Yes, Raphael has artistic skills. In my mind, everyone has a certain measure of patience and that patience is applied through different pursuits, and manifests itself in different talents. Also, I really felt like having a little more Donatello in this chapter. See, Don may not be the funniest of the brothers, but he is sweet and he and Raphael are brothers. So here, Raphael helps Donatello relax from his doctor role and just be a little brother. Enjoy!

Ch. 10-Charcoal

There was something impalpable about charcoal that Raphael found incredibly compelling. It was at times like these, when Raph was stuck in his room for hours on end, that he really put what little bits and pieces of charcoal he had to good use.

When they were younger Raph had always made fun of Michelangelo for, well, everything…But in particular for Mikey's childish drawings and sketches. What his brothers didn't know was that Raphael himself had grown into quite an artist.

Of course, all four of them had doodled with broken and worn-down crayon stubs that they'd found in the sewers, or that Sensei had picked up off the street during his scavenges. Raph had been about three when he'd picked up his first crayon.

But by the time they turned six, both Leonardo and Donatello had moved on to more 'grown-up' pursuits. Leo liked to read, the kind of books with no pictures. When he wasn't reading, the eldest turtle followed their Sensei around like a puppy.

And Donnie, who had long since learned how to read, began pursuing his career as an inventor. Donatello, in particular, criticized Raph for his lack of productivity. The hothead, even at only six years of age, was not about to take that kind of talk from anyone. So, Raphael had hocked his crayons and stopped drawing altogether.

And then…when they were about ten, Raphael had gotten in a fight with his older sibling. Big surprise. So he stormed out, trying to cool off. Another big surprise.

Flashback

About a mile away from home, Raph slowed. He fought back the tears of frustration that threatened to escape from his eyes. It wasn't fair. It never was when it came to dear 'perfect' Leonardo.

The hothead slowly moved forward, turning to the right as the tunnel he was in connected to another. His feet screeched to a sudden halt. The tunnel was blocked by debris. Who knows how it even ended up down there, considering most of it was far too large to fit through the grates, but Raph just couldn't bring himself to care.

Bright green eyes filled with intrigue as they caught on something tucked amongst the pile of rubbish. An emerald green hand reached out and tugged on it. The pile collapsed a little and Raph took a few steps back, gripping the desired item tightly. He pulled a bit harder than he'd needed to and fell on his bottom. Raphael remained seated as he examined the contents of the cardboard box in his hands.

The first thing he pulled out was some kind of book. Raph leafed through it, with little interest. The book had a thinly bound leather cover and plenty of thick, blank pages. There were a few pages that were slightly used, but overall, it was practically empty. He peered back into the box.

There was a bag of black…rocks in it, too. Wait, wait! Raph found some of these rocks when Donnie was with him once. What had he called them again? Some kind of coal…Charcoal, that's it! Charcoal.

Slowly, Raph reached into the bag and pulled out one of the smaller fragments. Memories of his fight with Leo returned to his mind and anger surged within him. Raph crushed the rock in his palm and brushed away the crumbs. His hand and fingers were black. The hothead stared.

Emerald green hands pulled another fragment out of the bag and opened the book. Clutching the charcoal softly in his grip, Raph pressed it lightly to the paper and drew a line. Huh.

A noise echoing through the tunnels made him look up, suspiciously. Raph shoved the book and charcoal back into the box, picking it up and hightailing it out of there.

End Flashback

Drawing had become very important to Raphael in the last few years. It was an outlet, one that he relied very heavily upon. And charcoal was still his favorite instrument. He drew whenever he felt inferior, or depressed, or even when he was calm. The only time he didn't draw was when he was angry. Drawing when he was angry only led to crushed pieces of charcoal, and since pieces were scarce in the sewers, Raph didn't want to waste them.

The charcoal swept across the paper as Raph let his thoughts wander. Long, sweeping strokes slowly formed the figure, short, fast swipes shaded in the contours. Dark, hard swipes framed the edges. Raphael returned his focus to the drawing as he moved in on the eyes. The charcoal slowed to a halt as he regarded his finished work.

Well…that wasn't exactly what I intended. Raph thought as he straight into the eyes of his older brother. Leonardo stared up at him from the paper below. The drawing was really, very good. Though that wasn't too surprising to the hotheaded turtle. He had memorized each and every one of his brothers' features. He could draw them blindfolded. Despite what they thought, he was actually very observant when he wanted to be. Raph drew from memory. He always had.

The hothead had inscribed so many memories in this book. But not for much longer, he thought with a frown. He only had about ten blank pages left. Then something else occurred to him. Maybe I can get April to get me a new one. I could pay her back…

But then, she'd ask a whole bunch of questions. And then my brothers would find out, and then, and then, and then…

And then, an epiphany. Of course, I could ask Casey to get it. That was a thought. I ask Casey and nobody will find out about it. I guess—the sound of footsteps outside his door made Raph shoot into action. He closed the book and shoved it under the mattress just as the door opened.

Donatello entered, heading straight over to Raph's side. "How are you feeling?"

"It's nice to see you too." Raph muttered.

Don frowned at the hothead's jeer at his bedside manner and retorted sourly, "Well enough to criticize, I see."

Raphael smiled. "Aw, come off it Don, I was just messin' wit' ya."

The brainiac crossed his arms over his plastron. He was not impressed. "You should be resting."

It was Raph's turn to pout. "Resting? Donatello, I am resting! I've been resting all day! I can't wait to stop resting! All this resting is making me restless!"

Donatello rolled his eyes. "You're impossible." He leaned over his older brother to inspect the healing wound on Raph's shoulder.

"I know. It's the secret to my charm." Raph responded cheekily.

Donnie scoffed, "What charm?"

The hothead chuckled and pushed the smart turtle backward playfully. Don's eyes narrowed, but Raph smiled as he saw a lighthearted smirk dance across the younger turtle's lips.

Raphael took that as a challenge. He hopped up out of bed and tackled his immediate younger brother to the floor.

Don grunted as they hit the ground. "Raph, you can't be doing this. Your shoulder—"

"My shoulder can take it, little brother, I'm not that sensitive." Raph pinned Donnie and felt around near the lower back side of the brainiac's shoulders, just inside the carapace. The hothead smirked as he found exactly what he was looking for.

Don's muscles tensed. All movement slowed and Donatello glared at Raphael. "You. wouldn't. dare."

Raph smirked and began to move his fingers. Don bit his lip, desperately attempting to contain the urge to laugh. "Come on, Don. Secede!"

Don began to chuckle despite his best efforts. Between laughs, the smart turtle managed to get out a very breathy, "Never!"

Raph only doubled his efforts and soon Donnie was snorting with laughter. Raph smirked, tickling Don into submission always was an amusing pastime.

"Alright! Alright! I give! I give! Uncle!"

Raph practically preened with victory and moved away, allowing Donatello to sit up of his own volition. Their gaze met for a moment and they both chuckled a little and looked away. Awkward. Finally, Donatello glanced over at Raph.

The hothead met Don's gaze and knew exactly what two words were gonna come next. See, Don still hadn't really apologized for what he'd said that night before Raph left. Before the brainiac could say anything, Raph held up a hand.

Donatello stared rather dejectedly at Raphael's hand and spoke anyway. "Raph I…" Don began, reaching out to put a hand on Raph's good shoulder.

Raphael caught Donnie's wrist. "Don, ya don't have to say it."

Donatello recoiled violently, pulling his hand away. "Well what if I wanna say it, Raph? You always reject it as though it's nothing, but there are times when you actually deserve to hear it!" he yelled, his voice booming and echoing off the walls. Don deflated a little. Barely more than a whisper he murmured, "I'm sorry."

Raph said nothing and Don's expression grew worried. So Raph asked, "What the shell do ya want me to say, Don?"

The smart turtle shrugged, "Accepting my apology might be nice."

Raph's peaceful expression melted into a frown. "I didn't want your apology, little brother." He grumbled. But at Donatello's pleading expression he acquiesced. "Fine, I accept your apology." Raph reached out and flicked the tape-covered center of his nerd-brother's glasses affectionately. "Now get outta here. I'm sure you've got a lot better things to do than waste your time in here 'resting' with me."

They both stood. Donatello murmured, "I've got plenty of other things to do, Raph. But there isn't a single one of them that I'd classify as being better than hanging out with my older brother."

Those words left a warm fuzzy feeling in the hothead's heart that was not at all unwelcome. Raph smiled and pulled Donnie into a loose headlock. His brothers knew that he didn't really do 'hugs'.

Don had been about to leave, but as he hugged his brother, his eyes caught the changes on Raph's back wall. What the shell?

"Raph." Don said as he pulled out of the hug.

Raphael glanced at him, raising an eye-ridge at the brainiac's change of tone. "Yeah?"

"What is all that on your wall?"

The hothead glanced from the wall back to his brother. He took a deep breath before very coolly replying, "Elementary, my dear brother. Records of my Ghost-chasing efforts."

Don's eyes widened. "You mean that these points correspond with—"

"With the Foot's every movement over the past two weeks or so. This last point," Raph indicated the push-pin where the black string ended, "Is where I was attacked last week."

The magnified brown eyes turned to Raphael, "Raph, don't you realize how important this is? We need to show this to Sensei and the others right away! It could help us determine where the Foot will strike next! Come on, we have to tell them now!" Don yelled, grabbing Raphael's wrist and literally dragging the larger turtle out the door and into the main room. There was no one there. Just as Raph was about to say something, Donnie jerked his wrist and the two of them were running towards the dojo. Donatello threw open the doors with no warning, making Splinter, Leo, and Mikey jump in shock. "Guys! Come on, follow us to Raph's room! You've got to see this!"

The others exchanged curious glances, but followed with no objection. And by this point Raph was getting very tired of being dragged around by his younger brother. As soon as they stopped in the hothead's room, Raph yanked his hand out of Donatello's grip.

"Look!" The brainiac said, excitedly pointing at map. "Raph did this! He's absolutely brilliant!"

Leo gawked, "He is?"

Raph, too, was confused, "I am?" Donatello had called him lots of things over the years, and brilliant certainly wasn't one of them.

"Yes!" Don answered, standing right in front of the map so that he could examine every point carefully.

Master Splinter glanced the map over. "A very intricate piece of work, Raphael."

Raph straightened a little at his Father's praise but said nothing. Right now they were all a bit preoccupied with watching the way Donatello was excitedly bouncing about.

"Donatello." Splinter called sternly, Don gave an automatic grunt, which meant he was listening. "Why is this map of Raphael's so advantageous?"

Don pulled his pencil from where it was tucked under his mask, "Hmmm?" he asked as he processed the question. As he finally comprehended what had been asked of him he looked up at them, "Oh, well, I could use the Foot's locations over the past two weeks, which Raphael so nicely plotted out for me, to try and infer what their next move will be." Then the brainiac turned back to Raphael, "I don't suppose you know what they were after?"

Raph smiled. "Check out the green push-pins."

Donnie did, and his eyes practically bugged out of his head. "All with corresponding dates?"

Raph nodded. Then he added as a second thought, "Green tags are the items they succeeded in getting their hands on. The gray ones are the ones that, for whatever reason, they failed to retrieve."

Leonardo's eyes narrowed. "Sounds to me like you've spent a lot of time on this."

Raph gave his older sibling a flat stare, "Yeah, I have. But I was trying to track down Shredder, so I had to be meticulous with the details."

Splinter took a few more steps forward so that he could study the map in detail. The old rat, glanced back over his shoulder at Raphael as he asked, "The red string represents your movements and the black the Foot's?"

Raph nodded.

Michelangelo, who had been silent up until this point, blurted out, "Who's the white string?"

Raphael hid his shock, brushed off the question lightly and answered without hesitation, "Group of street thugs I've been keeping what you might call a 'watchful eye' on. So far, they haven't done anything really bad, but it's only a matter of time. Let's just say that without someone to stop them when that happens, innocent people could get hurt."

That sounded better in my mind. Raph thought, internally berating himself for the horrible cover story. Oddly enough, Michelangelo seemed to be satisfied with that and didn't ask anything further. Phew. Talk about dodging a bullet.

Seriously, he'd have to come out to his family about Casey Jones sooner or later. And the longer he waited, Raphael knew, the more upset they'd be when they found out. He'd really gotten himself into a tight spot this time. And it was gonna be really, really, really hard to get out.

Just then Raph caught Leo's gaze focused on something over by the bed. Shit, his sketchbook's leather spine was sticking out from under the mattress. Leonardo took a few steps in that direction and Raph knew he was doomed. Not because his brothers would find out what an artistic sap he was, but because he drew only from memory. And there were at least two sketches in that book of a certain human named Casey Jones.

The hothead fought the urge to lunge forward and grab the book, because that would really give him away. With a sinking heart he watched as Leonardo grabbed the book and pulled it out from under the mattress. Leo opened it with one hand.

The eldest gasped and everyone in the room turned to him.

I am so dead.

SUSPENSE! I can't wait to write the next chapter! J

Review please! How was it? Were the bonding moments between Donnie and Raph alright?