. He waited...waited until they were farm enough out. Alex was getting lazy, holding the 'leash' limply in one hand while keeping track of where they were going. Finally they neared an old oak...a tree Raph was very familiar with...

FLASHBACK

"Oh Raphie!" Mikey called out as he slowly moved through the trees, a devious smile on his face. "I can't see you."

"That's the point Mike." Leo said, drawing his katana. This was his favortie ninja training...ninja hide n' seek. And Raph was the only that was hidden versus him, Donnie and Mikey. The moonlight glittered through the dense forest as Leo focused all of his training on remaining hidden. The game was too see who could remain hidden the longest.

Mikey paused under a large oak, waiting, watching for a streak of green or the flutter of red. He felt a leaf touch his shoulder and he froze. There was no gentle breeze or the rapid scurry of an animal. With a grin he looked up...and wished he hadn't.

Two amber eyes starred at him, surrounded by a blood red mask. Raph let out a grin as he dove from the tree, aiming for the very scared Michelangelo.

"Raph! No! Stop it...stop!" Mikey squealed as Raph started to ticked him, pinning him to the ground with his body weight.

"Surrendor?"

"Never!"

"Very well then."

"AHHHHH!!!!"

END FLASHBACK

Raph shook his head as the rope grew taunt, forcing him along with it. He moved forward and suddenly was overwhelmed by homesickness once again. They were so close...

Helplessness suddenly overwhelmed him and with a cry, he jerked the rope from Alex's hands. Alex gave a starteld cry of his own as he felt rope burn his flesh as it was drug across. He looked up, startled as the turtle dove into the forest , the rope trailing behind him.

"Lance!" Alex yelled as he pointed to the fleeing turtle. Without a moment's hesitation, he leapt after the turtle with a loud bark follwed by several growls.

Raph heard Lance after him as he ran, tearing through brushes, bushing aside branches with bound hands. He ignored the tear of thorns on his skin and the slap of leaves and branches at his face and body... the sharp twigs under his feet. He could feel the sharp pains in his body as he ran -as unused muscles were called on. But he didn't pause or stop, not for anything. He brothers were so close...he ran for them.

Finally he came to a clearing and in the distance he saw a small cabin, smoke rising from the chimney. He paused, no longer hearing Lance behind him. Slowly he moved forwards, using the tree shadows for cover. He moved forward, peering into the cabin. It was empty so he quietly crept in, closing the door behind him. What he saw made tears come to his eyes. There, on the table, was Leo's katana's, Mikey's chucks, and Don's bo staff, each wrapped in the turtle's colors.

He could hear the frantic shouts of Alex and the barks of Lance and he knew that wherever his brothers were, they would stay hidden at the sounds of a human. Raph dashed into the kitchen, eyes a butter knife. He wasn't sharp enough to cut through the thick rope that bound him, but it was thick enough to carve into wood.

With a mighty jab, he pushed the butter knife into the hard wooden table. With careful marks, he drew a small sai with four slashes. Under it, he drew an 'R' before tossing the knife back on the table right as Lance and Alexx burst into the room. Lance threw himself on the turtle, causing both of them to fly back and crash into the table, splintering it under their weight.

"What the heck do you think you were doing?" Alex hissed as he jerked Raph up by the rope, giving Lance the signal to back off.

Raph held his gaze with a defiant amber one. Alex gave the table one more disgusted look before tearing open the door, practically dragging Raph out behind him. As Raph followed behind Alex, he could only pray his brother's would see his mark...and save him.

"That was a blast!" Mikey shouted as he trumpeted back into the cabin, leaving a wet trail behind him. Don and Leo followed him into the small wooden house, each of them happy and wet. "That place was so cool!"

"I know." Don nodded his head.

Leo watched his two brothers, feeling happier than he had since Raph's death. They were smiling...laughing and that made him happy.

"What the shell?" Don yelled out from the kitchen. Mikey and Leo both rushed, nearly coliding behind him as the stared at the broken table.

"What the - " Leo murmured as he looked at the mess.

Mikey walked forward, kneeling and giving the table an up close look. A piecce of the table that had been broken off from the rest had a small, strange makring on it. Grabbing the peace, he turned it upward. His breath caught in his throat.

A very familiar weapon mark stood out under him and right under it was an 'R' that Mikey would recognize anywhere.

It was Raph's weapon and how he drew his R's...

"Raph." Mikey breathed.

It was Raph's symbol...it could only mean one thing.

Raph wasn't dead...he was alive.

Raph was alive.

I hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please review and let me know if you enjoy this story and how fast you want me to update.

Thanks!

~raphfreak