Hurt - Chapter 29

Rated: T

Obligation

Chapter Summary: A recent crime waves calls the grieving family back home sooner than anticipated…


It didn't happen all at once.

Splinter had been quietly going about his normal evening. Setting down upon the sofa with a hot cup of tea in hands when something caught his attention. The bright flashes and low rumbling voices coming from the brightly lit television. Currently playing right now was the local news; the male reporter seemed more than a little frazzled as he spoke about the recent crime wave in the city. Placing down his tea when he realized the location was one that Splinter and his sons knew all too well.

The heart of the city, downtown New York. While it had always been a notorious source of crime, these past few months it had become noticeably worse. Purple Dragon hot spots were flourishing with criminal activity and known Foot Clan attacks were on the ever-increasing rise even in some of the safer areas of town.

Unwillingly, Splinter continued to listen. The reporter continued, speaking about the police not being able to keep up with all of it and were running ragged. Other forces being called in to help, yet it didn't seem to be working too well. Civilians…innocent citizens had been hurt…some had even been killed. Another punch in the gut when they showed pictures of the casualties. Honorable men and women dying from protecting their business or family from being taken advantage of. It was getting tragically bad and it made the elderly rat grow nauseous at just how bad it had gotten. Just another thing to keep him up at night…

Long story short, this recent crime wave had been going on for quite some time and it was only getting worse.

A sense of responsibility was not one to be taken lightly and only after their three month absence, it was as if it was beginning to rear its ugly head. Him and his sons had been protecting the city for so many years; it was only obvious their unannounced absence would soon have a ripple effect. Lack of their patrols and the fact they hadn't been there to keep peace was beginning to make the activity get out of control. An epidemic of sorts was infiltrating their beloved city and it was only going to get worse.

A part of him sort of knew it would eventually happen, but he could have never known how soon it would take place…

A shaking paw reached for the television remote, switching it off to leave himself in a dark room. For the first few moments, he remained quiet; mind a torrent of random emotions that started barreling into his chest. There was still a constant ache caused by Raphael's death, but what became more overwhelming was the guilt. A sense of justice he'd been ignoring for far too long.

Himself and sons had been here for over three months. The air almost stagnant and it seemed to be in an almost standstill of sorts. It felt like an eternity already. Leaving them little to focus on other than grief and their own loss in face of it all; ultimately forgetting their place and their responsibilities and obligations…

They were ninjas.

Born and bred through strife and overcoming obstacles that may been impassible to anyone other than themselves. A life full of hardships and few victories they had very little time to relish. Battling crime and those who dared break the law; to protect the city and its citizen from the evils that wanted to destroy them. While it wasn't easy or perfect by any means, it was a life they enjoyed because they did it together. A team effort to bring criminals to their knees and pull the rugs out from under them. A victorious feeling by ding good even if they never got credit or recognition for it. They were ultimately okay with that. It was its own reward to do a service to the people and now they were letting all that work slip between their fingers.

Splinter let out a sigh. Thinking about his Raphael. How he'd react to this news of criminals infiltrating the city and its people. Could almost hear his raspy voice and the disdain dripping out like venom. Needing to go "crack some skulls and beat those jerks up" as Raphael would say it. An almost smile inching up Splinter's face at the thought. It was almost easy anymore; the pain of loss so familiar like an old friend.

It was all too easy to grasp and hold onto it like a lifeline. To keep them here and stagnant from going on with life; to curl up in bed and just sleep days away…

Yet, he knew in his heart of hearts that Raphael would never want it that way.

Could hear and see his son's anger at their perceived laziness, lack of training o working-out and just allowing their own grief hold them back from their ultimate goals in life.

Obligations. sworn duty to the city and its citizens. None of this seemed to mean much after the death of his beloved son but slowly, it began to echo throughout his mind as he thought more off what Raphael would have wanted. How his hotheaded son would feel about this entire situation and how they were handling it. How they'd chosen to stay here for this long period of time wallowing in their own grief and pain rather than even fathoming what may be occurring back in the city.

This was a wake-up call if there ever was one.

Splinter could almost hear his son's voice; picturing him standing across from him asking, "What do you think yer still doin' here, dad? Can't cha see they need us?"

While his son was unbelievably stubborn and hotheaded, angry and spiteful at times, there was no one more honorable and loyal than Raphael. His sincerity and love he had for New York and its citizens far outweighed what he thought Raphael to be capable of. A sense of honor and protectiveness he had been instilled from a very young age had lasted until his final day on Earth. Raph would want them to move on; to fulfill their duties. Raphael had died for that very code he held so dearly. To protect those who needed it; stand up for those against any who would want to cause them harm…

It all seemed too clear now; almost overwhelming the more he thought about it.

Splinter's eyes misted up; blurry dark shapes forming in his eyes as he stared down at his own shaking hands. In some way, he felt as if he was betraying his son by being here for so long. Pushing aside the city's needs and safety for his own selfish reasons; wanting to grieve, to never leave and just wallow in his own pain and misery for whatever remained of his life.

Raphael would never have wanted it that way…

His red-banded son would have told them to get over it; to go back and do what they had to in order to keep the citizens of their beloved city safe. Raphael would have told them to move on; be strong, persevere throughout and never, ever give up…


The first time he heard Raphael say that, he wasn't more than seven; struggling with learning new katas and keeping up with Leonardo. Creating a nitch for himself; honing his growing abilities by spending hours practicing over and over again. Splinter warned him to be careful, to not take unnecessary risks, but it all seemed for naught. An accident occurred, Raphael cut himself up pretty bad on a set of katanas he was trying to learn.

As Splinter was patching him up, he gave his normal spiel about being careful and stop being so reckless with weapons he wasn't used to. Raphael just sat quietly, reluctantly having to listen as the gauze and tape was being applied to his bleeding hand. Splinter hated being hard on him; he really did. Raphael had so much potential. He was strong, vibrant, street-smart, and if he applied himself properly, he could be an amazing ninja at such a young age. It was so frustrating to deal with at times because try as he might to tell him, Raphael insisted on doing things his own way through trial and error without doing much to listen to reasoning.

It was one of the many wrenches thrown into Splinter's plans for his sons and Raphael seemed to be the only one of the four that insisted on doing things his own way.

"I know, dad!" Raph grumbled, wiping an arm across his nose. His young voice already showcasing its raspy qualities even if it was just grumbled out as nothing more than a terse whisper.

"My son, I'm only telling you this so you can do better next time!" Splinter sighed, hating how his voice showed the aggravation in his tired bones. Having four young boys with way too much energy was draining enough without having to deal with a head-strong rebellious Raphael.

"I was doing better! The stupid handle slipped!" the young turtle said as an excuse; one Splinter had heard multiple times before.

"It slipped last time as well, Raphael." Splinter calmly stated while pulling his hands away from finishing wrapping up his wound.

"Yeah, but I was able to do it longer dis time around!" Raphael argued with a slight lisp caused by a few missing baby teeth.

"I warned you about using weapons you are unfamiliar with."

"Dad, I told you! I wanted to try something new!"

"Raphael, you must be handling your sais perfectly before you try other weapons!" Splinter began to grow aggravated as he tossed the remainder of supplies into the scratched metal tin that held their first-aid supplies.

"But dad!"

"No, 'buts' Raphael, you are not to use weapons I have no assigned to you."

"But,why?!" his red-banded son shouted, standing as tall as he could on his short legs and trying to intimidate his much taller father.

"You told me that ninjas are versatile! They work to achieve the same goal through any means necessary! Never once are you supposed to give up!" the words were his own; teachings being repeated back by his seven year old rebellious son. Brown eyes widened as he stared into the determined green stare.

At first, Splinter felt more frustration rising to his gut; hating how Raphael further warranted his bad behavior but his more fatherly side had calmed his breathing.

Staring down at his rebellious child, his face softened. Demeanor calming, his furry lips pursed before he spoke.

"You're right."

"No! I knew you'd -" Raph started angrily before his face fell in realization of his father's words. "Wait…what?"

"You're right." Splinter reiterated with a shrug before moving a paw to rest on his son's shoulder. "You're right. I guess I'm just upset because you hurt yourself is all."

Raph's small face fell into a pout as he rubbed anxiously around the white gauze that covered his hand. "I guess I shoulda been more careful." he quietly admitted.

"That's all I ask."

"So…it's okay that I keep trying these new weapons?"

Splinter let out a long-winded sigh before answering, "Yes. As long as you are more careful."

"Awesome! I'm not gonna give up, dad! I promise!" Raph said with more enthusiasm than Splinter was expecting. Going as far as to give his middle a tight hug before quickly releasing. Such displays of affection from Raphael were incredibly rare but welcomed eagerly by his father.

A smile lifted his lips when he pulled away but it fell quickly again when Raphael suddenly bounded to his feet and grabbed up the weapon and began running toward the dojo.

"No, Raphael! Not now!" he said fruitlessly as he tried to chase the rambunctious turtle.


Allowing the memory to wash over him, Splinter languished it. Treasured those glimpses of back in time in his mind's eye. Enjoying seeing his son alive and well in those fragments caught in time that he loved so much. Wiping his paw over his wet eyes, a true smile pulled at the corners of his mouth for the first time in seemed to be forever. Almost perfectly, he could hear his son's voice ringing in his ears. Voice as strong as ever as he spoke it with all the confidence in the world. Bright chartreuse eyes sparkling with such incredible light and happiness…

Yes, it hurt, it was so painful to lose his son but if Raphael had taught him anything, it was to never give up…and that was just what he was going to do. He and his sons had an obligation to keep the city safe, and while they were still struggling with Raphael's loss, he knew they had to go back.

With that realization dawning on him, Splinter stood up to seek out his family.