-Redemption-

Summary: Takes place during the 2007 CGI movie. Leo finds out who the Night Watcher is in a completely different way...

Disclaimer: I do not own the turtles. *Imagines what it would be like if I did and grins evilly*

A/n: Happy to say that I've worked out most of the plots for this and the writing is coming along smoothly. In fact I've got the next 3 chapters already written, and waiting to be edited. So, I hope this story is still capturing your intrest and it is as fun to read as it is for me to write ^^

Warnings for swearing and blood.

Pain. It was all he knew. It consumed him like a tsunami wave. His bones ached with it, his body screamed with it. He was aware of only one thing, and that was the pain, the blinding pain that made him forget everything else. He didn't know where he was or even who he was, but he didn't care. He just wanted the pain to go away.

And through the thick fog that was his pain, he could just make out a few other things as well, sounds, noises. He could hear his heart drumming loudly in his chest, like it was trying to break free and run away. He could hear his blood roaring in his ears and pulsing through his veins. He could hear his own laboured breathing. It sounded like his lungs were drowning, and blocking out all the oxygen he was desperately trying to take in. His throat felt raw and bloodied, like he had tried to swallow sandpaper.

This is it; Raphael managed to think through the disorienting fog. I'm going to die.

But with that thought, there was no fear, no horror of what was happening to him; only a tired resignation. It'll all be okay, his brain thought for him, supplying him with the words he needed so desperately to hear. At least then you won't feel the pain anymore.

And it was true, Raphael thought. If he did die, if he did slip away from this world into the next, then he wouldn't have to feel this pain anymore. His body would be free.

Raphael found himself relaxing at the thought. It's okay, I'm ready.

And he was ready. Ready to just let the darkness consume him and take everything away. Everyone dies eventually. Now, it's my turn.

A semblance of calm washed over Raphael, momentarily pushing the stabbing pain away, so it only lingered in the background, in the periphery of his mind. He felt a warmness surround him and turn his thoughts off; drowning them out and pushing them away until they were all gone. He felt his lungs, which only moments ago, had felt like they were drowning in liquid fire, were now starting to slow down. The heavy beating of his heart was starting to fade, and it no longer felt like it was trying to burst through his ribcage.

This is it, Raphael thought calmly as the darkness took a hold of him. I'm ready.

And just as he was about to fully let go, just as he was about to cut the last ties that held him here, to this earth, he felt something pull him back sharply. Raphael frowned in his mind and tried to pull away from the strong hold that had enveloped him.

Let me go damn it!

There was no reply. The hold intensified and with it came a strangely comforting presence. Soon, the darkness that had all but consumed him, exploded into shards, which turned and grew with colour and turned into images, images that played across Raphael's closed eyelids. Raphael struggled at first, trying to push the intruding colours away. He didn't want this; he wanted the darkness that whispered the promise of release.

But then the colours started to shift and change, forming into shapes. And then it felt like Raphael had plunged into a pool of icy water. His brain snapped awake from what felt like a deep slumber, now alert and starting to process the forming pictures before him.

Four blurry green blobs transformed and began to become clearer with every passing minute until a clear picture had been formed before his very eyes. But only it wasn't a picture, Raphael's mind whispered to him softly. It was a memory.

The picture focused with sudden intensity, and Raphael felt like he had been punched in the gut. Because the picture was of him. But it wasn't just him. There were others with him, standing there, smiling.

And then his brain supplied everything he needed to dissect the picture. It was a picture his family had taken a few months before Leo had left for training in Central America. Raphael stood proudly in the middle of the picture, a rare smile on his face that was half smirk, his amber eyes twinkling with mischief and life. Next to him, on his right side, stood his brother, his older brother. Leonardo, his brain supplied for him. Leonardo was smiling, but it wasn't into the picture. His head was turned and he was smiling at Raph, one of his hands resting on Raphael's shoulder. On Raphael's left was a tall man with straight blue hair; Casey. Casey had one arm wrapped around Raphael's shoulders, and the other wrapped around a pretty petite woman with fiery hair and burning green eyes; April.

April was smiling fully into the camera, her hands resting on the shoulders of a purple-banded turtle; Raphael's other brother, Donatello. Don was twisted to the side, his mouth open in a laugh. He had his arms wrapped around a fourth turtle, Michelangelo. Michelangelo was in a headlock from Don, leaning against his brother and laughing as Don gave him a noogie. Mikey's wide blue eyes were sparkling with laughter, and his hands were behind Don's head, in an attempt at making rabbit ears. Next to Mikey was a tall brown rat. Master Splinter…Sensei…Father. Master Splinter hand on clawed hand resting on Leonardo's shoulder, the other clamped on the top of his walking stick. His eyes were shining with warmth and a content smile lay upon his lips.

"Raphael, wake up."

The voice flooded through Raphael's head, and he knew instantly that the voice belonged to the person who had brought him out of the darkness.

"Leo?"

"Raphael, wake up. Wake up little brother."

"Leo, I…"

And then it felt like a beam of white light was piercing his brain. Everything came flooding back to Raphael, memories of his family, the feel of the wind on his shoulders, his bike, the crash…

And suddenly Raphael didn't want the darkness to take him away anymore. I'm not going to leave my brothers! Raphael thought fiercely. I will NOT leave them! I can't do this to them, to our family!

Other voices joined the first one, begging with him, pleading for him to wake up. With each thought, with each new voice, it felt like an invisible rope was being thrown over Raphael, tying him to the earth, fighting against the darkness that was trying to creep back in and steal him away.

I can take all your pain away, the whispery voice of the darkness called out to him. I can make it all go away.

No! Raphael shouted as he struggled. Stay away!

Raphie, hold on bro. Hold on, please!

Raph, come on Raph you have to fight this. Come on bro, fight it!

Raphael. Raphael stay with us. Don't let the darkness win.

Raph, come on Raph. Come on buddy, you gotta wake up man.

Come on Raph, please, wake up Raphael!

My son. You must fight it Raphael. Fight it with everything you have, my son…

"No!" Raphael screamed and with everything he could muster, pushed the darkness away from him. "It's NOT my time to go!" He yelled at the inky mass. "It's not my turn!"

It felt like there was a strong wind trying to pull him away from the comforting voices. The sound roared in his ears and ripped at his flesh. Raphael was breathing heavily. He forced himself to ignore the beckoning darkness, the pain, the wind, focusing instead on the voices that were still anchoring him, holding him back from the abyss and oblivion.

Fight it my son. Fight it!

Screaming and pulling with everything he had, Raphael snapped away from the darkness. It felt like he was falling…falling…falling…

Raphael opened his eyes.