Sorry it's been so long. I have no excuse. Hoep you enjoy. there will only be one or two more chapters in this particular storyline. The other one still has four or five left. Please enjoy, let me know what you think!

I don't own TMNT.

Don waited at the foot of the stairs, completely stunned. He watched Raph walk to his room and shut the door. What was wrong with him? Was Raph right? Was it better to enjoy the newly found family that he had or to exact vengeance on the one who had taken it away?

Don shook his head and frowned. Raph couldn't just expect him to just sit here and do nothing! It was fine for him, he had taken his revenge years ago and laid that part of him to rest, but for Don it was still fresh and raw.

Don decided that any action was better than none and took his frustration out on a training dummy that had obviously seen better days.

Several hours later, Donnie finally fell into bed, completely exhausted. He woke to the smell of some type of food cooking. He couldn't quite identify the scent, but it made his stomach growl. He cautiously made his way downstairs, unsure of his brother's mood.

The sight that greeted him left no doubt in his mind. The small table had been set for two and several platters of food were laid out on the table. Raph had his back to the purple-banded turtle, stirring something on the stove.

Don cautiously entered the kitchen, breathing in the aroma of Raph's surprise breakfast. "Good morning." Raph greeted him without turning around.

Don hesitated. "Morning." He moved to the fridge and grabbed a pitcher of a pink liquid, some sort of juice, judging by the smell, and placed it on the counter.

His brother poured his concoction out of the pan and onto a pair of plates. The brothers sat at the small table, setting down their offerings in front of the other. Don took a bite of the food, trying not to make a face at the mixture, remembering that cooking wasn't Raph's strong suit. He swallowed it down with a swig of the pink juice, it tasted like strawberries, recognizing that this was Raph's way of apologizing. Usually Mikey was on the receiving end of the horrid and thoughtful gesture.

Raph took a bite, making a similar face that Don had tried to suppress. "Over a decade and I still can't cook." Don smiled, grateful at the attempt to lighten the mood.

Twirling his fork in his hand, Don frowned, trying to find the right words to say. Raph beat him to it. "Look, Donnie, I've been thinking about last night. I'm sorry that I blew up on ya."

Don shook his head. "No, I understand. I was about to say the same thing. I had no right to say the things that I did. I hadn't realized how badly you were hurting."

Raph smiled sadly. "I'm sorry that you haven't had the closure that you needed. I have something to show you when we're done."

They finished their meal in silence, each eating quickly, but trying not to taste the strange concoction. Finally, Don grabbed his plate and placed it in the sink, followed by Raph.

"Follow me." Raph said, and Don couldn't think of a time that he had seen Raph so quiet and deeply upset. It worried him.

"Where are we going?"

Raph just shook his head. "You'll have to see."

They walked through the dojo and into Master Splinter's old room. Don looked around in shock. It looked almost exactly the same as it had when Master Splinter was alive! The plain walls and japanese furniture were clean, not a speck of dust anywhere to be seen. Small knick-knacks were displayed proudly on a shelf. Don recognized the sculptures that he and his brothers had triumphantly presented to their father when they were little. They were each the colors that they had chosen for their masks. Don's was a majestic purple, spiraling up into a spire. Leo's was a little more conservative, its delicate blue growing into a simple, sturdy structure. Raph had gotten frustrated halfway through, resulting in a mangled statue that was flat on one side. Mikey had been extremely enthusiastic about making the trinket and had put a great deal of time and effort into his, shaping it into an artistic representation of his favorite food, pizza.

Don smiled softly at the memories. His gaze moved to Raph, who was staring at the only section of wall that had changed over the years.

A worn, cracked walking stick was hanging on the wall, followed by orange, blue, purple, and red bandanas. Don stifled a gasp as he realized that they were in the order of their family's deaths. Raph reached out and gently touched the first three objects.

He removed his black bandana, hanging it on a peg at the end of the lineup. The crimson cloth seemed to draw his hand and he complied, gently taking it off of its peg. He stared at the eyeholes of the last vestige of his former life. He sighed, his breath filled with unexpressed emotion. The old bandana fit exactly the same way that it had 7 years ago, the last time that he had worn it.

He looked at Don. "I'm ready."

Don looked puzzled. "Ready for what?"

Raph was already heading out the door. "Ready to take down the Shredder for good."

Don hesitated for a beat, trying to understand the sudden change in his brother. Blinking rapidly, he hurried to catch up with the recently crimson-banded turtle, who was heading for the weapons stash in the dojo training room.

"What did you just say?"

Raph replied without stopping or turning. "We're going after the Shredder. You were right. We need to avenge our family."

Don stepped in front of him, forcing him to look up. "Are you sure? You said yourself that he hasn't stirred up any trouble lately. Are we sure that we want to confront him?"

The look in Raph's eyes was both chilling and familiar. He was determined and nothing that his brother said was going to persuade him. "Yes." He said simply.

Don pulled away, nodding once, but not taking his eyes off of his brother. They gathered their weapons, Raph taking his sais, nunchucks, katanas, bo staff, and throwing stars; Don arming himself with a bo staff, a long sword, throwing stars, a dozen gadgets, and a few smoke and gas bombs. When the brothers were sufficiently armed, they exchanged a look and began their mission, making sure to lock up the lair behind them as they left.

Please R & R!