Donatello had just finished tapping out a reply to Jenna, and was starting to get seriously hungry. He logged off of his e-mail, and was already about to rise when a loud cry echoed across the Den.

"DONNIE!"

He bolted upright to his feet and ran out into the living area, looking around swiftly.

"Donnie, help me!" Mike's yell came again, and this time he could actually tell where it had come from.

Donatello dashed in the direction of the practice room, heart already racing.

"Guys?" He said questioningly, starting severely when he took in the sight of Michelangelo struggling to stay planted in between a very furious Leonardo and Raphael. "Guys!"

Donatello snapped out of his stare, and hurried to help Mike contain them. Now that Donnie was here, Mike turned his entire focus on Leonardo, while he approached Raphael. The determined look in his brother's eyes told Donnie that he wasn't anywhere near backing down. Donatello lowered his shoulder like a battering ram and forced Raphael into the wall, trying to simply keep him pinned until he had settled down.

"Let me GO! This ain't got nothin' to do with you!" Raphael raged against his hold.

"Raph, stop this." Donnie tried to keep his voice calm, seriously having to strain to hold him back.

Raphael managed to lash out at him with a stunning blow between the eyes, that literally blinded him for a couple of seconds. Donatello wisely refused to let him go, and recovered quickly. Since talking wasn't going to work, he back-handed Raphael across the face about half as hard as he really could have.

His glare merely deepened for a moment, until Raphael realized the force of his own blow had actually made Donnie'e eyes tear up. Then he sighed heavily, and suddenly stopped struggling.

"Let me go Donnie." He said quietly.

"You're gonna stay calm?" He verified.

"Yes."

Donatello released him, but still stared him down warily, as if his brother might explode again. He needn't have worried - Raphael simply brushed past him and stalked out of the room. A few moments later, they heard the front door slam with terrifying force. Donnie's heart rate was just starting to calm back, when he glanced over at Leonardo.

"Don't look at me like that." Leo growled. "You weren't here."

"Leo, what the heck was that?" Donnie asked carefully.

"He hits me that hard, and I'm not allowed to defend myself?" Leo demanded, indicating the seriously darkening bruise on his jawline.

"Bro, I had to yank you offa him." Mike negated. "That wasn't like no defense I've ever seen."

"You weren't here." Leo repeated firmly. "Just mind your own business next time, okay?"

"Next time?" Donatello asked. "You're already planning your next brawl?"

"Drop it." Leonardo said flatly.

"You're not even gonna tell us what happened?" Mike said with serious irritation.

"Raph is Raph - what more do you need to know?"

"That's not an answer Leo." Donnie challenged him.

"That's the answer you're getting." He replied, casting a glance between both him and Mike. "Are you gonna tell Sensei?"

Their Master had left for a little peace of his own about an hour earlier, and would probably be back before another had passed.

Donnie and Mike exchanged a look, trying to communicate without the use of spoken words.

"I don't know Leo." Donatello finally said, gingerly rubbing one of his eyes that was starting to swell. "I just don't know. We're sure gonna have to explain this junk somehow."


Raphael wandered underground, fuming for several minutes, and still trying to work off the anger that was at a boiling point. After more than an hour, it wasn't anger driving him on anymore, but dread. His Sensei would be absolutely furious with them, and he'd thrown the first blow. He walked in silence for a little over three hours, before he got tired of not getting anywhere.

Gonna have to face it sooner or later stupid. May as well just go on home and get it over with, he reprimanded himself.

Raphael trudged back home to the Den, the front door feeling much heavier than usual. He ventured slowly inside, holding his breath as he looked around the living area. His Sensei was sitting in one of the chairs, and looked up expectantly when he entered the room.

Oh snap.

"Hi Sensei." He said tightly, every part of him tensing for what was coming.

"I wondered when you would return." He said calmly. "Are you alright?"

Raphael cocked his head curiously. His Master didn't sound the least bit angry or agitated.

"Uh...yeah Master, I'm fine. I just needed to walk. Have you seen the guys, or..."

"Yes, they told me all about the accident. I have warned all of you for years that your constant rough-housing would result in injury. I hope you and your brothers have learned something today." Splinter reprimanded him.

Accident? Raphael thought ruefully. That's about the biggest stretch of the truth I've ever heard.

"Yes Sensei. Sorry Sensei." He replied immediately. "Um...is Donnie around?"

"He was in his Lab the last that I knew."

Raphael bowed lightly to his Sensei, and quickly excused himself to find him.


Donatello was working on one of the computers, typing at a rapid pace that Raphael couldn't begin to wrap his head around.

Raphael cleared his throat a little nervously. "Genius, do you have a second?"

Donatello glanced at him over his shoulder, and then wheeled the whole desk chair around to face him.

"I guess so." He answered.

"I'm really sorry I hit you. You didn't deserve that - I was outta line."

"It's okay." Donnie replied after a second.

"You guys told Sensei it was an accident? Why did you lie for me?"

"We all have those days Raph. We figured we'd give you two the benefit of another chance. Have you talked to Leo yet?"

"No way." Raph snorted, as if that were the funniest thing he'd been asked all year.

"I don't get what's going on with you guys. We're all on the same team here - and you're partners!"

"Exactly Donnie, you don't have to train with his smug self. If he ascends any higher, he'll be climbing up on the throne along with the Queen of England."

Donatello struggled to hold back a smile at that. "He's still your brother Raph."

"And that's why he's still living."

"Maybe this isn't my business," Donatello ventured. "But that whole scene was really disturbing. I don't want to have to separate you guys again. Will you try and get along with him?"

"I'm doin' my best here Don, there's only so much a guy can be expected to take. Leo pushes and pushes...and yeah, I pushed back way too hard today. It was wrong, and I'm sorry I did it."

"I thought that things were going better between you."

"They were, for awhile. There was a lot of drama and distractions going on. Now everything's settled back down, and we're pretty much right back at square one." Raphael hesitated for a moment. "My way is never good enough for him Donnie. I swear if I don't get out from underneath his arm soon, I'm gonna lose my mind."