Chapter 25: Brighter Days

Raphael opened his eyes to the cool glow of a golden winter morning pouring in from the window, and for a moment, he had forgotten where he was, or even when he was. He eyes searched the living room of April's apartment and sighed. His family was safe, for now.

Chasing sleep away, he sat up on the couch were he had slept and listened to April and Casey's soft whispers coming from a nearby room. He smiled when he heard the gravel of his friend's voice. He musta gotten here this morning, he thought to himself as he looked at the clock on the DVD player. He'd slept almost till noon.

Looking out the window, he remembered the night before and vowed… yesterday was yesterday. Today is today. I'm tired a livin' in the past… We're all safe an' that's all I can ask for. He promised himself. Today's gunna be a better day.

But he still couldn't get Bishop out of his head. He fought to keep his taste for revenge hidden in the back of his mind, not abandoning it, just letting it build, saving it for later.

Bishop'll get his share of butt kicking. Just not now. We got other things ta deal with first.

He could hear Mikey's soft snores coming from the kitchen and he knew his little brother must have fallen asleep sprawled out on the kitchen table. The day before had been so exhausting, not just because of the incident at the Lair, but because having to tell April everything that had happened was a little like reliving the nightmare.

Raphael closed his eyes tight. I gotta get past this. Mikey's gotta get past this.

He still couldn't believe his little brother's pain. Out of all his brothers, Mikey had been the only one left conscious in the end. No one had been there to comfort him, to tell him it would be okay, to tell him his brother's weren't dead. Or at least, two of them weren't. That was what had hardened him, what had given his eyes that look of constant worry. And his own scars had only made his little brother's wounds run deeper.

No wonder he's so damn angry! Raph thought, mentally kicking himself. I never even thought of him! All those things I said… all those things I did to him… It just made things worse.

I gotta stop thinkin' of myself and start thinkin' like a leader.

After one long, satisfying stretch, he softly padded into the kitchen. There Mikey slept, arms crossed on the table with his head resting down on top of them. Raph reached out and gently shook his shoulder. "Hey, Mike. Wake up."

Mike lifted his head from his hands and looked bleary-eyed at his brother standing over him.

"How'd ya sleep?"

He yawned deeply and sat upright in the chair, stretching his shoulders and neck from the stiffness that gripped them. "Not so good… I don't even remember closing my eyes."

"Yeah. I was tired too… 'specially after…"

Mikey stopped stretching and folded his hands on the table, looking down to avoid his brother's gaze. "Yeah… sorry about that" He said, half expecting his brother to make fun of him for crying like a girl.

But instead, Raph shook his head and placed a reassuring hand on his brother's shoulder. "No, Mike, don't be. I guess I didn't really know how it all happened until…" He paused, swallowing hard. "Sorry I got mad. Guess I didn't think about it before… ya know… how you felt about it."

"Sucks doesn't it? It sucks being sad all the time."

"I know," he said, reaching for a chair and sitting across from his brother. His brother's eyes slowly drew up to meet his. "I know what it feels like."

Mikey didn't answer.

"All this time… I've been actin' like a jackass 'cause that's all I know how to act."

"I know," Mikey shrugged, a small smile on his lips now.

"No! That's not what I meant! I mean…" Raph rubbed the back of his neck nervously and looked away, trying to hide the hot flush of embarrassment that was creeping along his cheeks. "It's okay to be sad 'cause... you know…."

Mikey's eyes widened slightly at his brother's confession. Wait a minute... Raph actually has feelings?

"And it's okay ta be mad at me, 'cause I did a lot a stupid stuff that I can't take back. But I'm sorry for being sucha jackass. I wasn't thinkin' straight."

"No, you weren't. You weren't thinking at all."

But Raph didn't indulge himself to the invitation for more bickering. He shook his head and breathed. "I'm sorry, Mike. I'm sick of fightin' with you. We useta be buds, remember?"

Mikey nodded. "I remember."

"Why can't it jus' go back ta the way it useta be?"

"Because things aren't the way they used to be."

Raph was starting to look frustrated. "Come on Mikey! I'm pourin' my guts out here. Could ya at least listen ta me? Gimme a break!"

But Mikey didn't answer right away. He let his brother's words mull over in his head for a while. This is Raph actually apologizing, how much longer are you going to stay mad at him?

Everything within him told him no. He didn't want to be sad anymore. He didn't want to feel like this. He was sick of fighting, sick of feeling angry. Sure, things would never be the same, but when it all came down to it, he was the only one standing in his own way. Raph was going out on a limb for him. It was time he did the same.

"I forgive you," he said slowly, barely believing his own words.

A smile cracked across his face when he saw the light return to his big brother's eyes, the wave of relief that visibly washed over him. It felt like it was the first time in a long time that he smiled, truly smiled without a drop of venom or malaise. He wasn't smiling at revenge, or at cracking a cruel joke at his brother's expense. No, for the first time in years, it seemed, he was smiling for real. He breathed a little easier, like a weight had been physically lifted off his chest.

"Look at you," he giggled, "you're almost crying!"

Raph turned his head away. "Am not!" he sniffled stubbornly.

"You are too!" Mikey hooted, feeling his boundless energy return. He jumped from his chair and gently jabbed his brother in the shoulder. "Who's the princess now?"

"You're asking for it," Raph growled, but this time sporting a devious smile of his own.

"Maybe I am," Mikey bounced, bringing his face close to his brother's and sticking his tongue out like an idiot. "Naaaaa!"

"You're sucha baby. When're you gunna grow up, Mikey?" Raph laughed, putting his arm around his brother's neck and holding him in a headlock.

Soon enough, Mikey was kicking and screaming, trying to free himself. "Lemme go Raphie. This isn't funny!" he screeched. Kicking his brother's legs out from under him, Mikey wriggled free and pounced, and soon enough, the two brothers were rolling on the floor, locked in an endless wrestling match, just like the good old days.

Soon Raph was on top, pinning his brother's arms down with his knees, he pressed his hand down directly on top of his little brother's face, making him scream like a little girl.

"You never grow up! You got that?" He demanded, squishing his brother's face and laughing at the funny noises he was making.

Mikey tried to reply, but is sounded like some kind of garbled alien language instead.

"What's that?" Raph said, pretending he didn't know the reason why his brother couldn't form coherent words.

Mikey let out a high pitched scream and Raph let go of his face.

"I promise!" he squealed between the giggles. "I promise!"

"Guess Raph and Mikey are up to their old tricks again," smiled Donatello from the doorway as he watched his brothers' scuffle. "I hate to admit it, but it's good to see them at it again."

"I agree," said Master Splinter from behind. "And I am glad your strength is returning, my son."

Donny winced as one of Mikey's high-pitched screams came piercing from the living room. It definitely wasn't helping his headache, but seeing his brothers no longer at odds was making him feel whole lot better. He had made it all the way to the doorway on the first try without any help.

"I guess everyone's up," came April's voice from down the hall, Casey following closely behind, groggy and disheveled.

"Gee… what was you're first clue?" Casey said sarcastically. "Yo! Donny" he grinned as he stopped in front of the doorway. He greeted him with a friendly slap on the back. "Good ta see ya bro. How ya feelin'?"

"Good to see you too, Casey," Donny smiled, bracing himself against the doorframe to keep Casey from knocking him over. "Better, thank you."

"Ya better go in the kitchen, then. Ape's makin' pancakes," he grinned. "An' I gotta go see where Raph's gone off ta… have ya seen 'im?"

Another shriek came from across the living room.

"Neva mind… I got 'em," grunted the lumbering man as he bounded down the narrow hallway. "Heya, Masta Splinter." He waved over his shoulder before disappearing into the living room.

Master and pupil just looked at each other and breathed a sigh of relief. Even though it was good to see Casey again, it was just as good to see him leave. His clumsiness had always made them both quite nervous.

"So what do you think, Sensei?" Don asked. "Do you think it's all over? I mean… Raph and Mikey?"

Master Splinter stroked his beard as he contemplated his answer. "I do think your brothers have reached an understanding. Yet I do not know how Michelangelo will react to Raphael's leadership. He is having a hard time letting go of Leonardo."

Donny nodded slowly. "I know how he feels, Sensei."

The old rat sighed deeply and placed a reassuring paw on his son's shell. "As do I," he whispered, "as do I."

The smell of buttered pancakes filled the house while April made the food, humming happily. She couldn't remember the last time she had hummed… not since they had vanished.

It was sad what had happened to them, what happened to Leo, but now she couldn't help but feel a little glimmer of joy. They came back to her… even if they were one brother short, they had come back. For so long she had thought they were captured, or worse. When she got Donatello's phone call she could barely believe her ears.

She flipped another pancake onto a plate and wiped her brow with the back of her wrist. Making breakfast for six people was definitely hard work.

"Can I help?"

She turned and smiled shyly at Michelangelo, who was still out of breath from his tumble with Raph. But when she saw the look on his face, the light that had returned to his eyes, her smile grew wider.

He had come back.

As Michelangelo busied himself with frying a huge pan of scrambled eggs, April sighed, but never lost her smile. So much had changed. All of them had changed. Donatello seemed even quieter now, more reserved. As did Master Splinter. Raphael was different too… definitely more mature. He carried with him a heavy burden of concern for his brothers that he had not held before. His temper seemed more violent now, more explosive, yet less frequent than before.

Michelangelo, on the other hand, had scared her. That deep, penetrating sadness that surrounded him, gripped him close, stole the light away from his eyes, was so heavy, so heartbreaking it was hard for her to look. But now, he looked so different. In just a night's time, he was happy… full of the rekindled spark he always had.

April started to wonder if she had been imagining it all.

"Don't worry so much, April," Mikey smiled as he stirred the eggs. He almost laughed at himself for sounding just like Don.

April laughed nervously and pushed the hair away from her face. Then, Mikey's blue eyes met hers.

"Really. I mean it. Thanks for saving us, for letting us come here."

April blushed. She couldn't believe how much he had matured, too. "No problem, Mike."

The turtle smiled.

"So, you worked things out with Raph?"

He shrugged. "I guess so."

They paused as the sound of cooking food and muffled voices from the other room were the only noises to fill the kitchen.

"A lot has changed, hasn't it?" April sighed as she scooped up another pancake.

Mikey didn't answer. He plated up the scrambled eggs and left them on the counter. "I'll go tell everyone it's ready," he said over his shoulder as he made his way out of the kitchen. But before he could disappear he stopped himself and turned back with one hand resting on the door frame.

"A lot has changed, April. But that doesn't mean you have to change. Me and Raph aren't gunna fight so much anymore. We're gunna make it better okay? We're gunna make it normal again."

April nodded sadly. She wasn't even sure what normal was anymore. "Okay Mikey," she whispered, unable to think of anything else.

"What happened… the war… it was a long time ago. Or at least it feels like it's been a long time. Donny's healing, Raph's better now, so I think it's going to be okay."

And with that, Mikey turned and left, leaving April speechless by the stove. She bit back tears before she could let them fall, and turned back to the stove.

I hope you're right, Mikey. I really hope you're right.