Disclaimer: I don't own TMNT. Duh. So you can't sue me. I'm just borrowing
them for a bit. But all the original creations in this are mine, so if you
want to use them, please just ask. Thank you. :P
Chapter 10: Aftermath
A/N: *enters as Streetwyse's alter ego, Enigma-1, unsheathing sabers while Leo, Mikey, and Raph run* Get back here, you jerks! I'll teach you not to do that kind of slag to a lady!
Raph: Lady? I don't see a lady. I see. YOW!
*EG* Never mess with someone who has a tazer installment, Raphael. Now get back here!!!
Mikey: It was just a joke!
*death glare* I'll show you dorks a joke.
Leo: Run for it! *Turtles take off running*
Grrr. Sorry, just have to teach certain reptiles that you don't mess with a lady when she's trying to get a decent night's sleep. But before I go have a little chat with them, I just want to say that I hope you all enjoy the read ahead. I'll see ya afterward. Now, if you readers will kindly excuse me, I have to set some shellheads straight. Get back here, you ninja dorks!
How could such a disaster arise from this? Splinter thought sadly.
He had run the memories of these last two days through his head at least twice by now and he still found it hard to believe. So much had happened in such a short time that it almost didn't seem real. But it was, no matter how much he might wish otherwise, a fact of life that could not be denied.
After watching his sons glare at each other a moment more, Splinter finally decided on just what he was going to say. There would be no more beating around the bush like it had been on the way home from the Junction. This time, the boys would give him a straight answer or none them would leave the dojo until they did.
"Enough of that," he scolded the boys.
The pair immediately looked away from each other and up at Splinter when he spoke. They were met with the mask of anger and disappointment that rat had been wearing for some time. They both quelled under that visage, inwardly wishing that it would vanish from Splinter's face. Their own expressions probably betrayed as much, but these Leo and Raph tried to control.
From just one look into Splinter's face, they knew that now was the time for them to control themselves and give their Master their full attention. Any less and there was a good chance that they would regret the outcome. Experience and Splinter's stern eye told them that much.
So they stared up at Splinter, awaiting whatever lectures and scoldings he would have for them. But though he had their attention, Splinter didn't speak right away. Instead, he chose to regard his sons for a moment longer before he actually said anything. This only helped to put the boys more on edge but they kept silent and waited for what Splinter had to say.
And what they were about to hear was certainly not among the most gentle of lectures from their father. The course he had chosen for this talk would not be easy on the two, as it was meant to get the answers that Splinter wanted and not to spare their feelings. Perhaps it was cruel of him to choose such, but after all that happened and he had already tried to do, it seemed the only course left to take.
"Do you two have any idea of the seriousness of what you have done?" Splinter demanded finally," Not only did you both willfully disobey me and leave the lair without permission, but you went to a place that you know is off limits to all of you."
His sons nodded mournfully as they listened to their Master. Neither one would dare to speak while he did. Now was not the time for such things and would only bring more of Splinter's wrath upon their heads. Which was definitely not the smartest thing to do, even under the best of circumstances.
"And to make matters worse, you dragged you brother along as well," Splinter continued.
"But we didn't bring Don. He followed.us," Raph started to protest before Splinter turned his full gaze on him and he fell silent again.
"Donatello may have only followed you, Raphael, but he would not have had reason to be there if the two of you had not broken the rules and left the lair not only while I was gone, but while you were grounded as well," Splinter said strictly.
Again, his sons chose not to meet their father's stern gaze and instead directed their eyes towards the stone floor of the dojo. They knew that he was right when he said that. If they hadn't gone off like they had, then Donatello wouldn't have had to follow them. All three of them would have been safe in the lair and no one would have been hurt so badly.
At least, that was one assumption. It was certain that staying home would have prevented Donatello from nearly being drowned at the Junction. But that might not have prevented a fight from breaking out between Leonardo and Raphael at some point.
Yet this was only an unknown possibility of what could have been. There was really no telling at this point what might have happened if their siblings before had stopped Leo and Raph they could leave. No, the course had already been chosen and the other possibilities were now lost, their meaning only now speculation. Even so, the thought of these speculations couldn't be erased from the boys' minds as they continued to stare at the floor.
Leonardo and Raphael were not the only ones who had the thoughts of what have happened going through their heads. While he was considering what else to say to his sons about their behavior, he had his own questions that needed to be answered. And there was one in particular that nagged more incessantly at his mind than the rest.
Splinter still had no idea of how Donatello had fallen into the river to begin with. If he knew his third son, the boy would not have intentionally allowed himself to be within falling distance. He was too smart for that. He would have kept as far away from the edge of the Junction as he could get.
Or else he might have been too preoccupied with trying to talk some sense into his brothers before they could start whatever nonsense they had planned. He may not have noticed where he was until it was too late, Splinter thought to himself.
Yet somehow, part of Splinter knew that wasn't really the truth. And even if it were, it wasn't the entire story. No, there was something more and he knew that the only ones who could give him the answers needed was the pair in front of him.
"How did Donatello fall into the water to begin with?" he asked finally.
More slowly than before, the boys looked up from the floor to meet Splinter's gaze. In their eyes, he was easily able to read the fear and shame that resided deep inside. This he somehow expected. But there was also something that he hadn't been expecting that shone easily in his sons' eyes despite the fact that they were desperately trying to hide it.
Determined to find out what that something was, Splinter repeated," How did Donatello fall into the water to begin with?"
"Um.," Raph started to say before his voice became caught in his throat again.
Leo started to try and answer next, but like his sibling, couldn't. The words he wanted to tell Splinter remained lodged within him and refused to allow themselves to be heard. Which only helped to test their father's patience even further.
"Well?" the rat prompted," How did it happen?"
Finding his voice, Leo blurted," He was trying to get us to stop fighting and we pushed him out of the way. We didn't think that he would fall like that, honest."
He looked up at his Sensei, eyes pleading to be believed. But all that Leonardo was met with was silence similar to the one he and Raph had given to their Master. Splinter had literally felt his blood run cold as he heard these words. His sons had intentionally pushed their brother out of their way and put him in danger. The second half of this situation was unintentional, he was sure, but it had still happened and nearly proven lethal for the victim.
It was so hard for him to resist the urge to just slap them both across the face as he processed this information. He honestly did want to backhand them as hard as he possibly could for what they had done. They had nearly killed their brother out not only because of misplaced anger, but sheer stupidity as well.
And though it took a great deal not to fall to the impulse, Splinter controlled himself. He would not resort to that type of action nor would he allow himself to let his emotions to take control of him like that. If he did the latter, then the rat knew that he might very well lose control of himself entirely. And then he would be the one that regretted what he done, not his sons.
Instead, he chose to use his words to show how upset he was with his sons. But these stung just as hard as a slap in the face for his sons. They could easily hear the mounting anger and disappointment that was in their Master's voice. They had been expecting something along the lines of this, but it still couldn't prevent them from feeling the shame at hearing these notes in Splinter's voice.
"You pushed your brother?" Splinter demanded with a barely controlled hiss.
"Yes sir," Leonardo nodded quietly," But we didn't know that he would fall like that, really."
"That doesn't matter, Leonardo. You two should not have pushed him to begin with. You already knew that the Junction was dangerous and that cautious was needed there even if you weren't supposed to be near that place," Splinter scolded.
"Yes Master," his son answered.
"What I cannot understand is what could have possibly been going through your heads during all this," Splinter admonished," How could you have possibly done something so foolish to begin with?"
Silence was the only answer that he had for the next moment or so. The boys' voices had once again become caught in their throats and refused to budge. They knew that they should answer their Master, to give him the truth of what was going on. But they were held back by their own fear and shame.
"I want an answer, my sons," Splinter ordered.
This time, Leonardo took the lead with a more controlled answer in mind. As scared as he was about being punished, the older brother side of him still held a powerful sway over his reactions. Despite his own anger at Raphael and how things had gone between them today, he still wanted to protect his younger sibling. So before Raph could think of some excuse to give Splinter, he gave the full truth.
"We had a challenge. We were trying to settle everything once and for all," the boy answered quietly.
Arching an eyebrow, Splinter asked," Trying to settle everything? What are you talking about, Leonardo?"
"T-the fights that Raph and me keep having. We decided that we were gonna settle all the problems we have by having a duel. Whoever won would be in charge from now on and the other would have to do whatever he wanted," Leo explained.
At first, Splinter honestly did not know how to respond to this statement. He knew that his sons had their differences and that it was a major source for the arguments that they were constantly entering. He also knew that they often came to blows because of those differences. But it had never gone to this extreme. Never.
"Why in the world would you try to settle your differences through such a foolish method? As much as I wish for you to learn how to settle your problems alone, I would still rather that you come to me if it gets too out of hand. Then we may discuss what is wrong and find a solution together," Splinter asked.
"It was our problem, so we thought we should be the ones to solve. Not anyone else," Raph shrugged.
Splinter sighed. Count on his sons to do something like this. It was true that he wanted his sons to learn how to handle their problems on their own. If they did, it meant that he would have less to worry about. But there were still things, like the events that had led to this, that still needed a parent's experience and advice in order for things to be sorted out. In a time like that, the boys needed to come to him instead of acting on their own.
"Who was the one that offered this.'challenge'?" Splinter said rigidly.
The boys glanced uneasily at one another when this question was asked. They remembered how things had happened earlier in the kitchen and who had played what part. It was hard for them to admit this to their Master, even though he was asking them directly.
"Well?" Splinter urged.
"I was the one that challenged Raphael, Master. He and I started arguing when he and Maggie were washing dishes and I challenged him to end the fight between us once and for all," Leo admitted finally.
"But it was my idea to go to the Junction," Raphael said meekly," It was the first place that I could think of. It just popped into my head."
Popped into his head? He suggested such a dangerous place because it popped into his head! Splinter screamed inwardly, Oh, someone please, if you can hear this, please GIVE ME STRENGTH!
This was sounding more and more ridiculous the more that Splinter heard. He couldn't believe that this mess was all over the boys and one of their arguments. An argument that, like so many others, had escalated out of control and ended up making a bigger mess of things than before.
"Let me get this straight," Splinter sighed," Leonardo, you challenged your brother to a fight and he accepted. Raphael, you were the one that suggested that this fight take place at the Junction? Is that correct?"
"Yes Master," the boys said in unison.
Again, he had to resist the strong urge to smack them both. And again, it was just barely that he managed to control himself over this. Splinter could not believe the stupidity that he was hearing out of his sons. It amazed him to what level they had reached in this nonsense.
"Did either one of you consider just what might happen if you went through with such an outrageous idea?" Splinter scolded.
In numb unison, the boys shook their heads. To be honest, neither one of them really had considered what might have happened if some actually followed them. They had assumed that Maggie would keep silent about what she knew like she usually did. They really didn't think that she would go running to tell the others what had happened.
If that had been the case, they also assumed that it meant that they would be able to go to the Junction without being discovered for at least awhile. Then they could have handled their problem by themselves and without outside interference. Then everything would have been settled and done with by now. With probably a similar outcome to what had already occurred and just as terrible consequences.
But things had not gone as the boys had thought. Instead of being left alone and undiscovered, they were found out and followed. Their brother, on a tip from their sister, had come after them and tried to interfere. His interference came out of a concern that the boys were only now taking full appreciation of but had not considered at the time. It was also this concern that had brought Don's fate in the river and that was something that brought shivers to the hearts of both Leo and Raph.
"Well, did you?" Splinter demanded again.
"No, we didn't, Sensei. We just decided to do it and that was it," Leo answered.
Splinter rubbed his temple as he listened to Leonardo. He still couldn't believe the stupidity that his sons had shown in this. He had always believed that his sons, despite the faults each one had and the mistakes that children were bound to make, were smart enough to avoid trouble if they could.
That didn't seem to apply to in this situation. It was obvious that brains hadn't been used by either one today. Instead, the boys had given into impulse and allowed it to help cloud their young minds to the dangers they were placing themselves in. Which helped to make this worse and worse for Splinter to deal with.
"I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with the two of you," he sighed after a moment," Lately, neither one of you has had any regard for the rules which I have given this family. Instead, you act without thinking and do whatever foolish idea enters your minds, never thinking of the consequences."
His sons had no answer for this. They just kept their silence, knowing in their hearts that Splinter was right. There was so much that they should have done and hadn't done. And the fact of this was slowing weighing down on them not only in their minds, but deep in their hearts as well. The shame they felt after seeing what Don looked like when Splinter met them near the Junction had been steadily growing and now only continued to increase.
"If you had just stopped and taken a moment to consider what you were doing, then you both would have realized just how dangerous this was before your brother was hurt," Splinter continued.
That was the real clincher there, the fact that they had hurt Donnie. This stung his sons just as easily as any blow might have done, maybe even more so. Both Leonardo and Raphael knew how things had gone for them and their brother because of they had acted without thinking everything through.
"You both don't know how lucky your brother was not to have been killed by a fall like that," Splinter said," Even over water, if Donatello had hit the surface at a different angle, it could knocked him senseless the moment he landed. Then he surely would have sunk into the current and been drown long before he could react enough to try and save himself."
"Don.Don's gonna be okay though, right?" Raphael asked hesitantly.
It was the first time that he had spoken since his short explanation to Splinter about his idea for going to the Junction. His voice, still strained from all the yelling of Donatello's name when he fell into the water and his own fear, cracked a little as Raphael spoke. Thus adding to the image of a frightened and shamed young boy.
Splinter cast a his full gaze upon the boy for a second time. His expression barely changed, except for the mention of his now sick and injured son. In this, it visibly softened with regret and worry. His tone was the same when he answered, stern with the son he answered but filled with concern over the one that had been hurt.
"Yes, Raphael. Donatello will be all right, but not for a long time. He was seriously hurt and will be in bed for several weeks from shock and illness," Splinter said sternly," Even when he is capable of getting up again, he will still need a long time to recover. Falling into the water like put him into severe shock and gave him a major concussion as well."
A renewed wave of shame clearly overcame the boys' expression. They dropped their faces to the floor again, unwilling to face their Master's eyes on hearing these words. It was still hard for them to face what had happened to Donatello and their part in his problems. If there was anything that they could change, it would be that they had never gone to the Junction and most certainly never pushed Don the way that they had.
These feelings were evident to Splinter and he in turn, felt some understanding for his sons' plight. They were experiencing the greatest bouts of guilt that they had ever faced in their lives and he knew it. In this, he could feel sympathy for them and the part of him that always wanted to protect the children wished that their pains could be erased.
Despite the remorse his two eldest sons showed, Splinter still had to punish the boys for what they had done. Something like this could not go unanswered for and had to be dealt with in a proper and immediate manner. And now was the time to get that part over with, for the longer it was held off would just make things worse for everyone.
"I know that you are both sorry for what happened to your brother," Splinter said to his students," but it still doesn't excuse what you have done. And you know that I'm going to have to punish you both for this."
"Yes Sensei," the boys mumbled in unison.
Nodding sternly, Splinter ordered," Good. Leonardo, come here."
Gulping once, the boy got to his feet and went over to his Sensei. What followed afterward was swift, sure and painful for the one on the receiving end. But Leonardo took it without a word. He had been expecting this, since it always came as the most severe physical punishment that Splinter ever gave his students.
Once Leonardo's turn was done, it was time for Raphael. Like his brother before him, it came as swift, such, and painful for the one receiving the blow. And again, he was expecting what came and so took it without a word. Though, like his brother before him, he still felt it in the end, literally.
When it was all over, the boys, now unable to sit comfortably, or at all for that matter, stood before their Sensei. They knew that what they had experienced was only the beginning of what would be a long, difficult punishment. But exactly what that punishment was to be was to remain unseen for now, as Splinter hadn't decided that part yet.
"Until I've decided further what to do with you, I want you both to stay in your room. While you are there, I don't want to hear anything out of you. If I do, I will not be pleased," Splinter ordered," I'll call for you when I've reached a suitable punishment. You are excused."
"Yes Sensei," the boys mumbled.
They rose to their feet, bowed stiffly to their Master and then left the dojo. Splinter watched them go with a stern and an unsympathetic eye. Unlike with his statuette, he as not about to simply forgive them right away. Not after they had caused such a devastating blow to their family. That would take time and a great deal of effort before he finally relented on these feelings.
Perhaps this action was a bit harsh on his part. As before, there was no question as to the remorse that his sons had to be feeling. They had nearly lost their brother, which was enough to shake anyone up and bring up feelings of regret and shame. And in a time like that, a child needed more comfort than scolding.
Which would come soon enough, after Splinter had finished sorting out the problem and decided on what had to be done. For now, Leonardo and Raphael had to realize the full extent of what their actions had caused. When they had and understood that they should not take their petty arguments to great extremes, then it would be time to move on from there.
Walking out of the dojo would turn out to be more of a trial than either boy thought possible as they made their way toward their bedroom. Their lower torsos were sore and each step only made it hurt worse, even when taken gingerly and carefully. So it took them quite awhile to make it down the hallway to their own bedroom.
Along the way, Leo and Raph continued to throw accusing glares at one another. That is, when they could manage to. Most of their attention was focused on just getting done with the next step without hurting so much. Which wasn't really easy to do, as Splinter's hand hadn't exactly been gentle when it came down on them.
Eventually though, they had managed to reach the doorway to their bedroom. Before going in, the two took one last minute to glare at one another. It was a mixture of many things at this point. They were still mad at one another, but that was a given. But each one was also feeling extremely stupid that he had allowed himself to be talked into such a mess by his brother.
This kept up for a moment or so before they finally got a hold of themselves. They knew that Splinter had told them to go to their room until he called for them and at this point, it was NOT a good idea to disobey that order. There was no doubt that if they did, then there would be more trouble than either one wanted to deal with after all this.
So with a final glare at one another, Leo reached for the door and pushed it opened. He went in first and was followed by Raph. But when they did so, they were greeted by a strange sight.
Various items of different sizes and uses were spread all over Mikey's bed as he sorted through them. Some he placed back in his own dresser drawer, while others were being stowed away in a suitcase on the floor. He repeated this process several times, continuing and becoming so absorbed in his task that he didn't even notice his brother's entrance.
"What are you doing, Mikey?" Leonardo asked.
Mikey looked up from his packing to glare over at his brother with such hardness that Leo nearly flinched. Like so much today, this was not an expression that was normally seen on Mikey's face. He was the happy one, the brother that always seemed to be smiling, and the one that always tried to make others feel better. So what was he so mad with Leo about?
"I'm moving in with Maggie until Don gets better," his brother answered coldly," I don't wanna stay in here while he's gone."
In the near silence that followed, one could almost hear the sound of two jaws hitting the floor. Neither Leonardo nor Raphael could believe what was said. In fact, they weren't even sure if those were the true words that Mikey had spoken.
"You're kidding, right?" Leo asked.
"No, I'm not," Mikey grumbled as he tossed a few more things into his suitcase," I'm moving in with Maggie until Don gets better."
"Why would you wanna move in with the furball, Mikey? Ya know she doesn't like any of us barging into her 'territory' without an invitation," Raphael replied.
"Maggie knows that I'm coming and she doesn't have a problem with it," his brother answered.
Well, that was certainly a shock for Leonardo and Raphael. As understanding and open as their little sister could be, they both knew what she hated more than anything. And that she was to have anyone to come into her room without permission. If anyone tried, they were bound to hear her hissing with displeasure and trying to run them off. So it was nothing short of a surprise that she was actually letting Mikey not only come in, but stay there with her.
"Still, why would you want to do it, Mikey? You got your place to stay in here instead of sharing Maggie's room," Leo urged.
Mikey's back straightened and for a moment, he stopped with his packing. For a brief second, he seemed to be frozen in place while his brothers looked on. Neither Raphael nor Leonardo knew just what he was about to do, so they stayed quiet and let Mikey react on his own.
"And stay alone in here with you two? No way," Mikey replied bitterly, not even looking at his brothers this time," I'm quittin' while I'm ahead and getting out of here while I can. I'm not gonna get in more trouble 'cause of something you guys do."
"But you don't know everything that happened! You weren't there, Mikey!" Leo protested, wincing as his sore backside protested against all movement.
"Master Splinter told me that Don had an accident and I already know that he was going to the Junction to stop you two jerks. After seeing how he looked when Sensei brought him in, that tells me all I need to know," Mikey snapped.
"But.," Leo started.
"Look Leo, I know that I got in trouble yesterday 'cause you and Raph broke Master Splinter's statue. Then I had to help Donnie keep you guys from strangling each other this morning," Mikey snapped," Plus, you jerks got Maggie so upset that she actually blamed herself for all this. She said it wouldn't have happened if you had just stopped you in the kitchen."
Shocked silence was the only answer that he received from his brothers. This was definitely new information for the two. They hadn't known that their sister was so affected by their actions. They had just thought she would be upset that they were running off and leaving her behind.
"Well, it wasn't Maggie's fault and she should know that. She shouldn't feel bad about what we did," Leo said.
"It's not just how Maggie felt, Leo. It's also what happened to Don. He got hurt because he was probably trying to stop you guys from doing something stupid," Mikey snorted," If those aren't reasons enough for me to get out of here while I can, I don't know what is."
To this reasoning, his brothers couldn't even begin to over a response. They could easily hear a ring of truth in Mikey's words that struck a chord in each of them. A chord that had already been struck a great deal from having listened to Splinter's words from a short time before.
They dwelled on this for a moment more while Michaelangelo finished packing his things. He had managed to stuff a great deal into his suitcase, so it was nearly impossible for him to close it. But when he did, it closed with a sharp snap that filled the silence that had started. Certain that it would stay that way, at least until he reached Maggie's room, Mikey picked the suitcase off the bed with a grunt. Dragging it with one arm, he walked passed his brothers, who made no attempt to stop him.
"I'll see you guys around," Mike said simply as he left the room.
His brothers watched him leave in silence. Neither one tried to stop him, though it was doubtful that they could have even if they tried. With the anger glowing in his eyes, it wasn't hard to tell that any attempts to stop him would have been met with instant retaliation. Most likely in the form of Mikey trying to flip them over or possibly even punching whoever got in his way.
Instead, they had just watched him leave and that was it. When his retreating back was out of sight, Raph, being the closest one, finally went over to the door and closed it. He knew that being sent to one's room meant to be isolated for a time, which included shutting off the rest of the home for a time.
While he did that, Leo started to climb up the ladder on one of the beds up to his top bunk. He had to go slowly because he was still extremely sore, so it took him longer than usual to reach his bed. But he eventually got there and when he did, lay right on his stomach to avoid any unnecessary discomfort.
His actions were soon followed by Raphael. After closing the door, he too went to climb the ladder up to his bunk. His bed was on the opposite side of the room and was the top bunk just above Mikey's bed. And once at the top, he copied Leo's actions by lying on his stomach as well.
From the positions on their beds, the boys looked at one another from across the room. There, they stayed, their eyes locked. A silence filled the room to such an extent that it nearly seemed to be suffocating to the boys. They could both sense the need for someone to say something but neither one knew what words should be said.
They didn't want to argue, that was for certain. It was arguing that had gotten them into trouble to begin with. They already knew that they were in hot water already, so they weren't going to chance it. Instead, Leo and Raph knew that something more along the lines of a civil conversation had to be used.
But that was harder to accomplish than one might think. After spending so much of their time arguing and fighting though, this seemed almost alien to the two. The only time when they just talked was at mealtimes or when they were playing out in the sewers. Yet even then, there was the chance for something to spark another quarrel. That couldn't happen this time, so they would have to be careful.
"Mikey does have a point, ya know. We haven't exactly been acting with clear heads the last couple of days," Leo replied quietly.
"That's putting it mildly," Raph snorted.
"Yeah, I guess that's true," Leo admitted.
Another short period of silence followed after that. But it wasn't as intense as before. Now that they ice had been somewhat broken, they knew that they could choose their words more carefully and not rush themselves.
"We really made a mess of things, didn't we?" Raph said after a few moments.
"Yeah, we did," Leo replied.
"I bet Splinter's really gonna cream us for this one. It ain't gonna be just extra practice like before. I know it's gonna be something bad," Raph shrugged.
"Whatever he gives us, we deserve it. We did disobey the rules and leave the lair without permission," Leo supplied," And for what we did to Donnie."
Another uneasy stillness came after he said those words. Though their thoughts had constantly been on their younger brother's wellbeing, neither one had really considered what was really wrong with him. They had only known that he had fallen into the water thanks to them pushing him and that he was badly hurt. Other than that, they really didn't know anything.
"Man, I just know that he's gonna hate us when he wakes up," Raph sniffed," I know I would if someone did that to me."
"We can just add him to the list then, because I know that Master Splinter and Mikey hate us already," Leo added.
"Don't forget Maggie. She probably hates us too if she's willing to let Mikey stay with her until Don's better," replied Raph as he wiped an arm across his eyes.
"A-are you crying?" Leo asked.
"No, I just had something in my eye," Raph snapped defensively.
"You don't need to get mad," Leo warned," If you do, then I'll get mad too and we'll start arguing again. And all that's managed to get us so far is a lot of trouble."
For once, Raphael didn't offer any opposition to his brother's words. He just grumbled something and nodded in agreement. Leo nodded as well, though for different reasons than Raph. He was considering his own words and what they really meant not only for Raph, but himself as well.
Though they both had a hand in this problem, Leo had already placed the greater blame with himself. He was the eldest son and in his Master's absence, the one that was supposed to be in charge. He was supposed to keep the others safe and out of trouble so that everyone would okay. In short, he was supposed to be the responsible one that kept his head and didn't do anything to hurt the others.
I sure didn't act like it today. I really blew it by acting like a total jerk towards everyone, Leo thought to himself as focused more on Raph.
"Hey Raph?" he said tentatively.
"Yeah?" his brother replied.
"I'm sorry that I got you into trouble. I shouldn't have argued with you in the kitchen," Leo answered," I should have just done what you asked and left so you and Maggie could finish your work."
If he hadn't been so sore, Raph would have shot straight up at those words. Instead, he could only reward Leo with a bewildered look of his own. This however, only lasted for a moment before it contorted into an expression of disbelief and annoyance.
"Don't even go there, Leo," he snorted," I know you're sorry, 'cause I am too. But don't you dare believe that you're the only one to blame. We both made our mistakes in this, not just you."
Confusion now played the expression on Leo's face. He honestly didn't know what to say to his brother after that. In fact, he couldn't even see how Raph could talk like that. It was in his nature to be the hotheaded one of the family, since that was the way that he had always been. That role just didn't fit in Leo's psyche and daily routine.
"But I was the one that challenged you in the first place," Leo insisted once he had collected his thoughts," If I hadn't lost my head and broken my promise to Don not to start another argument, then none of this would have happened. He wouldn't have gotten hurt like that and neither one of us would have gotten into trouble."
"You may have challenged me, Leo, but I was the one that accepted and then said we should go to the Junction. I could have just said no and I didn't. That means I'm just as much to blame for this as you. End of story," Raph countered.
To say that Leo was stunned by these words was being mild. The truth was, he was truly astounded by his younger sibling's conclusion. It wasn't like Raphael to talk with such understanding and commitment in his tone. Normally, he would grumble words too low for anyone else to hear or just growl a threat.
So to have him say words such as this was a miracle. He was actually acting more like a mature person instead of the annoying and arrogant brat that one might often take him for. Leo waited for his brother to say more, but there was nothing else that. Raphael had said his piece and was now ready for something else. So, still on lying on his stomach, he turned and faced the wall next to his bed instead of looking across the room at Leo. A fact which Leonardo only realized after Raph had been like that for several seconds.
When he did, Leo could only sigh. He should have known that anything of true understanding would only be fleeting with his brother. They always were and that probably wasn't going to change. Unlike so many other things that took place in life that seemed to change with each passing day.
With nothing better to do, Leo did something he wouldn't normally consider. He did what Raph had done and settled down to wait. He had no idea when Splinter would call for them or what exactly what would happen. But he knew that he was going to need to be prepared and that meant all he could was rest until that time came.
Only silence was to follow in the hours to come, as each boy drew within himself to take council with his own thoughts. It was a given to say that there was much for both of them to think about. As well as they were going to have to do a great deal to redeem themselves in the eyes of their family before things were back to normal again. But how that was going to be remained to be seen.
A/N: *stops chasing Turtle trio, turning back into Streetwyse as they run away and out of sight* Try anything like that again and I'll write you guys into a horror fic with Barney (*gags*) and the Teletubbies! (*shudders*)
*notices readers* Oh, sorry. Just had to finish that little chat I mentioned before. I know that Raph and Leo having a little heart to heart like that may have seemed major out of character for them, but I thought it might nice if they could agree on something in this story. Even if it did take nearly drowning Donnie to get it done.
*checks notes* Which reminds me, I better start getting ready to finish off this story. There's just one more chapter to go and then Rivalries is finished. When I'll be able to get the conclusion out, I really don't know. My real life is being a drag again and there's a lot of stuff I have to work out before I can devote a lot of time to my fics. But it'll happen before three months has passed, I can promise that much. By that time, I should also have some of my new stories ready to be posted. Until then though, later everyone and thanks for reading.
Chapter 10: Aftermath
A/N: *enters as Streetwyse's alter ego, Enigma-1, unsheathing sabers while Leo, Mikey, and Raph run* Get back here, you jerks! I'll teach you not to do that kind of slag to a lady!
Raph: Lady? I don't see a lady. I see. YOW!
*EG* Never mess with someone who has a tazer installment, Raphael. Now get back here!!!
Mikey: It was just a joke!
*death glare* I'll show you dorks a joke.
Leo: Run for it! *Turtles take off running*
Grrr. Sorry, just have to teach certain reptiles that you don't mess with a lady when she's trying to get a decent night's sleep. But before I go have a little chat with them, I just want to say that I hope you all enjoy the read ahead. I'll see ya afterward. Now, if you readers will kindly excuse me, I have to set some shellheads straight. Get back here, you ninja dorks!
How could such a disaster arise from this? Splinter thought sadly.
He had run the memories of these last two days through his head at least twice by now and he still found it hard to believe. So much had happened in such a short time that it almost didn't seem real. But it was, no matter how much he might wish otherwise, a fact of life that could not be denied.
After watching his sons glare at each other a moment more, Splinter finally decided on just what he was going to say. There would be no more beating around the bush like it had been on the way home from the Junction. This time, the boys would give him a straight answer or none them would leave the dojo until they did.
"Enough of that," he scolded the boys.
The pair immediately looked away from each other and up at Splinter when he spoke. They were met with the mask of anger and disappointment that rat had been wearing for some time. They both quelled under that visage, inwardly wishing that it would vanish from Splinter's face. Their own expressions probably betrayed as much, but these Leo and Raph tried to control.
From just one look into Splinter's face, they knew that now was the time for them to control themselves and give their Master their full attention. Any less and there was a good chance that they would regret the outcome. Experience and Splinter's stern eye told them that much.
So they stared up at Splinter, awaiting whatever lectures and scoldings he would have for them. But though he had their attention, Splinter didn't speak right away. Instead, he chose to regard his sons for a moment longer before he actually said anything. This only helped to put the boys more on edge but they kept silent and waited for what Splinter had to say.
And what they were about to hear was certainly not among the most gentle of lectures from their father. The course he had chosen for this talk would not be easy on the two, as it was meant to get the answers that Splinter wanted and not to spare their feelings. Perhaps it was cruel of him to choose such, but after all that happened and he had already tried to do, it seemed the only course left to take.
"Do you two have any idea of the seriousness of what you have done?" Splinter demanded finally," Not only did you both willfully disobey me and leave the lair without permission, but you went to a place that you know is off limits to all of you."
His sons nodded mournfully as they listened to their Master. Neither one would dare to speak while he did. Now was not the time for such things and would only bring more of Splinter's wrath upon their heads. Which was definitely not the smartest thing to do, even under the best of circumstances.
"And to make matters worse, you dragged you brother along as well," Splinter continued.
"But we didn't bring Don. He followed.us," Raph started to protest before Splinter turned his full gaze on him and he fell silent again.
"Donatello may have only followed you, Raphael, but he would not have had reason to be there if the two of you had not broken the rules and left the lair not only while I was gone, but while you were grounded as well," Splinter said strictly.
Again, his sons chose not to meet their father's stern gaze and instead directed their eyes towards the stone floor of the dojo. They knew that he was right when he said that. If they hadn't gone off like they had, then Donatello wouldn't have had to follow them. All three of them would have been safe in the lair and no one would have been hurt so badly.
At least, that was one assumption. It was certain that staying home would have prevented Donatello from nearly being drowned at the Junction. But that might not have prevented a fight from breaking out between Leonardo and Raphael at some point.
Yet this was only an unknown possibility of what could have been. There was really no telling at this point what might have happened if their siblings before had stopped Leo and Raph they could leave. No, the course had already been chosen and the other possibilities were now lost, their meaning only now speculation. Even so, the thought of these speculations couldn't be erased from the boys' minds as they continued to stare at the floor.
Leonardo and Raphael were not the only ones who had the thoughts of what have happened going through their heads. While he was considering what else to say to his sons about their behavior, he had his own questions that needed to be answered. And there was one in particular that nagged more incessantly at his mind than the rest.
Splinter still had no idea of how Donatello had fallen into the river to begin with. If he knew his third son, the boy would not have intentionally allowed himself to be within falling distance. He was too smart for that. He would have kept as far away from the edge of the Junction as he could get.
Or else he might have been too preoccupied with trying to talk some sense into his brothers before they could start whatever nonsense they had planned. He may not have noticed where he was until it was too late, Splinter thought to himself.
Yet somehow, part of Splinter knew that wasn't really the truth. And even if it were, it wasn't the entire story. No, there was something more and he knew that the only ones who could give him the answers needed was the pair in front of him.
"How did Donatello fall into the water to begin with?" he asked finally.
More slowly than before, the boys looked up from the floor to meet Splinter's gaze. In their eyes, he was easily able to read the fear and shame that resided deep inside. This he somehow expected. But there was also something that he hadn't been expecting that shone easily in his sons' eyes despite the fact that they were desperately trying to hide it.
Determined to find out what that something was, Splinter repeated," How did Donatello fall into the water to begin with?"
"Um.," Raph started to say before his voice became caught in his throat again.
Leo started to try and answer next, but like his sibling, couldn't. The words he wanted to tell Splinter remained lodged within him and refused to allow themselves to be heard. Which only helped to test their father's patience even further.
"Well?" the rat prompted," How did it happen?"
Finding his voice, Leo blurted," He was trying to get us to stop fighting and we pushed him out of the way. We didn't think that he would fall like that, honest."
He looked up at his Sensei, eyes pleading to be believed. But all that Leonardo was met with was silence similar to the one he and Raph had given to their Master. Splinter had literally felt his blood run cold as he heard these words. His sons had intentionally pushed their brother out of their way and put him in danger. The second half of this situation was unintentional, he was sure, but it had still happened and nearly proven lethal for the victim.
It was so hard for him to resist the urge to just slap them both across the face as he processed this information. He honestly did want to backhand them as hard as he possibly could for what they had done. They had nearly killed their brother out not only because of misplaced anger, but sheer stupidity as well.
And though it took a great deal not to fall to the impulse, Splinter controlled himself. He would not resort to that type of action nor would he allow himself to let his emotions to take control of him like that. If he did the latter, then the rat knew that he might very well lose control of himself entirely. And then he would be the one that regretted what he done, not his sons.
Instead, he chose to use his words to show how upset he was with his sons. But these stung just as hard as a slap in the face for his sons. They could easily hear the mounting anger and disappointment that was in their Master's voice. They had been expecting something along the lines of this, but it still couldn't prevent them from feeling the shame at hearing these notes in Splinter's voice.
"You pushed your brother?" Splinter demanded with a barely controlled hiss.
"Yes sir," Leonardo nodded quietly," But we didn't know that he would fall like that, really."
"That doesn't matter, Leonardo. You two should not have pushed him to begin with. You already knew that the Junction was dangerous and that cautious was needed there even if you weren't supposed to be near that place," Splinter scolded.
"Yes Master," his son answered.
"What I cannot understand is what could have possibly been going through your heads during all this," Splinter admonished," How could you have possibly done something so foolish to begin with?"
Silence was the only answer that he had for the next moment or so. The boys' voices had once again become caught in their throats and refused to budge. They knew that they should answer their Master, to give him the truth of what was going on. But they were held back by their own fear and shame.
"I want an answer, my sons," Splinter ordered.
This time, Leonardo took the lead with a more controlled answer in mind. As scared as he was about being punished, the older brother side of him still held a powerful sway over his reactions. Despite his own anger at Raphael and how things had gone between them today, he still wanted to protect his younger sibling. So before Raph could think of some excuse to give Splinter, he gave the full truth.
"We had a challenge. We were trying to settle everything once and for all," the boy answered quietly.
Arching an eyebrow, Splinter asked," Trying to settle everything? What are you talking about, Leonardo?"
"T-the fights that Raph and me keep having. We decided that we were gonna settle all the problems we have by having a duel. Whoever won would be in charge from now on and the other would have to do whatever he wanted," Leo explained.
At first, Splinter honestly did not know how to respond to this statement. He knew that his sons had their differences and that it was a major source for the arguments that they were constantly entering. He also knew that they often came to blows because of those differences. But it had never gone to this extreme. Never.
"Why in the world would you try to settle your differences through such a foolish method? As much as I wish for you to learn how to settle your problems alone, I would still rather that you come to me if it gets too out of hand. Then we may discuss what is wrong and find a solution together," Splinter asked.
"It was our problem, so we thought we should be the ones to solve. Not anyone else," Raph shrugged.
Splinter sighed. Count on his sons to do something like this. It was true that he wanted his sons to learn how to handle their problems on their own. If they did, it meant that he would have less to worry about. But there were still things, like the events that had led to this, that still needed a parent's experience and advice in order for things to be sorted out. In a time like that, the boys needed to come to him instead of acting on their own.
"Who was the one that offered this.'challenge'?" Splinter said rigidly.
The boys glanced uneasily at one another when this question was asked. They remembered how things had happened earlier in the kitchen and who had played what part. It was hard for them to admit this to their Master, even though he was asking them directly.
"Well?" Splinter urged.
"I was the one that challenged Raphael, Master. He and I started arguing when he and Maggie were washing dishes and I challenged him to end the fight between us once and for all," Leo admitted finally.
"But it was my idea to go to the Junction," Raphael said meekly," It was the first place that I could think of. It just popped into my head."
Popped into his head? He suggested such a dangerous place because it popped into his head! Splinter screamed inwardly, Oh, someone please, if you can hear this, please GIVE ME STRENGTH!
This was sounding more and more ridiculous the more that Splinter heard. He couldn't believe that this mess was all over the boys and one of their arguments. An argument that, like so many others, had escalated out of control and ended up making a bigger mess of things than before.
"Let me get this straight," Splinter sighed," Leonardo, you challenged your brother to a fight and he accepted. Raphael, you were the one that suggested that this fight take place at the Junction? Is that correct?"
"Yes Master," the boys said in unison.
Again, he had to resist the strong urge to smack them both. And again, it was just barely that he managed to control himself over this. Splinter could not believe the stupidity that he was hearing out of his sons. It amazed him to what level they had reached in this nonsense.
"Did either one of you consider just what might happen if you went through with such an outrageous idea?" Splinter scolded.
In numb unison, the boys shook their heads. To be honest, neither one of them really had considered what might have happened if some actually followed them. They had assumed that Maggie would keep silent about what she knew like she usually did. They really didn't think that she would go running to tell the others what had happened.
If that had been the case, they also assumed that it meant that they would be able to go to the Junction without being discovered for at least awhile. Then they could have handled their problem by themselves and without outside interference. Then everything would have been settled and done with by now. With probably a similar outcome to what had already occurred and just as terrible consequences.
But things had not gone as the boys had thought. Instead of being left alone and undiscovered, they were found out and followed. Their brother, on a tip from their sister, had come after them and tried to interfere. His interference came out of a concern that the boys were only now taking full appreciation of but had not considered at the time. It was also this concern that had brought Don's fate in the river and that was something that brought shivers to the hearts of both Leo and Raph.
"Well, did you?" Splinter demanded again.
"No, we didn't, Sensei. We just decided to do it and that was it," Leo answered.
Splinter rubbed his temple as he listened to Leonardo. He still couldn't believe the stupidity that his sons had shown in this. He had always believed that his sons, despite the faults each one had and the mistakes that children were bound to make, were smart enough to avoid trouble if they could.
That didn't seem to apply to in this situation. It was obvious that brains hadn't been used by either one today. Instead, the boys had given into impulse and allowed it to help cloud their young minds to the dangers they were placing themselves in. Which helped to make this worse and worse for Splinter to deal with.
"I honestly don't know what I'm going to do with the two of you," he sighed after a moment," Lately, neither one of you has had any regard for the rules which I have given this family. Instead, you act without thinking and do whatever foolish idea enters your minds, never thinking of the consequences."
His sons had no answer for this. They just kept their silence, knowing in their hearts that Splinter was right. There was so much that they should have done and hadn't done. And the fact of this was slowing weighing down on them not only in their minds, but deep in their hearts as well. The shame they felt after seeing what Don looked like when Splinter met them near the Junction had been steadily growing and now only continued to increase.
"If you had just stopped and taken a moment to consider what you were doing, then you both would have realized just how dangerous this was before your brother was hurt," Splinter continued.
That was the real clincher there, the fact that they had hurt Donnie. This stung his sons just as easily as any blow might have done, maybe even more so. Both Leonardo and Raphael knew how things had gone for them and their brother because of they had acted without thinking everything through.
"You both don't know how lucky your brother was not to have been killed by a fall like that," Splinter said," Even over water, if Donatello had hit the surface at a different angle, it could knocked him senseless the moment he landed. Then he surely would have sunk into the current and been drown long before he could react enough to try and save himself."
"Don.Don's gonna be okay though, right?" Raphael asked hesitantly.
It was the first time that he had spoken since his short explanation to Splinter about his idea for going to the Junction. His voice, still strained from all the yelling of Donatello's name when he fell into the water and his own fear, cracked a little as Raphael spoke. Thus adding to the image of a frightened and shamed young boy.
Splinter cast a his full gaze upon the boy for a second time. His expression barely changed, except for the mention of his now sick and injured son. In this, it visibly softened with regret and worry. His tone was the same when he answered, stern with the son he answered but filled with concern over the one that had been hurt.
"Yes, Raphael. Donatello will be all right, but not for a long time. He was seriously hurt and will be in bed for several weeks from shock and illness," Splinter said sternly," Even when he is capable of getting up again, he will still need a long time to recover. Falling into the water like put him into severe shock and gave him a major concussion as well."
A renewed wave of shame clearly overcame the boys' expression. They dropped their faces to the floor again, unwilling to face their Master's eyes on hearing these words. It was still hard for them to face what had happened to Donatello and their part in his problems. If there was anything that they could change, it would be that they had never gone to the Junction and most certainly never pushed Don the way that they had.
These feelings were evident to Splinter and he in turn, felt some understanding for his sons' plight. They were experiencing the greatest bouts of guilt that they had ever faced in their lives and he knew it. In this, he could feel sympathy for them and the part of him that always wanted to protect the children wished that their pains could be erased.
Despite the remorse his two eldest sons showed, Splinter still had to punish the boys for what they had done. Something like this could not go unanswered for and had to be dealt with in a proper and immediate manner. And now was the time to get that part over with, for the longer it was held off would just make things worse for everyone.
"I know that you are both sorry for what happened to your brother," Splinter said to his students," but it still doesn't excuse what you have done. And you know that I'm going to have to punish you both for this."
"Yes Sensei," the boys mumbled in unison.
Nodding sternly, Splinter ordered," Good. Leonardo, come here."
Gulping once, the boy got to his feet and went over to his Sensei. What followed afterward was swift, sure and painful for the one on the receiving end. But Leonardo took it without a word. He had been expecting this, since it always came as the most severe physical punishment that Splinter ever gave his students.
Once Leonardo's turn was done, it was time for Raphael. Like his brother before him, it came as swift, such, and painful for the one receiving the blow. And again, he was expecting what came and so took it without a word. Though, like his brother before him, he still felt it in the end, literally.
When it was all over, the boys, now unable to sit comfortably, or at all for that matter, stood before their Sensei. They knew that what they had experienced was only the beginning of what would be a long, difficult punishment. But exactly what that punishment was to be was to remain unseen for now, as Splinter hadn't decided that part yet.
"Until I've decided further what to do with you, I want you both to stay in your room. While you are there, I don't want to hear anything out of you. If I do, I will not be pleased," Splinter ordered," I'll call for you when I've reached a suitable punishment. You are excused."
"Yes Sensei," the boys mumbled.
They rose to their feet, bowed stiffly to their Master and then left the dojo. Splinter watched them go with a stern and an unsympathetic eye. Unlike with his statuette, he as not about to simply forgive them right away. Not after they had caused such a devastating blow to their family. That would take time and a great deal of effort before he finally relented on these feelings.
Perhaps this action was a bit harsh on his part. As before, there was no question as to the remorse that his sons had to be feeling. They had nearly lost their brother, which was enough to shake anyone up and bring up feelings of regret and shame. And in a time like that, a child needed more comfort than scolding.
Which would come soon enough, after Splinter had finished sorting out the problem and decided on what had to be done. For now, Leonardo and Raphael had to realize the full extent of what their actions had caused. When they had and understood that they should not take their petty arguments to great extremes, then it would be time to move on from there.
Walking out of the dojo would turn out to be more of a trial than either boy thought possible as they made their way toward their bedroom. Their lower torsos were sore and each step only made it hurt worse, even when taken gingerly and carefully. So it took them quite awhile to make it down the hallway to their own bedroom.
Along the way, Leo and Raph continued to throw accusing glares at one another. That is, when they could manage to. Most of their attention was focused on just getting done with the next step without hurting so much. Which wasn't really easy to do, as Splinter's hand hadn't exactly been gentle when it came down on them.
Eventually though, they had managed to reach the doorway to their bedroom. Before going in, the two took one last minute to glare at one another. It was a mixture of many things at this point. They were still mad at one another, but that was a given. But each one was also feeling extremely stupid that he had allowed himself to be talked into such a mess by his brother.
This kept up for a moment or so before they finally got a hold of themselves. They knew that Splinter had told them to go to their room until he called for them and at this point, it was NOT a good idea to disobey that order. There was no doubt that if they did, then there would be more trouble than either one wanted to deal with after all this.
So with a final glare at one another, Leo reached for the door and pushed it opened. He went in first and was followed by Raph. But when they did so, they were greeted by a strange sight.
Various items of different sizes and uses were spread all over Mikey's bed as he sorted through them. Some he placed back in his own dresser drawer, while others were being stowed away in a suitcase on the floor. He repeated this process several times, continuing and becoming so absorbed in his task that he didn't even notice his brother's entrance.
"What are you doing, Mikey?" Leonardo asked.
Mikey looked up from his packing to glare over at his brother with such hardness that Leo nearly flinched. Like so much today, this was not an expression that was normally seen on Mikey's face. He was the happy one, the brother that always seemed to be smiling, and the one that always tried to make others feel better. So what was he so mad with Leo about?
"I'm moving in with Maggie until Don gets better," his brother answered coldly," I don't wanna stay in here while he's gone."
In the near silence that followed, one could almost hear the sound of two jaws hitting the floor. Neither Leonardo nor Raphael could believe what was said. In fact, they weren't even sure if those were the true words that Mikey had spoken.
"You're kidding, right?" Leo asked.
"No, I'm not," Mikey grumbled as he tossed a few more things into his suitcase," I'm moving in with Maggie until Don gets better."
"Why would you wanna move in with the furball, Mikey? Ya know she doesn't like any of us barging into her 'territory' without an invitation," Raphael replied.
"Maggie knows that I'm coming and she doesn't have a problem with it," his brother answered.
Well, that was certainly a shock for Leonardo and Raphael. As understanding and open as their little sister could be, they both knew what she hated more than anything. And that she was to have anyone to come into her room without permission. If anyone tried, they were bound to hear her hissing with displeasure and trying to run them off. So it was nothing short of a surprise that she was actually letting Mikey not only come in, but stay there with her.
"Still, why would you want to do it, Mikey? You got your place to stay in here instead of sharing Maggie's room," Leo urged.
Mikey's back straightened and for a moment, he stopped with his packing. For a brief second, he seemed to be frozen in place while his brothers looked on. Neither Raphael nor Leonardo knew just what he was about to do, so they stayed quiet and let Mikey react on his own.
"And stay alone in here with you two? No way," Mikey replied bitterly, not even looking at his brothers this time," I'm quittin' while I'm ahead and getting out of here while I can. I'm not gonna get in more trouble 'cause of something you guys do."
"But you don't know everything that happened! You weren't there, Mikey!" Leo protested, wincing as his sore backside protested against all movement.
"Master Splinter told me that Don had an accident and I already know that he was going to the Junction to stop you two jerks. After seeing how he looked when Sensei brought him in, that tells me all I need to know," Mikey snapped.
"But.," Leo started.
"Look Leo, I know that I got in trouble yesterday 'cause you and Raph broke Master Splinter's statue. Then I had to help Donnie keep you guys from strangling each other this morning," Mikey snapped," Plus, you jerks got Maggie so upset that she actually blamed herself for all this. She said it wouldn't have happened if you had just stopped you in the kitchen."
Shocked silence was the only answer that he received from his brothers. This was definitely new information for the two. They hadn't known that their sister was so affected by their actions. They had just thought she would be upset that they were running off and leaving her behind.
"Well, it wasn't Maggie's fault and she should know that. She shouldn't feel bad about what we did," Leo said.
"It's not just how Maggie felt, Leo. It's also what happened to Don. He got hurt because he was probably trying to stop you guys from doing something stupid," Mikey snorted," If those aren't reasons enough for me to get out of here while I can, I don't know what is."
To this reasoning, his brothers couldn't even begin to over a response. They could easily hear a ring of truth in Mikey's words that struck a chord in each of them. A chord that had already been struck a great deal from having listened to Splinter's words from a short time before.
They dwelled on this for a moment more while Michaelangelo finished packing his things. He had managed to stuff a great deal into his suitcase, so it was nearly impossible for him to close it. But when he did, it closed with a sharp snap that filled the silence that had started. Certain that it would stay that way, at least until he reached Maggie's room, Mikey picked the suitcase off the bed with a grunt. Dragging it with one arm, he walked passed his brothers, who made no attempt to stop him.
"I'll see you guys around," Mike said simply as he left the room.
His brothers watched him leave in silence. Neither one tried to stop him, though it was doubtful that they could have even if they tried. With the anger glowing in his eyes, it wasn't hard to tell that any attempts to stop him would have been met with instant retaliation. Most likely in the form of Mikey trying to flip them over or possibly even punching whoever got in his way.
Instead, they had just watched him leave and that was it. When his retreating back was out of sight, Raph, being the closest one, finally went over to the door and closed it. He knew that being sent to one's room meant to be isolated for a time, which included shutting off the rest of the home for a time.
While he did that, Leo started to climb up the ladder on one of the beds up to his top bunk. He had to go slowly because he was still extremely sore, so it took him longer than usual to reach his bed. But he eventually got there and when he did, lay right on his stomach to avoid any unnecessary discomfort.
His actions were soon followed by Raphael. After closing the door, he too went to climb the ladder up to his bunk. His bed was on the opposite side of the room and was the top bunk just above Mikey's bed. And once at the top, he copied Leo's actions by lying on his stomach as well.
From the positions on their beds, the boys looked at one another from across the room. There, they stayed, their eyes locked. A silence filled the room to such an extent that it nearly seemed to be suffocating to the boys. They could both sense the need for someone to say something but neither one knew what words should be said.
They didn't want to argue, that was for certain. It was arguing that had gotten them into trouble to begin with. They already knew that they were in hot water already, so they weren't going to chance it. Instead, Leo and Raph knew that something more along the lines of a civil conversation had to be used.
But that was harder to accomplish than one might think. After spending so much of their time arguing and fighting though, this seemed almost alien to the two. The only time when they just talked was at mealtimes or when they were playing out in the sewers. Yet even then, there was the chance for something to spark another quarrel. That couldn't happen this time, so they would have to be careful.
"Mikey does have a point, ya know. We haven't exactly been acting with clear heads the last couple of days," Leo replied quietly.
"That's putting it mildly," Raph snorted.
"Yeah, I guess that's true," Leo admitted.
Another short period of silence followed after that. But it wasn't as intense as before. Now that they ice had been somewhat broken, they knew that they could choose their words more carefully and not rush themselves.
"We really made a mess of things, didn't we?" Raph said after a few moments.
"Yeah, we did," Leo replied.
"I bet Splinter's really gonna cream us for this one. It ain't gonna be just extra practice like before. I know it's gonna be something bad," Raph shrugged.
"Whatever he gives us, we deserve it. We did disobey the rules and leave the lair without permission," Leo supplied," And for what we did to Donnie."
Another uneasy stillness came after he said those words. Though their thoughts had constantly been on their younger brother's wellbeing, neither one had really considered what was really wrong with him. They had only known that he had fallen into the water thanks to them pushing him and that he was badly hurt. Other than that, they really didn't know anything.
"Man, I just know that he's gonna hate us when he wakes up," Raph sniffed," I know I would if someone did that to me."
"We can just add him to the list then, because I know that Master Splinter and Mikey hate us already," Leo added.
"Don't forget Maggie. She probably hates us too if she's willing to let Mikey stay with her until Don's better," replied Raph as he wiped an arm across his eyes.
"A-are you crying?" Leo asked.
"No, I just had something in my eye," Raph snapped defensively.
"You don't need to get mad," Leo warned," If you do, then I'll get mad too and we'll start arguing again. And all that's managed to get us so far is a lot of trouble."
For once, Raphael didn't offer any opposition to his brother's words. He just grumbled something and nodded in agreement. Leo nodded as well, though for different reasons than Raph. He was considering his own words and what they really meant not only for Raph, but himself as well.
Though they both had a hand in this problem, Leo had already placed the greater blame with himself. He was the eldest son and in his Master's absence, the one that was supposed to be in charge. He was supposed to keep the others safe and out of trouble so that everyone would okay. In short, he was supposed to be the responsible one that kept his head and didn't do anything to hurt the others.
I sure didn't act like it today. I really blew it by acting like a total jerk towards everyone, Leo thought to himself as focused more on Raph.
"Hey Raph?" he said tentatively.
"Yeah?" his brother replied.
"I'm sorry that I got you into trouble. I shouldn't have argued with you in the kitchen," Leo answered," I should have just done what you asked and left so you and Maggie could finish your work."
If he hadn't been so sore, Raph would have shot straight up at those words. Instead, he could only reward Leo with a bewildered look of his own. This however, only lasted for a moment before it contorted into an expression of disbelief and annoyance.
"Don't even go there, Leo," he snorted," I know you're sorry, 'cause I am too. But don't you dare believe that you're the only one to blame. We both made our mistakes in this, not just you."
Confusion now played the expression on Leo's face. He honestly didn't know what to say to his brother after that. In fact, he couldn't even see how Raph could talk like that. It was in his nature to be the hotheaded one of the family, since that was the way that he had always been. That role just didn't fit in Leo's psyche and daily routine.
"But I was the one that challenged you in the first place," Leo insisted once he had collected his thoughts," If I hadn't lost my head and broken my promise to Don not to start another argument, then none of this would have happened. He wouldn't have gotten hurt like that and neither one of us would have gotten into trouble."
"You may have challenged me, Leo, but I was the one that accepted and then said we should go to the Junction. I could have just said no and I didn't. That means I'm just as much to blame for this as you. End of story," Raph countered.
To say that Leo was stunned by these words was being mild. The truth was, he was truly astounded by his younger sibling's conclusion. It wasn't like Raphael to talk with such understanding and commitment in his tone. Normally, he would grumble words too low for anyone else to hear or just growl a threat.
So to have him say words such as this was a miracle. He was actually acting more like a mature person instead of the annoying and arrogant brat that one might often take him for. Leo waited for his brother to say more, but there was nothing else that. Raphael had said his piece and was now ready for something else. So, still on lying on his stomach, he turned and faced the wall next to his bed instead of looking across the room at Leo. A fact which Leonardo only realized after Raph had been like that for several seconds.
When he did, Leo could only sigh. He should have known that anything of true understanding would only be fleeting with his brother. They always were and that probably wasn't going to change. Unlike so many other things that took place in life that seemed to change with each passing day.
With nothing better to do, Leo did something he wouldn't normally consider. He did what Raph had done and settled down to wait. He had no idea when Splinter would call for them or what exactly what would happen. But he knew that he was going to need to be prepared and that meant all he could was rest until that time came.
Only silence was to follow in the hours to come, as each boy drew within himself to take council with his own thoughts. It was a given to say that there was much for both of them to think about. As well as they were going to have to do a great deal to redeem themselves in the eyes of their family before things were back to normal again. But how that was going to be remained to be seen.
A/N: *stops chasing Turtle trio, turning back into Streetwyse as they run away and out of sight* Try anything like that again and I'll write you guys into a horror fic with Barney (*gags*) and the Teletubbies! (*shudders*)
*notices readers* Oh, sorry. Just had to finish that little chat I mentioned before. I know that Raph and Leo having a little heart to heart like that may have seemed major out of character for them, but I thought it might nice if they could agree on something in this story. Even if it did take nearly drowning Donnie to get it done.
*checks notes* Which reminds me, I better start getting ready to finish off this story. There's just one more chapter to go and then Rivalries is finished. When I'll be able to get the conclusion out, I really don't know. My real life is being a drag again and there's a lot of stuff I have to work out before I can devote a lot of time to my fics. But it'll happen before three months has passed, I can promise that much. By that time, I should also have some of my new stories ready to be posted. Until then though, later everyone and thanks for reading.
