Chapter 11: Raph

He stood there as Mikey relayed the past twenty-four hours' events. He watched the growing horror and fierce protection emerge on Leo's face. Saw the raw pain in Karai's amber gaze. Heard Donnie's own testimony of how they'd come to him asking for a place for the kid.

And Raph felt like an outsider - like he was intruding on a very private moment. But the moment he started to slip away unobtrusively, Leo called out to him.

"Raph."

It was one word. It shouldn't have meant anything. It shouldn't have torn at the bully's heart like that. But it did. And when he turned back around, he saw the gratefulness in Leo's eyes.

"Thank you," the injured teen told him quietly.

Raph shrugged uncomfortably, crossing his arms over his plastron as if to protect himself. "It was nothing."

That cobalt gaze studied him for a long time before its owner spoke up again. "Guys, can Raph and I have a moment?"

"Sure," Donnie replied, gently taking Mikey's arm to lead him from the room. Karai remained behind a second longer - only long enough to try to read Raph's expression. As soon as they were gone, Leo turned his full attention on his hotheaded counterpart.

"Why did you do that for Mikey?"

"You're not really gonna make me answer that, are you?" Silence was the only answer he received. His shoulders slumped. "Look, I just...I wanted him to be in a better place than-" Nope. Not going there. "Well, he needed something I couldn't give him. Figured that Donn- um, Newfield would be better suited than me."

The beefy turtle shifted so that he was facing the window - facing away from those soul-searching eyes. Leo heaved a sigh of frustration. "Would you stop that?"

"Stop what?"

"Stop turning away. Stop closing yourself off from me."

Raph grunted. It was the one answer he could give without getting really angry.

"Dammit, Raphael! I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you!"

"And I'm trying to seriously avoid it! I don't want to talk about this, Leo! I know how you view me, so it probably comes as a real shock to you that i can actually do something nice for other people. But I'm not always the jerk you think I am!"

"I... I don't think you're a jerk."

"Yes, you do," Raph replied quietly, all the anger escaping at once. "You think I'm some troubled kid to be pitied. All you see me as is a bully. Don't even try to deny it." He scowled again but with far less vehemence than before. "That's all anyone sees me as. I can't measure up to you or the others. I've got no friends, no real family. And everytime I see you, I'm reminded of exactly what I don't have."

And then there were arms around his trembling shoulders, drawing him into the first real hug he'd had in a very long time. "I'm sorry," the blue-eyed turtle told him. "I didn't mean to...I had no idea you felt that way."

Why do you even care? the shorter teen thought. He voiced another question instead.

"Why are you doing this?" The words came out as a shaky whisper. His neon eyes stung with tears. He would not cryNot in front of Leo. Ever.

"Doing what?"

"Treating me like...like a person. Like I matter to you."

"Raph-"

"I shouldn't matter to you. All I've ever done is cause trouble for you. Argued with you. Heck, I almost got you suspended once. I've made your life a living hell for the past several years and suddenly because I felt bad for Mikey that makes everything okay?"

"I'm not giving you a free pass on everything else, but I'm not denying you a second chance. And besides, you're my-" Leo stopped and took a deep breath, almost like he was trying to decide on something. But before he could speak again, the door opened to reveal another exhausted-looking nurse.

"Mr. Hamato...I have some bad news."

A/N: Aaaand insert cliffhanger here. (Sorry not sorry ) Have to get back into everything.Please, please review? Pretty please?