OK everyone. This chapter is shorter than the last I know. I'm still trying to work out a few details as to the end but many thanks go to Lunarninja for getting me past the writer's block. Thanks chica. By the way, "ren" (stated in the last ch.) means water lily. Hint Hint

As usual, I own nothing. With the exception of my new four wheeler. Please don't sue me. It's all I've got. Boo-Hoo

Oceam: I'm with you. Mikey and matches don't seem to mix. Of course, I could be wrong. I mean, he has managed to do the cooking for awhile with out burning the lair down.

Lunarninja: Many thanks for your help. Don't spill the beans, 'kay.

Somellamafreak: I grew up in a household with and older and younger sister and we were very protective of each other and still are. My parents were always supportive of our choices. I guess my family life was not the norm huh?

Jessiy: I just hope Mike isn't secretly working on matching costumes.

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After a slight detour, Mikey and Raph were on their way to go talk to Splinter. Raphael stopped to look at his brother who was shivering. "Are you getting' cold Mikey?" He asked his brother. His voice had softened a little since their conversation earlier.

"Yeah Raph. That blizzard topside is makin' things real cold down here. Hey! How come you're not cold?"

Raphael just gave his brother a strange look and proceeded to roll his eyes. He let out a slight groan as he began to massage his temples. "Baby bro…….." He whispered.

"Oh yeah. Sorry, stupid question." Michelangelo grinned sheepishly and shrugged his shoulders in apology.

"Look mike. I can make it to Sensei's room on my own. Go get a blanket and hangout on the couch with Leo and Donnie. There's no reason for you to be cold."

"Are you sure?" Mike was a little hesitant to leave his older brother.

"I'm fine. Besides the last thing anyone needs is for you to catch another head cold. You can't be too much of a sidekick if you're to busy being sick." Raph placed a hand on his brother's shoulder and smiled.

"Alright. If you say so." Mikey sighed. He didn't want to leave Raph right now. Mikey liked feeling needed. Secretly though, he was hoping to be the first of everyone to catch of glimpse of his brother's new ability. He turned to walk away feeling slightly dejected but perked up when he saw there was hot cocoa. Michelangelo grabbed a blanket and sat down on a chair quietly. He sipped the cocoa and listened to the conversation that had been going on for a few minutes now. It was a bit like watching a tennis match.

Meanwhile down the hallway, Raphael headed towards the subway car that serves as his father's bedroom. Taking a deep breath and mustering up a little courage, Raphael knocked on the door.

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"Raphael's awake," Donatello flatly stated. He took another sip of his cocoa. He and his brother were sitting on the couch, both wrapped up in their own blankets. Leo just sat there staring at the television, his mug of hot cocoa on the table, still full.

"Leo." Donatello said, trying to get his brothers attention. "Did you hear me?" He asked.

"Huh? What?" Leo stammered. He turned to look at Donatello. "I'm sorry Donnie. I guess I was zoned out for a minute. What did you say?"

"I said Raph woke up"

"When! Why didn't someone tell me?"

"It's been awhile. Mike took him some food a couple of hours ago and they just now came out of his room. They're probably going to go see Sensei."

"I guess I should go apologize to him shouldn't I." Leo started to get up but was stopped by a hand on his arm.

"Sit down Leo. Now's not the time." The words that came from Donatello's mouth were almost an order and not a request. This got Leo a little agitated.

"What are you talking about? You guys are the ones who think I should apologize and now you're telling me not to? What gives?" The tone in Leo's voice was past agitated and on it's way to upset. He turned to face Donnie. "What's going on? I want to know now." At this point no one noticed a quiet Michelangelo sit on a chair a little ways away from his two brothers. MMMMM Cocoa. He thought.

"I don't know what's going on. At least nothing definite," Donatello replied. "One things for sure though. Between the state of the dojo and Raph's strange body temp., something is wrong. And if my suspicions are correct, Raph's probably a little on edge about it. So let him talk to Sensei first. It might make him feel better. Then," he stressed, "You can go apologize."

Leo folded his arms. "Fine." He muttered.

"What Leo? You don't think you owe Raph an apology?"

"Why should I be the one to say 'sorry?' I'm not the one who was screaming in someone else's face."

"Leo. As long as this family has been together, we've all gotten to know each other…….. fairly well. Right?"

"I suppose so but I still don't see your point."

"For the sake of argument, I'm going to assume that you know our hot-headed brother well enough to know what sets him off or pushes his buttons, so to speak."

"And?"

"And even though you what the results will be you keep doing it. You can't talk to Raph the same way you talk to the rest of us. Heck, we should all be approached differently, seeing as how none of us are exactly the same. Besides, Splinter was right there in the room. Why didn't you let him handle the situation? If it was really a problem for Raph to leave, Splinter would have said something."

Leo became very quiet. He was starting feel like maybe he deserved some of the blame after all. "I dunno Donnie. I never thought about if. I guess that as the oldest and the team leader I see it as my responsibility to make sure that everyone's doing okay and is….. I dunno…… following the rules. I mean what if Raph had gone topside and got caught in the blizzard or worse, just got caught. I have to think about the safety of the team."

"Leo, in battle, you are an excellent leader and I wouldn't want anyone else in your position. But, as a brother, you have trouble drawing the line between protective and bossy."

"Hey!" Leo was a little insulted.

"Sorry man." Donnie replied. "Look, Raph isn't without some blame on this one but you should accept some of the responsibility as well. And in the future, give Raph a little space, OK?" Donnie grinned.

Leo nodded his head in agreement. He reached down to pick up his mug of hot cocoa but it was gone. Puzzled, he looked up to see Michelangelo wrapped up in a blanket sitting in the chair. He was off to the side of the couch where the two brothers were curled up. His head was tilted back as he swallowed the last bit of cocoa. Satisfied, he placed the cup down and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. He set the cup down on the table and let out a very loud belch. "Brrraaappp! Delicious. My compliments to the chef."

Donatello and Leonardo just stared at him. The looks on their faces were halfway between disgust, from the burp, and surprise because they didn't realize he had come in the room.

"Hi guys!" He waved. He was quite proud of his burping abilities.

"Mikey! EEEWWW! That's disgusting." Donatello said while making a face. "I'll never understand how the smallest of all of us is able to make the loudest of noises."

"Just gifted I guess." Mikey smiled.

Mike, you drank my hot chocolate."

"Sorry Leo. It was just sitting there, looking so yummy with the little marshmallows. I couldn't let it go to waste. Don't worry," he apologized. "I'll go make some more." Michelangelo quickly returned with three full mugs of cocoa and little marshmallows.

"So, how's Raph?" Leo asked.

"Did he tell you what happened?" Donatello wanted to know if his suspicions about his brother were true or not.

"Yeah. Raph's fine," he responded. "He told me about what happened last night. He's talking to sensei about it right now. I don't know how long they'll be in there though. It took me forever to get Raph to tell me much of anything."

"Well?" asked Leo.

"Well what?" replied Mikey.

"What happened Mike? What did Raph tell you?" Donatello had to know. His curiosity was getting the better of him.

"Nope. Sorry guys. It's not my place to tell. Raph can let you guys in on it when he's ready." Mikey just sat there grinning. For once he knew something his brothers didn't and they couldn't stand it. He was quite proud of himself for keeping a secret. He was enjoying this moment no matter how short it was going to be.

"C'mon Mike. You gotta' tell us something." The two brothers pleaded with the youngest.

Michelangelo sat quietly as if in deep thought. He was enjoying the torture he was putting Leo and Donnie through. Finally, he raised a finger and opened his mouth, thinking about what to say.

"WELL?" Leo and Donnie, in anticipation, were on the edges of their seats now.

Michelangelo took a breath and told his brothers the one thing he knew would leave them in an utter state of confusion. "I call dibs on side-kick," he said in a matter-of-fact tone.

"Huh?" went Leo.

"I don't get it," Donnie said while shaking his head.

"AHEM," went Master Splinter.