As Leo lay bound to the stretcher, he wept and thought back to a moment in his childhood when he and Raphael were the best of friends.

FLASHBACK: TWELVE YEARS EARLIER

Three-year-old Raphael had woken up in a bad mood and it had only gotten worse. At breakfast, he'd kicked Mikey under the table, made the two-year-old cry, and gotten a stern rebuke from Splinter. After that, he'd played with one of four-year-old Donnie's gadgets and broken it. When Donnie yelled at him for being so careless, Raphael punched him in the face, causing Donnie to shriek. Splinter heard the cries, and finding Donnie in a flood of tears, whirled on his second youngest, his eyes flashing, his tail swishing angrily from side to side and tapping his cane on the ground. "Raphael!" he boomed. "What is the meaning of this?"

Ever defiant, Raphael regarded him coolly and said, "Donnie was mean."

"Was not!" Donnie protested, wiping his tears away with the back of his hand. "Raphie knows not to play with my toys and he broke one! I was mad and he hit me."

"Raphael, you are a disgrace," Splinter fumed. "You know not to hit your brothers and to play with their toys. I am cross and tired of your behavior!"

"Fuck off," Raphael growled, his golden eyes blazing.

Splinter's face darkened, he grabbed his rebellious son, picked him up, moved over to the couch, sat down and spanked Raphael's bottom six times. Three on each cheek, as Donnie looked on. An indignant and furious Raphael did not cry, refusing to give his dad that satisfaction. He stoically took his punishment and when Splinter was finished, he stood, his shoulders squared and arms crossed, unrepentant. p

"What have you got to say for yourself, Raphael?" Splinter asked.

"What do ya want me ta say?"

"How about sorry?"

"I ain't and yer mean too. I hate ya!" Raphael screamed.

"What's going on, Daddy?" four-year-old Leo asked, entering the lounge. He'd been meditating in the dojo.

Splinter ignored Leo and said, "Go to your bedroom, Raphael. You will stay there all day and you will not have supper."

Raphael stood his ground and said, "No. Ya can't make me!"

"Want to be?" Splinter roared. He darted forward, grabbed Raphael by his arm, dragged him to his bedroom and shut the door behind him. Then, he bent him over and spanked him hard with his cane. Four times on each cheek. This time, Raphael did cry out, tears streaming down his cheeks. When he was finished, Splinter studied his sobbing son and said bitterly, "Tears will not help you, Raphael, so cut the crocodile tears. I am tired of your behavior and you will stay here! If I find you outside of your room, I will smack you so hard, you won't be able to sit down for a week. Do I make myself clear?"

Raphael only wept louder and curled up into a small ball, rocking back and forth, his thumb in his mouth. Something he did when was extremely upset and in dire need of comfort, but there would be none from his dad, who merely looked at him in rage and stormed out, leaving the emerald skinned turtle alone to reflect on his actions. Raphael did not. All he thought was that his dad was nasty and he didn't deserve the hiding he'd received.

XXX

At two-am, Leo woke up and left the room he was sharing with Don and Mikey. Usually, he bunked with Raphael, but because of the latter's behavior, he'd had to move. Leo went into the kitchen and thought, Raphie missed dinner. He must be so hungry. Poor Raphie. I know he was naughty, but Daddy has to understand that Raphie doesn't mean to be. And he's not bad. Leo had left some of his dinner, intending for Raphael to have it, telling Splinter he was full. He was believed, because Leo wasn't a huge eater and Splinter had placed it on a plate in the fridge. Leo opened the fridge, took out the plate and went to his bedroom.

Entering it, Leo saw that his brother was asleep, shell facing the door. "Raphie," he called.

"WEO!" Raphael said, stirring and turning around. "Ya shouldn't be here. Daddy will beat ya."

"I don't care," Leo said, approaching the bed. "I saved some of my dinner for you. Come on and eat. It's not much, though. I'm sorry."

"Ya did that for me?" Raphael asked in surprise.

"Course. You're my best friend, Raphie, and you need to eat."

"Ya sure?" Raphael asked, eyeing the cheese sandwich, as his tummy rumbled. Food was scarce and it was a huge deal that Leo had done that for him, but as little as Leo was, that was him to a T. Always thinking of others, especially Raphael, who was often picked on. He was the smallest, even though he was older than Mikey and he lisped. Donnie made fun of that, but Leo? No, he never made fun of Raphael and gave him the hugs and kisses his shy brother was afraid to ask for, even from their dad. Raphael melted into them and when just he and Leo were together, Raphael would laugh and smile and Leo thought his laughter the best sound in the world.

"Yeah."

"What if Daddy knows that ya did this?"

"I don't care, Raphie. He can hit me, but all that matters is that you get something in your tummy. Eat."

Raphael grinned and said, "Yer the best big brother, Weo. Thank ya." He took the plate, chewed slowly, savoring his meal, and when he was done, said, "Thanks, Weo."

"I'll be back now, Raphie."

Leo took the plate to the sink and returned to the bedroom. "Yer gonna be in trouble if Daddy finds ya here, Weo!" Raphael said.

"Yeah, but that doesn't matter. Get in bed, Raphie. Come on. I'll tell you a story."

"Ya sure?"

"Yes. Come on."

The brothers climbed into bed and Leo threw his arms around his brother, who nuzzled up to him, his beak in the crook of Leo's neck. "Weo, thank ya again," Raphael said.

"It's okay, Raphie," Leo said and kissed his temple. "I love you and nothing will change that. We're best buds. Forever. You will always have me."

"Ditto, Weo, and I love ya too."

"I get you, Raphie. I do. You don't mean to be naughty."

"Daddy hates me."

"I don't and I never will. We'll go to Japan when we grow up."

"Can we ride horsies?" Raphael asked excitedly.

"Yes and we'll do whatever we want. Now, let me tell you a story. Once upon a time…"

Leo hadn't even gotten through half way of the story, before Raphael's eyes had closed and Leo heard his gentle snoring. Shortly after, he'd fallen asleep too. Splinter hadn't found them in bed together, but he'd found the empty plate in the sink and had reprimanded Leonardo and made him do extra flips. Leo had done his punishment, but he hadn't regretted his actions. His job was to care for and look after his brothers and nothing or anyone would prevent him from doing that, even if he suffered for it.

Back in the present, Leo thought. We should never have become lovers. We should have stayed friends and brothers. I should never have given him my heart. Now our bond as brothers and lovers is shattered forever. There's no way we could mend things. No way in hell that I want him back. Even if he got down on his knees and begged me. All the sadness, betrayal. Too much hurt. He's gone too far. Leonardo, you were so gullible believing his sweet words and promises. Empty words. You're better off without him. And if by chance, he does come back, you act polite in company, but you never ever let your walls down again. He had his chance and he blew it.

When Dark Leo returned a while later, he said, "The note's on the kitchen table, Leo, and people will believe Raphael has left and you went after him."

"Maybe for the immediate future, but after that, my family will go looking for us. Rest assured. They'll scour the tunnels and this city and leave no stone unearthed. And they'll never give up until we're found. Both of us and we're safely home."

"Do you really want Raphael home after his traitorous actions, Leonardo? I wouldn't. Imagine all that hostility, distrust and never ending friction between you two. None of which will be resolved. Your bonds as lovers shattered forever, because of his actions. You and Raphael have had countless epic fights, but this… He's gone too far and you know it. Hurts too much, doesn't it? You hate him for lying to you and causing you heartache after you trusted him. I would. Raphael's a bastard. Do you think he cares that he hurt you? Nope. He's fucking whomever he pleases. The little shit. You're better off without him. Wake up, Leonardo. He's a creep and you allowed yourself to fall for his charms. The only person Raphael has ever cared about is himself. I love you, Leo, and I will show you I do. You'll soon forget about Raphael."

Before Leo could comment, Dark Leo kneed his legs apart and lined his dick up with Leo's entrance. Then, he began thrusting in and out. Leo squeezed his eyes shut, as tears ran down his cheeks, and thought, I don't want this. Want to go home. Someone, please find me!

A/N Thanks for the reviews. How is Raph getting along? Has he forgotten Leo?