These chapter won't quit growing! Make it stop! (just kidding.) I think I'm gonna finish things with one more chapter and, surprise surprise, I don't. Seven pages typed up this time. That's a record for me.
I know Raph is coming off a little obnoxious but don't worry he'll get taken down a notch later, in the sequel.
As always, thanks for reading.
Leonardo woke up at 5:59, like he always does. He reached over and turned off his alarm clock. He had to wonder about that. Why did he always set his alarm clock when, without fail, he would always wake up ahead of it. No matter what though, he would set it again, when he went to bed tonight.
He rose out of bed, stretched and headed to wake up his brothers. Donatello would be no problem. Usually, he just had to lift his brother's head off of the keyboard or work table. It was a very rare occasion when Donnatello actually fell asleep in bed. This was one of those rare occasions. "Pssst……. Donnie. Time to wake up bro'." Leonardo shook his brother by the shoulder.
"Just a few more minutes," he mumbled. "I have to reconnect the flux capacitor."
Leonardo had to laugh. Of both his brother's, Donatello was the one he connected most with. He felt a twinge of guilt when he considered his relationship with Michelangelo. He made a conscious decision to work on that. But what about Raph? He thought. How do I fix things when he finally remembers what happened? He tried once more to wake his brother. Shaking him harder, he spoke a little louder. "Donnatello, it's time to get up."
Bleary eyed, Donatello rolled over and saw Leonardo standing over him. "Let me guess, it's time to get up and practice."
Leonardo answered, "Yes and for you to make coffee."
Donatello groaned, "Am I the only one here who know how to do that?"
"Hey, I could go make the coffee and….."
"Uh, no….no that's okay. I'll take care of it." Donatello got out of bed as quickly as he could and stumbled to the door and into the kitchen. On his way, Leonardo heard him muttering something about toasters, microwaves and plungers. Leo just shrugged his shoulders, he and kitchen appliances never really got along.
On his way down the hall he passed his father. "Good morning Master Splinter," he bowed.
"Good morning Leonardo," Splinter bowed back. "I have already awakened Michelangelo and Raphael. They will join us momentarily, I'm sure."
"Master Splinter," Leonardo walked along with his father. "Is it a good idea for Raphael to join us for practice? I mean, he might not be up for it just yet."
Splinter was going to answer but was interrupted by another voice. "What, are you afraid I might show you up?"
Leonardo turned to see Raphael standing behind him. He hadn't heard the large turtle walk up behind them. "I didn't know you were there."
"Yeah, whatever." Raphael walked past him and headed down the stairs. "So how do you guys do your practice thing anyway?" he asked looking back. He stopped for a moment and sniffed the air. "Please tell me that's coffee I smell," and he headed straight for the kitchen.
"Master Splinter?" Leonardo looked at his father questioningly.
"It will be alright Leonardo. We will all have to make adjustments, including Raphael. I will speak with him later about the rules and understandings we follow here. In the meantime, if you would let him know our routine for practice, I would appreciate it."
Within a few minutes, both Splinter and Leonardo joined Donatello and Raphael in the kitchen. The two turtles were again discussing upgrades to Donatello's computer.
"But that's not possible. The manufacturer built the computer specifically so it couldn't be altered that way," Donatello protested.
"Yeah, Donnie, it is. They only put that disclaimer on there so you won't try. They just want you to go back for the upgrade and pay them." Raphael answered.
"Alright genius," Donatello said sarcastically. "How do I do it then?" He was almost daring his brother to prove him wrong.
"Look, I gotta program Caitlin and I wrote, that lets you," he paused for a moment, "sneak in the back door, in a way. It convinces the computer that it has more space so it readjusts itself to prepare for the bigger programs you want to use. It basically upgrades itself."
Donatello became very excited at the prospect of making his pc run faster. "That sounds like it could work. Think you could show me after practice?"
Raphael would have answered Donatello, except he was stunned by what he saw. Michelangelo, with the grace and dexterity of a zombie entered the kitchen. Almost robotically he went to the cabinets and pulled out a bowl, cereal and spoon. He placed the items on the table and picked up the milk. Raphael started to take his hand and wave it in front of Michelangelo's blank stare to see if he was even awake.
As he was about to, he felt a hand on his wrist and looked up to Leonardo who was standing beside him. "It would be best that you don't do that," he whispered low.
"What's wrong with him?" Raphael whispered back.
Donatello leaned over, "Just give him five bites of cereal and he'll be fine. Trust us."
Raphael decided to do as his brothers suggested. Everyone else went on about their business of their usual morning breakfast routine as nothing was wrong but Raphael tuned them out. He kept watching Michelangelo, counting the bites he was taking. It was almost mechanical the way he was eating. Raphael was almost mesmerized by it all.
Michelangelo got to his fifth bite and nothing happened so Raphael waited for the sixth. On that last bite, it happened. His once glazed over eyes, his slow movements immediately went into fast forward. Raphael watched disgusted almost, as the youngest turtle shoveled cereal into his mouth then tipped the bowl up and slurped the chocolate sludge that remained.
When he put the bowl down, Michelangelo looked around. "Hey guys," he said energetically. "You really need to get a move on. You know Splinter wants us in the dojo and ready to go by 6:30." He leaned over and whispered to Raphael, "These guys are such slowpokes in the morning."
Raphael joined his brothers and Splinter in the dojo. As he walked in he took a moment to look around and take in his surrounding. He made a mental note of the weapons on the wall, the mats on the floor, various other items placed about the room and a practice dummy with a punching bag in the corner. His mouth curled u pinto a grin at the sight of it. I will definitely make use of that, he thought and began to walk in.
"Pssssst! Raphael!" Leonardo's voice caught his attention. He looked as his brother pointed to his feet. "The shoes," he whispered again and pointed to the doorway. Raphael understood and turned to leave his flip-flops at the door. With a small crooked grin, he returned to join his brothers as they lined up in front of their sensei.
Splinter had Raphael observe as the other three went through a series of katas. Raphael followed along and watched his brothers as they practiced their movements.
He first set his eyes on Donatello. He's very precise in his movements but a bit stiff, like e can't relax. He's second guessing himself, Raphael thought to himself. Like he's not entirely sure. He's got skills just not the confidence to go with them. As he continued to follow along, he turned his attention to Michelangelo and remembered how he had fought with him before. He's a little too sure of himself, definitely hyper, but he continued studying his youngest brother's movements. He's got speed on his side. He's definitely faster than the others. Finally he turned his attention to Leonardo. His brother's graceful and fluid movements caught his eye. His form is perfect. He's definitely taken this ninjitsue stuff much more seriously than the others. He continued watching his brother. Looks like he'll give me the biggest challenge.
"Excellent," Splinter praised as they finished their katas. He turned toward Michelangelo, "Since you have already fought with Raphael," the youngest turtle gave a grin that revealed a bit of embarrassment. "You will spar with Leonardo."
Michelangelo just groaned. "Aw Sensei," he started to whine. "Leo always beats me. You might as well just hand my butt on a platter to me right now."
"Michelangelo!" Splinter's can hit the floor with a loud RAP! "That is precisely the reason why you need the practice." Splinter paused as Michelangelo and Leonardo moved to face each other. "No weapons this time." Without question, the two turtles carefully laid their weapons to the side, bowed to each other and on their sensei's command, began their session.
Michelangelo gave his best this time and got several good his on Leonardo. On Splinter's direction they both stopped and bowed. "Very good my sons," he stared at Michelangelo.
Here it comes, the orange banded turtle thought. He cringed awaiting his lecture.
"You gave a full effort," the old rat spoke. "This session showed a marked improvement. Well done," Splinter bowed.
Bowing to his father and grinning wide, he rejoined his brothers on the floor.
"Donatello, Raphael," Splinter indicated with a wave of his arm. They both moved to the mat.
Following what he saw his brothers do, Raphael bowed to his sensei and then Donatello. On Splinter's command, they took their stances and began.
Leonardo watched intently as his two brothers faced off. He's not attacking Donnie, just blocking his attacks. He must be trying to see what Donnatello is capable of. Leonardo tapped his chin as he studied his brother's movements. No particular style, so that makes him a little unpredictable. He's almost as fast as Mikey. I'll have to remember that. I wonder how he would do with weapons.
After a little more than a minute of allowing Donatello a few hits, Raphael began to retaliate. Donnatello was able to block a few hits and a kick but was taken by surprise when he threw a dragon punch at Raphael. When he did, Raphael grabbed his brother's arm and flipped him.
In one second, Donatello went from standing to lying on his back, staring at the ceiling. Raphael extended his hand. Grinning, Donatello accepted and let his brother help him up.
"Excellent my sons," Splinter praised. "Well done all of you."
"Mikey!" a female voice called from the outer room. "I've got your groceries."
"Master Splinter?" he looked at his father questioningly.
Splinter bowed and his son's bowed back. "You are dismissed."
Eagerly, Michelangelo ran out ahead of the others to greet April.
"C'mon Raph," Donatello clapped his hand to his brother's shoulder. "You need to come meet April."
As the three started to walk out of the dojo, Splinter called out. "Leonardo, I need to speak with you."
Raphael and Donatello stopped and looked at their brother. "Go ahead guys," he told them. "I'll catch up." As the two walked out, Leonardo looked at his father. "Yes Master Splinter?"
"I was wondering Leonardo," his whiskers twitched. "Would you do something for me?"
Donatello and Raphael walked towards the kitchen. They could hear April and Michelangelo talking as they closer.
"So," April said while munching on a celery stick. "Where's your brother that I'm supposed to meet?" She was leaning up against the counter watching Michelangelo put groceries away.
"Right here."
April, surprised by the interruption, turned to see Donatello standing in the doorway with a very tall turtle behind him. And this one was in clothes, black pants, a grey t-shirt and flip-flops to be exact.
"April," Donatello smiled. "This is our brother Raphael." He stepped out of the way. "Raphael," he indicated with a wave of his hand, "this is our friend….."
"April O'Neil?" Raphael interjected. "The news reporter, right?"
"Yeah," she answered, a little shocked. "I take it you've seen my reports."
"You bet," Raphael told her. "You do a good job. I really enjoyed the expose' you did on the District Attorney down at city hall. The one who was taking mafia bribes."
"Thanks," she shook his hand as he extended it.
Raphael noticed the strange look she was giving him. "Something wrong?" he asked.
"No, no," she stumbled, embarrassed that she was caught staring. "It's just that, I mean, Casey told me that you looked a little different." She shook her head and apologized. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to stare."
"It's okay," his smile put April a little more at ease. He rubbed at the back of his neck trying to come up with a short explanation. "I'm afraid that I'm a bit of a science experiment gone wrong."
"Ya' know Raph," Donatello spoke up. The two looked to see him trying to dodge Michelangelo's arm as he tried to get into the groceries. He ducked and jumped away, triumphantly holding a chocolate bar. "I want to take a look at the stitches on your neck. As fast as you heal, they're probably ready to come out."
"Do it now!" Michelangelo charged, shoving his brother towards the kitchen exit. "Get him out of my kitchen. Please!"
"C'mon guys," April helped to usher them out of the way. "Let's give the chef room to work." She giggled looking back at a slightly irritated turtle.
"That's Master Chef to you!"
April continued walking toward the exit to the surface. "I gotta' go run some errands," she called back over her shoulder. "Casey and I will be back later with Jake and Caitlin."
The two waved as she disappeared behind the elevator doors.
Once in the infirmary, Donatello pulled out a chair for his brother. "Here," he instructed. "Sit backwards so you can lean over the back of it." Raphael did as he was told and felt a bit of heat as Donatello pulled a light over the area he wanted to look at. Raphael could feel a slight tug as the stitches were removed. His skin twitched a bit at the sensation.
"This hurt?" Donatello questioned.
"Naw just feels funny is all."
"I really am sorry about this. If I had known, I never would have….." He pulled out the last piece.
"I was pointing a gun at Leo, Don." Raphael turned all the way around to look at his brother. "I probably would have done the same thing." He leaned back in the chair and stared as Donatello got out a long piece of rubbery looking hose. "What is that for?" he pointed.
Donatello grabbed his brother's right arm and began to tie off Raphael's arm. "Oh, I figured since you're in here, I'd take a blood sample, get your height, weight. You know a basic physical." He stared at his now uncomfortable looking brother. "Why?"
"OH NO, No physicals!" Raphael adamantly replied. "Absolutely not!"
Donatello tried to ease the situation. "It's okay, I've done one for Leo, Mikey, Splinter and myself. I just need to know basic stuff about your physical make up. It won't really hurt that bad. The worst part is me drawing some blood."
At the sound of that, Raphael immediately stood up and pulled the rubber strand off his arm and tossed it on the bed. "No." he said firmly. "I don't like needles," he stepped away. "If it ain't life threatening, you're not sticking me with one."
"Easy Raph," he spoke calmly. "If you don't want to do this right now we don't have to."
"Look if you want to know anything" he pointed a finger, "ask Caitlin. Chances are she's gonna bring my medical files to give you anyway." He crossed his arms and stood firm to show that he wasn't changing his mind.
"Fair enough," Donatello agreed. "Can I at least get a height and weight on you?" and he pointed to the scale.
Reluctantly, Raphael stepped up, but turned towards his brother with a menacing look. "Fine," he stopped and stepped down for a moment. "But if you so much as even mention, 'turn your head and cough'…….I'll knock you clear into next week."
