"Raphael, I don't think this is a good idea." I glanced at Michelangelo, who was fiddling his fingers anxiously.

"You don't have to go with me, Michelangelo."

"And face Donatello alone? We need at least one of us to come out of this alive." I rolled my eyes.

"He's our brother, not the Hulk."

"Could've fooled me." The lab door slammed open to reveal a very sleep-deprived genius.

"Would it kill you guys to talk, I don't know, not outside my lab!" Michelangelo hid behind me as I glared at our brother.

"Oh like you're getting anything done with only a couple hours of sleep! I get you're overworked but it doesn't give you the right to take it out on us!" A moment of tensed silence passed. He relaxed just a little, rubbing his temples. "I'm sorry. But please, go somewhere else to talk." There went my patience. I grabbed Michelangelo's hand and herded them both into the lab.

"No way. Donatello, I'm not here to lecture you."

"You aren't?"

"No because one, you won't listen, and two, something else has been bothering me. With all the stuff we've had to deal with, I forgot about it up until now."

"What's that, Compadre," Michelangelo asked.

"Why did we have to act like total boneheads during our adventure with our counterparts? It better be a good reason, because I was ready to punch the other Raphael." Donatello slumped in his chair and put his face in his hands.

"Dude, maybe we should let him nap first." Michelangelo looked more concerned than scared at this point.

"Fine, as long as he answers my-"

"We were unstable. I didn't know how our super mutations would work with dimensional travel."

"That's the only reason? I know they were dangerous but we were in control."

"Except when Leonardo went all wacko from it." I elbowed Michelangelo, shooting him a you're-not-helping-look. Donatello nodded in agreement anyways.

"It was too much of a risk, plus the less they know about our world, the better." I crossed my arms over my chest.

"Feel free to tell us anytime" I said, tapping my foot. Without warning, he harshly gripped my shoulders and got into my face.

"Is it so hard to wish for things to be the way they used to be?! In the past, all we had to do was thwart Shredhead's schemes. Now we have Lord Dregg, HAVOC, alien bounty hunters, and other maniacs making our lives a living hell! Yeah, Shredder was dangerous at times but it never got as complicated and severe as now! So sue me for wanting to act like a kid when we have help!" Michelangelo and I stared slackjawed at his tirade. He was also crying. 'Damn it.' Michelangelo didn't hesitate to hug our brainiac. Donatello hugged back even harder, tears still streaming down his face while I felt like crap.

"Don't feel too bad, Raphael. You got him to open up." I nearly jumped out of my shell because of my eldest brother.

"Do you have a fetish for doing that? 'Cause I think you do." He whacked me upside the head.

"You guys just need to be more observant, and train more. But right now..." He pushed me into our hugging brothers, who immediately forced me to join. I couldn't resist returning their embraces.