Well it took me almost forever but here is Chapter 7, I really hope you all enjoy it!

Chapter 7 – From the Ashes

"Leo! Leo! Leo!" Raphael screamed reaching up in the air as if he was falling from a building. He sat up quickly, his face covered in sweat. His breathing was rapid as Raph tried to calm himself. His heart felt like it was pounding against his plastron. What had just happen? All he could remember was pain and a dream....it was faint at first. The kind of feeling one gets after waking up and tries to remember their dream.

A hand touched his right shoulder and Raph looked up his golden yellow eyes settling on concern ambers, "Raph you need to calm down, take deep breaths, and slow your breathing down."

Raphael followed his older brother's instructions, his mind quickly remembering everything that happened. Once he calmed down his breathing he was able to think with a clear head. Donnie pulled away his hand. Looking around he'd notice they were no longer in the sewers but an abandoned building.

"Where is Leo? Master Splinter? Guys say something! What the fuck happened?" Golden eyes landed on the blood that was on Donnie, "Don! You okay?" Raphael asked now looking over his brother trying to find why he was covered in blood.

Donnie looked at him sadly and Mikey shook his head. Don grabbed Raph's hands and moved them away from him. "Raph," Don said shaking his head, "we have no idea where they are. And this is not my blood."

"Yeah, while you were out I checked back at the old lair, it is trashed and no sign of Master Splinter...just this..." Mikey put down their father's walking stick. "And about Leo this was all we found around you..." Mikey placed Leo's weapons down on the ground in front of him.

Raphael crawled up to the weapons his fingers tracing along them gently, "they're really gone?" Raph whispered his voice was shaking, his entire body was shaking. "And who's blood was it Donnie!" Raph demanded as he tried to calm his anger down.

"Careful Raph, your major wounds may have somehow healed but you still got some that need healing also," Don said placing both hands on Raph's shoulders. "The blood is yours Raphael," Don said forcing Raph to sit back down, this time keeping a firm grip on the idiot of a brother of his.

"Somehow healed?" Raphael asked trying to shove Donnie away from him but he was too weak to do so.

"Yeah there was this bright shiny light blue glowing thingy around you and poof you were suddenly all better!" Mikey exclaimed.

Silence followed Raphael as he remembered the dream his own fingers touched his beak gently. It was a ghost of a touch to him, a phantom of some distant memory – nothing like a lingering dream. The warmth that washed over his body, the whispers of the petals of roses, the touch of Leo against his own and the completeness he felt a feeling Raph had sought to fill the void of his for years. The need, the desire, the desperation that Leo displayed in the very kiss....all of it was a dream right? It had to be. It was too good to be true.

"Raph?" Don asked gently, "you okay?"

"No!" Raph growled, blushing, realizing he had been silent for awhile now. He stood up ignoring the protests of Don and Mikey and shoved Donnie away from him, "I am not fuckin okay alright! I dedicated all my life to protect everyone and I failed. The shield failed and it was all because of my own damn weakness! Leo is gone! Father is gone! And now...now were nothing but sitting ducks! So no, I am not fuckin okay!"

Mikey looked down at the weapons of his missing family members and picked them up holding them towards Raph, "Raphie...it wasn't your fault, and Leo and Master are tough, I am sure wherever they are – they are alive – waiting...waiting for us to rescue them!"

"Mikey..." Don said making his voice gentle as it can be, "we do not have any proof they are alive. We don't even know if they were kidnapped in the first place."

"No Donnie! For once ignore your voice of logic! We need to believe in them! Because...because we are family! And that is what family do for each other!" Mikey yelled tears stinging his eyes. "We have to believe that somehow they're alive, that somehow we will find them!"

Donnie blinked looking at his younger brother and gave a sigh of exhaustion. He pulled Mikey in his arms holding his brother close, "it is alright Mikey, we'll find a way."

Raphael watched them silent. He felt an anger he hadn't felt for years, the silent kind forming in the pits of his very soul. Hatred, uncontrollable rage, a desire to take down whoever did this! He wanted to hurt them just as they had hurt his family! But, Raphael did what he always did with this kind of anger, he buried it. Knowing when it was time, he would unleash this rage – especially if this person had even thought about killing Leonardo and Master Splinter.

Walking to both his brothers Raph placed a hand on Don's shoulder and another on Mikey's, "they're alive. I know it." It was a lie, Raphael did not know it. How could he know? In truth deep down he felt despair – after all when messing with creatures from the other realm how could he expect both Leonardo and Master Splinter to survive! How could he expect them to be able to last as long as he did?

This feeling was enough to make Raphael fall to his knees the dizziness he had ignored since he woke up was starting to take over. Donatello was there by his side, "your right Raph, they have to be alive. Mikey help me get him up. You lost way too much blood – "

"And your chi is pretty weak Raphie," Mikey said which earned him a smirk from Raphael.

"Heh, you and Leo were always good at that stuff....it kind of makes sense...." Raph muttered as both brothers helped him up. The last part of his sentence earned a questioning expression from Mikey.

Don shook his head, "anyways I think it is about time we pay some old friends a visit. Give you time to rest Raph, and myself a much needed shower." All three knew the truth, they would need time to think, to plan, to figure out how to find their lost brother and master.

April sighed as she cleaned up around her passed out husband on the couch, he was still wearing his hockey mask the strings caught in his hair. One hand holding the remote for the television while the other hand was holding a hockey stick, "geez Case..." April said with only love in her voice.

A knock on the door caused the snoring Casey to suddenly jump up, "what! I got them April!" He yelled swinging his stick around, April duck and pushed Casey back on the couch, "Casey Jones! It is just the door." She explained with a chuckle.

"Oh..." Casey said his face reddening a bit, "sorry honey."

Another knock, this time more urgent caused April to rush to the door, opening it she gasped. Standing before was Raphael, Donatello, and Michelangelo. Donnie was holding Raph, his left arm swung around his older brother, who was dressed in bandages. While Donnie himself was covered in what appeared to be blood. Mikey was carrying something wrapped in cloth.

"Sorry April," Mikey said, "but we did not know where else to go."

"Come in guys, you know you're always welcome here, your family after all," April said. Casey rushed to the door, "here Don let me take him."

"I can damn well walk on my own..." Raph muttered.

Casey shook his head, "come on pal. Let me help you out." Raphael grumbled something as Casey laid him down on the couch gently.

April closed the door as Donnie and Mikey walked in, "umm Don you okay?"

"Yeah April, it isn't my blood," he explained as Mikey and Don turned to look at Raph who instantly passed out. "It kind of has been a long day. And trust me April it is a very long story."

Glancing at their faces April quickly noted the lack of Leo and Master Splinter, something wasn't right, "okay guys, but first I'll make some tea. Don you can take a shower. Also I'll put on some pizza you all look hungry."

"I should look after Raph," Don protested.

"No Donatello," April said quickly hands on her hips, "let Casey look after him, he may be a bonehead –"

"Hey!" Case chipped in, "I kind of resent that remark!"

A smile went on April's face, "but he is also Raphael's best friend, he will take good care of your brother. You need time to calm down Donnie. Then when everyone is settled, in a better frame of mind, I am dying to hear what has happened."

With that April handed Don a towel and pushed him towards the washroom. Donnie could not help but smile – he could always count on April being their voice of reason.

"Master! MASTER! Wake up!" Leo yelled shaking his father gently. What had happened? Where are his brothers? If his master was here then it meant the shield was down and if the shield was down.....then it meant.....

"Raphael..." Leo whispered his name; the sound of it was weak and distant. "Then it was all but a dream...." He muttered to himself sadly – was it too late to tell Raphael how he felt?

"My son..." Master Splinter said weakly and Leo was instantly by his side, "my son...ah I am glad you are safe....Where is your brother?"

Leo looked away, "sorry Master he is not here..." Silence was exchange between the both of them, "what about the others!" Leo asked, trying his best to ignore the fact that Raphael may be dead. He knew his brother better than anyone. Raph was not dead. He just couldn't be. In truth Leo was sure Raphael was too damn stubborn to even die.

"They are safe, I sent them to look for you and your brother," Splinter stated as he went to sit up, Leo helped him by lifting the weight of his master's chains. Splinter closed his eyes, "I can't feel anything. There must be a magical block on this cell."

"Really?" Leo asked looking around, "I was able to sense until they said they drained my spiritual energy."

Master Splinter turned to look at Leo eyes wide, "is that true my son?" Leo nodded, and blinked in surprise as Master Splinter touched his face. "I see..."

"See what?"

"The bond between you and your brothers are strong, stronger than I believed," Master Splinter replied solemnly. "This bond has connected your spirits in many different ways...but..." he paused as if he noticed something. "Anyways my son, I believe we are in the other realm."

Leonardo blinked, those golden browns staring in disbelief, "what do you mean, Master?"

Splinter sighed and crossed his legs in front of Leo, "Leonardo my son, let us meditate together. You are panicking my son."

"No! I am not Master! Please! I am tired of all these secrets! I am tired of being left out of everything I need to know everything...please father! Please tell me," Leo pleaded, "I need to know if Raphael died he did not die for nothing."

Splinter gave his son a look, the kind of look that made Leo give in and do whatever his father says. He crossed his legs trying to calm his ever trouble mind. But he couldn't – he kept thinking of things...especially Raphael and that tender kiss in such a beautiful place. Something about those roses...what did they mean?

"My son, your mind is clouded," Splinter said touching Leonardo's cheek gently with his fingers.

"Sorry Master but I can't meditate," Leo answered looking away in shame. "Clearing my head has never been this difficult."

"I see..." Splinter answered looking at Leonardo, "I see..." he muttered this time mostly to himself. "Then my son, I think it is time I explained everything to you. No more secrets, no more lies, and no more hidden truths."

Donnie sighed as the warm water washed over his body, washing away the blood of his injured brother. He had remembered how close Raphael was to death. Than that light – it was no mere coincidence that it happened at that exact moment. Don was sure somehow in some way Leo had saved Raph, and if that was true then the leader had to be alive.

The sound of the door opening and closing made Don look outside the tub, "hey Mikey."

Stepping in the shower Mikey smirked, "thought you could use some company."

"Yeah, your company is always welcomed."

"Really? Last time I remember you were screaming at me to get out of your lab," Mikey said as he walked into the shower, a smirk on his face as he surveyed his brother covered in water.

"Well if you didn't ask a million questions at a time than I wouldn't have, and also if you just stop fiddling with my stuff, and begging for attention, and..." Donnie muttered.

Mikey smirked as he forced Don to face him, "ah there is that smile, thought I wouldn't see it again."

Don smiled weakly at Mikey, "yeah...wait?" Suddenly he blushed, "Mikey why did you come in here! What if we get caught?"

"Geez relax Donnie, we haven't gotten caught this far," Mikey purred playfully as he moved closer to Don his arms wrapping around him.

"Mikey..." Don said his name meaning it as a warning but instead came out as a whispered filled with nothing but love and need. But not that kind of need....

Mikey smiled pulling Don into a hug, easily picking up what his love needed, "relax, I had a feeling you needed some comfort, and as your lover it is my job to do so."

Don rested his head against Mikey's plastron, the sound of the water beating against his shell and the sound of Mikey's own beating heart calmed Donnie down immensely. "Mikey, were at a dead end." He said with a hopeless sigh.

"I know," Mikey said and shook his head, "I am just as worried as you...and the fact what Raph did back in the sewers...and that weird mystical light show that healed him. I really think we are way over our heads here. But you felt it earlier didn't you?"

"You mean when we were back at the lair? Yeah. It was scary; it almost felt like a piece of me was dying..." Don whispered his voice barely audible.

Mikey pulled Don even closer, the fear was overwhelming for him, "yeah, it was weird, I felt the same way. I think it had something to do with Raphael. I wish Master Splinter was here, he could explain everything like before."

"We can't always rely on him or Leo; this is something we have to figure out Mikey. But at least we still have each other," Don said pulling away so he could comfort his brother this time. He wrapped his arms around Mikey's shell pulling him close and placing a tender loving kiss on his beak, "we'll get through this together, like we always do."

Mikey smiled giving the same tender kiss back and wrapped his arms around Donnie burying his head into his older brother's plastron, "yeah but...it is not us I am worried about."

"Shh, let's not think about that right now," Don caressed Mikey's shell, "let's just enjoy our shower."

"Hmm...I think I can do that!" Mikey answered with a wink.

"Good...cause serious Mikey was starting to scare me," Don said with a chuckle.

"Hey!" Mikey protested, but smiled up at Donnie anyways. "I could be needy Mikey if you want...."

A blush instantly went on Donnie's face, "I would like that...."

Silence had followed as the two brothers sat beside the now awoken Raphael, they had explained what they could but now all eyes were turn to him. They all knew there was much more to this story so much more. "Stop looking at me like that!" Raph growled and got a pat from Casey on his shell.

"Hey pal, it is alright, we're not your enemies here," Casey said gently.

Mikey smiled between his mouthfuls of pizza, "yeah Raphie! Come on not like we will be mad."

"We're here for you Raph despite the fact you kept secrets from us, we are your brothers and no matter what we support you," Donnie said gently, drinking his tea slowly.

April handed Raphael a cup of tea, "two sugars, how you like it Raph."

"Thanks April," Raph replied and looked down at the cup of tea, thinking how Leo would always takes his plain no matter what kind of tea it was. Thinking of Leo made his heart ache and his anger rise even more. But glancing at his brothers he instantly calm down, "it all started..."

"Your brother was young Leonardo, when he first displayed his powers. He was a frighten young boy terrified of everything because of that he develop anger as a way to deal with the strange sightings he would witness," Master Splinter started as Leo tried his best to clean his Master's wounds with the cloth from his belt.

"You see your brother had become a target and pretty soon all of you were targets of the other realm," his voice echoed with a sad tone. "I do not have talents as powerful as your brother and I was fearful I would not be able to protect any of you. So I visited the Ancient One."

Leo looked up, "to have the spell cast on us right Master?"

"That is true my son," Splinter appeared almost uncomfortable as if he was not sure if he should continue or not, "but you see the spell was cast on you three by Raphael," Splinter explained.

Leo paused, "it was Raph?" His voice was neutral but something dangerous had flashed in those golden browns.

Splinter nodded, "Raphael was trained by the Ancient One to control his abilities, and so he taught Raphael quickly how to use his aura to hide other auras or in this case to contain them."

"What? How can you let a child be in charge of that! I mean it must have drained his energy daily!" Leo yelled angrily. It was rare for him to get mad at his Master but deep down he felt this was the last straw.

"Please my son, I understand your concern but let me finish my story," Splinter asked lightly. Leo nodded and continued tending to his Master's wounds, the anger still clearly visible in the way Leo held himself. "Yes, it was a hard decision to make but I realized it was the only one I had at the time. Strangely it did not seem to drain your brother, and I soon discovered it was because of an invisible bond between the four of you – A bond that has somehow connected you four and your abilities."

"Over the years this bond grew stronger and soon Raphael was also finding it more difficult to contain everyone's abilities. He decided he needed to do something else to protect everyone and that was a shield, but to create this shield Raphael would need more training," Splinter had paused in this to take a breather. "The only issue is that once Raphael was gone you three would become the victim of every creature out there, so I took you three to where the Ancient One lived and the Ancient One went off to train your brother." Leo pulled away, he had finished bandaging his Master, his anger now calmed, and instead his curiosity peaked.

Splinter looked down at his wounds admiring his son's work, "it was during this time that the Ancient One came back without Raphael...a demon name Derius had taken him." A sad look overcame Splinter's face as he looked away from Leo, "we spent a week trying to find your brother. He had returned on his own – beaten but very much alive and full of so much rage."

"The nightmares?" Leo asked slowly. "That was when they started for Raphael?" The exact same demon that captured us, Leo thought to himself knowing there was no need to point it out.

Splinter nodded, "Yes Leonardo that was when your brother was plague with nightmares." He then sighed, "Raphael would not speak of what happen. Instead he said he learned things – he knew how to create a shield now and even knew other things the Ancient One had never trained him in. When I tried to confront him on this he would just mutter it was nothing and..."

"Draw himself away from you," Leo muttered. He knew what his Master was feeling. He hated how Raphael would always draw himself away from him...

"Yes," Master Splinter answered fatherly browns now looking at Leo, "the night before we returned back to New York City, Derius came to me. He was somehow weakened greatly and he was angry. He claimed that one day he would come back and seek revenge against Raphael – unless Raphael stayed out of his future business."

Leonardo looked at his master and around the cell, "and Raphael didn't?"

Splinter nodded, "I am afraid so my son..."

"So all of this....is just a trap for Raphael?" As much as it sounded dangerous a small part of Leo was jumping with joy. After all if Derius still had them prisoner it meant Raphael was alive. Right?

There was a sigh from his father, "Yes...as you see my son, Raphael has been going off doing something he thought I never knew about. You see he was..."

"I fought the creatures, or rather yet I went and hunted them," Raphael explained golden eyes surveying his brothers. Michelangelo was now at the edge of his seat, eyes twinkling with sadness and excitement. Donnie appeared neutral but the way his hand was shaking as he sipped his tea was proof enough of how he was feeling. "All the times that I said I was with Case hunting purple dragons, only about a quarter of those adventures were true."

"But why?" Donnie finally asked, "I mean I can only imagine what being a prisoner of Derius was like, but why hunt down the things that had cause you so much grief. Wouldn't that just bring more attention to yourself?"

"Exactly," Raph angrily growled punching the table, "I almost lost you all too many times to those damn creatures. I needed them to stop trying to find you and focus their damn attention on myself!"

Mikey looked at his older brother, "but Raphie...what about you?"

"What about me, Mikey!" Raph said angrily glaring at Mikey who yelped and jumped behind Donnie.

Poking his head from behind his brother he tapped his two fingers together shyly, "I mean, who protected you?"

Raph waved his hand at Mikey like it was nothing, "I don't need protection bro." Both Mikey and Don exchanged looks.

"Always the lone wolf, are you Raphael," Donatello said quietly, "I mean all these years you have been doing your own things, not even asking for help when you needed it, always playing the silent protector – our secret guardian." Don stood up now glaring at his younger brother, "well I am sick and tired of it!"

"Whoa! Donnie!" Mikey said trying to calm his shaking brother down.

Don gently push Mikey's hand off his shoulder, "no Mikey, it is time Raphael got it in his thick skull!"

"Don, look I told you I can take damn well care of myself....OWW!" Raph suddenly yelled as Don's bow staff came in contact with one of his bandages hitting an open wound. Cradling his left leg he glared up at his older brother, "what the fuck was that for!"

"Proof Raphael! You nearly died! Two times already and within one month! To think I don't have a clue how many times you have probably nearly died playing our protector but that is not the point! We are not children! We are not weak! We are not useless! And for god sakes we are your family!" Don had moved closer his eyes shimmering with tears, "we fight together, we bleed together, we laugh together and we cry together! Or have you forgotten that pact we made? You are not invincible Raphael, you never were and you're not the only who can fight!"

"Don I..." Raph tried to protest his eyes softening at the pain he saw shimmering in the ambers of his older brother.

"You even said there is a bond between us all. A bond so strong it has even went to a spiritual level! Raphael Hamato, as your older brother, I will say this to you; you are not alone, you have never been alone! So, for the sake of our family accept our help, accept us as your comrades and stop this silent protector charade," Donnie felt his anger subside as the tears begun to fall. "Please, we just cannot lose you Raphael; we care too much about you."

Raph had to blink a few times as the words Don said slowly sank in his thick skull. Then he felt something well up in his eyes, tears that he tried to desperately blink away, clawing at his eyes to try and stop them.

"Honey, I think we should leave them alone," April whispered gently to Casey.

"But babe, I want to see what happens!" Casey protested as April was showing him to the kitchen.

With one final push she yelled after him, "oh and we are talking about this babe thing dear."

Raphael turned his back to his brothers – still clawing at his eyes, but he couldn't stop them. He couldn't stop them from falling. Arms wrapped around him from behind, "hey bro, we're here for you just like Donnie says." Mikey whispered.

Walking up Don hugged Raphael from the front pulling his brother close to him, "sorry Raph, but it needed to be said."

"I know," Raph whispered between silent sobs, "thanks Donnie, you do not know how long I waited for someone to say those words."

"Heh, like you said younger brother there is a bond that none of us can understand," Don said comfortably.

"Can I ask you two something? Umm, don't tell Cas or Leo about this..."

"Pfft! Sorry bro but I am so telling Leo this!" Mikey said with a smirk.

"Why you!" Raph yelled whipping the last of the tears and diving on Mikey.

"Gah! Donnie save me! Raph has rabies!"

Don smirked as the two younger brothers started wrestling on the ground. Just maybe, just maybe he can believe this bond exists....wait....the bond!

"Guys! I know how we can find Leo and Master Splinter!"

Leonardo stared at his Master, eyes wide with pain, guilt, and sadness. How could he have missed all this? How did he miss Raphael fighting on his own? His younger brother sacrificing everything just to protect his family. It wasn't right, and it wasn't fair.

"Leonardo," Splinter said gently placing a hand on his shoulder, "I know this must be hard on you to take in. So many secrets have been kept from you three for far too long."

"No, Master," Leo said shaking his head, "it is not that. I just wished I could have been there for Raphael. It must have been hard on him."

Master Splinter studied his son silently and smiled, "I see. Leonardo, yes, it was hard on your brother but do not be sadden by this. You, Donatello, and Michelangelo have always been there for him. You all given him things that he appreciates; laughter, love, kindness, sincerity, family and most of all faith in him. As these things may seem small to you, to Raphael they mean the world to him."

Leo smiled, "thank you Master."

"Anyways, it is time for rest. We need to be ready for when your brothers arrive," Splinter ordered gently.

"Do you really think they will be able to find us?"

"Leo, your brother Raphael is stubborn. And we all know how resourceful Donatello can be. There is no need to worry, Raphael is alive."

"Wait how do you know that?" Leo asked.

A twinkle glitter in those fatherly brown eyes as he tapped Leo's left upper arm, "this mark, it is Raphael's symbol."

Blinking Leo looked down seeing a bird tattooed on his arm. It appeared to be a bird with wings like fire, a darker green than his own skin colour, "the phoenix? What does it mean?"

"Yes, the very bird that rises from the ashes over and over again, a suitable symbol for your brother." Splinter moved towards the wall and put his back against it patting the ground beside him, "now sleep my son. Tomorrow will be a long day."

Lying beside his Master, Leo looked down at his arm again...did it appear on him just now? And if so why? Why was he bearing the mark of his brother? And what did this mark even mean? As much as his mind kept going in circles with questions he found himself too exhausted to stay up any longer. Leo fell asleep dreaming of a childhood once forgotten.

Finally! Don't forget to tell what you think! 33 Also tell me what you liked about it favourite scenes, least favourite scenes, etc!