AN: Techno Dawn: Yes, it was quite an obvious question, wasn't it?
Nutella Swirl: I'm glad you didn't expect it! Thanks for reviewing in such detailed terms!
Hawkfeather: It did get dark, so we definitely need hugs right now!
yukio87: Yes, it explains a lot. But other questions remain… Thanks for reviewing!
Hanoras: Thanks! That's a huge compliment!
Mending
Master Splinter was sitting cross-legged in the dojo. He felt the calming presence of the dojo tree behind his back. It usually helped him to meditate after a difficult day. However, it wasn't working today. The ninja master kept dwelling on the conversation he had had with his sons. He knew they were hurting right now, and he knew there was nothing he could do about it. They didn't want him to comfort them.
The giant rat forced himself to breathe deeply. Of course, he didn't resent them. They needed time to accept the truth. And he should have told them about their fourth brother sooner.
When he had told his story for the second time for Donatello's sake, his purple-clad son had seemed shocked, though not entirely surprised.
"I was wondering if something like that had happened," he had reluctantly admitted, "since Leonardo's brothers arrived and told us about the existence of other universes where there were always four turtles. I just didn't want to say it out loud, because then it would have become a real possibility. And I didn't want to consider that you lied to us."
Again, Splinter had said that he had never found the right moment to tell them, but Donatello had dismissed it.
"When the other Leonardo arrived in our world, that would have been the perfect time," he had pointed out.
Then he had left with Michelangelo, leaving Splinter alone in the dojo. Alone with his painful memories.
Splinter looked at the pictures in his lap. With his forefinger, he traced the outline of his baby girl Miwa and of his infant turtle Leonardo. Two children that were placed in his care. Two children that he had been unable to save.
A light cough made him raise his head. April was standing in the doorway, looking uneasy.
"Yes?" Splinter said, inviting her to enter.
"Donnie told me what happened. I… I just wanted to check if you were alright, I mean… I can feel that you're not, but I…" April bit her lip.
Splinter raised an eyebrow. He was touched by the girl's unexpected kindness.
"No, I am not alright," he answered quietly. "But maybe it is for the best. My sons know the truth now. I can only hope that they will find it in their hearts to forgive me."
The red-haired girl knelt in front of him. On an impulse, she took his furry hand.
"I know they will," she said wholeheartedly. "And if they don't realize by themselves how lucky they are to be with their father, I'll make them understand it. It is bad enough when someone prevents you to be with your family. It would be stupid to deliberately cut yourself apart from your loved ones. "
Despite himself, Splinter felt comforted by these heartfelt words.
That girl is really special, he thought.
"Thank you, April," he whispered to his young guest. "Yours is a kind soul."
%%%%%
The three turtles of this world were together in Michelangelo's room. Michelangelo was sniffing on his bed, while Donatello was hugging him. With sadness, the purple-clad turtle thought of all the times their roles had been reversed, when he was deep in his depression.
Raphael was pacing the room, unable to stop moving. He felt betrayed and he had no idea how to deal with this sharp pain in his heart. Besides, his thoughts kept going back to the four brothers of another universe.
We could have had what they have, he thought bitterly. He kicked an empty pizza box on the floor.
"I can't believe Father hid something this important from us," he finally exclaimed.
"I'm sure he did his best," Michelangelo answered in a small voice. "It… it must have been terrible for him."
Raphael kicked another empty pizza box. When was the last time Mikey actually cleaned up his room? He wondered absent-mindedly.
"It's no excuse. We had a right to know," he replied.
"Agreed," Donatello sighed.
The three turtles looked at each other. They knew that nothing would be the same now, and they didn't know whether or not it was a good thing.
There was a knock at the door and the brothers tensed. They didn't want to talk to their father just now.
But it wasn't Splinter.
"Can we come in?" Leonardo's voice asked, and the three turtles of this world exchanged hesitant looks.
"Yes," Michelangelo finally decided, and his brothers didn't contradict him.
The door opened and the four turtles of another world entered the room. They sat on the floor. Seeing them move gracefully together, the Raphael of this world decided to sit next to his Michelangelo and awkwardly put an arm around his shoulders.
"You have been in there for the past few hours," Leonardo began hesitantly. "We… Is there anything we can do?"
The Raphael who wasn't his brother shrugged.
"No thanks, you have done more than enough," he answered.
"What do you mean?" His double asked, frowning.
Raphael averted his eyes. He knew that what he was feeling wasn't fair, but he couldn't help it.
"Go on, say it," Leonardo calmly pressed him.
The red-clad turtle bit his lip. He was squeezing his Michelangelo with a little too much strength, but the orange-clad turtle didn't complain.
"We were just fine without you," he finally burst. "But you came, and we witnessed what it would have been like to grow up being four. And as if it wasn't hard enough, now we know that we could have had that, too."
He felt his Donatello embrace him from Michelangelo's other side, and he closed his eyes.
"So sorry if we are bad company tonight. Our world kind of shattered."
Leonardo winced. He didn't blame Raphael, but the words stung. Had he really done more harm than good?
"I don't regret it," the Michelangelo from this world suddenly said, his voice shaking slightly.
"Me neither," his Donatello added quietly.
"I don't know how I feel about it," their Raphael admitted more calmly. "I will need time, I think."
Leonardo sighed.
"It's okay."
The Michelangelo who wasn't his brother was looking at him with pleading eyes. Leonardo tilted his head.
"Yes?"
"Uh, Leo," Michelangelo began hesitantly. "Do you think you could… I mean, just once, I would like to know how it feels to…hug? When you are four?"
Leonardo's eyes widened. He looked hesitantly at his own brothers, then at the turtles sitting on the bed. As the Donatello and Raphael from this world didn't protest, he stood up with grace and embraced the three of them, carefully avoiding further injuring his right arm. He felt them give in to the hug and he closed his eyes, giving them all the warmth and love and strength he could.
When he finally released them, Michelangelo was smiling.
"Thanks, Leo," he whispered.
%%%%%
April showed up a while later and Leonardo and his brothers left the three turtles of this world with her.
The blue-clad turtle decided that he had to talk to Splinter. Now that he knew what had happened with his double, he could only forgive his earlier behavior.
I'll make us some tea first, he thought.
He went to the kitchen and began boiling water. Feeling a presence behind him, he turned around to see his brother Michelangelo tiptoeing into the kitchen.
"Mikey?" Leonardo asked.
Michelangelo was playing with his fingers, his gaze set on the floor.
"What's wrong, brother?" The blue-clad turtle inquired gently.
"You're my brother," Michelangelo muttered sullenly.
Leonardo's eyes widened.
"Excuse me?"
"You're my brother!" Michelangelo repeated, his lip quivering.
It took Leonardo several seconds to understand.
"Are you jealous because I comforted your double?" He asked with incredulity.
Michelangelo's response was a mere whisper. He still wasn't looking at his brother.
"You don't belong with them. You're coming home with us, right?"
"Mikey!"
Leonardo reached out and hugged his orange-clad brother with strength. He felt Michelangelo return the hug and heard him sniffle against his shoulder.
"Don't be silly," he whispered in his ear. "Of course I'm not leaving you guys."
Michelangelo sighed in relief.
"Okay, it was stupid. But you looked so close together."
For an answer, Leonardo tickled him. It wasn't long until Michelangelo burst out.
"I suppose I could share you with them a little while longer," the orange-clad turtle admitted when he had calmed down. "Just remember that you're not for sale."
Leonardo rolled his eyes.
"You're very generous. May I point out that the Mikey of this world didn't think twice before sharing his Leatherhead with you?"
Michelangelo smiled, back to his usual easy-going self.
"He's more like April's Leatherhead right now. But we're working on it."
%%%%%
When Splinter smelled the aroma of his favorite tea, he tilted his head towards the dojo's entrance and was surprised to see Leonardo standing there, silently awaiting his permission to enter.
The ninja master nodded, hiding his uneasiness. The blue-clad turtle entered quietly and knelt in front of him. He offered Splinter a teacup which the rat took with gratitude.
"Thank you," he said.
Leonardo smiled hesitantly.
He is as uneasy as I am, Splinter thought. With a pang, the ninja master realized that he was beginning to decipher Leonardo's body language. It was as if admitting the truth to his own sons had knocked down the wall he had erected between himself and the blue-clad turtle of another world.
"Maybe now you understand why I kept my distance from you," Splinter said softly, sipping his tea. Leonardo's tea was delicious, exactly how he liked it. "It was never meant to hurt you."
"I do understand," Leonardo answered. "And I'm sorry for disturbing your family's balance."
Splinter sighed.
"This was unavoidable. You have nothing to feel ashamed of."
The ninja master met Leonardo's blue eyes.
"And thank you for bringing my sons home safely."
Leonardo bowed.
"You're welcome."
Splinter watched the teenager in front of him. Would his own son have resembled him, had he lived? Not only in body, but also in spirit? He felt his heart ache. He would never know.
Leonardo watched him in return.
"Would you rather be alone? I would understand if you did."
Splinter took a deep breath.
"No need to hurry," he answered. "We still have plenty of tea."
When Leonardo smiled at him brightly, the ninja master felt something beginning to heal deep inside of him.
